The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, August 14 to address a full agenda of items, including the Third Reading of an Ordinance to establish a Pioneer Cemetery Commission, Consideration of Green Valley Bridge funding and the Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®) follow-up reports for Allamakee County, Waukon, Waterville, Postville and Lansing.
Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order. The Supervisors moved into Public Comments, with Executive Director Val Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development discussing the attendance at the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center over the weekend with Fish Days in Lansing.
Replacement alternatives discussed for Black Hawk Bridge; Public comment sought ... The image displayed above shows four alternative locations being considered for replacement of the Black Hawk Bridge that connects Iowa Highway 9 and Wisconsin Highway 82 at Lansing, a topic discussed by Iowa Department of Transportation officials at an August 8 public meeting in Lansing. With the existing bridge noted with the directional arrow in the center of the above image, the Blue Alternative and Purple Alternative running parallel just north and south, respectively, to the current bridge are options carried over from a 2004 feasibility study by the Iowa Department of Transportation, as is the Orange Alternative that would reroute the bridge further south to a connection with John Street in Lansing. The Green Alternative traveling further to the north was a new option proposed for this more recent study being conducted. The Iowa Department of Transportation is accepting public comments on the proposed replacement options at http://bit.ly/iowadot11311. Image courtesy of the Iowa Department of Transportation.
New bridge designs would address river navigation concerns ... The image displayed above shows four alternative designs being considered for replacement of the Black Hawk Bridge that connects Iowa Highway 9 and Wisconsin Highway 82 at Lansing, a topic discussed by Iowa Department of Transportation officials at an August 8 public meeting in Lansing. With the existing bridge design pictured at the top of the above image, its 653-foot main span between the two piers submerged in the river and allowing for river navigation under the bridge is considered to be too narrow by the U.S. Coast Guard to allow barges to navigate up and down the Mississippi River's main channel. Each of the four alternative designs pictured above would accommodate the 770-foot main span required by the U.S. Coast Guard, and any of the four could also be used at the four proposed replacement locations pictured on the front page of this edition of The Standard. The Iowa Department of Transportation is accepting public comments on the proposed replacement options at http://bit.ly/iowadot11311. Image courtesy of the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Public comment accepted until August 21
by Susan Cantine-Maxson
Tuesday, August 8 at Kerndt Brothers Community Center in Lansing, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) held a public information meeting to discuss the proposed study of the Iowa 9 bridge, also known as the Black Hawk Bridge, that connects the states of Iowa and Wisconsin at Lansing.
The meeting was an open forum where interested individuals could pose questions to Iowa DOT staff about the information posted on a variety of graphic displays trying to highlight different scenarios for the future of the bridge and navigation both across and on the Mississippi River. Hundreds of area residents from both sides of the Mississippi streamed into the venue over the hour and a half time period to view the proposals for the Black Hawk Bridge replacement.
The “Build a Better World” Summer Reading Program (SRP) 2017 at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon has come to an end. The program involved a number of different activities and events for library patrons to take part in.
Family Night was held Monday, July 10 to kick off the SRP. Opening the program was favorite story lady Sue Kiesau and her beloved puppets. "Sue is a local legend with our young patrons and they are always anxious to hear her read," shared Robey Memorial Library leaders.
A special highlight of the evening was a Tool Petting Zoo, a hands-on event to familiarize kids with simple tools and equipment. Keith Bresnahan of A-OK Well Service brought the company's pump truck, allowing attendees to raise and lower a basket of library furry friends by remote control. Family Night was also the start of the registration for the library's 4-Week Reading Challenge.
Both the Robey Memorial Library in Waukon and the Postville Public Library sponsored a presentation called Incredible Bats at the 2017 Allamakee County Fair. Local fairgoers were able to see a variety of bats and learn about their significance, as well as meet a live skunk named Bella. Submitted photo.
The Allamakee County 4-H County Council sponsored a School Supplies Drive to benefit the Allamakee County Relief Office at the 2017 Allamakee County Fair. Supplies such as notebooks, crayons, book bags and much more were collected throughout the fair. Pictured at the presentation of the donated school supplies are, left to right, Allamakee County 4-H County Council member Maddie Ellingson, Allamakee County Director of Relief Services Rebecca Hawes and Allamakee County 4-H County Council Member Diana Davison. For further information about the Allamakee County 4-H Program, contact Morgan Bjerke, Allamakee County Youth Coordinator, at the Allamakee County Extension and Outreach Office at 563-568-6345. Submitted photo.
