Captain Mary Plein ... Waukon native Mary Plein served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps for 16 years. She spent time serving her country during World War II and again during the Korean War. Submitted photo.
Waukon native Mary Plein served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during World War II and Korean War, continued her service in her community
by David M. Johnson
Veterans Days is designated as a time to remember those who have served their country through military experience. They have sacrificed part of their lives to fulfill what they believe is a responsibility to their community and their nation.
Those who have not had the experience of military service, who have gone on to live their day-to-day lives, can be appreciative of those who put that day-to-day living on hold and joined the military services in order to make that freedom a possibility. Whether serving on the front line in combat, on the decks or holds of naval ships or flying sorties, or serving more behind the scenes as cooks, truck drivers or mechanics, all have done their part during their service to their country.
A sign of things to come ... A groundbreaking ceremony was held near the east approach of the current Black Hawk Bridge at Lansing Thursday, November 2, marking the official start of construction of the planned replacement bridge pictured on the sign in the photo above. Also pictured in the photo above are, left to right, Tony Gustafson, chief engineer, with Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT); Aaron Rosenbery, project manager, with Kraemer North America (contractor on the bridge project); Clayton Burke, project manager, with Iowa DOT; and Dan Kleinertz, project supervisor, with Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). Photo by Julie Berg-Raymond.
Wide variety of representation at groundbreaking ... Residents of both Wisconsin and Iowa attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Mississippi River bridge at Lansing Thursday, November 2. The ceremony was held at the northeast corner of the existing Black Hawk Bridge that connects Iowa Hwy. 9 and Wisconsin Hwy. 82, with the existing bridge looming above on the left side of the photo and some of the heavy equipment to be used in the new bridge construction standing tall in the background of the photo. Photo by Julie Berg-Raymond.
Digging in to get the project underway ... Several of the individuals who will be instrumental throughout the Black Hawk Bridge replacement project turned over their first shovels of dirt at the Thursday, November 2 groundbreaking ceremony near the east approach of the existing bridge. Pictured, left to right, are Paul Lindsey, who is the lead inspector for HNTB Corporation, an engineering consulting firm out of Madison, WI; Clayton Burke, the Iowa Department of Transportation’s manager for the project; Travis Konda, a Structural Engineer for HNTB; Aaron Rosenbery, project manager for Kraemer North America, contractor for the bridge replacement project; and David Stanke, Kraemer North America Vice President for the Wisconsin area. Photo by Julie Berg-Raymond.
by Julie Berg-Raymond
An important moment in area history unfolded Thursday, November 2, at the site of what will be the new Mississippi River bridge at Lansing.
Representatives from the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Kraemer North America (contractors on the project), along with community members ceremonially broke ground on the project to replace the Black Hawk Bridge. According to a short statement released by the
Iowa DOT, “work is about to begin on the new Mississippi River Bridge that will improve the connection between Lansing and Crawford County, Wisconsin.” The new bridge will offer a safer, smoother ride as travelers move through the area.
“The groundbreaking is just the beginning of the multi-year process to replace the bridge,” the statement continues. “Completion of the new bridge is expected in 2026. During construction, the current bridge will stay open and ready for use.”
Program room available for public use ... The program room at the Allamakee County Veterans Museum in Waukon offers the public the opportunity to view the museum’s collection of 18 video interviews of area military veterans. In addition to the video interviews and the numerous displays throughout the museum, the facility also has a library of other resources and the program room can be used by the general public. Submitted photo.
The mission of the Allamakee County Veterans Museum is to preserve the history and service of local veterans. A key part of that mission is the museum’s video Veterans History Project. Currently, the museum’s library of video interviews includes 18 videos (listed further below in this article) with veterans who served in World War II, Korean Conflict, Vietnam Conflict, and career service.
Many of these videos have already been presented at public programs in the museum at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon during the last two years. The videos are also available for the public to watch upon request while visiting the museum at any time the museum is open to the public.
R.W. Pladsen, Inc. in Waukon recently completed its Fill-A-Truck promotion held throughout the month of October to benefit the Allamakee County Relief Office in its efforts to help those less fortunate. Individuals could donate a non-perishable food item to help “fill a truck” and also have their name entered into a weekly Friday drawing during the month of October for prizes that included gift certificates, t-shirts and other items donated through the generosity of Allamakee County businesses much appreciated by R.W. Pladsen, Inc. and all those benefiting from the promotion. Pictured above at the presentation of the donated food items to the Allamakee County Relief Office are, left to right, R.W. Pladsen, Inc. staff member David Mark, Allamakee County Relief Office Director Rebecca Hawes, and R.W. Pladsen, Inc. staff members Carli Mellick and Greg Halverson.
Mary (Evanson) Bleckwehl, a Waterville area native who grew up on her family farm on Elon Road in Allamakee County and is now a children’s author living in Minnesota, will be in Waukon Tuesday, November 21 for two author events.
She will be at Robey Memorial Library Storytime from 10:30-11 a.m. and will be introducing and reading from her newest picture book, Arrrgh! Me HATE To Wait!, a story of an impatient piggy pirate who learns that good things come to those who wait.
That afternoon, the author will be at St. Patrick Catholic School. She will spend the afternoon meeting with all grade levels to share her author journey, newest books and more.
Midwest Veterans of America will be hosting a Veterans Day event this Saturday, November 11 at AJ Bar & Grill in Waukon, beginning at 12 noon. A full menu will be available to order from, and Midwest Veterans of America will be honoring 36 local veterans during the event, with those awards being distributed at 1:30 p.m.
The Waukon High School Marching Band had a successful end to its marching season with performances at Wartburg College in Waverly September 30 and at the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) State Marching Band Festival in Waterloo October 6. With the end to that season, the marching band saw the final performances of its four seniors. Pictured in the photo below, left to right, are marching band senior members Lauren McCabe and Gabe Goettel, Marching Band Director Jo Ann Sherman, and senior members Ryan Kolsrud and Alice Day. “The band will greatly miss the leadership of its four senior band members,” Director Sherman shared in reflection.
Students in the fourth grade class taught by Mrs. Jennifer Benda at St. Patrick Elementary School in Waukon recently put their learning into action to try and help out a fellow student and her family. Thursday, October 26, the class sold hot chocolate during recess time and raised a total of $34, which they, in turn, donated to the family of Eliana Erb, a St. Patrick student who is currently undergoing medical treatment. The five girls pictured above took care of the sales during that October 26 recess, and the entire fourth grade class (pictured below) supported the project by donating supplies and making other contributions to the project.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach joined the St. Patrick School Kindergarten class in Waukon to offer hands-on learning with “Fizz, Bubble, Goo!” The kindergartners learned what makes Alka Seltzer fizz and what gas blew up their balloon when they mixed baking soda and vinegar. Another experiment was making elephant toothpaste and watching the reaction between hydrogen peroxide, yeast and soap.
The Decorah girls swimming and diving team has qualified three events for the State Swimming and Diving Meet to be held this weekend, November 10-11, at the Marshalltown YMCA/YWCA, and Waukon High School sophomore Avalea Burns is a member of the lone Viking relay event to earn that advancement to the season grand finale. Burns and Waukon High School junior Reagan Lubahn have been competing for Decorah in the pool this fall season.
The State Meet qualifications came on the Lady Vikings’ efforts at their Regional Meet held in Dubuque Saturday, November 4, with Burns being the only Waukon competitor listed as competing for the Vikings in Saturday’s Regional Meet. Decorah tallied 119 points to finish eighth in the final eight-team standings at the event, with Iowa City West winning that team race with its championship total of 455 points.
