Country music group Parmalee to headline Friday's grandstand; Midwest Rides to provide midway carnival rides
This week, July 17-21, the 166th Allamakee County Fair will be held for all to enjoy at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. A wide variety of entertainment is in place to headline this year’s fair at the grandstand, along with a great deal of other activities for everyone to enjoy each and every day throughout the five-day event.
GRANDSTAND TO FEATURE STAR POWER AND HORSE POWER
Kicking off this year’s grandstand entertainment line-up Wednesday, July 17 at 7 p.m. will be a Truck and Tractor Pull featuring local trucks and tractors as well as some powered-up regional competitors in a variety of high-revving classes.
Future plans for the Black Hawk Bridge ... Approximately 135 area residents attended the July 9 public meeting hosted by the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation at Kee High School in Lansing to present the latest options for the future of the Black Hawk Bridge in Lansing. Those attending found out plans are to have the bridge replacement underway by 2024, with three different nearby location options, as well as bridge and pier design options, still needing to be decided on as planning continues. Photo by Susan Cantine-Maxson.
Design options for replacement of Black Hawk Bridge ... Bridge design images courtesy of the Iowa Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Pier options for replacement of Black Hawk Bridge ... Pier design images courtesy of the Iowa Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Green location alternative for Black Hawk Bridge replacement ... Located farthest north of the current Black Hawk Bridge location, with inset photo by Susan Cantine-Maxson showing approximate exit/approach location looking west toward North Second Street/Great River Road/Iowa Highway 26 from North Front Street along the Mississippi River. Map image courtesy of the Iowa Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Blue location alternative for Black Hawk Bridge replacement ... Located slightly north of the current Black Hawk Bridge location, with inset photo by Susan Cantine-Maxson showing approximate exit/approach location looking west toward North Second Street/Great River Road/Iowa Highway 26 from North Front Street along the Mississippi River. Map image courtesy of the Iowa Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Purple location alternative for Black Hawk Bridge replacement ... Located slightly south of the current Black Hawk Bridge location, with inset photo by Susan Cantine-Maxson showing approximate exit/approach location looking west toward North Second Street/Great River Road/Iowa Highway 9 from North Front Street along the Mississippi River. Map image courtesy of the Iowa Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Replacement to begin by 2024; Public can comment to DOT by July 22
by Susan Cantine-Maxson
The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) and Wisconsin DOT held a public informational meeting at Kee High School in Lansing July 9. Several DOT officials were available at the meeting to answer the public’s questions about the project. A series of display boards explained the processes that have been completed and the future plans, along with options still being considered for location and design elements.
Pictured above are 4-H youth who will be representing Allamakee County at the Iowa State Fair. Left to right - Front row: Katherine Hagen, Hannah Hagen, Mia Kurth; Back row: Annelise Ellingson, Breelyn Dahlstrom, Diana Davison, Gabriel Mattson, Natalie Byrnes, Paisley Vine. Submitted photo.
Pictured above are all participants in the 2019 Allamakee County 4-H Expressions Day Program and Style Show. Left to right - Front row: Hannah Hagen, Katherine Hagen, Brinnly Rea, Ali Melcher, Hailey Stein, Tegan Dahlstrom, Trevor Block, Mia Kurth; Back row: Willa Troendle, Annelise Ellingson, Breelyn Dahlstrom, Diana Davison, Gabriel Mattson, Natalie Byrnes, Paisley Vine, Ashlin O’Neill, Kylie Troendle, Lydia Corwin. Submitted photo.
A total of 18 Allamakee County 4-H youth recently showcased their talents by competing in various communications and clothing events during the 2019 Allamakee County 4-H Expressions Day Program and Style Show held at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon Sunday, June 23. Several received top awards and will have the opportunity to represent Allamakee County at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, August 8-18.
4-H’ers winning top honors in Educational Presentations and who will be representing Allamakee County at the Iowa State Fair include Breelyn Dahlstrom, Diana Davison, Hannah Hagen and Gabriel Mattson. 4-H’ers performing Educational Presentations are 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.
Waukon Family Aquatic Center management and lifeguard staff ... Waukon Family Aquatic Center Manager CC Althoff (left in front row) and Assistant Manager Cassandra Berger (right in front row) are pictured above with the aquatic center’s lifeguard staff. Left to right - Second row: Brennan Bednarski, Joe Schwartz, Sean Liddiard, Andrew Mellick, Brooke Leiran, Amber Hickman; Third row: Alexis Hogan, Ella Hermeier, Hailey Regan, Mia Strub, Allie Hagensick, Lauren Griffith; Back row: Kiara Ahlstrom, Regan Griffith, Bailey Shafer, Abigail Shelton, Ryan Lubahn, Braxton Stewart, Jaelehn Smith. Not pictured: Lifeguards Alexz Grampovnik, Hailey Bresnahan, Grace Blocker, Laurel Keenan, Mary VanderVelden and Logan Van Ruler, and Waukon Family Aquatic Center Assistant Manager Stacey Schellhammer. Submitted photo.
