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Wed
10
Jul

Local efforts to fill vacant Shopko building continue

Even well prior to the June 23 closing of the Shopko location in Waukon, local efforts led by Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Director Ardie Kuhse to sustain the business were put in motion and have since transfered from preservation of the local business to occupancy of the now vacated property. Kuhse noted that contact was initially made with Shopko corporate leaders when the first announcement of store closings was made earlier this year - even though they did not include the Waukon location, reiterating the fact that Shopko was a vital part of the local business community and was  supported by the community and surrounding area by record sales.

“The sales did speak well for Waukon, and Waukon was spared the first and second round of store closings,” Kuhse said. “In the end, they could not restructure and no other corporate retail businesses stepped in to buy them out, thus the final closing of all stores and bankruptcy filing.”

Wed
10
Jul

Sheriff’s Department responds to “freight hopping” report - two men charged with stowing away

by Lissa Blake

It wasn’t a typical call to the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department (ACSD). But when dispatch received a call of an individual or individuals seen boarding a cargo train, the ACSD took measures to end the illegal activity and make sure nothing greater - or worse - became of it, using some creative tactics along the way.

According to Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick, about mid-morning Tuesday, July 2, his department received a call stating that at least one individual had been seen jumping onto a train in Marquette that was heading north. A call to the Canadian Pacific Railroad helped officials get the train stopped just north of Harpers Ferry, but no riders were seen during that initial search.

Wed
03
Jul

Waukon High School alumnus Gary Schwartzhoff to serve as Artistic Director for D-Day and Liberation of France Choral Festival celebrating 75th anniversary of D-Day


Gary Schwartzhoff... Submitted photo.

WHS graduate to conduct D-Day 75th anniversary Choral Festival... Waukon High School 1970 graduate Gary Schwartzhoff (at left) shakes hands with a World War II veteran during the 60th anniversary observance of the D-Day invasion commemorated in 2004 in France. Schwartzhoff directed the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Concert Choir in a concert performance at both the 50th and 60th anniversary D-Day observances in Paris, France and will now lead the UW-Eau Claire Alumni Choir in commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day at the Paris Choral Festival scheduled for Monday, July 8. Submitted photo.

The year 2019 marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day, historically considered the single most pivotal day in World War II. The heroics of that fateful day, June 6, 1944, in Normandy, France are certainly worth singing the praises of, and an alumnus of Waukon High School will be directing the very effort to do just that this Monday, July 8 at the D-Day and Liberation of France Choral Festival held in Paris, a grand musical commemoration in honor of those who fought for freedom during what’s considered to be the world’s greatest invasion.

Wed
03
Jul

Film producer Jack Meggers reflects on recent premieres and overall process of his Lansing-filmed production “The Burial”


Full house for film premiere ... More than 200 people from the Lansing area and beyond filed into T.J. Hunter’s Banquet Hall in Lansing to view the premiere showing of the short film “The Burial” Thursday, June 20. The film was shot entirely in and around the Lansing area, and producer Jack Meggers will now take the short film version to film companies and other film industry connections in hopes of securing financing for a full-length film. Photo by Jack Meggers.

Sharing further insight ... “The Burial” lead actress Nokomis Leaman-Logsdon (left) and producer Jack Meggers (right) fielded questions from the audience at the June 20 Lansing premiere of the film. The movie was filmed entirely in the Lansing area and is hoped to be further developed from its short film version into a full-length film. Photo by Susan Cantine-Maxson.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

Recently, Jack Meggers, an Iowa Arts Council Fellow, debuted his independent short film “The Burial” in Lansing and Des Moines. The film, shot entirely in northeast Iowa in and around the Lansing area, is a psychological, supernatural thriller. Meggers hopes to show this 20-minute film to film production companies on the East and West coasts and in Canada in the hope that one of them will agree to finance a feature length film of the entire story.

SET IN NE IOWA
Working on this concept since 2014, Meggers wrote  the screen play and worked tirelessly to get this film concept to the big screen, while also supporting himself as a substitute teacher. Meggers, a Mason City native, grew to love the Lansing area when he spent many summers with his dad in northeast Iowa along the Mississippi River.

