Community News

by Brianne Eilers

The first of many free community meals was served September 29, 2014 at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon. One year later, what started with a single conversation that led to an idea, which led to more conversations about free, no-strings attached community meals, has now experienced a full year of success. Throughout the growth of the project, nearly 300 people have now been consistently attending the meals, which continue to be served the last Monday of each month at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon from 5-7 p.m.
While First Presbyterian Church has served as the meal site for the past year, many other area churches and community organizations have contributed to the success of the meals. Karen Carlton, a member of the core group that started the community meals program in Waukon, said that First Presbyterian was chosen for the meal site not because it is a church, but because it is well suited to the purpose.

The Intertribal House of Frybread will open for business at 32 West Main Street in downtown Waukon this Saturday, October 3. Owners John and Turesa Miller got started by operating a small booth at Native American pow-wows for two years before upgrading to a food truck, and now their own restaurant. “Our love for the food we serve brought us to where we are,” they said. “We love the town and the people in this town. They have been so receptive to us.”
The Millers say there are many things that make their business unique, including the decor, their business philosophy and their food that they say is unique to this area. They serve a unique mixture of Native American and American dishes.

With Veterans Day approaching, the Allamakee County Veterans Memorial Committee would like to remind those interested that orders for individual memorial bricks to be placed in the Memorial at the Allamakee County Courthouse are still being taken. This year, those interested in ordering a memorial brick should place their order no later than October 15.
Every effort will be made to have the bricks ordered by that date in place by Veterans Day. If possible, orders received after October 15 will be placed prior to Veterans Day, but most likely will be put in place at a later date.
Order forms are available at the Veterans Affairs Office in Waukon. For questions or assistance with filling out an application, call Maury Gallagher at 563-864-7843 or e-mail mjgallagher@acrec.com, or Carl Christianson at 563-568-4453 or e-mail bj1@rconnect.com.
 

Members of the Waukon Area Fire Protection District held a ceremony during their Monday, September 14 meeting to dedicate the new fire station. Among other items, the ceremony included the reciting of the names of members of the volunteer firefighting crew who have passed away, with the bell in the new station's meeting room  being rung after those names were read. The new station also had a new sign hung on its front exterior this past week (pictured). Waukon artist Steve Oden having created the sign.
 

by Bob Beach

by Bob Beach

The Northeast Iowa Council, Boy Scouts of America has begun its 2015 Fall Recruitment season. Sign-Up Night for Waukon Cub Scout Pack 64 will take place Wednesday, September 9 at 7 p.m. at the new Waukon Fire Station located on 11th Avenue on the south edge of Waukon. For more information on the Sign-Up Night for Waukon Cub Scout Pack 64, contact Troy Gress.
Cub Scouting is designed for boys in first through fifth grades and combines the outdoors, learning activities, sports, and fun in an exciting program that help families teach ideals such as honesty, good citizenship and respect. Volunteers and parents will be on hand to help facilitate Recruitment Night, visit with parents, and answer questions in regards to joining Scouting.
 

The Eighth Annual Big Pumpkin Contest is being planned for Sunday, September 27 at TASC, located at 2213 Mt. Olivet Road NW, just north of Waukon off of Highway 76. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and involve much more than just big pumpkins.
Registration for entries in the biggest pumpkin contest closed June 15, with those entries being on display at the September 27 event. There will also be a biggest sunflower contest in which entrants are asked to bring their entire sunflower to the event to be entered. A pumpkin or apple bake-off contest will also be taking place.
Among the many other activities taking place at the annual event will be pumpkin decorating and carving, face painting, mini golf, bean bag toss, caricature drawings, live music by local musician J.R. Brink and much more. A big pumpkin meal will also be available for purchase from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon is looking for teenagers who are interested in becoming a member of the library's Teen Advisory Board (TAB), which meets once per month from September to May. Teenage members of TAB provide library staff with input for teen programming and displays; recommend materials for purchase; share information and address teen topics; volunteer; and read and review books.
Any area teenager who feels this is something they would like to participate in can visit the library's website or stop at the library to complete an application. Staff members will then inform selected members of the board meeting schedule.
For more information, visit the library's website at http://www.waukon.lib.ia.us/teens/tab or contact Robey Memorial Library at robeymemorial@waukon.lib.ia.us or 563-568-4424.