Community News

by Brianne Grimstad

January 1, 2025 marked the 100th anniversary of Palmer Abstract, Inc. serving Allamakee County for abstracting and related needs. The year 2025 also is the beginning of the fourth generation of being owned by the same family, as Elizabeth Palmer Montet became the C.E.O. of the company, taking over from her dad, Joe Palmer.

The business was founded as Palmer Abstract Company by C.A. “Charlie” Palmer January 1, 1925, when he took ownership of the business and records of two of Allamakee County’s earliest abstractors, E.M. Hancock and S.R. Thompson. Prior to being an abstracter, Palmer was the Allamakee County Auditor from 1921 to 1925 and later a member of the 51st Session of the Iowa General Assembly. He operated Palmer Abstract Company until 1953, when he was appointed as the Postmaster for Waukon and sold the business to his son, A.V. “Verle” Palmer.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, January 13 to address a full agenda of matters including discussion of the Allamakee County Childcare Coalition funding request, consideration of appointing Medical Examiners and Medical Examiner Investigators, and the consideration of setting a date for a Public Hearing relating to the grading and paving of a one-mile portion of Four Corners Road.

The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Tom Clark present. The amended meeting minutes from Monday, January 6 were approved to include a correction relating to the appointment of Lori Egan to the Planning and Zoning Commission which was incorrectly listed as a two-year appointment and has been corrected to reflect a three-year appointment.

by Joe Moses

U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson of Iowa’s Second Congressional District toured Ziegler CAT’s Postville location Friday afternoon, January 10 as part of her annual 22-County Tour. Hinson toured the current Ziegler CAT facility and learned more about Ziegler CAT’s expansion and ongoing facility construction north of Postville in addition to answering questions from Ziegler CAT employees during her visit to Allamakee County.

January is National Mentoring Month, and Youth Mentoring at Helping Services For Youth & Families is celebrating National Mentoring Month by honoring mentoring friendships and inviting others to get involved in their community by becoming involved in mentoring. January is the perfect time to expand quality mentoring friendships and opportunities connecting more of the local community’s youth with caring adults.

Research shows that mentors play a powerful role in providing youth with the tools to make positive choices, attend and engage in school, and reduce or avoid negative behaviors. In turn, these youth are 55% more likely to be enrolled in college; 81% more likely to report participating in sports or extracurricular activities; 78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities; and more than twice as likely to say they held a leadership position in a club or sports team. Pictured above are some of the area mentors and the youth they mentor.

January is National Mentoring Month, and Youth Mentoring at Helping Services For Youth & Families is celebrating National Mentoring Month by honoring mentoring friendships and inviting others to get involved in their community by becoming involved in mentoring. January is the perfect time to expand quality mentoring friendships and opportunities connecting more of the local community’s youth with caring adults.

Research shows that mentors play a powerful role in providing youth with the tools to make positive choices, attend and engage in school, and reduce or avoid negative behaviors. In turn, these youth are 55% more likely to be enrolled in college; 81% more likely to report participating in sports or extracurricular activities; 78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities; and more than twice as likely to say they held a leadership position in a club or sports team. Pictured above are some of the area mentors and the youth they mentor.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 30 and Monday, January 6 in addition to its 2025 organizational meeting held Thursday, January 2. Coverage of these three meetings held within a week’s time appears below.

DECEMBER 30
The Monday, December 30 regular meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dan Byrnes. Supervisors Mark Reiser and Dennis Keatley present, with this being Reiser’s final meeting of his board tenure.

The jury trial in the first degree murder case of Brandon Kasemeier, the 40-year-old man from Waukon charged in the January 21, 2024 death of his estranged wife, Jami Kasemeier, will remain in Allamakee County for now, but it will also be delayed four more months following a hearing held by video conference in Allamakee County District Court Monday, December 30 and ensuing rulings handed down this past week from that hearing.

First Communion Sunday was held December 29 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing. Pictured in back row: Pastor Laura Gentry and left to right, front row: Landry Lapel, Laine Lapel and Kenleigh Sizemore. Submitted photo.

Saturday, January 4 at 10 a.m. the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will present a video including highlights of Bob Hope’s 1967 Christmas Show Tour of Vietnam entertaining troops stationed in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.

Other videos from the museum’s Veterans History Project are also available to watch on request whenever the museum is open for tours or anytime by appointment. School, community and veterans organizations are encouraged to make appointments for tours and may also use the facility for special meetings.

The museum will also be open for tours January 4 from 9 a.m. until noon. There is no admission charge. The museum is handicapped accessible.
 

by Brianne Grimstad

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Board of Trustees met Tuesday, December 17 for its monthly meeting, and its final meeting for the year 2024. Outgoing board members Greg Lage, Kevin Hanson and Dave Weymiller were thanked for serving on the board and the work they’ve done for the hospital. Those three board members did not seek re-election in this past November’s election.

Six of the seven board members who were newly-elected in the November General Election, Ron Osterholm, John Ellingson, Dawn Clark, Dennis Lyons, Larry Schellhammer and Patty Nordheim, were sworn in at the meeting by Allamakee County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Denise Beyer. Those newly-elected Board of Trustees members also include Dennis Koenig, but he was not able to be present for this swearing-in ceremony and will have that official action taken at a later date.