Hannah Hagen, daughter of Erik and Lisa Hagen of Waterville, was crowned the 2026 Allamakee County Dairy Princess at the annual Allamakee County Dairy Banquet held Saturday, March 28 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Hagen will now assume the duties that are inherent with being crowned as the Allamakee County Dairy Princess throughout her reign this next year, as she takes over that role from 2025 Allamakee County Dairy Princess Kendra Gibbs. Additional photos of award winners and other recognition from Saturday’s 2026 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet will appear in a future edition of The Standard. Photo by Paula Enyart.
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Remnants of the home of descendants of Irish Royalty ... The photo above, taken several years ago, shows a sight that may be familiar to those who have traveled State Highway 76 North in Allamakee County. The old farmhouse located about five miles north of Waukon, just north of Mulberry Drive off to the west, has since collapsed into itself but it once stood as the home of Anastasia (O’Brien) Cunningham, a native of Ireland who ended up living in the Hanover area of Allamakee County and whose great-granddaughter, Mary Jane Keppler Cole of Elkader, has since traced Anastasia’s - and thus her own - heritage back to the once Monarch High King of Ireland Brian Boru. Submitted photo.
by Lissa Blake
Many Allamakee County residents enjoy celebrating their Irish Heritage around St. Patrick’s Day, much as they did recently.
But many may not know that the families, friends and neighbors celebrating with them are descendants of Brian Boru, the Monarch High King of Ireland.
King Boru lived from 941-1014, and is credited with uniting the four provinces and conquering the Viking stronghold over the country. He ruled from 1002 to 1014, dying after the Battle of Clontarf and setting up his heirs to rule for hundreds of years through the O’Brien dynasty.
The Battle of Clontarf took place near Dublin on the east coast of Ireland. It is considered an important event in Irish history, being credited with freeing the Irish from foreign domination, with King Boru being hailed as a national hero.
Deadlines/Dates
March 9: General CRP Opens
April 17: Deadline to submit a General CRP Offer; Deadline to apply for the Farmer’s Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program
April 30: Deadline to apply for SDRP Stage 1, SDRP Stage 1 Quality Loss, and SDRP Stage 2
May 14 - August 2: Primary Nesting Season
Exploring Land Restoration Options for Allamakee Producers
For Allamakee producers considering how to manage their land for both productivity and environmental benefit, exploring various options can be valuable. Many farmers across the Midwest have found approaches that integrate conservation with their agricultural operations. It’s often observed that certain areas within a farm’s fields may not consistently produce high yields.
Allamakee Clayton Electric Cooperative (ACEC) recently donated $7,300 to Waukon High School’s skills trades program. ACEC conducts a bow shoot/raffle fundraiser every year to support local youth and community programs, and this year the organization decided to present the proceeds from the event to the Waukon High School welding program under the direction of instructor Caleb Ferring, members of which are pictured above with several staff members from ACED. Ferring says the plan is to use the money towards the purchase of a new plasma table for next school year. The program’s current plasma table is in a state of disrepair, and Ferring says it is an essential part of the welding program to cut parts for assignments and projects the welding program completes as part of its curriculum. “We are so thankful to have such strong community support for our skilled trades programs in our school!” Ferring shared in regard to the donated funds from ACEC. Submitted photos.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 30 to address a full agenda of matters including the discussion and consideration of signing a Memorandum of Understanding between Allamakee County and Veterans Memorial Hospital relating to space for the location of the county morgue, consideration of setting a letting date for gravel road rock resurfacing, and the discussion and consideration of back-up internet options.
The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Tom Clark with Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Dan Byrnes present. During Public Comment, Byrnes and County Auditor Denise Beyer discussed meeting with representatives of the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) Thursday, March 26 at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing as part of that agency’s 99-County Tour.
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is addressing a critical challenge in the manufacturing industry with the launch of its new Career Pathway Certificate (CPC): Core Manufacturing Skills. Developed in direct response to the regional skills gap, this two-week intensive program is designed to equip students with the foundational knowledge and soft skills necessary to enter the workforce ready to contribute from day one.
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a Mini-STEAM Camp for Kindergarten-5th grade students. This youth camp will be held Wednesday, April 22, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW.
Keep kids engaged on this scheduled day off from school by signing them up for a mini-STEAM camp. Children will be involved in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math activities. Snacks and supplies are provided, but attendees will need to bring a sack lunch.
The deadline for paid registration is April 15. To register, visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call the NICC Waukon Center at 563-562-3263, ext. 6700.
Occupational Therapy Month ... April is National Occupational Therapy Month. Richard (Dick) Smrcina has been utilizing the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) rehabilitation services of occupational therapy, physical therapy and home health nursing since February, following a left leg, below knee, amputation. He will continue to work with Home Health, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy until he has achieved his goals. He is pictured above with Amy Evanson, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant who travels to homes throughout the area, assisting with occupational therapy services. Submitted photo.
Achieving goals following surgery ... Richard (Dick) Smrcina is pictured above using the elevator garage lift he had installed in his home as he prepared for his surgery to remove part of his leg. Dick plans to continue with in home therapy services to achieve all of his goals, but then plans to work on gait training more with the goal of obtaining a prosthetic on his leg. Submitted photo.
April is National Occupational Therapy Month. Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants work with patients to help them stay safe in their own home. They also help patients who have been hospitalized return to their homes by assessing the home setup and encouraging modifications or making recommendations to ensure safety within their home.
Richard (Dick) Smrcina has been utilizing the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) rehabilitation services of occupational therapy, physical therapy and home health nursing since February following a left leg, below the knee, amputation. He will continue with therapy to increase his independence with his home tasks as well as build up his strength and tolerance with walking with a walker.
Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) will be offering Grandparenting classes again this spring. Corinne Cook, RN, Babysitting Class instructor, will teach the next Grandparenting Class Saturday, April 11 from 9:30 a.m. until Noon. The class will be held in the hospital’s Large Conference Room.
In these classes, new or soon-to-be grandparents will learn all the new protocols to use when caring for their new grandchild. Some topics covered will include basic baby care, car seat safety, Tylenol/Ibuprofen dosing charts, home safety, poison control information, infant/child CPR, choking and other emergency medical information as well as tips to support parents such as handling the baby blues and postpartum depression. Free-will donations will be accepted to cover the costs of the class.
Early screening emphasized during Colon Cancer Awareness Month ... In honor of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) reminds the public of the importance of early screening for colon cancer through routine colonoscopies. Dr. Phillip Yee and Dr. Chris Winters, along with the hospital’s dedicated surgical team pictured above, are here to help with accessible and timely colon cancer screenings. General surgery including colonoscopies, is available three days per week - Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at Veterans Memorial Hospital for quick, efficient scheduling. Submitted photo.
In observance of Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) emphasizes the importance of early detection and prevention through regular colon cancer screenings. Despite being preventable, colon cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Routine screenings, such as colonoscopies, can help identify and remove pre-cancerous polyps before they develop into a serious health threat.
Colonoscopies are a vital tool in cancer prevention. They are a very thorough test for detecting colon cancer and are routinely performed in the Veterans Memorial Hospital surgical suite. These procedures are quick and efficient, typically taking about three hours from start to finish. With general surgery available three days per week - Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays - scheduling colonoscopies is very accessible for those at risk.
