News Center newsletter

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon is seeing an increasing number of patients with the influenza virus. The Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care public health department is sharing the following information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to alert the community about what to do if they do contract the flu virus and how to prevent spreading it.

FLU SYMPTOMS
Influenza (also known as flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Flu is different from a cold. Flu usually comes on suddenly. People who are sick with flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, March 4 to address a full agenda of items, including discussion of the City’s sponsorship of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Urban Revitalization Plan and a broadband internet survey. The Public Hearing on the Fiscal-Year 2020 Budget was opened and closed with City Clerk Lana Snitker indicating that no written or verbal comments were received. There was no Public Comment.

The council moved into Departmental Reports with Police Chief Phil Young indicating that a new squad car has arrived and would be fitted this week. Young discussed that several applications have been received and will continue to be accepted with interviews to be set up in the coming weeks for open officer positions.

Plans have been announced to hold the 2019 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Waukon Sunday, March 17. Further details of the annual event will be printed as they become finalized.

EARL Public Transit, a program of Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation, is once again running the Leprechaun Loop Safe Ride Shuttle immediately following the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Waukon Sunday, March 17 until 8 p.m.

“Last year was a huge success. We made the roads safer for everyone,” Maura Jones, Transportation Director at EARL Public Transit, said. “For just a dollar per ride, let EARL be your designated driver. With two shuttle buses available, riders can hop on at one of the stops on the loop and they’re set.”

The bus stops will be located in front of City Club and Goodfellas, and Green Valley Getaway, and at the Vet’s Club. Per transit policy, alcohol is not permitted on any buses. For more information about EARL Public Transit, visit www.neicac.org/transit, follow EARL Public Transit on Facebook or call 866-382-4259.
 

Local teens will be tuning in at the library as Robey Memorial Library celebrates the annual Teen Tech Week™ March 4-9. The library will join thousands of other libraries and schools across the country who are celebrating Teen Tech Week™ to raise awareness about how Robey Memorial creates a space to extend teens’ learning beyond the classroom where they can explore, create and share content.

Teen Tech Week™ is a national initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of the initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technology, especially the types offered through libraries. Teen Tech Week™ encourages teens to take advantage of the technology at libraries for education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified, trusted professionals who can help them achieve greater digital literacy.

Waukon High School Prom 2019 is scheduled for Saturday, April 27. Parents of high school students are again hosting the annual substance-free Post Prom event at the Waukon High School gym immediately following Prom, from 11 p.m. until 3:30 a.m. the next morning.

Very strong past support from parents of Waukon High School students, as well as from local businesses and civic organizations, has resulted in the continued success of providing Prom-goers a safe alternative for celebrating the annual event. That support has provided these young adults with games, food, entertainment and prizes at the Post Prom event each year.

Assistance is needed for the event in two main areas:

Fifteen students from Kee High School in Lansing competed in 20 different events at the individual District Speech Contest held Saturday, February 23 at Decorah High School. Fifteen of those events received “one” ratings and five others received “two” ratings. Those who received a “one” rating will advance to the State competition this Saturday, March 9 at Waldorf University in Forest City. Pictured above are participating Kee High School Speech students listed with their performances and the ratings they received: Left to right - Front row: Anthony Martin (Solo Music Theatre - 1 and Improvisational Acting - 1), Amanda Fahey (Prose - 1 and Acting - 2), Sahreya Dodd (Acting - 1), Neve Goetzinger (Solo Music Theatre - 1 and Literary - 1), Michelle Walleser (Storytelling - 1), Logan West (Storytelling - 1). Middle row: Jaiden Berns (Poetry - 2), Maggy Weymiller (Prose - 1), Jazmyne Pace (Poetry - 1), Ella Strong (Literary - 1), Jada Mitchell (Solo Music Theatre - 2).

Ambitious with clear academic and career goals in mind, a group of 25 recent high school graduates in northeast Iowa are members of the first cohort of Opportunity Scholarships recipients selected this year. These students are now enrolled at Northeast Iowa Community College and beginning their second semester.

The Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Opportunity Scholarship awards $1,000 to one nominated senior from 28 area high schools. Student recipients have a demonstrated passion and interest for a career and technical program, or transferable degree, at NICC. The students selected the College as the first place to begin their postsecondary education.

Garrett Garin, a 2018 Waukon High School graduate, is one Opportunity Scholar who found the perfect career match in the College’s Computer Technology program at the Calmar campus.

by Macie Hill

The Lansing City Council held its regular meeting Monday, March 4. Discussion centered around the adoption of the consent agenda, approval of a building permit, the South Road Bridge project final payment, an update on the proposed splash pad project, marina slip and levee lot rental rates, and consideration of a letter of commitment to the Allamakee County E-911 Board.

The consent agenda consisted of council meeting minutes from February 20, payment of claims, Park and Recreation Board meeting minutes from February 19, January’s Treasurer’s report and utilities for January and February. A motion was made and seconded to approve the adoption of the consent agenda without hesitation.

A motion was also made and seconded to approve the building permit applied for at 100 Wall Street. However, the driveway permit exiting Otis Street was not given approval.

History and archeology surrounding the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Lansing bridge project will be the topic of a talk to be held at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library Thursday, March 21, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The DOT’s Brennan Dolan will lead the discussion, which is free of charge and open to the public.

Earlier talks with the Lansing Historical Working Group have focused on the National Historic Preservation Act and the process that state and federal agencies are responsible for following. This talk will focus on what it means to mitigate for the loss of historic properties.