Community News

Wed
05
Aug

Waukon City Council tours sites and discusses development and other matters during special session


Bresnahan property development ... The Waukon City Council and other City officials and community leaders toured the area known as the Bresnahan property in the northwest corner of Waukon west of the retention basin during a special council session Monday, July 27. The group discussed the possibility of apartment, duplex or single family housing that could be part of a residential development project in that Bresnahan property area. Standard photo by Joe Moses.

Plaza update ... The Waukon City Council and other City officials and community leaders toured the Plaza area in downtown Waukon during a special council session Monday, July 27. Pictured above, Waukon Economic Development Corporation Director Ardie Kuhse presents some development plans to the council and others in attendance that would further enhance the Plaza area. Standard photo by Joe Moses.

The former Tierney building ... The Waukon City Council and other City officials and community leaders toured the former Tierney building in downtown Waukon during a special council session Monday, July 27. The group examined both the exterior (above) and interior (below) of the building and discussed interest that has been expressed in renovating the building into a dining establishment that could possibly benefit from the plaza area adjacent to the building. Standard photos by Joe Moses.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in special session Monday, July 27 at the Waukon Wellness Center to address a short agenda of items including a tour of development sites, discussion of development issues and approval of a resolution for the proposed disposition of interest in a property.

The meeting was called to order at the Waukon Wellness Center with the consent agenda including routine financial transfers being approved by the council. Mayor Pat Stone recused himself before the next agenda item with Mayor Pro-Tem Gayle Decker assuming leadership of the meeting for that item.

Wed
29
Jul

Farm Bureau donation to Fair Board ...

Allamakee County Farm Bureau Vice President Melissa Wedo (left) presents the second donation of Allamakee County Farm Bureau’s three-year donation commitment to the Allamakee County Fair to Fair Board President Tyler Plein (right). The donated funding from Allamakee County Farm Bureau has been used for improvements to the dairy barn and 4-H food stand expenses at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. Submitted photo.

Wed
29
Jul

Apples given away at Friday drive-thru event ...

Friday, July 24, the new Dollar Fresh store in Waukon distributed more than 3,800 free apples during a contactless, drive-thru giveaway event. During the event, apples were loaded directly into customer vehicles to minimize physical contact and maintain social distancing. The giveaway was made possible thanks to Dollar Fresh’s fruit supplier, who donated the apples in light of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In total, 380 customers received 10 apples for a donation equaling approximately 1,150 pounds.

“It’s a privilege to partner with our longtime friends at Dollar Fresh to share nutritious Stemilt apples with Dollar Fresh customers during these unprecedented times,” said West Mathison, president for Stemilt.

Wed
29
Jul

Main Street Story Walk continues in August ...

Main Street Story Walk, hosted by Robey Memorial Library in Waukon, continues in August with the popular children’s story “When a Monster is Born” by Sean Taylor. Families are encouraged to read the book as they stroll the downtown area. Eight selected businesses have a portion of the story posted in the front window of their establishment for viewing from the sidewalk. Selected locations are on Main Street, First Avenue NW and First Street NW and are labeled accordingly in the map above: 1. Freedom Bank; 2. Side Street Cycles; 3. JaDecc’S, Inc.; 4. Darold Berger Masonry; 5. Epic Wear; 6. Rockweilers Appliance; 7. Things For You; 8. Macy’s Cutting Edge.

Main Street Story Walk will continue with a new story and locations next month.

Participants are reminded to continue to practice social distancing measures and to also practice good safety measures in crossing all streets involved in making the Story Walk trek. Submitted map image.
 

Wed
29
Jul

Local 4-H youth participate in 2020 Allamakee County 4-H Expressions Day


Natalie Byrnes and Mia Kurth presenting their Working Exhibit ...

Tegan Dahlstrom presenting her Educational Presentation ...

Hailey Stein presenting her Educational Presentation ...

Nine Allamakee County 4-H youth recently showcased their talents by competing in various communications and clothing events during the Expressions Day Program held at the Allamakee County Extension Office Monday, June 29. Some of those presenters are pictured in the surrounding submitted photos.

Some of those 4-H’ers participated in Educational Presentations where they were judged on stage presence, vocal projection, organization, visual aids, educational value of topic, and how well they kept their audience interested as they present their information. Local 4-H’ers who participated included Natalie Byrnes, Tegan Dahlstrom, Breelyn Dahlstrom and Hailey Stein.

