Community News

This November and December bundle up and take a stroll through downtown Waukon while enjoying a heartwarming story. Robey Memorial Library, in collaboration with The Oneota Valley Literary Foundation (OVLS), is hosting the Main Street Story Walk during the months of November and December.

This year’s featured story is the beloved classic The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, a timeless tale of winter wonder and childhood adventures. Families are invited to follow the story as it unfolds in the windows of four local businesses. The Story Walk offers a perfect opportunity for families to enjoy some fresh air, read together, and explore downtown Waukon.

After several decades of absence, the Waukon Police Department has announced that the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program is coming back to Waukon. The department’s new D.A.R.E. officer, Officer Alyssa Rostad (pictured above), recently completed a week and a half of intense training in Johnston. Officer Rostad will now be working with students from the Allamakee Community School District and St. Patrick Catholic Schools in Waukon.

D.A.R.E. is for “teaching students decision making for safe and healthy living”. Officer Rostad is eager to build lasting relationships with students while providing them with important educational topics and resources. For more information about the D.A.R.E. program overall, visit dare.org. Submitted photo.
 

R.W. Pladsen, Inc. in Waukon recently completed its Fill-A-Truck promotion held annually throughout the month of October to benefit the Allamakee County Relief Office in its efforts to help those less fortunate in the community. Individuals could donate a non-perishable food item to help “fill a truck” and also have their name entered into a weekly Friday drawing during the month of October for prizes that included gift certificates, t-shirts, mugs and other items donated through the generosity of Allamakee County businesses much appreciated by R.W. Pladsen, Inc. and all those benefiting from the promotion. Pictured above at the presentation of the donated food items to the Allamakee County Relief Office are, left to right, Steve Pladsen, Carli Mellick and Lilly Hart of R.W. Pladsen, Inc., and Allamakee County Relief Office Director Rebecca Hawes. Submitted photo.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Board of Trustees met for its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, October 28. The board heard a presentation, during which the results from the annual audit conducted by the auditing firm Wipfli were presented to the board.
VMH Administrator Michael Coyle noted that VMH received a “favorable report” and he also noted that the audit team was impressed with how easy the VMH staff was to work with and how organized everything was. There were no major issues found during the audit, just a few adjustments to be made.

Coyle noted that the hospital does not receive IPERS information until after the audit was completed, which was one of the adjustments, as  well as some estimates for the 2025 Medicare Cost Report. After everything was completed, VMH ended up with a positive bottom line of $694,000 for the year.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, November 3 to address a full agenda of matters including the Resolution approving the road closure for the Waukon Lighted Holiday Parade, discussion of concerns relating to garbage and recycling services for residential properties, and discussion of a request for proposal for City Hall ceiling repairs.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members present including Steve Wiedner, Nicholas Engrav, Dave Blocker, Tim Smedsrud and John Lydon. Hatlan noted that the agenda item relating to the consideration of hiring an assistant police chief has been removed from the meeting agenda.

This November and December bundle up and take a stroll through downtown Waukon while enjoying a heartwarming story. Robey Memorial Library, in collaboration with The Oneota Valley Literary Foundation (OVLS), is hosting the Main Street Story Walk during the months of November and December.

This year’s featured story is the beloved classic The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, a timeless tale of winter wonder and childhood adventures. Families are invited to follow the story as it unfolds in the windows of four local businesses. The Story Walk offers a perfect opportunity for families to enjoy some fresh air, read together, and explore downtown Waukon.

Proboscis Theatre Company announces the regional premiere of Prospero’s Black Box, which will take place at the Three Dolphins Theatre in Waukon Saturday, November 8 at 3 p.m. Three Dolphins Theatre is owned and operated by Katie O’Regan of Waukon and is located at 501 3rd Street SW in Waukon.

Prospero’s Black Box is created and performed by Proboscis co-artistic director Jeff Mills, who is an alumnus of the (now closed) National Theatre Conservatory at the Denver Center Theatre Company, where he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree. Now based in Chicago, IL, Mills is returning to Denver, CO after performing Prospero’s Black Box at festivals in Hydra in Greece, Prague in Czech Republic, Verona in Italy, Santa Barbara CA, and Chicago, IL.

Midwest Veterans of America will be honoring area Veterans at an event this Saturday, November 8 at the new Fiesta Vallarta location (formerly AJ Bar & Grill) on Main Street in Waukon in celebration of Veterans Day, which is observed November 11 of each year. The free event will include an awards presentation that will begin at 1 p.m. honoring approximately 40 area Veterans.

A directive from the Waukon Mayor’s office has now changed the official trick-or-treat date within the Waukon community for this weekend. Originally set for this Friday, October 31, the date has now been changed to Saturday, November 1 from 4-8 p.m.

The change was made due to several Waukon High School athletic teams competing this weekend in State level competition. The Waukon boys and girls cross country teams will compete Friday at the State Meet in Fort Dodge, the Waukon football team will be playing in the second round of the State Play-Offs at Alburnett that Friday evening, and the Waukon cheerleading squad is also competing at State competition this weekend.
 

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Waukon will be hosting its “All Hallows Eve” event this Friday, October 31. Trick-or-treaters are invited to traverse a path through the building to receive treats by entering the church building at 27 2nd Avenue NW through the decorated door indicated on the directive signage.

Treats will be available for all ages, plus each child will receive a book of their choice before exiting onto 1st Street NW on the west side of the building. The decorated door will be open on 2nd Avenue NW for participants to walk right in from 5-7 p.m.; there is no need to knock.