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Focused tissue collection zone expanded since Thursday meeting following one new confirmed CWD case and five more suspected

by Joe Moses

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) held an informational meeting open to the public Thursday, January 18 at the Ethel Robinson Meehan Community Center in Harpers Ferry in preparation for the January 20-28 scientific deer collection effort, part of the ongoing monitoring of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild Iowa deer. During the public meeting, DNR Wildlife Management Biologist and CWD Coordinator Terry Haindfield conducted a presentation to approximately 60 local residents in attendance highlighting Iowa's CWD-related information and the scientific deer collection effort taking place this week in Allamakee and Clayton Counties in an effort to further monitor and combat the spread of the disease.

by Lissa Blake

More than 30 people attended a legislative forum Saturday, January 20 hosted by Iowa Senator Michael Breitbach of Strawberry Point and State Representatives Kristi Hager (District 56) of Waukon and Mike Bergan (District 55) of Dorchester. Each of the three legislators - all of whom are Republican - gave a short introduction explaining their recent work in Des Moines.

Hager said she is working on a bill which would allow State departments to save up to 10 percent of their general funds, as long as the budget is growing every year. She also has been working on a bill that would allow the public to purchase property owned by the State that has been vacant for over five years. If someone is currently leasing the property, they would have the first chance to buy it.

Voter registration will be available at caucus sites that evening

Registered Republican and Democrat voters across the state of Iowa have the opportunity to participate in Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses scheduled for Monday, February 5. To attend a caucus, voters must be registered as either Democrat or Republican, but registration will be allowed at each of the caucus sites. Local caucus locations for both political parties for the February 5 event are featured below and at right in the bordered boxes.

Allamakee County Republican Party 2018 Caucus Locations
Monday, February 5 at 7 p.m.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for registration

The Waukon Fire Department was called out to Mulligan’s Grill Pub at 610 Rossville Road in Waukon around 9:40 p.m. Tuesday night, January 23 for a fire that appeared to have gotten its start in the ceiling of the structure shortly after the business closed for the evening. In addition to a full crew of Waukon volunteer firefighters, the Decorah Fire Department was also called in for use of its aerial ladder truck in order to effectively reach the fire area, cutting a hole in the roof of the building (as seen in one of the accompanying photos). Crews remained on the scene into the early morning and fire officials say the building suffered significant interior damage and is likely a total loss but that nobody was injured in the fire. The State Fire Marshal will be assessing the scene Wednesday morning to determine the cause of the fire.

Meetings in Harpers Ferry and Elkader; Permits for January 20-28 special collection effort will be available

In its continuing efforts to monitor chronic wasting disease (CWD) in northeast Iowa, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a special scientific deer collection effort January 20-28 in targeted areas of Allamakee and Clayton counties near where chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in wild Iowa deer (see map accompanying this story on Page 12A). The collection effort will be discussed during two public meetings scheduled for this Thursday, January 18 - one at 2 p.m. at the Ethel Robinson Meehan Community Center in Harpers Ferry and the other at 6:30 p.m. at the Keystone AEA building in Elkader.

Physicians and the entire staff at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon announce that the hospital's First Baby of the Year honors were won by Dexter Douglas Dietrich, newborn son of Nicole and Dillon Dietrich of Waukon.

Dexter was born Friday, January 12, 2018 at 12:50 p.m., weighing seven pounds, seven ounces and measuring 21 inches long. Dr. David Schwartz and Dr. Benjamin Nesseim assisted with the delivery. Dexter joins his big brother, Dayton, age three, at home.

As the First Baby of the Year, this fortunate child and family received the following generous gifts compliments of these area merchants:

Award nominations due by February 23
Princess applications due by March 1

The 2018 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet will be held Saturday, March 24 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. The meal will be served from 7-8:30 p.m., with the program starting at 8 p.m. The annual celebration recognizes the importance of the dairy industry in Allamakee County and the contributions dairy families make to the industry.

Every year, top producers from the county are recognized at the banquet. In addition, several other awards are presented that evening. The Allamakee Dairy Promotion Board and the Allamakee County Extension Office are accepting nominations through February 23 for the following awards:

Iowa Senator Michael Breitbach and Representative Kristi Hager will be hosting a legislative forum this Saturday, January 20 at the Allamakee County Farm Bureau building located at 14 First Avenue NE in Waukon. The forum is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and will offer the public an opportunity for discussion with their area legislators.

Tuesday, January 9, the Waukon Police Department and the Allamakee County Sheriff's Department conducted a search warrant at 61 Jean Road in Waukon. As a result of the search, multiple arrests were made on multiple drug-related charges.

Blake Pohlman, age 29, of Waukon was arrested and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver (class C felony) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Christine Bark, age 30, of Waukon was arrested and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine (second offense) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in a pair of regular sessions within this past week's time due to the New Year's Day holiday falling on the board's regular scheduled meeting day of Monday. The board met in that holiday-delayed session Tuesday, January 2 before returning to its regular Monday meeting day for its next regular session Monday, January 8. Coverage of both meetings follows:

TUESDAY, JANUARY 2
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Tuesday, January 2 due to the New Year's Day holiday falling on its regular Monday meeting day. The board addressed a full agenda of items including the Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund (NEIRHTF) program review and Fiscal-Year 2019 funding request, the recommendation from the Compensation Board for Fiscal-Year 2019 and the consideration of a resolution regarding personnel in the County Auditor's office.