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Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is asking voters to decide whether to continue the College’s existing bond levy in a special election scheduled for Tuesday, September 11. The NICC Board of Trustees approved the continuation at its meeting in April of this year and is now bringing the matter in front of voters, to be labeled “Public Measure B” on the special election ballot.

The bond levy up for renewal is a continuation of an already existing levy - not a new tax, and if approved by voters would allow NICC to secure $39 million in taxpayer support. The College’s current property tax levy rate for the bond and interest fund is set at $0.288 per $1,000 assessed valuation, and the new bond issuance, if approved by district voters, is structured to be paid off at that same $0.288 levy rate.

by Lissa Blake

There are so many emotions one can experience when a loved one takes his or her own life.

And when Matt Howe passed away earlier this year, his wife, Rachelle Howe, and sister, Becky Decker, decided to organize an effort to do something to try to help others.

“When Matt passed away, there were so many emotions … looming guilt, sadness, bewilderment … I wanted to take his loss and have him be remembered for something good, and to do something good for myself, my kids and my community,” said Howe.

When Matt’s younger brother, Tom, took his own life three months after Matt passed, Howe and Decker knew they had to do something. An endowment fund has now been established to help support people with all types of struggles, including mental illness, suicide or abuse.

Students and faculty of the Kee High School Drama Department had the opportunity to provide lunch as well as participate in a meet and greet session with the cast and crew of the film “The Burial” which is being filmed Monday through Friday of this week in Lansing and the surrounding area. As pictured above in the Kee High School cafeteria in Lansing, the cast and crew visited with the students while enjoying a potluck-style lunch Sunday afternoon, August 26. After lunch, cast and crew members introduced themselves to those in attendance and shared their experiences about their career. They also provided some valuable insight about the many skills the students will need as they graduate high school and move on to the next chapter in their lives, especially those pursuing careers in the arts or film industry in particular.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, August 27 to address a full agenda of items including an unexpected election expense update, a vehicle replacement for the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department and the contract and bond for Brennan Construction to complete the A26 Bridge replacement project.

Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) is seeking nominations for the 2018 Cloy Kuhse Positive Impact Award. To be eligible, the recipient must be a business located in Allamakee County.

ACED will accept nominations for the Positive Impact Award until Friday, September 7 of this year. The award winner announcement and ceremony will be at the ACED Annual Banquet in October. The award recipient will receive a plaque and will be added to the award plaque that is displayed at the ACED office in Waukon.

New Albin Savings Bank was the 2017 Cloy Kuhse Positive Impact Award winner, and ACED looks forward to announcing another business that is making a positive impact at the annual meeting this October.

by Lissa Blake

It seems like it’s taking over the county this summer. A white, flowering vine which is engulfing trees and shrubs and can be seen along fences and in ditches throughout Allamakee County, especially noticeable along State Highway 9 between Waukon and Decorah.
The plant is echinocystis lobata, more commonly known as wild cucumber.

Allamakee County Weed Commissioner Laurie Moody recently contacted Lane Kozel, entomologist from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, to find out more about the invasive weed. Moody said from the description, Kozel was concerned it may be Mile-A-Minute weed, which has also begun to establish a presence in Iowa; however, when he visited the county, Kozel realized it was wild cucumber.

Grace Howe, 17-year-old daughter of Shelly and the late Matt Howe of Waukon, was named Alternate Iowa Dairy Princess at the 65th annual Iowa Dairy Princess coronation ceremony held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines the evening of Wednesday, August 8. As this year’s Alternate, Howe will share duties with the 2018-2019 Iowa Dairy Princess, 18-year-old Jessica Schmitt of Fort Atkinson, who represented Winneshiek County at the annual event.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

“Follow your dreams” is the motto which Jack Meggers lives by.

For the past few years, Meggers, who is an Iowa native and whose father, Larry Meggers, is a current resident of Lansing, has been pursuing his dream of making a full-length feature film in northeast Iowa. Getting the funding for such a project is difficult. Even a low-budget film with a cost of half a million dollars is almost an insurmountable task. Because of those hurdles, Meggers has begun to follow a slower alternate route to fulfilling that dream of a feature length film.

by Brianne Eilers

The beginning of the 2018-2019 school year is right around the corner and this year the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) will begin a new school year with a new superintendent.

Jay Mathis is no stranger to the Waukon area or the ACSD. He was raised in rural Allamakee County and graduated in 1982 from Waukon High School. His wife, the former Maria Welsh, is also a 1982 WHS graduate and they both have family still living in the area.

Mathis spent the first 13 years of his career in education teaching math and coaching football and track. His first teaching/coaching job was with Garner-Hayfield schools in central Iowa. He then went on to teach and coach for the Decorah school district.

by Lissa Blake

There is seemingly no end to the number of things Marcella (Kolsrud) Selberg and Norma (Sorenson) Barr have in common. Perhaps that is why they’ve remained friends for nearly all of their lives.

They were both baptized, confirmed and married at the Waterville Lutheran Church. They both attended Waterville Elementary and High School, participating in girls’ glee club, band and sports together. Both were raised in homes where Norwegian was spoken regularly.

And, as of June of this year, they now both reside at Good Samaritan Society in Waukon, where - much like their days growing up - they now keep up with each other on a daily basis.

FAMILY FRIENDS
Norma was born on the Fourth of July, 1924. “The doctor wasn’t available, so my two grandmothers delivered me,” said Norma.

Marcella was also born at home, March 20, 1925, with a doctor attending.