Community News

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 11 to address a full agenda of items including the survey of property at 888 State Highway 9, Morgan Bridge ditch cleaning and the adoption of the Construction Evaluation Resolution for 2018.

World Kindness Day is a 24-hour celebration dedicated to paying it forward, or just going that extra step to make someone’s day a little brighter. Allamakee County Clover Kids discussed easy ways to be kind and made grateful rocks. Rocks were decorated according to what each youth was grateful for. They could be used as conversation starters at meals or placed around the house for decoration. The rocks could also be given away and hopefully put a smile on someone’s face. The Clover Kids then continued their winter tradition of making holiday cards to distribute to the local nursing homes. For more information about 4-H and upcoming activities contact Becky Rea at the Allamakee County Extension and Outreach Office at 563-568-6345 or online at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/allamakee/. Submitted photos.
 

The 4-H program empowers youth to reach their full potential through youth-adult partnerships. The Allamakee County 4-H Council is an elite group of senior 4-H members who use their leadership skills to plan community service projects, lead educational workshops, and host many countywide 4-H activities. In addition, County Council members are each challenged to complete an individual leadership project. The objective of leadership projects is for members to create an impact in their personal growth as a leader and in their community while developing a relationship with an adult partner.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, December 4 to address a full agenda of items including the Delta 3 Engineering Professional Service Agreement for a tennis court, a Park, Rec and Wellness Board vacancy and discussion of establishing minimum requirements for commercial tax rebates.

There was no Public Comment, which allowed the council to immediately move into Departmental Reports, with Street Superintendent Keith Burrett discussing a quote for street light replacements. Park and Rec Wellness Director Jeremy Strub discussed the 10-year anniversary of the Waukon Wellness Center and a variety of associated events that were well attended.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 4 to address a full agenda of items including the approval of a pay request for signage at the Public Safety Center, consideration of joining other counties in litigation against opioid manufacturers and approval of the Homestead Credit and Military Exemption for 2017 property taxes.

Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order and the current agenda and meeting minutes of November 27 were approved. There was no Public Comment.

The Supervisors reviewed the Manure Management Plan for Grove 5 from Adam Grove, which was accepted and placed on file.

Iowa State University Extension’s 4-H volunteers from Allamakee County participated in a training titled “4-H Builds Resilience” where they explored how brain development and personal growth relate to their role as volunteers. Volunteers gained an understanding of resilience and the connection they provide in increasing resilience in youth. In addition, leaders learned skills that can be applied to promote and create opportunities to build resilience as well as utilized tools to promote growth in youth.

by Lissa Blake

Forever grateful.

That’s how the family of the late Richard “Rick” Weber, Jr. feels about the amazing amount of support they received following his untimely passing this past fall.

According to a report from the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office, Rick and his brother, Chris, of Dubuque were performing maintenance on a forage wagon September 7 of this year in a farm field north of Churchtown in rural Lansing when they became entrapped in the equipment. Chris was reported as being seriously injured and was transported by helicopter to La Crosse, WI for treatment, while Rick was reported as having suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident.

AMAZING SUPPORT
Neighbor and cousin Wayne Weber said in the days that followed that the family had many offers of help.

Plans are being made for the Eleventh Annual Lighted Holiday Parade in downtown Waukon scheduled for Monday, December 4, beginning at 6 p.m. The event coincides with extended Monday night business hours of Waukon retailers.

The parade will begin at the East Elementary School playground and travel Fifth Street NW south to West Main Street. Turning left onto West Main, the parade entries will venture to the stoplight intersection, where they will then turn south on to Spring Avenue for one block before turning right on to First Avenue SW and heading west up to Sixth Street SW. The entries will then turn right and head north back to the East Elementary playground.

The Waukon Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the Sixth Annual Ringing in the Holidays Promotion. Everyone is invited to play and the rules are simple.

Visit any of the participating merchants between November 1-December 13 to be eligible to sign up for the Sixth Annual Ringing in the Holidays drawing. There is no limit on how many times an individual may enter.

New this year, along with the grand prize of Waukon Chamber Bucks there will be weekly drawings for gift certificates donated by participating businesses. Prizewinners of gift certificates will be drawn each Friday during the promotion period and contacted by the Waukon Chamber. Prizewinners of Waukon Chamber Bucks will be drawn at the Waukon Chamber Office Friday, December 15. Winners will be contacted by the Waukon Chamber of Commerce. The more a customer shops locally, the more times they can be entered in the drawing.

The Good Samaritan Society - Waukon has announced it has earned a five-star rating from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The rating system results are released quarterly and rank healthcare providers in quality of patient care and patient satisfaction. “I applaud the outstanding efforts of our Waukon, Iowa caregivers and staff enabling the center to achieve this prestigious designation,” said Cathy Smikle, administrator. “We are continually seeking to improve our performance in the quality care and services we give our residents to maintain a safe and secure environment for their well-being.”