Community News

Shawver Well Company was founded in 1937 by George Shawver, who, at the time, lived in Kirkville, located just northwest of Ottumwa in southeast Iowa. During his high school years, George earned money hauling water with teams of horses to help local prospectors drill test holes for coal in the newly discovered coal areas of southern Iowa.

After high school, jobs were hard to find, so George decided to do the only thing he knew, drill test holes for coal. When local prospectors came to town looking for coal, George hired out to do their drilling. He built his first rig from wood and powered it from a power take-off of a tractor.

When prospecting for coal diminished, George turned to drilling for water. His first company was called Midwest Drilling but changed to Shawver Well Company shortly after.

David Martin of Martin Funeral Home in Waukon was honored for 40 years of dedication to the funeral service industry during the 137th Annual Iowa Funeral Directors Association (IFDA) Convention held May 16-18 at the Prairie Meadows Hotel & Conference Center in Altoona. Martin was one of 10 funeral directors from around the state to receive recognition by peers and colleagues for 40 years of service to Iowa communities.

Martin was born and raised in Waukon, and is a fourth generation funeral service professional. He attended Oklahoma State University and the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in Dallas, TX. Martin has a great sense of humor and shared that he was inspired to become a funeral director during his junior year of college due to his poor putting skills on the golf course. He has been a funeral director at Martin Funeral Home since 1976.

Identity theft is a significant problem and if it has not happened to someone personally, then odds are they probably know someone who has been victimized. While identity theft can happen to anyone, there are some things individuals can do to reduce the risk of having it happen to them. Proper disposal, at the right time, of documents and items that contain personal, confidential information is key to protection.

Waukon Veterinary Service has a new veterinarian that recently joined its staff. Dr. Kaitlin Marg is new to the Waukon area but has lived in the Midwest her whole life, growing up on a farm near Winona, MN, which contributed to her interest in veterinary medicine.

Dr. Marg came to Waukon Veterinary Service as a career opportunity but also due to the rural community being similar to the area where she grew up. She commented that she likes Waukon Veterinary Service's team environment, welcoming attitude and the opportunity to work with a variety of animals and livestock.

Dr. Marg earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree, both at the University of Minnesota. As goals, Dr. Marg is looking forward to learning more while working with a variety of animals and also in helping people keep their pets and livestock healthy.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in special session Wednesday, June 7 to discuss several items, including the City Manager position, the Reel Core storm sewer project and the Aveka noise and odor. Mayor Duane DeWalle called the meeting to order.

The Council discussed the Reel Core storm sewer project. Senior Project Manager Lyle TeKippe with Fehr-Graham Engineering was contacted by phone and placed on speaker. TeKippe discussed the replacement of the metal pipe and the process involved in connecting a new metal pipe to the existing concrete storm sewer pipe. The Council approved to replace an 80-foot section of storm sewer pipe at the Reel Core location along the southwest edge of Waukon.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, June 5 to address a full agenda of items, including downtown parking, acceptance of an award for the Northwest Detention Basin, and the ATV and Golf Cart Ordinances. The Public Hearing for the Water Rate Increase was opened without written or verbal comments and then closed.

During Public Comments, Ryland Benzing with Benzing Surveying of Waukon introduced himself and discussed the Reel Core storm water project. Benzing expressed interest in working with Fehr-Graham Engineering on this and future projects for the City.

Waukon Fareway meat manager Les Lickiss (left) hands a set of keys to new assistant meat manager Nick Danover (right) to officially welcome him as a new member of the management staff at the Waukon Fareway location. Danover has been with Fareway for seven years, most recently as assistant market manager at the Fareway store in Waverly. Danover and his wife, Katie, were just married in March of this year, and they enjoy being outdoors and spending time with family.
 

by Joe Moses

Due to the Memorial Day holiday falling on its typical Monday meeting day, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met on two occasions this past week, a holiday-delayed session Tuesday, May 30 and the board's regular session Monday, June 5. Coverage of both meetings appears below.

TUESDAY, MAY 30
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Tuesday, May 30 following the Memorial Day holiday Monday, May 29 to address a full agenda of items, including the adoption of the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) Ordinance LVI, consideration of a Joint Public Service Agreement with Winneshiek County for a bridge on the county line on Ferris Mill Road and the consideration of bids for asphalt pavement repairs. There were no Public Comments.

The Nation of Patriots, a volunteer organization with a mission to provide financial support to families of wounded military veterans who have made sacrifices in service to their country, brought its 2017 Patriot Tour through Waukon Saturday, May 27 to kick off its annual three-month summer tour across the country. Tour participants display a United States flag which is transferred between riders at each designated stop along the tour that will travel the contiguous 48 United States before it will finally end up back at its original starting location in Madison, WI in early September.

Artwork by area elementary school students has been on display at the Keystone Area Education Agency (AEA) office in Elkader throughout this past school year, with three local students having their work selected as a “featured artwork” piece. Such a selection means the artwork will be on display at the Keystone AEA office all summer and also on the Keystone AEA website for all to view. That website address is https://www.aea1.k12.ia.us/en/curriculum_instruction_and_assessment/othe....