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A Wausau, WI man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Madison, WI in early June to wire fraud and money laundering, according to Chadwick M. Elgersma,  United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. Stanley Pophal, age 64, of Wausau, WI, pleaded guilty to defrauding investors out of $14.25 million and using investor funds to fund his lifestyle, and it was an initial investment meeting staged in February 2025 in Allamakee County by State of Iowa officials that started the wheels in motion toward Pophal’s eventual arrest and his entering of a guilty plea on those federal charges.

Two young ladies are pictured trying their luck in the Youth Fishing Tournament held along the riverfront Saturday morning as part of the 2026 Lansing Fish Days celebration that took place this past weekend, Friday-Sunday, August 7-9. Despite stormy weather challenges that arose several times throughout the weekend, the annual event featured a variety of great opportunities to catch some fun and good times. Photo by Julie Berg-Raymond, with more of her photos of this year’s celebration printed on Pages 12-13 inside this week’s edition of the Standard and available at the Photos link on this webpage.

Pick up the Wednesday, August 12, 2026 print edition of The Standard or subscribe to our e-edition or print edition by clicking here.

The Lansing man facing seven different charges in connection with a May 17 incident that ultimately involved a high speed chase and exchanging gun fire with an Allamakee County Sheriff’s Deputy has been declared competent to stand trial and will do so October 7 of this year, according to documents filed in Allamakee County District Court. Andrew Wayne Weber of Lansing faces charges of Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer, Kidnapping in the Second Degree, Domestic Abuse Assault, Assault Causing Bodily Injury, Eluding, Use of a Dangerous Weapon in the Commission of a Crime, and Carrying Dangerous Weapons.

The evening of Sunday, May 17, the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from the residence at 330 Dodge Street in Lansing. It was reported that a male subject, alleged to be Weber, was assaulting a female in the residence.

by Sharon Drahn
Contributing Writer

As employees were making their way to work at the Agri Star Meat and Poultry processing plant early last Tuesday morning, July 28, smoke was seen coming from one of the buildings on the Agri Star grounds on the west edge of Postville. A news release from the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Clark Mellick stated that the Allamakee County Dispatch Center received notification of a potential fire at the Postville facility at approximately 3:50 a.m.

The Postville Fire Department was dispatched to the plant and immediately responded to the call at 220 West Street. Upon arrival, it was evident that a major fire was ensuing and appeared to be coming from the laundry room area of the facility. It was later confirmed that the fire did, indeed, start in the laundry room and was deemed accidental in nature after further investigation that included on-site cameras viewed by fire officials.

submitted by The Allamakee County Food Shelf

The Allamakee County Food Shelf is entering a new chapter as it welcomes its new director, Deliverance Hope.

While every new beginning brings change, the mission of the Allamakee County Food Shelf remains the same: assisting individuals and families facing food insecurity by providing temporary food support to help alleviate hunger and hardship.

The Allamakee County Food Shelf has long been a place where individuals and families throughout Allamakee County can find a helping hand during difficult times. Whether someone is experiencing a temporary setback or facing an ongoing challenge, the Food Shelf strives to provide nutritious food in a welcoming and respectful environment.

by Jennifer Bissell

When the Waterville School closed following the 2017-2018 academic year, the people of Waterville stepped up to make sure their small community didn’t lose a much-needed space. Now in the eighth summer of operating as the Waterville Community Center, members of the community have continued to band together to make much-needed improvements to the former school to further enhance the property as a centerpiece for community activity and coming together that reaches far beyond just Waterville itself.

A BRIEF HISTORY
According to history compiled by Margaret Monserud, the Waterville community has had four schools in its history. The first was likely built shortly after the community was settled in the 1850s. The second was erected about 1886. With increasing enrollment, a larger building was planned in 1913.

by Kelli Boylen

Sarah Bell is the new Area Forester at Yellow River State Forest near Harpers Ferry, and she’s excited to be here. “I’ve always been drawn to the Driftless. I feel lucky every morning driving down State Forest Road,” Bell shared.
Bell, a native of central Iowa, spent the past five years as a District Forester in northwest Iowa with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). In that role she worked with private land owners on forestry management. In this new role she leads the management of the nearly 9,000 acres of publicly owned land at Yellow River State Forest (YRSF).

“My job includes doing what is right for the forest as well as for those who own it - which is all of us,” she says.

A pair of Allamakee County Veterans who served during the Vietnam War were recently memorialized and honored for their service during the 2026 In Memory Ceremony held June 20 on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Gary Dundee of Postville and Ed Blake of Waukon were two of more than 750 Vietnam Veterans - 38 of them from Iowa - included in this year’s ceremony after their families applied for their inclusion in the program.

IN MEMORY PROGRAM
The In Memory program was created in 1993 by the group Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, fueled by the belief that those who served in Vietnam should be honored and remembered for their service. It has since been managed by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) and enables the families and friends of those who did return home from their service in Vietnam, and later died, the opportunity to have them be forever memorialized for their service.

Coronation of the 2026 Allamakee County Fair Royalty took place Wednesday, July 15 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon, kicking off the 173rd Allamakee County Fair that was held July 15-19. Five area young ladies were vying for this year’s Allamakee County Fair Queen crown, which was bestowed upon Reegan Benzing (pictured at far right). Makenna Kurth (pictured at far left) was crowned the 2026 Allamakee County Fair Princess, with Addisyn Berns, Miriam Downing and Olivia Enyart also serving as members of the 2026 Allamakee County Fair Royalty Team. Benzing will now advance on to represent Allamakee County in the 2026 Iowa State Fair Queen competition, with that coronation event being held Saturday, August 15 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

submitted by Steve Hopkins, REAP Program Manager/Energy Coach for Clean Energy Districts of Iowa

Arla Wagner, owner of the small business Arla’s Sewing Room in Lansing, was one of four northeast Iowans to participate in a recent Congressional fly-in event to Washington, D.C. to advocate for re-opening the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), an energy-efficiency and renewable energy grant program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Wagner was awarded a REAP grant in 2025 to install two energy-efficient air source heat pumps (mini splits) to upgrade the heating and cooling system in her 1880s downtown storefront building on Main Street in Lansing. The grant funded 25% of the cost of the upgrade and has reduced her energy costs by 33% while improving the comfort inside her store in both the heat of summer and cold of winter.