News Center newsletter

Allamakee County will host a Seed Treatment Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators, Wednesday, February 22. The program will be shown at locations across Iowa through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP).

The local attendance site is Allamakee County Extension, 218 7th Ave SE, Suite #102. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the course runs from 9 to 11 a.m. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Allamakee County by phoning 563-568-6345.

The course will provide continuing instruction credit for commercial pesticide applicators certified in categories 4 and 10. Topics to be covered include safe handling and storage of seed treatment products and treated seed; laws and regulations; personal protective equipment; and pests, pest management, and pesticides.

The Iowa Agricultural Development Division will be hosting a free Beginning Farmer Workshop Tuesday, February 14 at Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar. The workshop is open to anyone interested in learning about beginning farmer programs in Iowa.

The agenda includes an overview of USDA-Farm Service Agency and Iowa Finance Authority Beginning Farmer Programs as well as an Ag lender panel discussion which will cover how to enhance relationships with Ag lenders, tips for preparing financial statements, cash flows and loan applications as well as how to improve a credit score.

The Beginning Farmer Workshop will be held Tuesday, February 14 from 8:30-11 a.m. at the Northeast Iowa Community College Dairy Center, Room 115. The event is free, but registration is required at IowaFinanceAuthority.gov/IADD.
 

The Iowa Pork Industry Center and Iowa State University (ISUEO) Extension and Outreach are teaming up to provide training for pork producers and others who need certification in Pork Quality Assurance Plus® (PQA Plus®) and Transporter Quality Insurance® (TQA®). Programs have been scheduled for Wednesday, February 15 in Elkader, according to ISUEO swine specialist Mark Storlie.

“The programs will be held at the Freedom Bank’s Community Room, 210 South Main Street, in Elkader.  TQA® session will begin at 12:30 pm and the PQA Plus® session will start at 3 pm” Storlie said “Attend one program or both, but pre-registration is required.”

To preregister, contact the Clayton County Extension office at 563-245-1451.  Questions may be directed to Mark Storlie by phone at 563-425-3331 or mstorlie@iastate.edu.

The Kee boys basketball team remained at home this past week, but had all of its action end up in the final two days of the week due to winter weather early in the week. In back-to-back nights of competition to end the week, the Hawks fell to North Fayette Valley, 81-58, Thursday, January 26 in a game rescheduled from January 17, before also allowing Postville to take home a 52-42 Kee defeat late in another Upper Iowa Conference match-up Friday, January 27.

Now holding a 2-13 overall record, 2-10 in Upper Iowa Conference (UIC) play, the Hawks were also scheduled to host Starmont Tuesday, January 24, but had that game postponed to Monday, January 30 because of winter weather. Kee was then scheduled to play at West Central Tuesday, January 31 before hosting Turkey Valley Friday, February 3 and then wrapping up its regular season with back-to-back road games at Houston, MN Thursday, February 9 and at Coulee Christian Friday, February 10.

The Kee girls basketball team extended its current winning streak to five games with a pair of victories late in this past week, exacting a bit of revenge in the process. After having a Tuesday, January 24 home game with Starmont postponed to Monday, January 30 due to winter weather, the Lady Hawks paid back an Upper Iowa Conference loss to Clayton Ridge from earlier in the season with a 40-34 triumph at Guttenberg Thursday, January 26 before defeating Spring Grove, MN Friday, January 27 at home by a final count of 62-41.

The Waukon bowling team competed in a busy final two days of this past week, competing in a home dual meet and a first-ever team tournament. The Indian bowlers split that home dual with Sumner-Fredericksburg Friday, January 27, the Waukon girls falling to the visiting Cougars by a score of 1883-2103 and the Indian boys securing a home victory by a 2247-2049 final result. The bowling Tribe then competed in a first-ever team tournament, taking on nine to 10 other teams in the North Iowa Conference Tournament hosted by Waterloo Columbus High School Saturday, January 28. Both the girls and boys teams were eliminated from the tournament in the second round of head-to-head competition.

The Waukon girls basketball team had a busy week shift from early in the week to later, having the game’s final results also shift within that timeframe. The Lady Indians opened the week with a 44-33 home triumph over Prairie du Chien, WI Monday, January 30 before falling on back-to-back nights to a pair of Northeast Iowa Conference teams ranked within the top 10 of their respective classes, including a 68-28 home loss to Class 3A third-rated Crestwood Thursday, January 26 in a game rescheduled from January 24, with that being followed by a 53-33 loss at Class 4A 10th-rated Waverly-Shell Rock Friday, January 27.

David Thorstenson, 65, of Cedar Rapids passed away Friday, January 20, 2017. A gathering of family and friends was held Tuesday, January 24 at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, located in Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include his wife of over 40 years, Linda; his children, Andrea (Derek) Waite and Damian (Amanda) Thorstenson; his grandchildren, Ryken and Larkyn Waite and Danielle Thorstenson and Colton Engel; his brothers, Wayne and Dean Thorstenson; his sisters, Eunice Kolsrud and Karla Honn; and many family members.

Arden I. Hanson, 88, of Waukon died Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Clarksville Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center in Clarksville. Memorial services will be held Thursday, February 2 at 11 a.m. at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial with military honors will take place in the church cemetery.

Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Thursday, February 2 at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family with arrangements.

Arden Irvin Hanson was born May 21, 1928 in rural Waukon, the son of Almer and Ida (Larson) Hanson. He was baptized and confirmed at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church and attended country schools and Waukon High School. Arden served in the United States Army from 1951-1953 during the Korean War.

Shirley Ann Brainard, 87, of Postville died Monday, January 23, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Society, Postville. Funeral Services were held Friday, January 27 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville with Rev. Lynn Noel as the Officiant. Burial will be at a later date.

Shirley Ann was born April 28, 1929 to Nanfred Johannes and Sylvia Jeanette (Forde) Sand. She attended Ossian Schools and graduated in 1947. After graduation Shirley took summer classes at Luther College. She was a substitute teacher at a country school the fall of 1947 and worked at Northern Engraving in Waukon from 1971 until her retirement in 1994.