Community News

The 3rd Annual Ben Kerndt Memorial Fishing Tournament will be taking to the open water this weekend after the tournament’s traditional ice fishing format was not possible this past winter due to unfavorable ice conditions in February. All proceeds from the tournament benefit the Lansing Fire Department.

This year’s tournament is scheduled to be an open water and bow fishing tournament. Bow fishing can begin Friday night, May 17, and the open water tournament begins at daybreak Saturday, May 18, with all fishing done on Pool 9 of the Mississippi River. Weigh-in will take place from 2-2:45 p.m. at the Lansing Fire Station at 51 North Front Street in Lansing with awards to follow.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met twice within a week including a special session Wednesday, May 1 and regular session Monday, May 6. The coverage of both of those meetings is below.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1
During the Wednesday, May 1 special session, CEO Michael Coyle of Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) provided an overview to the board of the proposed change from the hospital’s current electronic health records (EHR) system to the EPIC EHR system to allow improved compatibility with other health care providers.

The Corner of Hope Growing Hope Globally growing project held its annual Blessing of the Seed and Soil Saturday morning, April 27 to kick off the 2024 growing season. Following a night of much-needed rain, the event was held at the field of the Sweeney brothers on State Highway 9 north of Waukon. Reverend Cathy Jurgens from Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon performed this year’s blessing. Submitted photo.
 

Sunday evening, April 14, prior to their regularly scheduled monthly meeting, the 4-H Toppers and family members completed a spring clean-up service project at the Waterville Community Center. Under the direction of the Waterville Recreation Committee, 4-H members raked leaves, picked up sticks, pulled weeds and washed signs. For more information or to join 4-H, contact Marissa Foels at the ISU Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office by email at mfoels@iastate.edu or by phone at 563-568-6345, or visit the Iowa 4-H website at www.extension.iastate.edu/4h. Submitted photo.
 

A husband and wife pair of Waukon High School graduates who left their mark at their alma mater as multi-sport stand-out athletes are now looking to provide to others in their hometown community a foundation for that same opportunity for success with the opening of their new fitness facility in Waukon, 222 Trained.

Newly opened at 801 West Main Street in Waukon following a grand opening event held this past Friday, May 3, owners Shawn and Jordan (Snitker) Cunningham describe their new 222 Trained facility as “a community-focused gym, where we’re dedicated to realizing the potential of our members.”

For the second year, Bandmates, Brothers and Friends (BBF) will reunite in Waukon for another night of musical entertainment to benefit the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation. This year will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Toe Tappers as part of the musical line-up, all held Friday evening, May 10, from 6-11 p.m. The event will be held at the Allamakee Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Cash food and beverages sales will be offered throughout the event.

Many of the returning BBF musicians are from Waukon including brothers Bill Withers, Jim Withers and John Withers, who have spearheaded this project the last two years. Oldest brother, Bill, is the event coordinator. Bandmates Gary Hesla, Bob Bechtel, Dave Dougherty, Brad Prestemon, Todd Pickett, Joel Anderson, Keel Clemmens and Jamey Lideen will reunite with them again this year.

The annual “Family Wellness Fair” will be held Wednesday, May 8 from 3:30-6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon. Health and wellness testing, exhibits, activities and refreshments will all be providing a complete evening of entertainment and education for families of all ages. The fair exhibits will be a large number, with all visitors welcome to enter the fair through the Veterans Memorial Hospital main entrance, the hospital clinic entrance or the Gundersen Clinic entrance, allowing for more parking options.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, April 29 to address a full agenda of matters including the discussion and consideration of the hourly pay rate for township officials, consideration of approving the detour route for the Allamakee County Dairy Days Parade, and consideration of adopting the North Iowa Juvenile Detention Services 28E Agreement. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Mark Reiser and Dennis Keatley present.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, April 22 to address a full agenda of matters including the Public Hearing for the proposed Fiscal-Year 2025 Allamakee County Budget, the consideration of Adopting the Resolution approving Fiscal-Year 2025 compensation increases for elected officials and the discussion and consideration of a potential solar project at the County Farm. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Mark Reiser and Dennis Keatley present.

As evident in the surrounding photos on this page, the Black Hawk Bridge at Lansing was opened to traffic by Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) officials Saturday, April 20 at approximately 11 a.m., bringing to an end a nearly two-month closure that involved an extensive repair process and rigorous safety testing and inspection. The bridge had been closed since February 25 of this year after discovery of an unexpected buckling of the bridge that was then determined to be the result of two of the bridge piers shifting on the eastern end of the structure.

“Our contracting partner, Kraemer North America, worked diligently to replace the piers,” Iowa DOT officials said. “The new piers are supported by steel pipe pilings reaching more than 100 feet into bedrock compared to the previous pilings that were placed more than 90 years ago and reached approximately 40 feet deep.”