Students from Waukon High School will join thousands of other youth and any others who may be interested on athletic fields across the nation Wednesday, October 10 to share their Christian faith with fellow students and the general public during the 15th annual national Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ (FCA) Fields of Faith event. This interdenominational outreach event will be held at more than 500 locations throughout the nation.
The local event is now in its seventh year and will start at 7 p.m. at the Waukon High School football field that Wednesday evening. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. In the case of inclement weather, the event will be held inside the Waukon High School gymnasium.
Collection of local history will be open to the public ... Longtime auctioneer George Ashbacher sits near his display of vintage washing machines that, along with many other things, he has collected throughout his 60 years of auctioneering. Ashbacher will open his six buildings he has filled with northeast Iowa history and memorabilia to the public this Saturday and Sunday, October 13 and 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Photo by Kristin Kopperud-Stinn.
Historical hairdressing ... Pictured above is a vintage “perm” machine used back in the day to give hair permanents. The machine is just one of the many pieces of local nostalgia that George Ashbacher of rural Harpers Ferry has collected over the years and now has on display in the former Rossville Barbershop that is part of six buildings he will be opening to the public this weekend for open house viewing of local history. Photo by Kristin Kopperud-Stinn.
by Kristin Kopperud-Stinn
George Ashbacher has one of the largest collections of memorabilia in northeast Iowa. Most of the items on display at his Grandpa George’s Barn of Memories are from a radius of 60 miles or less from Harpers Ferry where Ashbacher calls home. In total, there are six buildings, seven if you count the second floor of the main building.
Ashbacher credits 60 years of auctioneering for his impressive collection, which ranges from small souvenir spoons and plates to five vintage tractors. Originally, Ashbacher had 48 tractors in his collection. He also owns more than 200 pieces of chalk ware, 40 lamps and a host of commemorative items from towns such as Waterville, Waukon, Rossville, Elkader, Harpers Ferry, Marquette and McGregor.
A Waukon man convicted of second degree murder last month has now filed an appeal on that verdict.
John Michael Quanrude, 32, filed the appeal Wednesday, October 3. The action came following his sentencing hearing held Monday, October 1 in the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon, where District Judge John Bauercamper sentenced Quanrude to 50 years in prison for the killing of his stepfather and roommate, 60-year-old Dean Russell of Waukon. At the time, Bauercamper instructed Quanrude that he had 30 days to appeal his case.
In a jury trial that took just four days in mid-September before a guilty verdict was handed down, Quanrude was convicted of the crime, a Class B felony, which took place April 16 of this year in the home he shared with Russell at 49 Jean Road in the Parkview Trailer Court in Waukon. At the time of sentencing,
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, October 8 to address agenda items including the consideration of quotes regarding the purchase of a tractor backhoe for the Secondary Roads Department, the approval of Secondary Roads transfers and quarterly reports for Planning and Zoning and the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department. Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order with approval of the current agenda and October 1 minutes.
Carol Krumme of Waukon State Bank was recently honored by the Iowa Bankers Association for 50 years of service to Waukon State Bank. She was one of 21 individuals recognized in Iowa for reaching the 50-year milestone and received the plaque and pin she is displaying in the adjacent photo to commemorate the occasion.
John Sorenson, Iowa Bankers Association President stated, “Iowa Banks have been a trusted resource for Iowans for more than 100 years. We are honored to have the commitment and experience of bankers like Carol Krumme, who have worked to provide valuable service to Iowa bank customers and their communities for more than half a century.”
Wednesday, October 3 at approximately 10:35 p.m., a multi-agency narcotics investigation was conducted by law enforcement agencies of the Northeast Iowa Drug Task Force. During the investigation, a Waukon Police Officer attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Mason Edwin Lee Frick, age 20, of Waukon. Frick attempted to elude law enforcement, traveling at a high rate of speed beginning in Waukon, traveling through Luana and ending in Postville through law enforcement intervention.
Frick was taken into custody and transported to the Allamakee County Jail. He has been charged with one count of Controlled Substance Violation - C Felony, one count of Eluding - D Felony, one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance - Serious Misdemeanor, and one count of Driving While License Revoked - Serious Misdemeanor. Frick will also be charged with numerous traffic offenses. He is currently being held in the Allamakee County Jail awaiting arraignment.
The Lansing Iowa Food Trust (LIFT) performed a ribbon cutting ceremony prior to opening its doors to the public Wednesday, October 3 in the office space of the former Rethwisch Lumber Co. building in Lansing. Pictured above at that ribbon cutting ceremony are: Left to right - Front row: LIFT Board members Faye Halverson and Chris McKee, Main Street Lansing Executive Director Andy Kelleher, LIFT Board President Karen Galema, Gary DeVilbiss. Back row: Bruce Palmborg, Jana Schoh, LIFT Board Secretary Gary Krapfl, Rhianna Galema, John Hisel. The new LIFT facility will be open to distribute food to qualifying individuals each Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. Photo by Susan Cantine-Maxson.
The first-ever Driftless Half Marathon will be taking place Saturday, October 13 along the Great River Road (County Road X52) between Harpers Ferry and Lansing, and motorists are advised to be aware of event traffic throughout that morning. Although the roadway will remain open to traffic, motorists are advised to try and seek an alternative route from 5 a.m. to 12 noon to aid safety and successful completion of the event.
The Driftless Half Marathon will take place from 7:30-11:30 a.m. that Saturday, beginning at the intersection of Collins Ridge Road and Great River Road (approximately one mile north of Harpers Ferry) and ending at the Softball Complex in Lansing. The route will also include a loop on Red Oak Drive. A map of the route highlighted in wide dark gray is picture at right.
Barbara Kailean Welsh, the author of “Blazing a trail: The unconventional life of Harriet Hosmer,” will be discussing her book and its namesake at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library Thursday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m. with a light supper being served at 5:30 p.m. Harriet Goodhue Hosmer became America’s first female sculptor, with her work still displayed across the globe.
Attendees will hear the story of her life, from childhood tragedy to fame and notoriety, always boldly taking the path that was right for her. They will also learn about her historical connection to Lansing.
Welsh, the book’s author, grew up on a farm near Lansing. Her interest in local history began with her grandmother’s antique postcards and grew through her work as editor of The Allamakee Journal.
The Waukon High School music department has selected “The Addams Family” as this year’s musical production under the direction of Louise Wild and musical director Sarah Palmer. Three performances are being planned for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 1, 2 and 3, all at 7:30 p.m. The performances will be held at the Waukon High School auditorium.
The ghoulish Addams family is visiting the graveyard for an annual gathering of all family members (living, dead and undecided) to celebrate what it is to be an Addams. Uncle Fester (played by Sean Liddiard) stops the ancestors’ return to their graves to enlist their help. He explains that Wednesday (played by Oonagh Ahouse), under protest, has invited her new (normal) boyfriend, Lucas Beineke (played by Denzel Decker), and his parents, Mal (played by Robbie Drew) and Alice (played by Emily Kolsrud), to dinner.
