Community News

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 13 to address a full agenda of matters including the consideration of bids for full-depth concrete pavement patching, a funding request by the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and the consideration of an appointment to the Veterans Affairs Commission. The meeting was held at the Allamakee County Veterans Museum.

The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Tom Clark with Supervisor Dan Byrnes present. Supervisor Dennis Keatley was not present due to a scheduled absence.

ITC Midwest has contributed $5,000 through a Power of Connection grant to support the City of Waukon’s evaluation of its historic city hall building and a comprehensive facilities space needs assessment. The effort will help city leaders understand current facility conditions, long-term operational needs, and opportunities to consolidate municipal functions to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

The City of Waukon has engaged a construction and historic preservation firm to conduct a structural and exterior assessment of the city hall building, originally constructed in 1902. The building, which has undergone various modifications over time, was recently vacated due to structural concerns identified in a professional evaluation. A broader space needs assessment of city hall and other municipal facilities will also be conducted to support the city’s long-term planning initiative focused on streamlining operations and maximizing taxpayer value.

Midwest Veterans of America hosted an America 250 celebration Saturday, July 4 at the Waukon City Park to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the United States of America.

A cookout event was held at the Sweeney Shelter near the Freedom Rock in the Waukon City Park. A group photo of all Veterans in attendance was taken (above), and a live auction was held with proceeds from that auction being donated to Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.

Seventh and eighth grade 4-H members from across Allamakee, Chickasaw, Howard and Winneshiek counties recently participated in an Intermediate 4-H Trip that combined hands-on learning, history, and summer fun.

The group’s first stop was Jones Family Dairy near Spencer, a farm featuring a rotary milking parlor, where members had the opportunity to see how technology is transforming modern agriculture. Youth learned how the farm milks 2,000 cows on a 64-stall rotating parlor, how farmers use technology to monitor herd health, and the important role innovation plays in dairy production. The visit provided a unique look at the future of farming, and youth were able to walk through the freestall barn, feed a calf a bottle, and hand milk a cow.

Thirty-four youth from across northeast Iowa gathered at the Starmont Community Schools in Arlington June 9 for the 2026 Iowa 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest. Representing Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette and Allamakee counties, 4-H members showcased their dairy knowledge by competing in fast-paced rounds that tested their understanding of dairy nutrition, anatomy, herd health, industry practices and current events.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 6 to address matters including the Quarterly Report for Planning and Zoning, the Liquor License Renewal for the Allamakee County Conservation Foundation, and the consideration of bids for full-depth concrete pavement patching. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Tom Clark with Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Dan Byrnes present.

During the Public Comment portion of the meeting, Byrnes made note of the Firecracker 5K event hosted in Harpers Ferry Saturday, July 4 which he advised had 256 participants as part of the Fourth of July weekend festivities in the community. He also recognized the efforts of the Harpers Ferry Booster Club which organizes the annual event.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, July 6 to address a full agenda of matters including a City Hall building structural evaluation update, the review and consideration of the First Reading of the Ordinance amending Chapter 76 Bicycles and Skateboards, and the Second Reading of the Ordinance amending Chapter 105 “Solid Waste Control”. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members present including Cassie Handke, Nic Engrav, Tim Smedsrud and Steve Wiedner.

Public input sought to help determine community needs and direction for growth

by Joe Moses

Waukon City Manager Grayson Rowlet and Senior Regional Planner Michelle Barness of Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) recently met with The Standard relating to the City of Waukon’s Comprehensive Plan update. Through public engagement opportunities including meetings and surveys seeking input, this planning process will allow Waukon residents to help determine needs and direction for growth relating to housing, economic development, infrastructure and facilities, agricultural and natural resources, recreation and land use, among other aspects impacting the daily lives of community residents.

West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon will be the site for “Music in the Country” Sunday, July 12, a musical event featuring Alan & Roxy Fauque, a saxophone and piano duo, from the Madison, WI area. Beginning at 2 p.m. and hosted by the West Paint Creek Synod Cemetery Association (WPCSCA), ice cream, bars, and coffee will be served in the church’s newly remodeled fellowship/dining area, located at 1351 Elon Drive.

Alan and Roxy Fauque moved to Wisconsin from Bozeman, MT. They perform together at social events and as contemporary worship musicians, displaying their considerable musical background in many other avenues.

Roxy once prepared 126 sixth graders to perform a premier composition at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She also was honored with a Yale Distinguished Music Educator award. Upon arriving in Mount Horeb, WI, she taught music in the schools there for four years.

Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank has announced the promotion of Erik Helgerson to President. Helgerson will assume his new responsibilities immediately while James Kerndt continues to serve as Chief Executive Officer until his planned retirement in the coming years.

Helgerson brings 30 years of banking experience and leadership to the position. He began his banking career as a Credit Analyst with Firstar Bank before serving as a Commercial Loan Officer with U.S. Bank and a Loan Officer with Waukon State Bank. Prior to joining Kerndt Brothers, Helgerson served as Senior Loan Officer for FreedomBank, where he was responsible for credit administration, risk management, and strategic lending initiatives.