Education

Winneshiek County Development Incorporated has awarded Iowa's Dairy Center and Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) with the annual Sustainability Award. This award is presented to any business or organization that has gone above and beyond in employing good sustainability practices.

Waukon Veterinary Service and Brodahl Veterinary Service of Waukon partnered with Zoetis and the National FFA Organization to donate a total of $635 to the Little Switzerland FFA chapter at Waukon High School through the FFA Support Program. The donated funds are provided to chapters through the sale of cattle and equine medical products at both locations. The Zoetis Industry Support Program was pleased to announce that the participants in the program helped contribute more than $1.3 million to local FFA chapters nationwide. Their goal is to support the development of individual FFA chapters across the country. The donated funds will be used to provide contest materials and other necessities for the Waukon FFA Chapter. The support from Waukon Veterinary Service and Brodahl Veterinary Service has allowed the chapter to reach out to more students through their participation in FFA contests.

Saturday Clover Kids met January 21 at the Waukon Wellness Center, hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Ross Geerdes, Allamakee County Conservation's Naturalist, joined the meeting to share his knowledge about watersheds and the animals that live there. He brought along many furs to share and explained how each animal was different and how they lived around or in a watershed. With Waukon being close to the Mississippi River, most of these animals are common in the local area. The Clover Kids were able to touch each fur (pictured above) and note the differences in color and also how the fur felt; for example, animals that lived mainly in the water, such as otters, had fur that felt oily in order to repel the water off of them. Geerdes explained characteristics of each animal and how that helps each animal thrive in its environment. The youth also had the opportunity to meet Sally the salamander and pet her, along with a toad (pictured below).

This past summer four members of the Little Switzerland FFA Chapter at Waukon High School participated in the State Agronomy Contest at Iowa State University in Ames. Pictured above, left to right, Austin Day, Jacob Dougherty, Kyle Gordon and Michael Schulte spent the day being tested on their knowledge of the agronomy industry. Included in the competition was the judging of hay, silage and seeds, placing classes of various crops, identification of seed, plants and insects, a general knowledge exam, and finally a team practicum completing a crop budget. At the end of the contest the team was recognized as the Iowa FFA Agronomy Champions. The team was led by Austin Day, who placed sixth individually, followed by Michael Schulte in ninth. The team was also recognized as the top team overall in crops judging, identification and the team event.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

A brief regular meeting of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District Board of Directors was held at Kee High School Monday, January 16, despite icy weather conditions that gripped the area that evening. With those weather conditions in mind, a Zoom video internet connection was used to network some of the Board members and school administrators into the meeting who were unable to travel.

The meeting was called to order by Board President Heather Schulte, with Board members Bobbie Goetzinger, Melanie Mauss, Kelli Mudderman and Bruce Palmborg in attendance, along with Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier and Board Secretary Marian Verdon. The Board approved Authorizations which  included the January consent items, minutes of the December meetings, bills for January, Secretary’s Financial Report for December, and the Student Activity and Food Service December Reports.

by Brianne Eilers

The icy winter weather early last week forced the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) to hold its regular monthly board meeting Tuesday, January 17 instead of Monday, January 16. Board member Tom Baxter was absent.

During his Superintendent’s Report, ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold noted that representatives from Shive Hattery will be coming for a pre-bid meeting regarding the middle school gym improvements. Herold noted that Shive Hattery will also be assisting with a summer project regarding roofing for West Elementary and the Middle School and High School threshold requirement, which requires an architect or engineer to look at the plans.

Saturday, January 7, Waukon High School senior band member Adam Gruman (pictured at right in photo at right) participated in the Northeast Iowa Bandmasters Association (NEIBA) District Honor Jazz Band Festival at Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids with 20 of the best high school jazz musicians in northeast Iowa. The band was directed by Myron Peterson (pictured at left in photo at right), president-elect of the Iowa Bandmasters organization and director of bands at Urbandale High school.  The students rehearsed throughout the day and presented a concert that evening.

St. Patrick School in Waukon will be holding its annual Mardi Gras fundraising event Saturday, January 28 at the Waukon Banquet Center. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Among the events taking place will be live and silent auctions for items such as those pictured above. There will also be a raffle for a Lifetime Tamarack Kayak bundle. Local businesses and individuals have donated items and funds to help make the event a success for St. Patrick School. For tickets and additional information, contact Jennifer Kovarik at 563-568-5318, Amy McCormick at 563-419-9336, Tami Stilwell at 319-361-6077 or St. Patrick School at 563-568-2170. Submitted photo.
 

BALANCING LANDSCAPE PLANTS AND DEICING SALTS

Winter is here, and with it comes inclement, icy, snowy weather. Many Iowans use deicing salts to rid their properties of snow and ice, and deicing trucks and snowplows also spread chemicals on roads and streets. But these chemicals can have a negative effect on landscape plants. Are there precautions to take to avoid damage?

Deicing salts can damage landscape plants when excessive amounts accumulate in the soil. The most serious damage typically occurs near major streets and highways where salt from run-off accumulates in the nearby soil. Excessive use of salt by homeowners also can create problems. Trees, shrubs, perennials and turfgrasses are susceptible to salt damage. Additionally, spray from passing vehicles can damage roadside plants, particularly evergreens.

Allamakee County Farm Bureau members who have a high school senior or student attending college are invited to have the student submit an application for the 2017 scholarship program. The deadline to apply for the 2017 IFBF scholarship is March 1.

The application is available online at www.iowafarmbureau.com. Under the members only section, choose the “Member Benefits” tab, then Scholarship & Grants. The application is a PDF document that can be filled out in the browser and printed off. The application must be mailed to the Allamakee County Farm Bureau office, P.O. Box 129, Waukon, IA 52172.