Voters in Allamakee County are encouraged to head to the polls Tuesday, March 5, to vote on whether or not to renew the Local Option Sales and Service Tax (LOST) which is expiring in several areas of the county the end of this year.
Established in 1985, the one-percent tax has since been adopted in most cities and unincorporated areas in Iowa. Several years ago, the state was able to expand this one-percent tax to out-of-state retailers who make deliveries to areas of Iowa where LOST is in place. Last fiscal year, cities and unincorporated areas in Iowa received more than $600 million in proceeds collected through the measure. These funds are typically used to help relieve the burden on county and city general funds and are used for items like roads, streets, water and sewer systems and public safety vehicle and equipment acquisitions.
Now in its 14th year, the Oneota Film Festival (February 29-March 3) will kick off a weekend of films and events with a screening of “SHIFT: The RAGBRAI Documentary” - which features the city of Lansing and two of its residents, Ian Zahren and Andrew Boddicker - Thursday, February 29 at the historic Steyer Opera House in Decorah’s Hotel Winneshiek. A social/cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m., followed by the film screening at 7 p.m.
“SHIFT” will be screened again at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3, at the Hotel Winneshiek. The entire festival, including admission to all screenings and events, is free and open to the public. Attendees are asked to register, but there is no cost to attend.
Brandon Kasemeier, the 39-year-old man from Waukon charged in the January 21 death of his estranged wife, was returned to Allamakee County from Colorado late Wednesday, February 14 and was booked into the Allamakee County Jail on a charge of murder in the first degree. Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick said that agents with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) transported Kasemeier back to Allamakee County by ground vehicle after transportation arrangements were made following the signing of his waiver of extradition and consent to return documentation Friday, February 9 by 8th Judicial District Judge Stephen Jouard during a review hearing at the Larimer County Justice Center in Fort Collins, CO.
The Waukon Easter Egg Hunt has been scheduled for Saturday, March 30 and will be held at a new location than in the past several years. This year’s event is being held at the Waukon City Park, with registration at 10 a.m. and the Easter Egg Hunt beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Those attending will register as they drive into the park and then be directed to their appropriate age locations. Those age groupings will include 5 and under, 6-8 years old, and 9-11 years old. There will be bicycles, cash and other prizes available to win through registering for the event. In case of inclement weather, a make-up date has been scheduled for the following Saturday, April 6.
In the spirit of the Scout promise to do a good turn daily and “to help other people at all times,” Waukon Pack 64 and Troop 64 of the Northeast Iowa Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) will be holding their collection of donations for the annual “Scouting for Food” donation drive Tuesday, March 12.
In Waukon, Scouts will be collecting food donations Tuesday, March 12 from 5-6:30 p.m. door-to-door. Donations can also be dropped off at the Allamakee County Farm Bureau Office, 14 1st Ave. NE in Waukon, during business hours the week of March 11-15. The Allamakee County Food Shelf is requesting the following non-expired donations: canned fruit, canned soup, macaroni & cheese, baked beans, Hamburger Helper, and Spam.
The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, February 19 to address a full agenda of matters including a presentation relating to a potential campground at Green Valley Getaway, discussion of a housing proposal for the former Bresnahan property and discussion of a UTV purchase for the Park and Recreation Department. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan. There was no Public Comment with the meeting moving into Department Reports.
Park, Recreation and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub advised that youth basketball is finishing up including young kids and travel teams with registrations being accepted for youth soccer, which he noted is a large program involving kids from neighboring communities including Lansing, Postville and Monona in addition to Waukon. Strub also noted that summer recreation positions including lifeguards and coaches, among others, are being advertised.
The Music Department in the Waukon High School and Middle School will be hosting its 15th annual Pop’s Concert this 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 Pop’s Concert is open to the public for general admission seating in the bleachers and chairs located in the gym. No school activity passes or booster club passes will be accepted.
Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) has announced its Head Start Preschool Open Houses and Registration nights to apply for the 2024-2025 school year. Head Start is a free all-day, five-days-a-week, three- and four-year-old preschool program. Nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack are served daily at no cost to families.
The most local open house and registration events include one scheduled for Thursday, February 29 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Waukon Head Start Classroom, located at 955 3rd Ave NW in Waukon. The Postville Childcare/Head Start Classroom will also be hosting an open house and registration event Friday, March 1 from 5-7 p.m. at its location at 210 South Ogden Street in Postville.
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a Ceramic Easter Egg Painting class for youth and adults Tuesday, March 12. The youth class will run from 3:45-4:45 p.m. and the adult class is 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 3rd Avenue NW.
Everyone is an artist in this ceramic Easter egg painting class. Participants will learn how to paint eggs in different styles using a variety of acrylic paint colors or glaze. Class is designed for all skill levels; just bring some creativity and imagination. Glazed eggs will be fired again for students to take home.
The deadline for paid registration is February 26. To register online visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call NICC Waukon center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
The Loose Threads Quilting Group, consisting of members from Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, presented 29 comfort quilts created by group members to Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Home Health & Hospice, based out of West Union and serving the northeast Iowa area. The 29 quilts presented Wednesday, February 7 were created during a 10-week time frame, with 33 ladies participating in the most recent sewing effort for the project.
