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Person of the Year - Dr. Rick Hermeier ...  Nomination information for Dr. Hermeier centered around not only the funding endowments he has established in support of causes such as Waukon High School athletics, vulnerable youth in the local community and mental health matters within Allamakee County, but also in the care and compassion he exhibits by attending area events, meeting with local leaders and supporting individuals, organizations and causes with words of encouragement or thoughtful acts. Noted in letters supporting his nomination was his ample but quiet generosity in sharing his good fortune, directly benefiting many local and area entities.

by Lissa Blake

When University of Iowa senior Kristin Mathis landed an internship with the Kansas City Chiefs last fall, she had no idea they would actually end up winning the Super Bowl.

“Last year they had a really good season, but after losing some games at home, it was not looking good,” said Mathis of the Chiefs’ outlook late in this past National Football League (NFL) season.

Mathis, a 2016 graduate of South Hardin High School in Eldora, is the daughter of Jay and Maria (Welsh) Mathis of Waukon, both 1982 graduates of Waukon High School. Jay, the son of Bob and Jean Mathis of Waterville, returned to his alma mater as Superintendent of the Allamakee Community School District prior to the start of the 2018-2019 school year, bringing the family back to its parental roots in northeast Iowa where Maria was also raised by her parents, Dan and Sarah Welsh.

Due to increasing flu and flu-like symptoms in the region, Veterans Memorial Hospital has implemented visitation restrictions effective immediately.

- Visitors are now limited to immediate family members only.

- Visitors must be older than 18 years of age.

- People experiencing flu-like symptoms or colds should not visit any patients.

Iowa Representative Anne Osmundson of Volga filed her nomination petitions with the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office Wednesday, February 26 to seek re-election to District 56 in the Iowa House of Representatives this fall. Rep. Osmundson is pictured above filing her petitions with staff from the Secretary of State’s Office. She was first elected to her current position in the Iowa House of Representatives in 2018. Submitted photo.

Andy Kelleher, a New Albin resident, has announced his candidacy for the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors. One seat on the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors will be up for election in November of this year.

“My primary motivation to run is mental health,” said Kelleher. “Since Dennis Koenig is not seeking re-election to the Board of Supervisors, his seat on the County Social Services Board will also be open. I would like to pick up that torch and continue to advocate for the people of Allamakee County who may be suffering mental health issues or disabilities. It would also be an honor to be involved with the secondary roads system. Our secondary roads are vital to every aspect of life in Allamakee County, from agriculture to manufacturing to emergency services. I would love to maintain the history of excellent oversight the supervisors have provided for the secondary roads.”

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 2 to address a short agenda of items including a plat request, Manure Management Plan updates and Department Head updates. There was no Public Comment.

Manure Management Plan updates for Gibbs Dairy, West Ridge Ag and EY 1 – Eric Weymiller were reviewed. Board Chairperson Larry Schellhammer indicated that no changes have been made with the plans being accepted and placed on file.

Allamakee County Zoning Administrator Tom Blake provided an overview of the Gerald J. and Judy Sommer plat request. Blake indicated that the Sommers are dividing a property along Silver Creek Road to allow the sale to a family member and that the Planning and Zoning Commission and Plat Review Board have both recommended approval of the request. The Supervisors approved the Gerald J. and Judy Sommer plat request.

Bill Moody of Harpers Ferry recently retired from the Allamakee County Conservation Board after serving on that board for more than 30 years, being the lone remaining member of the original board established in 1989. Pictured in the photo above at the February meeting of the Allamakee County Conservation Board, at which Moody was recognized for his retirement and for his 31 years of service to the board, are current and past members of the Allamakee County Conservation Board. Left to right- Front row: Past and original board member Tom Weighner, current board member Jesse Delaney, now retired and original board member Bill Moody, current board member Jeanie Carroll and Allamakee County Conservation Director Jim Janett; Back row: Newly appointed board member Steve Weymiller, past board member Dennis Blocker, past and original board member Randy Hesse and current board member Dennis Koenig. Not available for the photo is current board member Marilyn Clark.

In response to the discussion that took place during the Public Comment portion of the Monday, February 24 meeting of the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors reported in the February 26 edition of The Standard in regard to the speculated closure of the Alliant Energy generating station at Lansing, Alliant Energy has issued the following statement through spokesperson Mike Wagner:

“We regularly review our generation resources so that we can operate our facilities in the best interests of our customers. No decision has been made regarding the future of the Lansing Generating Station.”

Allie Bieber, daughter of Ed and Amy Bieber of Waukon and a junior at Waukon High School, was crowned Miss Iowa Angus for 2020 at the 2019 Iowa State Fair held in August of last year in Des Moines. Although crowned last August, Bieber’s reign as Miss Iowa Angus did not begin until year 2020 and her first event was the National Western Stock Show held in Denver, CO during the month of January, where she is pictured in the submitted photo at right with Miss American Angus Eva Hinrichsen, who represents the entire United States for the American Angus Association.

Local favorite The Caminos will open Saturday night’s music event

The grandstand at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds will be rockin’ and rollin’ Saturday, July 11 in Waukon, as this year’s grandstand musical act for the Allamakee County Fair will feature some new flair and some local air.

The Allamakee County Fair Board has announced that it will be bringing the next best thing to legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bon Jovi to the fair this year when Slippery When Wet - The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute hits the stage to headline this year’s musical entertainment for the fair. This four-man group is led by frontman Jason Morey on vocals, Adin Stickle on guitar, Jimmi Botsford on bass and John Martin on drums.