News Center newsletter

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Board of Directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) met at Kee High School Room in Lansing Monday, January 13. Board members present included Bobbie Goetzinger, Joe Manning, Melanie Mauss and Arla Wagner, with Heather Lutz absent. Also in at attendance were EACSD Superintendent Nick Trenkamp, PK-12 Principal Donna Thomas, and Board Secretary Michele Martin.

After President Goetzinger called the meeting to order, the board approved the agenda and authorized the January consent items, minutes of the December meeting, bills for January, Secretary’s Financial Report for December, and the Student Activity and Food Service December Reports. In personnel matters, the Board approved the retirement resignation of Susanne Herman at the end of the 2024-2025 school year and the Classified Early Retirement Package for the 2024-2025 school year.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening, January 21. The reason for the change in the meeting date was the observance of Martin Luther King Day Monday, January 20, which would have been the board’s regular meeting day.

The February regular monthly meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 18, instead of the regular Monday meeting night, due to observance of the Presidents Day holiday. Board member Kelly Deeney was absent from the January 21meeting.

Under the Consent Agenda, the following personnel were hired, pending a satisfactory background check: Robert Johanningmeier, Middle School Paraprofessional; Brianna Meyer, Elementary Night Custodian; Emma Hatlan, Part-Time Elementary Paraprofessional; and Ella Dehli, Part-Time Elementary Paraprofessional. The resignation of John Lawrence from the Elementary Night Custodian position was approved.

The Waukon bowling teams looked to get back on the winning track when they hosted Oelwein Friday, January 24. The Waukon girls were able to do just that over a Lady Husky squad that featured just four bowlers, posting a 2094-1027 triumph. The Waukon bowling boys remained in search of their first win of the season, having a narrow deficit after the head-to-head round of competition grow much wider following the Baker round finale to fall by a 2198-1972 end result.

The Waukon bowling teams are next scheduled to host Sumner-Fredericksburg Friday, January 31 before competing in the North Central Conference Baker Tournament hosted by Waterloo Columbus Wednesday, February 5. The bowling Tribe will wrap up its dual meet schedule with a Friday, February 14 match-up at Charles City prior to the bowling Indians competing in their State Qualifying Tournaments February 17-18.

The Waukon boys basketball team played to an undefeated slate of competition in sweeping a pair of non-conference opponents at home this past week, each on opposite ends of the drama spectrum. The bucket Tribe first handled Independence fairly easily late for a 75-53 victory Monday, January 20 before pulling out a 55-52 triumph over MFL/MarMac on a buzzer-beating three-pointer Friday, January 24.

Now holding a 7-6 overall record, including a 3-2 mark in Northeast Iowa Conference play, Waukon’s boys were next scheduled to host South Winneshiek Monday, January 27 before making up a December 19 postponement at Sumner-Fredericksburg Thursday, January 30 and then hosting Class 3A third-rated Decorah Friday, January 31. They will then host Central Elkader Monday, February 3 before playing at Charles City Friday, February 7.

The Kee girls basketball team played through a busy week of three games, with two of those contests ending up in the win column. The Lady Hawks book-ended the week with wins over the two bottom teams from the Upper Iowa Conference (UIC), winning at Postville by a 60-24 final margin Tuesday, January 21 and pouring in a 72-29 win at home over West Central Friday, January 24. In between those two victories, Kee’s girls suffered their lone loss of the week, a 58-43 defeat at home to De Soto, WI.

Now holding a 10-6 season record consisting of a 9-3 mark in Upper Iowa Conference play, the Kee girls were next scheduled to play at Clayton Ridge Tuesday, January 28 before hosting Edgewood-Colesburg Thursday, January 30 and then playing at Central Elkader Friday, January 31. They will then host North Fayette Valley Tuesday, February 4 and MFL/MarMac Friday, February 7 before also hosting Spring Grove, MN Tuesday, February 11.

Senior guard Dalton Mudderman hits “grand” scoring milestone with 1,000th career point

The Kee boys basketball team swept its way through a busy week of three games played over four nights this past week for an undefeated stretch of competition that included double-digit wins in all three games. The Hawks opened the week with a 74-59 win at Postville Tuesday, January 21 before posting home wins on back-to-back nights, including a 65-32 victory over De Soto, WI Thursday, January 23 and an 84-24 rout of West Central Friday, January 24.

Now holding a 10-6 overall record that includes an Upper Iowa Conference (UIC) mark of 8-3, Kee’s boys were next scheduled to play at Clayton Ridge Tuesday, January 28 before traveling to Central Elkader Friday, January 31. They will then host UIC-leading North Fayette Valley Tuesday, February 4 and MFL/MarMac Friday, February 7 before playing at South Winneshiek Tuesday, February 11 to wrap up their regular season schedule.

To the Editor:

Addiction is a chronic brain disorder characterized by compulsive drug use despite negative consequences. The emotional impact of addiction often leads to increased stress, depression, guilt, and emotional numbness. Individuals may experience overwhelming feelings of shame and hopelessness as they struggle to control their substance use despite the consequences.

Addiction is not a sign of weakness, a character flaw, or a moral failure. It is a common condition that affects millions of people of all ages, backgrounds, and socioeconomic status, and while there is no one cause of addiction, there is hope - it can be treated effectively.

To the Editor:

I was watching an older movie called “Miracle” the other day. It was about the U.S.A. hockey team that played in the 1980 Olympics. Those teammates came from other teams and had to become a team. They had to put aside their animosity toward one another and become one.

In our last election millions of people voted. Many voted; on both sides. When the dust settled, the Republicans had many victories. Those who lost were disappointed. Both sides felt they were superior to the other.

We are all Americans, part of the U.S.A. We are a “team”. We have our disagreements but we are a part of a country that has many good qualities. I am trying to learn about all the countries of the world this year. So far, I have read about wealthy and poor nations. When people within a country are divided and fighting one another, the nation becomes weak. That can happen to the U.S.

The new Veterans Memorial Hospital’s Pain Management Clinic began October 8, offering new pain management options through specialized provider Shawn Blake, CRNA, and has been extremely popular. The initial plan was to hold a clinic one day a month, but due to the high demand, he immediately had to open up an additional day that month and has continued to do so these first three months since the start of his clinic.

Patients who qualify for this specialized service include those with chronic pain who have attempted therapies such as massage, chiropractic care, physical and/or occupational therapy without long-term relief.   They can be referred to the Pain Management Clinic by their primary care provider, physical therapist, or chiropractor who can send a referral directly to Veterans Memorial Hospital. Once the referral is received, the hospital’s Pain Management Coordinator will reach out to schedule the appointment.

Consider a different way to give back to the heart of the community by donating blood during February-Heart Month. The next local drive will be held in Waukon Monday, February 3 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. People who give blood have an 88% lower risk of having a heart attack so giving blood is a win-win situation for both the donor and the recipient. Blood pressure, pulse and hemoglobin are all checked at every blood donation so donors know if it’s high or low and can see patterns that may cause concern, helping keep them healthy and reducing heart attack risk.