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The weekly updates by the Iowa Department of Public Health of positive COVID-19 case numbers have begun to reveal increased levels in Allamakee County not seen since mid-March of this year. After declining to an average of single-digit weekly positive case numbers in late spring and throughout the summer - at times hovering right around no new positive cases reported, the past two weeks have seen those positive case numbers increase to between 15 and 20 cases per week, with the week of March 9-15 earlier this year being the last time Allamakee County reported as many as 20 new positive cases for a reported week’s timeframe.

by Joe Moses

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig visited the Waukon Feed Ranch Agronomy Center west of Waukon Thursday, August 26 to meet with management and stakeholders to hear concerns and discuss matters relating to agriculture and agribusiness in Allamakee County.
Naig began the meeting with discussion of drought conditions that are being seen throughout the state. He noted that some areas in Iowa are not far from the D2 or D3 drought categories, which can be described as categories where crop or pasture losses are likely. Naig commented that parts of the state are in 12-inch rain deficits, which will likely not be made up until this fall, and that river navigation on both sides of the state are a concern with low river levels.

Senator Joni Ernst toured TransferMaster, a manufacturer of adjustable beds for hospitals and those with disabilities, in Postville Friday, August 20 as part of her annual 99-County Tour. Ernst learned about the company’s operations and discussed the challenges the business has faced and worked to overcome during its time in business in the small northeast Iowa community. Pictured above, left to right, during that visit are Gwen Rekow, Postville Mayor Leigh Rekow, Senator Joni Ernst, and TransferMaster Office Manager Heidi Meyer, Manager Chaim Abrahams and Production Manager Jason Meyer. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
 

Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker wants to inform the public about a new Emergency Alert system Allamakee County is migrating to called Alert Iowa. This system will shortly, in early September, be replacing the CodeRED notification system currently used as the alert platform in Allamakee County.  Current users of CodeRED will need to sign up for this new system to continue to receive emergency alert notifications.

Alert Iowa is a new multi-purpose emergency alert system that provides county-specific information on weather and non-weather-related alerts for local residents. The system allows County and/or City officials and the National Weather Service to communicate emergency information directly to residents via a voice call, text message and/or email and will feature two alert options: weather and non-weather notifications.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Another new business is preparing to open on Lansing’s Main Street.

That is good news, in itself; but it gets better - because this business, a co-working space conceived on a membership model, is opening a place for multiple entrepreneurs, small business owners and, of particular note in the face of a changing workforce, remote workers to have a workplace outside their homes without having to purchase or rent “brick-and-mortar” spaces of their own.

by Lissa Blake

Building new traditions.

That’s the driving force of a new $500,000 capital campaign under way to revitalize the Allamakee County Fairgrounds.

“With an aging fairgrounds and a strong community that is heavily involved in agriculture, it’s time to make some improvements,” said Allamakee County Fair Board Treasurer Bobbi Baxter about the initiative.

Back in 2019, the Fair Board took a good look at the buildings and had many discussions on the best way to revitalize the livestock buildings at the fairgrounds. The board decided on a project that will benefit all youth exhibitors of all livestock species.

The project, which has had some initial preparation steps already completed, includes a number of renovations and upgrades to several current buildings, in addition to construction of a new one. Some of the improvements listed below are also labeled in the photo at right in an effort to further visualize the project.

The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus entertained large crowds in Waukon Thursday and Friday, August 12-13. Sponsored by Waukon Park & Recreation, the circus put on a pair of evening shows each day. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
 

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Daniel Baldwin has a mission - and it’s one that speaks directly to an issue of immense concern in the rural Midwest, and the country-at-large. Opioid addiction is a crisis that, according to “The Opioid Crisis in Rural and Small Town America,” by Shannon M. Monnat and Khary K. Rigg, has in recent years seen the most dramatic increase in opioid deaths in the rural Midwest.

The long-time actor, director and producer - one of the four “Baldwin brothers,” along with Stephen, William and Alec, all actors – spoke after the 10 a.m. Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon Sunday, July 25, while in the area as a special guest of the Spring Grove-Caledonia Film Festival. Baldwin’s multiple award-winning documentary, “My Promise to P.J.,” one of the festival’s featured films, won its award for  “Best Documentary.”

Annual inspection of the Iowa 9 (Black Hawk) Bridge over the Mississippi River in Lansing will require lane closures during daylight hours for approximately the next two weeks, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) District 2 Office. Single-late traffic on the bridge will be controlled with flaggers during this project, which began Monday, August 16 and will take place during daylight hours.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.
 

No Chamber of Commerce Banquet this year, but award winners to be recognized in Waukon Corn Days Parade

Person of the Year - Dustin Rounds ...
Dr. Dustin Rounds of Rounds Chiropractic Clinic in Waukon was selected as Waukon’s 2021 Person of the Year by the Waukon Chamber of Commerce. Pictured abovet is Dustin Rounds with his wife, Kristi (seated), and their three children, left to right, Gavin, Finn and Isabella. Nominated by several individuals, all of those nominations focused on the fundraising and community support efforts put forth by Rounds and his secretary, Casey Moen, during this past year after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down or slowed many local businesses. One nomination noted that those “positive efforts created a chain reaction of hope-filled donors and recipients and put a spotlight on building up community, while promoting shopping at local businesses”.