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April is Stress Awareness Month. Spring often brings a sense of change, but emotional energy does not always return right away. After a long winter, many older adults continue to feel tired, unmotivated, or disconnected. 

Taking small steps toward connection and support can help rebuild emotional well-being at a comfortable pace. Group-based mental health support, such as Senior Life Solutions (SLS), can offer connection, understanding, and a sense of belonging. Sharing experiences with others can help reduce loneliness and support emotional well-being.

Veterans Memorial Hospital’s Senior Life Solutions provides support for older adults facing depression, anxiety, grief, and life transitions. Services include group and individual therapy, medication management, and after-care planning.  

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Daly Byrnes by Jim and Patty Byrnes, Noreen and Vince Koch and Connie and Mitch Hansen; in memory of Marlene Dahlstrom by Dennis Dahlstrom and family; in memory of Shirley Elliott by Elliott Jewelers; in memory of Edith Feuerhelm by Dwaine and Lorraine Nordhus; in memory of Julie Halverson by Nancy Adam, Janet May and Linda Siegrist; in memory of Wayne Headington by Dan and Denise Headington; in memory of Shirley Larkin by Tom and Judy Kemp; and in memory of Wayne Leidahl by Chuck and Lois Votsmier.

Allison and Ian Urell of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Marri Kate Urell, born April 15, 2026 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 7 lbs. 5 ozs. and measured 20-1/4 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins brothers, Walker (5) and Noah (3). Grandparents are Patrice and Keith Schulte, Amy Sweeney and Ed Urell. Great-grandparents are Cathy Quandahl and Kate Urell.

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, April 20, addressing a variety of matters on a full agenda. The council conducted a public hearing for the Fiscal Year 2027 City Budget and scheduled another public hearing for an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026 City Budget, in addition to holding a discussion regarding memorials and accepting the retirement resignation of Street Superintendent Ken Ripp.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, April 27 to address an agenda of matters including the consideration of removing the Postville Herald as an official county newspaper, the consideration of gravel road rock bids, and accepting and placing on file quarterly reports for the County Sheriff’s office and Veterans Affairs office.

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Pro Tem Dan Byrnes with Supervisor Dennis Keatley present. Chairperson Tom Clark was not in attendance due to a scheduled absence.

Waukon business owners Arturo Barreda and Jose Velarde of Fiesta Vallarta were recognized with a Rand Fisher Rural Business Leadership Award by the Iowa Rural Development Council (IRDC) at the 10th annual Iowa Rural Summit held April 9-10 in Dubuque. The award recognizes individuals and organizations for their leadership and impact on small towns across the state of Iowa.

At a luncheon attended by more than 400 people, Barreda and Velarde were celebrated for their successful effort to turn a vacant building in the heart of Waukon’s downtown district into a successful restaurant at the stoplight intersection of Main Street and Spring Avenue. Among that large gathering were family members of the two business owners, along with leaders from other Waukon, Allamakee County and northeast Iowa entities who were instrumental in helping Barreda and Velarde achieve their goal.

Waukon High School seniors Brandon Leppert (left) and Claire Schulte (right) were crowned as the 2026 Waukon High School Prom King and Queen at the annual event held Saturday, April 25. Schulte was selected from a Queen court that also consisted of fellow seniors Breelyn Dahlstrom, Kendra Gibbs and Anastasia Guchshenkov. Leppert was chosen from a King court that also included fellow seniors Joey Courtney, Noah Hager and Connor Stilwell.

In the very early morning hours of Sunday, April 19, at approximately 12:36 a.m., an Allamakee County Sheriff’s Deputy located a vehicle parked at Wild Landing near the intersection of Iowa River Drive and Lycurgus Road along the Upper Iowa River in Allamakee County. A check of the vehicle indicated that it was registered to a male from Rochester, MN who had been reported missing since Thursday, April 16.

A search of the surrounding area and the Upper Iowa River was conducted and was unsuccessful. Monday, April 20, law enforcement returned to the area and began searching by boat. At approximately 11:54 a.m. the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office received a call from an individual reporting a body in the Upper Iowa River. Officers with the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) responded to the location and confirmed a male individual was located in the water approximately three miles down river from Wild Landing.

In its only meet scheduled for this past week, the Waukon boys track and field team finished in the middle of the eight-team field at the Crestwood Co-Ed Invitational Thursday, April 30. The Indians recorded a trio of event victories at the meet to lead the way to a team total of 82 points that placed them fourth out of eight competing teams at the meet.

The Indians were next scheduled to compete in the New Hampton Invitational Monday, May 4 before competing in their first-ever Upper Iowa Conference Meet under this year’s new conference arrangement Thursday, May 7 hosted by Clayton Ridge High School in Guttenberg. The Tribe’s Class 2A State Qualifying Meet is scheduled for Thursday, May 14  at North Fayette Valley High School in West Union.

For more complete coverage, pick up this week's print edition or subscribe to our e-edition or print edition by clicking here.

Senior Addison Winters breaks her own 400 meter hurdles record once again

The Kee girls track and field team competed in a final week of two invitational meets this past week, finishing in the middle of the team score pack in each of those events. The Lady Hawks first finished third out of five teams at the Clayton Ridge Invitational Tuesday, April 28 before placing fourth out of seven teams at the MFL/MarMac Invitational Thursday, April 30.

The Lady Hawks were next scheduled to compete in the Edgewood-Colesburg Invitational Monday, May 4 before taking part in the Upper Iowa Conference Meet hosted Thursday, May 7 by Clayton Ridge in Guttenberg. They will then prepare for their Class 1A State Qualifying Meet taking place at Edgewood-Colesburg Thursday, May 14.