News Center newsletter

Iowa Legal Aid will host an educational event for older Iowans and caregivers to learn about free assistance with critical legal issues Tuesday, August 29 at 11 a.m. at the Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library, located at 515 Main Street in Lansing. The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required to attend.

Case Manager Michaela Dohleman from Iowa Legal Aid’s Dubuque office will provide a brief history of Iowa Legal Aid and will discuss services available to older Iowans and caregivers through its Hotline for Older Iowans, the Rural Justice Project for Older Iowans, and the Disaster Project. With 10 regional offices, Iowa Legal Aid is the only statewide provider of free civil legal services to low income and other vulnerable Iowans. Learn more about Iowa Legal Aid at www.iowalegalaid.org.

The Allamakee County 4-H Council sponsored a School Supplies Drive to benefit the Allamakee County Relief Office during the 2023 Allamakee County Fair. Supplies such as notebooks, crayons, glue sticks, book bags and more were collected through the duration of the fair. Through the efforts and generosity of this year’s donors to the drive, over 250 items were donated to the Allamakee County Relief Office this year.

The Allamakee County 4-H Council would like to extend a special thank you to all who donated to the drive this year. For further information about the School Supplies Drive and Allamakee County 4-H Program, contact Marissa Foels, Allamakee County Youth Coordinator at the Allamakee County Extension and Outreach Office in Waukon at 563-568-6345.
 

As Allamakee County seeks to support its businesses and attract and retain the needed workforce, ensuring adequate, decent and affordable housing is a vital strategy. With this in mind, Allamakee County Economic Development and Tourism has commissioned a housing needs assessment from Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission to understand housing issues and opportunities within the county.

The assessment will analyze current housing conditions and household characteristics, forecast future housing gaps, and discuss the county’s greatest housing needs. The process will also help identify housing priorities for each community moving forward.

General information about the County’s housing assessment, including opportunities for engagement, will be updated to the project’s webpage: htps://uerpc.org/allamakee-county-housing-study/.

Harry L. Brickman, 94, of Waukon died Friday, August 11, 2023 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Friday, August 18 at 10 a.m. at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial will be at Garden of Memories in Waterloo Friday at approximately 2:30 p.m. Friends may greet the family from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, August 17 at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon.

Harry Lee Brickman was born November 27, 1928 in Oelwein, the son of Robert and Laura (Huebner) Brickman. He attended Fairbank schools and farmed with his parents. May 28, 1950, Harry married LaVon Linda Linder at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Fairbank. They made their home in Evansdale and for 37 years, Harry drove truck for Rath Packing Company, retiring in 1985. In 1992, he and LaVon moved to Harpers Ferry, and then to Waukon in 2015.

Donna Ruth Shuler died August 5, 2023 at her home in Soldotna, AK surrounded by family. Services were held at Kenai Bible Church in Kenai, AK Saturday, August 12. Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai, AK.

Donna was born February 13, 1933 in Waukon to Melvin J. and Ruth (Selberg) Anderson. Donna grew up as the oldest of nine children. Her mothering skills started early as she was the primary caregiver for her siblings after her father died.

Donna loved children. She hoped to train to be a teacher, but health issues prevented this. Donna worked with children in residential treatment homes before her marriage.

Donna married Lyle Shuler July 3, 1959 and had four children (Mark, Carol, Gordon and Joyce) and two stepchildren (Michael and David). Donna’s family was very important to her, and she especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Nearly 1,400 meals served in 18 days to local youth

During the month of July, local children ages 18 and under flocked to Zion United Church of Christ (UCC) in Waukon for the inaugural “Feed the Kids” program. In its first year, this program served 1,399 meals in 18 days, an average of just under 78 local youth each day who received a free hot meal due to the generosity of so many in the community.

The “Feed the Kids” idea was developed by several members of Zion UCC who wanted to make a difference in the community. The need for a summer feeding program during the month of July was identified.

Internationally-known mural artist Erik Burke selected to cap off plaza project

As part of Main Street Lansing’s revitalization of the plaza space at the intersection of Main Street and 3rd Street in Lansing, internationally-known muralist Erik Burke has been painting a new mural on the west wall of the Winke Law building, overlooking the plaza. The project started Monday, July 31 and continued throughout this past week.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) held a special bid letting for the replacement of the Black Hawk Bridge Tuesday, August 1. The project is anticipated to begin with initial site preparation work as early as this September and will continue through the year 2026, according to Field Services Coordinator Pete Hjelmstad of the Iowa DOT’s District 2 Office located in Mason City.

Saturday, August 19, beginning at 10 a.m., the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will present another program from its Veterans History Project at its museum located at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon.

A video interview by Chuck Bloxham with U.S. Navy veteran Dr. Ken Olson, M.D. of Waukon will be played. Dr. Olson will also be present that Saturday morning to share comments and answer questions about his military service.

Lt. Commander Kenneth R. Olson, M.D. served in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps during the period that included the War in Vietnam. He was first assigned to base hospital service in the U.S., then volunteered for submarine service, and was deployed on the nuclear ballistic missile submarine the U.S.S. Ethan Allen-SSBN-608 (pictured above).

The public is invited to attend. There is no admission or membership charge to attend. The facility is handicapped accessible.
 

A meet-and-greet for youth interested in learning about dance classes is set for Saturday, August 26, from noon to 2 p.m., at the New Albin Public Library

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Young people from toddlers through high school-age are going to have a new opportunity to take dance classes in the New Albin area when Brittany Wallace - an experienced dance instructor in addition to being a nurse and a librarian - opens a Just For Kix dance studio in New Albin this fall.

A meet-and-greet for those interested in signing up for dance classes is scheduled at the New Albin Public Library for Saturday, August 26 from noon to 2 p.m. Wallace will be offering kick and jazz combination classes this year and plans to grow the program to offer more styles of dance as its numbers grow. Classes begin September 7, and will be held Thursdays in the New Albin Community Center.