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A variety of Memorial Day activities are being planned for the upcoming holiday weekend, with all local communities returning to their more traditional Memorial Day observances this year Monday, May 30 after some modifications or cancellations over the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The traditions of parades, full cemetery programs and wreath laying are being planned in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving their country, with details of some of those celebrations being outlined below on this page.

VETERANS MUSEUM
An anticipated addition to this year’s Memorial Day weekend activities will be the opening of the Allamakee County Veterans Museum in Waukon. As noted in the decorated box at far left on this front page, a dedication ceremony for the opening of the museum is being planned for this Saturday, May 28 at 10 a.m., with other museum details also available in that same decorated listing.

by David M. Johnson

The former Allamakee County Courthouse on Allamakee Street in Waukon is a perfect setting for a museum; the building in itself has historic value and is housing pieces of area history that have their own significant value. Due to the efforts of a number of local history enthusiasts, this local attraction is now going to have a complementing venue of area interest ready to open in the coming weeks that will further enhance and continue the local historic perspective of this county and its residents who served their nation.

A donation of $18,000 was made to the Building New Traditions Campaign at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon through support from Innovative Ag Services and Land O’ Lakes. The Building New Traditions Campaign is dedicated toward constructing a new, larger all-species youth livestock show barn centrally located at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds, a project that also involves relocation, elimination and transformation of some of the other livestock buildings at the Fairgrounds. Pictured above at the donation presentation at the site of the new building construction are, left to right: Adam Bieber and Bobbi Baxter of the Allamakee County Fair Board, and Josh Dee and Dan Schmitt of Innovative Ag Services. For anyone who would like to make a donation to the fairground improvements project, further information and donation forms can be found on the Allamakee County Fair website at www.allamakeecountyfair.org. Submitted photo.

by Brianne Eilers

When asking most high school students what they would like to do after graduating high school, one might expect them to answer with something like attending college, military service or maybe working until they decide what they would like to do.

It isn’t often that a high school student might answer that question by saying that they are interested in becoming a wildland firefighter, but that is exactly how 2021 Waukon High School graduate Cody Palmer spent this past summer and fall after graduation. Cody graduated from Waukon High School May 24 of last year, had a graduation celebration at home May 27 and left to head west May 29 to pursue a firefighting interest that he might just have inherited.

Area residents are invited to jump in their favorite car, fire up the engine, roll down the windows, turn up the radio, and put on their biggest smile. Anna Rea says it is time to hit the road to show support for state parks in Iowa on a newly created tour visiting all 94 of Iowa’s state parks.

The crew for Anna Rea - a 1930 Ford Model A (pictured in the accompanying photo) - invites everybody to drive along for a visit to Yellow River State Forest Wednesday, May 18 as part of the tour. While the tour is emphasizing vintage or classic cars, participants can join the fun in any vehicle of their choice.

Friday, May 6, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens and the state of Iowa will honor two Iowa State Patrol Troopers who made the ultimate sacrifice this past year. Trooper Ted Benda - a Waukon native - and Sergeant Jim K. Smith each dedicated their lives to serving Iowans to protect and keep their communities safe, and each lost their life in the line of duty in 2021.

The public is invited to a Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony in Des Moines this Friday to honor these fallen peace officers, as well as the many other Iowa officers who have given their lives in the line of duty over the last 153 years. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Grounds, located east of the Oran Pape State Office Building at 215 East 7th Street in Des Moines.

The annual “Family Wellness Fair” will return after three years and will be held Wednesday, May 11 from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Health  and wellness testing, exhibits and activities will all be providing a complete evening of entertainment and education for families of all ages. Everyone in the area communities is welcome to attend this free event. Due to continuing COVID restrictions for health care facilities, all visitors will be required to wear a mask to the event. Free masks will be available at the door.

Kee High School seniors Daniel Wagner (left) and Kylie Troendle (right) were selected as the 2022 Kee High School Prom King and Queen at the annual event held Saturday, April 23. Troendle was selected from a Queen court that also consisted of fellow seniors Faith Boland, Lydia Corwin, Ashton Kolsrud and Cheyanne Troendle. Wagner was chosen from a King court that also included fellow seniors Tyson Cota, Whalen Hill, Landon Reams and Damon Weber. Photo courtesy of the Kee High School Yearbook.
 

Waukon High School seniors Hannah Teslow (left) and Vicente Quiroz (right) were selected as the 2022 Waukon High School Prom Queen and King at the annual event held Saturday, April 23. Teslow was selected from a Queen court that also consisted of fellow seniors Emily Bieber, Madelyn Helgerson, Hailey Houg and Morgan Stortz. Quiroz was chosen from a King court that also included fellow seniors Jaden Hager, Elliot Kooiker, Hunter O’Neill and Lincoln Snitker.