Community News

This year at the Iowa State Fair held in Des Moines August 11-21, a total of 213 youth from 63 Iowa counties participated in Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach Skillathons for dairy, meat goat, sheep and swine. Each skillathon team was comprised of three individuals and included five stations where youth worked together to solve problems and identify dairy, meat goat, swine or sheep production components. Participants identified feed samples, breeds and meat cuts while also answering questions about genetics, nutrients, quality assurance, handling and biosecurity.

The Allamakee County 4-H trio of (left to right in above photo) Sophia Palmer, Keagan Palmer and Emma Palmer participated in the Skillathon event and finished as the top team in the Dairy division of the competition. They are the children of Stephanie and Eric Palmer of Waukon and are members of the Elon PMC 4-H Club.

A trio of Allamakee County 4-H members earned recognition as communicators at the Iowa State Fair held August 11-21 in Des Moines. Earning advancement from their respective county fairs, 4-H members can compete in three categories of oral communication: educational presentations, working exhibits and extemporaneous speaking, as well as in one category of visual communication.

In Educational Presentations, the 4-H members teach their audience about a topic they selected and researched. In Working Exhibits, the exhibitors invite passers-by to try a skill they demonstrate. In Extemporaneous Speaking, the 4-H members prepare a speech in 30 minutes and deliver it to an audience. Share-the-Fun participants perform vocal or instrumental music, dance, humorous skits, monologues, and specialty acts for fun. In Poster Communication, they convey a message visually.

by Joe Moses

Waukon City Manager Gary Boden recently met with The Standard to provide an update relating to ongoing projects and a variety of other matters relating to the City of Waukon.

The discussion with Boden began with an update relating to the water retention/wetland area north of the Waukon City Park along 2nd Street SW. That project is one of six projects near the City Park and the new Pladsen Subdivision included as part of the Storm Water Quality Improvement Project, which is a side benefit of the funding associated with the new Wastewater Treatment Plant, a project mandated by the State of Iowa.

Local veterans were recognized by retired U.S. Navy Admiral Michael Franken during a dinner event sponsored by the Allamakee County Democrats Sunday, August 27. Admiral Franken served in the U.S. Navy for 39 years and is now a candidate for the U.S. Senate. Pictured above, left to right, are Al Hanson, Dale Osterhaus, Ric Zarwell, George Blair, Michael Franken, Lanny Fields, Dan Hanson. Submitted photo.
 

by Lissa Blake

Although the ownership of McMillan Muffler in Waukon has changed, the faces one will see and the services they provide remain the same at the business’ First Street NW location. That’s because Jim Hennessy, a long-time employee of the auto repair and muffler shop, purchased the business from long-standing owner Mike McMillan at the beginning of this year.

“Read Beyond the Beaten Path” was the theme of the 2022 Summer Reading Program (SRP) with activities spanning from June through August this summer. The Kids and Teens 4-Week Reading Challenge ran from Friday, July 1-Saturday, July 30 and is the highlight of the program with participants tracking their reading and reading-related activities for prizes.

• Kids 4-Week Reading Challenge: Infants to sixth graders tracked their progress on reading logs to receive weekly prizes in addition to adding their name to prize drawings for a Skippy Jon Jones book and stuffed animal toy or Ice Cream With the Librarian. A total of 83 children registered and 41 participated with a total of 991 activities completed. The top readers in each category received a new book of their choice purchased by the Library Foundation, including the following:

Those who are feeling down or blue should know they are not alone, and that can be especially true now that there is a local group program to help lift their mood. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing recently received a grant from Gundersen Health System of La Crosse, WI to offer a new resource to help adults with low mood called Raising Our Spirits Together.

Raising Our Spirits Together is a technology-assisted, engaging, small group program that provides people who are feeling down with new tools and skills to feel better. The small groups meet in local churches and are led by pastors.

The Iowa Knights of Columbus recently recognized Chad Egeland (right in above photo) from the Waukon Knights of Columbus, Council 1570, as Knight of the Month. He is pictured above receiving from the Iowa Knights of Columbus a personalized shirt and a certificate presented to him by Council 1570 Grand Knight Tyler Plein when his brother Knights recognized him in May as Knight of the Month.

“Chad does not drive, and yet he makes it to most of our monthly meetings and he contributes to our meetings,” Council 1570 leadership praised. “When we have events, such as Tootsie Roll drives or serving meals for various benefits, Chad is the first to volunteer. We are proud to have Chad in our Council.” Submitted photo.
 

What is one thing all successful people have in common? They get comfortable making mistakes - and learn from them!

Allamakee County residents are invited to attend “The Secret of Success: Learning from Mistakes”, a free community workshop co-hosted by Mental Health Today - a Matt Howe Tribute (MHT) and the nonprofit, Worldmaker.

“This session offers practical ways to set and communicate high expectations using the three elements of growth,” says Dr. Mollie Marti, Worldmaker CEO and developer of the THRIVE Resilience Model that serves as the foundation for the program. “Importantly, this includes action steps for learning how to use mistakes to improve relationships and outcomes.”

Saturday, August 20, Felty E. Yoder, age 22, of Waterville was arrested following an investigation conducted by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office in connection with a reported assault. Following further investigation, Yoder has been charged with one count of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree (Class C Felony), five counts of Iowa Sex Offender Registry violations (Class D Felony), and one count of Domestic Abuse Assault, second or subsequent offense (Serious Misdemeanor).

Yoder was booked into the Allamakee County Jail. Bond was set in the amount of $36,500 cash or surety. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for August 31 at the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon.