Community News

by Dwight Jones

Community Connections, Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention and Helping Services for Northeast Iowa hosted the second annual Family Day-Family Meal in Allamakee County September 28 and October 5. Family Day is a national event that focuses on the importance of eating together as a family. Research shows that youth who eat regular meals with their families are less likely to abuse alcohol, tobacco or other drugs and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors.

The photos depict some of the events that took place this past week during Waukon High School's 2009 Homecoming celebration. In the top photo, Waukon High School Homecoming King and Queen Caleb Opperman and Brooke Wild complete the traditional "burning of the W" that climaxed the annual Thursday night pep rally where the two were crowned as this year's royalty. In the bottom photo, the Waukon High School marching band adds their display of school spirit to this year's Homecoming festivities.

The Allamakee Ecumenical Choir will begin weekly rehearsals Wednesday evening, October 21 at 9 p.m. in the balcony of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. Now in its 33rd season, the Choir will prepare for a Christmas Festival Service scheduled for Sunday, December 13 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Waukon. Anyone in the community who would like to sing and participate is welcome to attend rehearsals and join in the festivities.

The Allamakee County 4-H program is currently conducting its annual fundraising drive for the 4-H Circle of Friends Fund. Over 250 youth in Allamakee County participate in 4-H activities each year.  Over 1,000 Allamakee County youth participate in youth development activities in school, community, summer, or after-school programs.
The funds from the Circle of Friends support 4-H expenses like the enrollment fee for members, project workshops, 4-H awards, fair trophies, and scholarships for members to participate in area and state events.

Residents of the City of Waukon will make their way to the polls Tuesday, November 3 to elect three members to the Waukon City Council, along with the City's Mayor. Each of the three council seats up for election features a different candidate situation, with the mayor seat once again having a contested race.
In that mayoral race, incumbent Keith Schroeder will face a challenge from Loren Beneke. Schroeder is nearing the end of his first two-year term in the mayor's office, with Beneke seeking the seat for the first time.

by Dwight Jones

Thomas Edwin Huinker of Fort Atkinson, age 70, and Gary Milo Aller of Ossian, age 26, were involved in a two-vehicle accident Saturday, September 19 at the intersection of Old Stage Road (County Road W-60) and Old Highway 9 (County Road A-52) at approximately 8:05 p.m.

Two separate incidents Thursday, October 1 resulted in the arrests of three Postville men on drug and other charges.
A traffic stop conducted on Williams Creek Road northeast of Postville resulted in charges against David Michael Heidt, age 38, of Postville. Heidt was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamines), Operating While Intoxicated Second or Subsequent Offense, Driving While Barred, and No SR-22 Insurance. He was booked into the Allamakee County Jail.

The second annual Big Pumpkin Contest was held at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Sunday, September 27, with an abundance of participants competing in several different contests throughout the day. One pumpkin on display but not part of the growing contest was used in a "Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin" contest, with Jim Trappe coming closest to the pumpkin's actual 934-pound weight with his guess of 930 pounds. Results of each of the event's contests appear below: