Community News

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, June 7 to address a variety of matters including discussion of purchasing a police vehicle, an update from the Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator and discussion relating to the former C-Mart property.
There was no Public Comment and the council moved into Department Reports with Waukon Park and Rec Wellness Director Jeremy Strub noting that summer events are in full swing and that little league baseball and softball have started. Strub discussed staffing levels for Park and Rec and said that the Jaycee Shelter is in need of repair.

Water and Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper discussed water usage by residents increasing with lawn watering and that the sewer tie-in to the new Wastewater Treatment Plant will take place this week or next.

The opening of Luna Salon & Boutique at 1 East Main Street in Waukon as of April 1 of this year marks the realization of dreams of the new business’ co-owners, who also happen to be a Waukon mother and daughter pair. Robin Palmer and her daughter, Adrianna Rocksvold, joined their combined interests and their faith in one another to start the new venture.

“We both had a dream of being business owners, and had no experience as business owners,” they shared. “We decided to go in together and start a business that would be a unique experience and stand out to our customers. We share a love of fashion, style and having fun, and we want our customers to also.”

“Because of Organ Donation: A Collection of Inspiring Stories Celebrating the Gift of Life” includes story of Waukon High School 1978 graduate Paul Osterholm’s “gift of a lifetime” to Nicole Braatz

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Waukon native Paul Osterholm came home Saturday, May 29 and introduced a roomful of family and friends to Nicole Braatz - a woman whose life was saved because of Osterholm’s gift to her of one of his kidneys.

Children and families are encouraged to participate in Robey Memorial Library’s program series, Summer Explorers, to be held every other Wednesday from June 2 through August 11 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. The schedule for this year’s program series is as follows, with participants advised to dress appropriately as some of the programs can be very hands-on:

The Allamakee Community Players will be presenting “Theatre in the Park” each Saturday at 2 p.m. during the month of June at the Waukon City Park Amphitheater. Members of the Allamakee Community Players will be performing various skits and monologues, both humorous and dramatic, each Saturday afternoon, June 5, 12, 19 and 26.

All ages are welcome to attend. No admission will be charged, but donations are gratefully accepted.

Anyone near the Waukon Wellness Center Saturday, May 15 was sure to see bubbles floating over the roof. Clover Kids experimented with store-bought bubbles and homemade bubbles made out of dish soap, water and glycerin. They made their own unique bubble blowers out of pipe cleaners, including small, large, round and heart-shaped. Outside, they were challenged to test each solution (as evident in the photo at left above) and see which one produced the toughest, largest and highest flying bubbles.

Clover Kids also made elephant’s toothpaste. Using a mix of hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, yeast and water, they learned about chemical reactions. The hydrogen peroxide is broken down into water and oxygen. The extra water and oxygen mixes with the dish soap to create foam. It looks like foamy toothpaste being squeezed from a tube, but so big it’s fit for an elephant (as evident in the photo at right above).

WHEREAS, America is the land of freedom, preserved and protected willingly and freely by citizen solders;

WHEREAS, millions who have answered the call to arms have died on the field of battle;

WHEREAS, a nation at peace must be reminded of the price of war and the debt owed to those who have died in war;

WHEREAS, the red poppy has been designated as a symbol of sacrifice of lives in all wars;

WHEREAS, the American Legion Auxiliary has pledged to remind America annually of this debt through the distribution of the memorial flower;

THEREFORE, I, Pat Stone, Mayor of the City of Waukon, Allamakee County, Iowa, do hereby proclaim May 28 and May 29, 2021 as American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Days and ask that all citizens pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom by wearing the Memorial Poppy.
 

by Lissa Blake

Waukon native Paul Osterholm has shared his kidney donation story as part of a book that became available in late April of this year and also climbed to Best Seller status on Amazon just a few days following its release. Osterholm will be returning to his native hometown Saturday, May 29 with the woman he shares that story with and - as of October 2018 - also shared one of his kidneys with for a book donation presentation and signing event at Robey Memorial Library.

“Because of Organ Donation: A Collection of Inspiring Stories Celebrating the Gift of Life” is a collection of 25 organ donation stories from a variety of individuals, including NASCAR Cup driver Joey Gase telling his late mother’s story, with a forward written by Bill Ryan, President and CEO of Transplant Games of America and the Transplant Life Foundation.

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon will be hosting Main Street Story Walk in June featuring the children’s story “The Things I Can Do” by Jeff Mack. During the month of June families are encouraged to read this story at selected businesses as they stroll the downtown area. When joining in the fun, participants are reminded to practice social distancing and to be careful crossing the downtown streets for the safety and health of all. Seven selected businesses have a portion of the story posted in the front window of their establishment for viewing from the sidewalk. Each stop along the story walk will direct participants to the next location. Selected businesses are located on West Main Street, Spring Avenue and Rossville Road and are labeled and numbered on the above map at the following locations: 1. WAX by Amber; 2. Howards Home Furnishings;  3. Teslow’s Formal Wear;  4. KNEI Radio;  5. J Nails & Spa;  6. Mirror Images;  7. State Farm Insurance. Submitted image.