Work begins on Second Street SW ... Signs and other traffic control measures have been placed on Second Street SW in Waukon as work begins on that street improvement project that will first involve some curb and gutter work where there currently is none or where some may need to be replaced. A majority of the street, from Main Street south to the Southcrest residential area, will then have the top several inches milled off before an asphalt overlay will be put back down. Access to the street and even its crossing intersections with connecting streets/avenues will be limited - at times completely - throughout the project, which is expected to take several weeks, depending upon weather.
by Joe Moses
The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, June 7 to address a variety of matters including discussion of purchasing a police vehicle, an update from the Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator and discussion relating to the former C-Mart property.
There was no Public Comment and the council moved into Department Reports with Waukon Park and Rec Wellness Director Jeremy Strub noting that summer events are in full swing and that little league baseball and softball have started. Strub discussed staffing levels for Park and Rec and said that the Jaycee Shelter is in need of repair.
Water and Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper discussed water usage by residents increasing with lawn watering and that the sewer tie-in to the new Wastewater Treatment Plant will take place this week or next.
The opening of Luna Salon & Boutique at 1 East Main Street in Waukon as of April 1 of this year marks the realization of dreams of the new business’ co-owners, who also happen to be a Waukon mother and daughter pair. Robin Palmer and her daughter, Adrianna Rocksvold, joined their combined interests and their faith in one another to start the new venture.
“We both had a dream of being business owners, and had no experience as business owners,” they shared. “We decided to go in together and start a business that would be a unique experience and stand out to our customers. We share a love of fashion, style and having fun, and we want our customers to also.”
Donation of book that shares their story ... Waukon native Paul Osterholm (far right) of Pipe, WI returned home Saturday, May 29 with the recipient of one of his kidneys, Nicole Braatz (far left) of Fond du Lac, WI, to donate a book to Robey Memorial Library that includes their kidney donation story and to talk about the importance of organ donation and the impact it can have on so many lives. Pictured with the organ sharing duo is Chris Kerndt (center) of Robey Memorial Library. Photo by Julie Berg-Raymond.
“Because of Organ Donation: A Collection of Inspiring Stories Celebrating the Gift of Life” includes story of Waukon High School 1978 graduate Paul Osterholm’s “gift of a lifetime” to Nicole Braatz
by Julie Berg-Raymond
Waukon native Paul Osterholm came home Saturday, May 29 and introduced a roomful of family and friends to Nicole Braatz - a woman whose life was saved because of Osterholm’s gift to her of one of his kidneys.
Sisters open a second business in Lansing ... Wendi Wilson-Eiden, left, and her sister, Diana Wilson-Thompson, right, opened the Gourmet Traveler in Lansing May 20. They also own Coffee on the River, which opened September 26, 2019. Photo by Julie Berg-Raymond.
Some of the many products available ... Pictured above are just some of the cooking and specialty food items available at The Gourmet Traveler opened by sisters Wendi Wilson-Eiden and Diana Wilson-Thompson in Lansing May 20. The new store also has a variety of gift items that are eco-friendly and made from sustainable material, as well as locally crafted and custom gift items. Photo by Julie Berg-Raymond.
by Julie Berg-Raymond
“People who love to eat are always the best people.”
- Julia Child
Evoking the charm and unpretentious beauty of an open-air market in the French countryside, Lansing’s newest retail addition to its Main Street is a dream-come-true for lovers of food and cooking - and for their gift-buying friends.
The Gourmet Traveler (located in the historic McGarrity’s building, next door to Red Geranium Floral and Gifts) opened May 20, and features a wide variety of cooking items from pots and pans, mixing bowls and tableware to salt cellars, utensils, handmade cutting boards - and measuring cups so pretty they could be mistaken for decorative counter pieces.
The regular meeting of the Lansing City Council was held Monday, June 7. Discussion centered around the consent agenda, acceptance of the resignation of the mayor, acceptance of the resignation of the deputy city clerk, considering placing of a police support flag and the Parks report.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the resignation of Mayor Kyle Walleser due to his recent change in employment status not allowing him to fulfill the duties of mayor. The council considered whether to appoint someone to the office or hold a special mayor election. A motion was made and seconded with minimal discussion to appoint a mayor to fill out the current term of office.
The council also accepted the resignation of Deputy City Clerk Julie Rethwisch. An advertisement for the position of deputy city clerk will be placed in the newspaper (see Page 34 of the June 9, 2021 print edition and e-edition of The Standard).
Waukon High School students under the direction of Industrial Technology instructor Jed Hemann constructed new picnic tables and planter boxes for the Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) Waukon Headstart classrooms. Pictured below is Mr. Hemann with students from one of his classes that participated in the project, and pictured above are students and staff members of the Waukon Headstart classroom with some of the new picnic tables and planter boxes. Submitted photos.
The Allamakee County Conservation Foundation (ACCF) has announced that 2021 graduates Owen Henkes of Kee High School in Lansing and Charles Waters of Waukon High School are the winners of the 2021 ACCF Scholarship. After high school, Henkes plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Platteville majoring in Biology and Zoology. Waters plans to attend the Natural Resources Management Program at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo. Pictured in the submitted photo above, left to right, at the scholarship award presentation are Allamakee County Conservation Naturalist Ross Geerdes, Allamakee County Conservation Board members Jeanie Carroll, Gary Krapfl and Marilyn Clark, scholarship recipients Charles Waters and Owen Henkes, and Allamakee County Conservation Board members Jesse Delaney and Steve Weymiller.
The application window remains open for this year’s Master Gardener training offered online in the fall. A total of 17 educational modules will be offered by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach.
Stealing another on the way to tying the score ... Waukon baseball senior right fielder John O’Neill slides into third base ahead of the tag for a successful stolen base in the Indians’ 3-2 home victory over New Hampton Tuesday, June 1. O’Neill reached base in three of his four turns at the plate via a single, a walk and being hit by a pitch, scoring the tying run in the fifth inning after this steal pictured above and driving in the go-ahead and eventual winning run in the sixth. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
The Waukon baseball team played to a nearly undefeated week, winning four of its five games and ending some multi-season losing streaks to a pair of Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) teams in the process. The Indians opened the week with their first win over New Hampton since the 2014 season with a 3-2 home triumph Tuesday, June 1 before sweeping a pair non-conference dates, 4-2 at MFL/MarMac Wednesday, June 2 and 11-1 in five innings at home over Sumner-Fredericksburg/Tripoli Thursday, June 3. The baseball Tribe then wrapped up its week with a split of a road NEIC doubleheader at Waverly-Shell Rock Friday, June 4, first recovering from a 7-0 early deficit to hammer out a 25-9 triumph that ended a nine-year losing skid to the Go-Hawks before falling by a 13-3 result in five innings in game two.
The Waukon softball team played to a 2-4 result in six games played this past week, getting its Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) season underway. That start to the NEIC campaign came within just a single run of the softball Tribe’s first NEIC wins since the 2019 season, as the Indians fell at New Hampton by just a 15-14 count Tuesday, June 1 before suffering a similar fate in being swept in an NEIC doubleheader at Waverly-Shell Rock by scores of 7-2 and 11-10. The Lady Indians ended the week posting a 7-2 win at South Winneshiek Friday, June 4 before splitting a pair of games at the North Fayette Valley Classic in West Union Saturday, June 5, falling to Union by a 4-3 final result in eight innings before defeating Turkey Valley by an 8-4 count.
