Allamakee County Fair Queen Danielle Stock of Waukon participated in the 2017 Iowa State Fair Queen Coronation Ceremony held Saturday, August 12 in Des Moines. She is the daughter of Mark and Stacy Stock of Waukon. Photo courtesy of the Iowa State Fair/Steve Pope Photography.
Former NFL player Cedric James helped kick off the 2017-2018 Waukon High School athletic seasons as the featured speaker at the newly-developed Meet the Team Night Thursday, August 17. James delivered a message of "working with the spirit of excellence" to Waukon High School's student-athletes and others in attendance.
The Waukon High School 2017-2018 school year athletic seasons were kicked off Thursday, August 17 with the traditional sports drink scrimmages and Allamakee Athletic Booster Club appreciation meal, with the added dimension of Meet the Team Night and a featured speaker enjoying its second successful year with a presentation by former National Football League (NFL) player Cedric James addressing the crowd in attendance at the Waukon High School gym. James played his college football at Texas Christian University (TCU) before being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings and also playing for the Dallas Cowboys and also the New England Patriots during their Super Bowl XXXIX championship season, and he had several of those jerseys on display during his message of perseverance and never giving up, but pursuing all of that with character.
The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, August 21 to address a variety of matters, including the use of the Allamakee County Courthouse as an emergency shelter, an overview of wastewater treatment facility options and the 2019 Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) Resurfacing and Sidewalk Project. Mayor Duane DeWalle called the meeting to order with approval of the current agenda and minutes from the August 7 meeting.
The Council moved into Public Comments with Coordinator Ardie Kuhse with Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) providing an overview of Waukon Corn Days, which she described as being a success and well attended including the Corn Days Parade, events downtown and at the Waukon Wellness Center.
Congressman Rod Blum (seated in center of photo) visited the Waukon area Thursday, August 10 during the U.S. Congressional August recess. Blum toured the TASC facility northwest of Waukon before riding on the EARL Transit bus, and he also made a stop at S&D Cafe in Waukon to meet with local constituents. Blum discussed a variety of issues during his tour and bus ride, including some directly with EARL Transportation Director Curt McNew (pictured seated at far right) and with TASC Executive Director Mary Ament, including health care legislation, serving those with disabilities and funding concerns affecting both organizations. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
The Lansing City Council meeting was held Monday, August 21. Discussion centered around Milty's putting tables outside its business, ATV ordinance information, S&S Rentals buying property, a radium treatment study timeline, and city street light information.
Local restaurant Milty’s proposed having three to four bistro tables sitting outside the business on the sidewalk. The members of the council discussed the dimensions of the tables that would be placed and the sidewalk itself, and decided that the tables would not take up too much of the sidewalk and can be put out there.
The first reading of the new ATV ordinance was read at Monday's meeting and the second and third readings will be read during the next two meetings. The ordinance will only be good for one year. When that time is reached, the council will discuss and review how the first year went and edit anything that needs to be changed from there.
The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is now distributing the 2017-2018 Iowa Bicycle Map. This popular publication has been updated to show new four-foot or wider paved shoulders and recreational trails completed since the 2015-2016 version of the map was published.
As in past versions, the map highlights bike-friendly routes when traveling on two wheels through Iowa by identifying bike trails and traffic levels on all paved roads. The map also includes insets of Iowa's 16 largest cities.
Left to right: Denise Becker and her daughter, Jessica Verdon, both of Lansing, competed in the Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon weekend in Chicago, IL July 14-16. This is the eighth consecutive year Becker has competed in the event with at least one of her children, raising awareness and $34,000 during that timeframe to help veterans who are experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Disorder. Submitted photo.
Denise Becker and her daughter, Jessica Verdon, both of Lansing, headed to Chicago, IL the weekend of July 14-16 for the annual Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon event. This is the eighth year in a row Becker and at least one of her children have completed the half marathon event to raise awareness and money to help veterans who are experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
Together, the mother/daughter duo ran the 5K race Saturday and the J4 marathon Sunday, continuing with the belief that "If we send them, we must mend them." Although they run several races throughout the year to try and spread awareness, Becker says this run is when they ask the community to get involved and donate money to go to the local Veterans Administration and programs that help veterans get the help they need to overcome these disorders.
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors held its regular monthly meeting Monday, August 21. A reception to welcome new teachers was held prior to the beginning of the meeting.
Keystone AEA board member Dr. Bill Withers and Administrator Pat Heiderscheit were present at the meeting. Dr. Withers noted that he usually checks in with school boards to see if they have any concerns that he needs to take back to the AEA. He also noted that he will be running for re-election for his seat and asked the board members for their support. Heiderscheit stated that he appreciated the working relationship between Keystone AEA and ACSD, and also noted that Keystone is grateful to have some space available to them at East Elementary.
A new study released by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce shows that the concentration of well-paying, family-sustaining jobs - with a median salary of $55,000 - is growing for employees who hold less than a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree.
The 2017 research report by the Georgetown Center, “Good Jobs that Pay without a BA,” indicates an 83 percent growth of these good jobs held by two-year associate’s degree earners since 1991. The highest gains are in the trades, healthcare, skilled services such as information technology, financial and business services industries.
Many of Northeast Iowa Community College’s (NICC) most successful students and graduates have earned two-year degrees in these fields and secured well-paying local employment careers that offer stability and opportunities for advancement. NICC students and recent graduates of two-year degrees illustrate these workforce trends, particularly in healthcare.
The regular monthly Board of Directors meeting for Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) was held Monday, August 21 at Kee High School. President Heather Schulte called the meeting to order. Also present were members Bobbi Goetzinger, Kelli Mudderman and Bruce Palmborg. Board member Melanie Mauss was not present due to jury duty in Cedar Rapids. In addition, school personnel attending included Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier, New Albin Elementary Principal Chad Steckel, High School Principal Mary Hogan and Board Secretary/Business Manager Janet Heiderscheit.
