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A veteran of the Korean War, Sickles turns 90 this Veterans Day, Nov. 11

by Julie Berg-Raymond

He was named Floyd at birth, but no one calls him that; everyone knows him as Ray. Ray Sickles - native-born to the creeks and woods of Allamakee County; logger; Korean War veteran; much-loved dad - took up painting at 60 years old, after a life of hard work had begun taking its toll on his back.

Three decades later, he’s still at it - having long ago refined his technique, and developing a distinctive style, in the process. “He is not one to sit on the couch,” says his daughter, Deb Grotegut, of Waukon. “He has to have something to do, all the time.”

The Allamakee County Veterans Museum will celebrate Veterans Day this year by offering a program to the public in the meeting room of its new museum in the former Vet’s Club building at 105 Allamakee Street n Waukon.

Thursday, November 10 at 6:30 p.m. a video interview with Vietnam War Veteran retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Cherie White of Waukon will be presented. Lt. Col. White was recently interviewed by Chuck Bloxham, and she will be present Thursday to answer questions after the video. Light refreshments will be available. There is no admission charge.

Also, Saturday, November 12 at 10 a.m. the video interview with Lt. Col. White will be presented again for those who are not available to attend Thursday evening. The museum will also be open for tours from 9 a.m. until noon November 12.

The Allamakee County Auditor's Office wants to remind voters of the County's new election website that has up-to-date election information and will have election results posted as they become available following the Tuesday, November 8 General Election.
The site can be reached at the following link: https://allamakeecountyelections.iowa.gov/

Tuesday, November 8 is scheduled as the 2022 General Election to determine which candidates will be elected by voters to leadership positions at the national, state and local levels of government, as well as to allow residents an opportunity to express their choice on a couple non-candidate matters featured on this year’s election ballot. A Notice of Election with a listing of candidates, polling sites and other pertinent local election information was printed on Page 28 of the October 19 print edition and e-edition of The Standard. All 10 in-person polling sites throughout Allamakee County will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. the day of the election. All 10 polling sites are accessible to persons with disabilities. Sample ballots from each polling site for this year’s election may be viewed at the election website: https://allamakeecountyelections.iowa.gov/.

Allamakee County Economic Development & Tourism (ACED) has announced Welsh’s Farm & Home in Lansing as the 2022 Cloy Kuhse Positive Impact Award winner. The announcement was made at the ACED Annual Meeting held at Village Creek Bible Camp in rural Lansing Thursday, October 20. ACED Board President Christina Drahos shared the following nomination information with those in attendance:

by Julie Berg-Raymond

The Wolfpack Theater Company has been growing in popularity since its recent beginnings in the Waukon area. The youth-focused outlet for creativity has now found a more permanent home for its rehearsal and performance space in the former music room of the former Waterville School - now the Waterville Community Center.

Friday, October 21 at approximately 4:15 p.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s 911 Dispatch Center received a report of a motorcycle accident on Great River Road north of its intersection with Wexford Hollow Drive, about six miles north of Harpers Ferry.

According to an initial report from the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office, Paul Robert Werner, age 62, of Shakopee, MN was traveling southbound on Great River Road when he failed to negotiate a left curve in the roadway, lost control of the motorcycle he was driving and entered the ditch. Werner was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

Assisting at the scene was the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office, Harpers Ferry Fire and Rescue, and Veterans Memorial Hospital Ambulance Service. The accident remains under investigation by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office.
 

Tuesday, November 8 is scheduled as the 2022 General Election to determine which candidates will be elected by voters to leadership positions at the national, state and local levels of government. A Notice of Election with a listing of candidates, polling sites and other pertinent local election information is printed on Page 28 of this week’s print edition and e-edition of The Standard.

INFORMED CHOICES - EARLIER
In-person absentee voting for this year’s election begins Wednesday, October 19 and can be done at the Allamakee County Auditor’s Office in Waukon through 4 p.m. Monday, November 7, the day before this year’s election. Regular open hours for the Auditor’s Office are Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Allamakee County Auditor’s Office will also be open for in-person absentee voting Saturday, November 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Waukon native and fallen Iowa State Patrol Officer Ted Benda was awarded the Iowa State Police Association “Purple Heart” Award at the 90th Annual Iowa State Police Association (ISPA) Conference held October 3-5 in Cedar Rapids, following his death as the result of a single-vehicle accident while responding to a call in October of last year. Pictured at right at the ISPA Conference where the award was presented are Officer Benda’s wife, Holly, and their four daughters surrounded by officers from both the Iowa State Patrol Headquarters in Des Moines and Iowa State Patrol District 10 in Oelwein that Officer Benda served in at the time of his passing, in addition to Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens (far right).

Allamakee County residents are invited to attend the next event in the THRIVE series of interactive workshops being co-hosted by Mental Health Today - a Matt Howe Tribute (MHT) and the nonprofit, Worldmaker. “Lead From Where You Are” is a one-hour workshop focused on learning how to better respond to negative behaviors, helping others get their needs met and shifting from blaming to helpful solutions.

“Lead From Where You Are” is open to all Allamakee County residents and is being offered in two different one-hour sessions Monday, October 17 to give residents the opportunity to choose which one best fits their schedule for that day. A morning session will take place from 9-10 a.m. at the Waukon Wellness Center, and an afternoon session will be held from 12-1 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Light refreshments will be provided at both sessions.