News Center newsletter

by Lissa Blake

Building new traditions.

That’s the driving force of a new $500,000 capital campaign under way to revitalize the Allamakee County Fairgrounds.

“With an aging fairgrounds and a strong community that is heavily involved in agriculture, it’s time to make some improvements,” said Allamakee County Fair Board Treasurer Bobbi Baxter about the initiative.

Back in 2019, the Fair Board took a good look at the buildings and had many discussions on the best way to revitalize the livestock buildings at the fairgrounds. The board decided on a project that will benefit all youth exhibitors of all livestock species.

The project, which has had some initial preparation steps already completed, includes a number of renovations and upgrades to several current buildings, in addition to construction of a new one. Some of the improvements listed below are also labeled in the photo at right in an effort to further visualize the project.

Tuesday, August 17 proved to be a busy evening at the Waukon Municipal Airport as several unique visitors graced the local airfield during the late afternoon/evening hours. According to airport manager Jim Wadsworth, a group of powered parachute enthusiasts (some of whom are pictured above) who call themselves “The Gypsies” requested permission to use the Waukon Municipal Airport for part of an annual venture the group takes part in, flying their powered parachutes from smaller community airports over the area’s surrounding landscape. The group of a half dozen or so powered parachutes may have been seen by area residents flying over Waukon and the surrounding area for several hours that Tuesday evening, with the group traveling by camper to stay overnight at various airfields throughout the tri-state area each year. Wadsworth said the group is based out of Waupun, WI and had flown out of Viroqua, WI on a similar venture prior to their Waukon venture.

Those considering running for a seat on the Waukon City Council, or those who would consider running for a council seat if they knew more about it, are welcome to attend an informational session scheduled for Tuesday evening, August 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the Robey Memorial Library Community Room in Waukon. The session will focus on the functional aspects of the Waukon City Council and city government, in general.

Those attending will have the opportunity to visit with two current councilmen and Waukon Mayor Pat Stone to learn the duties of a councilperson and other pertinent information that would be helpful to know as a potential candidate. Allamakee County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Denise Beyer will be on hand to talk about the campaign process and timelines for filing nomination paperwork to help get interested candidates started on the campaign trail.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, August 23 to address a full agenda of items including discussion of Allamakee County becoming a Second Amendment Sanctuary County, consideration of the 28E agreement with Allamakee County Economic Development, and the discussion and consideration of a Speed Limit Resolution reducing speed on a segment of the Great River Road (X52).

The Allamakee County 4-H County Council sponsored a School Supplies Drive at the 2021 Allamakee County Fair to benefit the Allamakee County Relief Office in assisting those in need. Supplies such as notebooks, crayons, book bags and much more were collected throughout the fair. Over 100 items were donated to the Allamakee County Relief Office this year through the drive. Pictured above at the donation presentation are, left to right,  4-H County Council member Natalie Byrnes and Allamakee County Director of Relief Services Rebecca Hawes.

The Allamakee County 4-H Council would like to extend its special appreciation to all who donated to the drive this year. For further information about the Allamakee County 4-H Program, contact Marissa Foels, Allamakee County Youth Coordinator at the Allamakee County Extension and Outreach Office in Waukon by calling 563-568-6345. Submitted photo.

The 4-H Toppers 4-H Club recently completed a community service project at the Waterville Community Center. The club painted a classroom on the lower level of the former Waterville school; some will remember that room as the red wall classroom or Kids Club room. This is a large room where monthly 4-H meetings are held, and the club felt new paint would make the room more appealing and would be an asset to the Community Center. In January of 2021, the Club applied for and received a Pioneer Seed Grant for community improvement projects to be completed in 2021. The club was one out of 20 grant applications selected for $300 toward the project.

Saturday, August 28, family and friends of lifelong resident and local “River Rat” Pat Sandry will be honoring his memory with the Fourth Annual Pat Sandry Memorial Fishing Derby and Friends of Pool 9 Fundraiser held on the Mississippi River. Sandry passed away in November of 2017 after a short, courageous battle with cancer. He thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors, had a great passion for fishing and hunting, and he truly treasured the beauty of Lansing and the surrounding area.

Entry fee is $50 per boat with 50% payback in prize money and 50% being donated to Friends of Pool 9. There is a limit of two adults and two children per boat.

To commemorate the opening of the Black Hawk Bridge linking Iowa and Wisconsin in 1931, a three-state festival called Fish Days was organized. The family-friendly event was so successful that it has continued as an annual tradition ever since. In recent years, a Sunday morning ecumenical worship service led by local church leaders has become part of the celebration.

After Fish Days had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, festival-goers were ready to return to Lansing for the event this year. Likewise, area churches were eager to participate in the community worship, held under the big-top tent at the festival grounds.

Worship organizer Karen Galema gathered Lansing pastors to plan for the 2021 community service: the Reverend Laura Gentry of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Father Sean Smith of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and the Reverend Sedar Wembonyama of the Lansing United Methodist Church.

The 2021 Lansing Fish Days 5K/8K Walk/Run, held Saturday, August 14 had over 100 runners and walkers participating, with 67 runners in total. Top finishers in each race received gift cards donated by Milty’s, Shep’s, Fajita’s Grill and the Safe House Saloon.

This year’s 5K course featured a loop around Lansing from the Fire Department west to South Avenue, then east on Valley to Front Street and back to the Fire Department. The 8K course took runners straight up Sixth Street into Mt. Hosmer Park, with two loops around the hilltop roadway, and then back down the hill to reconnect to Main Street.

Local runner Mark Johnson helped direct 8K runners to Mt. Hosmer Park and then roamed the course with his GoPro camera, capturing scenic video views from the course. Post-race refreshments were donated by Lansing’s IGA and KwikStar. The race coordinators and Lansing Lions Club appreciate these generous businesses for helping to make the event a success.

Anna Lucille Hanson, former long-time resident of Postville, passed away August 22, 2021 at the Woodridge Supportive Living facility in Galesburg, IL at the age of 95. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Postville Friday, August 27. Interment followed at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lansing.

Lucille was born in Waukon to John and Mabel Huffman (Dougherty) of Rossville February 27, 1926. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Pius Catholic Church in nearby Cherry Mound and graduated from Waukon High School in 1943.

After graduation, she worked as a secretary at the Lansing button factory for 11 years. It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Ralph Hanson, who had just returned from Army service in the European Theater. After an eight-year courtship, they married June 19, 1954 at St. Pius Catholic Church, Cherry Mound. They started a family with Lucille as a housewife and Ralph partnering in a Lansing grocery store.