News Center newsletter

by Lissa Blake

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing has been named among the Best of Iowa’s State and County Parks. The ranking, compiled by traveliowa.com, lists the Center as one of Iowa’s “Can’t Miss Nature Centers.”

The Driftless Center listing can be found amongst a number of other attractions listed online at www.traveliowa.com/getinspireddetails/the-best-of-iowa-s-state-and-count...

Jill Johnson of TASC, Inc. was selected as a 2018 recipient of the IACP (Iowa Association of Community Providers) Frontline Supervisor Award recognizing excellence in quality contributions in serving others. She was presented with her award at the annual IACP Convention held May 3 in Ames. Johnson is a solution-oriented supervisor whose dedication to the people she serves has led to success in transitions to community living. Pictured above, left to right, are Jill Johnson and Iowa Association of Community Providers Chief Executive Officer Shelly Chandler. Submitted photo.
 

The Allamakee County Fair Board is seeking applicants for the 2018 Allamakee County Fair Queen contest, with this year’s fair running July 18-22.

The contest will run similarly to that of the Iowa State Fair Queen Contest. There will be one formal interview conducted by judges. This is where the majority of the judging will take place.

Coronation of the 2018 Allamakee County Fair Queen will take place following the “Allamakee County Youth Showcase” Tuesday evening, July 17 at the Allamakee County Pavilion building on the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. This event will begin at 7 p.m.

At this event, each Fair Queen contestant will be asked to share her favorite Allamakee County Fair memory. The 2018 Allamakee County Fair Queen and Allamakee County Fair Princess will be announced and crowned at the conclusion of the Youth Showcase.

Children and families are encouraged to participate in Robey Memorial Library’s program series, Summer Explorers, to be held Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. May 30, June 6, 13 and 20, and August 1 and 8. The program schedule is as follows:

The community is invited to give back and help save lives by donating blood Friday, June 8 from 1-6 p.m. at the Kerndt Brothers Community Center located on Main Street in Lansing. To make an appointment or to learn more, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767.
 

As part of the “Allamakee Libraries Rock” program, Dolores Tillinghast Memorial Library in Harpers Ferry is hosting a series of events as part of its Kids Summer Reading Program. The following events are scheduled to take place at the library, unless otherwise indicated:

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) is participating in the Free Summer Food Service Program again this year from now until late June and then again in the early half of August. Menus for the initial session of the program through its June dates accompany this article (printed below). Breakfast and lunch will be provided to all children ages one through this year’s graduating seniors at no charge and are the same for all children, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

Meals will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis at the sites and times as follows:

• Waukon Middle School Cafeteria: Mondays-Fridays, May 29-June 25 and August 1-14. Breakfast will be served from 8-9 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

The 21st Century Grant sites (Kids Club and 10th Hour) in the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) came together to host a Community/Family Night recently. Hardee’s furnished hot dogs and buns and the ACSD cooks served BBQs as part of the festivities. Many other people collaborated with program leaders and participants to make for a fun and an educational evening, including Robey Memorial Library, Waterville Public Library, Keystone AEA1, Kathy Hay, Green Iowa Americorps, Ross Geerdes of Allamakee County Conservation, Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative,The Magic and Balloons of Tristan Hauser and Kid Again Inflatables (pictured in surrounding submitted photos). The assistance of ACSD teachers Eileen Franks, Ciara Snitker, Sara Retallick and Traci Byrnes made the evening possible, along with the efforts of custodian Arnie Onsager and the Kids Club staff and student helpers.
 

Saturday, May 5, area students from Soaring Eagle Tae Kwon Do Academy participated in the Pan American Tae Kwon Do Tournament held in Rochester, MN. Pictured above, left to right, are the following participants listed with their awards won at the tournament: Front row - Sawyer Gramlich earned a bronze medal for board breaking, Brendan Croft earned a bronze medal for Board Breaking and a silver medal for Poomse (forms), Marley Gramlich earned a gold medal for Poomse, Mara Branum earned a bronze medal for board breaking, Caden Branum earned a gold medal for board breaking and a silver medal for  Poomse, Karter Einck earned a gold medal for board breaking and a silver medal for  Poomse, and Gareth Sweet earned a bronze medal for both board breaking and Poomse. Back row:  Nadia Johnson earned a bronze medal for board breaking and Master Elizabeth Fish of Soaring Eagle Tae Kwon Do Academy, who holds classes in both Decorah and Lansing. Submitted photo.
 

Lennon Scott Schara-Horns, 16, of Postville passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral Services were held Saturday, May 26 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville with Rev. Lynn Noel as the officiant. Burial will be held at a later date.

Lennon was born April 12, 2002 in Decorah, the son of Dwight and Shauna (Swift) Horns. He was a sophomore at Postville Community School, Postville.

Lennon lived his whole life in what was his own personal paradise, within the valleys surrounding the Yellow River north of Postville. He spent his time fishing for trout, finding fossils, looking for whitetail deer sheds, kayaking and mushroom hunting. He also enjoyed camping on the Mississippi River, exploring the wilderness with his dog, Molly, finding arrowheads, target shooting with his gun or bow, working and making money. Most of all, Lennon loved inviting others to share in his passion of spending time outdoors.