Community News

Signs and other traffic control measures have been placed on 2nd Street NW and some adjacent streets in Waukon as work begins on that street improvement project that will also involve some storm sewer work. With the signs pictured in the two photos at right being placed at 2nd Street NW’s intersections with 8th Avenue NW (top photo) and 4th Avenue NW (bottom photo), work being completed in that area may sometimes allow for traffic to travel through the area and at other times will close that portion of the street completely down as the project progresses.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, June 27 to address a full agenda of matters including a Sheriff’s Department personnel matter relating to a dispatcher/jailer resignation, the consideration of the use of the County credit card for the purchase of medical supplies and approval of Secondary Roads Department Transfers.

The meeting was called to order with Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer advising that the 10 a.m. agenda item relating to the consideration of the Byrne JAG Grant Contract and Conditions has been requested to be removed from the meeting agenda by Assistant County Attorney Jill Kistler. Beyer noted that Kistler is waiting on information relating to this grant funding source which has allowed for the Assistant County Attorney position to move to full-time status. The amended meeting agenda was approved with the meeting then moving into Public Comment.

Wednesday, July 6 at 6:30 p.m., the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will recognize World War II Veterans with a presentation at its new museum in the former Vet’s Club building at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon. A video interview with U.S. Army Air Corps veteran, the late James Bristol, will be presented.

This long-time Waukon attorney was interviewed by the 5 Sullivan Brothers Museum in 2005. A member of Bristol’s family will also be present to share memories. Jim Bristol was a crew member on a B-29 Superfortress bomber and flew 26 missions over Japan. A short video about the B-29 bomber will also be shown.

The public is invited to attend. There is no admission or membership charge. The facility is handicapped accessible. Light refreshments will be served at the program.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, June 20 to address a short agenda of items including discussion of a Housing Readiness Assessment and Program Fee Agreement, the Water/Sewer Department temporary summer help hourly wage and Change Order #1 - Storm Water Quality Improvements Project - Contract C.

Mayor Pro-Tem Kevin Johnson called the meeting to order with the scheduled absence of Mayor Pat Stone. There was no Public Comment and the meeting moved into Department Reports with Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub providing an update relating to the swimming pool.

Strub advised that the swimming pool heater recently quit working and that parts for this repair are on order and are expected to be delivered in a couple weeks. Strub explained that pool temperatures have been in the appropriate range with the warm weather.

Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. of Decorah will be presenting 500 Honor Coins at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial that will be in Sumner July 14-18 this year. Lynch Barbeque of Waucoma and Toppling Goliath will be side-by-side at City Park in Sumner Saturday, July 16 after the big parade that starts at 10 a.m.

The souvenir coins are for all veterans, who can eat free at the BBQ. The parade is being billed as the “Parade the Vietnam Veterans Never Received” back in the 1960s and 1970s when they returned home. Any veteran may be in the parade by registering on Facebook at The Moving Wall Sumner, Iowa.

Veterans are asked to meet at City Park between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. where they will be bused to the parade site. City Park is located at 547 Columbia Avenue in Sumner.

Helping decide who will square off in the November General Election later this year, Allamakee County voters joined others statewide in casting their decisions in the Tuesday, June 7 Primary Election. Allamakee County Commissioner of Elections Denise Beyer reports that 15.35% of Allamakee County’s 9,753 registered voters took part in this year’s Primary Election, one of the higher percentages for a mid-term Primary Election in recent memory, with 10.5% of Allamakee County voters participating in 2018 and just nine percent in the 2014 midterm Primary. Across the state of Iowa, 16.13% of registered voters cast a ballot this year.

A further breakdown of those voting statistics shows that registered Republicans in Allamakee County cast their vote by a nearly two-to-one margin over registered Democrats. A total of 990 Republican ballots were cast in this year’s Primary, vs. 507 by Democrats.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

There is a lot that is new at Waukon Dental, located at 18 1st Avenue NW. For one thing, the building is in the process of being completely remodeled - and the practice is now under new ownership.

Dr. Jessica Wilke purchased both the building and the practice from her father, Dr. Mark Fohey, January 1 of this year. At the same time, she also purchased his building and practice at Family Dentistry Associates of Monona. Dr. Fohey still remains part owner of Dental Associates of Prairie du Chien in Prairie du Chien, WI.

At Waukon Dental, there are four dentists - Dr. Wilke and her dad (who works for her, now), along with Dr. Linda Carstens and Dr. Courtney Wikan. Dr. Wilke works at the Waukon clinic Tuesdays only; she works at the Monona clinic Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

The 2022 Allamakee County Dairy Days Parade was held Monday, June 6 in Lansing, with a good number of parade entries as well as viewers of the annual event lining the parade route. The annual celebration brings together those representing the future of the industry, such as the Allamakee County Dairy Ambassadors pictured above and the young man pictured below who was “spotted” enjoying the parade event, as well as those who have represented or supported the industry in a variety of ways currently and throughout its storied past in Allamakee County, all in an effort to recognize the importance of the dairy industry to all who live, work and play in Allamakee County. View and find out how to purchase these photos and many more from the 2022 Allamakee Dairy Days Parade by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this website. Standard photos by Annisa Stanley.
 

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, June 13 to address an agenda of items including discussion of bike trails and the consideration of approving an application for a special event ATV/UTV ride. The meeting was called to order with Board Chairperson Larry Schellhammer and Supervisor Mark Reiser in attendance at the Supervisors’ Boardroom in the Courthouse and with Supervisor Dan Byrnes participating in the meeting via Zoom web-conferencing.

Seven U.S. Military Veterans with Waukon area heritage received quilts from the Waukon Patriot Quilters at the Memorial Day Observance program held at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon Monday, May 30. Pictured in the photo at right, left to right, following the quilt presentations are Dale Byrnes, Gordon Kaeser, Jim Allison, Doug Haas, Stephen Regan, Brittany Clarke accepting a quilt on behalf of her father, Ralph W. Savoy, and Kenny Budzik. Submitted photo.