The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, January 18, a day later than its usual Monday meeting day due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day observance. Under the consent agenda, the following personnel matters were approved: Joe Egan, Pam Jones and Joseph Howard as substitute bus drivers and Andrea Nolan as an elementary paraprofessional. The board also accepted the resignation of Kasie Criswell from an elementary paraprofessional position and Jon Snitker from the eight/ninth grade softball coach position.
The following Sunday requests were approved: sixth grade basketball for Sundays in February and March and a high school band trip to La Crosse, WI. The following agreements were also approved: William Penn University Student Teacher Agreement and Retiree HRA and Special Pay Plan Amendments.
Elizabeth Blake, Ag in the Classroom Coordinator for Allamakee County Farm Bureau, joined the four kindergarten classes (one of which is pictured above) at West Elementary School in Waukon Thursday, January 13 to share a presentation on sheep. Some of the major points she touched on with students are what sheep eat, how they are cared for, what they are used for, and what some of the benefits are.
“The students were very engaging as I asked them questions about what they already knew and what they were learning throughout the presentation,” Blake said. “The vocabulary words seemed to go over very well, and the kids were very excited to learn more about each word. I had a great time and cannot wait to go back to teach the kids more about agriculture.”
The regular meeting of the board of directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) was held at the Kee High School ICN Room in Lansing Monday, January 17. Board business included a variety of approvals beginning with approving the summer overnight baseball trips to Eddyville June 3 and to Hillcrest Academy June 17.
In personnel items, the board approved a contract for Sydney Garrett, Kindergarten Teacher. An additional kindergarten classroom was needed because of increased enrollment at that grade level.
The public hearing for the 2022-2023 school calendar was set for February 21, just prior to the next regular board meeting, which will be held at the former Lansing Middle School location at 696 Main Street. That next board meeting will be held at that location so board members can visit the site of the Kee Connect program.
The Harpers Ferry Youth Ice Fishing Clinic sponsored by the Harpers Ferry Boosters and the Allamakee County Conservation Board will be held at Nobles Island Boat Access, 645 Hwy. 364, Harpers Ferry Sunday, January 30. Registration for youth aged 15 and under will begin at 11 a.m. and fishing will continue until 2 p.m.
Youth participating in the clinic may use their own equipment, but ice fishing equipment will be available to youth who do not have their own. Food and drink will be available for those participating in the clinic. Prizes will be awarded to participants in each of three age groups.
In case of inclement weather, all cancellations and delays will be posted on the Allamakee County Conservation Board Facebook page the day of the event. A make-up date for the Harpers Ferry Kids Ice Fisheree will be February 13 at the same times and location, unless noted.
The Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter is offering a free virtual education series to kick off the new year. The programs are available to help those living with Alzheimer’s and their families understand what to expect so they can be prepared to meet the changes ahead and live well for as long as possible.
The topics covered will range from what changes to expect from a loved one in the different stages of the disease, to legal and financial issues to consider, to new advancements in Alzheimer’s research.
Each virtual education program will be held over Zoom and allows the audience to ask questions and engage with others going through an Alzheimer’s journey. The remaining schedule of programs includes:
• Legal and Financial - January 26, 3:30-5 p.m.
• Living with Alzheimer’s for Caregivers: Middle Stage - February 9, 3:30-5 p.m.
• Living with Alzheimer’s for Caregivers: Late Stage - February 16, 3:30-5 p.m.
State Fourth-Place 105-pounder ... Waukon wrestling sophomore Mia Kurth wrestled to a fourth-place finish in the 105-pound weight class bracket at the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Girls State Wrestling Tournament held at the Xtream Arena in Coralville Friday and Saturday, January 21-22. Kurth won four out of her six matches at the tournament, with all four of her wins coming by fall and two of those coming in dramatic fashion to overcome third period deficits. Her lone losses at the event came to the undefeated eventual champion and the third-place finisher in her weight class.
