Community News

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, April 3 to address a full agenda of items, including an update on the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®), setting a date for spring clean-up and a review of City insurance rates. There were no public comments and the Council moved into Departmental Reports.

Water and Sewer Superintendent Bob Campbell discussed equipment expenses and working through recent power outages. Park, Recreation and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub discussed that park employees started back to work Monday with their focus on the soccer field in anticipation of Youth Soccer starting this Saturday, then their focus shifting to park clean-up projects.

Marilyn Larson of Waukon presented a program on her teapot collection at the Tuesday, March 21 Allamakee County Farm Bureau Women meeting held at the Farm Bureau building in Waukon. Larson has a collection of over 200 teapots and has been collecting them for more than 20 years, saying she considers them a reflection of her travels and times in her life. She said many of the teapots are gifts from family members and friends but she has also picked up many at thrift shops and flea markets. Larson has taken her collection to care centers in the area including Good Samaritan Society in Waukon and Thornton Manor in Lansing, and she anticipates going to Northgate Care Center in Waukon in the near future. When not traveling with them for program presentations, Larson says the teapots are on display in her home and in her hair salon on shelves and three old wood stoves she has in her home. Standard photo by Joe Moses.

Donations sought and volunteers are needed to assist in filling and setting out eggs, as well as with registration

Epic Wear is hosting a free Easter Egg Hunt in Waukon Saturday, April 15, beginning at 10 a.m. with registration. The event is being held at a new venue this year, Green Valley Getaway, to provide for better parking and restroom accommodations for participants and families.

Kids ages 12 and under are invited to participate in this free event and are reminded to bring their own basket to gather eggs. There will be over 10,000 eggs filled with candy, and the Easter Bunny will also be in attendance. During registration, kids will also be entered into a random drawing for one of 50 Easter baskets filled with toys and activities.

The members of the Waukon High School cheerleading squad pictured above were chosen by the Iowa Cheer Coaches Association All-Star cheerleaders directors and choreographer to perform as part of the 2017 Iowa All-Star Team, being selected to cheer at the Iowa High School All-Star basketball games held at Dallas Center Grimes High School March 24-25. In January of this year, Waukon High School cheerleading coaches Amy and Lexie Bieber recorded try-out videos for the All-Star selection process consisting of the nine girls doing jumps, a short dance routine (4, 8 counts) and a cheer. The coaches also wrote recommendations and skills levels for each of their skills.

The City of Waukon, Waukon Economic Development Corporation and the Waukon Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Driftless Area Scenic Byway and Northeast Iowa RC&D, will be hosting a brainstorming session focusing on the Waukon Public Art Project. Scheduled for Wednesday, April 12 from 5-6 p.m. at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon, the public is invited to this session to help Waukon’s Art Advisory Committee determine a theme and design concept for a public art piece to be developed and installed in Waukon in 2018.

This project will result in a one-of-a-kind art piece that will enhance Waukon’s downtown, encouraging residents and travelers to slow down to view it, improving the social and economic vitality of the community, and fostering economic development for businesses and residents.

Waukon High School welcomed the newest members into its local chapter of the National Honor Society at an annual induction ceremony held Monday, March 13 at Waukon High School. Pictured above are this year's new inductees, left to right - Front row: Rylea Nagel, Emily Brown, Autumn Johnson, Morgan Van Ruler, Makayla Manning, Katelyn Leiran, Leah Enyart, Atlanta McKithen. Second row: Emy Dehli, Danielle Stock, Audry Fahey, Lauren Elliott, Gabrielle Marti, Laurel Keenan, Austin Day, Whitney Cota, Brittani Benzing, Carley Sweeney, Mackenzie Johanningmeier. Back row: Caryssa Hermanson, Kyle Gordon, Devin Bieber, Abraham Schwartz, Nathaniel Smith, Lukas Larson, Jared Campbell, Mitchell Snitker, Kaia Johanningmeier, Bailey Mathis. Photo courtesy of Waukon High School.
 

The Lawrence D. Anderson VFW Auxiliary #4117 of Waukon recently made a donation to the Terry and Sue Grotegut family of Waukon to assist with recovery from the fire that consumed the family's home in early February. Pictured above, left to right, at the donation presentation are VFW Auxiliary member Marlene Klocke, Terry Grotegut, and VFW Auxiliary members Bonnie Hager and Julie Rotach. Submitted photo.

It may only be March but the Allamakee County Fair is right around the corner and there are plenty of activities for Clover Kids to participate in. At the Saturday, March 18 Allamakee County 4-H Clover Kids session, Clover Kids Willa Troendle and Owen Grimstad shared their past experiences at the fair and what they exhibited in order to get other Clover Kids excited about what they could do for the fair. Then each youth spent the morning making their own fair project. Using ceramic plates and cups, the Clover Kids designed their own unique bird feeder (as evident in the photos above and below). Designs ranged from cows to WWE to ISU and beyond. Local residents are encouraged to come to the Allamakee County Fair July 19-23 to check out the completed projects and see many more.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, March 20 to address several matters, including an update on the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), estimates for removal of structures on the former Herman property and a Water Department vacancy.

U.S. Senator Charles Grassley visited Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon Friday afternoon, March 17. Following a brief tour of the facility, Grassley took part in a question and answer session with hospital employees (as pictured above). More detailed coverage of Grassley's visit will appear in a future issue of The Standard.