The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, February 7 to address a short agenda of matters including discussion of Medical Examiner topics, consideration of appointing Compensation Commission members and the Quarterly Report for the County Auditor. There was no Public Comment during the time allotted for that agenda item.
The meeting moved into discussion of Medical Examiner topics with Dr. Dave Schwartz addressing the matter. Schwartz discussed the current medical examiner program and relationship between Allamakee County and Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) recommending that this relationship may need to be better defined from a budgetary standpoint to aid in sustainability.
Award nominations due by February 21; Princess applications due by March 1
The Allamakee County Dairy Promotion Board continues to make plans for the 2022 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet - the date, time and location of which will be announced at a later date. The board is still seeking nominations to honor and recognize deserving producers and contributors to the dairy industry in Allamakee County. Every year, top producers from the county are recognized by the Allamakee County Dairy Promotion Board, along with honoring contributors to the local dairy industry. The Allamakee Dairy Promotion Board and the Allamakee County Extension Office are accepting nominations through Monday, February 21 for the following awards:
A procession of dozens of law enforcement and emergency response vehicles from Allamakee County, the State of Iowa and surrounding areas (as evident in the surrounding photos) escorted Allamakee County Sheriff Deputy John Grampovnik to Martin Funeral Home in Waukon following his memorial service held at Iron Ridge Church in Waukon Thursday, February 3. Grampovnik passed away Thursday, January 27 at the age of 51 at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN following complications from a medical procedure.
Anyone interested in discussing the books they read with other readers, meeting new people, looking for a new author or genre to read but not quite ready to jump all in or who is at a loss for what to read next should join the Thursday Night Book Club the third Thursday monthly at 6 p.m. All are welcome. Book Club meets in person; to join virtually, contact Robey Memorial Library for participation information.
Discussions upcoming in 2022 include:
• February 17-Book with a red cover
• March 17-2022 All Iowa Reads title
• April 21-Published the decade born
• May 19-Book about women
• June 16-Fuzz by Mary Roach
• July 21-Set in summer
• August 18-Book featuring an outdoor activity
• September 15-Any title by author Kristin Hannah
• October 20-Iowa theme: author or title
The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, February 7. The meeting was called to order with the removal of an agenda item relating to a Closed Session pertaining to discussion of a real estate matter. There was no Public Comment and the meeting moved into Department Reports. Street Superintendent Keith Burrett provided an update relating to the removal of snow from cul de sacs, general maintenance and ongoing preparations for the next snowfall.
Water and Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper discussed a water main break that took place January 28 with that break being found and repaired. Cooper noted that a vendor will be meeting with him soon relating to leak detection equipment that would be beneficial in quickly locating leaks and that he will relay the pricing information to the council. Cooper also discussed the effect of freezing and sub-zero temperatures on the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s processes.
Waukon High School music students participate in NEIC Honor Choir ... The 22 Waukon High School music students pictured above and below participated in the Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) Honor Music Festival, which was hosted by Waukon High School Monday, January 17 during a day where no school had been previously scheduled. The students are under the musical guidance of band director JoAnn Knipfer Sherman and vocal director Sarah J. Bieber.
Pictured above are the Waukon High School participants in the NEIC Honor Band. Left to right - Front row: Tamara Guchshenkov, Abby Wiemerslage, Alaina Gebel, Bailey Sherman, Taylor Kiel; Back row: Cody Huinker, Logan Lubahn, James VanderVelden, Jacob Smith.
Pictured below are the Waukon High School participants in the NEIC Honor Choir. Left to right - Front row: Olivia Dougherty, Madelyn Helgerson, Annie Ellingson, Kody Darnell; Middle row: Sarah Stock, Brenna Berns, Hannah Teslow, Reagan Lubahn, Hailey Houg; Back row: Gabe Goettel, Quinn Snyder, Caleb Perkins, Keira Miller. Submitted photos.
written by Alaina Gebel
Waukon High School junior and music student
Monday, January 17, six high schools from across the Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) participated in the NEIC Honor Music Festival hosted at Waukon High School. Students from Charles City, Waverly-Shell Rock, Crestwood, Decorah, New Hampton and Waukon High Schools spent the day practicing music pieces under the guidance of two skilled directors, and then performed their musical selections in the evening at a concert held in the Dave Schoeberlein Gymnasium.
Among the attendees were 22 Waukon High School music students selected to participate. The students from Waukon High School are under the direction of vocal director Sarah J. Bieber and band director Jo Ann Knipfer Sherman.
Waukon After School Clover Kids beat the snow with a blizzard-themed meeting in January. After discussing the characteristics of a blizzard and reading the book ‘Blizzard’, they made their own snowman measuring sticks (pictured below). Youth learned the correct way to take an accurate measurement: away from buildings, in the open and in a relatively flat spot. They then had fun painting a winter scene with snow paint made out of glue and shaving cream (pictured above). Clover Kids ended the meeting with an emergency kit relay game. They had to choose which items are needed in case of an emergency and which items are for fun. After each group had their kit done, the group discussed why each item was important. Items included were a blanket, weather radio, emergency contact list, food/water, flashlight and a first aid kit.
Mailed letters will replace phone calls again this year
The Allamakee Scholarship Fund (ASF), Inc. phon-a-thon held in February has been the major fundraiser for the organization and is conducted by the student applicants in conjunction with the Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc. Board of Directors. In past years students used phone banks at Waukon High School and at Waukon State Bank and FreedomBank in Waukon.
Last year with COVID-19 precautions, no phone calling was done and students addressed and mailed phon-a-thon donation letters. That will hold true again for this 2021-2022 fundraiser also. Dates for those mailings to be completed this year are Thursday, February 10, Tuesday, February 15 and Wednesday, February 16.
At its regular meeting Monday, February 7, the Lansing City Council adopted Resolution No. 961, expressing its support for the creation of a Façade Improvement Program in Allamakee County utilizing American Rescue Plan funds.
In a letter to the editor published in The Standard last month, Main Street Lansing Executive Director Andy Kelleher indicated that Allamakee County received nearly $2.7 million as part of its allocation of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds through the Plan. Signed into law March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) is intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including the public health and economic impacts (naco.org). As part of the $362 billion in federal fiscal recovery aid for state and local governments, $65.1 billion is provided in direct aid to counties.
The Waterville Public Library is holding a Healthy Living Series: Mental Health Matters in February. Each discussion will be led by an individual with expertise, knowledge or experience in the subject matter.
The next topic of discussion in the series is this Thursday, February 10 and is entitled Swimming Through Grief. The February 17 will discuss Alcohol and Substance Abuse Issues and Resources, with a final February 24 session Winter Blues, Pandemic Woes.
Each discussion in the series will begin at 6:15 p.m. at the Waterville Public Library, located at 115 Main Street inside the Waterville Community Center. Everyone is welcome to attend and there is no cost.
