News Center newsletter

by Lissa Blake

There are so many emotions one can experience when a loved one takes his or her own life.

And when Matt Howe passed away earlier this year, his wife, Rachelle Howe, and sister, Becky Decker, decided to organize an effort to do something to try to help others.

“When Matt passed away, there were so many emotions … looming guilt, sadness, bewilderment … I wanted to take his loss and have him be remembered for something good, and to do something good for myself, my kids and my community,” said Howe.

When Matt’s younger brother, Tom, took his own life three months after Matt passed, Howe and Decker knew they had to do something. An endowment fund has now been established to help support people with all types of struggles, including mental illness, suicide or abuse.

Students and faculty of the Kee High School Drama Department had the opportunity to provide lunch as well as participate in a meet and greet session with the cast and crew of the film “The Burial” which is being filmed Monday through Friday of this week in Lansing and the surrounding area. As pictured above in the Kee High School cafeteria in Lansing, the cast and crew visited with the students while enjoying a potluck-style lunch Sunday afternoon, August 26. After lunch, cast and crew members introduced themselves to those in attendance and shared their experiences about their career. They also provided some valuable insight about the many skills the students will need as they graduate high school and move on to the next chapter in their lives, especially those pursuing careers in the arts or film industry in particular.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, August 27 to address a full agenda of items including an unexpected election expense update, a vehicle replacement for the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department and the contract and bond for Brennan Construction to complete the A26 Bridge replacement project.

Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) is seeking nominations for the 2018 Cloy Kuhse Positive Impact Award. To be eligible, the recipient must be a business located in Allamakee County.

ACED will accept nominations for the Positive Impact Award until Friday, September 7 of this year. The award winner announcement and ceremony will be at the ACED Annual Banquet in October. The award recipient will receive a plaque and will be added to the award plaque that is displayed at the ACED office in Waukon.

New Albin Savings Bank was the 2017 Cloy Kuhse Positive Impact Award winner, and ACED looks forward to announcing another business that is making a positive impact at the annual meeting this October.

The Knights of Columbus Council 1570 of Waukon (some of whom are pictured below) and the Allamakee Flyers joined forces to host serve a Fly-In Breakfast Sunday, August 19 at the Waukon Airport, with proceeds from the event being donated to Respect Life. A total of 15 aircraft flew in from other communities, with many more individuals also arriving via ground transportation to take part in the event. Allamakee Flyers pilots Jim Wadsworth and Shawn Gibbs (pictured above) took many participants on plane rides over the local landscape, and one of the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center MedLink emergency medical helicopters (pictured at center) was also available for those in attendance to view and learn more about. Submitted photos.
 

Tuesday, August 7, the Waukon Police Department received a report of a theft from a business in Waukon that had taken place August 4. With assistance from a neighboring law enforcement agency, the suspect was identified as 49-year-old Scott Richard Coxworth of Houston, MN.

Upon further investigation by use of a surveillance camera system, it was discovered that Coxworth returned to that same business August 6 and had taken more merchandise. Following those investigative measures, Coxworth was charged with two counts of fifth-degree theft and an arrest warrant was granted.

Wednesday, August 22, the Waukon Police Department received a call from the same business reporting that Coxworth had returned once again and was still present at the store. Officers responded and placed Coxworth into custody for the arrest warrant.

New York Times bestselling novelist William Kent Krueger is coming to Robey Memorial Library in Waukon Thursday, September 13 at 7 p.m. Krueger will be promoting his new book, “Desolation Mountain”, coming out later this month.

Krueger is the bestselling author of “Ordinary Grace” and the Cork O’Connor mystery series. The Cork O’Connor character is the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of Irish and Ojibwe heritage.

Robey Memorial Library is partnering with Dragonfly Books in Decorah for the event. Robey Memorial Library is located at 401 First Avenue NW in Waukon. For more information, contact 563-568-4424 or www.waukon.lib.ia.us.
 

For the ninth year, Denise Becker of Lansing traveled to Chicago, IL to run the Chicago Rock ‘n’ Roll half-marathon July 21 to raise awareness and money to help out military veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Accompanied once again by her daughter, Jessica Verdon, and this year a good friend, Josie Bloom from Raleigh, NC, Becker continued to carry on with the motto of “If we send them, we must mend them,” taken from the book “Tears of a Warrior” written by Tony and Janet Seahorn.

Grants up to $500 available for eligible non-profit organizations

The Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) is now accepting applications for its mini-grant program. The ACCF “Emerging Needs” Mini-Grant Fund was created to address funding needs for community projects outside of the regular grant cycle. The deadline for applications is August 31.

Grants up to $500 are available for eligible non-profits. The ACCF accepts applications for grants for community development, community promotions, community education and similar matters. The grant shall be for the benefit of persons residing in Allamakee County in Iowa. Entities that have a 501(c)3 designation by the Internal Revenue Service or schools or municipalities are eligible to apply for these funds. Non-profit groups may apply for up to $500 for their projects.

The Waukon Fire Department responded to a house fire at 205 Fifth Street NW in Waukon Thursday, August 23 at approximately 2:45 p.m. Flames on the exterior and underneath the roof overhang of the home were quickly doused and (as pictured above) firefighters worked to make sure the fire had not penetrated the attic area of the home. Local officials say the cause of the fire is still under investigation and that a little smoke and water damage also occurred inside the home. Fire crews were on the scene for approximately one hour. Standard photo by Joe Moses.