Pictured above is the scene following the July 19 storm that blew down a barn on the Dennis and Sandy Deal farm south and east of Waukon, trapping Dennis Deal inside. Rescue crews worked for about an hour to extricate Deal from the collapsed structure, revealing a pelvis injury that required surgery but that he is currently recovering from at his home. Standard photo by Sara Aleckson-Melcher.
by Brianne Eilers
Summertime in northeast Iowa always brings the possibility of severe weather, and the severe thunderstorms that passed through the area July 19 caused widespread damage, including the F1 tornado that devastated McGregor. In the Waukon area, high winds recorded as high as 70 miles per hour damaged trees and buildings.
Waukon area resident Dennis Deal experienced first-hand the kind of damage that sheer winds of that nature can cause. Dennis was in the process of doing chores on his family farm on Autumn Road southeast of Waukon when the barn collapsed on top of him due to the winds. Rescuers were able to get to him and he is currently recovering at home from injuries suffered in the incident that required surgery.
Drew Adam of Waukon has been awarded a pair of scholarships through the University of the Aftermarket Foundation to further his studies in Automotive Technology. Adam was selected for a University of the Aftermarket Foundation Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 and also for an Automotive Parts & Services Association Scholarship in the amount of $800.
Adam plans to attend Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar to study Automotive Technology. He was selected from more than 500 applicants for each scholarship at a recent meeting of the scholarship selection committee. The University of the Aftermarket Foundation, and other donors and organizations, will award more than 300 scholarships in 2017 and have awarded more than 2,500 since the beginning of the program in 1996.
"It is a privilege to support this program training people for careers in the automotive aftermarket," said Peter Kornafel, Chairman of the Scholarship Selection Committee.
Chris Dahlstrom of the Waukon Fire Department and Veterans Memorial Hospital Ambulance Service educated students on rescue efforts. Submitted photo.
Shawn Gordon with the Waukon Fire Department instructed students on how to locate victims in the event of a fire. Submitted photo.
''Summer Safety for Kids" was the theme for the East Elementary Kid's Club programming in Waukon during the month of June. All student activities and professional presentations provided information concerning the community services available for student protection. Presenters also provided the knowledge and strategies students may use to protect and/or defend themselves during the summer months and into the future.
The safety knowledge and strategies were then coordinated with the East Elementary academic curriculum of language arts, math, science/health, social studies and technology-STEAM (S-science, T-technology, E-engineering, A-art and M-math), for third, fourth and fifth grades by Mrs. Eileen Franks, Mr. Tyler O'Neill and Mrs. Pam Dundee.
Finney, the wooden fish hidden somewhere within the Lansing community as part of The Standard newspaper’s promotion of this past weekend’s Lansing Fish Days celebration, has been found. Rylee Mudderman, eight-year-old daughter of Dustin and Kelli Mudderman of Lansing, found Finney near the Lansing sign that greets travelers arriving to Lansing from the west on Highway 9/Main Street. She is pictured above at the location of her discovery displaying her prizes for finding Finney, which include $50 in Downtown Dollars donated by Kerndt Brothers Bank, a gift bag with nutMeg’s items and a gift certificate donated by nutMeg’s, one large specialty pizza donated by Expresso, a $20 gift certificate donated by Studio K, a $20 gift certificate donated by Carquest, and a fishing pole with tackle donated by Village Farm & Home, Lansing. Submitted photo.
Local youth are invited to join Rangers at Effigy Mounds National Monument Saturday, August 19 at 8 p.m. for a Junior Ranger Night Explorer Program. Junior Rangers will have an opportunity to work on a special Night Explorer Junior Ranger activity book, listen to a Winnebago story about the origin of the Big and Little Dippers, and explore the night sky with Janet Finn, a retired science teacher and member of the Starsplitters of Wyalusing.
Upon completion, children will leave with a Night Explorer activity book and badge, solar eclipse viewing glasses, and a better understanding of the night sky. This program is designed for children ages five and over. Registration is required and space is limited. Call 563-873-3491, ext. 123 for reservations. No pets or unaccompanied minors will be allowed.
