Top Stories

Wed
18
Dec

Allamakee County Jail recognized as one of the “Best of the Best” by the Iowa Department of Corrections following annual inspection


Allamakee County Jail recognized as one of the “Best of the Best” ... Following completion of the annual inspections conducted by the Iowa Department of Corrections, the Allamakee County Jail was recognized as one of the top-performing jails in the state of Iowa, being one of two recipients of the “Best of the Best” awards in the Medium Jail Division, housing 31-100 inmate beds. The plaque received by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department and pictured above reads “Presented to Allamakee County - Medium Jail Division 2024 - In recognition of being the ‘Best of the Best’.” Submitted photo.

The Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC) recently announced that Allamakee County was one of six counties in the state of Iowa being recognized as having a top-performing jail following completion of the department’s annual jail inspections. The recognition celebrates jails that demonstrate excellence in operations and management, ensuring the safety and well-being of both prisoners and staff.

The DOC evaluates jails across three categories based on capacity for housing inmates. Allamakee County was one of two jails in the state of Iowa recognized for the top honor in the Medium Jail category, which includes facilities with 31-100 beds. Wayne County, along Iowa’s south central border with Missouri, also received the “Best of the Best” recognition for medium-sized jails. In the Small Jails category (up to 30 beds), Fremont and Ringgold Counties were recognized. The honors in the Large Jails division (101 beds or more) were bestowed upon Black Hawk and Warren Counties.

Wed
18
Dec

Defense attorney for Mindy Jones files Motion for New Trial, cites “zero evidence”; Hearing now scheduled for February 3

Mindy Jones and Defense Attorney Aaron Hawbaker ...
Mindy Jones and Defense Attorney Aaron Hawbaker ...

Defense Attorney Aaron Hawbaker of the State of Iowa Public Defenders Office in Waterloo has filed a Motion for a New Trial on behalf of Mindy Jones, who was found guilty by a jury in Allamakee County District Court nearly a month ago on charges of Arson in the First Degree and Animal Abuse.

Court documents indicate the motion was filed by Hawbaker Tuesday morning, December 10 and a hearing on that motion has now been scheduled for February 3, 2025, the same day Jones was scheduled to be sentenced following the guilty verdict an Allamakee County jury returned in the case stemming from a February 2022 fire in the initial eastside block of Allamakee Street in Waukon that destroyed the building housing Jones’ Tin, Rust & Harmony business, along with an adjacent business building, while also causing damage to other buildings on that same block.

Wed
18
Dec

Defense attorneys file for change of venue in Kasemeier First Degree Murder trial; Hearing slated for December 30

Brandon Kasemeier ...
Brandon Kasemeier ...

As the calendar closes in on one month prior to the scheduled trial date in the First Degree Murder case of Brandon Kasemeier, the 40-year-old man from Waukon charged in the January 21 death of his estranged wife, Jami Kasemeier, the defense team for Kasemeier has filed a Motion for a Change of Venue in the case. That motion was filed late Friday, December 6 by Kasemeier’s defense team of Raya Dimitrova and Erin Carr of Carr Law Firm, P.L.C., Des Moines, citing “the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed…” guaranteed by the Constitutions of both the United States and the State of Iowa.

Wed
11
Dec

Waukon’s Lighted Holiday Parade gets the holiday season off to a shining start ...

The annual Lighted Holiday Parade held in Waukon Saturday evening, December 7 brightened up the beginning of the holiday season in more ways than one as approximately 40 entries made their way through the city streets, starting down Allamakee Street from the Allamakee County Fairgrounds to Main Street and then traveling up West Main Street to the First Presbyterian Church. Seasonal temperatures well above the freezing mark allowed for a large crowd to line the parade route and numerous individuals to walk the route or ride comfortably on this year’s entries, as evident in the photo above taken at the stoplight intersection by Standard Assistant Editor Joe Moses. A video of the complete parade can be found on The Standard’s Facebook page at The Standard Newspaper, Waukon.
 

