The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, May 6 to address a full agenda of items including discussion relating to marijuana dispensary zoning, review of manure management plan updates and consideration of a letter to the USDA requesting Federal assistance for Emergency Watershed Protection funding for flood damage for Secondary Roads.
The Allamakee County Historical Society hosted an All-County Rural School Reunion Sunday, April 28 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon with a good crowd in attendance (evidenced by the photo far below). Event co-organizer Marcia Rush said more than 150 individuals who actually attended a rural school in Allamakee County signed in at the event’s guest book, with many of them bringing at least one or more family members or friends leading to an estimate around 300 people in attendance. That guest book included attendees from as far away as Iowa City, Wyoming and Marshalltown in Iowa, Eau Claire, WI and Rochester and Fountain in Minnesota, as well as two dozen other closer communities in the tri-state area. Others also took advantage of the opportunity to tour the Little Red School House at the Fairgrounds during the reunion, but opted not to attend the reunion itself.
The annual “Keep Waukon Beautiful Day” has been scheduled for Saturday, May 18 in the Waukon area, and volunteers can mark their calendars to help take part in the event in an effort to clean up and maintain the appearance of the community. Interested participants are asked to meet at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 18 at the front entrance of Waukon City Park.
Those participating are asked to bring with them garbage bags and work gloves. Those unable to attend are encouraged to take a little time that weekend do something positive for the environment, such as picking up trash or helping a neighbor with yard work, to show how they value the planet.
Robey Memorial Library in Waukon hosted author Heather Gudenkauf Monday, April 29 for an Author Event. Gudenkauf is the Edgar Award nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of “The Weight of Silence”, “These Things Hidden” and “Not A Sound”. Her new book, “Before She Was Found,” features a chilling crime set in Iowa.
There were 25 people in attendance for Gudenkauf’s presentation. She talked about the process of becoming a published author, where she gets ideas for her writing, and how reading influenced her life growing up with unilateral hearing loss. She also signed books for many of those in attendance.
Gudenkauf is an Iowa resident with a background in education; she continues to work as a Title I Reading Coordinator. Submitted photos.
The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, May 6 to address a full agenda of items including the Third and Final Reading of the Wastewater Utility Service Charge Increase, discussion of Robey Memorial Library roof issues and tennis court project funding.
After the meeting was called to order, two public hearings were individually held. The first was for Budget Amendment #1 for Fiscal-Year-Ending (FYE) June 30, 2019 and the other for the designation of an expanded revitalization “area” and the adoption of an amended plan for such area. City Clerk Lana Snitker indicated that no written or verbal comment was received for either public hearing and there was no comment from the public in attendance. Both hearings were then closed.
Peoples State Bank will open its new Harpers Ferry branch for business Wednesday, May 8. Final preparations are being completed in preparation to open the doors and start serving the community. The Harpers Ferry location will be a full service bank with two customer service representatives and a loan officer able to serve both personal and business banking customers, and the newly-constructed facility will also feature drive-thru and ATM services. The bank lobby will be open Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Friday. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Drive-Thru services will be available Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Friday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m.-12 noon.
The culprits and the heroes ... The Lansing Fire Department was called to Milty’s in downtown Lansing for a small fire Thursday afternoon, April 17. The cause of the fire was recently washed and dried kitchen towels that had been covered up and spontaneously combusted in a storage bin, the remnants of which are pictured in the photo above submitted by Milty’s owner Mike Conway. Lansing Fire Department volunteers, some of whom are pictured below in the photo taken by Susan-Cantine Maxson, quickly put out the burning towels with a fire extinguisher and were on the scene of the fire for a little over a half hour.
The Lansing Fire Department was called to Milty’s, located at 200 Main Street in Lansing, for a small fire of a somewhat unusual nature Thursday afternoon, April 17. The fire began in the laundry area near the kitchen in the back of the large Milty’s building, and a quick response by employees and the Lansing Fire Department volunteers prevented the incident from being much worse than it was.
Milty’s owner Mike Conway said that employees reported smelling “something burning,” but an initial search could not turn up the source. Eventually, a haze was noticed coming from the laundry room, and the employees quickly called the fire department. “I am very grateful they called the fire department when they did,” Conway said. “By the time the fire department arrived, we did have a fire.”
The Lansing City Council held its regular meeting Monday, May 6. Discussion centered around the adoption of the consent agenda, holding a public hearing, a Black Hawk Bridge update, a People Service report, a Parks Board Report and setting another public hearing.
A public hearing was held for Resolution #918 which allows vacation and easements of Otis and Chestnut Street. A motion was made and approved to allow that action.
Waukon High School FBLA Chapter finishes as 2019 State Runner-Up Chapter of the Year ... Members of the Waukon High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter display the awards they came home with in finishing as the State Runner-Up Chapter of the Year at the FBLA State Leadership Conference held in Coralville March 28-30. In addition to the awards won and other events participated in during the Conference, half of the Waukon FBLA Chapter helped out at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and the other half helped out at the Aspire Therapeutic Riding Center for a community service opportunity. Submitted photo.
Recognized for completing terms in office ... Waukon High School junior Katelyn Benzing (left) and senior Mary Vander Velden (right) were each recognized at the Iowa FBLA State Leadership Conference held in Iowa City March 28-30 for completing their respective terms of office for 2018-2019. Benzing completed her term as FBLA Region 1 Vice President and Vander Velden closed out her term in office as the Iowa State FBLA Secretary. Submitted photo.
The Waukon High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Chapter continued to prove itself as one of the top chapters in the state of Iowa with a second-place finish at the FBLA State Leadership Conference held in Coralville March 28-30. The Waukon chapter claimed more than 60 award-winning finishes by its members within the top six of a variety of project and testing competitions, including 13 event championships.
The annual State Leadership Conference is an opportunity for students to compete against other students from around the state of Iowa in various business-related tests, presentations and speeches. Many projects were done throughout the past couple of months and then presented to judges at the Conference. Events also included case studies and written tests.
by Waukon High School Publications students Olivia Opat, Madelyn Helgerson and Janett Farning
Throughout the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD), both students and staff have been celebrating National Teacher Appreciation Week from May 6-10. Students across the school district commented on the topic of why they appreciate their teachers.
Two children from elementary school shared why they appreciate teachers, including a student named Cole. He stated, “Teachers are like water. You need them to survive. They have traits that make them unique. They teach their passion and that passion may be one of yours.”
Another elementary student, Leah, stated, “I appreciate my teachers because they know more than we do and they are trying to teach us some of the knowledge.”
