Community News

Wed
17
Jan

Thursday Night Book Club at Robey Memorial Library begins this Thursday

The Thursday Night Book Club at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon, a monthly gathering for book enthusiasts, announces its line-up of literary explorations for 2024. Meeting every third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m., the club invites members and newcomers alike to delve into a range of captivating themes and authors, offering both in-person and virtual participation options to accommodate everyone’s preferences.

The 2024 schedule promises an eclectic array of reading experiences, each carefully curated to inspire, challenge, and engage participants, library staff noted. That 2024 schedule includes the following:

Wed
17
Jan

Allamakee County Veterans Museum program to feature interview with Joe Emerson

Saturday, January 27 at 10 a.m., the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will present another program from its Veterans History Project at its museum located at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon.

A video interview by Chuck Bloxham with U.S. Army Veteran Lt. Col. Joe Emerson will be played. Emerson will also be present to share comments and answer questions.

Lt. Col. Joe Emerson enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967, serving two tours in Vietnam and remaining in the Army until his retirement. In Vietnam he was a combat helicopter pilot, first flying a Huey and then a Chinook.

The public is invited to attend. There is no admission or membership charge. The facility is handicapped accessible.
 

Wed
17
Jan

Dylan Bieber is winner of NJAA Junior Bronze Award ...

Dylan Bieber of Waukon has earned the National Junior Angus Association’s (NJAA) Bronze Award, according to Caitlyn Brandt, events and junior activities director of the American Angus Association® in Saint Joseph, MO. Bieber is the 13-year-old son of Ed and Amy Bieber of Waukon and attends Allamakee Community Schools. He is a member of the NJAA and the Iowa Junior Angus Association.

Bieber has participated in local, state and national shows. At the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), Bieber participated in the Skill-A-Thon contest and the 2020-2022 mentoring program.

Wed
10
Jan

Providing plenty to cheer about...

The Tuesday, January 2 home game for the Waukon girls and boys basketball teams against Kee allowed the crowd to witness more than just basketball at the Waukon High School gymnasium, as youth ranging from three years old on up through eighth grade performed as a continuation of the Lil’ Indian Cheerleading Camp that took place earlier that day, 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 140 young providers of the pep took what they learned from that camp and put it into action, with three-year-olds through second grade participants performing prior to the varsity girls game and third through eighth graders performing at halftime of that same varsity game.

Wed
10
Jan

Allamakee County Board of Supervisors organizes for the new year, proclaims January as National Mentoring Month and hears funding request from RSVP and union negotiation update at pair of meetings


National Mentoring Month Proclamation ... The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors signed a proclamation at its Monday, January 8 regular meeting designating January as National Mentoring Month in Allamakee County. Pictured above at the proclamation signing are: Left to right - Front row: Helping Services for Youth and Families Steering Committee member Danny Schlitter, Helping Services for Youth and Families Mentoring Coordinators Kathy Schwartzhoff and Colinne McCann, and Helping Services for Youth and Families Mentoring intern Maya Pribbenow, a Luther College student; Back row: Allamakee County Board of Supervisors members Dennis Keatley, Mark Reiser and Dan Byrnes, Helping Services for Youth and Families Steering Committee member Pastor Bryan Robertson of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon, and Helping Services for Youth and Families Executive Director Carson Eggland. The Helping Services for Youth and Families Mentoring Program offers a caring adult role model for youth between the ages of six and 16. Standard photo by Joe Moses.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met twice within a week’s time, Tuesday, January 2 and Monday, January 8, following the closure of the County Courthouse Monday, January 1 in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday. Coverage of both meetings appears below.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 2
The Board of Supervisors’ organizational meeting was called to order by Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer. The appointments of Dan Byrnes as Board of Supervisors Chairperson and Mark Reiser as Chairperson Pro-Tem were approved. Procedurally, Byrnes then assumed leadership of the meeting with the Supervisors approving their weekly 2024 meeting schedule for 9:30 a.m. Mondays with 10 minutes of public comment time from 9:30-9:40 a.m.