Wed
11
Dec

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig visits WW Homestead Dairy as follow-up measure on awarding of Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grant


Iowa Ag Secretary tours WW Homestead Dairy ... WW Homestead Dairy ownership partner Tom Weighner (left) and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig (right) observe the operation of the new cheese curd mill purchased by WW Homestead Dairy this year with assistance from a Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grant awarded to the family-owned dairy processing facility in Waukon through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The cheese curd operations were just part of the overall tour of the facility taken by Secretary Naig, as he visited both Allamakee County and Fayette County in wrapping up his annual 99-county tour of the state of Iowa. Standard photo by Joe Moses.

by Joe Moses

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig visited WW Homestead Dairy in Waukon Wednesday, December 4 for a tour of the company’s retail store and areas dedicated to cheese, ice cream and milk production in addition to discussion relating to the Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grant that was awarded to the business earlier this year through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Tom Weighner, a WW Homestead Dairy ownership partner, provided a tour of the facility to Secretary Naig with Executive Director Mariah Busta of the Iowa State Dairy Association (ISDA) and Member Services Manager Ryan Wagner of Allamakee Clayton Electric Cooperative (ACEC) joining the tour and discussion.

Wed
11
Dec

Supervisors approve use of ARPA funds for web-conferencing equipment, signing of letter requesting watershed inspection assistance

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 9 to address a full agenda of matters including the Resolution to obligate ARPA funds for a meeting Owl, consideration of signing a letter requesting assistance from the NRCS for watershed inspections and consideration of the Resolution appointing a Second Deputy Auditor.

The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Pro Tem Mark Reiser with Supervisor Dennis Keatley present. Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes was not present due to a scheduled absence.

There was no Public Comment during the time allotted for that agenda item with the meeting then moving into the plat request by Bradley Larkin. Zoning Administrator Stephanie Runkle provided an overview of the plat and an update relating to an easement with the Supervisors then approving the matter.

Wed
04
Dec

Allamakee Ecumenical Choir to present annual “Festival of Lessons and Carols” this Sunday

The Allamakee Ecumenical Choir will present its 48th Annual Candlelight Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols Service this Sunday, December 8, beginning at 7 p.m. The service will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, located at 8 Fifth Street SW in Waukon.

Local clergy will be reading the Christmas Story and carols will be sung by the congregation with organ accompaniment. Choral numbers will also be presented by the Men’s Choir (also known as the Heartland Barbershop and Gospel Singers) and the mass Ecumenical Choir. Music will also be provided by the St. John’s Youth and Adult Handbell Choirs, Waukon High School Saxophone Quartet, along with piano accompaniment by Kristie Roeder and organ performances by James Bieber with the assistance of Kathy Murray. This year’s event is “dedicated in loving memory to Father John Moser,” pastor at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon who passed away in October of this year.

Wed
04
Dec

Waukon High School Choir Tour of Churches this Sunday

The Waukon High School Choir, under the direction of Sarah Bieber, will be sharing its music with area churches during its 29th Annual Christmas Church Tour this Sunday, December 8, according to the following schedule:

St. John's Lutheran   8:30-8:45 a.m.
Zion United Church of Christ   9:00-9:15 a.m.
Old West Paint Creek Lutheran   9:30-9:45 a.m.
First Presbyterian   10:00-10:15 a.m.
First Baptist   10:30-10:45 a.m.
St. Patrick Catholic   11:00-11:15 a.m.
Zalmona Presbyterian   11:30-11:45 a.m.

Wed
27
Nov

Allamakee County jury finds Mindy Jones guilty of arson

An Allamakee County jury returned a guilty verdict Tuesday, November 19 on charges of First Degree Arson and Animal Abuse filed against Mindy Jones. The charges stem from a February 13, 2022 fire that began at 9 Allamakee Street in Waukon in a building owned by Jones and housing her Tin, Rust & Harmony business, destroying both her building and another adjacent to it, in addition to damaging other neighboring buildings.
Wed
27
Nov

Waukon Police Department alerts community to counterfeit bills circulating in Waukon

The Waukon Police Department was made aware last week of counterfeit bills being passed in Waukon and wants to remind all businesses to check bills exchanged in transactions for authenticity. The Department ordered some counterfeit-detection pens that are currently available for purchase at cost from the Department. The pens may be purchased directly from the Waukon Police Department, located at 104 1st Street NW in Waukon. Anyone with additional information regarding this or any other crime is encouraged to reach out to the Waukon Police Department at any time by calling 563-568-3427 or dialing 911 in the event of an emergency.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Top Stories