Community News

Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) in cooperation with the Clayton County Community Collaboration Council (5C) will be offering an interactive “Hidden In Plain …” exhibit for adults from the community during Parent/Teacher Conferences in the Allamakee Community School District Monday,

March 18 from 1:30-8 p.m. in the Waukon Middle School gymnasium. The exhibit is intended to serve as a drug indicator exhibit, providing an example of what most would call a typical bedroom for a teenager but also offering insight into what may also be some areas that are easily overlooked by parents/guardians and may provide evidence of teen substance use or abuse.

The Good Samaritan Society-Waukon recognizes employees and volunteers who represent those who consistently go above and beyond in their work for the Good Samaritan Society (GSS) each year. These individuals embody the eight traits of the GSS Way, which include Love, Joy, Perseverance, Honesty, Compassion, Acceptance, Courage and Humility. These individuals are selected by a nomination process and will then be considered for regional awards. All regional award winners are then eligible to be considered for national wards and celebrated at the Society’s Annual Operations Conference. Good Samaritan Society-Waukon has recognized three of its staff members pictured above, left to right, Lori Shogren (Health Information Management Director), Brookelyn Adam (RN Charge Nurse) and Judie Hanson (Activities Director), for their exceptional work and for how they live out the GSS Way while carrying out the mission of the Good Samaritan Society. Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, March 4 to address a full agenda of items, including discussion of the City’s sponsorship of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Urban Revitalization Plan and a broadband internet survey. The Public Hearing on the Fiscal-Year 2020 Budget was opened and closed with City Clerk Lana Snitker indicating that no written or verbal comments were received. There was no Public Comment.

The council moved into Departmental Reports with Police Chief Phil Young indicating that a new squad car has arrived and would be fitted this week. Young discussed that several applications have been received and will continue to be accepted with interviews to be set up in the coming weeks for open officer positions.

Plans have been announced to hold the 2019 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Waukon Sunday, March 17. Further details of the annual event will be printed as they become finalized.

EARL Public Transit, a program of Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation, is once again running the Leprechaun Loop Safe Ride Shuttle immediately following the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Waukon Sunday, March 17 until 8 p.m.

“Last year was a huge success. We made the roads safer for everyone,” Maura Jones, Transportation Director at EARL Public Transit, said. “For just a dollar per ride, let EARL be your designated driver. With two shuttle buses available, riders can hop on at one of the stops on the loop and they’re set.”

The bus stops will be located in front of City Club and Goodfellas, and Green Valley Getaway, and at the Vet’s Club. Per transit policy, alcohol is not permitted on any buses. For more information about EARL Public Transit, visit www.neicac.org/transit, follow EARL Public Transit on Facebook or call 866-382-4259.
 

Local teens will be tuning in at the library as Robey Memorial Library celebrates the annual Teen Tech Week™ March 4-9. The library will join thousands of other libraries and schools across the country who are celebrating Teen Tech Week™ to raise awareness about how Robey Memorial creates a space to extend teens’ learning beyond the classroom where they can explore, create and share content.

Teen Tech Week™ is a national initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of the initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technology, especially the types offered through libraries. Teen Tech Week™ encourages teens to take advantage of the technology at libraries for education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified, trusted professionals who can help them achieve greater digital literacy.

Allie Bieber, daughter of Ed and Amy Bieber of Waukon and a sophomore at Waukon High School, was crowned the 2019 Iowa Angus Princess at the Iowa Angus Association Annual Banquet held during the Iowa Beef Expo in Des Moines Wednesday, February 13. As a fifth generation Angus producer, Bieber said she is honored to be able to represent the breed and the industry in this capacity.

The application process through the Iowa Angus Association involved filling out an application form and writing an essay describing her involvement in the Angus industry, both as an individual and within a family capacity, as well as how she would intend to further promote the Angus breed. She was then contacted for a telephone interview and later received another call congratulating her and asking her to attend the Iowa Beef Expo.

Waukon resident Cameron Berges was recently nominated for a “Best Actor in a Musical” award from the Iowa Community Theatre Association for his role in the Elkader Opera House Players Fall 2018 production of “Mary Poppins.” Performing in his first Opera House Players production, Berges played the role of chimney sweep, Bert (pictured above). The Opera House Players were nominated for 13 awards this year for two productions, “Mary Poppins” and “A Comedy of Tenors”, the most nominations for a single theatre group for 2018. The 2018 Outstanding Awards of Excellence winners will be announced March 30 at the Iowa Community Theatre Association (ICTA) Gala held during the ICTA Festival scheduled for March 28-31 in Newton. Submitted photo.
 

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, February 25. There was no Public Comment during that scheduled portion of the meeting.

The first agenda item involved the consideration of signing a letter to the Iowa Legislature regarding HSB 155, now known as House File 487. Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker indicated that the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) and Emergency Management are opposed to the legislation affecting 47 Iowa counties with populations below 15,000.

Youth Mentoring at Helping Services for Youth & Families is hosting its annual bowl-a-thon Saturday, March 16 at Arrowhead  Lanes in Waukon. This event aims to raise $7,000 to connect youth in Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek Counties with a mentor. Currently, 103 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. Those interested can be involved in two important ways: register to bowl and/or donate to the cause.