Community News

Saturday, December 13 at 2 p.m., the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will present programs from its Veterans History Project at the New Albin Community Center. The public is invited to attend. There is no admission charge.

A video history of the Colsch family military veterans, including U.S. Army Bomber pilot John Colsch killed in WWII, will be presented. Captain John Colsch was a B-26 Bomber pilot lost in combat over France. Colsch family members will be present to share comments and answer questions.

A video interview by Chuck Bloxham with U.S. Army Veteran John Curtin of Waukon will also be played. Curtin will be present to share comments and answer questions. In 1968 and 1969, Curtin served in the U.S. Army as a squad leader in an infantry company with the 1st Cavalry Division during the War in Vietnam.
 

Each year on Giving Tuesday Peoples State Bank presents donations to local community food pantries in the area. For this year, Peoples State Bank donated a total of $9,500 to local food pantries, including to the West Grant Lions Club, Clayton County Food Shelf, Coulee Cap Food Pantry, Gays Mills Food Pantry, Lancaster Food Pantry, Living Faith Food Pantry and Allamakee County Food Shelf. Pictured in the submitted photo above taken at the donation presentation to the Allamakee County Food Shelf are, left to right, Lesa Moose of Peoples State Bank, Allamakee County Food Shelf volunteers Kate Wooden, Dennis Nebendahl and Mary Axmear, and Peggy Berns of Peoples State Bank.

The Waukon High School Choir, under the direction of Molly Woodard, will be sharing its music with area churches during its 30th Annual Christmas Church Tour this Sunday, December 7, according to the following schedule:

St. John’s Lutheran  8:30-8:45 a.m.
Old West Paint Creek Lutheran  9:00-9:15 a.m.
First Presbyterian  9:30-9:45 a.m.
First Baptist  10:00-10:15 a.m.
Zalmona Presbyterian  10:30-10:45 a.m.
St. Patrick Catholic  11:00-11:15 a.m.
St. Paul’s Methodist  11:30-11:45 a.m.

The community of Waukon has a full schedule of events in place as the holiday season jumps into full gear. From an ongoing local shopping promotion to a busy day of Holiday Shop Hop and other events and activities this Saturday, December 6, area residents and visitors can join in the multitude of events described below:

Grand opening open house event this Friday at the former Nightingale Pharmacy building

Wendy Smethurst is turning a dream she has had for “sew” long into a reality with the opening of her new business, Happy Heifer Quilting Company, just this past month. Smethurst recently purchased the former Nightingale Pharmacy building at 606 Rossville Road in Waukon and has transformed that building into what she calls a “one-stop shop” for quilters.

Quilters of any skill level are welcome to stop in and purchase fabric, batting, notions, patterns, kits, Janome sewing machines and Arrow quilting furniture. Smethurst can also do quilting for customers with her Janome long-arm machine.

“Waukon didn’t have a quilt shop and there are a lot of quilters in northeast Iowa,” Smethurst noted, adding that she also enjoys quilting.

The LA Communications Non-Profit ATV/UTV Fall Fun Ride held October 18 generated $20,000 to support local organizations through sponsorships and entry fees from those participating in the ride. The annual event, which operates under the motto “Raising funds for local nonprofits one ride at a time,” celebrated its fourth year by achieving a fundraising milestone for Allamakee County.

This year’s proceeds of $20,000 was split between two local non-profits, with $10,000 donated to the Allamakee County Agricultural Association and $10,000 dedicated to the Allamakee County K9 Unit. Pictured in the photo above at the donation presentation to the Allamakee County K9 Unit are, left to right, Jacquie Byrnes of the Allamakee County E-911 Emergency Communications Center, Annette Franzen and Les Askelson of LA Communications, and Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick.

Waukon High School Choir 2025 Tour of Churches scheduled for December 7

The Waukon High School Choir, under the direction of Molly Woodard, will be sharing its music with area churches during its 30th Annual Christmas Church Tour Sunday, December 7, according to the following schedule:

St. John’s Lutheran 8:30-8:45 a.m.
Old West Paint Creek Lutheran 9:00-9:15 a.m.
First Presbyterian 9:30-9:45 a.m.
First Baptist 10:00-10:15 a.m.
Zalmona Presbyterian 10:30-10:45 a.m.
St. Patrick Catholic 11:00-11:15 a.m.
St. Paul’s Methodist 11:30-11:45 a.m.

The Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation remind area motorists that the car ferry being utilized for river crossing between Iowa and Wisconsin at Lansing will be adjusting its hours of operation during the Thanksgiving holiday this week. Both Thanksgiving Day, this Thursday, November 27, and the following Friday, November 28, the ferry will operate on a reduced 12-hour schedule, instead of its usual 16-hour daily schedule.

Sunday, November 16, Troop 64 Scouts and Leaders retired 681 faded, worn, and tattered U.S. flags collected from flag depository boxes located within Waukon. As a reminder to residents who have flags in such shape, there are two flag depository boxes located in Waukon where old and worn flags can be deposited for proper disposal, including one on the second floor of the Allamakee County Courthouse and the other just inside the entrance to the Waukon City Park. Pictured above, Troop 64 Scouts Theodore Wilkes (left) and Gabriel Hammell (right) prepare to properly retire one of those 681 worn and tattered flags. Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, November 24 to address a full agenda of matters including the consideration of cybersecurity training options, the consideration of the Third Reading of Amendment #19 to Zoning Ordinance L relating to Wind Energy Conversion, and the consideration of hiring a part-time, as-needed employee as a drone operator for the Allamakee County Sheriff’s office.