Top Stories

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

by Lissa Blake

Sometimes, if you want something done to the level that you feel is right, you have to just do it yourself.
That is the motivation that drives a couple of Allamakee County veterans to lend their time, talent and finances toward going the extra mile to make sure area veterans receive what they need or deserve. It’s not a government or social program, according to Vietnam veteran Jerry Halverson of Waukon. It’s just a couple of guys who want to give back.
“We call ourselves the Allamakee County Good Ol’ Boys,” said Halverson.
Halverson, who served as a U.S. Marine from 1968-1971, works closely with 22-year U.S. Navy veteran Robert Kolsrud of Waukon and his wife, Eunice (Thorstenson).
Although Robert is 84 and Eunice is 80, they’re not about to let that stand in their way of doing what they feel needs to be done.
“Robert is an Eveready battery,” said Halverson of Kolsrud, 20 years his senior.

City elections were held statewide Tuesday, November 3, including in six local communities. Allamakee County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Denise Beyer reported that voter turn-out rates for the election varied widely throughout the County, with the lowest turn-out of just seven percent in the City of Postville where there were no contested races on the ballot.
In Waukon, there were two contested races on the ballot - Mayor and At-Large City Council - but only 17% of registered voters turned out to vote in that election. In Lansing, Public Measure A to increase the hotel/motel tax and write-in campaigns for the City Council attracted 21% of registered voters to the polls.

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s Christmas Fantasy 2015 will be held Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 13-16 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. This year's theme will be “Ring In the Holidays.” In addition to the numerous number of decorated Christmas trees, this year's event will again offer many shopping opportunities on the silent auction.
The silent auction items will be available for purchase through a silent bid that will continue over the course of the four-day event. These door and wall decorations, centerpieces, gift baskets, chairs, toys, crafts and mini-trees will be silent auctioned, with the highest bidder winning the purchase at 7 p.m. Monday, November 16. Until that closing time, bidders can return, free of charge, to the Fantasy and raise their bid.

by Jason Meyer

City elections were held statewide Tuesday, November 3. The unofficial results are printed below.

Harpers Ferry
Incumbent Mayor Jerry Valley won re-election in an uncontested race with 59 votes. Richard Smrcina won one of three open seats on the City Council with 63 votes, along with Betty Palmer (50) and Nancy Walleser (48).

Lansing
Incumbent Mayor Mike Brennan won re-election in an uncontested race with 117 votes. John Rethwisch received 92 write-in votes and Don Peters received 90 write-in votes to unseat incumbent Councilwoman Deb Volker, the only declared candidate, who received 60 votes. Public Measure A to increase the hotel/motel tax to seven percent passed with 95 votes in favor and 59 against.

by Bob Beach

by Brianne Eilers

Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Chris Dahlstrom organized and led a “tabletop” railroad incident exercise at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon Tuesday night, October 27. Representatives from the Iowa Department of Transportation; the Harpers Ferry, Waterville, Lansing, New Albin and Waukon Fire Departments; Veterans Memorial Hospital; the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department; the Lansing Police Department; Canadian Pacific Railroad; and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources participated in the exercise. All of the participants were asked to provide input on how their organization would respond to an incident involving a train hauling petroleum colliding with a passenger vehicle, resulting in several fatalities and multiple injuries.