Wed
22
Jul

New waste receptacles in downtown Waukon meet needs for the City of Waukon while providing relevant learning experience for Allamakee Welding Academy students


This treasure is for trash ... Pictured above is one of the new waste receptacles created by Waukon High School students under the direction of Industrial Technology instructor Caleb Ferring during the 2019-2020 school year. Ten such receptacles have been placed throughout Waukon’s downtown community and were the result of a community enhancement project included within the curriculum of the new Allamakee Welding Academy under Ferring’s guidance. Submitted photo.

Real-life learning experience ... Waukon High School students accepted into the Allamakee Welding Academy under the instruction of Caleb Ferring were instrumental in all aspects of creating the new waste receptacles recently placed throughout the downtown community in Waukon. From creating the initial design and an initial proposal to present to the Waukon City Council for consideration, to cutting all the necessary pieces and the decorative designs into those pieces, to welding all those pieces together to create the final product, the students (some of whom are pictured in surrounding photos above and below) not only helped out the community that houses their high school but also gained some real-life experience in seeing the project through from its conception to the finished product. Submitted photos.

by Joe Moses

The town of Waukon has seen several improvements to its downtown business district recently. Among those is the 2019 Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) Street and Sidewalk Project, which prompted the replacement of the previous waste receptacles placed in the downtown area following the installation of new decorative light poles.

In conjunction with that project, Director Ardie Kuhse with Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) approached the Waukon City Council with a suggestion to replace the previous waste receptacles that became obsolete with the newly installed decorative light poles now in place downtown.

Kuhse presented several concepts and estimates from a variety of manufacturers to the council. With the City of Waukon on board, Kuhse worked with Street Superintendent Keith Burrett on the style and design that would be both attractive and practical for the street department crew to maintain and empty.

Wed
22
Jul

Allamakee County Bible Reading Marathon deemed successful by event organizers


Public readings part of 2020 Bible Reading Marathon ... Although a majority of the 2020 Allamakee County Bible Reading Marathon was conducted privately by individuals due to COVID-19 restrictions, a pair of public reading offerings were held during the four-week event. Pictured above is a July 11 public reading held in Lansing and sponsored by Center Baptist Church of rural Lansing. A July 14 public reading also took place on the lawn of the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon to close out this year’s marathon event. Submitted photo.

The 2020 Allamakee County Bible Reading Marathon came to a successful conclusion Tuesday, July 14, with the completed reading of Scripture, Genesis through Revelation, and a public reading on the Allamakee County Courthouse lawn in Waukon.

Over 70 individuals, in addition to various groups, participated by using the Signup Genius website or the TracPhone number set up for the event. A total of 156 segments of Scripture, each taking approximately 30 minutes to read, were available over the course of four weeks during the marathon event, many of them read by those individuals or groups in their own private settings due to COVID-19 guidelines during this year’s event.

Wed
22
Jul

VFW Auxiliary distributes 4-H Citizenship Awards at Allamakee County Fair ...


Natalie Byrnes ... Submitted photo.

Lauren Plein ... Submitted photo.

Kadee Fish ... Submitted photo.

Allia Ericson ... Submitted photo.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary #4117 presented Citizenship Awards to 4-H entries at the 2020 Allamakee County Fair. A number of Allamakee County 4-H members completed projects and entry forms for the Citizenship Awards and VFW Auxiliary members then judged the entries on Entry Day of the Allamakee County Fair and selected recipients in grade categories for Kindergarten through sixth (K-6) and seventh through 12th (7-12) grades. In the K-6 grade entries, First Place went to Lauren Plein of the Clover Kids and Second Place was awarded to Allia Ericson of the Elon PMC 4-H club. First Place in the 7-12 grade category was Natalie Byrnes of the River Valley Panthers and Second Place was awarded to Kadee Fish of the Clover Chasers 4-H club. Submitted photos.

Wed
15
Jul

Supervisors hear statement regarding Alliant Energy and the Eastern Allamakee Community School District

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 13 to address a short agenda of items including Quarterly Reports from the County Recorder, Relief and Veterans Affairs offices, consideration of a County Courthouse Information Technology (IT) position and consideration of the roadway maintenance agreement between the City of Waukon, the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Allamakee County.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) discussed a statement written by Superintendent Dale Crozier of the Eastern Allamakee School Community District addressing concerns relating to the impact of an Alliant Energy power plant closure, if that were to happen.

Wed
15
Jul

Wind damage is greatest impact of Thursday storm ...

Damaging winds proved to cause the greatest amount of trouble during the Thursday afternoon, July 9 severe thunderstorm that rolled through northeast Iowa. Within the town of Waukon there was an abundance of tree damage (as evident in the surrounding photos), as well as some power outages due to power lines being damaged by falling trees or poles themselves being blown over.

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