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Wed
27
Sep

Allamakee County Housing Study is underway; Public input still needed

by Lissa Blake

More than 20 people attended a kick-off meeting for a countywide housing study for Allamakee County Wednesday evening, September 20. The meeting was hosted by the Allamakee County Housing Needs Assessment Countywide Task Force in order to launch the study, which is expected to take approximately nine months to complete.

The meeting was facilitated by Sara Neuzil of Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission. Recently, she has completed similar studies for Winneshiek and Clayton counties, the 7 Rivers Alliance and the City of Oelwein. The study invites stakeholders from Harpers Ferry, Lansing, New Albin, Postville, Dorchester, Waterville and Waukon to weigh in about both the challenges and opportunities facing people living in the area.

Wed
20
Sep

Homecoming Week at Waukon and Kee High Schools!


Court selected for Homecoming 2017 being celebrated at Waukon High School this week...

Kee High School 2017 Homecoming Court selected ...

Court selected for Homecoming 2017 being celebrated at Waukon High School this week...

Wed
20
Sep

Called to service: Locals rally to help Hurricane Harvey victims


Left to right: Tim Smedsrud and Curtis Dundee of Waukon with the load of donated supplies they collected from northeast Iowa residents and businesses and delivered to Hurricane Harvey victims in Texas. Submitted photo.

by Lissa Blake

When disaster strikes in a far-off place, people often wonder if there is something they can do to help. And when Decorah native Tim Smedsrud and friend Curtis Dundee, both of Waukon, heard about the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey recently, they answered the call.

“I have this 6’ x 12’ trailer and I just thought maybe there was something we could be doing with that,” said Smedsrud.

Smedsrud, an Allamakee County Sheriff’s Deputy, called his friend, Dundee, who works for Bruening Rock Products.

“I called and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got this crazy idea. What do you think if we take donations and make a trip down to Houston?’” recalled Smedsrud.

Dundee jumped at the chance.

It wasn’t the first time the two men, who met at Iron Ridge Church, would join efforts to help others in need. In March of this year, they were also involved with a group that traveled to Haiti for hurricane relief through Upstream International.

Wed
20
Sep

Andy Kelleher announces candidacy for District 56 seat of Iowa House

Andy Kelleher ...
Andy Kelleher ...

Andy Kelleher, a New Albin resident, has announced his candidacy to represent the Iowa House of Representatives 56th District, which includes all of Allamakee County and most of Clayton County.

“I’m running for the Iowa House of Representatives because I believe that a strong, healthy community is the key to better lives in Allamakee and Clayton Counties,” Kelleher said. “We need to transform our district into a place that not only welcomes new businesses but actively encourages them. To that end, we absolutely need to ensure that our schools remain well funded. We need to make sure our rural hospitals have enough funds to stay open. We need to help communities build and maintain their infrastructure; while we may not be able to make our roads wider, we can make them smoother. We need to support our local farmers along with local business owners. Our lack of population shouldn’t mean we have a lack of opportunity.”

Wed
13
Sep

Waukon High School wins NEIC Sportsmanship Award for first time ...

Students from Waukon High School accepted the Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) Sportsmanship Award from students at Decorah High School during the Tuesday, September 5 volleyball match between the two schools played at Decorah. Waukon was named the award winner for the 2016-2017 school year, the first time the school has ever won the award, although it has placed second in each of the last three years to Decorah, which has won the award the last seven years in a row. "This is my proudest moment so far here as an AD," Waukon High School Activities Director Brian Hilsabeck said of the award. "It's a testament to how we do things here at Waukon High School." The award winner is determined by a scoring system that event officials turn into their respective State Athletic Associations - the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Athletic Association - for a school's fans, athletes and coaches.

Wed
13
Sep

Two-hour parking limit begins to be enforced on Main Street in Waukon ...

Residents and visitors to downtown Waukon may have already noticed, either officially or otherwise, the new two-hour parking restriction in place on the main business block of West Main Street. In response to initial parking concerns expressed by downtown business owners and patrons, the ordinance establishing the two-hour parking limit on both sides of West Main Street from its intersection with Allamakee Street (stoplight intersection) to its intersection with First Street NW and SW was officially passed by the Waukon City Council in June of this year, but Waukon Police Chief Phil Young says enforcement of the new regulation wasn't really possible until after the RAGBRAI visit to Waukon in late July. As the sign in the adjacent photo indicates, the restriction is in place from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day and has been met with mixed reaction from downtown business owners and patrons, resulting in a committee being formed to further assess the situation.

Wed
13
Sep

World-renowned "Save A Life Tour" visits Waukon High School ...

Students at Waukon High School received some first-hand experience with the effects of impaired and distracted driving when the world-renowned Save A Life Tour: Safe Driving Awareness Program visited Waukon Friday, September 8. Freshman through senior students first all attended an hour-long assembly that began at the start of the school day with a thought-provoking video followed by a live presentation in which Save A Life Tour presenters shared some of their own personal experiences with impaired or distracted driving, some of which included the loss of a family member or other far-reaching impact.

Wed
13
Sep

Public invited to kick-off meeting for Allamakee County Housing Study

The Allamakee County Housing Needs Assessment Countywide Task Force will be holding a Kick-Off Meeting for an Allamakee County Housing Study to be conducted over the next nine months. With input needed from all areas, all residents of Allamakee County are invited to this initial meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 20 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Waukon Center, Room 113. Those attending are asked to RSVP to Allamakee County Economic Development Executive Director Val Reinke by emailing aced@mchsi.com or calling 563-568-2624.

Wed
13
Sep

Supervisors hold pair of sessions this past week due to Labor Day holiday

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in a pair of regular sessions within the past week due to the Labor Day holiday Monday, September 4. Coverage of both the Tuesday, September 5 and Monday, September 11 regular Board sessions appears below.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Tuesday, September 5, delayed a day due to the Labor Day holiday Monday, September 4. The Board met at the Waterville Public Library to address a full agenda of items, including the language for the Bid Notice for the rental of the County Farm cropland and pasture, the Liquor License approval for the Allamakee County Conservation Foundation and setting a date and time for a Public Hearing for the Social Host Ordinance LVIII.

Fri
08
Sep

Thursday farm accident claims one man, seriously injures another

Thursday afternoon, September 7, at approximately 2 p.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff's Dispatch Center received a 911 call for a farm accident at 2140 Mays Prairie Road just north of the Churchtown area off State Highway 9 between Waukon and Lansing. Two males were performing maintenance on a forage wagon in a farm field when they became entrapped in the equipment, one sustaining serious injuries and the other suffering fatal injuries.
According to a report from the Allamakee County Sheriff's Office, 55-year-old Richard Joseph Weber, Jr. of Lansing was pronounced deceased at the scene as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. Christopher Weber, age 52, of Lansing also became entrapped but was able to be freed by first responders. He was transported by MedLink Air ambulance from the scene to Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI for treatment of serious injuries sustained in the accident.

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