Community News

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.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, March 16 to address a full agenda of matters including the Public Hearing relating to changing the zoning district classification from “M-1” Manufacturing to “B-2” General Business District for Certain Real Estate, the Final Reading and adoption of the Ordinance amending the code by changing the city elections procedure, and discussion of the proposed development of a sidewalk inspection and replacement program. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members present including Cassie Handke, Nicholas Engrav, Tim Smedsrud, Steve Wiedner and John Lydon.

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.

The 2026 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Waukon will be held Sunday, March 22 (postponed from the originally scheduled date of Sunday, March 15 date due to anticipated weather conditions), beginning at 1 p.m. All are invited to participate in this year’s parade with an Irish-themed entry at no cost.

Any businesses, organizations, families or individuals wishing to have an entry are asked to be lined up by 12 noon Sunday, with float entries lining up in the parking lot of WW Homestead Dairy and the former Northern Engraving plant, tractors unloading and lining up at the Sweeney Auction Service parking lot and horse units gathering at the Croell Redi-Mix plant on the southeast edge of Waukon.

Waukon High School welcomed the newest members into its local chapter of National Honor Society at an annual induction ceremony held Tuesday, March 3 at Waukon High School. Starting in January of their junior year, eligible students are invited to complete the application process to gain membership into National Honor Society. Membership is based on the four pillars that National Honor Society represents: Scholarship, Character, Leadership and Service. Pictured above are this year’s new inductees.

The Allamakee County Fair Board will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Pancake Breakfast this Sunday, March 15 from 8 a.m.-12 noon at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon, prior to the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Waukon.

The local group Driftless Dark Sky will meet Tuesday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Yellow River State Forest foresters’ office, located at 729 State Forest Road, Harpers Ferry. Anyone who is interested is welcome to attend.

An organizational meeting will be held and then program topics for the remainder of the meeting will include the impact of light pollution on wildlife, how it affects human health, wasted energy cost and things people can do to mitigate these impacts. In addition, there will be a demonstration of newly installed Dark Sky compliant outdoor lighting (pictured above) recently installed in the forest.

Discussion will also take place about the impact of Artificial Light At Night (or ALAN) becoming more prominent in society and many cities and communities implementing dark sky friendly policies to protect the night sky. For more information about the meeting or the Dark Sky initiative, call 563-535-7100. Submitted photo.