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Family of fallen Army Ranger Russ Robinson of Harpers Ferry takes part in 35th anniversary memorial event honoring liberation of Grenada and sacrifices made

by David M. Johnson

July 4, 9/11 and December 7 are dates that represent something of importance to most Americans. But the date of October 25, 1983 has an extra special meaning to several families of the Harpers Ferry-Lansing area.

It was on this date that a Harpers Ferry native and 1980 graduate of Waukon High School made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. The only son of the late Marcus “Red” and Lois Robinson of Harpers Ferry, Russ Robinson of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, and part of the U.S. Army’s Rapid Deployment Force that consisted of elements of Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, became an active participant that fateful day in the American intervention and liberation of the island nation of Grenada located in the Caribbean Sea off the northern border of South America.

Charges have now been filed following further investigation into a November 13 single-vehicle accident involving Christopher Mirich, age 38, of Waukon, husband of Allamakee County Attorney Jill Kistler, and execution the following day of search warrants by Iowa State Patrol officers at the couple’s home and Mirich’s place of employment first reported in the November 21 issue of The Standard.

According to court documents filed by the Iowa State Patrol December 11 and 12, Mirich is being charged with three traffic violations in regard to that November 13 accident. Those charges include Failure to Maintain Control, Failure to Report an Accident Involving Injury and Open Container-Driver 21 Years Old and Older. No other charges have been filed, according to a further court document search.

by David M. Johnson

Christianity teaches that a pious life is a life where there is sacrifice for others, a caring and loving attitude to those around oneself and a surrender to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the opening of one’s heart, mind and soul to Him.

From the very early Church when there was a large number of people who personally knew Jesus and heard his message as the way to salvation, to the many churches and denominations today where that message has been embraced to inspire piety, Christians have always had something to guide them when dealing with life. As evidenced in documented declines in church attendance, many people today may feel as if their churches have abandoned the responsibility to embrace that message to keep their flocks on the road to salvation.

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 Allamakee Ecumenical Choir will present its 42nd annual Candlelight Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols service this Sunday, December 9 at 7 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, located at 8 Fifth Street SW in Waukon. Area clergy will read the lessons, and carols will be sung by the choirs and congregation while accompanied by organ, trumpets and handbells.

Choral numbers will be presented by the Ecumenical Choir, Ecumenical Men’s Choir and Ecumenical Children’s Choir. Musical selections will also be presented by the St. John’s Lutheran Church Youth and Senior Handbell Choirs and the Bixby String Quintet. The program is prepared and directed by James Bieber, Organist and Director of Music at St. John’s Lutheran Church, and he is assisted by his daughter, Sarah Palmer, Waukon Middle and High School Choral Director.

This Friday, December 7, the Waukon High School gymnasium will be dedicated in honor and in the name of a man who likely spent more time and touched more lives in that same gym and during his coaching and teaching career than anyone else. During this Friday’s home game series against Oelwein for the Waukon girls basketball team, a ceremony will be held between the junior varsity and varsity contests to unveil what will be the newly dedicated Dave Schoeberlein Gymnasium at Waukon High School.

The annual Lighted Holiday Parade held in Waukon Monday evening, December 3 brightened up the beginning of the holiday season in more ways than one as nearly two dozen entries made their way through the city streets. Temperatures in the upper 20s made for some chilly viewing conditions for parade-goers, with some weekend snow adding a further holiday feel to the event, but neither of those weather considerations prevented people from lining the parade route, as evident in the above photo. Standard photo by Joe Moses. View and find out how to purchase this photo and more from the holiday parade by clicking on the Photo Galleries link at www.waukonstandard.com.
 

Residents and visitors of Allamakee County will have two opportunities to see the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train Wednesday, December 5. The Holiday Train will be stopping in Lansing that afternoon, at approximately 4:50 p.m., and again in New Albin a little over an hour later, at approximately 6:15 p.m.

The lighted holiday train will be stopping across from the Sports Complex in Lansing located on South Front Street, between North Second Street and Dodge Street. The performances and presentations during the train’s stop in Lansing are scheduled to take place from 5-5:30 p.m. Following the Holiday

Train’s departure, Santa Claus will be at the Community Center on Main Street from 5:30-7:30 p.m.