Weather delays stop the work but keep the water flowing ... Rainfalls measuring three inches in some areas of Waukon both Friday-Saturday, September 22-23 and again Tuesday, September 26 caused some additional delays in work progressing on the 1st Street/1st Avenue NW storm sewer replacement project in Waukon. Following the Tuesday afternoon, September 26 rain, the photo above shows more than a foot of water flowing from the open end of the existing storm sewer in the middle of 1st Avenue NW into the open trench that was, at that time, awaiting the placement of sections of new precast concrete storm sewer. The flowing water, however, found its way into the newly laid storm sewer (pictured below) that was already in place just a few feet further east on 1st Avenue NW, serving somewhat of its intended purpose, with the overall project anticipated to be completed by the end of October. Standard photos by Joe Moses.
Piecing it all together ... The precast concrete sections of the new storm sewer in the 1st Street/1st Avenue NW area in Waukon were put in place by crane, as pictured in the photo above. Once in place and connected, the sections were then further bolted together and had their seams wrapped to create a new pathway for storm water that will go around the former McMillan 66 property on the southwest corner of that 1st Street/1st Avenue NW intersection, instead of flowing underneath it. Evident in the photos below, final connections are waiting to be made to the new stretch of storm sewer at its receiving end (top photo below) and around the intersection corner (second photo below) at its discharge end (bottom photo below). Standard photos by Joe Moses.
by Joe Moses
Work continues in Waukon relating to the 1st Street NW/1st Avenue NW Storm Sewer Improvements project near downtown businesses Side Street Cycles, McMillan Muffler, The Copy Shoppe and Kurth Plumbing and Heating, among others. Delays associated with some unanticipated underground discoveries and some heavier rainfall prevented the original intended project from moving forward for more than a week’s time through the third week in September and the first part of the final week of that month.
The Iowa Stormwater Education Partnership (ISWEP) presented the City of Waukon with the Urban Stormwater and Watershed Jurisdiction of the Year Award during the 2023 Iowa Water Conference held in Altoona Tuesday-Wednesday, September 19-20. Waukon Mayor Arvid Hatlan is pictured above receiving the award on behalf of the City of Waukon from Iowa Storm Water Education Partnership Executive Director Patricia A. Sauer.
Saturday, October 1, at approximately 7:44 a.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center received a call of a suspicious individual and vehicle in the 700 block of 1st Avenue SW in Waukon. A Waukon Police Officer was dispatched to the location.
Upon investigation, it was determined that the suspicious vehicle was reported as stolen out of La Crosse County in Wisconsin. The suspect was observed by the officer in the 800 block of 1st Avenue NW. When law enforcement attempted to make contact, the suspect fled on foot and was pursued by the Waukon Police Officer and Allamakee County Sheriff’s Deputies. The suspect entered a garage behind a residence on West Main Street in Waukon where he was located by the officer and deputies.
The Robey Memorial Library Foundation is proud to announce the Re/newal Project. This initiative ensures that beloved children’s books, from The Adventures of Curious George to Dr. Seuss and the Disney classics, remain vibrant and accessible to new generations. Well-loved children’s books, many of them decades old, are being gently retired, and in their place, brand new copies will appear on the shelves, such as those pictured above. These fresh editions of old favorites invite young minds to explore timeless tales with renewed enthusiasm.
According to information shared at the Monday, September 18 regular meeting of the Waukon City Council, trick-or-treat times for this year’s Halloween holiday have been established. Waukon City Clerk Sarah Snitker reported at that meeting that she had confirmed with the Waukon Police Department 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.
Mrs. Brink’s Kindergarten class at St. Patrick’s School in Waukon enjoys when Becky Rea, K-12 Program Coordinator with Allamakee County Iowa State University (ISU) Extension in Waukon visits the classroom to teach science experiments, both inside and outside the classroom. As evident in the photos at right, the students have enjoyed making, seeing and learning about such things as carbon dioxide, their own bubble wands, rockets and marshmallow launchers. Submitted photos.
Iowa PBS’s commitment to early childhood education continues with the expansion of its Ready for School initiative. Educational specialists will work with educators, parents, childcare providers and local partners in several Iowa communities to implement STEM and literacy-based activities for children ages two through five years old.
Ten such school districts throughout Iowa were selected as part of this year’s program. Among those school districts are both the Allamakee Community School District and the Eastern Allamakee Community School District.
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 City of Lansing has partnered with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) to create a community vision for the future of Main Street. The overall goal of the planning and visioning process is to identify needs, desires and concerns that residents, business owners and visitors have for the Main Street/Highway 9 corridor through Lansing. The end product will be a community-derived vision for the corridor that considers things like traffic safety, environmental impacts, historic preservation, lighting, streetscape amenities, and more.
The project kicked off at the beginning of this year and has included two Lansing City Council work sessions, a focus group with Main Street business owners, an in-person community input meeting, and options for providing feedback online. There are still opportunities for community members to participate in the planning process.
The Lansing/New Albin Police Department, in partnership with Center Baptist Church and Lansing United Methodist Church Youth Ministry, will be hosting a second Faith & Blue event this Sunday, October 8 at the Lansing City Park, located at 451 South Front Street. The event is being held as part of the National Faith & Blue Weekend taking place across the United States this weekend, October 6-9, and it is open to everyone. The inaugural event was held last year in early October.
The event will feature a picnic lunch and live musical entertainment from 1-3 p.m. Sunday. There will also be some personal testimonies of faith from local Law Enforcement Officers. Free will donations will be accepted, with 100% of those proceeds being distributed to local food banks.
