Community News

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, March 2 to address a full agenda of items including a proclamation relating to the fire at Gus and Tony’s Pizza and Steakhouse, a grant opportunity for lighted pedestrian signage and the purchase of a pothole repair machine.

During Public Comment, Director Ardie Kuhse of Waukon Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) discussed the Waukon Chamber of Commerce Banquet taking place the evening of Saturday, March 7 with awards to be presented for Person of the Year and Business of the Year. Kuhse indicated that a new chamber director has not yet been named with the application process ongoing.

Youth Mentoring at Helping Services for Youth & Families is hosting its annual Bowl-A-Thon Saturday, March 21 at Arrowhead  Lanes in Waukon. This event aims to raise $7,000 to connect youth in Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek counties with a mentor.

Currently, 104 people are involved in Youth Mentoring at Helping Services. Now is the time to strike up a conversation with friends, neighbors, club members and co-workers to form a team to bowl. Proceeds support those youth and adults being friends in mentoring. Participants can be involved in two ways: register to bowl and/or donate to the cause.

Registration is now open at www.helpingservices.org/YMBOWL. Bowlers can form a team of four members or sign up to bowl individually and Helping Services will pair them with others. Anyone can bowl at this event, and bowlers do not have to be associated with mentoring to bowl. Bowling times are 10 a.m., Noon and 2 p.m.

Plans have been announced to hold the 2020 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Waukon Sunday, March 15. All are invited to participate in this year’s parade with an Irish-themed entry at no cost. Further details of the annual event will be printed as they become finalized.
 

Effigy Mounds National Monument announces a series of special events celebrating the American Indian tradition of storytelling in winter. Winter Stories will occur Saturday and Sunday afternoons through the end of March. Activities will take place in the Effigy Mounds National Monument Visitor Center located at 151 Highway 76, Harpers Ferry.

Presentations span multiple genres of storytelling including traditional storytelling, cinematography and art. This weekend’s presentation is scheduled for Saturday, February 29 from 1-3 p.m. and will feature Bill Quakenbush, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin speaking on “Ho-Chunk Oral Stories: Are They Still Relevant Today?”

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon is hosting the ISBA People’s Law School series through April 21. The library is partnering with the Iowa State Bar Association (ISBA) to bring free high-quality adult programming to the local community.

Tuesday, March 10 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., the ISBA will live-stream a free educational event focused on employment law basics to Robey Memorial Library. Topics for this ISBA People’s Law School session include:

• An overview of the employment relationship
• Trends in policies and best practices
• Resources for employees.

Kay Oskvig, an attorney with Whitfield & Eddy Law, will be presenting the information. She represents businesses, governmental entities, nonprofit organizations and independent contractors on issues including non-competition covenants, wage and hour matters, and civil rights complaints.

AVEKA Group, Inc., a contract manufacturing and research and development company based out of Woodbury, MN with a plant facility located in northeast Waukon, has announced that the company has become an S Corporation ESOP (employee stock ownership plan), effective October 15, 2019. In the transaction, prior investors sold 100% of their ownership interest to a newly created Employee Stock Ownership Trust, allowing current and future employees to gain a beneficial ownership interest in the company.

Effectively, the ESOP is a qualified retirement plan which, based on company performance, could generate significant retirement benefits for AVEKA Group’s approximately 280 employee owners.

Local favorite The Caminos will open Saturday night’s music event

The grandstand at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds will be rockin’ and rollin’ Saturday, July 11 in Waukon, as this year’s grandstand musical act for the Allamakee County Fair will feature some new flair and some local air.

The Allamakee County Fair Board has announced that it will be bringing the next best thing to legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bon Jovi to the fair this year when Slippery When Wet - The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute hits the stage to headline this year’s musical entertainment for the fair. This four-man group is led by frontman Jason Morey on vocals, Adin Stickle on guitar, Jimmi Botsford on bass and John Martin on drums.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, February 17 to address a variety of agenda items including the appointment of Solid Waste Management Board members, the hiring of an assistant mechanic for the Secondary Roads Department and discussion of the Allamakee County Historical Society’s potential use of the Vet’s Club building.

During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) provided an overview of several events that took place over the weekend within the county including such Waukon events as the Oneota Film Festival at the Town Theater and the Dueling Pianos concert at the Waukon Banquet Center, as well as Lansing events including Coffee on the River’s Valentine’s Day Dinner, the Safe House’s Murder Mystery and the Busch Light Curling Event.

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon offers a variety of learning opportunities throughout the year with its Live & Learn series. All programs are free (unless otherwise noted), but registration is encouraged.

Thursday, February 27 at 5:30 p.m., Robey Memorial Library is hosting a Cultivate Hardwood Log Mushrooms program presented by Stone Hollow Gardens and Shroomery of Dubuque. Emily and Christopher Appelman of Stone Hollow Gardens and Shroomery run a homestead in the Driftless Region. The Appelmans have hardwood log cultivated mushrooms on their homestead for five years.

Youth Mentoring at Helping Services for Youth & Families is hosting its annual Bowl-A-Thon Saturday, March 21 at Arrowhead  Lanes in Waukon. This event aims to raise $7,000 to connect youth in Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek counties with a mentor.

Currently, 104 people are involved in Youth Mentoring at Helping Services. Now is the time to strike up a conversation with friends, neighbors, club members and co-workers to form a team to bowl. Proceeds support those youth and adults being friends in mentoring. Interested participants can be involved in two important ways: register to bowl and/or donate to the cause.