Community News

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in a pair of sessions this past week. Coverage of both the Board's Thursday, September 22 special session and Monday, September 26 regular session appears below.

SEPTEMBER 22 SPECIAL SESSION
The Board of Supervisors met in a special session Thursday afternoon, September 22 to discuss a few specific issues, including the County's right to appeal the issuance of final construction permits pertaining to Regancrest Holsteins and to discuss the Big Slough flooding debris field on the Mississippi River. The meeting was called to order by Board Chairman Larry Schellhammer, and Supervisors Dan Byrnes and Dennis Koenig were also present.

Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative (ACEC) held its 78th annual meeting Monday evening, September 12. Cooperative members approved reports from fiscal year 2015 and returned incumbents Arlyn R. Fossum of Waukon, Roger Arthur of Sumner and Robert V. Swenson of Clermont to their respective seats on the board of directors.

Brian Rude, Vice President External and Member Relations, Dairyland Power Cooperative, gave a brief history of the generation and transmission cooperative, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Dairyland was created by a group of distribution co-ops to ensure affordable and reliable electric power for their members. Rude explained that although coal will continue to be a main fuel source, Dairyland is a leader in seeking new renewable energy sources.

Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (Casey’s), in partnership with Northeast Iowa RC&D and the Byways of Iowa Foundation (BIF), has been hosting a promotion the entire month of September 2016 to help raise funds for public art to be installed along Iowa’s Scenic Byways. Although supporters can donate to Art Along the Byway at any Casey’s in Iowa, the Casey’s General Store in Waukon has been in support of the initiative and hopes to continue to help raise funding for the project.

“We are extremely excited about the opportunity to install a new public art piece in Waukon and encourage everyone to stop in to Casey’s and contribute. We would really like to show that our community is supportive of public art not only here, but in small towns across the state,” stated Ardie Kuhse of Waukon Economic Development Corporation.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital, together with Elliott Jewelers of Waukon, will be hosting the 12th annual Women’s Health Day wellness event and luncheon Tuesday, September 27 at the Waukon Banquet Center. All ages are invited to attend this educational event, beginning at 11 a.m. with a wellness fair offering a variety of free health tests and information, and a salad luncheon and program held from Noon to 1 p.m.

Tickets are available in advance at Veterans Memorial Hospital and Elliott Jewelers. Tickets will also be available at the door, until the event is sold out.  The proceeds from this event will be used to purchase a new noninvasive transcutaneous bilirubinometer for assessing the risk of jaundice in newborn babies in the Maternity Services Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, September 19 to discuss a full agenda of items, including a Street Department end loader, the Regan/Leschensky alley project and the proposed storm sewer utility ordinance.

During the Public Comments portion of the meeting, members of the Waukon High School girls cross country team were present and addressed the City Council regarding a proposed 5K run that would be a fundraising benefit for local teacher and coach Joe O’Neill and other cancer patients and would be coordinated with the Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness Department. Park, Recreation and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub explained that tentative dates include either October 8 or October 15 and that a course has been mapped out. Mayor Duane DeWalle and the City Council were supportive of the event. Strub and the students plan to have details finalized for approval at the upcoming special session of the City Council.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, September 19 at the Meehan Memorial Public Library in Lansing per its arrangement to try and meet at all the public library locations within the county throughout the year. Discussion took place on a variety of issues, including property insurance endorsements relating to the new Public Safety Center, hiring temporary election personnel and consideration of liquid propane (LP) bids.

Sister Mary Anne McCormick, formerly of Waukon, will celebrate 50 years of religious life at a Mass and dinner with Presentation sisters, family and other invited guests to be held Saturday, September 24 at Sisters of the Presentation Mount Loretto, Dubuque. Also celebrating is Sister Marjorie Loughren of Cottage Grove, MN.

The life and spirit of 18th century Presentation Irish foundress Venerable Nano Nagle has inspired the personal faith journeys of Sisters Anne and Marjorie, who chose special scriptures with the theme “Blessed by God’s gift, strengthened by grace, received with gratitude” for their celebration.

Entering the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary September 8, 1966, Sister Mary Anne professed final vows in 1974 and Sister Marjorie in 1975. Sister Mary Anne McCormick, daughter of the late Leslie and Bernice (Ryan) McCormick of Waukon graduated from St. Patrick High School in Waukon and Clarke University in Dubuque.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Tuesday, September 6 due to the Labor Day holiday delaying its regular meeting a day. A full agenda included a discussion of the August 23-24 storm and the City's storm sewer and detention basin, the WW Homestead Dairy waste water agreement and the appointment of a new Planning & Zoning Board member.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in a pair of regular sessions within the past week due to the Labor Day holiday moving its first regular session in September to a Tuesday. Coverage of both the Tuesday, September 6 and Monday, September 12 regular sessions appears below.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in a delayed regular session Tuesday, September 6 due to the Labor Day holiday on its usual meeting day, Monday, September 5. The meeting agenda included the Public Hearing for the Columbus Road Paving Project, the Resolution creating a Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee and consideration of extending the lease agreement with Jane Regan for the Makee Manor records.

A dozen members represented the Eitzen Lions Club at the Sixth Annual Puppy Days held at the Ft. Dodge Correctional Facility in Fort Dodge Sunday, August 28. The Eitzen Lions Club members joined members of several other clubs in taking a charter bus to the facility. The Eitzen Lions Club's Legacy Award was to sponsor a Leader Dog involved in the program, and that dog was named in honor of Lion Elmer Thies. Pictured above, left to right, are: Front row - Ron Vonderohe, Spencer Yohe, Dale Meiners with leader dog Elmer T, Joann Meiners, Barb Feil and Judy Fruechte. Back row - Marveen Feil, Leon Feil, Daren Feil, Lawrence Fruechte, Greg Mohwinkle, Cathy Mohwinkle and Puppy Trainer James Schultz. Submitted photo.