News Center newsletter

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, April 3 to address a full agenda of items, including an update on the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®), setting a date for spring clean-up and a review of City insurance rates. There were no public comments and the Council moved into Departmental Reports.

Water and Sewer Superintendent Bob Campbell discussed equipment expenses and working through recent power outages. Park, Recreation and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub discussed that park employees started back to work Monday with their focus on the soccer field in anticipation of Youth Soccer starting this Saturday, then their focus shifting to park clean-up projects.

Marilyn Larson of Waukon presented a program on her teapot collection at the Tuesday, March 21 Allamakee County Farm Bureau Women meeting held at the Farm Bureau building in Waukon. Larson has a collection of over 200 teapots and has been collecting them for more than 20 years, saying she considers them a reflection of her travels and times in her life. She said many of the teapots are gifts from family members and friends but she has also picked up many at thrift shops and flea markets. Larson has taken her collection to care centers in the area including Good Samaritan Society in Waukon and Thornton Manor in Lansing, and she anticipates going to Northgate Care Center in Waukon in the near future. When not traveling with them for program presentations, Larson says the teapots are on display in her home and in her hair salon on shelves and three old wood stoves she has in her home. Standard photo by Joe Moses.

Donations sought and volunteers are needed to assist in filling and setting out eggs, as well as with registration

Epic Wear is hosting a free Easter Egg Hunt in Waukon Saturday, April 15, beginning at 10 a.m. with registration. The event is being held at a new venue this year, Green Valley Getaway, to provide for better parking and restroom accommodations for participants and families.

Kids ages 12 and under are invited to participate in this free event and are reminded to bring their own basket to gather eggs. There will be over 10,000 eggs filled with candy, and the Easter Bunny will also be in attendance. During registration, kids will also be entered into a random drawing for one of 50 Easter baskets filled with toys and activities.

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

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• May 15 - August 1: Primary Nesting Season - No Mid-Contract Management Activities on CRP acres   
• May 31 - Marketing Assistance Loans for Prior Year Harvested Corn and soybeans
• August 1 - ARC/PLC Sign-up

Breaking New Ground
Agricultural producers are reminded to consult with FSA and NRCS before breaking out new ground for production purposes. Doing so without prior authorization may put a producer’s federal farm program benefits in jeopardy. This is especially true for land that is determined to be highly erodible (HEL) or is considered wetlands and are subject to the HELC or Wetland Conservation provisions.

Producers with HEL determined soils are required to apply tillage, crop residue and rotational requirements as specified in their conservation plan.

The members of the Waukon High School cheerleading squad pictured above were chosen by the Iowa Cheer Coaches Association All-Star cheerleaders directors and choreographer to perform as part of the 2017 Iowa All-Star Team, being selected to cheer at the Iowa High School All-Star basketball games held at Dallas Center Grimes High School March 24-25. In January of this year, Waukon High School cheerleading coaches Amy and Lexie Bieber recorded try-out videos for the All-Star selection process consisting of the nine girls doing jumps, a short dance routine (4, 8 counts) and a cheer. The coaches also wrote recommendations and skills levels for each of their skills.

Students in Mrs. Hemann’s first grade classroom at West Elementary School in Waukon have been learning about air, observing and investigating air and its properties. The students have used various tools to observe how air can be captured, how air can be compressed, and how air under pressure can move things. The students were able to create several things to test air and its properties. By working together, students made their own parachutes, a water fountain and a rocket balloon to show how air can move things. The students have investigated, observed, discussed and journaled about their findings. Photo and information courtesy of the Allamakee Education Association. Submitted photos.
 

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering the two-session class “Microsoft Excel 2013 Fast-Paced – Level 1” Tuesday, April 18 and Thursday, April 20 from 5-8 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW.

This six-hour class is designed for those with little or no experience using Microsoft Excel, or for current Excel users who want an introduction to the 2013 version. Beginning-level skills will be taught and practiced. An illustrated textbook is included in the cost of the class.

To register online for “Microsoft Excel 2013 Fast-Paced - Level 1” (#54591) or for more information, visit www.nicc.edu/solutions, or call NICC Business and Community Solutions at 800-728-2256, ext. 399 (Calmar campus) or 563-568-3060 (NICC Waukon Center).
 

Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc. will hold a Recognition Breakfast Wednesday, April 12 at 7:30 a.m. in the Waukon High School Cafeteria. The breakfast is being held to thank individual and group donors and to introduce student applicants. Applicants and their parents will also be special guests.

Pledges from the recent phone-a-thon can be turned in at the breakfast or mailed to Allamakee Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 144, Waukon, IA 52172. Organizations and other scholarship donors need to have awards to Allamakee Scholarship Fund Treasurer Amy McCormick at Waukon State Bank by the breakfast date also and Awards Program information can be verified with Guidance Counselor Amy Wasson at Waukon High School.

by B.J. Tomlinson

The Lansing City Council met in its regular session Monday night, April 3, addressing a variety of agenda items. Most of the meeting discussion centered around a pair of larger projects within the city.

People Service Representative Heath Draeger first advised that water hydrant flushing would commence Wednesday, April 12, and will continue each Wednesday for several weeks. Residents are reminded that rust may be detected in their water those days. There is an MSA meeting for radium treatment Thursday, April 6 at 10 a.m. for a tour of the water distribution system, and a formal meeting at 1:15 p.m. to determine options.

Wednesday, March 29 at approximately 10:25 p.m., the Lansing/New Albin Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence located at 280 Third Street NE in New Albin. During the search, officers seized several items of drug paraphernalia and marijuana.

As a result of the search the following people were arrested:

Joseph N. Mahl, age 38, of New Albin was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Skyler J. Mahl, age 19, of New Albin was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

The investigation into the case is ongoing and other arrests and criminal charges are likely to be filed in this case. A criminal charge is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

The Lansing/New Albin Police Department was assisted by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office and the Waukon Police Department.