The Homecoming festivities at Kee High School in Lansing will kick off the celebration of Homecoming Week with the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen taking place this Sunday, September 20. Kee High School’s Homecoming King and Queen for 2026 will be crowned at a ceremony beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the Kee High School gym, in conjunction with a “Lighting of the K” event also taking place as part of Sunday’s kick-off event for Homecoming Week 2026, with both events being open to the public.
Film festival performances ... Mike McAbee (left) and Katie O’Regan (right) will be teaming up with others for a staged reading of “The Dream Café Musical” at the 10th Annual Star City Film and Theater Festival scheduled for September 25-26 in Waukon. McAbee will also perform a live concert prior to that staged reading that Saturday evening of the festival. Photo by Julie Berg-Raymond.
Thaao Penghlis ... Featured Guest of Honor (via Zoom) at the 2026 Star City Film and Theater Festival scheduled for September 25-26 in Waukon. Submitted photo.
Three Dolphins Theater and ticket booth on wheels ... This 1969 D22 Winnebago recreational vehicle pictured above sits in front of the Three Dolphins Theater in the backyard of Hanovor area native and Star City Film and Theater Festival Director Katie O’Regan, a location that now serves as the permanent home of the annual festival that will celebrate its 10th year in just over a week. The Winnebago serves as a nostalgic ticket booth for the theater, which will take place September 25-26 this year. Submitted photo.
Mike McAbee to perform Saturday night
by Julie Berg-Raymond
Katie O’Regan Films LLC has announced the 2026 Star City Film and Theater Festival is Friday and Saturday, September 25 and 26. This year marks the 10th season of the festival and the first time it will be held in its new, permanent home - Three Dolphins Theater, located at 501 3rd Street SW in Waukon.
Highlights of the 2026 festival include a live musical performance by the popular Iowa-based singer-songwriter and comedian, Mike McAbee, featuring a set-list of original tunes; and a Q&A session, live from Hollywood via Zoom, by 2026 Festival Guest of Honor Thaao Penghlis - who for many years portrayed Tony DiMera on “Days of Our Lives.” Penghlis is an award-winning actor, author, and creator/host of the new podcast: “The Great Escape - Journey of Mary & Joseph.”
How D.A.R.E. they care ... Waukon Police Department D.A.R.E. Officer Alyssa Rostad (right) stands with former Waukon Police Chief Loren Fiet (left) this past spring at the first D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) graduation ceremony held in Waukon since Chief Fiet was in charge of the program prior to his retirement in 2004. Officer Rostad brought the program back to Waukon schools this past spring and has plans for an even more impactful program this school year. Submitted photo.
by Jennifer Bissell
After more than a 20-year hiatus, fifth grade students in Waukon are now learning the principles of the D.A.R.E. program, thanks in part to the Waukon Police Department and specifically Officer Alyssa Rostad.
Last spring, Rostad, with the support of Police Chief Paul Wagner, brought back the D.A.R.E. program to St. Patrick School fifth grade, East Elementary School fifth grade, and the sixth graders at Waukon Middle School. She’s looking forward to getting back into the schools again this fall, bringing valuable education to the fifth graders at East and St. Patrick’s.
POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony to be held September 18 ... Pictured above is a scene from a previous POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony hosted by the Lansing VFW Post and Auxiliary, and Lansing American Legion Post #50 on top of Mt. Hosmer in Lansing. An instrumental part of the ceremony includes the empty table setting pictured in the photo, signifying the absence of these missing heroes, with each item in the placesetting carrying a deep meaning regarding sacrifice, honor and remembrance. The public is invited to attend the noon ceremony scheduled for this Friday, September 18. Submitted photo.
This Friday, September 18, at 12 noon, the Lansing VFW Post and Auxiliary, along with Lansing American Legion Post #50, will host a special ceremony on Mt. Hosmer to mark National POW/MIA Recognition Day. The program will be held on the Ralph Bartels Patio, located next to the shelter atop Mt. Hosmer, and the public is warmly invited to attend. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair for seating.
At the heart of the observance will be the solemn Missing Man Ceremony, a symbolic tradition that honors those who are still missing from this nation’s past wars and conflicts, as well as those who gave their lives in service but whose remains have not yet been recovered and returned home. The empty place at the table at the ceremony represents the absence of these heroes, while each element of the table setting carries deep meaning about sacrifice, honor, and remembrance.
The Waukon City Council met in regular session Tuesday, September 8 following the Monday, September 7 Labor Day holiday to address a full agenda of matters. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members present including Steve Wiedner, John Lydon, Nicholas Engrav and Tim Smedsrud.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met twice within a week’s time following the Labor Day holiday Monday, September 7 with regular session meetings held Tuesday, September 8 and Monday, September 14. Coverage of both of those meetings appears below.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
The Tuesday, September 8 meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Tom Clark with Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Dan Byrnes present. During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) provided an update relating to upcoming events within the county.
Following the time allotted for Public Comment, the meeting moved into consideration of the Second Reading of Amendment #21 to Zoning Ordinance L and the Zoning District of the Official Zoning Map of Allamakee County.
When Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) celebrates a milestone like its 60th anniversary, the true measure of its impact isn’t found in the brick-and-mortar buildings on campus. It’s found in the lives of the people who walked through its doors, redefined their futures and stayed to reinvest in the region.
Corey Tieskoetter is a testament to that legacy. Today, Tieskoetter is a successful business development officer in the crop insurance division at Farm Credit Services of America, where he manages a six-county territory in northeast Iowa. But over a decade ago, he was a nontraditional student stepping far outside his comfort zone.
By 2012, Tieskoetter had spent more than a decade in the workforce. He had good jobs and worked with great people, but he reached a point where he realized he wanted to do something different. Living in Ossian, NICC was the logical place to look.
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a Ceramic Halloween Painting Party class for youths. This class will be held Tuesday, October 6 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 3rd Avenue NW.
Those attending can learn how to apply colors, styles and their own unique imprint on their own Halloween bear. Have fun being creative and enjoying uncomplicated artmaking with a ceramic bear and numerous colors provided. No experience is necessary and all skill levels are welcome. All supplies are included.
The deadline for paid registration is September 29. To register online visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call NICC Waukon Center at 563-562-3263, ext. 6700.
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At its Tuesday, September 8 meeting delayed by the Labor Day holiday, the Lansing City Council held an extended discussion about whether the community should pursue another opportunity to serve as a RAGBRAI end town in 2027. The council also discussed possible community uses for remnants of the former Black Hawk Bridge, changes that could affect fall large-item pick-up, and the opening of the new bridge in early November.
Open House scheduled at VMH Postville Clinic ... The new Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Medical Clinic location in Postville will host an open house for all area communities to attend Thursday, September 24, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The new clinic is housed in the former Upper Explorerland building at 134 West Greene Street. Tours of the new facility will be offered plus wellness testing, clinic trivia and giveaways. This open house coincides with the last Postville Farmer’s Market of the season. Veterans Memorial Hospital credits the numerous donors to this project, surpassing the goal of $200,000, for making this dream become a reality. Submitted photo.
The new Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Medical Clinic-Postville will be opening Monday, September 28. An open house will be hosted by the clinic staff Thursday, September 24, just a few days before opening day. All area communities are invited to attend the open house from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The new Postville Clinic is located in the former Upper Explorerland building at 134 West Green Street, next door to the current clinic location.
Veterans Memorial Hospital credits the numerous donors to this project, surpassing the goal of $200,000, which made this dream a reality.
