Community News

Youth Mentoring at Helping Services for Youth & Families is hosting a bowl-a-thon Saturday, March 19 at Skyline Lanes in Decorah. This event aims to raise $7,000 to connect youth in Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek counties with a mentor.

Currently, 75 people are involved in Youth Mentoring at Helping Services. Now is the time to strike up a conversation with friends, neighbors, club members and co-workers to form a team to bowl. Proceeds support those youth and adults being friends in mentoring, and involvement can happen in two important ways: register to bowl and/or donate to the cause.

The Waukon Music Department will be hosting its 12th annual Pops Concert Friday night, February 25 at the Waukon Middle School gymnasium. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with concert time set for 7 p.m.

The Pops Concert is an annual fundraising event sponsored by the Allamakee Music Boosters. The Pops Concert features high energy musical numbers from the 1950s through today. Groups performing will include the high school and middle school choirs, high school and middle school jazz bands, drumline, featured soloists, song and dance skits and emcees.

Monday, February 28 will be a day devoted to raising awareness for suicide prevention in Waukon and the surrounding community, as the Alive and Running Iowa organization will conduct a pair of events aimed at helping save lives and reducing suicidal behaviors.

Alive & Running Iowa began as a running event held annually in the small Iowa town of Dunkerton but has grown into a non-profit organization to help raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention. Co-founders Troy Belmer and Ryan Nesbit organized Alive & Running Iowa in 2009 in honor of their friend, Roger, who they lost to suicide when they were sophomores at Dunkerton High School in 1991.

Since then, in addition to conducting the annual running event in their hometown, the two also make presentations and work with numerous other agencies toward that same goal of suicide awareness and prevention.

The Iowa Holstein Association will hold its annual meeting and convention at the Empty Nest Winery Saturday, February 26, beginning with a 6 p.m. social hour. The banquet and awards will take place at 7 p.m.

Guest speaker will be Waukon High School graduate Parker Hesse, who played tight end for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League this past season and will share his perspective on how his motivation to play football correlates to the dairy farmer. Tickets can be reserved by contacting Lynnette Lyons at 563-419-1256 or by email at lyonsdl@acegroup.cc.
 

As part of its Live & Learn: enriching lives through monthly learning series, Robey Memorial Library in Waukon is offering a presentation on the Villisca Axe Murders of 1912 with Dr. Edgar Epperly Thursday, February 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the library’s lower level Community Room.

Sometime during the dark early morning of June 10, 1912, a person or persons unknown bludgeoned to death Josiah B. Moore, his wife, Sara, their children, Herman, Katherine, Boyd and Paul, and two overnight guests, Lena and Ina Stillinger. The sensational crime led to nearly ten years of investigations and trials and the formation of the Iowa Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Dr. Epperly, the foremost authority on Iowa’s worst mass murder, spent over 60 years interviewing eyewitnesses and key figures in the Villisca murder case in addition to examining historical records connected to the crime. He began his research in 1955 as a student in Cedar Falls.

A procession of dozens of law enforcement and emergency response vehicles from Allamakee County, the State of Iowa and surrounding areas (as evident in the surrounding photos) escorted Allamakee County Sheriff Deputy John Grampovnik to Martin Funeral Home in Waukon following his memorial service held at Iron Ridge Church in Waukon Thursday, February 3. Grampovnik passed away Thursday, January 27 at the age of 51 at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN following complications from a medical procedure.

Anyone interested in discussing the books they read with other readers, meeting new people, looking for a new author or genre to read but not quite ready to jump all in or who is at a loss for what to read next should join the Thursday Night Book Club the third Thursday monthly at 6 p.m. All are welcome. Book Club meets in person; to join virtually, contact Robey Memorial Library for participation information.

Discussions upcoming in 2022 include:
• February 17-Book with a red cover
• March 17-2022 All Iowa Reads title
• April 21-Published the decade born
• May 19-Book about women
• June 16-Fuzz by Mary Roach
• July 21-Set in summer
• August 18-Book featuring an outdoor activity
• September 15-Any title by author Kristin Hannah
• October 20-Iowa theme: author or title

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, February 7. The meeting was called to order with the removal of an agenda item relating to a Closed Session pertaining to discussion of a real estate matter. There was no Public Comment and the meeting moved into Department Reports. Street Superintendent Keith Burrett provided an update relating to the removal of snow from cul de sacs, general maintenance and ongoing preparations for the next snowfall.

Water and Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper discussed a water main break that took place January 28 with that break being found and repaired. Cooper noted that a vendor will be meeting with him soon relating to leak detection equipment that would be beneficial in quickly locating leaks and that he will relay the pricing information to the council. Cooper also discussed the effect of freezing and sub-zero temperatures on the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s processes.

by Kelli Boylen

Residents of Waterville now have a convenient place to pick up a few things they may need, thanks to Provisions.

Provisions is a community convenience store recently opened at 56 Main Street in Waterville by Clark White and Christopher Jordan. They describe Provisions as a mini-market serving the needs of area residents and visitors.

The store has both perishable and non-perishable items, including milk, bread, eggs and butter, along with baking supplies, cleaning supplies and canned goods.

Christopher and Clark welcome feedback from customers to improve and provide a product assortment that mirrors community members’ wants. “The reaction so far has been positive,” says Clark. “We really appreciate that, and want to learn and support what our community needs.”

The Allamakee County Veterans Museum will recognize Vietnam War veterans for their service and sacrifice by offering a program to the public in the Program Room of its new museum in the former Vet’s Club building on Allamakee Street in Waukon.

This Saturday, February 5 at 10 a.m. Carl Johnson of Waukon will present a program about the First Cavalry Division’s engagements during the Tet Offensive in February of 1968. This unit served as a combined arms, air mobile division. During the war, the “1st Cav” suffered more casualties than any other Army division, including 5,444 KIAs (killed in action).

There is no admission or membership charge to attend the presentation. The facility is handicapped accessible. Due to COVID-19, masks are encouraged but not required. Light refreshments will be available.