Education

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is holding an open house on Wednesday, November 2, for its renovated Agricultural Technology Building at the Calmar campus. Community members, agriculture and business leaders may tour the renovated facility from 3 - 7 p.m. and attend a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3:30 p.m.

The Allamakee County Historical Society has invited third grade classrooms from throughout Allamakee County to visit the Allamakee County Courthouse Museum and the adjacent Gjefle cabin in Waukon. Third grade classes from St. Patrick School in Waukon (pictured above) and New Albin Elementary School (pictured below) completed their tours Wednesday, October 5, with the guidance of Judge John Bauercamper, Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick and Deputy Tim Smedsrud, and Allamakee County Historical Society members Carolyn Clark, Marcia Rush and Christine Klingeman. Additional visits from third grade classrooms are anticipated in the spring. Anyone wishing to tour the museum or cabin is asked to call 563-568-2954 or Marcia Rush at 563-880-3014. Submitted photos.
 

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly board meeting Monday night, October 17. During the reports portion of the meeting, ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold noted that the wrestling room project has been completed.

Herold also spoke briefly about concerns with the upcoming election season. He said that his biggest concern is education funding (allowable growth). Herold said that which ever candidates get elected, they take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa. Iowa Code states that allowable growth should be set within 30 days of the Governor submitting the draft budget to the legislature. Herold noted that for the past few years, legislators have ignored this rule.

The Waukon High School music department has selected "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" as this year's musical production. Three performances are being planned for Thursday through Saturday, November 3-5 at the Waukon High School auditorium.  Curtain time for all performances is at 7 p.m.

Bursting with the rambunctious energy of the original Academy Award winning 1954 MGM film, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" is all boisterous fun and romance, a truly rollicking adventure, which teaches that it takes a bride to turn seven unshaven, unkempt brothers into manly gentlemen and to turn desire into romance. Set in Oregon in 1850, Seven "Brides for Seven Brothers" tells the story of a backwoodsman named Adam Pontipee (played by Adam Gruman), who comes into town to search for a bride.

Ever year the sixth grade class at St. Patrick School in Waukon (pictured above) has the opportunity to participate in an overnight retreat at Village Creek Bible Camp, rural Lansing. The students take part in many team-building activities, along with different challenge courses. Some of the activities at this year's retreat included tree climbing, zip-lining and lake fun. The students learned about the importance of teamwork throughout the retreat, while forming close bonds with each other that will last for many years. Submitted photo.
 

Allamakee County Pheasants Forever, Mississippi Valley Sportsman Club and Riverland Conservancy will be sponsoring a mentored youth pheasant hunt Saturday, October 22. The event will start at 8:30 a.m. at the Sportsman Club, which is located two miles south of Lansing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officers will start the morning discussing the importance of habitat for pheasant survival and then review applicable hunting regulations. Hunter safety instructors will then go over safe gun handling and hunting in the field, which will be followed by a trap shoot at the clubhouse. A lunch will be served, and after lunch, live birds will be released on Riverland Conservancy land where the kids will have an opportunity to hunt alongside trained bird dogs. Youth must be between the ages of 12 and 15 and have completed the hunter’s safety program. One of the goals of the event is to introduce young people to the sport of hunting.

The Schola group at St. Patrick School in Waukon performs under the direction of Timothy Lund during the Grandparent's Day Mass held Friday, September 30 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. More than 200 grandparents participated in the special day. Submitted photo.
 

Livestock ration nutrition and agricultural careers focusing on customer service and the needs of local farmers are a tradition in the Schmitt family.

Dan Schmitt’s interest in livestock ration nutrition was fueled at an early age by observing his father, Fidelis Schmitt, and his pioneering work in mixed feed science for Union Produce. Schmitt’s career goals led him to the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Calmar campus, where he graduated from the Agri-Business program in 1979. The alumnus is now a professional beef consultant for Innovative AG Services and has devoted his knowledge, customer service and consultation to beef industry clients for more than 35 years.

To celebrate and recognize his many honors, volunteer service and community achievements, NICC inducted Schmitt, who grew up in Ossian and moved to Waukon in 1985,  into the College’s Alumni Hall of Fame October 3.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Waukon Center is offering assistance in filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Thursday, October 6 from 3:30-8 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW.

The NICC Waukon Center will be offering 30-minute appointment sessions to assist students with their FAFSA application during that timeframe. To register for an appointment, call the NICC Waukon Center at 563-568-3060.

The first step in receiving student aid for college is filling out the FAFSA. Anyone needing help to pay for college will want to do this as soon as possible. For the 2017-18 school year, the FAFSA can now be completed as early as October 1, 2016 using 2015 tax information. It is advised to not wait to complete the application, as some of the most beneficial financial aid funds are first come, first served.
 

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering the two-session class “Beginning Sign Language Plus” Thursdays, October 6 and October 13, from 6-8 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW.

Designed for parents and caregivers of toddlers or communication-challenged individuals, this two-week class builds a basic 150-word vocabulary in American Sign Language (ASL). Using sign language lessens frustration by giving a baby the tool to clearly communicate specific thoughts, wants and needs before speech has developed.  For those who have taken this class before, this will be a refresher and an opportunity to build on known vocabulary.