Top Stories

To read the the full article, 2019 Year in Review: A Look Back at January through June, pick up this week's print edition or subscribe to our e-edition by clicking here.

Below is a portion of that article, January through February, summarizing the top news stories that appeared in The Standard.

JANUARY
Veterans Memorial Hospital physicians and staff are pleased to announce that the First Baby of the Year Contest was won by Harrison Dean Sandry, son of Emily and Kevin Sandry of Cresco.  
Harrison was born January 3, 2019 at 4:09 a.m., weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce and measuring 20 inches long. Dr. Dave Schwartz assisted with the delivery.

EMT Class offered beginning in January at NICC Waukon Center

by Lissa Blake

(Editor’s Note: This feature article is the fourth and final in a multi-part series addressing the need for additional Emergency Medical Services personnel in Allamakee County.)

Most people would agree that having emergency medical services (EMS) available to any community is essential. But until the Iowa State Legislature changes the law, ambulance services across the state will likely continue to struggle.

“Fire departments and law enforcement are considered essential and cities and townships have to provide those. In the rules for EMS, they may provide the service,” said Jeff Mitchell of Waterville. “The Iowa EMS Association has been working dramatically to try to get that changed, but at this time, they haven’t succeeded.”

Those familiar with the Dr. Seuss book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” may also be pointing fingers at the green, evil-smiling holiday villain when it comes to thoughts of a white Christmas. As evident in the photo above, the ground surrounding this local holiday display has very little snow cover remaining, and with daytime temperatures forecasted in the 40s through the remainder of this Christmas week, what little snow that does remain likely won’t stick around for long and the only precipitation that is forecasted to fall as the Christmas holiday approaches and is celebrated in the middle of this week is expected to be in the form of rain on Christmas Day.

by Lissa Blake

Results of a recent market study have been analyzed and one thing is clear: those who are most concerned with the future of Lansing are full of ideas about how to make it a better place.

Main Street Lansing recently hosted its second public meeting to roll out market strategies that were identified from the results of that Lansing Market Study made available earlier this year.

After holding a meeting in September to reveal the results of those surveys, the volunteers coordinating the market study started formulating and prioritizing strategies to strengthen and improve downtown Lansing, based directly on what consumers and businesses stated in their surveys.

The lighted village display pictured above was donated to the Dolores Tillinghast Memorial Library in Harpers Ferry by local property owner Cindy Barta to use as a display during the holiday season. The village has been on display since the end of November and will remain in place until early January. Anyone can stop by during library hours to view the display or visit the library and all that it has to offer. “This display is a beautiful asset for our small community to enjoy, it has been enjoyed by many folks of all ages,” shared Dolores Tillinghast Memorial Library Director Jody Delaney. “It’s proof that our small libraries are so much more than books, although that’s very important as well.” Submitted photo.
 

EMT Class offered beginning in January at NICC Waukon Center

by Lissa Blake

(Editor’s Note: This feature on the Postville Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program is the third in a multi-part series addressing the need for additional Emergency Medical Services personnel in Allamakee County. Additional area communities will be featured in subsequent articles.)

Most people take for granted that when they call for an ambulance, someone will always answer that call.

But to keep an ambulance service going, it takes a lot of resources - many of those human.

“I just had no idea what it took to be a volunteer in the EMS (Emergency Medical Services) world until someone recruited me,” said Mindy Koenig of Luana.

The latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report produced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service indicates that greater than 95% of this year’s corn harvest is now complete across the state, which is more than two weeks behind last year’s harvest and the five-year average. A good portion of that remaining corn stand could likely be found in northeast Iowa, as indicated in the above photo of one northeast Iowa producer still working away to complete the harvest just this past weekend. The weekly crop progress and condition report has the northeast district of Iowa, which includes Allamakee County, as the only district in Iowa to not yet reach that 95% completion rate with its corn harvest.

Allamakee County shares largest percent decrease in land values at 2.2% since 2018

It’s been a difficult year for farmers - the planting season saw an overabundance of rain and delayed planting, the United States’ trade war with China persisted, skewing both commodity prices and demand, and farm bankruptcies rose to the highest level since 2011. However, favorable interest rates, strong yields, and limited land supply combined to help drive Iowa’s farmland values up for only the second time in six years.

The statewide value of an acre of farmland is now estimated to be $7,432, which represents an increase of 2.3 percent, or $168, since 2018. The $7,432 per acre estimate, and 2.3 percent increase in value, represents a statewide average of low-, medium-, and high-quality farmland.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 16 to address a full agenda of items including discussion of the Vet’s Club in Waukon, County funding for EMT (Emergency Medical Technican (EMT) training and updating the authorized driver list for County vehicles. Chairperson Pro-Tem Dennis Koenig called the meeting to order with Chairperson Larry Schellhammer not in attendance due to a scheduled absence.

Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) is developing a new county comprehensive plan in partnership with Allamakee County. The plan is called All In Allamakee, or the "All-In Plan" for short. The planning process so far has featured a community survey and community visioning workshops in Lansing, Postville, and Waukon.
The next phase of public input for the planning process will feature a round-robin-style open house meeting where community members can review and discuss information on specific topics and provide feedback to help identify solutions and strategies for the future.
The meeting will be on Tuesday, December 17th at the Waukon Wellness Center’s Senior Center (1220 3rd Avenue NW) from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The open-house format allows people to come and go as they please whenever works for them during the four hours. Light refreshments will be provided.