Specialists to offer weekly information as state battles excessively dry conditions
With most of western Iowa experiencing some form of drought, specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are partnering with the United States Department of Agriculture and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to offer a series of webinars on Thursdays.
Beginning July 30, the group will kick off an initiative to help answer key questions regarding the development of drought in western Iowa, the expectation for continued hot and dry weather and impacts on row crops and forages. Attendees will be able to better manage livestock and drought-stressed forages, prepare for use of alternative forages, understand important crop insurance and marketing decisions, and plan for harvest of a drought-stressed crop.
School year is scheduled to begin August 24, with registration beginning next week
by Brianne Eilers
As the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year approaches, parents and students are wondering what the new school year will look like. While the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) has not made a firm declaration as to how learning will take place yet, the district did have to submit a Return to Learn plan to the State of Iowa by the beginning of the month of July addressing on-site learning, continuous (or virtual/online) learning and a hybrid of both.
Allamakee County continued to see a slow increase in new confirmed cases of COVID-19 this past week, according to information gathered from both the Iowa Department of Public Health and Allamakee County Public Health as of Monday, July 27. That slower increase in this past week’s timeframe from Tuesday, July 21 through Monday, July 27 saw five new cases reported in the county.
The past week began with three cases reported early in the week, including two new cases Tuesday, July 21 and one more the following day. One more case was reported near the end of last week’s work week, Friday, July 24, with the State of Iowa adding one more new case to the county total Monday, July 27.
This past week’s slower increase leaves Allamakee County with 145 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since those numbers first began being reported in mid-March this year. Allamakee County Public Health officials say that as of Monday, July 27 seven of those cases remain in isolation.
A late Saturday morning, July 25 motorcycle accident near Harpers Ferry claimed the life of a Minnesota man. At approximately 11:38 a.m. Saturday, the Allamakee County Sheriff’s 911 Dispatch Center received a report of a single-occupant motorcycle crash on County Road X52 (Great River Road) approximately three miles north of Harpers Ferry.
An accident report released by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office explains that Gary Lee Thomforde, age 69, of Red Wing, MN was traveling southbound on County Road X52 and failed to negotiate a curve in the road. Thomforde was thrown from the motorcycle at the time of the accident.
Thomforde was transported to a La Crosse, WI hospital by ambulance. He died of injuries he sustained in the crash.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) investigated and continues to assess a fish kill in a tributary of Paint Creek south of Waukon which was found to be the result of a pair of incidents that took place in succession Monday, July 20, according to an initial media release from the DNR.
Shortly after 11 a.m. that Monday, operators at the City of Waukon Wastewater Treatment Plant on the southeast edge of Waukon reported to the DNR that Aveka Nutra Processing in north Waukon spilled approximately 76,000 pounds of yeast, which was running into the treatment plant through the City’s sanitary sewer system. Normally, the treatment plant routes such spills into a lagoon before being treated in the plant.
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.
