News Center newsletter

Sentencing was handed down in Allamakee County District Court in Waukon Monday, October 23 following the murder conviction of 66-year-old Andrew Karvel of Lansing, who had been found guilty of second degree murder in the May 9, 2022 strangulation death of his roommate, 83-year-old Daniel Lundy. Karvel had been found guilty of the crime by an Allamakee County jury in August of this year.

by Lissa Blake

The deadline to weigh in on housing needs in Allamakee County is fast approaching, and organizers need more input from across the county.

“Whether you live, work or own a business in Allamakee County, we need to hear from you,” said Val Reinke, executive director of Allamakee County Economic Development and Tourism.

Reinke explained each county in Iowa is required to do a housing study every five years.

“We use this data to work with developers, city councils and builders, and to apply for programs,” said Reinke, adding, “The first thing they ask us is to see our housing study.”  

So far, only 200 people have responded to the current survey, which has a deadline of Tuesday, October 31.

“We need input from every community in the county… people who rent, people who own, people who come to the county for work. Housing is a real issue here,” she said.

Loren Mitchell of Waterville was recently honored among his Emergency Medical Service (EMS) peers when he was one of 28 EMS personnel recognized as a Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin (PAAW) Star of Life for 2023 at an October 10 dinner banquet held in Madison, WI.

Modeled after the American Ambulance Association’s National Stars of Life program, and now in its 12th year, Wisconsin Stars of Life are nominated by their local ambulance service to honor the dedication and commitment of those who show up for their communities. Mitchell has been working for the La Crosse, WI area Gundersen Tri-State Ambulance Service for nearly a dozen years, where he currently serves in the role of Corporal.

Nominated for the award by his supervisors and co-workers, Tri-State Ambulance submitted the following information regarding Mitchell for the October 10 banquet:

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, October 23 to address a full agenda of matters including the appointments of two Medical Examiner Investigators, the Public Hearing relating to the Gav-N-View Farms LLC Construction Permit Application and the consideration of setting dates for the first and second canvass of the November 7 City/School election.

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Mark Reiser and Dennis Keatley present. A change to the agenda was approved to include a second name for the appointment of Medical Examiner Investigator I. During Public Comment, Jack Knight noted that he will be present at next week’s Supervisors meeting to provide feedback relating to an item on that meeting agenda.

Trick-or-treat times for this year’s Halloween holiday have been established. The Waukon Police Department has confirmed that the official trick-or-treat times within the Waukon community will be from 4-8 p.m. Halloween evening, Tuesday, October 31.

Area residents are asked to leave porch lights on to welcome trick-or-treaters. Youngsters taking part in the evening’s events are reminded to keep safety in mind while making their rounds.

by Ellen Modersohn

Mike Smith of Vero Beach, FL set a personal record at the Driftless Half Marathon held Saturday, October 14 in the Lansing area.

He ran a slower time than usual, thanks to a bout of bronchitis and a sore hip, but he met his goal of completing a half marathon in all 50 of the United States. He crossed the finish line to a chorus of cheers as his wife Dadra handed him a bouquet of balloons that included the big inflated numbers 5-0.

“I talk to a lot of people who are doing the 50-state thing and they’re surprised I’m finishing in Iowa. A lot of them will finish in Alaska or Hawaii, where there’s a big celebration. So here I am with you guys in Iowa, and it’s kind of a big celebration. I like it!” he said after the race.

Waukon High School freshman Eireann Goettel, daughter of Jeff and Elaine Goettel, and Waukon Middle School sixth graders Lena Rausch, daughter of Ben and Kris Rausch, and Connor Buhl, son of Jon and Cathy Buhl, were recently selected for participation in the 37th annual Opus Honor Choir Festival. The Opus Honor Choir is the most prestigious honor choir for underclassmen in the state of Iowa.

Over 2,400 students were nominated by their directors for 720 positions in the four Opus Honor Choirs. Selections were made by means of a recorded audition. The three selected students from the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) are under the direction of Sarah J. Bieber at Waukon High School and Waukon Middle School.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a Christmas Tree Painting Party class Tuesday, November 14. The youth class will run from 3:45-4:45 p.m., and the adult class will run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 3rd Ave NW.

Adults and young students will learn how to apply beautiful colors, styles and their own unique imprint on a ceramic Christmas tree. Have fun being creative and enjoying uncomplicated artmaking with a ceramic tree and numerous colors provided. No experience is necessary and all skill levels are welcome. Ceramic tree, bulbs and light kit supplies are included in the cost of the class.

The deadline for paid registration for either class is November 7. To register online visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call NICC Waukon center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
 

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program will be hosting live-streamed Commercial Continuing Instruction Courses (C-CIC) online this fall as an additional opportunity for commercial pesticide applicators to attend. Attendees will need a computer or device with good internet connection to participate in the programs.

Applicators can register by going to the Extension Store (https://store.extension.iastate.edu) and searching for “Live Streamed”. Note that registration ends when the maximum of 290 attendees is reached or at 9 a.m. the day before the program, whichever occurs first.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During the regular meeting of the Lansing City Council Monday, October 16, Kinon O’Neil - regional sales manager in Waterloo for Altumint, based in Maryland - spoke to the council about a speed study the company conducted in Lansing this summer.

According to the company’s website, Altumint engineers, manufactures, and supports “a visual technology system and citation process using artificial intelligence to capture data on vehicles and people who break the law” (altumint.com). If the system registers a vehicle in violation, a picture is taken of the back of the vehicle (no pictures are taken of faces), and appropriate citations are sent through the mail.