Top Stories

Elizabeth Fossum, 18-year-old daughter of Kevin and Julie Fossum of Waterville, was crowned the Alternate Iowa Dairy Princess for 2023-2024 during an evening ceremony held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines Wednesday, August 9. Fossum represented Allamakee County in this year’s competition and graduated from Waukon High School this spring. She will be a freshman this fall at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville studying agriculture business.

by Lissa Blake

Although a golf score of 100 is nothing to brag about, a golf course being open for 100 years certainly is. Saturday, August 19, the Waukon Golf & Country Club (WGCC) will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a special celebration. The public is invited to a program featuring interviews by Chuck Bloxham at 6:30 p.m., followed by a dance from 7-10 p.m. featuring John and Jim Withers, sons of longtime Waukon physician Dr. Bill Withers and the late Libby Withers, who were longtime social members of the Club, along with Keel Clemmens, who joined the Withers brothers and others in being part of the Bandmates, Brothers and Friends band that played a reunion event in Waukon in May of this year. A cash bar will be available.

by Dwight Jones

Webster’s Dictionary describes the word “unbelievable” as meaning “too improbable for belief”. While working on the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related stories that recently ran in this newspaper, I came to have a conversation with a gentleman by the name of Glenn McCune of Harpers Ferry. My wife and I have a summer cabin in Harpers Ferry and Glenn is our next door neighbor. A tall wooden fence separates our properties and though I’ve seen Glenn and spoken with him a few times, we had never really “talked”. That all changed when he stopped by recently and told me a story, an unbelievable but absolutely true story of Navy heroism from nearly 60 years ago that he has shared with very few people, not even family, until now.

Nearly 1,400 meals served in 18 days to local youth

During the month of July, local children ages 18 and under flocked to Zion United Church of Christ (UCC) in Waukon for the inaugural “Feed the Kids” program. In its first year, this program served 1,399 meals in 18 days, an average of just under 78 local youth each day who received a free hot meal due to the generosity of so many in the community.

The “Feed the Kids” idea was developed by several members of Zion UCC who wanted to make a difference in the community. The need for a summer feeding program during the month of July was identified.

Internationally-known mural artist Erik Burke selected to cap off plaza project

As part of Main Street Lansing’s revitalization of the plaza space at the intersection of Main Street and 3rd Street in Lansing, internationally-known muralist Erik Burke has been painting a new mural on the west wall of the Winke Law building, overlooking the plaza. The project started Monday, July 31 and continued throughout this past week.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) held a special bid letting for the replacement of the Black Hawk Bridge Tuesday, August 1. The project is anticipated to begin with initial site preparation work as early as this September and will continue through the year 2026, according to Field Services Coordinator Pete Hjelmstad of the Iowa DOT’s District 2 Office located in Mason City.

by Joe Moses

Prosper Waukon, the great-great-grandson of Chief John Waukon, after whom the city of Waukon is named, provided a presentation “The Waukon Family Legacy: Understanding Your Community’s Roots” followed by a Question & Answer (Q&A) session in the community room of Robey Memorial Library in Waukon Tuesday, July 25 with over 80 members of the public in attendance. The July 25 presentation was one of several stops for Prosper and his wife, Jan, while visiting Allamakee County, as he also made that same presentation Wednesday, July 26 at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing.

One of 34 nationwide selected to participate in Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program this year through George W. Bush Institute

Mollie Marti, Waukon native and founding CEO of the nonprofit Worldmaker International, has been named one of 34 Presidential Scholars as part of the George W. Bush Institute’s Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program. The program is a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at individuals serving United States military veterans and their families who are motivated to broaden their skillsets, knowledge and influence across the country.

Participants were selected after a rigorous application and interview process. Throughout the five-month program, Scholars will meet with a variety of distinguished professionals, educators and experts in veteran transition and leadership development such as the eighth United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald and retired United States Air Force General Alfred Flowers.

Colonel Daniel W. Lemon relinquished command of the 782d Training Group (TRG) to Colonel Eric D. Haler in a ceremony held July 19 at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita, TX. The ceremony was officiated by Brigadier General George Dietrich III, 82nd Training Wing commander. The 782d TRG is widely known as the most diverse training group in the Air Force, and includes courses in civil engineering, petroleum oil lubricants, hydraulics, electrical and environmental systems, avionics and more that are taught across five states, including Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Mississippi and Florida.

Sarah Hennessy, a graduated senior this past spring from Waukon High School and the daughter of Andy and Leah Hennessy of Waukon who works at the Waukon Family Aquatic Center as a lifeguard, was presented with a Life Saving Award by the City of Waukon and the Waukon Police Department at the Monday, July 24 regular meeting of the Waukon City Council. The award plaque presented to Hennessy reads as follows:

“This award is presented to Sarah Hennessy for her actions that saved a child’s life on June 17, 2023. On this day, Sarah performed life saving CPR on a victim who was having a medical emergency and was drowning. Sarah’s quick thinking and outstanding efforts gave someone another chance at life.”