The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program will hold its core training sessions this fall for individuals interested in becoming Master Gardeners.
The Master Gardener program is looking for people who are passionate about volunteering and gardening. No previous garden knowledge is required. The program equips volunteers to grow in knowledge about gardening best practices, contribute produce to food banks to enhance food security and make Iowa’s fairgrounds and main streets beautiful.
“Master Gardeners provide information and education to Iowans,” said Susan DeBlieck, ISU Extension and Outreach Master Gardener assistant coordinator. “They are excellent community resources who help make the state a better place to live.”
Information released about the Iowa Legislative Page program is encouraging area students to apply for the 2018 session. Each year the Iowa General Assembly employs Iowa high school juniors and seniors from across the state to serve as Pages during the legislative session.
The duties of Legislative Pages vary slightly, but they generally provide valuable assistance to legislators and legislative staff. Tasks include running the chamber switchboard, delivering messages, distributing legislation, assisting committee chairpersons and sorting amendments. Pages are paid and many schools offer class credit for a student’s work in the Legislature.
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) has received a grant sub-award in partnership with Kirkwood Community College that will provide more financial assistance for low-income eligible students through the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) Food Assistance Employment and Training (FA E&T) program.
NICC was selected as a community college partner for the grant sub-award in part because of the College’s expansive 5,000-square mile, eight-county service area with a substantial percentage of residents who have not earned a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (HSED) and qualify for food assistance through the FA E&T program.
Just under half of northeast Iowa residents, 49.2 percent, reported a high school diploma, HSED or less as the highest educational level attained – higher than the 42 percent reported statewide, according to EMSI, Inc. Of this population, 8.08 percent of residents 25 and older live in poverty.
At the August 7 Friends of Pool 9 (FOP9) Board meeting, Deb Sullivan presented FOP9 with a check for $2,500 from the Norwex Company. At a recent company convention, Sullivan was informed of grants available to non-profits for being involved in projects to clean the environment. She was aware of the thousands of pounds of debris Friends of Pool 9 volunteers have removed from the Mississippi River annually and decided to apply for the grant. Thanks to the efforts of Deb Sullivan and the Norwex Company, the expenses for the 2018 river clean-up on the Mississippi River are already paid for. FOP9 appreciates the hundreds of volunteers that give their time and efforts to keep the Mississippi River environment a clean and safe place, making Pool 9 one of the best pools on the Upper Mississippi River. The next Pool 9 river clean-up is scheduled for the last Saturday in April.
The Lansing City Council meeting was held Wednesday, September 6, delayed initially a day from its usual Monday evening date due to the Labor Day holiday Monday, September 4, but then delayed to Wednesday due to a quorum of council members not being available for Tuesday's meeting date.
Discussion circled around a new sidewalk being put in on North Third Street, street light infrastructure information, the second reading of the City's ATV ordinance, and the police department seeking to get speed radars placed throughout the city.
It has been reported that rain water has been overflowing the sidewalk and running into houses on North Third Street. To fix this problem, the City will be replacing approximately sixty feet of sidewalk on that street in an effort to prevent the problem from happening again.
Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D., professor of criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Co-Director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, will be conducting a presentation on cyberbullying Monday, September 25 at the New Albin Community Center, beginning at 7 p.m.
Entitlted "Teen Technology Use and Misuse," Dr. Patchin's presentation will cover a broad overview of cyberbullying, including issues parents, educators, and teens need to know about how youth use and misuse technology to cause harm to their peers. The presentation will define and provide examples of cyberbullying and discuss the role of parents in preventing and responding to inappropriate online behaviors. It will also describe many of the online environments popular among adolescents today and strategies to use to make sure they are used safely and responsibly.
The Waukon girls cross country team competed in the uniquely-scored Dick Pollitt Go-Hawk Classic hosted by Waverly-Shell Rock Tuesday, September 5, finishing seventh in the overall 15-team field. The meet is run in “grade” format, where seniors and juniors compete in one race and sophomores and freshmen in another, and team scores are then kept for each grade level as well as an overall team tally.
Meet guidelines for the overall team scoring take the top five individual finishes for a team from each grade race, but no more than two runners from each grade level can be used by a team to calculate its final overall team score. The Indians used at least one scorer from each of the four different grade races to calculate their team score of 55 points that placed them seventh in the final 15 scoring team overall standings.
The Waukon boys cross country team competed in the uniquely-scored Dick Pollitt Go-Hawk Classic hosted by Waverly-Shell Rock Tuesday, September 5, finishing 10th in the final overall 16 scoring team standings based on the meet’s grade competition format and unique scoring system. With the meet matching grade levels in two separate races - seniors and juniors competing against one another in one race and sophomores and freshmen doing likewise in another race, and the finishes of only two runners from each grade race being allowed to count in the overall team score made up of five runners from each squad, the Indians finished with 98 team points.
OVERALL TEAM SCORES
Decorah 17; Charles City 27; Mason City 34; Waverly-Shell Rock 44; Western Dubuque 45; Denver 54; Webster City 61; West Delaware 65; Aplington-Parkersburg 86; WAUKON 98; Starmont 118; Grundy Center/G-R 142; Crestwood 149; Jesup 178; Hampton-Dumont 214; Independence 253
Waukon football junior Brady Sullivan breaks through the Dyersville Beckman front line to drop this ballcarrier for a loss in the Indians’ 53-35 home victory over the Trailblazers to open Class 2A District 4 play Friday, September 8. Sullivan left the game early with an injury but wrapped up a pair of solo tackles for a loss in his total of three each of solo and assisted stops before his departure. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this website.
Big plays were a big factor in a big first step taken by the Waukon football team in opening their Class 2A District 4 schedule with a 53-35 victory at home over Dyersville Beckman Friday, September 8. The Indians struck on three scoring plays covering 216 yards in their first three possessions to bolt to a 22-0 headstart they would never really look back from in keeping their undefeated season and number-one ranking intact as District play got underway.
“We have a great deal of respect for Beckman as a program, so to jump on them like that out of the gate was pretty shocking,” Waukon football coach Chad Beermann said. “We know this group of players has that kind of ability, we just don’t always get to see it. Friday night it was on display in the first quarter, and most of the second.”
Kee football junior Josh Walleser closes in on this Central City ballcarrier in the Hawks’ 24-6 home victory over the Wildcats Friday, September 8 to begin District 3 play. Walleser led Kee’s defense with seven solo tackles and added four more assisted stops while also picking off two interceptions. He also caught two passes for 31 yards and a touchdown. Photo courtesy of the Kee High School Yearbook. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this website.
The Kee football team’s first victory of the season couldn’t have come at a better time than the start of District 3 play, as the Hawks played host to Central City Friday, September 8 and came away with a 24-6 triumph. For the third consecutive game Kee’s grid guys put together a strong first half effort, holding a halftime lead for the second consecutive week, but this time the Hawks continued that effort for the game’s remaining half as well, answering their only defensive letdown directly and coming up with some big defensive plays to further cement an overall strong defensive effort in the contest.
The Hawks are next scheduled to travel to Tripoli this Friday, September 15 to continue District 3 play against the 3-0 Tigers. Tripoli comes off a 68-8 trouncing at home over Central Elkader this past Friday, and also has wins of 34-30 over Riceville and 42-28 over Janesville to its early-season credit.