More than two dozen local young men and women of high school to college age have been serving local residents and visitors to the Waukon Family Aquatic Center again this summer in a capacity they never hope to use, but one in which they are more than prepared to do so, if necessary.
The role of swimming pool lifeguard has often been stereotyped as the ideal summer job of being able to “hang out” at the pool, catching a tan, and twirling a whistle around one’s finger. Although there are a great degree of enjoyable moments, Waukon Family Aquatic Center Manager CC Althoff and Assistant Manager Cassandra Berger say there is so much more to being a lifeguard than just a summer job.
The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, July 15 to address a full agenda of items including the search for a City Manager, discussion of Police Department building repairs and Waukon’s urban forest.
The Public Hearing on proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost of the 2019 Fifth Street SW Improvement Project was opened and closed without comment from the public. City Clerk Lana Snitker indicated that no written or verbal comment had been received.
During Public Comment, Director Ardie Kuhse of Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) discussed the broadband survey which has been mailed to Waukon residents and businesses or can be completed online. Kuhse indicated that anyone who has not received a survey by mail is welcome to contact her and a paper survey will be provided. Kuhse advised that 340 completed surveys have been received thus far.
Survey link also available online or can be picked up locally if not received in the mail
Some time ago, the City of Waukon formed a Broadband Committee to investigate opportunities for providing improved broadband services within the city. The committee is comprised of representatives from the Waukon City Council, local businesses and homeowners.
In the course of the committee’s work, they were approached by representatives of Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative about the possibility of providing such services. The Cooperative has been involved in providing broadband service within the rural areas around Waukon for the past several years and has built out a fiber and wireless infrastructure to support those areas.
River Bluff Daze Hike in Ferryville, WI July 27 ... The annual River Bluff Daze Hike is scheduled for Saturday, July 27 in Ferryville, WI. The family-friendly hike on Sugar Creek Bluff involves a gradual one-and-a-half mile hike through the blufftop habitat among summer blooming wildflowers, the sounds of the birds singing, and views similar to that pictured above from the trail’s end. Participants will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Ferryville Boat Landing (turn toward the river at the Cheapo Depot) for treats and handouts. The group will then carpool to the trail head on North Buck Creek Road for the 9 a.m. hike. After the hike, additional River Bluff Daze events will include the Market in the Park, the antique tractor pull, and fireworks around 9 p.m. For more information, call Joanne White at 608-734-9018. Submitted photo.
Ferryville, WI will be hosting its annual River Bluff Daze Saturday, July 27. A variety of free activities are taking place throughout the day, with more details available in the advertisement to be printed in a future edition of The Standard or online at www.visitferryville.com.
The day will begin at 8:30 a.m. with an expert-guided nature hike at Sugar Creek Bluff, meeting at the Ferryville Boat Landing to carpool up to Sugar Creek Bluff. The Farmers Market in Sugar Creek Park begins at 9 a.m. offering a wide variety of products plus free coffee to sip while it lasts.
The 12th Annual Antique Tractor Pull hosted and organized by the Ferryville Antique Tractor Association begins at the Ferryville Community Center at 12 noon, with weigh-in taking place from 10 a.m.-noon. Three classes for the pull include the Antique Class, Ageless Farm Class and Non-Turbo Farm Class.
Public invited to participate in community welcoming, send-off and other events
Lansing and Harpers Ferry are “Calling all runners, walkers, bikers and paddlers!”
The Relay of Voices relay team will be coming into Lansing August 7 from La Crosse, WI and leaving August 8, and entering Harpers Ferry August 8 and leaving August 9 to move on to Guttenberg, and the public is invited to greet and meet the Relay of Voices relay team as they enter and leave each community. Lansing and Harpers Ferry will each host the relay team and its crew with a community potluck, local entertainment and an opportunity to gather along the Mississippi River and share local stories.
The Lansing City Council regular meeting was held Monday, July 15. Discussion centered around the adoption of the consent agenda, a public hearing to vacate a portion of an alley, a Black Hawk Bridge update and a splash pad update.
A public hearing was open from 7:04 to 7:09 p.m. regarding the proposal to vacate and convey a portion of Blackhawk Alley to property owner Les Askelson. A motion was made and seconded to approve Ordinance #200 to vacate that portion of Blackhawk Alley. A motion was also made and seconded to approve the second and third readings of Ordinance #200. The council approved the building permit for Les Askleson assuming the ordinance is properly recorded.
The council discussed the July 9 public meeting regarding the Black Hawk Bridge. To give input on the replacement of the Black Hawk Bridge’s design, pier style or route go to the following link: http://bit.ly/iowadot2723.
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) school board members toured the East Elementary School building Monday evening, July 15, prior to their regular meeting, to see the progress being made on the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and window replacement project at the school. Some of the classrooms have the new style of window already installed, so board members were able to see the difference in comparison to the old windows still in place in some classrooms.
During the regular meeting, the board approved several consent agenda items. Under personnel, the board approved staff for the after school programming and fall sports volunteer coaches. The board also approved Sunday requests from the music department. The board voted to renew the BackPack Program for the 2019-2020 school year and also approved the Free and Reduced School meal policy.
