Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon continues to follow Iowa Department of Public Health recommendations for testing of COVID-19. To qualify for a test, patients must meet one of the following criteria:
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 13 to address a short agenda of items including Quarterly Reports from the County Recorder, Relief and Veterans Affairs offices, consideration of a County Courthouse Information Technology (IT) position and consideration of the roadway maintenance agreement between the City of Waukon, the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Allamakee County.
During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) discussed a statement written by Superintendent Dale Crozier of the Eastern Allamakee School Community District addressing concerns relating to the impact of an Alliant Energy power plant closure, if that were to happen.
Damaging winds proved to cause the greatest amount of trouble during the Thursday afternoon, July 9 severe thunderstorm that rolled through northeast Iowa. Within the town of Waukon there was an abundance of tree damage (as evident in the surrounding photos), as well as some power outages due to power lines being damaged by falling trees or poles themselves being blown over.
Following the Thursday, July 9 storm - the damage from which appears in the other photos on this same page, another strong storm system moved through northeast Iowa Saturday evening, July 11, bringing with it some heavy rain, wind and hail. The National Weather Service received reports from Allamakee County of hail nearly 3/4 of an inch in diameter in the Waukon area, along with reports of up to two inches of rain falling in less than hour. That heavy rainfall resulted in an areal flood warning being issued for parts of western Allamakee County and produced such situations as what is pictured above near the intersection of State Highway 9 and Ninth Street SW outside of Waukon (more locally known as Riehm’s Corner), as heavy rains filled the roadside ditches and spilled out on to the roadway.
The Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) has announced the donation of 25 acres of land from the Francis Garrett family to Allamakee County in memory of his late wife, Celia Sander-Garrett.
The property is located on the west side of Lansing and has Clear Creek running the length of the property. Clear Creek is a trout stream which holds both Brown and Rainbow trout. The property contains a high quality wetland which provides a location to view various species of waterfowl and migratory birds.
COVID Recovery Iowa has begun offering virtual support groups for parents, teens and pre-teens. Mandy Gesme, Child and Family Team Lead for COVID Recovery Iowa, said the organization has been getting many requests from parents for activities they can do with their children, and advice for how to help their teenagers through the pandemic.
“We thought it would be great to give them the chance to talk to each other with their ideas and strategies,” Gesme said. “It’s just one more resource we can provide.”
COVID Recovery Iowa is for all Iowans who have been affected in any way by COVID-19. In addition to support groups, activities and resources, COVID Recovery Iowa offers free, confidential virtual counseling to all Iowans. Activities include cooking classes, yoga and meditation and more to help Iowans through this stressful time.
The Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund (NEIRHTF) is accepting applications for first-time homebuyer down payment assistance and housing rehabilitation\improvement projects. Applicants must be low-moderate-income first-time homebuyers, homeowners, landlord/for-profit organizations or non-profit organizations to promote and create affordable housing activities.
All applicants must be in one of the following counties of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek. Eligible projects include rehabilitation and repair of existing housing, including, but not limited to roofs, windows, siding, plumbing, electrical, energy efficiency, lead paint issues and handicap accessibility.
Tag and toss to turn two ... Waukon softball senior second baseman Maddie Ellingson turns to fire a throw to first base after tagging the Waverly-Shell Rock runner at left to turn a double play in the fifth inning of the Indians’ 7-4 home loss to Waverly-Shell Rock Friday, July 10. The lone senior on this season’s team, Ellingson recorded two put-outs and one assist in the final home game of her high school athletic career for the Indians. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this website.
The Waukon softball team brought its 2020 regular season to a close this past week with four final games all initially scheduled on four consecutive nights and involving a pair of top-15 ranked opponents to start the week. All four of the Tribe’s final games ended up outside the win column, beginning with a 12-0 home loss to Class 3A 12th-rated Crestwood in just three innings Monday, July 6 followed by a 9-5 loss at Class 4A fifth-rated Charles City Tuesday, July 7. The Indians then made up a June 26 postponement at Waverly-Shell Rock Wednesday, July 8, falling by an 8-1 end result, before hosting those same Go-Hawks Friday, July 10 in a rare matinee performance during the day after being rained out the night before, but still falling by a 7-4 final tally.
Focused on a fly ball ... Kee softball freshman right fielder Alaina Bakewell chases down a fly ball in the Hawks’ home doubleheader loss to MFL/MarMac Monday, July 6. Bakewell caught the first out of Kee’s 15-9 loss in the second game of that twinbill. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage. Photo by Maggy Weymiller.
With a pretty full slate of seven games looming this past week, the Kee softball team had that gameload trimmed to just two games early in the week, as concerns with COVID-19 exposure forced the Lady Hawks to cancel their final four games of that final week of the regular season. A Wednesday, July 8 doubleheader at Clayton Ridge, a single game at home vs. Riceville Thursday, July 9 and a Friday, July 10 doubleheader at North Fayette Valley that had been rescheduled from July 1 were all called off while members of Kee’s softball team awaited COVID-19 test results for precautionary measures.
The Waukon baseball team had its 2020 regular season brought to a close and the start of its 2020 postseason delayed a bit during this past week. The Indians wrapped up their regular season with a split of a doubleheader at Oelwein Tuesday, July 7 but had their Saturday, July 11 Class 2A District Tournament game with Sumner-Fredericksburg postponed until Monday, July 13 due to stormy weather at the game’s location site in New Hampton. The result of that game is printed in the shaded box on this same page, with full details and photos of that contest to appear in the July 22 edition of The Standard.
