Community News

Children of all ages are invited to read to Sunny, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever owned by PJ Mullen, at K9 Story Time at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon. Sunny (pictured above) received her therapy training through the Love on a Leash Organization. K9 Story Time will be held each Thursday, June 21 through August 16, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Each reading session will be 10 minutes long allowing space for four different readers each Thursday. Registration is required and be can be done by contacting Robey Memorial Library at 563-568-4424 or www.waukon.lib.ia.us. Submitted photo.
 

Jeff Abbas, a county resident for 11 years, is announcing his candidacy for a seat on the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors. Abbas is the fourth declared candidate vying for the two Supervisor seats that will be up for election in this year’s general election scheduled for early November.

Abbas and his wife, Mary, live on Bear Creek near Dorchester and are supporters and members of the Community Rights Movement which advocates more local control for citizens. They were both leaders of the successful fight against frac sand mining in Allamakee County.

He acknowledges the diligent work by County officials in that fight as being crucial to the success of that campaign.

“Without the incredible efforts by the Board of Supervisors, the Zoning Board and everyone involved at the County level, that campaign would have failed,” Abbas says.

The Second Degree Murder case against 32-year-old John Michael Quanrude of Waukon involved a busy week of change this past week, ultimately resulting in the continuance of the jury trial in the case until a September 10 date. The trial had originally been set for August 22, was moved ahead to June 6 but has now been pushed back to begin Monday, September 10.

After having his original demand for a speedy trial misinterpreted by District Court Judge Richard Stochl to a believed waiver of that speedy trial, the original August 22 trial date had been set in early May of this year. When that misinterpretation was discovered a week later, the trial was forced forward to supposedly begin this Wednesday, June 6.

Joann Kuster, author of the Money Godmother Blog and Chairperson for Iowa’s Money Smart Week events, has announced that a Waukon third grade student has been chosen as a state winner for the Money Smart Week Piggy Bank Pageant. Tihanna Brown participated in the piggy bank decorating contest that Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank hosted at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon during Money Smart Week earlier this spring. She decorated her piggy bank with some colorful feathers and a pompom nose. Pictured in the photo at left above, left to right, Tihanna Brown was presented a certificate and a check for $100 from the Iowa Jumpstart Coalition by Kerndt Brothers Bank Business Banker Assistant Angela Carlson for being a statewide winner. Picturd at right above is Brown’s decorated piggy bank that was selected as a statewide winner. Money Smart Week is an annual event held in April each year to teach children the importance of saving. Submitted photos.
 

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, June 4 to address a full agenda of items including the Wellmark Healthy Hometown Walking Audit, a recommendation to fill a vacancy in the Waukon Police Department and a request to sell fireworks within city limits.

Mayor Pat Stone called the meeting to order with council member Ben Rausch requesting the addition of an agenda item involving the SolSmart solar energy program. There was no Public Comment.

During Departmental Reports, Water and Sewer Superintendent Bob Campbell discussed a sewer repair on Seventh Avenue SE and that the storm sewer flow study is continuing with flow meters being moved to the northwest section of Waukon.

by Lissa Blake

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing has been named among the Best of Iowa’s State and County Parks. The ranking, compiled by traveliowa.com, lists the Center as one of Iowa’s “Can’t Miss Nature Centers.”

The Driftless Center listing can be found amongst a number of other attractions listed online at www.traveliowa.com/getinspireddetails/the-best-of-iowa-s-state-and-count...

Jill Johnson of TASC, Inc. was selected as a 2018 recipient of the IACP (Iowa Association of Community Providers) Frontline Supervisor Award recognizing excellence in quality contributions in serving others. She was presented with her award at the annual IACP Convention held May 3 in Ames. Johnson is a solution-oriented supervisor whose dedication to the people she serves has led to success in transitions to community living. Pictured above, left to right, are Jill Johnson and Iowa Association of Community Providers Chief Executive Officer Shelly Chandler. Submitted photo.
 

The Allamakee County Fair Board is seeking applicants for the 2018 Allamakee County Fair Queen contest, with this year’s fair running July 18-22.

The contest will run similarly to that of the Iowa State Fair Queen Contest. There will be one formal interview conducted by judges. This is where the majority of the judging will take place.

Coronation of the 2018 Allamakee County Fair Queen will take place following the “Allamakee County Youth Showcase” Tuesday evening, July 17 at the Allamakee County Pavilion building on the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. This event will begin at 7 p.m.

At this event, each Fair Queen contestant will be asked to share her favorite Allamakee County Fair memory. The 2018 Allamakee County Fair Queen and Allamakee County Fair Princess will be announced and crowned at the conclusion of the Youth Showcase.

Children and families are encouraged to participate in Robey Memorial Library’s program series, Summer Explorers, to be held Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. May 30, June 6, 13 and 20, and August 1 and 8. The program schedule is as follows:

The Walk-On Waukon Committee recently received a $1,000 donation from Gundersen Health System toward its planned sidewalk project. Pictured above representing the donation to Walk-On Waukon is Hallie Linderbaum, Business Office Coordinator at Gundersen Health System - Waukon Clinic. The Walk-On Waukon Committee is continuing to work on plans and reaching financial goals to start improving walkability in Waukon. Submitted photo.