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The Allamakee County Fair Board has announced that “The Pork Tornadoes” will be the headlining act for this year’s grandstand entertainment at the 2024 Allamakee County Fair. The four-man cover band that has played over 600 shows over the past dozen years throughout the Midwest is scheduled to perform Friday evening, July 19 in the grandstands, with “High Mileage” out of Viroqua, WI performing as the opening act that evening.

Self-described as “The Midwest’s Premiere Party Band” and coining the catch phrase “Your Girlfriend’s Favorite Band,” The Pork Tornadoes have played any number and variety of venues in their many years together, and have been one of the most requested bands to play at stops along the RAGBRAI route each year. With more than 20 years of live performance, studio recording and nationwide touring experience per member, the group’s musical talent is rivaled only by its attention to detail on sound quality and gear.

Part of the Alumni Night events celebrated Thursday, January 18 during the girls and boys basketball games at Kee High School in Lansing included the donation of $3,700 in proceeds from the sale of the “Awesome Rides” classic car calendar created and sold by 1973 Kee High School graduate Ray Burroughs of Waukon. Pictured above, Burroughs (left) presents a $3,700 donation check to Eastern Allamakee Community School District Superintendent Dr. Sarah Murray (right) during halftime of the Kee boys varsity basketball game that evening.

Monday, January 22, the Waukon Police Department responded to the 100 block of 1st Avenue SW in Waukon to conduct a welfare check. An initial report released shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday, January 23 by the Waukon Police Department indicates a deceased adult was found in the residence. The death is being treated as suspicious in nature. An autopsy will be performed by the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner. Local law enforcement officials say there is no threat to the public and the investigation is ongoing.

Authorities say no further information will be released at this time. The Waukon Police Department is being assisted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol.
 

Even with temperatures dipping below zero and wind chills hitting double-digit marks below zero, in addition to a difference in business conducted, both the Allamakee County Democrat and Republican parties reported favorable turn-out for their respective Monday, January 15 caucus events held in designated locations throughout Allamakee County. The Republican caucus featured declaration of preference for President of the United States among six listed candidates, while this year’s Democrat caucus focused more on business matters for the political party, with the traditional candidate selection for Democrats this year instead being offered through a Presidential Preference Card mail-in process ongoing through February 19 of this year.

Reflects on past year of court cases and other matters, offers insight into increase in extortion incidents, fence line disputes

by Anthony J. Gericke
Allamakee County Attorney

Having completed my first term as Allamakee County Attorney and gotten through all the difficulties that the Covid era brought to us all, I felt an update to the county on the current state of this office was warranted. It has been a busy time cleaning up the court docket, specifically, the trial calendar this past year.

In February, Felty Yoder was sentenced after jury trial to 45 years in prison. He was convicted of four counts of sexual abuse, five counts of violating the sex offender registry and one count of domestic abuse assault.

In April, Greg Winter was found guilty of driving while license barred-habitual offender. After jury trial he was given a 90-day suspended sentence.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Even with the town blanketed in the first heavy snowfall of the season, the third monthly session of “Let’s Talk Bridges!” drew about 30 attendees to the Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library Thursday evening, January 11.

ABOUT THE TALKS: WHO, WHAT, WHEN
The library’s executive director Derva Burke, along with the new Lansing bridge project’s overseeing engineer Clayton Burke and members of his team, are presenting the family-friendly monthly series - which is focused on learning about and celebrating the new bridge project at Lansing. Three of the regular four “bridge talks” team members conducted the talk last Thursday: Clayton Burke was joined by Paul Lindsey, senior field inspector on the project and Travis Konda, a structural engineer and project manager with the U.S.-based design firm, HNTB Corporation. Absent that evening was “everything engineer,” Anden Lovig.

Veterans Memorial Hospital physicians and staff announce that the First Baby of the Year born at the hospital for 2024 is Ivan Henry Christen, son of Seth and Allison Christen of rural Decorah. Ivan was born Tuesday, January 9 at 4:08 a.m. He weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20.75 inches long.

Grandparents are Bill and Linda Dotseth and Laurie and Bernie Christen, all of Decorah.

Thursday, January 4, the Perry School District in south central Iowa experienced a shooting incident at its Perry High School/Middle School in which one sixth grade student lost his life and four other students and one school district administrator were injured. In response to that incident, the Superintendents of both the Allamakee Community School District and Eastern Allamakee Community School District released statements to their respective school district communities. Those statements are being reprinted here with permission from each Superintendent.

Dear Allamakee Community School District Families,

ALLAMAKEE COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY CAUCUS LOCATIONS
Monday, January 15 at 7 p.m.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for registration
For more information contact Allamakee County Republican Chairperson Dan Emerson at 563-568-7361.

Mail-in ballots are replacing realignment and complicated math from previous caucuses

submitted by the Allamakee County Democrats

The Iowa Democratic Party has made a significant change to its caucus process this year. Democrats will vote for a presidential candidate using a mail-in ballot instead of the realignment and calculating processes of past caucuses.

Why is a mail-in ballot being utilized this year in place of the previous caucus process? Iowa Democratic Party Chairperson Rita Hart said in a news release the party is committed to making this the most inclusive caucus in history. “Iowans who work a third shift, families that may not have access to childcare, or seniors who are homebound can now make their voices heard in our presidential process,” she said.