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Colonel Daniel W. Lemon relinquished command of the 782d Training Group (TRG) to Colonel Eric D. Haler in a ceremony held July 19 at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita, TX. The ceremony was officiated by Brigadier General George Dietrich III, 82nd Training Wing commander. The 782d TRG is widely known as the most diverse training group in the Air Force, and includes courses in civil engineering, petroleum oil lubricants, hydraulics, electrical and environmental systems, avionics and more that are taught across five states, including Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Mississippi and Florida.

Sarah Hennessy, a graduated senior this past spring from Waukon High School and the daughter of Andy and Leah Hennessy of Waukon who works at the Waukon Family Aquatic Center as a lifeguard, was presented with a Life Saving Award by the City of Waukon and the Waukon Police Department at the Monday, July 24 regular meeting of the Waukon City Council. The award plaque presented to Hennessy reads as follows:

“This award is presented to Sarah Hennessy for her actions that saved a child’s life on June 17, 2023. On this day, Sarah performed life saving CPR on a victim who was having a medical emergency and was drowning. Sarah’s quick thinking and outstanding efforts gave someone another chance at life.”

Coronation of the 2023 Allamakee County Fair Royalty took place Tuesday, July 18 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon, kicking off the 170th Allamakee County Fair. Four area young ladies were vying for this year’s Fair Queen crown, which was bestowed upon Natalie Byrnes (third from left in photo above), daughter of Dan and Traci Byrnes of Waukon. Mallory Mohn (second from left in photo above), daughter of Clint and Noelle Mohn of Lansing, was crowned Allamakee County Fair Princess. All four of this year’s candidates served as the 2023 Allamakee County Fair Royalty Team throughout this year’s Fair.

Tom Miller met with a group of residents from Allamakee and Winneshiek Counties Thursday, July 13 to discuss the “fueling” of the Opioid Crisis in a public meeting held at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon. The meeting was facilitated by the Allamakee County Democratic Party. Among those attending were area health care providers, Allamakee County Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes, who is also a member of the Board of Trustees for Veterans Memorial Hospital in Allamakee County, and Jean Bossom, Allamakee Substance Abuse and Prevention (ASAP) Coordinator.

Miller explained the role opioid manufacturers and distributors played in escalating the ongoing opioid epidemic by promoting the sale and use of opioids while failing to inform and educate the public about the highly addictive nature of opioid drugs.

Big Time Grain Co. to headline Friday's grandstand entertainment; Variety of activities and events planned

This week, July 19-23,  the 170th Allamakee County Fair will be held for all to enjoy at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. A wide variety of entertainment is in place to headline this year’s Fair at the grandstand, along with a great deal of other activities for everyone to enjoy each and every day throughout the five-day event.

GRANDSTAND STAR POWER AND HORSE POWER

by Joe Moses

State of Iowa Auditor Rob Sand made a stop in Allamakee County Friday evening, July 14 for a scheduled townhall meeting in the Waukon City Park, near the Allamakee County Freedom Rock, with this public event being part of his fifth 100 Townhall Tour since taking office. During his visit to eastern Iowa July 14, Sand also made townhall meeting stops in Anamosa, Maquoketa, Dubuque, Manchester and Elkader before ending the day with his meeting in Waukon.

No one was injured Friday afternoon, July 14 when a train struck the vehicle pictured above and below that had ended up on the railroad tracks along North Front Street in Lansing near its intersection with Henry Street, just north of the Black Hawk Bridge and south of the Lansing Marina. An initial report from the Lansing Police Department indicates that the vehicle, driven by 78-year-old Frederica Trunkel of Mesa, AZ, had its brakes malfunction while traveling down the incline of Henry Street, was unable to stop at the intersection with North Front Street and ended up veering on to the tracks just prior to the arrival of the scheduled train that was already traveling into Lansing at the time of the incident. The timing of the incident did not allow enough time for the train to stop prior to impact.

July 18 coronation event and Youth Showcase will kick off the 170th Allamakee County Fair

Four Allamakee County young ladies are vying for the title of 2023 Allamakee County Fair Queen. Those four candidates seeking this year’s crown include Natalie Byrnes of Waukon, Kiele Eberling of Postville, and Mallory Mohn and Riley Troendle, both of Lansing.

This year’s Fair Queen experience will be a bit different in regard to preparation and pre-coronation events for the young ladies involved. The overall end result, however, will be very similar to year’s past, where the Fair Queen Coronation will take place Tuesday, July 18 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion following the Youth Showcase that starts at 7 p.m. The coronation and Youth Showcase event is free to attend and open to the public.

State of Iowa Auditor Rob Sand will be visiting Waukon this Friday, July 14 as one of his stops in his annual 100 Townhall Tour. He plans to be at the location of the Allamakee County Freedom Rock in the Waukon City Park from 6:15-7:15 that evening.

These townhall events are open to the public and the media. This is Sand’s fifth Townhall Tour since taking office in 2019, in which he has hosted all events with advanced notice and makes them open to the public.

“The celebration of our country’s democracy is the perfect time for an elected official to say they welcome speaking to the public, instead of trying to avoid them,” said Sand in his schedule announcement just prior to the Fourth of July holiday. “Our office uncovered a record amount of waste during my first term in office in part because we listen to Iowans of all political stripes about where to look.”

 The public is invited to meet with former State of Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller Thursday, July 13 at 7 p.m. at Robey Memorial Library (lower level) in Waukon to learn about the Opioid Crisis, who fueled the crisis, how these entities were held accountable, and measures enacted to prevent opioid addiction.

Miller and a bipartisan group of other states’ attorneys general sued opioid manufacturers, distributors, and other related parties for their actions in creating the opioid crisis and to recover funds to help address the damage they caused. From one of the settlements, Iowa received $225 million to help with opioid treatment and recovery. Half of any settlement money goes to Iowa’s counties and some cities, and half goes to the State of Iowa.

Opioid addiction touches many lives. Everyone is encouraged to attend.