The five young ladies pictured were vying for three separate Miss Corn Days crowns in their respective age categories during the annual Waukon Corn Days event held Friday through Sunday, August 18-20 in Waukon. Pictured above, left to right, are Little Miss Corn Days 2017 Bella Moudy, Natalie Byrnes, Junior Miss Corn Days 2017 Kiana Krueger, Diana Davison and Miss Corn Days 2017 Gabrielle Marti. Although rain drizzled down on and off throughout the day Friday, the weather cleared up by late afternoon for a nearly ideal weekend for events held Friday evening through Sunday morning. See more photos from this year's event on Page 14A of this issue, as well as in the Photo Gallery at www.waukonstandard.com. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
Jeff Hawes of Waukon (far right in photo) was presented with a Meritorious Service Award during the Governor's Lifesaving Awards and Outstanding Service Awards Ceremony held at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater on the Iowa State Fairgrounds during the opening day of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines Thursday, August 10. The Meritorious Award is presented to those individuals who have rendered expeditious service in a time of emergency, and Hawes received the award for the role he played in rescuing a West Union man, Les Keune, after he fell through the ice while ice fishing on the Mississippi River near New Albin in February of 2016. It was Keune, himself, who nominated Hawes for the honor.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, August 21 to address a full agenda of items, including the consideration of a letter of support for the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center's nomination to be included on the Great River Road website and marketing materials, the Temporary Road Closure for Four Mile Drive, and the Contract and Bond for a Bridge Replacement on North Fork Hollow Road.
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.