Wed
10
Jan

Holiday Lights annual event raises $150,000 in support of Helping Services for Youth and Families programs ...

Having completed its 19th year, Holiday Lights continues to be a community event that also serves as Helping Services for Youth & Families’ most important fundraiser. Helping Services for Youth & Families is a nonprofit organization with programs that promote healthier and safer families and youth in northeast Iowa.

This year, Holiday Lights brought 4,445 cars through Pulpit Rock Campground in Decorah, hosted 3,148 visitors for the opening night walk-through event, and enlisted the help of over 425 volunteers throughout the season. Holiday Lights raised over $150,000 in free-will donations and sponsorships to support Helping Services’ programs. Those who are interested in ways to support Holiday Lights and Helping Services for Youth & Families are encouraged to contact info@helpingservices.org or 563-387-1720.

Wed
03
Jan

Supervisors meet following Christmas holiday to address a shortened agenda including the consideration of changing the County employee health plan

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Wednesday, December 27 to address a short agenda of matters following the closure of the County Courthouse December 25 and 26 for the observance of the Christmas holiday. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Mark Reiser and Dennis Keatley present.

Byrnes noted that both of the 9:40 a.m. agenda items are being removed from the current meeting agenda and may be considered at a future Supervisors meeting. The removed agenda items included discussion of amending the County Relief Ordinance and consideration of setting a public hearing for the amendment to the County Relief Ordinance.

Wed
03
Jan

Helping Services for Youth & Families to celebrate National Mentoring Month


Volunteer mentors needed in Allamakee County ... January is National Mentoring Month. Helping Services for Youth & Families is celebrating mentoring friendships and inviting others to engage in their community by becoming involved. Pictured above, volunteer mentors and mentees: Elaine, Ebreanna, Jaidon, and Linus enjoyed attending a performance of The Wizard of Oz in December. Photo courtesy of Kathy Schwartzhoff.

January is National Mentoring Month. Helping Services for Youth & Families is celebrating mentoring friendships and inviting others to engage in their community by becoming involved.

Mentoring has a positive impact on both the youth and the volunteer mentor. The need for positive role models is extremely vital as families deal with the stresses of raising youth in today’s world.  There are currently 19 area youth that want a friend to spend time with. One of those youth is Evan. He is 6 years old and likes to draw, be outside, take things apart, and swim. He wants to be a doctor when he grows up.

Volunteer mentors do not do this alone. Colinne McCann, Mentoring Coordinator at Helping Services shares, “We, at Helping Services, provide volunteers with the tools and training they need to be successful. We share activity ideas and provide fun and safe events, making it a rewarding way to volunteer.”

Wed
03
Jan

Allamakee County Democratic Party Caucus Locations

Allamakee County Democratic Party Caucus Locations
Monday, January 15 at 7 p.m.

Participants must be signed in or in line by 7 p.m. in order to participate.
All Allamakee Democrats are encouraged to attend.

ALLAMAKEE DEMOCRATS WILL MEET IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

WAUKON WELLNESS CENTER (Senior Room)
1220 3rd Ave. NW - Waukon

Pct. 1  Waterloo & Hanover Twps
Pct. 2  French Creek, Jefferson, Ludlow, Makee, Union Prairie Twps.
Pct. 3  Post & Franklin Twps. & Postville
Pct. 4  Paint Creek & Linton Twps. & Waterville
Pct. 8  Waukon Ward 1
Pct. 9  Waukon Ward 2
Pct.10 Waukon Ward 3

Wed
03
Jan

Rev. Laura Gentry’s 25th anniversary of ordination ...

December 17, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing held a worship celebration to mark the 25th anniversary of the ordination of their pastor, Reverend Laura Gentry, pictured above at center, with the Bishop of the Northeastern Iowa Synod, Rev. Kevin T. Jones at left, and Rev. Mike Blair at right. Submitted photo.

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