Community News

Bob and Gloria Hanson of Waukon were honored with the 2014 Bernie Heffern Memorial 4-H Family Award by members of the Bob and Bernie Heffern family before the 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction Sunday, July 20 at the 2014 Allamakee County Fair. The award was created by the Heffern family in memory of Bernie Heffern, who passed away in 2008 and was very passionate about all areas of 4-H and its importance in the lives of youth and their families. She and her husband, Bob, were inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame in 2007 for their lifelong dedication to 4-H.  Each year during fair week, the Allamakee County Fair Board and the Heffern family select a family that emulates the Heffern family attitude of helping others, working well with each other, and going above and beyond for the fair. The Hansons' children were involved in 4-H growing up, and they have been an active 4-H family for many years.

by Bob Beach

As part of his "Building Iowa's Future" initiative, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad (far right) paid a visit to the KolGol manufacturing facility east of Waukon Friday, July 25, where he met with KolGol employees and supporters. Branstad shared the stage with other Republican candidates, including Adam Gregg (far left), who is challenging Democrat Tom Miller for Iowa's Attorney General office in the general election this November, and Lowell Engle of Harpers Ferry (second from left), who announced his candidacy for the District 56 seat in the State House of Representatives, currently held by Democrat Patti Ruff. Branstad was also joined by State Senator Michael Breitbach (third from left), who expressed his support for Branstad and the other candidates. Standard photo by Bob Beach.

by Brianne Eilers

by Bob Beach

by Brianne Eilers

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon has welcomed Cate St. Clair as its new library director. St. Clair assumed the library director position in May of this year following the departure of Rick Meyer, director for three-plus years at Robey Memorial Library before departing for a similar position closer to his family in Decatur, IL.
St. Clair grew up in Des Moines and has been living in Waukon for just over a year with her significant other, Nicholas Hay, an attorney with the law firm of Jacobson, Bristol, Garrett & Swartz in Waukon. Prior to her new position at Robey Memorial Library, she was a librarian at the Meehan Memorial Library in Lansing.

Bikes, trikes and automobiles joined last year’s Good Samaritan Society’s annual I-Ride, a 150-mile trek along some of the most scenic roadways in the tri-state area. This year’s ride, set for Saturday, July 19, will include two crossings of the Mississippi River as participants travel through eastern Iowa and western Wisconsin. Registration begins at Good Samaritan Society, located at 21 East Main Street in Waukon, at 8 a.m. with the ride commencing at 9 a.m. Breakfast will be served prior to the journey, and lunch at Waukon Harley Davidson will conclude the ride. This year’s door prizes include a grand prize of an overnight stay in Minneapolis, MN, two tickets to a Minnesota Twins baseball game, and dinner. All types of vehicles are welcome to participate in the ride, and there is a discounted registration fee for those pre-registering online at www.good-sam.com/waukon.

by Bob Beach

The Allamakee County Veterans Affairs Office is hosting an open house Wednesday, July 9 at its new location on the first floor of the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon. The open house is being held from 12 noon - 2 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors meeting room next door to the new Veterans Affairs Office, with tours of the new office space available to the public and refreshments available.
Veterans are especially invited to visit the new office location during the open house to find out what benefits they may be eligible for, meet other veterans, or to visit with Allamakee County Veterans Affairs Counselor Greg Clark to find out what he does for area veterans. For more information contact the Allamakee County Veterans Affairs Office at 563-568-6135.