Community News

As part of its Live & Learn: enriching lives through monthly learning series, Robey Memorial Library in Waukon is offering a presentation on the Villisca Axe Murders of 1912 with Dr. Edgar Epperly Thursday, February 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the library’s lower level Community Room.

Sometime during the dark early morning of June 10, 1912, a person or persons unknown bludgeoned to death Josiah B. Moore, his wife, Sara, their children, Herman, Katherine, Boyd and Paul, and two overnight guests, Lena and Ina Stillinger. The sensational crime led to nearly ten years of investigations and trials and the formation of the Iowa Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Dr. Epperly, the foremost authority on Iowa’s worst mass murder, spent over 60 years interviewing eyewitnesses and key figures in the Villisca murder case in addition to examining historical records connected to the crime. He began his research in 1955 as a student in Cedar Falls.

A procession of dozens of law enforcement and emergency response vehicles from Allamakee County, the State of Iowa and surrounding areas (as evident in the surrounding photos) escorted Allamakee County Sheriff Deputy John Grampovnik to Martin Funeral Home in Waukon following his memorial service held at Iron Ridge Church in Waukon Thursday, February 3. Grampovnik passed away Thursday, January 27 at the age of 51 at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN following complications from a medical procedure.

Anyone interested in discussing the books they read with other readers, meeting new people, looking for a new author or genre to read but not quite ready to jump all in or who is at a loss for what to read next should join the Thursday Night Book Club the third Thursday monthly at 6 p.m. All are welcome. Book Club meets in person; to join virtually, contact Robey Memorial Library for participation information.

Discussions upcoming in 2022 include:
• February 17-Book with a red cover
• March 17-2022 All Iowa Reads title
• April 21-Published the decade born
• May 19-Book about women
• June 16-Fuzz by Mary Roach
• July 21-Set in summer
• August 18-Book featuring an outdoor activity
• September 15-Any title by author Kristin Hannah
• October 20-Iowa theme: author or title

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, February 7. The meeting was called to order with the removal of an agenda item relating to a Closed Session pertaining to discussion of a real estate matter. There was no Public Comment and the meeting moved into Department Reports. Street Superintendent Keith Burrett provided an update relating to the removal of snow from cul de sacs, general maintenance and ongoing preparations for the next snowfall.

Water and Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper discussed a water main break that took place January 28 with that break being found and repaired. Cooper noted that a vendor will be meeting with him soon relating to leak detection equipment that would be beneficial in quickly locating leaks and that he will relay the pricing information to the council. Cooper also discussed the effect of freezing and sub-zero temperatures on the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s processes.

by Kelli Boylen

Residents of Waterville now have a convenient place to pick up a few things they may need, thanks to Provisions.

Provisions is a community convenience store recently opened at 56 Main Street in Waterville by Clark White and Christopher Jordan. They describe Provisions as a mini-market serving the needs of area residents and visitors.

The store has both perishable and non-perishable items, including milk, bread, eggs and butter, along with baking supplies, cleaning supplies and canned goods.

Christopher and Clark welcome feedback from customers to improve and provide a product assortment that mirrors community members’ wants. “The reaction so far has been positive,” says Clark. “We really appreciate that, and want to learn and support what our community needs.”

The Allamakee County Veterans Museum will recognize Vietnam War veterans for their service and sacrifice by offering a program to the public in the Program Room of its new museum in the former Vet’s Club building on Allamakee Street in Waukon.

This Saturday, February 5 at 10 a.m. Carl Johnson of Waukon will present a program about the First Cavalry Division’s engagements during the Tet Offensive in February of 1968. This unit served as a combined arms, air mobile division. During the war, the “1st Cav” suffered more casualties than any other Army division, including 5,444 KIAs (killed in action).

There is no admission or membership charge to attend the presentation. The facility is handicapped accessible. Due to COVID-19, masks are encouraged but not required. Light refreshments will be available.

For the first time in years, Allamakee Community Players, Inc. (ACPI) will be performing in a dinner theatre event, but that first-time event for many in the current ACPI group will benefit from being held at a location that is no stranger to such a production. Empty Nest Winery has a recent history of hosting successful dinner theatre productions at its rural Waukon location, but for its first time will be teaming up with the local ACPI organization to provide such entertainment.

“Check, Please” will hit the stage Saturday, February 12 for a Valentine’s Dinner Theatre event, beginning at 6 p.m. The two-act comedy follows a series of blind dates that couldn’t get any worse - until they do.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, January 31 to address a full agenda of items including the consideration of appointments to the Eastern Iowa Tourism Board, the consideration of hiring a full-time deputy sheriff and to set a date and time for the Resolution approving Fiscal-Year 2023 (FY23) Maximum Property Tax Dollars.

Saturday, January 22 the Waukon Police Department received multiple reports of vehicle entries and reports of theft of contents from vehicles. Throughout the day, the department conducted a thorough investigation.

With help from cameras owned by citizens and a business-owned camera in Waukon, a Waukon Police Department officer applied for and was granted a search warrant of a suspect’s residence in Waukon. The search warrant was executed late that same evening, Saturday, January 22. An adult suspect at that residence was arrested in connection with the incident.

The investigation is ongoing and further arrests are likely. The Waukon Police Department was assisted by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office in the execution of the search warrant.

The Tuesday, January 18 home game for the Waukon boys basketball team against Prairie du Chien, WI allowed the crowd to witness more than just basketball at the Waukon High School gymnasium, as youth ranging from Pre-Kindergarten on up through eighth grade performed as part of the Little Indian Cheerleading Camp that took place just a day earlier, Monday, January 17, during a scheduled day off in the Allamakee Community School District. Under the guidance of Waukon High School cheerleading coaches Amy Bieber and Lexi Brink, along with past and present members of the Waukon High School Cheerleading Squad, a combination of more than 80 young providers of the pep took what they learned from that Monday camp, with Pre-Kindergarten through second grade participants performing during halftime of Tuesday’s junior varsity game and third through eighth graders performing at halftime of Tuesday’s varsity game.