Monday, January 9, 22 students from Waukon High School attended the Northeast Iowa Conference Music Festival hosted by Charles City High School. The students rehearsed all day and presented a concert that evening. Former Waukon teacher and Allamakee County native Larry Wolfe, now the assistant principal at Charles City High School, commented that it was nice for the students from all the Northeast Iowa Conference schools to get together to create something beautiful instead of competing on the court, field or course. The students from Waukon High School who attended the festival included members of the Waukon High School Band (pictured in top photo) and the Waukon High School Choir (pictured in lower photo). Participating band members pictured at left include: Left to right - Front row: Maddie Ellingson, Mary Vander Velden, Cassidy Byrnes. Second row: Allison Hagensick, Morgan Van Ruler. Third row: Owen Halverson, Erika Johnson, Miann Barr.
At its Monday, February 6 regular session, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors signed a resolution proclaiming February 2017 as Effigy Mounds National Monument Awareness Month. The proclamation coincides with the U.S. Mint releasing a new Iowa quarter February 7 which includes a design featuring Effigy Mounds National Monument. Pictured above following the signing of the resolution are, left to right, Allamakee County Economic Development Executive Director Val Reinke, Effigy Mounds National Monument Superintendent Jim Nepstad, and Allamakee County Board of Supervisors members Dan Byrnes and Larry Schellhammer. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
Award nomination deadline March 1; Dairy Princess applications due March 1
The 2017 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet will be held Saturday, March 25 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. The meal will be served from 7-8:30 p.m., with the program starting at 8 p.m. The annual celebration recognizes the importance of the dairy industry in Allamakee County and the contributions dairy families make to the industry.
The U.S. Post Office in Waukon will be offering a pictorial postmark (pictured above) in honor of the new Iowa quarter design featuring Effigy Mounds National Monument being released into circulation this week. Dustin Green, Postmaster at the Waukon Post Office, says his Waukon facility will have the new postmark available for the next 30 days and that anyone wanting this new commemorative postmark can bring in any item to have the postmark stamped on it, as long as that item has an uncanceled postage stamp on it. Green said the Waukon Post Office also has stamps and envelopes for purchase that can then have the new postmark stamped on them. He also said the Harpers Ferry Post Office will have a similar postmark commemorating the new coin release featuring Effigy Mounds. Submitted image.
A consistent update of local information for RAGBRAI® XLV
RAGBRAI® Director T.J. Juskiewicz and Assistant Director Scott Garner met officially Wednesday, February 1 with available members of the Advisory Boards and Executive Committees for the local RAGBRAI communities in both Waukon and Lansing for the first time since the announcement was made that Lansing would be this year's final RAGBRAI destination, Saturday, July 29, and Waukon would be the final overnight stop, Friday, July 28, for this year's annual ride. The RAGBRAI staff provided a general overview of what designated route communities can expect and should prepare for during the next few months prior to the annual event.
The Waukon Fire Department was called to a house fire at 807 First Avenue SW in Waukon, the residence of the Terry Grotegut family, just before 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 1. No one was home at the time of the fire, which was reported by a passer-by, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to a report from the Waukon Area Fire Protection District. No injuries were reported in the fire, but a dog did reportedly perish as a result of the blaze. The house is considered to be a total loss, but a home and fifth-wheel travel trailer (pictured at far right) immediately adjacent to the east and an apartment complex (pictured at far left) immediately adjacent to the west were spared due to the actions of the Waukon Area Fire Protection District volunteers. The initial block of Ninth Street SW (in front of Quillin's Food Ranch) was closed to traffic to prevent vehicles from running over hoses connected to nearby fire hydrants used to battle the blaze.
The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, February 6 to discuss a full agenda of items including a Housing Study request, the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®) and the Review of Budget Requests with Department Supervisors.
There were no Public Comments and the meeting moved into Departmental Reports with Water/Sewer Superintendent Bob Campbell providing an update on Well 3. Waukon Police Chief Phil Young discussed the Official Launch Ceremony for the Effigy Mounds Quarter taking place February 7 at the Waukon High School. Young indicated that extra precautions have been made with security being ramped up and planning for the additional traffic anticipated for the ceremony. Park, Recreation and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub discussed that things are picking up with usage of the Wellness Center over the winter months and, on the Parks and Recreation side, the basketball programs are ongoing.
Jacob Dougherty, son of Dave and Brenda Dougherty of Waukon, has achieved Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank of Eagle Scout. Dougherty is a member of Boy Scout Troop 64 under the leadership of John Troendle as scoutmaster and charter organization VFW Post 4117 in Waukon.
This Sunday, February 12 at 2 p.m., Dougherty's Eagle Scout Court of Honor will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. The community is welcome to attend this ceremony.
Dougherty began his scouting journey as a Cub Scout when he was in third grade with DiAnne Haler as his Cub Scout den leader. After attending an older scout’s Eagle ceremony for the first time, she asked the boys who would like to obtain the Eagle Scout rank. All the boys eagerly raised their hands, except for Dougherty, who honestly replied, “I don’t think I want to do that.” Somewhere along his scouting path he must have changed his mind.
The Lansing Veterans Memorial Association has donated $3,000 to the Lansing Parks Board to develop a Veterans Memorial patio adjacent to the south side of the existing park shelter on Mt Hosmer in Lansing. Pictured at right, Veterans Memorial Association President Bill Burke (right) recently presented the Association's check to Lansing City Parks Board Chairman Dave Pleasants (left), the funds of which will be placed into a City fund for the memorial patio.
Tim Alberts (pictured at right in photo), Quartermaster of Lansing VFW Post 5981, presented a check for $200 from the VFW to the Lansing Ambulance and EMT service. Accepting the check on behalf of the Lansing Ambulance/EMT service are Ann and Matthew Wagner (pictured left to right at left in the above photo). The Wagners also were recently presented with the Lansing VFW Community Service Award for 2016 for their continuing contribution and dedication to the Lansing Ambulance/EMT service and their involvement in other local organizations and church activities that have benefited the Lansing community. Submitted photo.
