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Three high school student participants in the Career Learning Link Partnership through Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) attended a Girls in STEM event in Johnston Monday, January 29 to learn more about high-demand, high-paying careers for women. The students visited interactive Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) booths taking guided notes about the training and education needed for specific careers. The event was sponsored by Iowa Public Television and Million Women Mentors Iowa.

NICC Career Coach Amanda Reddick-Gilson accompanied the three high school juniors pictured at right to the Girls in STEM event. Those students included (left to right in accompanying photo) Amanda Fahey of Kee High School in Lansing, the daughter of Joe Fahey and Amy Wiemerslage; Adriana Reese of Oelwein High School​, the daughter of Melissa Reese and Chris King; and Morgan Vorwald of Edgewood-Colesburg High School, the daughter of Lynne and Ken Vorwald.

Playing the piano with bananas, or the bongos with carrots, or Pac Man with play dough are just some of the things Waukon Clover Kids learned about the magic of the Makey Makey and turning everyday items into a keyboard. The Makey Makey is a circuit board that uses alligator clips to send electrical signals to the computer. Anything that can conduct electricity can be connected to the clips, such as bananas, carrots, play dough, and even people. The Clover Kids substituted these items for the four arrow keys, space bar and click on the computer. Once they were grounded to the Makey Makey, they used different apps, such as the piano, to learn how electricity flows. The most important lesson was being “grounded” and holding the specific alligator clip or touching that person (as pictured both above and below). The Clover Kids also made their own marshmallow shooters out of craft sticks (pictured on the table in the photo above).

Allamakee County will offer the Certified Handlers Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) Wednesday, March 21. The program will be shown across Iowa through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP).

The local attendance site is the Allamakee County Extension Office. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the course will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. The registration fee is discounted before March 14. To register or obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Allamakee County by phoning 563-568-6345.

The Waukon bowling team wrapped up its dual meet schedule for the 2017-2018 season by traveling to Tripoli to bowl against Denver Friday, February 2. The Indians earned a split in that final head-to-head battle, the Waukon girls falling by a 1909-1754 final result but the Waukon boys picking up another win, 2593-2217.

The Friday split wraps up the Indians’ dual meet season with the Waukon girls ending with a 1-8 season record and the Indian boys compiling a record of 5-4 for the season. The two teams are scheduled to bowl in a conference tournament hosted by Waterloo Columbus Saturday, February 10 before beginning Class 1A postseason tournament play Friday, February 13 at Decorah.

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The Waukon boys basketball team book-ended its past busy week of three games with a pair of losses at home, sandwiching a road win in between those two losses. The basketball Tribe’s busy week began with a split of back-to-back nights of competition against non-conference opponents, first falling at home to Spring Grove, MN, 75-64, Monday, January 29 before reversing that fortune, 79-48, for a win at MFL/MarMac Tuesday, January 30. The Indians wrapped up the week with an 84-69 loss at home to NEIC-undefeated Charles City Friday, February 2. Adding to the list of losses for the basketball Indians this past week was the confirmation that senior Mitchell Snitker will not be available for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.

The Waukon girls basketball team completely reversed its fortune from a week earlier, bouncing back from a winless final full week of January to post nothing but wins in its two games this past week. The Lady Indians began the week with a 66-53 road triumph at Spring Grove, MN Monday, January 29 before wrapping up the week with a  54-9 record-setting win at Charles City Friday, February 2.

Tristan Hansmeier achieves milestone 100th career win with semifinals technical fall

The 2017-2018 wrestling season came to a close for all but two members of the Waukon wrestling team Saturday, February 3 at the mat Tribe’s Class 2A Sectional 10 Tournament held at Luther College in Decorah. Those two wrestlers - the brother tandem of senior Tristan and junior Miles Hansmeier - were the only two Indians to wrestle to the required top-two finish in their respective weight classes at the tournament to earn further advancement down the postseason wrestling road, pacing the Indians to 82.5 team points and a sixth-place finish in the tournament’s final team standings.

For more complete coverage, pick up this week's print edition or subscribe to our e-edition by clicking here.

Brent Edward Smith, 27, of Waukon died Saturday, February 3, 2018 at his home after a lifelong battle with diabetes. A Celebration of Life will take place Saturday, February 10 at Vennehjem Community Village, 1102 Nordic Drive, Decorah, from 1-4 p.m. for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Camp Hertko Hollow - Diabetic Youth Camp, www.camphertkohollow.com.

Brent was born May 2, 1990 to Theresa (Ryan) Smith and the late Roderick Smith at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah. He was baptized at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in Highlandville and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. He graduated from Waukon High School in 2008. Brent was employed at Fareway in Waukon at the time of his death.

Tennis L. Foels, 63, was born in Postville June 1, 1954 to parents Leo and Dorothy (Friederich) Foels. He died Sunday, January 28, 2018.

Visitation will be Thursday, February 22 from 4-7 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville. A celebration of life will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, February 23 at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Memorials may be sent to the charity of your choice.

Tennis was baptized and confirmed at the Community Presbyterian Church in Postville. He most recently attended St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. He was a 1972 graduate of Postville High School. June 2, 1995, Tennis was married to Diane Snitker.

Tennis was employed at Cabela’s in Prairie du Chien, WI. He enjoyed musical and drama productions, visiting with the elderly, feeding and identifying birds, riding in his Ranger, the Chicago Bears and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

James J. Conway, 76, of Harpers Ferry died peacefully at home near Harpers Ferry Thursday, February 1, 2018. Mass of Burial will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, February 11 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Wexford with Rev. John Moser as the Celebrant. Burial with Military Rites will follow at Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery, Wexford.

Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. with a 3:30 p.m. Rosary and a 6:30 p.m. Scripture Service Saturday, February 10 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Lansing. There will also be a one-hour visitation before Mass at the church Sunday.

James was born March 3, 1941 at home near Harpers Ferry. He was the son of Hugh and Alice Conway and he graduated from St. George High School in Lansing in 1959. In that same year, he entered the U.S. Army and served until 1962.