Community News

During the month of November, Allamakee County Farm Bureau (ACFB) is collecting hats and mittens. Items will need to be new or gently used with no tears or holes.

The items will then be donated to the Allamakee County Relief Office. The Relief Office will then distribute the items to those in need in the local community.

A container will be placed in the ACFB office, located at 14 First Avenue NE in Waukon, where items can be dropped off. Hats and mittens of all sizes can be donated. ACFB office hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Donations will be accepted until December 3.

A lifelong love of animals for Waukon native Tracey Tepesch is now something she can share with customers - both human and fur-bearing - in her new business venture, Paws Up Pet Supplies, located at 11 Allamakee Street in Waukon.

First opening for business November 6 in the long-time Cotécolor Photography building, Paws Up Pet Supplies accomplishes three aspirations for the 1989 graduate of Waukon High School. “Number one, my love/passion for animals; number two, I’ve always wanted to be a part of the business community; and number three, I’ve always wanted to restore a building back to its original state,” Tepesch explained.

Veterans Day at Thornton Manor in Lansing was celebrated by presenting two residents with the honored Quilt of Valor. Eileen Smith (pictured standing above) from Lansing gave a sentimental presentation to Charlie Matlock and Don Anderson (seated left to right in photo above), honoring the veterans with the Quilt of Valor and framed certificates. A Quilt of Valor is a quality, handmade quilt that is machine or hand quilted. It is awarded to a Service Member or Veteran who has been touched by war. The quilt says unequivocally, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.” The two quilts were locally made by a special group of women to honor local veterans. Photo and write-up submitted by Karen Ulrich, Recreation Therapy Director at Thornton Manor. Submitted photo.

The Allamakee County Veterans Museum will observe Pearl Harbor Day Tuesday, December 7 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 7 at 6:30 p.m. a video documentary will be presented about the Japanese air raid on the U.S. Naval and Air Bases at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Islands, which marked the entry of the United States into the Second World War.

The Pearl Harbor documentary will be preceded by a video that museum staff are calling “The last summer of peace in Waukon before the War.” It includes movie footage filmed in downtown Waukon in the summers of 1940-1941 by the Cote family for entertainment viewing in their newly opened Town Theatre on Main Street in Waukon.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa, 1st) visited Lansing Wednesday, November 10, when Main Street Lansing held a ribbon cutting event for Lansing Office Works at its newly-opened location at 274 Main Street.

Lansing Office Works, which opened September 20, is a co-working space that offers a collaborative office environment for remote workers, small business owners and entrepreneurs. Amenities include high-speed wireless internet access, private meeting spaces, a breakroom/kitchen area, common areas, and virtual business coaching.

Following a tour of the premises, Hinson spoke with attendees about post-pandemic changes and challenges in the workforce.  Hinson said people have been forced to re-assess what they really value - including how they want to work. “We’ve got to be reactive to the ‘new normal,’” she said.

In honor and appreciation of their service and sacrifices, the Waukon Patriot Quilters awarded quilts to local veterans at a Veterans Day ceremony held Thursday, November 11 at the Sweeney Shelter in the Waukon City Park near the Allamakee County Freedom Rock. Pictured above at the quilt presentations are, left to right: Front row - Charles Byrnes, Wayne Howe, Gus Berger; Back row - Norman Borcherding, Kelli McGriff, Dick Hermanson, Kenneth Mark, Norman Peterson. Jean Brink had also received her quilt the previous week, as noted in the November 10 edition of The Standard. Submitted photo.

The Iowa State Patrol has released information regarding the October 14 single-vehicle crash that claimed the life of Waukon native and Iowa State Patrol Trooper Ted Benda, age 37. The report indicates that Trooper Benda swerved to miss a deer and could not regain control of his vehicle, resulting in the crash that critically injured him and ultimately claimed his life October 20.

The report shared Friday, November 12 by the Iowa State Patrol says that a deer ran on to the roadway from the west in front of Trooper Benda’s Dodge Charger patrol car as he was traveling southbound on State Highway 51 about six miles north of Postville around 11:30 p.m. that mid-October night. The report further explains that Trooper Benda took evasive driving action to avoid the deer but his vehicle lost traction, entering the roadway ditch to the east, hitting an embankment on the driver side and rolling before coming to rest on the vehicle’s driver side.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, November 15 to address a full agenda of items. There was no Public Comment and the meeting moved into Department Reports.

Park, Rec and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub provided an update advising that the Waukon City Park has closed up for the season and that winter season programs are beginning with basketball. Strub advised that use of the Wellness Center has picked up with cooler temperatures. He also discussed a grant through the State of Iowa relating to lost revenue calculated at $77,778 between 2019 and 2020 with the grant awarding $58,333 to compensate for that lost revenue.

Benefit event for U.S. Army veteran this Saturday

by Lissa Blake

In the years since U.S. Army veteran Jean Brink moved back to Waukon, she has questioned whether it was a good decision for her and her family. “I missed the military. I missed the city. I’ve asked myself so many times, ‘Why did we move back here?’” she said. But in February of this year, when Jean was diagnosed with Stage 3 metastatic breast cancer (HR positive/HER 2 negative), the answer became clear. “When I got sick, I realized this is where God wanted me. This is where I needed to be. There was a plan,” she said. “I don’t think there is anywhere else I could live in the world where I would get the support I needed.”

Mr. & Mrs. Andy Gassman and family of Big Lake, MN and Mr. & Mrs. Garrieth Franks of Oelwein hosted a Quilt of Valor presentation and reception for Duane Franks of Waukon earlier this year. Jan Franks, Quilt Of Valor volunteer, provided information about the Quilt Of Valor’s history and purpose, then awarded a Villa Rose Honor Quilt to Duane Franks (in photo at right) as an expression of gratitude and thanks for his service, sacrifice and valor in serving this nation and its people.