Community News

The general public is invited to a meet-and-greet event being hosted by the City of Waukon this Friday, October 10 offering an opportunity for the public to meet the candidates currently being considered for the City of Waukon City Manager position. The public can meet and visit with those candidates in an open house format from 5-6:15 p.m. in the Waukon City Council Chambers located in Waukon City Hall at 101 Allamakee Street.

Waukon City Manager Gary Boden is scheduled to retire from that position at the end of this calendar year. He has served the City of Waukon in that role since the fall of 2019, and City of Waukon officials have been working to find his replacement, with this open house meet-and-greet being another step in that selection process.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, October 6 to address a full agenda of matters including review of the Board of Adjustment variance at 234 5th Street SE, the Public Hearing on the proposed sale of city owned real property along West Street SW - City Municipal Parking Lot by Kwik Star, and consideration of the Well #5 inspection. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members present including Steve Wiedner, Nicholas Engrav, Dave Blocker, Tim Smedsrud and John Lydon.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) made note of concerns relating to delays associated with establishing an updated understanding of the roles for the mayor, city clerk and city manager positions.

King of Grace Lutheran Church in Waukon will be hosting an event at the Waukon City Park Sunday, October 12 called “Pumpkins in the Park.” All community members are invited to join King of Grace Lutheran Church for an afternoon of fall fun at the Waukon City Park in the Jaycee shelter from 2-4:30 p.m. that October 12 afternoon. There will be pumpkin decorating, games, a fall photo opportunity, treats, petting zoo, balloon animals and door prizes from local businesses. There will be free pumpkins to decorate and take home. This is a free event for all ages. Join in some community fun for the whole family. Visit the King of Grace Lutheran Church Waukon IA Facebook page for more information. Submitted photo.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, September 29 to address a short agenda of matters including the consideration of an appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission, consideration of a request to use a room within the County Courthouse for a community meeting, and the consideration of a revised set of plans for the Patterson Creek Bridge replacement project. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Tom Clark present.

During Public Comment, Gene Herman with the Upper Iowa Drainage District Board made note of some questions for the Supervisors relating to the bonding associated with the Upper Iowa Drainage District Board. Herman questioned if maintenance from the county would be possible for a service road and river access which he advised is not passable during wet conditions.

Iowa’s largest and longest running studio tour, the 28th Annual Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour, will be taking place October 10-12 this year, welcoming five new artists who will join many of last year’s exhibitors for 36 artists total, including such local artists as Val Miller of Waukon, Fred and Velga Easker, and Rebecca Kobos and Joel Shoemaker of Lansing, George Blair of New Albin, and Andrew Wroble and Douglas Dawson of Harpers Ferry. They will open their doors for a free, behind-the-scenes studio view not usually offered to the general public, at 29 studio locations, open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

More than 40 area military veterans were honored during an event hosted Saturday, September 13 at AJ Bar & Grill in Waukon in honor of U.S. Constitution Day, which is observed September 17 each year celebrating the signing of the U.S. Constitution September 17, 1787. The event was hosted by Midwest Veterans of America and included each of those veterans receiving a plaque and small American flag, in addition to rounds of applause and gratitude from the many in attendance for their years of service to their country. Many of those honored veterans are pictured in the photo below, standing on the staircase at AJ Bar & Grill for a group photo, and many of their family members, friends and acquaintances were also in attendance to witness and share in their honoring.

In dairy judging, youth evaluate classes of dairy cows and heifers and are then asked to defend their placings through oral reasoning. Youth learn the dairy cow unified scorecard and major breakdowns, anatomy of the dairy cow, along with dairy judging terminology.

Allamakee County had 10 4-H youth participating in the State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest held at the Iowa State Fair Wednesday, August 6 in Des Moines. They made up three teams, two in the Junior Division and one in the Senior Division.

The following youth participated in the 2025 Dairy Judging Contest: Zach Danhof, Brielle Gavin, Brogan Gavin, Naomi Palmer, Roslyn Palmer, Sophia Palmer, Kendyl Wedo, Landon Guese, Ethan Palmer, and Norah Palmer. The 2025 Allamakee County Dairy Judging teams were coached by Jason Danhof and Lars Sivesind.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met twice within a week’s time to address time sensitive matters at a Wednesday, September 17 special meeting in addition to the board’s Monday, September 22 regular session. Coverage of both meetings follows.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
The Wednesday, September 17 special meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes. Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Tom Clark were also present.

The meeting moved into closed session to discuss strategy for the Sheriff Department’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as authorized by Section 20.17(3) Code of Iowa and exempt from Chapter 21 requirements. Following adjournment of the closed session, the meeting moved back into open session with County Sheriff Clark Mellick being present.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, September 22 to address a full agenda of matters including the Veterans of Foreign Wars Buddy Poppies Proclamation, consideration of the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa agreement and the Resolution to set a public hearing relating to the sale of city property to Kwik Star. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members present including Steve Wiedner, Dave Blocker, Tim Smedsrud and John Lydon.

Friday, September 19, at 12 noon, the Lansing VFW Post and Auxiliary, along with the Lansing American Legion Post #50, will host a special ceremony on Mt. Hosmer to mark National POW/MIA Recognition Day. The program will be held on the Ralph Bartels Patio, located next to the shelter on Mt. Hosmer, and the public is invited to attend. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair for seating.

At the heart of the observance will be the solemn Missing Man Ceremony, a symbolic tradition that honors those who are still missing from this nation’s past wars and conflicts, as well as those who gave their lives in service but whose remains have not yet been recovered and returned home. The empty place at the table represents the absence of these heroes, while each element of the setting carries deep meaning about sacrifice, honor, and remembrance.