Community News

Northgate Care Center in Waukon, owned and operated by ABCM Corporation, is honoring Administrator Lou Ann Wikan for 50 years of serving Waukon and surrounding Communities. Wikan started her career at Northgate Care Center January 5, 1972.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions on health care facilities, Northgate Care Center is unable to hold an in-person reception for Wikan on her actual 50th anniversary date. Thus, on or by January 5, the facility is asking everyone to join in the recognition of Wikan’s 50 years of service by showering her with cards.

Cards recognizing her service can be sent through the ABCM website at www.abcmcorp.com > choose the “Waukon” location > choose the “Greeting Card” function. Cards and any other items can also be mailed directly to Northgate Care Center, c/o Lou Ann Wikan, at 960 4th Street NW, Waukon, IA 52172.

Graham crackers, frosting and Clover Kids made the perfect combination to make gingerbread houses at the December Clover Kids session. Youth were able to use their imagination to design their own creation (such as those pictured in the photos above). They learned it took patience, lots of frosting and some re-designing to make the houses stand by themselves. Candy was supplied to decorate with, which added another challenge if the candy was too heavy for their structure. Clover Kids also had the opportunity to make clay gingerbread men for their house. After completion, most gingerbread houses ended up as a snack. For more information about 4-H and upcoming activities, contact the Allamakee County Extension and Outreach Office at 563-568-6345 or http://www.extension.iastate.edu/allamakee/. Submitted photos.
 

The Allamakee County Veterans Museum will observe Iowa Statehood Day and the 175th Anniversary of Iowa Statehood December 28 by offering a program to the public in the Program Room of its new museum in the former Vet’s Club building in Waukon.

Tuesday, December 28 at 6:30 p.m. a video documentary entitled “Iowa - An American Portrait” will be presented. The video was produced by Iowa Public Television in 1996 for the 150th Anniversary of Iowa Statehood and is narrated by NBC broadcaster Tom Brokaw. Credits for the program include contributions from Larsh Bristol Photography and Jim Janett of Allamakee County Conservation. Northeast Iowa area scenes are featured.

Iowa celebrates “Statehood Day” December 28 of each year, because that is the date in 1846 when Iowa was officially granted statehood status. The year 2021 marks the 175th anniversary of Iowa’s statehood.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, December 20 to address a full agenda of items including the Public Hearing Amending the Current Budget for the City of Waukon for the Fiscal Year Ending (FYE) June 30, 2022, the Resolution delegating authority to the City Manager to Authorize Non-Budgeted Expenditures not in Excess of the sum of $2,500 and discussion of filling a seat on the Regional Housing Authority Board.

Land values in Iowa reflect higher crop prices; Allamakee and Clayton counties report largest percentage increase, according to ISU survey

After several years of modest gains and losses, the average value of an acre of Iowa farmland skyrocketed 29% in 2021. The nominal value of an acre of farmland is now higher than at any point since Iowa State University and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach began surveying values in 1941, and is 12% higher than the previous peak in 2013; although the current value in inflation-adjusted terms is still lower than that for 2012 and 2013.

The Allamakee County Veterans Museum will observe Iowa Statehood Day and the 175th Anniversary of Iowa Statehood December 28 by offering a program to the public in the Program Room of its new museum in the former Vet’s Club building in Waukon.

Tuesday, December 28 at 6:30 p.m. a video documentary entitled “Iowa - An American Portrait” will be presented. The video was produced by Iowa Public Television in 1996 for the 150th Anniversary of Iowa Statehood and is narrated by NBC broadcaster Tom Brokaw. Credits for the program include contributions from Larsh Bristol Photography and Jim Janett of Allamakee County Conservation. Northeast Iowa area scenes are featured.

Iowa celebrates “Statehood Day” December 28 of each year, because that is the date in 1846 when Iowa was officially granted statehood status. The year 2021 marks the 175th anniversary of Iowa’s statehood.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 13 to address several matters including the review and consideration of the Allamakee County Investment Policy, setting a date and time for a Public Hearing for Ordinance LXI establishing voting precincts and consideration of a Bridge Embargo Resolution.

During Public Comment, Ric Zarwell of Lansing discussed the Bluffland Protection District and the work performed by a committee of 44 individuals over a period of three years in developing the Bluffland Protection Ordinance in Allamakee County. Zarwell requested an update on a matter potentially impacting an area within the Bluffland Protection District. Board Chairperson Larry Schellhammer advised that the matter has been turned over to Allamakee County Attorney Anthony Gericke.

Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah has recently introduced Brianne Leikvold, RN, BSN as the new director of Obstetrics (OB) at Winneshiek Medical Center. Leikvold succeeds Connie Klimesh, RN as she approaches retirement.

Leikvold received her nursing education from Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Most recently, she has served as the OB Nurse Manager at Crossing Rivers Health in Prairie Du Chien, WI and Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.

Leikvold says, “Obstetric nursing has always been a passion of mine. Being a mother to young children, I have a personal understanding of how important OB teams are to families. I look forward to bringing my knowledge, experience and love for OB to Winneshiek Medical Center and serving the surrounding region.”

The annual Lighted Holiday Parade held in Waukon Monday evening, December 6 brightened up the beginning of the holiday season in more ways than one as nearly 20 entries made their way through the city streets, such as the one pictured at right. Temperatures in the teens and wind chills hovering around 0° made for some chilly viewing conditions, but that didn’t seem to bother the many parade-goers lining the parade route, such as those in the background of the above photo taken by Standard Newspaper Assistant Editor Joe Moses. View and find out how to purchase this photo and more from the holiday parade by clicking on the Photo Galleries link at www.waukonstandard.com. A video of the complete parade captured by Standard Newspaper Assistant Editor Joe Moses can also be found on The Standard’s Facebook page at The Standard Newspaper, Waukon.
 

It’s a ball, it’s an acorn, it’s a pumpkin! The fall theme mystery bag brought a lot of predictions, but few were correct to guess pinecone. The talk of fall, pinecones and acorns led the Clover Kids into the Scurrying Squirrel Challenge. The neighborhood squirrels have just been informed that they shouldn’t fly south for the winter because squirrels can’t fly. They should be gathering nuts to prepare for winter. The Clover Kids were challenged to build a contraption out of random supplies to move one acorn a total of three feet without touching the acorn. Many ideas and plans were tried, modified and retried. Contraptions ranged from ziplines to catapults to attempts at cars. Each group was successful in their unique contraption and no squirrels will go hungry this winter. Clover Kids also made holiday cards (pictured in surrounding photos) to deliver to the local nursing homes.