News Center newsletter

Midwest Veterans of America is sponsoring three different contests for the 2017 Waukon Corn Days celebration being planned for mid-August this year. The contests include competitions for the Tallest Corn Stalk, the Longest Ear of Corn, and the Most Innovative Scarecrow.

Judging for all three contests will take place Saturday, August 19 at 1 p.m. at the Waukon Wellness Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW in Waukon. Entries must be registered by 12 noon that day.

The top three entries in the Tallest Corn Stalk Contest will receive both plaques and cash prizes, with the top three Longest Ear of Corn entries receiving plaques. Top entries in the Most Innovative Scarecrow Contest will be awarded medals, with judging taking place in both an adult category and a youth category. For additional information about any of the contests call 563-568-5275.
 

Allamakee County is completing an update to its 2012 Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan is being developed with the cities of Harpers Ferry, Lansing, New Albin, Postville, Waterville and Waukon, as well as with Allamakee County (representing unincorporated areas), to assess hazard risk and prioritize mitigation actions to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property.

Flooding, severe storms and man-made risks, such as hazardous materials or transportation incidents, are examples of the types of hazards that have been addressed for the area. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department, has supported this planning process by offering grant funds to Allamakee County Emergency Management.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, July 3 to discuss a full agenda of items, including the Reel Core storm sewer, The Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®) and the City Manager position. There were no Public Comments and the Council moved into Departmental Reports.

Water and Sewer Superintendent Bob Campbell discussed a request from a RAGBRAI team consisting of 17 people to use a grass area near the sewer plant for camping during the event, which the Council agreed would be fine. Campbell discussed the need for a flow study to assist in the planning for the new sewer plant and recommended budgeting for this study to take place in March through June to take into consideration snow melt, the rainy season and the dry time in early summer.

The Iowa Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MRPC) will meet Monday, July 17 at the Kerndt Brothers Community Center on Main Street in Lansing, beginning at 10 a.m. The MRPC is a multi-state organization that works collectively to preserve, promote and enhance the scenic, historic and recreational resources of the Mississippi River; to foster the economic growth of the corridor; and to develop the national, scenic and historic parkway known as the Great River Road.

The Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library sesquicentennial presentations continue Thursday, July 13 in celebration of the 150th birthday of the town of Lansing being observed this year. The July 13 presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the library, with hot dogs and brownies being served at 5:30 p.m.

The subjects for the July 13 sesquicentennial presentation include pre-settlement exploration of the Upper Mississippi River and Lansing areas; origins of Lansing city government and court house location; and Black Hawk Bridge history. The discussion will be led by local author, historian and city planner Bill Burke.

by Macie Hill

The regular session of the Lansing City Council was held Monday, July 3. The following items were discussed: the Lansing Fire Department liquor license, a half hour parking sign in front of Kerndt Brothers Bank, hiring someone to paint the eagle signs in town, and discussing an ATV/UTV ordinance.

The meeting opened with a public hearing on a Proposal to Enter into a General Obligation Bridge Improvement Loan Agreement. No comments were heard or read, and the public hearing was closed and a resolution to enter into the loan agreement was approved.

The Lansing Fire Department received approval on a liquor license for RAGBRAI® and will not need to apply for a new one for Lansing Fish Days. A liquor license was also approved for the Lansing RAGBRAI Committee.

Vivian Khan, age 13, of Waukon has been accepted and is attending Interlochen Arts Camp this summer in northern Michigan, the world’s premier summer arts program for aspiring artists in grades three through 12. She is the daughter of Gary and Peggy Khan of Waukon and is studying in the piano program at the camp.

Khan currently studies piano under the guidance of Dr. Du Huang at Luther College in Decorah. She participated at the Dorian Keyboard Festival hosted by Luther College last fall and was selected to perform in the evening concert. She also plays occasionally for the congregation at Old East Paint Creek Church in rural Waterville.

This summer, area teenagers will meet monthly at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon to discuss books as part of the library's Teen Summer Book Club. Snacks will be provided, and any area teenagers are welcome to attend any of the scheduled sessions which are slated for the second Wednesday of each month. Monthly selections to be discussed include the following:

July 12 at 10:30 a.m.: Read any title - fiction or non-fiction - based only on the cover.

August 9 at 10:30 a.m.: Read "We were liars" by E. Lockhart. Attend either or both of the previous two book club sessions (June or July) to receive a copy of this title free, sponsored by the Robey Memorial Library Foundation. For additional information contact Robey Memorial Library at www.waukon.lib.ia.us or 563-568-4424.
 

Elections for four members of the Board of Directors of the Keystone Area Education Agency (AEA) will be conducted in September. The board positions are four-year terms that expire in October 2021.

The elections are conducted in accordance with Section 273 of the Code of Iowa. Nominations may be submitted by filing a “Statement of Candidacy” form with the board secretary of the Keystone AEA on or before August 15, 2017.

Director District 1 includes the Howard-Winneshiek, North Winneshiek, Riceville and Turkey Valley Community School Districts and the following precincts in the New Hampton Community School District: Chickasaw, Dayton-Richland, Deerfield-Washington, Jacksonville-Utica, New Hampton 1, 2, 3 and 4, and Washington.

Director District 3 includes the Allamakee, Clayton Ridge, Eastern Allamakee, and MFL/MarMac Community School Districts.

Waukon State Bank recently made two donations in support of the new 4-H Food Stand located at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. A donation of $2,500 was presented to the Allamakee County Fair Board in support of the new food stand construction and $500 was donated to the ISU Allamakee County Extension Office for the purchase of appliances and kitchen fixtures. The new 4-H Food Stand will open with the 2017 Allamakee County Fair, which runs July 19 through July 23 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds. Pictured above in the photo, left to right, are Gail Prestemon of Waukon State Bank, Miranda Reinhardt of the Allamakee County 4-H County Council, Teresa Myers of the Allamakee County Fair Board, Erika Johnson of the Allamakee County 4-H County Council and Justin Sweeney of Waukon State Bank.