Community News

Wed
17
Jun

Supervisors discuss acquisition of Vet’s Club, address personnel items

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, June 15 to address a full agenda of items including the signing of a five-year software and information technology contract, discussion and consideration of the Vet’s Club purchase and the retirement of a County Recorder’s Office employee.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) provided an update relating to tourism information requests and the number of mailings being sent in response to those requests. Reinke discussed the Dairy Days Parade scheduled for Monday, June 15 and other Dairy Days associated events that are taking place.

Wed
17
Jun

Allamakee County reports just one new confirmed COVID-19 case this past week

After reporting its first full week last week without any new confirmed COVID-19 cases since such reports began to be officially released for Allamakee County in mid-March, the county did have one additional case reported this past week. Wednesday, June 10 saw the only new confirmed case reported in Allamakee County for the entire past week, breaking a streak of 11 consecutive days without any new confirmed cases for the county.

Wed
17
Jun

Music in the Park to begin this Thursday

The summer entertainment series Music in the Park is scheduled to get underway this week, Thursday, June 18, at the amphitheater location in the Waukon City Park. The series will kick off this Thursday with Lil’ Dale and the Legends performing at 7 p.m.

Those attending are reminded to practice social distancing and are welcome to bring their own seating. There will be no concession stand open for business during the Music in the Park series.

Additional Music in the Park entertainment scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. Thursday evenings this summer includes the following:

June 25 - Smoking Gun Showdown
July 2 - The Toe Tappers
July 16 - Tom Carpenter - Acoustic Music
July 23 - Buck Hollow Band.
 

Wed
17
Jun

Waukon City Council regular meeting delayed a day due to no quorum

The regular meeting of the Waukon City Council originally scheduled for Monday, June 15 had to be postponed due to a majority quorum of council members not being available to meet on that date due to a variety of scheduling conflicts. The meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday, June 16 at 7 p.m. and will have full coverage provided in the June 24 edition of The Standard.
 

Wed
10
Jun

Supervisors approve opening all doors of the Allamakee County Courthouse for public access, will continue to offer meetings via web-conferencing means

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, June 8 to address a full agenda of items including the consideration of bids for concrete patching, the hiring of Secondary Roads Department employees and discussion of COVID-19 related items.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) provided an overview of upcoming events and discussed her online attendance June 4-5 at EntreFEST, a two-day conference dedicated to Iowa and Midwest entrepreneurship and innovation. Reinke indicated that Sweeney Real Estate has made a social media post relating to the sale of the Waukon Inn Restaurant with the new owners to utilize the existing equipment in their business.

Wed
10
Jun

CARES Act funding helps VMH experience positive bottom line for April, impact of COVID-19 still being felt as hospital adjusts to “new normal” in its operations

by Brianne Eilers

The month of April ended with a positive operating margin of $181,000 for Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon. However, the operating margin for the 10-month period ending April 30, 2020 is still showing a loss of $514,000 for the hospital, according to numbers shared at the VMH Board of Trustees meeting May 28.

VMH Administrator Mike Myers noted that the decrease in patient revenue of $892,000 for April was due to the COVID-19 restrictions that were put in place, which did not allow for elective surgeries and resulted in a slowdown in outpatient services. There was also a decrease in the areas of obstetrics (OB), swing bed and Emergency Room (ER) visits. There was an increase in acute days and Urgent Care visits.

Wed
10
Jun

Another piece of the Plaza project in place …

This sculpture art piece, entitled “Crossroads” and created by artist Cara Briggs Farmer of Marion, was installed this past week at the downtown Plaza location at the stoplight intersection in Waukon as part of another step forward in the development of that Plaza area. The steel and plexiglass sculpture was designed to reflect the vibrancy and uniqueness of Waukon and to complement the downtown area surrounding it, with the artwork’s “Crossroads” title seeming to be very fitting at that intersection of Main Street and Allamakee Street/Spring Avenue that is part of the Driftless Area Scenic Byway in northeast Iowa.

Wed
03
Jun

Robey Memorial Library now open to the public with some service limitations

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon is now opened back up to the public at its regular hours as of June 1, with some service limitations. Library policies and procedures have been amended to prioritize public safety.

Social distancing is encouraged; hand sanitizer is provided throughout the library. Face masks are available. Surfaces and returned books are sanitized. Minors age eight and under must be accompanied by an adult. Curbside service will continue for the convenience of patrons.

The library is open for browsing, check-outs and inter-library loan requests. Public computers are available for use by individuals for up to two hours per day; computers can be reserved up to 24 hours in advance. Printing, copying, scanning and faxing services have also resumed. Library staff encourages use of the library’s wireless printing service; patrons are encouraged to ask for details.

Wed
03
Jun

Waukon City Council hears updates on library opening and Park & Rec programs; Options being looked at to make credit card payments

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, June 1 to address a variety of matters including an audio/visual technology upgrade for the City Council Chambers, the purchase of Police Department vehicle radios and the option of utility and other payments by residents to the City being made by credit card.

During Public Comment, Allamakee County Fair Board member Tyler Plein requested feedback from Mayor Pat Stone and the Waukon City Council relating to their opinions of having the Allamakee County Fair this summer with COVID-19 precautions as a consideration. The mayor and council were supportive of having the event. Plein further discussed that grandstand events could be allowed at 50% capacity, food stands would not be part of the event to help promote social distancing, children would be allowed to show animals and sanitizing would occur regularly.

Wed
03
Jun

Boy Scouts Northeast Iowa Council launches “Scout Me In Challenge” for all youth


“Scout Me In Challenge” has launched ... The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many things to take place virtually due to social distancing and gathering restrictions, among them Boy Scout meetings such as what is pictured above. The Boy Scouts Northeast Iowa Council has launched the “Scout Me In Challenge” as of June 1, a free collection of activities for all youth to take part in during the months of June, July and August. Submitted photo.

The Boy Scouts Northeast Iowa Council has announced the launch of the free Scout Me In Challenge! The challenge became available starting Monday, June 1 for all youth and is accessed at: https://mailchi.mp/scouting/smichallenge.

The Scout Me In Challenge has activities for June, July and August. As families continue spending time together during the global pandemic, the challenge puts a fresh perspective on many of the projects families are currently doing together, as well as exposes them to new activities. The challenge takes the core of Cub Scouting, such as citizenship, personal fitness, character and leadership, and breaks it into bite-sized pieces that can be done as a family.

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