Community News

This Saturday, February 21 at 10 a.m., the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will present another program from its Veterans History Project honoring operation Desert Storm Veterans. The program will be held at the museum located at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon, and the public is invited to attend.

A video interview by Chuck Bloxham with U.S. Air Force veteran John Farley of Waukon will be played. Farley will also be present to share comments and answer questions. Other Gulf War veterans are encouraged to attend and contribute their perspectives.

Farley served two enlistments in the U.S. Air Force. His service included Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was stationed in Saudi Arabia from 1990-1991. Farley’s Air Force unit of meteorologists was assigned to the U.S. Army 24th Mechanized Division during the War for the Liberation of Kuwait.

There is no admission or membership charge for the program. The museum building is handicapped accessible.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, February 16 to address a full agenda of matters including the consideration of a Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund demolition application, a presentation relating to the City Hall building and City Space Assessment, and consideration of the Resolution relating to the 1st Avenue reconstruction from 2nd Street SE to 4th Street SE. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members present including Tim Smedsrud, John Lydon, Cassie Handke and Steve Wiedner.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Board of Trustees met for its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, January 27. Reports provided during the meeting indicated that the month of December was a good month for the hospital.

Gross Patient Revenue came in just under the five-million-dollar mark at $4,933,466. There was a slight reduction in contractuals for the month, and VMH Administrator Michael Coyle explained that the hospital received an additional settlement to the end of the year cost report, which reduced the contractuals.

After taking out contractuals and Charity Care and Bad Debt, the Total Operating Revenue for the month was $2,678,430. Coyle noted that the Charity Care and Bad Debt were a little bit higher for the month, but he also noted that it is there for a purpose and they want to make sure that it’s being used appropriately.

ACSD recognized as one of best Class 3A school districts in implementing cost-saving innovations, efficiencies

State of Iowa Auditor Rob Sand launched his 2026 Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) awards tour Thursday, January 29, hand-delivering pies and certificates to four winners in northeast Iowa. Among those winners was the Allamakee Community School District, which shared the honor of Best Performing Class 3A Community School District with South Tama and Okoboji Community School Districts.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, February 9 to address a full agenda of matters including the consideration of bridge replacement and bridge repair bids, discussion and consideration of opening the Secondary Roads Department Collective Bargaining Agreement and the consideration of updating the County Zoning Map. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Tom Clark with Supervisors Dan Byrnes and Dennis Keatley present.

General admission seating and reserved tables available for annual showcase event

The Music Department in the Allamakee Community School District will be hosting its 17th annual Pops Concert Friday, February 27 at the Waukon Middle School gymnasium. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with concert time scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Pops Concert is an annual fundraising event sponsored by the Allamakee Music Boosters, and it features high energy musical numbers from the 1950s through today. Groups performing will include the high school and middle school choirs, high school and middle school jazz bands, drumline, featured soloists, song and dance skits, and emcees. The Pops Concert continues to feature new musical talents each year and has become a must-see event for the Waukon community.

Over 1250 pairs recently shared for global distribution from local donations

The World Health Organization estimates that 120 million people are visually impaired because of uncorrected refraction errors (far or near sightedness). Refractive errors can be easily diagnosed, measured, and corrected with eyeglasses. Yet, millions of people lack the access to these basic services.

Lions Clubs International has eight global causes it focuses on.  Those causes are Childhood Cancer, Diabetes, Disaster Relief, Environment, Humanitarian, Hunger, Vision, and Youth. The oldest cause Lions Clubs support is dedicated to improving the lives of the visually impaired and preventing avoidable blindness.  In 1925, Helen Keller called on the Lions to be “Knights of the Blind”. One of the programs to help improve impaired vision around the world is recycling used eyeglasses.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, February 2 to address a full agenda of matters including the review of a Board of Adjustment variance for Kwik Star, a City Hall structure update from the City Manager, and consideration of the Resolution relating to the sale and transfer of City-owned real property within the Allamakee County Fairgrounds. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members present including John Lydon, Tim Smedsrud, Cassie Handke, Nicholas Engrav and Steve Wiedner.

Before moving into Department Reports, Hatlan made a statement relating to Chapter 21 of the Iowa Code update which outlines Iowa’s Open Meetings Law. Hatlan advised that guidance provided by the Iowa League of Cities and the Municipal Leadership Academy will be used to provide additional structure for procedural aspects of council meetings.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, February 2 to address a full agenda of matters including an update from Veterans Memorial Hospital, discussion of signing a lease agreement between Allamakee County and the City of Waukon, and discussion of a structural snow fence agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Tom Clark with Supervisors Dan Byrnes and Dennis Keatley present.

During Public Comment, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Coyle with Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) discussed the impact of Medicare Advantage plans upon Waukon and Allamakee County. Coyle made note of perceived initial cost savings for patients relating to Medicare Advantage with concerns later arising from prior authorization requirements and an 80-percent automatic denial rate causing delays in treatment and ultimately higher costs for patients.

For the third consecutive year, 1973 Kee High School graduate Ray Burroughs of Waukon created and sold an “Awesome Rides” classic car calendar to benefit all extracurricular activities in the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD). Pictured in the check presentation at right, former Eastern Allamakee Community School District Superintendent/Kee High School Principal Sarah Murray (left) and Eastern Allamakee Community School District PK-12 Principal Donna Thomas (right) display the $6,200 donation check to Eastern Allamakee Community School District between the Kee girls and boys varsity basketball home games played Friday, January 16 against MFL/MarMac. That donation amount brings the three-year donation total from the calendar program to $17,000.