Top Stories

by Lissa Blake

“Suicide is a permanent solution to temporary problems.”
That quote from Robin Williams has gone viral since the beloved actor and comedian took his own life early last month.
Dacia Sommer of Waukon said the news of Williams’ death hit her "like a ton of bricks," as it brought back memories of her own brother’s untimely death just five years ago.
“I cried for about four days,” said Sommer. “Robin Williams was the Hollywood version of Andy’s situation. He liked to entertain and he hid it well.”
In honor of September being observed as Suicide Prevention Month, Sommer and her twin sister, Danielle Howe of Waukon, recently reached out to share their story with the public.
“Suicide is way more common than people realize. Talking about it used to be so taboo. We need to be open about it, because the more you bury it, the worse it’s going to get,” said Howe.

by Bob Beach

Waukon and northeast Iowa played host Wednesday, September 3 through Friday, September 5 to members of the 13th annual Great Southeast Iowa Tractor Ride as 80 to 90 tractor enthusiasts toured the highways and scenic byways of northeast Iowa on approximately 70 tractors during that three-day tour. Riders traveled pre-determined routes of about 70 miles on each of the three days of the ride, mainly along the Driftless Area Scenic Byway route, with the Allamakee County Fairgrounds serving as an overnight parking and point of origin location. Ride organizer Steve Scholtus said with the event in its 13th year, practically every road in southeast Iowa had been traveled upon, so the group decided to come have a look at northeast Iowa, stating the riders have enjoyed the change in scenery. "All the comments have been very, very positive," he said. "The economic development team has been just fabulous to work with.

The report of a missing nine-year-old boy Monday, September 8 prompted Allamakee County officials to call on the assistance of a vast array of local and statewide help before he was found safely about a mile away from his home at a neighboring farm. An initial report released by the Allamakee County Sheriff's Office relayed that the boy was seen shortly before 7:30 a.m. walking along Moose Road near his home approximately four miles north of Waukon. He would end up trekking through wooded area and farm fields to end up being found at a neighbor's farm along State Highway 9 more than four hours later.

The Allamakee County Sheriff's Office has now advised that the missing nine-year-old boy from Allamakee County has been found, safe and sound. The Sheriff's Department appreciates all the assistance and concern offered by those involved in finding the child and helping spread the word.

The Nation of Patriots, a volunteer organization with a mission to provide financial support to families of wounded military veterans who have made sacrifices in service to their country, brought its 2014 Patriot Tour through Waukon last week on its way to completion of its annual three-month tour across the country. Tour participants display a United States flag which is transferred between riders at each designated stop along the tour. The tour began over the Memorial Day weekend, May 24 from Madison, WI, making its way through every one of the contiguous 48 United States before finally ending up back in Madison, WI, where it arrived this past Saturday, August 30.

by Bob Beach

The Dubuque County Sheriff's Office reports that an accident involving a pick-up truck and two motorcycles around 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon, August 31 has claimed the life of a Waukon man and injured his wife. The report indicates that Thomas Haberichter, 56, of Waukon and his wife, Nancy Haberichter, 50, were each traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 52 just south of Dubuque on their motorcycles when a pick-up truck driven by Kevin Stocks (age not reported) of Bellevue made a left turn into the path of both motorcycles near the entrance of Spring Valley Trailer Park.
The report indicates that both Haberichter motorcycles struck the pick-up truck. Thomas Haberichter was reportedly airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, where he passed away as a result of his injuries. Nancy Haberichter was transported to Finley Hospital in Dubuque for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Stocks was reportedly not injured in the accident.

by Kelli Boylen
freelance writer

It's been labeled the "end of an era." But the man it means the most to calls it "the beginning of a new chapter."
Gene Schultz, the legendary coach of Kee High School baseball for the past 45 years and the nation's all-time winningest high school baseball coach, had his retirement from that long-time helm made official Monday, August 18 with the acceptance of his letter of resignation by the Eastern Allamakee Community School District Board of Directors at its regular monthly meeting. That retirement brings to a close a coaching career likely never to be rivaled with an overall record of 1,754 wins against just 398 losses, but also opens the door to a number of other possibilities for Schultz and his family.