Community News

Jake Bollman of Waterville recently underwent the third open heart surgery of his life at the age of 23 and is said to be recovering well. At his annual check-up earlier this year, it was discovered that he had a previously repaired heart valve that was once again leaking and that the left side of his heart was swollen.

Bollman had the option of replacing the valve with one taken from a pig or receiving a mechanical valve. The valve from the pig option would only last six years and likely require another open heart surgery to replace again, so he opted for the mechanical valve in hopes that this would be his last open heart surgery.

However, with the mechanical valve, Bollman will have to be on a blood thinner the rest of his life and will continue to require numerous laboratory blood draws and doctor visits over the next several months. A benefit event is being planned for this Saturday, November 26 to help him pay for medical expenses and medication costs.

Madisyn Frye, three-year-old daughter of Kayla Frye of Cresco and granddaughter of Todd and Lauri Kaeser of Rossville and Dean Frye of Decorah, was injured in a farm accident Sunday, November 6 when her hand was caught in a grain auger. She was airlifted from Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, where she immediately underwent surgery to reattach her hand. She now faces a long road of rehabilitation and physical therapy.

The three-year-old's friends and family describe her as a very strong yet loving little girl who loves to chase chickens at her grandparents' farm. Although being laid up in a hospital bed was difficult for her, the surgery reportedly went well and she continues her recovery at home.

by Brianne Eilers

Elliott Jewelers, located on Main Street in downtown Waukon, has been a familiar business in the community and surrounding areas for 55 years now, making it the oldest retail business in Waukon. It has evolved from humble beginnings to be a recognized and respected name in northeast Iowa and the tri-state area for jewelry and jewelry repair. Dick Elliott opened his first store in Waukon in 1961, but the story actually begins a few years earlier than that.

In 1959, Dick attended Bradley University’s watchmaker school for about a year and a half to complete the program. He then moved on to an apprenticeship with Spaight Jewelry in Cedar Rapids from 1960 to 1961, after which he took a board test at the state level to be certified. In March of 1961, Dick moved back to Waukon. He got married to the former Shirley Hahn and opened his first store, a watch repair shop, above the B&B Clothing Store.

Plans are being made for the tenth annual Lighted Holiday Parade in downtown Waukon, scheduled for Monday, November 21, beginning at 6 p.m. The event coincides with extended Monday night business hours of Waukon retailers.

The parade will begin at the East Elementary School playground and travel Fifth Street NW south to West Main Street. Turning left onto West Main, the parade entries will venture to the stoplight intersection, where they will then turn south on to Spring Avenue for one block before turning right on to First Avenue SW and heading up to Sixth Street SW. The entries will then turn right and head north back to the East Elementary playground.

Helping to keep kids warm, the Waukon Knights of Columbus offered community support with two donations of six new coats of various sizes each to the Allamakee County Relief office and St. Patrick's Thrift Store. Funds for “Coats for Kids” were raised from donations at Knights of Columbus breakfasts. Pictured above, left to right, are Knights of Columbus members Pat Bresnahan, Chuck Votsmier and Bob Larkin, Becky Hawes from the Allamakee County Relief Office,  and Knights of Columbus members Msgr. Cletus Hawes, Lawrence Benda, Kai Becker. Submitted photo.
 

Dolan Jones, son of Gregg and Maura Jones of Waukon, has achieved Boy Scout’s highest rank, Eagle Scout. Jones is a member of Boy Scout Troop 64 under the leadership of Scoutmaster John Troendle and charter organization VFW Post 4117 in Waukon.

Only four percent of Boy Scouts are granted this rank after a lengthy review process. The requirements necessary to achieve the Eagle Scout rank take years to fulfill.
Community members are invited to attend an Eagle Scout Court of Honor, where Jones will receive his award, this Sunday, November 20 at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Waukon.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, November 7 at the Supervisors' boardroom to address a variety of topics, including the Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission Agreement, discussion of a request to quote County insurance and the Partnerships for Success grant contract. There were no comments heard or read during the Public Comments portion of the meeting.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach partnered with the 21st Century Community Connections Learning Center (CCLC) Kids Club program at West Elementary School in Waukon to offer a STEM-themed after school program. Thirteen first and second grade students met once a week for six weeks to participate in hands-on learning. The youth were color scientists and experimented with mixing and naming their own colors. They made homemade bubbles and bubble blowers and discovered which solution made bigger bubbles and flew the highest. The students also made boats out of aluminum foil and color changing slime. Lastly, they were able to showcase these activities to their parents and other students during the Lights On Afterschool showcase. For more information about joining 4-H, contact Becky Rea, Allamakee County K-12 Program Coordinator, at the Iowa State Extension and Outreach Allamakee County Office at 563-568-6345. Submitted photos.
 

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds are pictured at right during their visit to downtown Waukon Thursday, November 3 prior to the November 8 General Election. Joining the Governor and Lt. Governor during the tour of the downtown area were District 28 Iowa Senate candidate Michael Breitbach, District 56 Iowa House of Representatives candidate Kristi Hager, Allamakee County Economic Development Executive Director Val Reinke, Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Development Coordinator Ardie Kuhse, Waukon Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Stephanie Dugan and Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Waukon Center Director Erica Nosbisch. Downtown stops made by the Governor and Lt. Governor included Waukon State Bank, Teslow's Formalwear, Cunningham Hardware, Waukon City Club, KNEI Radio, Elliott Jewelers, Hartig Drug, Epic Wear Screen Printing/Embroidery, S & D Café and The Standard Newspaper. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
 

by Joe Moses

Life-long baseball fan Evelyn Folkers of Monona has been keeping a watchful eye on the Chicago Cubs' progress as they have made their way back to the World Series for the first time since 1945. Even an extended stay at Veterans Memorial Hospital hasn't kept the 105-year-old Folkers from keeping up with her Cubs, a team that recently recognized her for being a loyal fan.

Folkers became a fan of the Cubs in the mid-1980s after marrying her second husband, John Folkers, who was also a fan. John's son and Evelyn's step-son, Rich Folkers, is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1970 to 1977 for several teams, including the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals and the San Diego Padres. Evelyn has had a strong connection to baseball that continues to this day for the 105-year-old resident of Monona.