Wed
03
Jul

Public Information Meeting regarding Black Hawk Bridge planned for July 9

Joint meeting with Iowa and Wisconsin DOT to be held in Lansing

A joint Public Information Meeting with the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation (DOT) has been scheduled for Tuesday, July 9 between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. at the Kee High School, located at 569 Center Street in Lansing. The proposed improvements on the Iowa 9 (Black Hawk) Bridge connecting Iowa and Wisconsin at Lansing will be displayed and discussed.

Details of the proposed project will be discussed at the meeting. Iowa DOT and consultant staff will be present to discuss the project informally. Interested individuals are encouraged to attend to express their views and ask questions about the proposed project.

Wed
03
Jul

Lansing Iowa Food Trust (LIFT) is finalist in Reader’s Digest “Nicest Places in America” contest

Public can vote until July 21

Reader’s Digest has revealed the 50 “Nicest Places in America,” the result of a national crowd-sourced effort to uncover places where people are kind and treat each other with respect. With one nomination from each state being selected as a finalist, the Lansing Iowa Food Trust (LIFT) in Lansing was selected as the contest finalist for the state of Iowa and the public can now vote to determine which finalist gets a cover story in the November issue of Reader’s Digest.

In an era of unprecedented cultural and political divides, “Nicest Places in America” is Reader’s Digest’s response. For the third annual search, Reader’s Digest editors sifted through over 1,000 stories of kindness submitted over 31 days from across America to name 50 finalists, one from each state.

Wed
26
Jun

Army Road Boat Access at New Albin still closed ...

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources wants to notify the public that, although the Mississippi River water level has finally lowered for opening many boat ramp accesses, the Army Road access in Allamakee County at New Albin is still closed.  Excessive flood debris, erosion of road rock, and stumps that have pushed up from under the road are making travel hazardous at this time.  DNR personnel are quickly improving the hazards for safe access, hopefully by this coming weekend June 29 and 30th, but there are no guarantees.  The public may call Wildlife Biologist Terry Haindfield at 563-380-3422 if they need an update on the conditions.
 

Wed
26
Jun

Rollin’ out the red carpet in Lansing ...

Approximately 200 area residents (many of whom are pictured below) gathered at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall Thursday, June 20 for the premiere of “The Burial,” a short independently made film by Iowa native Jack Meggers filmed primarily in the Lansing area. A festive atmosphere surrounded the audience as they situated themselves with popcorn and refreshments, two necessary accompaniments to going to a movie. Many of them had previously seen the cast and crew in the Lansing area filming a year ago. Some came out of curiosity, wanting to know what a film billed as a “supernatural-psychological thriller” might have to say about the Driftless area. In addition to the film viewing, local residents took the opportunity to have some of their own “red carpet” moments with those involved in the film. Pictured in the center photo, members of the Betty and late Lloyd Welsh family had some fun with their “red carpet” photo opportunity with the film’s lead actress, Nokomis Leaman-Logsdon.

Wed
26
Jun

Local residents working together toward forming an Allamakee Energy District; Next meeting is July 24

by Lissa Blake

Pursuing renewable, clean energy isn’t just about the environment. It’s also about keeping money in the community.

Conservation, sustainability and local economics are just some of the reasons a number of local residents have recently joined forces to pursue the creation of an Allamakee Energy District.

Andy Johnson, founding team member and executive director of the Winneshiek Energy District, said Allamakee County is among a number of counties in the region that have been working on establishing energy districts. They are partnering with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque to grow the network.

“Clayton and Howard counties were the first to follow and create their own districts. In the last six months, both Johnson and Delaware counties have created their own boards and incorporated,” said Johnson. “An energy district’s goal is local, clean-energy prosperity, wealth retention and creation.”

Wed
26
Jun

Public Information Meeting regarding Black Hawk Bridge planned for July 9

Joint meeting with Iowa and Wisconsin DOT to be held in Lansing

A joint Public Information Meeting with the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation (DOT) has been scheduled for Tuesday, July 9 between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. at the Kee High School, located at 569 Center Street in Lansing. The proposed improvements on the Iowa 9 (Black Hawk) Bridge connecting Iowa and Wisconsin at Lansing will be displayed and discussed.

Details of the proposed project will be discussed at the meeting. Iowa DOT and consultant staff will be present to discuss the project informally. Interested individuals are encouraged to attend to express their views and ask questions about the proposed project.

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