Allamakee County Farm Bureau Vice President Melissa Wedo (left) presents the second donation of Allamakee County Farm Bureau’s three-year donation commitment to the Allamakee County Fair to Fair Board President Tyler Plein (right). The donated funding from Allamakee County Farm Bureau has been used for improvements to the dairy barn and 4-H food stand expenses at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. Submitted photo.
Friday, July 24, the new Dollar Fresh store in Waukon distributed more than 3,800 free apples during a contactless, drive-thru giveaway event. During the event, apples were loaded directly into customer vehicles to minimize physical contact and maintain social distancing. The giveaway was made possible thanks to Dollar Fresh’s fruit supplier, who donated the apples in light of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In total, 380 customers received 10 apples for a donation equaling approximately 1,150 pounds.
“It’s a privilege to partner with our longtime friends at Dollar Fresh to share nutritious Stemilt apples with Dollar Fresh customers during these unprecedented times,” said West Mathison, president for Stemilt.
Main Street Story Walk, hosted by Robey Memorial Library in Waukon, continues in August with the popular children’s story “When a Monster is Born” by Sean Taylor. Families are encouraged to read the book as they stroll the downtown area. Eight selected businesses have a portion of the story posted in the front window of their establishment for viewing from the sidewalk. Selected locations are on Main Street, First Avenue NW and First Street NW and are labeled accordingly in the map above: 1. Freedom Bank; 2. Side Street Cycles; 3. JaDecc’S, Inc.; 4. Darold Berger Masonry; 5. Epic Wear; 6. Rockweilers Appliance; 7. Things For You; 8. Macy’s Cutting Edge.
Main Street Story Walk will continue with a new story and locations next month.
Participants are reminded to continue to practice social distancing measures and to also practice good safety measures in crossing all streets involved in making the Story Walk trek. Submitted map image.
Natalie Byrnes and Mia Kurth presenting their Working Exhibit ...
Tegan Dahlstrom presenting her Educational Presentation ...
Hailey Stein presenting her Educational Presentation ...
Nine Allamakee County 4-H youth recently showcased their talents by competing in various communications and clothing events during the Expressions Day Program held at the Allamakee County Extension Office Monday, June 29. Some of those presenters are pictured in the surrounding submitted photos.
Some of those 4-H’ers participated in Educational Presentations where they were judged on stage presence, vocal projection, organization, visual aids, educational value of topic, and how well they kept their audience interested as they present their information. Local 4-H’ers who participated included Natalie Byrnes, Tegan Dahlstrom, Breelyn Dahlstrom and Hailey Stein.
The regular monthly meeting of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors was held Monday, July 20. After the agenda was adopted, the usual and customary authorizations were approved, including the July consent items, minutes of the regular June meeting, bills for June 30 and July, Secretary’s Financial Report for June, Student Activity and Food Service June Reports.
The board approved the bids for bread and milk. Only one bid was submitted for each category, including Prairie Farm for milk and Bimbo for bread. The bids were as follows:
½ pt. 1% white - .2820
½ pt. skim white - .2670
½ pt. skim chocolate - .2995
8-oz. orange juice - .1940
20 oz. loaf Whole Wheat Bread - 2.22
24 oz. loaf 53% Whole Grain White Bread - 2.24
Hamburger Buns Wheat 16-count - 3.18
Coney Buns Wheat 16-count - 3.18.
Monday, July 27 the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) released its Return to Learn plan to the public for the 2020-2021 school year. The full plan, along with some quick facts and other detailed information, can be found on the school district’s website at www.e-allamakee.k12.ia.us.
Beginning with the first day of school, August 24, and currently planned through at least the end of September, the EACSD will implement a hybrid plan for learning which will include on-site instruction in classrooms Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, with required learning from home through Google Classroom being utilized each Wednesday. Facemasks are heavily encouraged in school, but not required - except on buses. The district encourages parents to provide their own transportation to and from school, if possible.
College junior Danielle Stock has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship from America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders, sponsored by Bayer Fund. In the fall, Stock will continue her studies in Animal Science at Iowa State University in Ames.
“Bayer Fund is committed to improving educational opportunities in STEM fields for students in rural communities. The Grow Ag Leaders program provides an opportunity to help youth across the country with college expenses and encourage their pursuit of an ag education,” said Amy Simpson, Community Engagement Manager, Bayer Fund.
The future of agriculture relies on talented young people like Stock to fill thousands of jobs in a variety of fields, such as plant science, engineering, communications, finance, and more. Grow Ag Leaders raises awareness of diverse career opportunities in the agriculture industry and provides 352 scholarships nationwide to support student’s post high school ag education.
For those who have seen a new, pink flower growing on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, flowering rush (pictured at right) is a plant native to Eurasia but is invasive in North America. Blooms start in mid-June and continue into late summer. It can crowd out native vegetation, which provides better food and habitat for wildlife.
These aquatic invaders negatively impact fish and waterfowl habitats on the Refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to know where this plant is growing. Refuge biologists and managers are working on a strategic response to this pretty pest.
Many types of invasive plants can be dug up and removed to control them, but not flowering rush. Not only is it prohibited to dig up vegetation on the Refuge without a permit, but this plant breaks apart easily and prefers to spread by these little floating, broken pieces.
Kerndt Brothers Bank has announced that Patrick Dinan has joined the bank as Market President. He is responsible for providing lending and deposit services to agricultural and commercial customers throughout Allamakee and Winneshiek counties in Iowa and Vernon County in Wisconsin. His responsibilities also include business development and creating new relationships for the bank.
Dinan joins Kerndt Brothers Bank from Citizen’s State Bank in New Vienna, where he focused on building relationships with existing customers while developing new business. He brings over 27 years of experience in various business positions, including 24 years in banking with progressive responsibilities related to leasing, lending and bank management.
The regular meeting of the Lansing City Council was held Monday, July 20 with discussion centering around the consent agenda, parks report and several hirings and appointments. The consent agenda consisted of council meeting minutes and parks board minutes from July 6, library board minutes from May 26 and marina board meeting minutes from July 6. The consent agenda was approved and seconded with minimal discussion.
Approval was given to Payment #2 and Change Order #2 for the Clear Creek Syphon FEMA project. The council also approved a reduction in the amount of $77.28 to the sewer bill at 191 South Fifth Street.
A motion was made and seconded to appoint Scott Smith to the Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library Board of Directors. The council also approved sending an abatement letter drafted by the City Attorney for the partial removal of a fence at 661 South Front Street.
