Community News

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, November 18 to address a full agenda of matters. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members Steve Wiedner, Dave Blocker, Kevin Johnson and John Lydon present.

There was no Public Comment with some changes to the meeting agenda being made including the removal of the Closed Session: Strategy Meeting relating to employee union negotiations - exempt from Iowa open meetings law by Iowa Code Chapter 20.17 (3).

Two items were moved from the consent agenda to the regular meeting agenda including the City Council Appointment - City Attorney: Lynch Dallas, PC and the Contract for Legal Services with Lynch Dallas, PC. Following a brief discussion, the council approved these matters.

Saturday, November 16 at 10 a.m., the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will present another program from its Veterans History Project at the Allamakee County Veterans Museum located at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon.

A video interview by Chuck Bloxham with U.S. Army Veteran John Curtin of Waukon will be played. Curtin will also be present to share comments and answer questions.

In 1968 and 1969, Curtin served in the U.S. Army as a squad leader in an infantry company with the 1st Cavalry Division during the War in Vietnam.

The public is invited to attend. There is no admission or membership charge to attend the program our tour the museum, which is handicapped accessible.
 

by Jennifer Bissell

A Waukon area native is giving back to her community by providing a much needed health service. In doing so, Malory (Hartong) Larson, a 2005 Waukon High School graduate, has also fulfilled a dream of her own by recently opening Wellful Psychiatry, located at 520 West Main Street in Waukon.

FINDING HER PASSION
Following her high school graduation, Larson went on to earn her associates degree in nursing from Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) in Calmar. She then received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Upper Iowa University in Fayette.

It was during a clinical rotation while studying at Upper Iowa that she found her calling to work in mental health. She completed a rotation at Mental Health Institute in Independence that she said sparked her interest in a career in mental health.

The 2024 Holiday Parade in Waukon has been scheduled for Saturday, December 7, beginning at 6 p.m. Anyone from the general public, business community, or any school or community organization is invited to decorate any vehicle, float, side-by-side or other creative avenue with lights and participate in the parade as it travels through Waukon on a route similar to last year.

The parade route will start at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds and travel from the rear entrance of the Fairgrounds for one block south on First Street NE to 7th Avenue NE and then west to Allamakee Street, where the parade will turn left and then head south to the stoplight intersection in downtown Waukon before turning right and heading west up Main Street before ending at the First Presbyterian Church at the intersection of West Main Street and Second Street SW.

by Brianne Grimstad

Saturday, October 26, Effigy Mounds National Monument celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a variety of events that took place at the monument site. The National Monument was created by President Harry S. Truman when he signed a proclamation October 25, 1949.
Initially, the monument was made up of 1,000 acres encompassing what is today known as the South Unit and North Unit. Over the years, there were several donations and transfers of land leading to the national monument of today that protects over 200 conical, compound and effigy mounds located on the property.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, November 4 to address a full agenda of matters. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members Steve Wiedner, Nicholas Engrav, Dave Blocker, Kevin Johnson and John Lydon all present.

The council approved an amended meeting agenda including the removal of the Closed Session: Strategy meeting regarding employee union contract negotiations - exempt from Iowa open meetings law by Iowa Code Chapter 20.17 (3).

During Public Comment, resident Maura Jones confirmed with Hatlan and the council that public comment would be welcome during the Public Hearing on the Ordinance changing rates for service and rates of storm and surface water drainage system service.

R.W. Pladsen, Inc. in Waukon recently completed its Fill-A-Truck promotion held annually throughout the month of October to benefit the Allamakee County Relief Office in its efforts to help those less fortunate in the community. Individuals could donate a non-perishable food item to help “fill a truck” and also have their name entered into a weekly Friday drawing during the month of October for prizes that included gift certificates, t-shirts, mugs and other items donated through the generosity of Allamakee County businesses much appreciated by R.W. Pladsen, Inc. and all those benefiting from the promotion. Pictured above at the presentation of the donated food items to the Allamakee County Relief Office are, left to right, Allamakee County Relief Office Director Rebecca Hawes, R.W. Pladsen, Inc. owner Steve Pladsen, R.W. Pladsen, Inc. Finance Manager Carli Mellick and R.W. Pladsen, Inc. Sales Manager Curt Mann. Standard photo by Joe Moses.

The excitement is building at Waukon High School as students and directors prepare to bring the classic musical “Mary Poppins” to the stage. The production will open Thursday, November 14 at the school’s auditorium and promises to be a magical experience for audiences of all ages.

The production at Waukon High School, which is based on the 1964 Disney film and the books by P.L. Travers, features a cast of talented young performers, elaborate choreography, and impressive stage designs. The story follows the enchanting Mary Poppins as she arrives to bring joy, wonder, and life lessons to the Banks family, transforming their lives with her unique blend of practicality and magic.

by Brianne Grimstad

Saturday morning, October 19 the Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society (HFAHS), along with representatives from the City of Harpers Ferry, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors, members of the Martelle family, project contractors and multiple groups and organizations from the Harpers Ferry area, joined together to celebrate breaking ground for the Harpers Ferry Museum in the Martelle Heritage Park, with many of those gathered pictured in the photos accompanying this article.

“This is a big milestone for us,” HFAHS President Jane Hasek noted.

This event marks the culmination of Phase 1 of the project. Plans are to have the footings and foundations for the museum building poured this fall, with the floor finished up next spring. Phase 2 will be the building process and exhibits.

The Waukon City Clerk’s office reports that it has confirmed with the Waukon Police Department that the official trick-or-treat times within the Waukon community will be from 4-8 p.m. Halloween evening, Thursday, October 31. Area residents are asked to leave porch lights on to welcome trick-or-treaters. Youngsters taking part in the evening’s events are reminded to keep safety in mind while making their rounds.