News Center newsletter

Sophomore Katelyn Benzing breaks 21:00 mark to set new school record for 5K race

In a field featuring four teams ranked within the top five of their respective classes, the Class 2A 12th-rated Waukon girls cross country team ran to a fifth-place finish out of six scoring teams at the South Winneshiek Invitational Tuesday, October 3. Finishing behind Class 3A third-rated Decorah, Class 1A top-rated Kee and Central Elkader and South Winneshiek teams ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, in Class 1A, the Lady Indians tallied 111 team points.

“The girls had another successful run at South Winn,” Waukon girls cross country coach Brett Egan said. “We faced some very strong teams in northeast Iowa with five ranked teams in the meet.”

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by Jeremy Troendle

Eloise V. Bulman, 86, of Dorchester died Sunday, October 8, 2017 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 11 at 11 a.m. at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church in rural New Albin, with Pastor Paul Burgess officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 3-7 p.m. Tuesday, October 10 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church.

Eloise Virginia Bulman was born to Sander and Carrie Quandahl July 3, 1931 in Spring Grove, MN. After graduating from Waukon High School, she worked as a hostess at the Kahler Hotel in Rochester, MN for one year.

Missing Person

The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office received information regarding a missing person reported to the Kewanee Police Department. Juan Gandarilla Ortega (age 26) of Kewanee, Illinios is reported as missing.

On 10/4/2017 a white 2006 Chevrolet Impala driven by Juan Ortega was located parked at Fish Farm Mounds State Park south of New Albin, Iowa. Ortega has not been located and is believed to be possibly in the area. If anyone has any information regarding Juan Gandarilla Ortega, please contact the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office at 563-568-4521 or your local law enforcement agency.

Joan Phyllis (Hilkemeier) Meyer, 85, of New Albin passed away peacefully, Monday morning, October, 2, 2017 at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Funeral services were held Saturday, October 7 at St. Peter's Christian Community Church in New Albin with Rev. Dr. William J. Reese officiating. Burial followed in St. Peter's Memorial Cemetery, New Albin.

Joan was born March 14, 1932 in Spink County, SD to Clarence and Eleanora (Roeber) Hilkemeier. August 25, 1951, Joan married Gilman W. Meyer at First Congregational Church in Redfield, SD.

Together they farmed on Gilman's family farm in Jefferson Township in Houston County, MN, until 1968 when they sold the farm and moved their family to New Albin. She initially worked at Great Plains Supply Company before moving off the farm, and later worked at New Albin Savings Bank until she retired in 1997.

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... since my father’s death nearly half a century ago (he did not like it) I have made it a practice to have Limburger cheese and crackers Sunday evenings. My mother joined me until her death 13 years ago. Sunday night was the second time in all those years that I had to go without. Shopping oversight. And I was ticked!

Even though I had just finished watching the Cubs win.

While I was upset, I recalled the words of a nun in my high school who, when she knew things were not going my way, always said “just offer it up!” I wasn’t sure then what that meant but I thought it meant accept it as penance for sins committed in the past or those to come.

It was the second time in a week that phrase came to me.

I was amazed and ashamed of myself for fretting so much while I was without cable television for ten days. After all, I grew up in the days before there was television.

by Hugh E. Conway

Games 5

Like other Iowans, early settlers in northeast Iowa believed that everyone would gain from some education. To function properly in society and play a role in the future in this county, children should learn how to read and to write. Early on, often one room schoolhouses in the Wexford area were where basic skills were taught to both boys and girls. Over 12,000 of these little structures once dotted Iowa’s landscapes. Recess was some of the fun times where children could use their imagination and play games and in the process also gain life skills.

Another fun game of rounds that was played in Wexford schools was Muffin Man. The game starts with one child turning to the next child and singing the verse:

Do you know the muffin man? “The muffin man, the muffin man” Do you know the muffin man who lives on Drury Lane?

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• September 1 - December 15: 2018 Margin Protection Program Sign-Up
• October 9:  Office closed in observance of Columbus Day
• December 15: Acreages intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2018 need to be reported

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Payments
We will soon be issuing payments for the Conservation Reserve Program. CRP payments begin with those contracted prior to 2008. Barring no computer delays, those payments will begin being issued October 2. For CRP contracts that began after the 2008 Farm Bill, payments will be issued starting October 12. Remember that these take a few days to be deposited into your account.

The Iowa Crop Improvement Association, an Iowa State University affiliated nonprofit, is marking the 50th anniversary of its Iowa Crop Performance Tests for Soybeans, which offers Iowa farmers independent information to help select the best soybeans for their needs.

Founded in 1902, the Iowa Crop Improvement Association is a nonprofit organization affiliated with Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and designated as the official seed-certifying agency in Iowa.

“The soybean test is a tool to help Iowa farmers make decisions, but seed companies also participate so they can promote their products to farmers,” said Jim Rouse, executive director of ICIA, who holds a staff appointment in Iowa State’s Department of Agronomy.

Practical Farmers of Iowa is now accepting applications for the Savings Incentive Program Class of 2019. The two-year program for beginning farmers was launched in 2010, and has since served 127 individuals on their path to establishing a successful farm business.

The program aims to help beginning farmers succeed through mentorship from an experienced farmer; business plan support; the chance to save money and receive matching funds; the opportunity to attend a range of targeted learning events; and access to a network of supportive farmers.