Community News

Wednesday, July 18 marked the final chapter in the history of Mulligan’s Grill Pub in Waukon following the January 23, 2018 fire that destroyed the building’s interior. The six months since that fateful day for owner Dana Ruegnitz and his wife, Jordan, have been a difficult timeframe of follow-up and decision-making, ultimately leading to a decision to tear down the remaining structure and not rebuild. The tearing down process took place in just a single day July 18, depicted in the surrounding photos.

The Red Rock Threshers based out of Pella held their annual Tractor Ride in Allamakee County this year, with more than 220 tractors traversing the roadways of Allamakee County Friday and Saturday, July 20 and 21. After arriving at their homebase location of the Waukon High School parking lot (pictured in wide photo above) Thursday afternoon, July 19, riders departed from that location (pictured in two photos at left and right) early both days of the ride, traveling 86 miles Friday from Waukon to New Albin and then through Lansing, Harpers Ferry and Waterville before returning to Waukon in the late afternoon, and then journeying 62 miles Saturday up Highway 76 to Dorchester and Eitzen, MN before returning to Waukon via Lycurgus Road to then prepare to depart for home.

The Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness Department continues to move forward with its planned project for outdoor community tennis courts available for anyone to use, reaching nearly two-thirds of its project funding goal. That funding has come from a variety of different grant and coordinated sources, and now the Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness Department is offering local organizations, businesses or individuals the opportunity to help finish out that funding process.

The Waukon community has been without an outdoor tennis court facility for nearly two decades, with the aging courts previously owned by the City of Waukon and located in the Waukon City Park being removed in the fall of 1996. The Allamakee Community School District also had its two tennis courts removed from the Waukon High School location near the turn of the century to make room for campus and facilities improvements and expansion.

Family and friends of Nancy (Frana) Knutson of Bloomington, WI, formerly of Waukon, will be hosting a benefit event for her this Saturday, July 28 at the Waukon Banquet Center. The benefit event is geared toward raising funds to help pay for medical bills and other life adjustments that may develop for Knutson from recent heightened health issues with diabetes.

Knutson has been battling diabetes for nearly half her life but the past six months have resulted in a series of amputations due to poor circulation and ensuing infection. She had her toes amputated on her right foot in February of this year, but then developed an infection and had to have that right leg amputated as well in June.

She is currently recovering at home but makes frequent follow-up medical visits. She is also in the process of being fitted for a prosthetic leg and is determined she will walk again, according to benefit organizers.

Support from local businesses is essential in the success of the Little Switzerland FFA chapter at Waukon High School and its members, and Village Farm and Home has been a key player in assisting the local FFA chapter. Village Farm and Home partners with Red Brand Fencing, a supporter of FFA for 70 years, through the Home Grown Program. Through the Home Grown Program, for every roll of wire that is purchased at Village Farm, $1 is donated back to the local FFA chapter. Village Farm and Home partnered with Red Brand Fencing and the National FFA Organization to most recently donate $775 to the Little Switzerland chapter.

The Red Rock Threshers Tractor Ride based out of Pella will be embarking upon its annual tractor ride July 20 and 21, choosing routes in Allamakee County for this year’s event. The group of between 200-250 tractors will start its ride each of those two days from the Waukon High School parking lot, traveling through a good majority of northeast Allamakee County July 20 and the northwest corner of the county July 21.

The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office asks that drivers use caution and operate their vehicles in a safe manner when encountering the tractors during the ride. Motorists are advised to be patient, courteous and pass safely as many Allamakee County Roads have limited visibility to oncoming traffic due to terrain and curves. Law enforcement will be present to assist with traffic control at intersections that may be considered hazardous.

Local participants can register online for this year’s nine events, including Mutton Bustin’ for youth

The 2018 Allamakee County Fair coming up this week will feature a brand new rodeo performance in the grandstand Saturday evening, July 21, beginning at 6 p.m. with a youth Mutton Bustin’ event. Rogue Rodeo is a full-scale rodeo show that features a variety of nine different event favorites.

Based in the south central Iowa community of Albia in Monroe County, Rogue Rodeo is the heart-and-soul effort of Jerry Beaumont and Stephanie Allgood. Both have been involved with rodeo a majority of their lives, and the rodeo they first brought to their hometown in 2016 was voted Best New Rodeo that year by the Iowa Rodeo Cowboys Association (IRCA).

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, July 16 to address a full agenda of items including a presentation about the Robey Memorial Library, discussion of street light options with the 2019 Department of Transportation (DOT) Street Project and discussion of an air conditioning system for the Veterans Memorial Hospital Ambulance Garage.

The Public Hearing proposing the annexation of territory to Waukon including Lot 2 in Lot 12 in Lot 1 in the Southwest Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of Section 30 was opened and closed without written or verbal comment.

This year’s Waukon Corn Days meal date and location have been set for Friday, August 3 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. The Waukon Chamber of Commerce will be serving a meal of sweet corn and pork loin sandwiches from 4-8 p.m. that evening.
Due to time conflicts and the event location change, there will be no Corn Days Parade this year.

Make sure to keep watching future editions of The Standard and the Waukon Family Fun Fests online sites for updates on other activities that are currently being planned for the weekend of August 3-5 in conjunction with the annual Corn Days celebration.
 

The Corner of Hope recently received a $2,000 scholarship from the John Deere Foundation. The funding will be used to help promote the Corner of Hope growing projects, as well as to help people in developing countries learn how to grow their own food. Pictured above, left to right, are Corner of Hope members David and Suzanne Hahn, Dennis Byrnes, Kaitlyn Krambeer (seated on tractor), Kyle Halverson representing Waukon Implement Co., Gordon Ellingson, Ron Snitker, and Gloria and Kenny Krambeer, all of Waukon. Photo taken by Moose Photography of Waukon.