Community News

Electrical power was interrupted in various locations throughout Waukon and the surrounding area Wednesday afternoon, January 13, but local authorities advise that it was not necessarily a result of the coinciding incident pictured here, where the powerline pole seen standing at an angle on the right side of the photo was clipped at approximately 11:30 a.m. Wednesday by the unoccupied refrigerated food truck facing to the left in the photo. The truck had been parked atop the hill near the Waukon Dental location in the initial block of First Avenue NW when its parking system disengaged, sending the driverless truck careening down the street, where it struck one vehicle parked on the north side of the street and ultimately jumped the curb to clip off the powerline pole located on the southeast corner of the intersection of First Avenue NW and First Street NW, narrowly missing the JaDecc'S U.S. Cellular building located on that same corner.

by Jason Meyer

The family of Dennis "Borgie" Bahr recently donated $1,000 to the Waukon Fire Department in memory of Borgie to help the department purchase a new Rescue Randy Manikin (pictured below adorned in old firefighter gear for protection and preservation). Used by the department for training in various rescue situations, the manikin weighs 170 pounds and has lifelike arms and legs that bend just like a real human body to help give the firefighters the true feeling of maneuvering an individual in a rescue situation. This Rescue Randy Manikin will replace the department's old manikin that is 30-plus years old and showing signs of wear and tear that required replacement. Waukon Fire Chief Dave Martin says Borgie and the Bahr family have been very supportive of the fire department and the community, and this donation is greatly appreciated.

Waukon State Bank has announced that Mike Kruckenberg has joined the bank as an Agricultural and Commercial Lender. He comes to Waukon State Bank with 34 years of lending experience in Ag, Commercial and Installment lending.
Kruckenberg and his wife, Jeanne, live in rural Postville and have three grown children. Their daughter, Megan Hangartner of Mt. Pleasant, is an Optometrist with American Eye Care; their son, John, lives in Webster City and is a lineman with Webster City Utilities; and their youngest son, Justin, is a recent graduate of Iowa State University working at Vermeer Corporation in Pella.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz spoke to a capacity crowd at the Old Rossville Store in Rossville Saturday, January 9 during a stop on his 2016 presidential campaign tour. As evident in the bottom photo, the large dining/meeting room at the Old Rossville Store was filled with a standing room only crowd. Submitted photos.
 

The Waukon City Council met in special session Monday night, January 11 to accept the resignation of Jeff Snitker, Assistant Director of the Waukon Parks, Recreation and Wellness Department, who was placed on suspension a week earlier after closer observation of his job performance revealed personal use of a City-owned work computer, according to City of Waukon administrative leaders. Snitker, who resigned Friday, January 8, will be paid out his accrued vacation hours, 554.72, at a total of $9,186.16, subject to taxes.
Also on the agenda, the Council heard updates on the recovery of data from a Waukon Police Department computer drive. Waukon City Clerk Allen Lyon noted that Seagate, the manufacturer of the drive, would attempt recovery at an estimated cost of $3,200.

by Brianne Eilers

Students from Brenda's School of Dance have been selected to perform on television as part of the 62nd Annual Eagles Cancer Telethon being broadcast on KTTC Channel 10 in Rochester, MN this weekend. The telethon is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday, January 16 and 17, with the Brenda's School of Dance students scheduled to perform during the live broadcast Sunday morning at 10:28 and again at 10:38. The students are collecting donations to take with them to present at the telethon and would appreciate any donation amount. Pictured at right are the members of Brenda's School of Dance who will be performing live as part of the telethon broadcast. Left to right - Front row: Katherine Bruening, Alexi Svestka, Liza Hotvedt, Zaida Bockman and Jaydon Snitker, with Brenda's School of Dance owner/instructor Brenda Kurth. Back row: Kari Tangen, Marissa Engelhardt, Lydia Hotvedt and Sidney McQuade. Not pictured but also performing are Maddie Putnam and Elizabeth McQuade.

Northgate Care Center is proud to announce that it will host the Quilts of Valor Presentation Thursday, January 7, 2016, at 2 p.m.
The Quilts of Valor program is a national foundation whose mission is to cover service members touched by war with healing Quilts of Valor. The foundation is staffed entirely by volunteers who donate their time and talent to this very special program. Each quilt is handmade especially for the veteran who is to receive the quilt.
Northgate Care Center’s Administrator, Lou Ann Wikan said, “We are excited to honor the veterans who have served our country”. She went on to say, “It is especially important to have this program brought to our care center in order to recognize those men and women who reside here who have helped to keep America safe”.

by Jason Meyer

The Waukon City Council met in its first session of 2016 Monday night, January 4. Calling the meeting to order at 7 p.m. was newly-elected Mayor Duane DeWalle.

First point of regular business, the Mayor appointed the Mayor Pro-Tem as newly-elected councilor Dwight Jones. The Mayor also appointed Police Chief, Asst. Police Chief, Police Officers, City employees, City Attorney, Asst. City Attorney, City Health Officer, and appointed the Council Committees. All officers and employees retained the positions held at the closing of the 2015 council. Likewise, the Council retained their meeting time and place, and reappointed The Standard as the official newspaper. The Council also retained Waukon State Bank and Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank as the City's official depositories, with a maximum balance of $8,000,000 per institution.