Community News

The Robey Memorial Library Board of Trustees is proud to celebrate National Library Week April 7-13 with Waukon and the greater Allamakee community. In the five years since Robey Memorial Library’s remodel, the library has seen the expansion of not just the facilities, but of the community’s support and participation in all that the library has to offer. It has been, and continues to be, a place to learn, discover, connect and succeed.

Visitors to Waukon frequently comment on how lucky the community is to have a library the size and caliber of Robey Memorial Library. It comes as no surprise, however, to those who frequent the library and have seen the steady growth of opportunities and experiences available there. From year-round programming that reaches everyone from newborns to seniors, to a robust collection that is both physical and digital, Robey Memorial Library is a truly exceptional facility and resource.

*Monday, April 1, 2019 Waukon City Council Meeting: Ordinance – Amending the code of ordinances of the City of Waukon, Iowa, 1998, by increasing wastewater utility service charges.

In the April 3 edition of The Standard, the headline and article text indicate that the above ordinance was approved. As clarification, the first reading of the ordinance was approved. A second reading of this ordinance will take place at the April 15 Waukon City Council meeting with a third reading to take place or to be potentially waived prior to final approval of the ordinance.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, April 1 to address a full agenda of items including a quote for an assessment of the City Hall computer network, property nuisance abatement and an increase to wastewater utility service charges.

Helping Services for Youth & Families is overwhelmed by the generous community response to the Rootin’ Tootin’  Mentoring Bowl-A-Thon held March 16 at Arrowhead Lanes in Waukon. A total of 94 bowlers and sponsors helped raise $8,089 to provide caring adult role models for youth in Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek Counties. Donations are still coming in. Mentoring Coordinator Kathy Schwartzhoff shares, “Bowlers really got into the theme wearing cowboy hats, vests, big belt buckles, and someone even brought a spur! It was so much fun!”

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 25 to address a full agenda of items including a request to place pinwheels and signage on the County Courthouse lawn for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, consideration of a Health Insurance Committee recommendation for Fiscal-Year 2020 health insurance for County employees and an appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) discussed the 6th Annual Allamakee County Chili Cook-Off held March 16 in Lansing. Reinke also discussed the Friends of Yellow River State Forest group with fundraising projects to include firewood sales and aluminum can collection and that grant writing is being looked into for a variety of projects.

Some years ago, Pat Schellsmidt was preparing to enter the so-called “real world”, when he graduated from Caledonia High School in 1975. After starting a family and many years of doing various types of employment, which most recently included janitorial work, Schellsmidt feels he has found his own little piece of “Heaven” as an independent business owner/operator in a carpet, upholstery, tile and grout cleaning franchise called Heaven’s Best Service Group.

Through mutual friends Adam and Rosemary Hagensick of Waverly, Schellsmidt learned of this opportunity and was encouraged to become the franchise owner for the northeast Iowa district, which includes Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties. Schellsmidt has lived in the Waukon/Lansing area for more than 30 years and he and his wife have two children who attend school in Waukon.

Waukon City Manager Dean Hilgerson and Field Services Coordinator Pete Hjelmstad with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) recently provided an update to The Standard regarding the tree removal process currently taking place in Waukon in preparation for the 2019 DOT Street and Sidewalk Project that will improve State Highways 9 and 76 entering, through and exiting Waukon.

Late Sunday afternoon, March 17, the Waukon Police Department responded to 46 Jean Road in the Park View Trailer Court in south Waukon for a report of the male complainant at that residence having a pistol pointed at him. As a result of the ensuing investigation, 25-year-old Dustin James Ward of Waukon was arrested and charged with assault while displaying a dangerous weapon (aggravated misdemeanor) and going armed with intent (class D felony).

Sunday evening, March 10, a Waukon Police Department Officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle that had a brake light out and failed to completely stop at the intersection of West Main Street and Fifth Street SW in Waukon when the vehicle sped up. During a short pursuit that followed, items were thrown from the vehicle which were later located by officers and included a glass pipe with burned residue and a clear plastic baggy filled with a white powder that field tested positive for methamphetamine, according to court documents.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, March 18 to address a full agenda of items including the Audit Report for Fiscal-Year Ending June 30, 2018, discussion of the Storm Sewer Inflow and Infiltration Investigation Report and an update from the Walk-On Waukon group.

At the 7 p.m. posted start time for the meeting, the council meeting could not be officially called to order with only council member Gayle Decker in attendance, along with Mayor Pat Stone, City Clerk Lana Snitker, City Attorney Jim Garrett and City Manager Dean Hilgerson also in attendance. While waiting for a quorum of council members - the necessary number of members required to conduct the official business of the council - Stone opened Public Comment.

Waukon High School welcomed the newest members into its local chapter of the National Honor Society at an annual induction ceremony held Thursday, March 7 at Waukon High School. Pictured above are this year’s new inductees, left to right - Front row: Olivia Rathbone, Madalyn Ellingson, Carrissa Bockman, Leah Bulman, Alison Sherman, Carter Benzing, Katelyn Benzing, Faith Palmer, McKenzie Cooper. Middle row: Abbie Brainard, Miann Barr, Sophie Halverson, Reed Kelly, Alyx Ede, Brock Hatlan, Luke Pladsen, Tyler Block, Ryan Hanson, Justin Strub, Logan Houg. Back row: Leslie Halverson, Michael Sweeney, Nolan Hanson, Owen Halverson, Logan Van Ruler, Nathan Johnson, Ellec Armstead, Soraya Reyes, Brady Beyer, Angel Flack. Not pictured: Hailey Regan. Photo courtesy of Waukon High School.