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It was a busy Labor Day weekend for the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department, as officers responded to several serious incidents, including an accidental shooting Saturday night, September 5, a motor vehicle accident Sunday, September 6 that led to two arrests, and a report of shots fired and an arrest Monday, September 7.

The Sheriff’s Department received a report at around 10 p.m. Saturday night, September 5 that a 15-year-old boy accidentally discharged a small caliber revolver at a residence on Hickory Creek Road in rural southern Allamakee County, hitting himself in the hand and leg. The child was transported to Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released.

The Allamakee County Dispatch Center received a report Monday morning, September 7 right around midnight of a fire at a hog confinement located at 970 Jefferson Road, just off of Highway 76 south of Waukon. Local authorities say the fire was confined to the ceiling of the building and quickly contained and that the more than 1,200 hogs inside the building were not harmed.
The metal ceiling of the structure did give way in some areas, but the confinement crates within the structure prevented the ceiling from falling on the hogs, which were later transported out of the structure. Local authorities say the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but that frequent lightning strikes that accompanied thunderstorms in the area may have sparked the blaze.
 

Sunday morning, September 6, the Decorah Police Department and the Winneshiek Medical Center Ambulance were dispatched to the bridge on Fifth Street in Decorah, just off of Ice Cave Road, for an unresponsive adult male located on the ground below the bridge. The male was found to be deceased and was identified as Jason Neuman of Dorchester, age 35.
The Decorah Police Department is asking for the public's help in gaining more information about Neuman's activities on the night of September 5 and the early morning hours of September 6. Anyone with information is asked to call the Decorah Police Department at 563-382-3667.
 

by Kelli Boylen

Elections for school board members in Allamakee County and across the state of Iowa will be held Tuesday, September 8. Polls in Allamakee County will be open that day from 12 noon to 8 p.m. and in-person absentee voting is available now in the Auditor’s Office at the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon through 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 8.
Both the Allamakee Community School District and the Eastern Allamakee Community School District have three incumbent candidates each on their respective September 8 ballot who are running unopposed for re-election this year.
Allamakee Community School District -

by Bob Beach

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

Tuesday, August 18, Main Street Lansing hosted a meeting featuring the Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development, Inc. (RC&D) Executive Director Lora Friest and Scenic Byways Project Coordinator Jared Nielsen. Friest and Nielsen met with approximately 20 people from Harpers Ferry, Lansing and Waukon businesses and tourism development offices to discuss enhancing tourism and economic growth utilizing the resources of the Scenic Byways.
The RC&D is a nonprofit that serves the seven-county area of northeast Iowa to develop ideas, build partnerships and find funding for projects which will enhance community life. During their Powerpoint presentation, Friest  and Nielsen elicited comments and ideas from the audience on recommendations of how the Scenic Byways could be enhanced as a potential tourist attraction.

Patriot Tour -
The 2015 Patriot Tour motorcycle ride will make its way through Waukon once again this year, as this year's summer-long tour carrying the American flag through the 48 contiguous United States nears completion. The flag will arrive at Waukon Harley-Davidson this Thursday afternoon, September 3 shortly after 1:30 p.m. after being escorted through downtown Waukon by the Waukon Fire Department.
Those wishing to help escort the riders through Waukon are welcome to meet with them at the Waukon Wellness Center parking lot between 1-1:30 p.m. The riders will then proceed down Main Street of Waukon to the stop light intersection, where they will then turn south and head toward Waukon-Harley Davidson to participate in a ceremony that will involve passing the flag on to the next group of riders and a small reception with refreshments.

by Bob Beach

by Bob Beach