Community News

Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) will be offering free and confidential business assistance  Tuesday, June 4. ACED has partnered with J. Steve Horman to offer one-on-one, free and confidential counseling services.

The Waukon Park and Recreation Department's Summer Fun Program is for kids 4, 5, 6 and 7 years old to do crafts and games. One group is for 4 and 5 year-olds and one group for 6 and 7 year-olds. This program will be offered Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. starting June 6 for five weeks. The Summer Fun Program will be held at the shelter by the ball diamond at the park. There is only room for 16 kids in each group and groups will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

The fourth annual “Keep Waukon Beautiful Day” has been scheduled for Saturday, May 18 in the Waukon area, and volunteers are being sought to help take part in the event in an effort to clean up and maintain the appearance of the community. Interested participants are asked to meet at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 18 at the front entrance of Waukon City Park.

For those who have some free time and may be looking for an opportunity to become more involved in the community, NorthLand Agency on Aging has a volunteer opportunity to make a positive difference. At the end of May, NorthLand  will need three to four people willing to share the responsibilities of coordinating the meals program at the Waukon Senior Dining Center, which is located within the Waukon Wellness Center.

by Bob Beach

The 2013 Corner of Hope Foods Resource Bank (FRB) local growing project had a beautiful spring day for its annual Blessing of the Seed and Soil event held Saturday, April 27. Gathered outdoors at the Walter Halvorson farm in rural Waukon, Pastor Ken Kimball of Old East and Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Churches performed the blessing. Soon, the farmers will be in the fields planting, with approximately 45 acres designated so far for the project. This is the ninth year for the Corner of Hope (COH) growing project in Allamakee County.

Allamakee County native and retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander Charles Robert Hinrichs (right) stands with Allamakee County Historical Society Vice President John Simmons (left) with several of the items Commander Hinrichs recently donated to the Allamakee County Courthouse Museum from his career collection. Commander Hinrichs, a 1943 graduate of Waukon High School who retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 1975, made the trip from his home in Mobile, AL to his native Allamakee County the last full week in April with retired U.S.

by Bob Beach

The National Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources - Forestry Bureau has announced that the City of Waukon received the 2012 Tree City USA award at the 23rd Annual Community Forestry Awards Luncheon held at the Stoney Creek Inn April 2 in Johnston. State Forester Paul Tauke commented, “The Tree City USA award is a symbol for communities who have made a commitment to the management of public trees.

The Waukon Trees Forever Chapter annual tree planting event originally scheduled for Saturday, April 27 has now been postponed to this Saturday, May 11 due to inclement weather this past weekend, its initial postponed date. Volunteers are asked to bring shovels, rakes and gloves and meet at the Waukon High School parking lot at 8 a.m.
Trees will be planted along the new soccer fields located on the west edge of Waukon, near the high school. For more information, contact Kenneth Olson, MD of Waukon Trees Forever at 563-568-4612.