Education

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors met Monday, September 19 for its regular monthly meeting. Board members present included Tony Becker, Bobbie Goetzinger, Melanie Mauss, and Arla Wagner, via Zoom due to illness. Kelli Mudderman was absent. EACSD Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier, New Albin Elementary School Principal Donna Thomas and Board Secretary Michele Martin were also in attendance, as well as new EACSD staff members Susan Pitzenberger, Nell Hogan, Theresa Havlik, Kathy Ehlers, Hud Johnston and Ashton Kolsrud.

After the adoption of the agenda, the September consent items, minutes of the August meeting, bills for September, and Activity and Food Service August Reports were approved.

The 2022 Regional County 4-H Council Retreat was strategic on bringing high school youth leaders together with a focus on deepening their leadership skills, beginning to build new councils, learning roles/expectations as 4-H ambassadors, providing peer networking and cross-county program sharing to kick-off the 2022-2023 4-H year. The retreat goal was to develop County 4-H Council members’ personal leadership while reflecting on impacts they can make on their county programs. 4-H County Council members are empowered youth leaders who provide youth “voice” and insight for their respective county program.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for a special meeting Friday, August 26 to address a brief agenda. Under the consent agenda, the following personnel items were approved: Steve Welper as a substitute bus driver and the resignation of Bridget Drain from her position as a paraprofessional at West Elementary School and as West Elementary Kids Club Coordinator.

The board also approved two open enrollments in and two open enrollments out. Under new business, the board set a public hearing on capital improvements for the Middle School HVAC project.

The All-School St. George Reunion was held Sunday, September 4 at Milty’s in Lansing. The reunion included all classes from 1959-1973.

The celebration included gift baskets from the various St. George classes. The recipients of those baskets were John Rea (1960), Betty (Spinner) Bell (1962), Betty (Hammell) Pohlman (1963), Denise Keenan (1965), Tom Spinner (1966), Rita (Mauss) Sanchez (1968), Bill Foley (1971) and Tom Thias (1972).

Wayne Kreitzer, who attended with his wife, Jan, was the only former St. George coach and teacher present at the reunion. The history and legacy of St. George High School is considered unique, and it created some very talented alumni. That legacy will be honored at a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the school’s closing that took place in 1973, with that celebration scheduled for October 15, 2023.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering Rock Weaving at two different times Friday, September 30. One class time will be from 3-5 p.m. and the second class will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 3rd Avenue NW.

Create unique and beautiful art pieces to display in the home or gift to someone special. Participants will learn to wrap and weave rocks with reed and sticks using basket weaving techniques, making textural little pieces of art.

For those who bring stones of their own that have special significance - a memento from a trip, a unique shape, a rock found on a beach or hike - the finished pieces become even more meaningful. Enjoy a peaceful, zen-like experience working with stone and fiber.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering Kids in the Kitchen - Fresh Salsa class Tuesday, September 27 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 3rd Avenue NW.

Have a Farmers Market adventure with kids shopping for fresh, healthy and delicious ingredients that the kids will use to make a fruit salsa. Get kids involved in choosing and making their own food and help them establish healthy eating habits for life. The class will talk about incorporating a variety of ingredients, taking advantage of in-season fruit, and then sample results and send participants home with their own fresh salsa.

The deadline for paid registration is September 20. To register for the class online, visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call NICC Waukon Center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
 

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a Cooking with Aronia (Choke) Berries class Tuesday, September 27 from 6-8 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 3rd Avenue NW. Nicknamed the super berry, Aronia (Choke)Berries are merging into the mainstream as a bona-fide health food and they are native to Iowa.

Participants can learn about the potential health benefits, how to use them and sample them in recipes that will be demonstrated. The tentative menu includes Aronia Hummus, Butternut Squash-Stuffed Aronia Pasta, Smoked Pork Loin with Aronia Chutney, Aronia Brussels Salad, Aronia Scones.

The deadline for paid registration is September 20. To register online visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call NICC Waukon Center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
 

The Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) will host an Iowa Department of Natural Resources Hunter Education Class Thursday, September 29 and Saturday, October 1 at the Allamakee Sportsman Club, 450 Highway 9, Waukon. Students will be required to attend both days of the class in order to receive certification.

September 29 the class will be from 6-9 p.m. and October 1 the class will be from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Students are asked to bring a water bottle both days and a sack lunch October 1. The class will be free of charge.

Yellow River State Forest event set for October 6

Public and private forests will be part of this year’s fall forestry field days, offered by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach. “The fall forestry field days are a great way to see some science-based practices and also connect with additional people from the forestry industry,” said Billy Beck, forestry specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

“Visitors will get to see public and private forest projects and hear about the struggles and successes of each forest.”

In addition to Beck, speakers include Ed Zaworski, plant pathologist with the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State; and Miranda Curzon, assistant professor in the Department of Natural Resources Ecology and Management at Iowa State.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is inviting everyone to celebrate the start of the school year at Fall Fest Thursday, September 8 from 5-8 p.m. The event is open to all and there is no cost to attend.

Community members are welcome to attend and enjoy music, inflatables, rides and carnival games for kids of all ages. Highlights include the U.S. National Guard rock climbing wall and jousting challenge, the NICC train, cotton candy and the Moo Mobile. The Bruce Bearinger Band will perform from 5-7:30 p.m.

The Fall Fest dinner will be pulled pork sandwiches and hot dogs, chips, cookies, root beer and water. Cost for Fall Fest is by free-will donation. Tickets for rides and games are available for purchase for 25 cents each, and most activities require only one or two tickets. The event will be located in the center of campus with parking available near campus.

The NICC Calmar campus is located at 1625 Hwy 150 South.