Community News

Well-known polka music entertainer "Mollie B" made an appearance at the Good Samaritan Society-Waukon with the Skyline Polka dancers in May, and it proved to be an enjoyable experience for the residents and other area fans of Mollie B, including resident Betty Christensen, who is pictured above in the inset photo with Mollie B. Good Samaritan Society-Waukon is happy to report that Mollie B is scheduled to return for another performance next year, May 18, 2017, and invites everyone to mark that date on their calendar.

Waukon Trees Forever was one of the 2016 Partner Award winners honored at Trees Forever’s Annual Celebration and Awards Dinner at The Hotel at Kirkwood in Cedar Rapids Thursday, June 16. Trees Forever Program Manager Meredith Borchardt nominated the local group because of its long-term commitment to actively planting and caring for the trees in the Waukon community. “Some of its members have been involved for more than 20 years, and as a group, they have annually added trees to the community,” Borchardt said. Pictured above, left to right, are Tracy Peterson, Trees Forever’s Chair of the Board of Directors; Shannon Ramsay, Trees Forever’s CEO and Founding President; and Meredith Borchardt, Trees Forever Program Manager accepting the award on behalf of Waukon Trees Forever.

TASC, Inc. of Waukon underwent a voluntary survey of its program in April of this year through the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). The facility was recently notified that based on its recent survey, a three-year accreditation - through June 30, 2019 - has been awarded to the following services provided by TASC:

• Community Employment Services: Employment Supports
• Community Employment Services: Job Development
• Community Housing
• Community Integration
• Organizational Employment Services
• Supported Living.

"This award and level of achievement would not be possible without the dedicated staff members TASC employs," shared Mary Ament, Executive Director at TASC, Inc. "The staff members are committed to positive outcomes and demonstrate compassion and commitment to providing high-quality services in a person-first environment."

The Fourth of July is best known for celebrations with family and friends, enjoying the summer weather with food and drinks. Those celebrations often include drinking alcohol, which can lead to impaired driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 164 people were killed  in motor vehicle crashes involving at least one driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher over the three-day Fourth of July holiday in 2014. In reality, 40 percent of the total fatalities were more than likely preventable.

The rate of alcohol impairment for drivers involved in fatal crashes was over three times higher at night than during the day. To date, there have been 154 fatalities on Iowa roadways this year, up 31, or 25% more than this time last year.

Fresh herbs can make favorite summer foods taste even better, and they are good for a person's health. Herbs can add flavor so that cooks can use less sodium or sugar in foods and still enjoy salty, sweet and savory tastes. Some studies have even shown that certain herbs or spices can reduce inflammation in the body or lower the risks of chronic disease.

Planting herbs in containers will provide a variety of fresh flavors - for little money - throughout the entire summer. Most herbs are perfect container plants and will thrive on a deck, patio, balcony, fire escape, front steps, or in a sunny window provided they are offered the right growing conditions.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in a pair of sessions this past week. Coverage of both the Council's Tuesday, June 14 work session and Monday, June 20 regular session appears below.

WORK SESSION
The Waukon City Council met for a work session Tuesday evening, June 14 to discuss two ongoing issues, the City’s Street Program and the proposal of a City Manager position. Mayor Duane DeWalle spoke of the importance of traffic counts and how that information will better allow the City Council to prioritize necessary street projects. City Street Superintendent Keith Burrett and Council members discussed some inconsistencies between the designated truck route through Waukon and what GPS systems are showing as truck routes. Councilman Steve Wiedner suggested that the Street Department should keep moving forward with small projects and continuing progress while planning continues.

The Waukon Police Department has announced the deployment of its new speed trailer (pictured above). The trailer will be placed in various locations throughout the Waukon community in an effort to increase traffic safety through awareness in Waukon. The trailer has been primarily funded ($4,200) through the Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau (sTEP program). Submitted photo.
 

The Wonderful World of Disney took center stage in three of the Allamakee Community Players' summer musicals over the years, as Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Peter Pan were each presented. At home with Cinderella (played by Kaitlin Lubahn of Waukon), viewers met her step-mother (Cheri Turner of Waukon) and her step-sisters (Peg Stock of Waukon and Betsy Shea of West Union) as they followed her dream of meeting her prince. When Beauty and the Beast (cast of which is pictured above) hit the stage, the lovely Belle (played by Katie Kleinow of Harpers Ferry) patiently taught the Beast (Karsten Snitker of Postville) the true meaning of love. Members of the cast of Peter Pan really did fly. Peter Pan (played by Amy Burroughs of Waukon) was the little boy who refused to grow up. Wendy, Michael and John (Molly Brackett of Postville, Maddie Ellingson of Waukon and Vivian Khan of Waukon) actually flew with the help of the backstage crew to the delight of the audience.

The Allamakee County 4-H County Council is sponsoring a School Supplies Drive to benefit the Allamakee County Relief Office. The Council is encouraging all 4-H clubs and the community to participate by purchasing and donating items students can use for school. Monetary donations will be accepted during the upcoming Allamakee County Fair as well.

The County Council will have a special community service booth in the 4-H Exhibit Building to display the donations during the Fair. Donations are welcome anytime throughout the Fair, which is scheduled for July 20-24. For further information contact the Allamakee County Extension Office at 563-568-6345.
 

In 2007, the Allamakee Community Players (ACPI) visited the mysterious Scottish village of Brigadoon. Two New York friends, Tommy Albright (played by Wayne Alderson of Postville in the 2007 ACPI production) and Jeff Douglas (played by Dustin Enyart of Waukon), stumbled into a village that was not on their map. They were greeted by Fiona (Sarah Riese of Waukon) and Meg (Karen DeBuhr of Waukon) and their lives were never the same. Since the village came to life for only a day every 100 years, many problems and predicaments filled the musical production. Allamakee Community Players, Inc. is planning a medley show entitled "A Night to Remember" for June 25 that will feature bits and pieces of past performances such as the one pictured above and other memories involving the local volunteer group that shares a love for theater and has entertained local residents for nearly half a century. That medley show is scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. at the Waukon High School Auditorium.