Meridian Snitker, Mia Kurth wrestle to top-six individual placewinnings to lead Indian team effort within top 20% of 145-team scoring field
The Waukon wrestling program was well represented once again at the fourth annual Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA) Girls State Wrestling Tournament held Friday and Saturday, January 21 and 22 at the Xtream Arena in Coralville. This year’s largest-ever event of nearly 700 young ladies competing from 158 high schools across the state of Iowa featured the mat Tribe’s largest-ever participation as well with five young ladies taking to the mat, with that Indian effort resulting in a pair of podium placewinnings among the top six wrestlers in their respective weight classes and a team finish within the top 20% of the meet’s 145-team scoring field.
Honoring a “grand” achievement ... Prior to the start of the Kee boys basketball home game with Charles City Monday, January 17, senior Dalton Dibert was honored for reaching the 1,000-point career scoring milestone during the Hawks’ 56-55 home loss to North Fayette Valley Thursday, January 13. The first four points Dibert scored in that game pushed him to the 1,000 point mark in his career, making him the sixth Kee boys basketball player to achieve that milestone, as he joined former Hawks Ric Zarwell, Pat Heiderscheit, Gabe Schultz, Quinn Schultz and Danny Brennan in that “grand” scoring accomplishment. Photo courtesy of Kee High School Yearbook.
The Kee boys basketball team played through another fairly busy week of multiple ballgames, competing in three games in a matter of five days this past week. The Hawks opened the week with back-to-back home games, first falling to Charles City, 59-48, Monday, January 17 before disposing of Postville with relative ease, 70-50, Tuesday, January 18. The Hawks then wrapped up the week hitting the road but doing so successfully with a 71-56 win at Turkey Valley Friday, January 21.
Team-high board work ... Waukon boys basketball senior Lincoln Snitker elevates toward the basket in the Indians’ 62-52 home win over Prairie du Chien, WI Tuesday, January 18. In his first game of the season after resting a football injury, Snitker grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds while scoring seven points and dishing out a pair of assists as well. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this website.
After not taking the court in more than a week’s time due to weather and other postponements a week earlier, the Waukon boys basketball team put together its first undefeated week of the season and established a win streak that now stands at three games after a pair of home wins this past week. The Indians first secured a non-conference win at home over Prairie du Chien, WI Tuesday, January 18 by a 62-52 final result before avenging an earlier season loss to New Hampton with a 64-49 triumph at home Friday, January 21 that marked their first Northeast Iowa Conference victory of this season.
Halie Ruff, Nurse Practitioner at the new Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic, is now caring for maternity patients, joining Dr. Dave Schwartz. Both Dr. Schwartz and Halie Ruff see maternity patients in the new Waukon Clinic building, following moms all the way through their pregnancy and post-partum care with Dr. Schwartz assisting with the delivery. Veterans Memorial Hospital and Clinics is accepting new Maternity Services patients at any stage of their pregnancy. Submitted photo.
Halie Ruff, Nurse Practitioner at the new Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic in Waukon, is now caring for maternity patients, joining Dr. Dave Schwartz. Both Dr. Schwartz and Halie Ruff see maternity patients in the new Waukon Clinic building, following moms all the way through their pregnancy and post-partum care with Dr. Schwartz assisting with the delivery.
“I love caring for patients of all ages… this is my passion,” states Ruff. “Veterans Memorial Hospital is excited to expand our maternity care and provide care to moms and babies alike with our OB team. Throughout the pregnancy, moms will have an OB team to rely on and ask questions of.”
Ruff partners with Dr. Schwartz to provide a well-rounded maternity experience, working closely with moms, supervising their progress from the beginning of the pregnancy, and continuing with postpartum care following the delivery.
Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health continues to offer walk-in clinics for all doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, each Friday afternoon in January from 1:30-3:45 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room located on the southeast side of the hospital. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be available.
Parking is available by the orange cones along the golf course for easy access to the vaccine location. Flu shots will also be available and can be safely administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Wear a mask and bring an insurance card and vaccination card if coming for a second or booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Both Hartig Drug and Nightingale Pharmacy in Waukon have vaccine available for ages 12 and older. Parental/guardian consent is required. Call ahead to schedule an appointment.
