Top Stories

by Bob Beach

by Bob Beach

A rustic recreated 1940s shantyboat, a daring river voyage, and a meticulous archive of river stories are all part of a multi-year art and history project being undertaken by artist Wes Modes of Santa Cruz, CA and entitled "A Secret History of American River People."
Modes set sail last summer on the Mississippi River to collect the stories of people who live and work on the river from the deck of his homemade houseboat (seen in the photo accompanying this article). This year, he and his crew (and dog) started near La Crosse, WI, where he left off last September and are slowly making their way downriver.

This week, July 15-19,  the 162nd Allamakee County Fair will be held for all to enjoy at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. A wide variety of entertainment is in place to headline this year’s fair at the grandstand, along with a great deal of other activities for everyone to enjoy each and every day throughout the five-day event.

by Bob Beach

The Allamakee County Fair Board was informed Friday, July 10 that due to severe vocal cord issues, Chris Cagle, the headline act for the Friday, July 17 grandstand show at this year's Fair has had to cancel his Allamakee County Fair appearance. "While we are saddened by the news, we understand the circumstances and hope Chris is feeling better very soon," relayed the Fair Board in a posted statement. The Fair Board has been working very closely with WQPC Radio out of Prairie du Chien, WI to put together the musical entertainment for the Fair again this year. Both parties sprung into action once they heard the news of Cagle's cancellation and are happy to announce that Jo Dee Messina will be taking Chris Cagle’s place as the headliner for the Friday, July 17 grandstand show. "We are very thankful she graciously has stepped in to save the day! We know she will put on an excellent show and look forward to working with her," the Board remarked.

Three Allamakee County young ladies - Emily Hammel, Megan Leiran and Carmen Wille - are vying for the title of 2015 Allamakee County Fair Queen. That crown and all the honors and responsibilities that accompany it will be bestowed upon one of those three candidates Tuesday evening, July 14 during the Allamakee County Fair Queen Coronation being held at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon to help kick off the 162nd Allamakee County Fair.

by Bob Beach

The streets and parking lots around the Lansing City Sports Complex and Anderson Park were filled with cars, people and “oohs” and “aahs” as the Fourth of July fireworks display lit up the nighttime skies Saturday evening, July 4. The display in Lansing was one of several that took place in northeast Iowa and the tri-state area over the weekend in celebration of the birthday of the United States.
 

by Lissa Blake

Poultry showing at the 162nd Allamakee County Fair coming up next week, July 15-19, will look a little different this year.
In response to an Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship mandate issued in May of this year, all bird exhibitions at county fairs and the Iowa State Fair have been canceled. That action came following an avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak in western Iowa earlier this year.