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A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Friday, October 2 at 15 1st Street NW in Waukon, the location of What’s New Thrift Store, for the introduction of a Little Free Pantry through Black Hills Energy. This free community resource is available 24 hours a day/seven days a week (24/7) to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity, no questions asked, in the entryway of this retail store location.
Present for the ribbon cutting ceremony were Operations Supervisor Ivan Hackman of the Black Hills Energy Decorah Unit, Public Affairs Program Manager Marissa Gaal with Black Hills Energy, Waukon City Manager Grayson Rowlet, Director Deliverance Hope and Linda Groe, both with the Allamakee County Food Shelf, and Arvid and Laurie Hatlan, owners of What’s New Thrift Store. Arvid Hatlan is also a service technician with Black Hills Energy in addition to being Mayor of Waukon.

Notification from a local veterinary office in late September regarding a dog that needed to be euthanized has led to the arrest of a Waukon man and woman on charges of Animal Abuse Causing Death.

Additionally, upon further investigation, a court order to commence dispositional proceedings was also filed for the removal of other animals from the custody of the two individuals.

Documents filed in Allamakee County District Court indicate that September 26, the Waukon Police Department was notified that a pit bull mix canine had been taken to a local veterinary office, with medical officials there determining that the dog was “grossly malnourished” and was in such poor physical condition that it needed to be euthanized to end its suffering, with no chance for further recovery, reportedly.

Waukon High School graduate Greg Dougherty honors “where it all began”

Before Greg Dougherty built an oil field services company or managed a workforce of 100 employees, he was a high school graduate in Waukon looking to build a reliable trade.

It was 1978, a year after graduating from Waukon High School, when Dougherty decided to pursue a long-term career. He visited Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) - then known as Area One Vocational-Technical School - in Calmar. He weighed bricklaying against welding before making a practical decision.

“I figured the welding would be a lot less back-breaking work,” Dougherty recalled. “I went with that.”

He graduated from the College’s welding program in 1979 after mastering the rigorous, hands-on standard of his instructor: welding a beveled plate, stripping it down and bending it into a horseshoe. If a single flaw showed up in the bend, a student failed and started over.

Allamakee County Economic Development & Tourism (ACED) has announced the addition of Jenny Byrnes in a new role of Communications Coordinator for the organization. The new position focuses on building business relationships while marketing for ACED and its members, in addition to marketing tourism opportunities within Allamakee County.

“I am excited to welcome Jenny Byrnes to Allamakee County Economic Development & Tourism as Communications Coordinator,” shared Allamakee County Economic Development & Tourism Executive Director Val Reinke. “Jenny’s experience brings fresh insight into building and supporting membership, along with a creative edge to enhance ACED’s communication efforts.”

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Board of Trustees has announced Jayne McCormick, the hospital’s current Chief Nursing Officer, will serve as the permanent Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, effective October 1. McCormick has been with Veterans Memorial Hospital for more than 24 years and has served in many different capacities throughout her career.

“Jayne has spent many years on the leadership team with the hospital and worked her way from a young nurse to become the Chief Nursing Officer. Beyond that, she’s handled CEO responsibilities a number of times when past administrators were out on extended leave,” explains Dennis Lyons, Chairman of the VMH Board of Trustees. “She is qualified to lead the hospital. There is consensus among the Board of Trustees to promote from within when possible and we’ve now accomplished this for the first time in recent history for the CEO position.”

Waukon High School seniors Vaughn Stegen and Brynn Weymiller were crowned Waukon High School's 2026 Homecoming King and Queen at the "Burning of the W" pep rally held Thursday evening, October 1 at Waukon High School. Additional photos of Waukon High School's 2026 Homecoming events are featured on Page 16 in this week's issue, as well as coverage of the Waukon football team's Homecoming victory over top-10 rated Osage featured on Page 17. Even more photos from this year’s Homecoming festivities can also be found at the Photos link located on this webpage.
 

Everyone is invited to join area youth and fellow community members on athletic fields across the nation Wednesday, October 7 in sharing their Christian faith with other students and the general public for this year’s Fields of Faith event. The local event is now in its 15th year and will have live music beginning at 6:15 p.m., with featured speakers to begin at 7 p.m. at the Waukon High School football field that October 7 evening, or in the Waukon High School gym in the event of inclement weather.

The community of Postville celebrated a major milestone in community health care Thursday, September 24 with the ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for the new Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Postville Clinic. Over 100 people attended the event which highlighted the community’s support for the new facility and the importance of expanded health care services in Postville and the surrounding area.

The ribbon cutting ceremony, arranged by the Postville Chamber of Commerce, began with remarks from Postville Mayor Dennis Koenig, who spoke about what the beautiful new clinic means to the community and how it will benefit the town and surrounding area.

Postville High School seniors Alan Ciriaco-Munoz (left) and Jasmin Roman (right) were crowned the 2026 Homecoming King and Queen during halftime of Postville’s Homecoming football game Friday, September 25. Ciriaco-Munoz was selected from a Homecoming King court that included fellow seniors Cedric Navarro, Micah Minikwu and Herman Ixquier Castro. Roman was chosen from a Homecoming Queen court that included fellow seniors Leticia Dahl, Esveydi Palafox-Schultz and Olivia Schultz. Photo courtesy of Postville High School.

Pick up the Wednesday, September 30, 2026 print edition of The Standard or subscribe to our e-edition or print edition by clicking here.

Students at Waukon High School have selected their Homecoming Court representatives for the 2026 celebration, with the coronation of this year’s Homecoming Queen and King scheduled to take place at the “Burning of the W” pep rally planned for this Thursday evening, October 1, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Waukon High School gym. Pictured in the photo at right are this year’s Waukon High School Homecoming Queen and King candidates from the 2026-2027 Senior class, including: Left to right - Front row: Queen candidates Brynn Weymiller, Kaylin Regan, Blythe Bucknell, Nora Davis; Back row: King candidates Tristyn Crawford, Tade McCormick, Jaxon Regan, Vaughn Stegen.