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by Brianne Eilers

When asking most high school students what they would like to do after graduating high school, one might expect them to answer with something like attending college, military service or maybe working until they decide what they would like to do.

It isn’t often that a high school student might answer that question by saying that they are interested in becoming a wildland firefighter, but that is exactly how 2021 Waukon High School graduate Cody Palmer spent this past summer and fall after graduation. Cody graduated from Waukon High School May 24 of last year, had a graduation celebration at home May 27 and left to head west May 29 to pursue a firefighting interest that he might just have inherited.

Area residents are invited to jump in their favorite car, fire up the engine, roll down the windows, turn up the radio, and put on their biggest smile. Anna Rea says it is time to hit the road to show support for state parks in Iowa on a newly created tour visiting all 94 of Iowa’s state parks.

The crew for Anna Rea - a 1930 Ford Model A (pictured in the accompanying photo) - invites everybody to drive along for a visit to Yellow River State Forest Wednesday, May 18 as part of the tour. While the tour is emphasizing vintage or classic cars, participants can join the fun in any vehicle of their choice.

Friday, May 6, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens and the state of Iowa will honor two Iowa State Patrol Troopers who made the ultimate sacrifice this past year. Trooper Ted Benda - a Waukon native - and Sergeant Jim K. Smith each dedicated their lives to serving Iowans to protect and keep their communities safe, and each lost their life in the line of duty in 2021.

The public is invited to a Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony in Des Moines this Friday to honor these fallen peace officers, as well as the many other Iowa officers who have given their lives in the line of duty over the last 153 years. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial Grounds, located east of the Oran Pape State Office Building at 215 East 7th Street in Des Moines.

The annual “Family Wellness Fair” will return after three years and will be held Wednesday, May 11 from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Health  and wellness testing, exhibits and activities will all be providing a complete evening of entertainment and education for families of all ages. Everyone in the area communities is welcome to attend this free event. Due to continuing COVID restrictions for health care facilities, all visitors will be required to wear a mask to the event. Free masks will be available at the door.

Kee High School seniors Daniel Wagner (left) and Kylie Troendle (right) were selected as the 2022 Kee High School Prom King and Queen at the annual event held Saturday, April 23. Troendle was selected from a Queen court that also consisted of fellow seniors Faith Boland, Lydia Corwin, Ashton Kolsrud and Cheyanne Troendle. Wagner was chosen from a King court that also included fellow seniors Tyson Cota, Whalen Hill, Landon Reams and Damon Weber. Photo courtesy of the Kee High School Yearbook.
 

Waukon High School seniors Hannah Teslow (left) and Vicente Quiroz (right) were selected as the 2022 Waukon High School Prom Queen and King at the annual event held Saturday, April 23. Teslow was selected from a Queen court that also consisted of fellow seniors Emily Bieber, Madelyn Helgerson, Hailey Houg and Morgan Stortz. Quiroz was chosen from a King court that also included fellow seniors Jaden Hager, Elliot Kooiker, Hunter O’Neill and Lincoln Snitker.
 

Farm Credit Services of America has made a $12,500 donation to the Building New Traditions Campaign at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon, $10,000 of which was grant funding awarded through the agency. The Building New Traditions Campaign is dedicated toward constructing a new, larger all-species youth livestock show barn centrally located at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds, a project that also involves relocation, elimination and transformation of some of the other livestock buildings at the Fairgrounds. Pictured above at the donation presentation are: Left to right - Front row: Nate Gebel of Farm Credit Services of America, Tyler Plein of the Allamakee County Fair Board, Janet Adam of Farm Credit Services of America, and Bobbi Baxter and Bethany Stock of the Allamakee County Fair Board; Back row: Allamakee County Fair Board members Brian Kerndt, Andy Thesing, Patrick Monroe, McKayla Rethamel and Dick Berns.

The 70th Jubilee Mass of Monsignor Cletus Hawes has been scheduled for this Sunday, May 1 at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford. In addition to celebrating 70 years as a priest, Monsignor Hawes is also celebrating his 95th birthday. There will be an Open House in the parish hall from 12-3 p.m.

All are welcome to attend. If unable to attend, consider sending a card to 2423 Wexford Hollow Drive, Lansing, IA 52151.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon is once again able to allow multiple visitors in the hospital  with only a restriction of three visitors at one time in the same patient room. As always, children under the age of 16 visiting the hospital need to be accompanied by an adult, but the number of visitors per day is now unlimited for the first time in over two years, since the start of the COVID virus.

Absolutely all visitors to the hospital must be feeling well and must wear a mask at all times, even when in the room with a patient. In addition, all visitors are asked to enter through the main front entrance of the hospital.