Community News

The Waukon Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its “Ringing in the Holidays” promotional event November 1 through December 12 of this year in an effort to keep business local for the holiday season. A drawing for prizes will be held Monday, December 13 for three winners of prizes of $25, $50 and $100 in Waukon Dollars.

Those shopping in local participating businesses during that promotional timeframe are invited to fill up as many $100 Punch Cards as they can with purchases from one or more Waukon Chamber of Commerce merchants found on the back of the punch cards. Participating merchants will punch or initial above the punch image to confirm the punch card’s $5 incremental value of purchase total.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, October 25 to address a full agenda of items including a County Social Services update, setting a public hearing for the Allamakee County FY22 Budget Amendment and the consideration of a temporary road closure.

The meeting was called to order with an agenda item being removed relating to County health insurance contribution amounts and options for spouses both employed by Allamakee County. Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer advised that a recommendation relating to this matter is not ready for consideration.

The Allamakee County Engineer’s Office has announced that it has completely closed off a segment of the graveled portion of Prairie Drive just west of Arbor Road, about four miles west of Waukon, as of Monday, October 25 for a culvert replacement and water detention project. The portion of the roadway involved in the project is expected to be completely closed for approximately four weeks, depending upon weather conditions. The will be no signed detour route.

Public invited to meet the candidates for Mayor and City Council October 25

A forum featuring the City of Waukon’s Mayor and City Council candidates who will be on the upcoming November 2 election ballot is being planned for Monday, October 25 at 7 p.m. The forum will be sponsored by Waukon Economic Development and will take place in the Community Room of the Robey Memorial Library, located at 401 1st Avenue NW in Waukon.

The following candidates are slated to be present for the forum: Mayor candidate Pat Stone; At-Large Council candidates Nicholas Engrav and Kevin Johnson; Ward 1 Council Candidates Stephen Wiedner and Jerry Schoenthal; Ward 3 Council Candidate Arvid Hatlan; and At-Large to Fill a Vacancy Council Candidate Andy Sires.

The City of Waukon has set its official Trick-or-Treat time for Halloween for Sunday, October 31 from 4-8 p.m. Area residents are asked to leave porch lights on to welcome trick-or-treaters,  and the youngsters are reminded to keep safety in mind while making their rounds from house to house.
 

Monday, October 11, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Chapters around the world participated in special service projects in their communities in recognition of the DAR National Day of Service, which honors the founding of the DAR October 11,1890. This year, Hannah Lee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution chose to honor healthcare workers on the frontline and all staff for keeping the medical centers running during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Local DAR chapter members distributed 40 baskets of goodies between the hospitals in Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties.

Friends of Yellow River State Forest will be holding an educational program and workday at the mounds in the Paint Rock Unit of Yellow River State Forest at 9 a.m. Saturday, October 30. Sheila Oberreuter, museum technician at Effigy Mounds National Monument, will lead the mound program, which will include the linear and conical mounds near Paint Rock Lookout (pictured above) and the bear mounds at the north end of that unit. The program will discuss mound building in the Upper Mississippi River Valley, landscape characteristics present when mounds were being built and the changes that have occurred to the landscape since that time.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

Feeling stressed and frustrated? Need a lift? Then take a drive, enjoy the changing fall leaves in the scenic countryside and drive through Lansing to see the brightly-colored, positive signs on Main Street.

Humans have a natural tendency to dwell on the negative, to worry about the “what ifs.” “What if” those worries and negative thoughts were replaced with positive ones?

The new public art project from Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing, dubbed “The Positive Sign Campaign,” aims to do just that. Using recycled pallet boards, these paintings with upbeat and funny messages are meant to be inspiring to all who read them.

The idea began with Pastor Laura Gentry, who is also an artist, laughter yoga teacher and motivational speaker. She’s long been interested in the power of positivity. Research shows that positive thinking can lower stress levels and boost overall health.

The Waukon Fields of Faith event celebrated its 10th year of existence on a cool, early fall evening at the Waukon High School football field Wednesday, October 6, drawing another large crowd, as evident in the photos above and below. Messages of faith and how it has impacted their own lives were shared by a series of five different speakers during the event, all of whom are pictured in the individual photos immediately below. Those messages involved the more personal local experiences presented by four area high school students that included (left to right in photos at right) Waukon High School senior Braden Hemann, Decorah High school senior Grace Bachelder, Waukon High School sophomore Philip Clocksin and MFL/MarMac High School senior Gabe McGeough, with Waukon High School senior Nick Goltz serving as emcee of the event.

The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department recently recognized the generous support of three area businesses toward the Third Annual Swinging “Fore” Our K-9 Best Shot Golf Tournament held Saturday, September 25 at the Waukon Golf & Country Club. Sheriff Deputy Ross Kolsrud and K-9 Officer Tyr are pictured in each of the three surrounding photos presenting plaques to Beau Bennett, representing Kious Kountry Auto Collision Center of Waukon (photo above); Amy and Keith Bresnahan, representing A-OK Well Service of Waukon (photo at center); and Shelly Galema, representing New Albin Savings Bank (photo below) in recognition of their high level of financial support each year of this fundraising event and of the Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 Fund, which assists with program expenses including equipment, training and veterinary costs.