News Center newsletter

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, October 16 to address a variety of matters, including the Reel Core tax rebate program, the 5K and 8K Turkey Trot event and the Annual Report for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2017. Mayor Duane DeWalle called the meeting to order.
During Public Comment, Coordinator Ardie Kuhse with Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) discussed the forum held October 30 for Waukon Mayor and City Council candidates, which she described as being well attended by the public. Kuhse thanked the candidates for their involvement and stated that she is an advocate for the Hotel/Motel Tax, which will benefit the City and citizens.

by Anne Falken,
Correspondent

It’s going to happen. After two plus years of work by the New Albin City Council, NAIL (New Albin Improvement League) and other concerned citizens, enough progress has been made on the proposed wastewater treatment plant to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The light shows a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment idea, Algaewheel, that mimics nature’s own biological processes by utilizing the symbiotic relationship between algae and bacteria.

OneWater Group, based in Indianapolis, IN, is demonstrating global foresight in its product, Algaewheel, which promotes decentralized water treatment and water reuse, and addresses water pollution and water security. In today's world of declining fresh water supply from booming populations and over-consumption, ensuing droughts, and perhaps terrorism, a decentralized water treatment plant gives more dependability and protection for a city’s water supply.

by Macie Hill

The regular meeting of the Lansing City Council was held Monday, November 6. Discussion centered around no parking signs being put in near Fourth Street and Platt Street, approval of the renewal of the Marina Contract, payment for the South Road Bridge project, a grant for sign replacements and hiring a new police officer.

City officials are considering putting no parking signs in front of some of the spaces near Fourth Street and Platt Street due to parked cars in those locations being in the way of semi tractor-trailers trying to turn the corner. The council decided to notify the residents near the locations where the signs would need to be placed, get their feedback on the decision, and make a decision at a future meeting.

After Hurricane Harvey struck Texas in late August of this year, Lansing resident Harold Marks, a member of United Methodist Church in Lansing (UMC Lansing), felt inspired to help out in some way. He and his wife, Denise, decided to approach their fellow congregation members at UMC Lansing to suggest sending a portion of the proceeds from the church's approaching chicken supper to a fellow United Methodist Church in Texas.

After doing some research, a small United Methodist Church in Baytown, TX was chosen. St. Emily's United Methodist Church is led by Pastor Bill Russell and his wife, Debra, serving a small congregation of about 60 people. Although the church, itself, did not suffer a lot of damage from the hurricane, members of the church's congregation did experience flooding, vehicle and even home losses.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach recently visited the St. Patrick School kindergarten class to offer Fizz, Bubble and Goo, a science-based program which requires students to get messy and sparks their natural curiosity for learning. A few of the activities included making homemade bubbles and bubble blowers and cola with ingredients right out of the cupboard. The kindergarten students learned what makes Alka Seltzer fizz and what gas blew up their balloon when they mixed baking soda and vinegar. The grand finale was making elephant toothpaste (pictured above) and watching the reaction between hydrogen peroxide, yeast and soap. Included in the finale was the Mentos and soda pop experiment, dropping 10 candies into the Coca-Cola (pictured below and a must-try at home!) For more information about joining 4-H, contact Becky Rea, Allamakee County K-12 Program Coordinator, at the Iowa State Extension and Outreach Allamakee County Office at 563-568-6345. Submitted photos.

Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association is offering ten $1,000 scholarships for the 2018-2019 academic year to college students pursuing careers, as well as two $750 scholarships specifically for students earning degrees from technical colleges.

“Equity Livestock is proud to help students further their educational endeavors by offering scholarships,” says Chuck Adami, president/chief executive officer (CEO). “The rise in tuition isn’t making it easy for today’s youth to earn their degree, so if our scholarship program can slightly reduce their financial worries, then by all means, we should support their efforts.”

Life is not about money - but how people manage their money impacts their quality of life, their family’s life, and the life of their community. A new course from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach provides the tools Iowans need to work toward financial goals.

“Your Money, Your Future begins in three communities this November,” said Jeannette Mukayisire, Human Sciences Family Finance Specialist. “In this two-part course you’ll learn how to make your money work for you.” The course covers how to understand spending, use financial management resources, and build personal financial management skills. It is sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation.

The class will meet at the following Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Offices:

Anyone who likes college basketball should think about signing up for Waukon Park and Recreation second annual Iowa Hawkeyes basketball trip to Iowa City. Waukon Park and Recreation will be taking a charter bus to Iowa City to the University of Iowa men’s basketball game against Southern University Sunday, December 10. Game time is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.

Anyone in sixth-12th grades is welcome to go, and they do not have to have a parent along with them. There are 50 seats available on a first-come, first-serve basis to pay the sign-up fee. Interested participants must sign up online at https://waukon.recdesk.com/Community/Member/Login. The deadline to sign up is Wednesday, December 6 or until the 50 spots are filled.

Work continues with the storm sewer replacement project on First Avenue NW in Waukon following notice of a slight collapse in a section of the existing storm sewer in that area earlier this year. Waukon City Manager Dean Hilgerson has indicated that some delays in the project were caused by a gas line laying across the project area, which will be raised one foot, and other cables also creating difficulties. Hilgerson said 31 of the five-foot by nine-foot concrete sections of storm sewer (pictured above) will be placed from First Avenue NW northwest through the parking lot toward Second Street NW, likely taking over two more weeks to complete the project. Pictures below show the previous storm sewer of laid-up rock that is being replaced with the concrete sections, with the below left photo looking toward the south side of First Avenue NW and the below right photo looking to the north toward the parking lot area.

Hi, and Happy Winter Weather Awareness Day for Thursday, November 9!

A couple of weeks ago would have seemed too early, but given the weather the last couple of weeks, that greeting seems to fit as we are fast becoming aware of the upcoming winter season that will soon be upon us.  So, in recognition of this day, I would like to discuss some things we can start looking at as we prepare for our upcoming Iowa weather.

One of the first things we should do is make sure we are aware of the hazards we face during the winter season and this, of course, includes snow, ice and cold. Each one brings unique features and dangers with it, along with their own impact on our safety during the winter months. However, with so much to cover with these alone, I will discuss these hazards in my upcoming December article and will use this article to focus on the following simple preparation activities we can take at this time.