Community News

The public is invited to a community presentation and discussion Tuesday, May 19 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank Community Room in Waukon on the exploration of renewable energy possibilities in Waukon. This presentation, entitled “Exploring Renewable Energy in Waukon: A Luther College Student Community Energy Presentation,” will be put on by students in the environmental studies senior seminar “Environment & Community” and is sponsored by the Luther Center for Sustainable Communities.
The forum is free and open to the public. Food/refreshments will be served and everyone is encouraged to attend.

by Brianne Eilers

by Bob Beach

Waukon native Kent Sweeney has been an avid motorcyclist for over 25 years. He and his wife, the former Brigitte Brennan from Lansing, have turned his passion for motorcycles into a profession by opening Side Street Cycles, located at 104 First Avenue NW in Waukon. Opened for business April 1, Side Street Cycles is a motorcycle service center specializing in American V-twins and offering all services from basic maintenance to full custom builds, expert performance advice and both on-hand and special-order parts and accessories.

Volunteers and community leaders in Waukon are scheduled to be planting trees this Saturday, May 2 (see shaded box elsewhere on this same page) that will help save energy, improve air quality, and reduce storm water run-off. The local effort is part of the statewide Trees Forever, in partnership with the Alliant Energy Branching Out program and the Black Hills Energy Power of Trees program.
“We’re looking forward to working with Trees Forever, Alliant Energy and Black Hills Energy to grow our tree canopy in Waukon this year,” said local project volunteer Ken Olson. “With their help, we are literally planting a better environment while making Waukon healthier, more vibrant and more energy efficient.”

by Bob Beach

Julie Wittry of Dorchester has been hired as the new director at the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa (HSNEI) Love & Friendship Adoption Center. Wittry replaces volunteer Director Kim Powell, a professor at Luther College in Decorah, who used a sabbatical to spearhead the capital campaign for HSNEI’s new Love & Friendship Adoption Center. Since the Center opened in December, Powell has served as director, along with Julie Kriener who served as interim director when Powell returned to Luther in February.
Wittry, who relocated from Caledonia, MN with her husband, Tom, seven years ago, said her involvement with HSNEI began when a stray dog showed up at their home. “We were trying to research how we could help this dog and I was put in connection with Brenda Flatjord (of Waukon) and it kind of snowballed,” said Wittry.

by Bob Beach

The past three months for two-year-old Nalla Billmeyer of Clermont and her family have been a rollercoaster of emotions filled with scary, frustrating lows and victorious highs of all degrees. Just over a month after celebrating her second birthday, the daughter of Allan and Jessica Billmeyer of Clermont and granddaughter of Steve and Kelli McKee of Harpers Ferry was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Nalla has the distinction of being born December 12, 2012 (12/12/12) and the further distinction of having her name be the same as her father's, but in reverse. But those are just some of the things that have proven to set this two-year-old fighter apart from other children her age.

by Bob Beach