News Center newsletter

To the Editor:

Phone calls, e-mails, like comments, and even hugs were more than I ever anticipated after my previous letters published in The Standard dated 11-14-18 and 11-28-18. Did I expose some things that were never meant to see the light of day? “The more you stir a stinking mess, the more it stinks” (not my words). How about we all start stirring?

For those who didn’t understand my reference to cost of a culvert versus the cost of a bridge, let me explain. The difference could well be a million or few, besides a road closure for four to six months, plus a change order if we forgot something. You may someday be shocked if you see a couple toll booths at the foot of fairground hill.

I have gotten no answers to questions I put forth. I can understand that they may not want to “own” the situation. When will the planner reveal his hand, streets rebuilt or maintained? We now know that maintained is assumed to be free and yet we are all paying for it.

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director 563-568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• December 25: Office closed for Christmas
• January 1: Office closed for New Years Day
• January 15: Last day to apply for the Market Facilitation Program

December Farm-Stored Facility Loans
New rates were issued just last week for the month of October and are as follows:
• 2.875% for 3 years
• 3.000% for 5 years
• 3.125% for 7 years
• 3.125% for 10 years
• 3.125% for 12 years
• 3.250% for 15 years

Confinement site manure applicators and anyone interested in learning about manure issues should plan to attend a two-hour workshop offered by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach in January or February 2019. These workshops are offered in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. There is no fee to attend the workshops, but applicators will need to pay certification fees to complete certification requirements.

“Iowa law requires confinement site manure applicators to attend two hours of continuing education each year of their three-year certification period or take and pass an exam once every three years,” said Dan Andersen, associate professor, ISU Ag and Biosystems Engineering and coordinator of the manure applicator certification program.

Commercial manure applicators can attend annual training to meet commercial manure applicator certification requirements on Thursday, January 3, 2019, from 9 a.m. to noon. Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will conduct Commercial Manure Applicator training at that time. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. There is no fee for the workshop, but applicators must register by December 28 by contacting the ISU Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office at 563-568-6345.

by Lissa Blake

When Postville’s Dave Koopman heard the news that George H.W. Bush had passed away, he reflected on his own personal memories of the man who would come to be the 41st President of the United States.

Koopman, a retired school guidance counselor and former chair of the Allamakee County Republican Central Committee, recounted events in late 1987 through 1989 where he had personal contact with “Bush 41,” as he was sometimes called, to differentiate him from his son, George W. Bush, the nation’s 43rd president.

“In 1987, there were several Republicans besides Bush who wanted to be president,” remembered Koopman.

Allamakee County hosted an event for Jack Kemp and Pete du Pont in July of 1987, and the Central Committee decided to invite the elder Bush, who was serving as Vice President to Ronald Reagan at the time.

Large crowds greeted the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train at both its stops in Lansing and New Albin Wednesday afternoon and evening, December 5, as depicted in the surrounding photos. Those attending were treated to musical entertainment by Canadian artists Willy Porter and The Trews, along with other holiday activities put on by community members, businesses and organizations.

Saturday, December 8 at approximately 3:09 p.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Emergency Dispatch Center received a report of a farm accident in a farm driveway along Dorchester Drive in rural northern Allamakee County. Upon the arrival of first responders, an adult male was located pinned under the tire of a tractor.

Ernest Gavle, age 83, of rural Dorchester had been run over by the tractor and had died as a result of the injuries sustained at the time of the incident. The accident remains under investigation by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office. Assisting at the scene was the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office, Spring Grove, MN Fire Department, Spring Grove, MN Ambulance Service and Veterans Memorial Hospital Ambulance Service of Waukon.
 

The Iowa Area Development Group (IADG), on behalf of Iowa’s rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities and independent telecommunication companies, honored eight distinguished Iowa companies with the Iowa Venture Award at a luncheon held in conjunction with the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives’ annual meeting in West Des Moines December 6-7. Among those honored companies is Trinity Fabricators, Inc., located near New Albin.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 10 to address a full agenda of items including the signing of a letter requesting breach planning and design assistance from the NRCS for the English Bench Watershed #9, consideration of quotes for replacing a tag trailer for the Secondary Roads Department and the consideration of the Allamakee County 2019 holiday schedule. There was no Public Comment.

LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Allamakee County, discussed a letter presented to the Supervisors requesting breach planning and design assistance from the NRCS for the English Bench Watershed Site #9. Rolling indicated that commissioners met last week and have signed the letter requesting assistance.

by Brianne Eilers

At its November 27 monthly meeting, the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Board of Trustees learned that the month of October ended on a positive financial note for the hospital, with a net income of $55,668, which translates to a 3.4% profit margin. Acute patient days volume for the month was up 10% while skilled patient days were up 41.7% in comparison to last year at this same time. Total surgeries were up 20.8% and most outpatient areas were up as well. Emergency room visits were down 11.4% and deliveries were down 16% in comparison to October 2017. Expenses were also down, 3.1%.