Community News

The Iowa History 101 mobile museum coordinated by the State Historical Society of Iowa will be visiting Postville this Thursday, July 27. The Winnebago recreational vehicle (RV), pictured above, filled with remnants of Iowa’s history will be at the Postville Farmers Market, which is held weekly at 101 East Greene Street in Postville, from 4-7 p.m. that Thursday for its only scheduled visit to Allamakee County as part of an effort to visit all 99 Iowa counties again from 2021-2023. The mobile museum will be parked in front of the Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) office in Postville and will be open for all visitors to tour during the open hours of the Postville Farmers Market.

Book-signing event scheduled for July 24 at Wille’s home in Waukon

Some would call it destiny or fate. Others would perhaps refer to it as “happenstance”.

For Kelly Wille of Waukon, she calls her chance encounter with the northeast Iowa author of a “memoir of spousal abuse” just over a week ago “God at work.”

Whatever the description, Wille’s Friday, July 7 meeting of Joyce Gibbs (also known by her author pseudonym Kate Klaver and on social media as Jenny Lue) has now developed into a newfound support system for both ladies, perhaps a resource for many others, distribution of more than 150 free books in less than a week’s time, and ultimately a book-signing event that all are invited to attend Monday, July 24 in Waukon.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 17 at the Harpers Ferry Community Center/Dolores Tillinghast Memorial Library as part of the Supervisors’ annual schedule of library visits within the county. The Supervisors addressed a full agenda of matters including Quarterly Reports for the County Sheriff’s office and County Relief office, consideration of an engineering and survey quote for the Allamakee County Public Safety Center Water System Project and the consideration of County Courthouse sidewalk bids.

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Mark Reiser and Dennis Keatley also present.

The volunteers at the Allamakee County Food Shelf in Waukon received a Governor’s Volunteer Award from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg during a special recognition ceremony held June 6 in Cedar Falls. Pictured in the photo at right at the award presentation are, left to right, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds; Allamakee County Food Shelf Coordinator Julie Rotach, who nominated the Food Shelf’s group of volunteers; and volunteers Cathy Jurgens and Monica Roderick, who represent the collection of volunteers that Rotach says make all that takes place at the Allamakee County Food Shelf possible, noting that there are about 15 most consistent volunteers who help out during the weekly food distribution efforts every Thursday for those most in need of those services.

More than 600 Governor’s Volunteer Awards were presented this year during five ceremonies across Iowa. It is estimated that more than 150 communities in Iowa were served by this year’s honorees.

The Iowa History 101 mobile museum coordinated by the State Historical Society of Iowa will be visiting Postville Thursday, July 27. The Winnebago recreational vehicle (RV), pictured above, filled with Iowa’s history will be at the Postville Farmers Market, which is held weekly at 101 East Greene Street, from 4-7 p.m. that Thursday for its only scheduled visit to Allamakee County in an effort to visit all 99 Iowa counties again from 2021-2023. The mobile museum will be parked in front of the Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) office in Postville.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, July 10 to address a full agenda of matters. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Mandy Halverson of the Waukon Chamber of Commerce updated the council about the upcoming visit by Prosper Waukon, a descendant of Waukon’s founder, John Waukon, and his wife scheduled for July 24-27. Halverson noted that Prosper Waukon will be part of several events during his visit which are yet to be scheduled, with an appearance at Robey Memorial Library July 25 confirmed thus far.

Halverson also noted that KCRG will be back in Waukon to film an “Our Town” segment during the week of the Allamakee County Fair. She said that segment is scheduled to air the last week of July or in early August.

by David M. Johnson

TASC, Inc., or Training Advancement Skills in the Community, has touched someone in the community in one way or another. It is a non-profit organization, one of the largest employers in Waukon, that concentrates on fulfilling the lives of the area’s lesser advantaged citizens.
After a presence of multiple decades in the local community, this organization has shown it provides assistance, service, support and supervision to adult clients who have been diagnosed with mental, physical or emotionally disabling conditions as stated by a licensed physician or psychiatrist. It is also a home and community based service that provides home services to assist individuals in their own homes.

Kerndt Brothers Bank has acquired the Securities America branch office of Rude’s Investment & Insurance Center, which was owned and operated by Brandon Rude in Decorah. Rude has a customer base encompassing much of the tri-state area, providing over 15 years of experience in investment and financial planning services.

This acquisition will provide Kerndt Brothers Bank with additional expansion of their existing investment services, including investment advising and consulting, and retirement programs for individuals, municipalities and businesses.

Jim Kerndt, President, and CEO of Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank, stated, “Brandon has over 15 years of experience in the investment field, and we are pleased he decided to join KBSB Wealth Management Services. Brandon is well positioned to assist with the complex tasks of financial planning, helping our many clients prepare now and enjoy retirement later.”

Saturday, July 15 at 10 a.m., the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will present another program from its Veterans History Project honoring Vietnam War Veterans. The program will take place at the Veterans Museum located at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon.

A video interview by Chuck Bloxham with U.S. Army veteran Carl T. Johnson of Waukon will be played. Carl Johnson will also be present to share comments and answer questions.

While in Vietnam, with the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regimen, 1st Cavalry Division, Johnson was designated as a tunnel rat and later as a sniper. He participated in the battle for Hue City during the Tet offensive and many other significant engagements. This interview features his duty as a “tunnel rat.”

The public is invited to attend. There is no admission or membership charge. The facility is handicapped accessible.
 

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Waukon Center held its “Build Your Own Business” Summer Camp June 27-28 for students entering third through fifth grades this fall. This two-day camp was a “Shark Tank”-style experience (based on the “Shark Tank” television series) where students learned basic business concepts and vocabulary in formulating a business idea, created their own business plan, discussed customer service and created their own logo and business cards, printed by The Copy Shoppe in Waukon. Students listened to presentations from local businesses and also visited Aztec Parlor, Epic Wear, Hello Sunshine, KNEI Radio and Paws Up Pet Supplies in downtown Waukon to witness what they were learning at the camp being utilized in a real business setting. The students concluded camp by presenting their own business ideas to area business leaders who represented the “sharks” that provided feedback on those business ideas.