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The 2026 Kee High School Prom is scheduled for this Saturday, April 25 and will feature a bit of a different format from past years as students enjoy “A Night at the Oscars”. The Grand March will kick off the evening at 5 p.m. in the Kee High School gym. The annual Prom banquet will then be held at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall on Main Street in Lansing, beginning at 6:30 p.m., where students will enjoy a glamorous evening of red carpet moments, dazzling decor, and Hollywood-worthy memories complete with paparazzi, VIP access, and Kee’s very own Oscar Award Ceremony featuring such honors as Best Red Carpet Appearance; Outstanding Performance: Life of the Party; Best Duo in a Leading Role (couple, bros, gal-pals); Best Choreography: Dance Floor Takeover; and many more, in lieu of crowning a Prom King and Queen.

Jackie Cooper has lived and breathed rural Iowa her entire life. It’s where she grew up, runs a family business, and stays involved with her community. This month, she will begin a new chapter in her rural Iowa story: Executive director of the Allamakee County Community Foundation.

The Churchtown resident will step into the role following the retirement of Betty Steege, who has served as the Community Foundation’s executive director for 15 years, overseeing tremendous growth and community impact.

“Looking back, I believe that spirit of service was woven into my identity from a very young age,” Cooper says. “Today, I feel that my true calling - both personally and professionally - is asking, ‘How can I help? How can I make a connection? How can I serve and help make an impact?’”

Main Street Lansing (MSL) hosted its Annual Meeting Monday, March 30, welcoming over 100 community members, business owners, and supporters for what may have been the organization’s most well-attended meeting to date.

The evening was held at TJ Hunters Event Space, where guests enjoyed catering while experiencing one of Lansing’s event venues. Attendees were also treated to table centerpieces by Red Geranium, highlighting local businesses and adding a special touch to the evening.

During the Year in Review, Main Street Lansing highlighted a strong and impactful 2025, including over 44 initiatives, 16 major events, and more than 2,300 volunteer hours - representing over $70,000 in community value. The organization also shared exciting plans and priorities for the future, continuing its mission to foster a vibrant and sustainable downtown.

by Joshua Sharpe

Tyler Sullivan’s Iowa project did not begin as a casual pastime. It grew out of repeated travel, close observation, and a question that gradually became a long-term undertaking to learn more about his home state of Iowa and the counties and communities within that state.

Sullivan will be sharing the experiences and knowledge he has accumulated at a presentation this Saturday, April 11 at the New Albin Public Library, beginning at 11 a.m. Named Iowa Scenic Views By Foot and documented on his social media presence under that same name, Sullivan’s project is focused on enticing others to learn more about their own home state, their community and the town they call home.

When Betty Steege started coordinating the Allamakee County Community Foundation (ACCF) in 2011, she was new to the community, and the organization was in its infancy. Today, she is a trusted voice across the county, and the 21-year-old Community Foundation has far surpassed its founders’ vision.

“Betty’s work has made a great impact on our Foundation and the future of our communities. It is important to look to the future and prepare as best we can,” said founding board member Matt Erickson of Postville. “We thank Betty for her foresight and the energy she put into the Foundation.”

Tough Tek Metals, the small-town manufacturer based in Lansing, is celebrating a major milestone: 100,000 safety screens provided to military housing across the United States and beyond. That milestone number represents far more than production output; it represents lives protected, families supported, and tragedies prevented.

For the team at Tough Tek Metals, the achievement is deeply meaningful.

“Although nobody calls us and thanks us, we know we are having a meaningful impact,” the team shared. “We know falls are being prevented - and that’s what matters most.”

A MISSION ROOTED IN CHILD SAFETY
Tough Tek’s patented safety screens were developed with a clear purpose: preventing children from falling out of windows while still allowing families to fully use their windows for ventilation and comfort.

Four farming couples were honored as 2026 Master Farmers at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny Wednesday, March 25. Each year, Wallaces Farmer magazine and the Iowa Master Farmer Association (IMFA) select deserving candidates who reflect exceptional agricultural production skills, commitment to family and service to community.

Among the 2026 Iowa Master Farmers are Steve and Jane Johanningmeier of Waterville. They were joined by this year’s fellow honorees Morey and Rhonda Hill of Madrid, Dan and Susan Voss of Atkins, and Pete and Dana Wenstrand of Essex in receiving that recognition during the centennial year of the program.

This year also featured two new winners of the Exceptional Service to Agriculture Award. They are Greg Tylka, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension nematologist and founding director of the Iowa Soybean Research Center at ISU, and Kirk Leeds, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Iowa Soybean Association.

Hannah Hagen, daughter of Erik and Lisa Hagen of Waterville, was crowned the 2026 Allamakee County Dairy Princess at the annual Allamakee County Dairy Banquet held Saturday, March 28 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Hagen will now assume the duties that are inherent with being crowned as the Allamakee County Dairy Princess throughout her reign this next year, as she takes over that role from 2025 Allamakee County Dairy Princess Kendra Gibbs. Additional photos of award winners and other recognition from Saturday’s 2026 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet will appear in a future edition of The Standard. Photo by Paula Enyart.

Pick up the Wednesday, April 1, 2026 print edition of The Standard or subscribe to our e-edition or print edition by clicking here.

by Lissa Blake

Many Allamakee County residents enjoy celebrating their Irish Heritage around St. Patrick’s Day, much as they did recently.

But many may not know that the families, friends and neighbors celebrating with them are descendants of Brian Boru, the Monarch High King of Ireland.

King Boru lived from 941-1014, and is credited with uniting the four provinces and conquering the Viking stronghold over the country. He ruled from 1002 to 1014, dying after the Battle of Clontarf and setting up his heirs to rule for hundreds of years through the O’Brien dynasty.

The Battle of Clontarf took place near Dublin on the east coast of Ireland. It is considered an important event in Irish history, being credited with freeing the Irish from foreign domination, with King Boru being hailed as a national hero.

Although the temperatures were a bit chilly and a noticeable breeze was blowing, conditions for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade held Sunday, March 22 in Waukon were still much better than they were a week prior when a snowstorm forced postponement of the annual event from its original date of Sunday, March 15. Not even that delay could dampen the Irish spirit on display, as more than 130 parade entries that made their way along this year’s parade route took approximately an hour to complete their circuit of Irish celebration early Sunday afternoon. Additional photos taken by Standard Assistant Editor Joe Moses from this year’s parade can be found on Page 28 within this same edition of The Standard. All of the parade photos found in this issue, along with many more from Sunday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, are available for viewing by clicking on the Photos link on The Standard’s website. A video of this year’s St.