Top Stories

As the three-year anniversary approaches of the February 13, 2022 fire that destroyed two business buildings in the initial eastside block of Allamakee Street in Waukon and forced upstairs apartment residents to flee for their safety, the woman ruled to be responsible for the blaze has now been ordered to serve a 25-year prison sentence on a charge of first degree arson and two years on a charge of animal abuse associated with the incident.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) has announced that Dan Weber as been named a 2024 Master Pork Partner. The award winners embody the diversity of Iowa’s pig farms and the dedicated individuals who support pork producers. Nominated by their peers and neighbors, these honorees reflect the strength and collaboration within the pork industry, and they were honored at the Iowa Pork Congress banquet held January 22 in Des Moines.

Dan Weber currently serves as the Assistant General Manager at Waukon Feed Ranch (WFR) in Waukon. As part of his role Weber oversees and collaborates with the swine department, guiding and mentoring both direct reports and other team members. His daily responsibilities range from handling day-to-day production issues to big-picture planning and financial forecasting for each sow unit. He is dedicated to the growth of WFR and the promotion of their pork products.

Award nominations due by February 17, Dairy Princess applications due February 28; Dairy Banquet scheduled for March 22

The Allamakee County Dairy Promotion Board is asking for assistance from the general public in identifying worthy candidates to be recognized as this year’s top dairy producers in Allamakee County at the 2025 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet scheduled to take place March 22 this year at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Every year, top producers and several other awards are nominated from members within the county. The Allamakee Dairy Promotion Board and the Allamakee County Extension office are accepting nominations for the following awards:

Wartburg College’s Dr. Michael Bechtel was one of seven educators selected to serve in the first cohort of the National Center for Science Education’s (NCSE) Sound Science Fellowship program. Bechtel is a 1989 graduate of Waukon High School and the son of Sherry and the late Dean Bechtel of rural Monona.

During his two-year term in the Fellowship program, Bechtel will help the NCSE develop new approaches to resolving misconceptions about topics that are seen as controversial to the public and conduct research to develop best practices for teaching and learning.

“Over my time as an educator, I have become keenly aware of the scientific understanding desert that has been filled with social media memes and anti-science rhetoric,” said Bechtel, an associate science education professor at Wartburg College in Waverly. “I believe the only way these difficult topics can be addressed is through facts, open dialogue, questions and understanding the learner.”

This past week saw the premise of the new bridge over the Mississippi River at Lansing begin to take shape even more as crews from project contractor Kraemer North America set 15 decking support beams in place on the Wisconsin side of the project, with five such beams spanning from the east bridge abutment to Pier 5, five more from Pier 5 to Pier 4, and five more from Pier 4 to Pier 3. As pictured in the surrounding photos, the laying of the beams was performed by two large cranes, with the long beams being delivered by semi tractor and trailer combinations that had steerable rear wheels on the trailers in order to accommodate sharper turns, such as what they experienced turning off Wisconsin Hwy. 35 onto Hwy. 82 (the dike road) just east of the bridge location. Photos courtesy of the Iowa Department of Transportation.
 

WHS 1978 graduate to be honored at MSU induction ceremony this weekend

by David M. Johnson

A decorated high school and college athlete, a successful Division I college softball coach, an author and a mentor, Waukon native Holly Hesse has blazed a trail of achievement since her days of living within the hills and valleys of Waukon and Allamakee County, with that trail leading to a storied career of more than three decades as head coach of the Missouri State University softball program. With a laser-like focus on goals and career targets that lofted her to new heights both playing and coaching, Hesse has now retired this past year knowing she will leave at the top of her game - a game that she’s loved for so long and shared with so many others.

Tuesday, January 14, at 10:32 a.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s E911 Center received a report of a single-vehicle semi tractor-trailer rollover at the intersection of Iowa Highway 26 and Wisconsin Highway 82 on the west end of the Black Hawk Bridge in Lansing. An initial statement released by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s office reported that the semi tractor and livestock trailer heading westbound from Wisconsin was exiting the Black Hawk Bridge to the north onto Iowa 26, failing to negotiate the right-hand turn and rolling onto its side. Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick further reported that the driver, who was not injured in the crash, stated that the brakes on the semi tractor appeared to have malfunctioned, causing the turn to be made at a less controlled rate of speed and resulting in the momentum of the trailer load of cattle overturning the entire vehicle (as pictured in each of the photos above and below provided by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office).

by Lissa Blake

Most parents place their highest priority on finding someone they trust to care for their children while they work.

But in Iowa, statistics show that child care providers are one of the lowest-paid professions in the state, making it difficult to not only find the quality of child care desired by parents, but in many cases even the quantity of child care needed.

“We need to move the needle on this,” said Val Reinke, executive director, Allamakee County Economic Development, in regard to the availability, accessibility and affordability of child care.

Reinke explained that state and local initiatives, such as the Wage Enhancement Program (WEP), are really helping to attract and maintain qualified child care workers in the county, but much more needs to be done. She said in retaining Allamakee County families, access to child care is a “huge piece of the puzzle.”

Veterans Memorial Hospital physicians and staff announce that the First Baby of the Year born at the hospital for 2025 is Zion Jo Sanders, son of Trevyn Sanders and Cheyenne Decorah Strasser of Waukon. Zion was born Saturday, January 4 at 4:43 a.m. He weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 21 inches long at the time of his birth.

He joins three siblings at home: Ezra, age 9; Zane, age 7; and Royal, age 6. Katy Maker was the provider assisting with the delivery.

Grandparents are Kelly Sanders of Waukon, Amanda McCloud of Sparta, WI, and Robert Bonner and Raliegh Decorah, both of La Crosse, WI. Great-grandparents are Jim and Dee Von Haden of Tomah, WI and Marilyn Amundson of West Salem, WI.

The items below summarize the top news stories that appeared in The Standard during the last six months of 2024, July-December.

JULY
The second annual PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Awareness Walk was held in Waukon Saturday, June 29, as nearly three dozen individuals made the trek from an initial gathering location of the Allamakee County Freedom Rock in Waukon City Park down through Waukon via Rossville Road to the lawn of the Allamakee County Courthouse and the Allamakee County Veterans Museum, where information and resources were available for individuals, or their family and friends, whose lives have been impacted by PTSD. The event was part of the Veterans Administration’s National Center for PTSD program observing June as PTSD Awareness Month, with June 27 being designated as National PTSD Awareness Day.