Ruby R. Herman, 91, of Waukon passed away Friday, June 19, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, surrounded by her family. Funeral services were held Monday, June 29 at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Tom Buresh officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Memorials can be made to Zalmona Presbyterian Church, Mt. Hope Cemetery Fund, or the Veterans Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation.
Ruby Rose Herman was born November 21, 1934, in Waukon, the daughter of Earl and Myrtle (Sadler) Beardmore. She was baptized and confirmed at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church in rural New Albin, attended English Bench grade school in rural Dorchester, and graduated from Waukon High School in 1952.
Path of June 17 tornado in Allamakee County, into Wisconsin ... The map image above created by the National Weather Service shows the path the EF2 tornado traveled when it blew through eastern Allamakee County Wednesday, June 17 around 5 p.m. Starting about five miles east of Waukon in the area of Scenic Valley Drive about a mile north of its intersection with Elon Drive, the tornado’s path was determined to have angled slightly southeast, crossing Bakkum Road and traveling directly overtop the Elon area to also cross over Jeglum Road, Waterville Road about three miles north of Waterville, Gronna Drive and Lansing Harpers Road about two miles south of its Elon Drive intersection at Thompson’s Corner. Taking a more directly east path for a bit, the tornado continued across Ryan Hill Road and Collins Ridge Road approximately two miles north of Harpers Ferry before angling to the southeast again to cross Great River Road and ultimately continue on across the Mississippi River into Crawford County in Wisconsin before lifting just before Boscobel, WI and WI Highway 61 and then returning from the sky shortly after as an F1 tornado to continue across the northeast corner of Grant County in Wisconsin and further into Iowa County in Wisconsin. In all, the tornado is estimated by the National Weather Service to have traveled nearly 33 miles as an F2 storm (yellow line) for nearly 45 minutes at estimated peak wind speeds of 115 mph, and then returning as an F1 storm (green line) in Wisconsin for 20 miles and nearly a half-hour at estimated peak wind speeds of 105 mph.
Trees and farm outbuildings suffer brunt of damage but no injuries reported from abrupt June 17 storm
One of the strongest tornadoes recorded locally in 40 years ripped through the eastern middle of Allamakee County late Wednesday afternoon, June 17, starting right near the very center of the county and progressing slightly southeast before crossing the Mississippi River and continuing into Wisconsin at a total distance of nearly 33 miles traveled in around a 45-minute timeframe. Although no injuries or fatalities were reported from the quick-hitting storm, the tornado did leave significant damage to trees, farm buildings and fields, in addition to some home damage as it roared through Allamakee County.
Tuesday, June 16, Erin Cantrell, a flight nurse with Emplify Health Air Medical Transport, attended the Waukon Emergency Medical Services (EMS) monthly meeting to award Clinical Excellence Challenge Coins (pictured at right) to many of the EMS team members on their quick response to a 911 cardiac arrest call they had received earlier this spring that is credited with saving a life. April 15, the call came from the home of Randy and Lisa Murphy in Waukon after Randy became unresponsive. Randy’s wife, Lisa, was also complimented on her quick response in starting CPR as soon as she did and the important role it played in his survival.
Following the release of a special investigation report by State of Iowa Auditor Rob Sand Monday morning, June 15 in regard to financial matters with Lansing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for the period January 1, 2019, through September 30, 2025, leaders of Lansing EMS responded to the report with a statement outlining their own acknowledgment, gratitude and assurance of how much its members value the responsibility they have in serving the public and the trust of that public they serve.
The released report indicates that the special investigation was requested by the Allamakee County Auditor’s Office in February of 2025 as a result of concerns regarding certain financial transactions and financial reporting of Lansing EMS. The investigation outlined the identification of $8,461.20 of what were labeled as improper disbursements and $9,778.67 of what were termed unsupported disbursements over that nearly six-year period.
FreedomBank of Elkader, Monona, Postville, and Waukon has promoted James Moritz to President. Moritz, who has 35 years of banking experience with FreedomBank, has been involved in credit, ALCO, trust, and executive leadership. He has been Market President of the Monona location for the past six years and a member of the board of directors since 2019.
Moritz succeeds Kathy Mueller, a 45-year banker who served as President from 2020-2026. Mueller will retain her role as CEO of FreedomBank and President of the bank’s holding company, FreedomBank Shares, Inc.
Pladsen Chevrolet automotive technicians Drew Adam and Brian Wullner (left to right in the submitted photo at right) were recently honored with Mark of Excellence Awards for ranking among the Top 20 Performing General Motors (GM) Service Technicians in the Midwest Region. The General Motors Mark of Excellence Service Technician Award recognizes the top 20 performing service technicians within each General Motors zone. It honors the industry’s highest achievers in fixed-right-first-time (FIRTFT) metrics, product knowledge, and continued General Motors certification. Technicians are evaluated on their annual diagnostic skills, productivity, Gold/Master Level training certifications, and customer satisfaction (CSI) scores.
Deadlines/Dates
May 14 - August 2: Primary Nesting Season
July 3: Office closed in observance of Independence Day
July 13-19: Allamakee County Fair
July 15: Deadline to Report Acres
August 12: Deadline to submit an SDRP application
Livestock producers and land managers interested in learning more about pasture productivity and grazing management practices are invited to participate in the Iowa Grazing Academy this July and August. The Iowa Grazing Academy consists of online sessions and in-person field days that provide practical skills and strategies for improving grazing practices.
The online sessions will be held July 13–22 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Participants can join all sessions or choose those that fit their schedule. All sessions will be recorded and available for later viewing.
What is Christian Love and how do we as Christians live into it? Let me start off by saying the love our Triune God has for all of His created beings (i.e. Humanity/Us) and how we are to exhibit to one another is not inclusive to one’s salvation. But, that discussion will need to wait for another time.
On to Christian love… I look at Christian love using this premise; I can agree to disagree with you on how you do or see or believe X, Y, or Z. But that does not in any way take away from the fact that you are a creation of God with great worth. Regardless of “X, Y, or Z” or whether I like you or not, I can share everyday life experiences with you… I can laugh with you, I can cry with you, if you are in harm’s way or need assistance, I will be there to intervene. We can co-exist, but we may not be able to co-habitat.
Saturday, July 4, the Allamakee County Veterans Museum at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no admission charge. The public is welcome to visit for tours, and the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary will be providing cookies and beverages for the Fourth of July event.
The Veterans Museum honors the service and sacrifice of Allamakee County veterans who have served the United States in uniform throughout the years.
Guided tours will be given of exhibits from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and all post 9-11 conflicts. Patriotic music from all eras will be played.
All local veteran videos in the museum library will be available for presentation on request. Donations of additional pictures to the Veteran Honor Walls will be welcome.
