The return of a Waukon man back to the location where he faces first-degree murder charges in the January 21 death of his estranged wife became closer to reality Friday, February 9, and is anticipated to become reality yet this week, according to local officials.
Brandon Kasemeier appeared for a second time in front of 8th Judicial District Judge Stephen Jouard that February 9 morning at the Larimer County Justice Center by video network from the Larimer County Jail, both located in Fort Collins, CO. Judge Jouard first reviewed the fugitive of justice documentation that Kasemeier has been incarcerated on since his arrest in Loveland, CO within 24 hours of law enforcement officials finding the body of his wife, Jami Kasemeier, inside the home of Brandon Kasemeier in Waukon Monday, January 22 and a warrant being issued by Allamakee County and the State of Iowa on the charge of murder in the first degree.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, February 12 to address a full agenda of matters including the Grady’s Superhero Run 5K scheduled for August 2 in Dorchester, a recommendation from the Allamakee County Compensation Board relating to Fiscal-Year 2025 (FY25) elected official salaries and the consideration of signing an agreement with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources relating to four properties within Allamakee County. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Mark Reiser and Dennis Keatley present.
The Waukon Chamber of Commerce will be launching its 2024 Event Series this weekend, Friday and Saturday, February 16 and 17. This event, aptly called the Cupid Shuffle as it happens near the Valentine’s Day holiday, will highlight Waukon’s local dining establishments and encourages folks to get out and patronize Waukon’s businesses and community amenities. Cupid Shuffle cards with a list of participating businesses are available at the Chamber office and EpicWear in Waukon, or can be viewed on the Cupid Shuffle Facebook event page.
Those participating in the Cupid Shuffle should visit three different locations in Waukon to grab a drink, have a meal, and take part in an activity. Any participants who “shuffle” to three participating locations and fill out and turn in a Cupid Shuffle card can be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win $100 in Waukon Bucks.
Harpers Ferry Museum ... Pictured above is a scaled model of the Harpers Ferry Museum proposed for construction by the Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society. Submitted photo.
A small river town is once again coming together to preserve its local history. The Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society is raising $800,000 to build a new, 9,000-square-foot museum highlighting the community’s rich past. The effort builds on the Heritage Society’s previous work, which resulted in the historic Oil Springs School restoration and relocation.
“Harpers Ferry is one of the oldest communities in Allamakee County,” says Jane Hasek, one of the project’s leaders. “Its heritage is really unique.”
The city was founded by David Harper, who opened a hotel and launched a ferry that carried livestock, grain and more to Prairie du Chien, WI. Residents today feel a powerful connection to the community and its history and are excited to showcase their town in a new way.
Finalist in “Grow Your Future” contest ... Bobbi Jo Berg of Recipes from French Creek in rural Lansing was a finalist and selected as a third-place finisher in the Iowa Farm Bureau “Grow Your Future” contest at the Young Farmer Conference held February 2-3 in Altoona. Pictured above, left to right, Iowa Farm Bureau Young Farmer Advisory Council Chairperson Vanessa Trampel presents a third-place award of $2,500 to Berg and her Recipes from French Creek business. Submitted photo.
Ashley Wenke of Pleasant Grove Homestead near Montezuma was named Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s “Grow Your Future” Award first-place winner at the organization’s Young Farmer Conference held February 2-3 in Altoona. Wenke took home a $7,500 grand prize to expand her direct-to-consumer produce and meat business.
Also among the finalists in this year’s competition was Bobbi Jo (Wild) Berg, from Recipes from French Creek in rural Lansing of Allamakee County. Her business creates freezer meals with locally sourced ingredients, including eggs from her own farm, and she finished in third place as one of the finalists in the competition and received a prize of $2,500.
Reserve a table now, or general admission seating is also available
The Music Department in the Waukon High School and Middle School will be hosting its 15th annual Pop’s Concert Friday, February 23 at the Waukon Middle School gymnasium. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with concert time at 7 p.m.
The Pop’s Concert is an annual fundraising event sponsored by the Allamakee Music Boosters, and it features high energy musical numbers from the 1950s through today. Groups performing will include the Waukon High School and Middle School choirs, high school and middle school jazz bands, drumline, middle school rock band, featured soloists, song and dance skits, and emcees. The Pop’s Concert continues to feature new musical talents each year and has become a must-see event for the Waukon community.
The Improvisational Acting team pictured at right from the Kee High School Speech program was nominated as an All-State selection at the State Large Group Speech Contest held at Dubuque Senior High School Saturday, February 3. The team received a perfect score at State with “1” ratings from all three judges and was also selected by the judges as one of the top teams to be nominated for All-State honors. Pictured above, left to right, are team members Brendan Croft, Isaiah Wagner, Justin Wagner, Brendan Jones and Andrew Kolsrud.
One Act “Stopping at Ellis Island” received a perfect score of three “1” ratings. Left to right: Brendan Jones, Gabe Mattson, Sawyer Gramlich, Payton Becker, Zoey Timmerman, Ashlyn Henkes, Izzy Hammell, Austin St. Mary and Holden Welsh.
Radio “ZZZZ 101.1” received two “1” ratings and one “2” rating. Left to right: Jack Schweitzer, Cadan Evanson, Regan Troendle, Riley Troendle and Brendan Croft.
Ensemble “Yes Means No” received two “1” ratings and one “2” rating. Left to right: Isaiah Wagner, Ashlyn Henkes, Andrew Kolsrud, Cadan Evanson and Riley Troendle.
Improvisational Acting received two “1” ratings and one “2” rating. Left to right: Addison Winters, Izzy Mettille, Lilly Kolsrud and Summer Walleser.
Ensemble “14 Mores Ways to Screw up a College Interview” received one “1” rating and two “2” ratings. Left to right - Front row: Ashlyn Mohn and Nyomi Jones; Back row: Sawyer Gramlich, Jack Schweitzer and Daniel Jones.
Five additional teams from the Kee High School Speech program were selected to perform at the State Large Group Speech Contest held at Dubuque Senior High School Saturday, February 3, and each of them received at least one “1” rating from the contest judges. Those team members are pictured in the surrounding submitted photos.
The Kee High School Speech program will host its annual Speech Dinner Theatre Saturday, March 16 at TJ Hunters Banquet Hall in Lansing. The event offers the community an opportunity to watch these teams and others perform. Submitted photos.
Over the next three years, the Black Hawk Bridge, an iconic steel span that links Lansing and Crawford County, WI over the Mississippi River, will slowly be replaced by a wider, more modern structure that will improve traveler safety on the bridge and in Lansing.
As construction ramps up, workers from around the Midwest will settle into the area, calling this part of northeast Iowa their home away from home for an extended period. With this influx of temporary residents, Gundersen Lansing Clinic was called upon to partner with the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation (DOT) to provide for the medical needs - both those related to the job and otherwise - of the crews.
Thursday, February 22 David Faldet will be at the Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library to talk about and read from his book Oneota Flow: The Upper Iowa River and Its People. Faldet will be presenting his program at the library at 6 p.m. that Thursday.
The book, a natural history of the Upper Iowa River basin, is a nonfiction blend of history, environmental research, and personal experience that argues taking care of the rivers in the surrounding area is a necessary way to protect future. It was published by the University of Iowa Press as part of its American Land and Life series.
Oneota Flow is organized into chapters that follow the story of the river from its geological beginnings to the present. In each chapter Faldet surveys persons who are currently involved with resources of the river basin in ways that connect to that chapter of its history.
