Community News

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 30 to address a full agenda of matters including the discussion and consideration of signing a Memorandum of Understanding between Allamakee County and Veterans Memorial Hospital relating to space for the location of the county morgue, consideration of setting a letting date for gravel road rock resurfacing, and the discussion and consideration of back-up internet options.

The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Tom Clark with Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Dan Byrnes present. During Public Comment, Byrnes and County Auditor Denise Beyer discussed meeting with representatives of the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) Thursday, March 26 at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing as part of that agency’s 99-County Tour.

In the spirit of the Scout promise to do a good turn daily and “to help other people at all times,” Waukon Pack 64 of Scouting America, Northeast Iowa Council will be holding its collection of donations for the annual “Scouting for Food” donation drive Tuesday, April 14.

Scouting for Food is Scouting America’s nationwide service project to help fight hunger. The program began as a Scout service project in St. Louis, MO in 1985 and became a national initiative in 1988.

“There is no better way to show our Scout spirit than by participating in the Scouting for Food drive. It is a great way to provide cheerful service to our community through the Scouting values of kindness and helping other people at all times,” says Carl Bobis, Northeast Iowa Council Scout Executive/Chief Executive Officer.

Lee Ann Knudson, Coordinator of Congregational Life and Ruling Elder at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon, will be the featured speaker for the Lenten Breakfast scheduled for Friday, March 27 at 7 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, located at 204 West Main Street in Waukon.

As part of a former military family with many duty stations throughout the years, Lee Ann has spoken and taught in Christian settings all over the world.  She has served chapel and church congregations in many countries, states, cities, and towns. Her speaking is informative, interactive, filled with laughter, and sometimes sprinkled with tears.

Join King of Grace Lutheran Church for a  family  fun run/walk in the Waukon City Park this Sunday, March 29, at 3:30 p.m. The event will include a half-mile route with stations along the way where children can get candy filled eggs with Bible passages telling the Easter story. This is a fun Sunday afternoon activity for the whole family ending at the Empty Tomb where participants will be reminded why it means hope for them.

This is a free event for all ages. Youth can register and line up for the run/walk at 3:15 p.m. For more information, visit King of Grace’s Facebook page or their website: kingofgraceiowa.com.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 23 to address a full agenda of matters including discussion of employee hiring relating to County Medical Examiner transport staff, the consideration of setting the date and time for the Public Hearing for Amendment 20 to Zoning Ordinance L relating to Data Centers, and the consideration of motor grader quotes. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Tom Clark with Supervisors Dan Byrnes and Dennis Keatley present.

In honor of Vietnam Day - designated March 29 of each year, Midwest Veterans Of America will be hosting a Soup & Sandwich event Saturday, March 28, beginning at 1 p.m. in the Community Room at FreedomBank in Waukon.

The soup and sandwiches are free to all Veterans and their families and friends, and carry-outs are available.

The first 25 Vietnam Veterans to visit the event will receive a free Vietnam hat. A small auction will also be held during the event with proceeds being donated to Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.

Anyone who wants to help make soup for the event is asked to call 563-568-9265.
 

Allamakee County Treasurer Nicki Smedsrud would like to remind property owners the second installment of property taxes is due by March 31, 2026. Those tax payments can be made in person at the Allamakee County Treasurer’s office in the Allamakee County Courthouse at 110 Allamakee Street in Waukon between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Property owners are reminded to bring their tax stubs with their payment to ensure proper credit. To avoid penalty on the second installment, payment must be received in the Treasurer’s Office by Tuesday, March 31. Penalty will begin to apply April 1.

E-check and credit card payments are also accepted online at www.iowatreasurers.org. Property owners will need their receipt number to pay by e-check, and this can be found on their tax statement.

AWANA International is celebrating 75 years of ministry to children this year. It was begun by Art Rohrheim as he taught children in his neighborhood of Chicago. In the 1980s AWANA grew to international venues and today reaches 9.3 million children each week.

AWANA is an international youth organization that provides a weekday program open to youth from churches of all denominations. The name AWANA is taken from II Timothy 2:15, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

AWANA does not promote the doctrine of any specific church or denomination but rather gives priority to the Bible as the Word of God. The vital Scripture verses on salvation and Christian growth are the heart of all AWANA achievements.

Nancy Einck of Waukon will be the featured speaker at the St. Patrick’s Women’s Lenten Breakfast scheduled to be held Friday morning, March 20 at St. Patrick Parish Hall, located at 109 2nd Street SW in Waukon. She will be sharing her Lenten message on “The Sound of Silent Whispers in the Sand.”

Nancy and her husband, Dave, have been married for 48 years. They are the blessed parents of Nate and Debbie Einck, Sean and Tiffany Merrick, Bryan and Kate Einck, and Mitch Einck (1986-2012), and they have also been further blessed with seven grandchildren, Luke, Ben, Katelyn, Evan, Tyler, Brooklyn and Austin.

Coffee, rolls and fruit will be served, beginning at 6:30 a.m., with the program starting at 7 a.m. allowing women to attend the event before starting their scheduled day. All women are invited to attend.
 

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 16 to address a full agenda of matters including review of the County’s Fiscal Year 2025 financial audit, consideration of setting a date and time for the Fiscal Year 2026 County Budget Amendment Public Hearing, and the discussion and consideration of the Fiscal Year 2027 County Health Insurance Provider.

The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson ProTem Dan Byrnes with Supervisor Dennis Keatley also present in person at the Supervisors Board Room within the County Courthouse. Board of Supervisors Chairperson Tom Clark was present via Zoom web-conferencing.