News Center newsletter

Kee High School seniors Courtney Cooper and Spencer Colsch were selected as the 2017 Kee High School Prom Queen and King at the annual event held Saturday, April 22. Cooper was selected from a Queen court that also consisted of fellow seniors Jordyn Burroughs, Madelyn Gruber, Rachel Richards and Sierra Schobert. Colsch was chosen from a King court that included fellow seniors Danny Brennan, Logan Burroughs, Marshal Johnson and Johnathan Mooney. Photo courtesy of the Kee High School Yearbook.
 

Msgr. Cletus J. Hawes will be celebrating his 65th Jubilee and 90th birthday at Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford this Sunday, April 30. The 65th Jubilee Mass has been scheduled for 11 a.m. at Wexford.

"Switchback" is planning to lead the music for the Mass April 30. The “Hibernian” Mass setting will be used during the Jubilee Mass.

In addition to celebrating 65 years as a priest, Monsignor Hawes is also celebrating his 90th birthday. There will be an Open House in the parish hall from 12-3 p.m. and all are welcome to attend.

Cletus Joseph Hawes was born March 28, 1927 to John and Ellen (Conway) Hawes of Wexford, rural Lansing. He was baptized March 29, 1927 in Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford. Following the tragedy of his father's sudden death May 9, 1935,  his mother raised him and his siblings on the family farm.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, April 24 to address a full agenda of items, including setting a letting date for two box culvert replacement projects, consideration of the Fiscal-Year 2018 health insurance recommendation and the Resolution to Vacate the Easement on Road #663. There were no public comments.

Volunteers needed to assist

Waukon Trees Forever will hold its annual spring tree planting this Saturday, April 29. Volunteers are asked to gather at the large parking lot at the Waukon Wellness Center at 10 a.m. Plans call for planting about 80 trees at several sites around the city. Shovels, rakes and work gloves are about the only tools needed. Work will consist of planting trees and mulching them. Everyone is invited to help with the project.
For more information contact Kenneth Olson at 563-568-4612. Rain date will be Saturday, May 13.

Volunteers and community leaders in Waukon are partnering with Trees Forever and Black Hills Energy to plant trees that save energy, improve air quality, and reduce stormwater run-off. Black Hills Energy and Trees Forever's Power of Trees 25-year partnership awarded Waukon with $1,000 for a tree-planting project.

"We're looking forward to working with Trees Forever and Black Hills Energy to grow our tree canopy in Waukon," says project volunteer Ken Olson. "With their help, we are adding trees to improve the environment while making Waukon healthier, more vibrant and more energy efficient."

Trees break up cold winter winds and reduce heating energy needs in the winter months. In summer months, trees shade surfaces such as homes, businesses, streets, sidewalks and parking lots, therefore, reducing the heat those surfaces absorb. Trees also cool the surrounding air; both of these things lead to a reduction in cooling energy and peak energy demand.

First Baptist Church of Waukon held its 2017 AWANA Grand Prix car race April 5 at the church. Larry Gelo welcomed those in attendance and Pastor Duane Smith gave the AWANA Challenge. A flag ceremony preceded the race, with Aislinn Goettel singing the National Anthem to kick off the event.

Grand Prix chairman was Dale Roney and starter chairman was Randy Van Ruler. Larry Gelo announced the race and Chris Kerndt was the chart keeper. Judging the cars on design were Pam Kerndt, Paul Promnitz and Kari Roney. Weigh-in judges were Craig Schrick and Dale Roney. Finish line monitors were Logan Van Ruler and Morgan Van Ruler, and weigh-in judges were Dale Roney and Craig Schrick.

Ushers for the evening were Michael Smith and Kyle Smith, and JoAnn Gelo was in charge of decorations. After the award presentation and photos, refreshments were served by Brenda Promnitz, Michele Wood, Jean Buntrock and Cindy Kuhens.

Mother River is ready to start spring cleaning and Friends of Pool 9 (FOP9) will be there to help, but they can’t do it alone.

Since 2004, FOP9 has sponsored a spring river clean-up day. Since that year, over 130,000 pounds of debris has been collected. This wasn’t done by just a few volunteers.  Over 7,000 volunteer hours, including 890 last year, have gone into this project saving approximately $140,000 in work related costs. Last year alone, 13,000 pounds of accumulated garbage was harvested.

Young and old, fathers, mothers, grandparents and kids are urged to join Friends of Pool 9 Saturday, April 29 in this clean-up endeavor.  Both people and boats are needed. Participants gather at the Lansing VFW building on Front Street in Lansing at 7:30 a.m. for registration, orientation, clean-up assignments and to collect clean-up supplies.  Canvas gloves, garbage bags and water are provided.

Kee High School’s Post Prom was held Sunday, April 23 from midnight until 4 a.m. Guests played table games and other challenging activities using play money. The raffle and silent auction prize packages were also popular with the guests. Special entertainment was provided by hypnotist Blake Powers from Wand Enterprises. Door prizes were awarded throughout the evening and everyone drew a number to win a prize package at the end of the event. A special drawing was held and the Guest grand prize (Garmin Vivofit) was won by Drew Gaunitz (pictured at left above). The Kee junior student grand prize (Sylvania DVD player) was won by Ian Sickles (pictured in center above) and the Kee senior student grand prize (Samsung TV) was won by Clayton Eubanks (pictured at right above). Everyone attending was given an opportunity to guess the number of candies in a jar and Allison Colsch (pictured at right) won $100 for guessing closest to the actual number.

Prohibition and Civilian Conservation Corps in Northeast Iowa will be the next subject  for the monthly Sesquicentennial program at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library. The program will be presented by author Linda Betzinger McCann Tuesday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m.  A soup supper will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a donation jar available for free-will donations. McCann will be talking about two books she has authored, "Prohibition in Eastern Iowa" and "Civilian Conservation Corp in Northeast Iowa."

Prohibition was the 13-year period when it was illegal to manufacture, sell or transport any sort of liquor in the U.S. So, why did residents choose to break the law? According to McCann, Al Capone did business in Iowa and there were murders in Iowa over liquor. Whatever went on nationwide seemed to happen in Iowa also.

Saturday, April 8, several fifth and sixth grade band students from the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) traveled to Cedar Rapids to perform in the Coe College Honor Band. They had the opportunity to play under the direction of Robert W. Smith, who is recognized worldwide as a composer of music for bands. The students rehearsed all day and then performed a concert in the evening for a full house. Pictured above, left to right, are participating sixth grade ACSD students Kianna Krueger, Kylie Keilsmeier, Bailey Sherman and Cody Huinker. Pictured below are participating fifth grade ACSD students: Left to right - Front row: Ethan Lewey, Owen Luster. Back row: Kyrie Snitker, Brooklyn Ottaway, Hayden Holzwarth. Submitted photos.