Community News

For many, buckling up in a vehicle is second nature.  However, in 2014, 9,385 people nationwide lost their lives as a result of not buckling their seat belt; and in Iowa in 2014, 118 of the 322 crash fatalities were not buckled up. In the predominantly rural state of Iowa, it is important to note that nationally 61 percent of pick-up truck fatalities were not buckled. Iowa’s seat belt compliance rate is at 93 percent, one of the best in the nation but, still, too many of the state’s traffic fatalities are unbelted.

For many, buckling up in a vehicle is second nature.  However, in 2014, 9,385 people nationwide lost their lives as a result of not buckling their seat belt; and in Iowa in 2014, 118 of the 322 crash fatalities were not buckled up. In the predominantly rural state of Iowa, it is important to note that nationally 61 percent of pick-up truck fatalities were not buckled. Iowa’s seat belt compliance rate is at 93 percent, one of the best in the nation but, still, too many of the state’s traffic fatalities are unbelted.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session at City Hall Monday, May 16 to discuss a full agenda of items including storm sewer improvements, property zoning changes and downtown trash receptacles.

Friday, May 13, officers from the Waukon Police Department police conducted a traffic stop on Rossville Road in Waukon. As a result of the traffic stop, a 17 year old male juvenile was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance. The juvenile was subsequently released to a parent. A criminal charge is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
 

The Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness Department began the process of filling Indian Springs Pond in the Waukon City Park this past week, reversing the drainage measures taken last year before the recently-completed dredging project at the pond took place during the late winter and early spring this year. The dredging of the pond was a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-funded project following the summer flooding of 2013 and was completed by Jim Hanson. In addition to increasing the depth of the pond, the project also involved the installation of some fish habitat (pallets and greenery visible in the far end of the pond in the above photo), which will welcome bluegill stocked by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources later this summer, as well as catfish and bass next summer. The geese that have made the pond their summer home have recently returned to the pond as well.

The fourth annual "Thunder in the Park" event will be held in the Waukon City Park Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12. Confederate and Union camps will transform the peaceful rolling hills of the park into a living photograph of the past.

Attendees of the event will be able to talk with men, women and children in the camps who bring the past to life by portraying families affected by this country’s battle with itself. One might even catch a glimpse of President Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Lance Mack, as he strolls through the park.

The Patent Medicine and Magic Show of Professor Chalmers Bodkin-Childs includes snake oil being transformed into a healing elixir. A bit of sleight of hand and magic tricks also make up that hour-long show.

A fall that occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, April 28 from the rooftop of the Aveka Nutra Processing plant in Waukon has claimed the life of a 55-year-old Waukon man. According to a report issued by the Waukon Police Department, Kevin Kruse of Waukon, a long-time employee of the processing facility, had climbed a ladder to the building rooftop during an overnight shift for a reason yet to be disclosed pending completion of a full investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

by Brianne Eilers

The month of March ended with a financial loss of $41,638 for Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon, with a decrease in acute patient days and a decrease in surgeries both playing a large factor in the loss. Looking at year-to-date statistics, VMH is at a $64,105 loss.

“We had a very strong outpatient month,” VMH administrator Mike Myers noted, indicating that outpatient revenue came in about $300,000 over budget for March. Myers also noted that for the month of April, the hospital has been “extremely busy” with deliveries the past couple of weeks and he anticipated that statistics will show the hospital “slightly ahead” of its deliveries last year at this time.

The number of days in accounts receivable for the hospital is at 78.9, an improvement over this time last year when that figure was at 86.6. Currently, VMH has $2,158,000 in cash reserves.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday evening, May 2 at City Hall to discuss a variety of issues, among them street and sewer improvements, property variances and a proposed City Manager/Administrator position. There were no comments from the public in attendance and the Council moved right into the Departmental Reports.

Waukon Boy Scout Troop 64 will be hosting a Flag Retirement Ceremony Saturday, May 21 near the campground in the Waukon City Park. The ceremony will start at 9 a.m. and is open to the public. This ceremony is held annually by the troop in order to properly retire aging American Flags.

Flags in need of retirement can be dropped off in the drop boxes located at the entrance to the City Park and on the main floor of the Allamakee County Courthouse. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be rescheduled for June 18. The public is invited to join Troop 64 in honoring the American Flag at the May 21 retirement ceremony.