News Center newsletter

by Julie Berg-Raymond

City of Lansing Mayor Melissa Hammell will be contacting RAGBRAI 2022 officials this week to let them know Lansing would like to be considered as the last stop along the annual bike ride’s route next year.

The mayor was authorized to take this action by the Lansing City Council’s approval of Resolution No. 955 during its regular meeting Monday, November 15. The 2022 RAGBRAI Route Announcement Party, a ticketed event, is scheduled for January 28, 2022 in Des Moines. RAGBRAI 2022 is scheduled to be held July 23-30, 2022.

Lansing has been a host city for the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) two times - 1977 and 2017 - since the annual ride began in 1973. According to Wikipedia, it holds the distinction of being the “city with the next-to-longest time between hosting,” at 40 years - second only to Iowa City, at 42 years (1976 and 2018). RAGBRAI has passed through all 99 of Iowa’s counties in its history.

VFW Auxiliary Gustave F. Kerndt #5981 announces the kick-off of the VFW Auxiliary’s National Anthem Singing Contest, “Get Excited for the Red, White and Blue!” Contestants must submit a video of their solo vocal performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” recorded between July 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022.

Contest entries must be submitted to VFW Auxiliary Gustave F. Kerndt #5981 by March 31, 2022 via DVD or flash drive, or an online video platform. Interested youth, parents/guardians and teachers should email vfwauxiliarylansing@gmail.com for information.
 

Jaguars “Kruse” to victory behind 229 yards rushing, 239 yards passing by SE Valley quarterback

The old saying goes, “all good things must come to an end,” and when they do it oftentimes takes a strong counter effort to force that end. Unfortunately, the Waukon football team found that out the hard way when the Indians suffered a 50-14 loss to another squad with a 10-1 record, Southeast Valley, in a Class 2A State Semifinals match-up in the UNI-Dome at Cedar Falls Saturday, November 13 to have their very good 2021 campaign brought to an end.

“Some days, things just don’t go your way,” Waukon football coach Chad Beermann said. “How you respond in those situations shows who you are. The kids continued to fight, and accounted for over 300 yards of offense against a very good defense.”

The six Waukon High School young ladies pictured above were selected to sing the National Anthem prior to the Waukon football team’s Class 2A State Semifinals game with Southeast Valley Saturday, November 13 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Left to right are seniors Madelyn Helgerson and Hannah Teslow, freshman Annie Ellingson, junior Bailey Sherman, and seniors Hailey Houg and Brenna Berns. The group has also been selected to provide that same honored musical start to the Class 2A State Championship game this Friday, November 19 at 10 a.m.
 

The Waukon football team pieced together another memorable season on the field with yet another deep run into the Class 2A State Play-Offs this fall. Yet, it was a game-day action off the field Friday, November 5 that may just be the team’s most memorable and inspirational moment of this 2021 season.

Maureen Celia (Mooney) Hoch passed away with her loving husband by her side October 28, 2021 at the age of 59. There will be a celebration of life Saturday, November 27 at the Farm Bureau Building, located at 14 1st Avenue NE in Waukon. The family will greet visitors from 1-4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local pet shelter.

Maureen was a loving mother, sister, daughter, aunt and friend. She was a Registered Nurse who spent her life caring for others. Maureen was a lifelong fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and San Diego Padres. She enjoyed the outdoors, traveling and caring for her dogs. She was a devout Catholic and cared a lot about her religion.

Maureen was born in Lansing to Vince and Rosemary Mooney August 18, 1962. She graduated from Kee High School in Lansing in 1980 and received her RN from Kirkwood College. She married David Hoch June 24, 1995 and they had two sons, Joshua and Nicholas.

Loren R. Paus, 71, of Dorchester died Monday, November 8, 2021 at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Graveside services were held Saturday, November 13 at St. Luke’s Cemetery in Eitzen, MN, with Pastor Michael McCann officiating. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon assisted the family with the services.

Loren Raymond Paus was born May 23, 1950 in La Crosse, WI, the son of Raymond Louis and Delores (Meiners) Paus. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ in Eitzen, MN.

Loren attended rural country schools, graduated from Waukon High School in 1970 and attended NICC in Calmar, where he received a degree in auto mechanics. He worked as a mechanic in Guttenberg, as a machinist at Deco Products in Decorah, worked at Monona Wire in Monona and for Konkel’s Sawmill in New Albin as a lumber yard assistant, before retiring to the family farm in rural Dorchester.

Jay M. Runice, 54, of Waukon died Thursday, November 11, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 17 at 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Pastor Cathy Jurgens officiating. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, November 16 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon.

Jay Mikkel Runice was born November 14, 1966 in Waukon, the son of Wayne and Sandy (Leiran) Runice. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon and attended Waukon schools. Jay enjoyed driving truck, snowmobiling, fishing, playing cards, bowling and always had a good story to tell.

DJ Scholtes, 33, of Waukon died Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at his home with loved ones and prayers surrounding him. Celebration of Life services will be held Saturday, December 18 at Iron Ridge Church in Waukon.

Donations in memory of DJ will be given to Iron Ridge Church. Cards and flowers may be sent to Martin-Grau Funeral Home. Friends and family are asked to write memories of DJ for his unborn child to have about their dad and bring them to the Celebration of Life, or mail them to 903 Dundee Drive, Waukon IA, 52172.

Delbert James Scholtes was born February 24, 1988 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, the son of Thomas and Donna (Russell) Scholtes. DJ grew up in Churchtown and graduated from Kee High School in Lansing in 2006. He then went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in History from Iowa State University in Ames and a Bachelor of Arts in Education (K-12) from Luther College in Decorah with a Special Endorsement in Psychology.

Caity Johnson and Bobby Schultz exchanged wedding vows Saturday, September 18, 2021 at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Webster City with Pastor Phil Webb as officiant.

The bride’s parents are Marty and Carla Johnson of Stratford. Her grandparents are Carlene and Rolf Solbach, and the late John Bergquist and Gerald Johnson and Kayleen Rademacher and the late Kay Johnson.

The groom’s parents are Kent and Donna Schultz of Frankville. His grandparents are Doris Eglseder and the late Bob Eglseder and the late Byron and Darlene Schultz.

The bride graduated from Webster City High School and Clarkson College in Nebraska. She is employed at Winneshiek Medical Center as a Nurse Practitioner.

The groom is a graduate of Postville High School and is engaged in farming.

The couple are making their home in rural Frankville.