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by Joe Moses

Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) coordinated a tour Wednesday, April 29 showcasing a variety of recent and ongoing projects relating to housing, business, conservation and utilities in Waukon. This tour was open to representatives and professionals from various entities including state and local government, economic development, education and the business community. Approximately 30 individuals along with ACED Executive Director Val Reinke traveled by bus between the eight locations visited in the Waukon area with several other individuals following and joining the tour via their own transportation.

After receiving approval from the Iowa Utilities Commission and permits from the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors, Alliant Energy began construction earlier this spring on a large battery energy storage system (BESS) in Lansing. The new battery facility will sit on the site of Alliant’s former Lansing Generating Station south of Lansing, which the company retired in 2023 after operating for more than 70 years. Alliant Energy selected the site to support reliable energy for customers and the community.

Craig Petersen, a 1980 graduate of Waukon High School, recently completed a long and rewarding career with the United States Coast Guard. He is the son of Anita and the late Marvin Petersen of Waukon.

“Forty-five years, seven months, 12 days, or so says the computer totaling my enlisted, officer, and now civilian time,” said Petersen at his second retirement ceremony at Diamond Head Lighthouse in Honolulu, HI. “Seventy-percent of my life, and all of my adult life since graduating high school has been in service to the nation and the U.S. Coast Guard. That represents 19% of the Coast Guard’s time since its beginnings as the Revenue Cutter Service in 1790.”

by Denise Beyer
Allamakee County Auditor, Commissioner of Elections

Any eligible voter can vote in the Primary Election in Iowa, however both the Republican and Democratic parties have a “closed” Primary, meaning voters must be registered with the political party whose Primary they wish to vote in. Voters in Iowa have the right to change their party affiliation on the day of the Primary Election to vote that party’s ballot.

Waukon business owners Arturo Barreda and Jose Velarde of Fiesta Vallarta were recognized with a Rand Fisher Rural Business Leadership Award by the Iowa Rural Development Council (IRDC) at the 10th annual Iowa Rural Summit held April 9-10 in Dubuque. The award recognizes individuals and organizations for their leadership and impact on small towns across the state of Iowa.

At a luncheon attended by more than 400 people, Barreda and Velarde were celebrated for their successful effort to turn a vacant building in the heart of Waukon’s downtown district into a successful restaurant at the stoplight intersection of Main Street and Spring Avenue. Among that large gathering were family members of the two business owners, along with leaders from other Waukon, Allamakee County and northeast Iowa entities who were instrumental in helping Barreda and Velarde achieve their goal.

Waukon High School seniors Brandon Leppert (left) and Claire Schulte (right) were crowned as the 2026 Waukon High School Prom King and Queen at the annual event held Saturday, April 25. Schulte was selected from a Queen court that also consisted of fellow seniors Breelyn Dahlstrom, Kendra Gibbs and Anastasia Guchshenkov. Leppert was chosen from a King court that also included fellow seniors Joey Courtney, Noah Hager and Connor Stilwell.

In the very early morning hours of Sunday, April 19, at approximately 12:36 a.m., an Allamakee County Sheriff’s Deputy located a vehicle parked at Wild Landing near the intersection of Iowa River Drive and Lycurgus Road along the Upper Iowa River in Allamakee County. A check of the vehicle indicated that it was registered to a male from Rochester, MN who had been reported missing since Thursday, April 16.

A search of the surrounding area and the Upper Iowa River was conducted and was unsuccessful. Monday, April 20, law enforcement returned to the area and began searching by boat. At approximately 11:54 a.m. the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office received a call from an individual reporting a body in the Upper Iowa River. Officers with the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) responded to the location and confirmed a male individual was located in the water approximately three miles down river from Wild Landing.

Chevrolet officials toured facility last week; Public open house scheduled for this Friday, April 24

Any transition to a new building at a new location is likely going to result in a number of “firsts” for any business or individual.

For Pladsen Chevrolet of Waukon, those “firsts” have further been experienced at both state and national milestone heights for the recent transition made by the nearly half-century-old business now also operating under a new name.

The 2026 Waukon High School Prom is scheduled to be held this Saturday, April 25 at the Waukon Middle School gymnasium. Doors will open to the public at 7 p.m. for the Grand March, which is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

Parents, family and community members may view the Grand March either seated in the auditorium or standing in the gym.

Following the Grand March will be the coronation of this year’s Prom King and Queen. Visitors are asked to exit the building after the coronation in order for students to start the Prom dance, which is scheduled to begin at approximately 9 p.m. Students who signed up for Post Prom must be inside the doors of the Waukon High School Cafeteria by 11 p.m. in order to participate.

The 2026 Kee High School Prom is scheduled for this Saturday, April 25 and will feature a bit of a different format from past years as students enjoy “A Night at the Oscars”. The Grand March will kick off the evening at 5 p.m. in the Kee High School gym. The annual Prom banquet will then be held at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall on Main Street in Lansing, beginning at 6:30 p.m., where students will enjoy a glamorous evening of red carpet moments, dazzling decor, and Hollywood-worthy memories complete with paparazzi, VIP access, and Kee’s very own Oscar Award Ceremony featuring such honors as Best Red Carpet Appearance; Outstanding Performance: Life of the Party; Best Duo in a Leading Role (couple, bros, gal-pals); Best Choreography: Dance Floor Takeover; and many more, in lieu of crowning a Prom King and Queen.