Community News

The Corner of Hope Growing Hope Globally growing project held its annual Blessing of the Seed and Soil Saturday morning, April 26 to kick off the 2025 growing season. The event was held at the field of Gordon and Louise Ellingson just northwest of Waukon. Pastor Mark Swanson, regional director for Growing Hope Globally, performed this year’s blessing. Submitted photo.
 

In 2025, Carol’s Closet, with locations in Strawberry Point and Waukon, will be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of this organization. Carol’s Closet volunteers have enjoyed all ten years helping communities help others.

Carol’s Closet has served Allamakee, Buchanan, Clayton, Delaware, Fayette, Winneshiek and additional counties in northeast Iowa. About half of the five years the organization was only based out of Strawberry Point. Carol’s Closet added a Waukon location five years ago.

Carol’s Closet was named after Carol Dvorak of Spillville, who lived with Parkinson’s/dementia and was being cared for in the home of one of the current co-directors. They started the organization by just helping families with baby clothes and diapers. In the past year alone, the Strawberry Point and Waukon locations have helped in excess of 550 individuals who are raising children and others who are in need.

A total of 80 participants ages 10 and under took part in the Annual 4-H Toppers Easter Egg Hunt held Saturday, April 19 at the Waterville Community Center, Waterville. The 4-H club and other event organizers appreciate the support provided to the event by the Waterville Community Foundation, 4-H Toppers 4-H club families, Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP), Fareway, the Allamakee County Fair Board, Midwest Dental, Nita Grangaard, Waterville Fire Department, Allamakee County Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and the Waterville Community Center and City of Waterville.

The City of Waukon Water Department is planning to begin its annual fire hydrant/water main flushing program Monday, May 12 and continue throughout that week until the process is completed. Residents are advised that the flushing activity can cause decreases in water pressure and may cause short-term discoloration in water, which may affect laundry and water used for drinking or cooking.

Residents are advised to let their water run for a couple minutes following the flushing activity in their neighborhood to make sure any discoloration has been eliminated. For additional information, call the City of Waukon Water Department at 563-568-2683.

Members of Northeast Iowa Indivisible organized a rally held Saturday, April 19 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon. Among the focal points of the rally were defending democracy, protecting Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and veterans benefits, and protecting National Parks and Constitutional Rights.

What began as a joyful family reunion took a sudden and devastating turn for Dawn Blocker-Feaker, formerly of Waukon and now residing in LaPorte City. September 1, 2024, just one day after enjoying time with loved ones at the Burrett family reunion, Dawn’s life was drastically altered by a ruptured subarachnoid brain aneurysm.

Rushed to MercyOne Waterloo emergency room, Dawn was diagnosed with a right-side brain bleed and aneurysm (intraparenchymal hemorrhage from a ruptured MCA aneurysm). The situation’s severity necessitated an immediate transfer via helicopter to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

There, Dawn underwent a series of complex procedures, including a removal of a portion of the skull to prevent more brain damage from the swelling of the brain (decompressive hemicraniectomy), right MCA aneurysm clipping, and right external ventricular drainage to reduce pressure in the brain.

As part of the longest-running national celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading, over 1,300 schools, libraries, and bookstores in all 50 states will celebrate Children’s Book Week from May 5-9 with the theme, “An Ocean of Stories”. Robey Memorial Library in Waukon plans a week full of fun with the following activities:

• Adopt a Puppy Pajama Party: Monday, May 5 from 5:30-7 p.m. - Listen to stories, participate in the Adopt a Puppy activities, and then take a stuffed toy home. Be sure to wear pajamas.
• Ice Cream Party with the Dairy Princess and Rock Painting: Friday, May 9 from 4-5:30 p.m. - Stop in for an ice cream treat served by the Dairy Princess and a rock painting activity. All ages are welcome. Supplies are provided by the library.

Contact the library for more details about Children’s Book Week 2025 at 563-568-4424 or www.waukon.lib.ia.us.
 

The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in Cedar Falls has named three of this year’s graduating seniors as recipients of the prestigious 2025 Lux Service Award. The announcement was made during the university’s annual Student Leadership Awards ceremony Tuesday night, April 15.

Presented by the UNI Dean of Students office, the Lux Service Award is the highest honor recognizing exceptional service among graduating seniors. Recipients of the award have demonstrated outstanding leadership and a commitment to leaving a lasting legacy on campus. To be eligible, students must have held leadership roles in at least two student organizations. The Lux Service Award is the official University seal; it illustrates a burning lamp of knowledge and the Latin word Lux, meaning light. It is conferred in the spirit of keeping the light of service to others burning brightly at the University of Northern Iowa.

The 13th Rusty Rides Run scheduled for Saturday, April 26 will benefit Dayton Dietrich, 10-year-old son of Dillon and Nicole Dietrich of Waukon. Dayton was born with Cerebral Palsy, a neurological condition that affects muscle tone, control, and movement.

At the age of five, Dayton received an epilepsy diagnosis, and he began battling with seizures. After many tests, scans and appointments, Dayton was diagnosed with Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, which is a rare severe form of epilepsy that affects between one and two in every one million people worldwide. Lennox Gastaut is a lifelong condition that causes brain damage, ultimately leading to learning disabilities and developmental setbacks. Many children permanently lose abilities that they have already learned.

This Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m., Dr. Dan Davis, a Luther College history professor and former U.S. Navy diver, will present a follow-up program at the Allamakee Veterans Museum in Waukon. Dr. Davis, who is an underwater archaeologist, will provide an update on the work of Project Recover in recovering the remains of American servicemen missing in action since World War II.

The video “To What Remains,” which chronicles the founding and work of Project Recover, will be shown again at the Veterans Museum this Thursday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. for those who have not seen it in earlier programs at the Veterans Museum. This video will provide background for the presentation being delivered by Dr. Davis the following Saturday.

The museum will also be open for tours this Thursday evening and Saturday morning during those presentations. There is no admission charge. The museum is handicapped accessible.