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Wed
06
Sep

School Board Election scheduled to take place September 12

Residents of Allamakee County will be joining those throughout the state of Iowa in choosing individuals to lead their respective school district boards of education when the Tuesday, September 12 School Board Election takes place throughout the state. Voters in the Allamakee, Eastern Allamakee and Postville Community School Districts in Allamakee County will be able to cast their vote that Tuesday between 12 noon and 8 p.m. at their respective voting precincts listed below.

ALLAMAKEE
Voters in the Allamakee Community School District will have two board seats up for re-election this fall. Those two seats each have incumbent candidates vying for another term with no declared opposition. Allan Rissman will be seeking re-election to his Director-At-Large position, and Scott Melcher will be doing likewise for his District 1 Director seat.

Polling sites for voters in the Allamakee Community School District will be at the following locations:

Wed
06
Sep

Teresa Myers is 2017 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame inductee for Allamakee County


The Allamakee County 4-H Youth Development Committee is proud to recognize Teresa Myers of Waukon as the 2017 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame inductee from Allamakee County. Myers has been a long-time supporter of the Allamakee County 4-H Program. Pictured at right during the 4-H Hall of Fame Award ceremony are, left to right, Teresa Myers, Iowa 4-H Foundation Executive Director Emily Saveraid and Iowa 4-H Volunteer Development Specialist Tillie Good. Myers' 4-H involvement has spanned many years - from her early start as a 4-H member in Buchanan County, to her many years as a 4-H Club leader for the Clover Chasers, a 4-H parent, a member of the Youth Development Committee and serving as an advisor for the County Council. Even though her children have grown and graduated from the 4-H program, she is still willing to share her 4-H enthusiasm by helping with the Allamakee County Fair Board and participates in the beef shared project. This year’s 4-H Hall of Fame inductee continues to touch many lives through her support of the Allamakee County 4-H program. Local leaders say Myers is a great asset to the Allamakee County 4-H Program and her service to the 4-H program emphasizes the mission of the 4-H Hall of Fame. To find out more about the Allamakee County 4-H Program contact Morgan Bjerke, County Youth Coordinator, Iowa State University Extension Office at 563-568-6345. Submitted photo.

The Allamakee County 4-H Youth Development Committee is proud to recognize Teresa Myers of Waukon as the 2017 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame inductee from Allamakee County. Myers has been a long-time supporter of the Allamakee County 4-H Program. Pictured at right during the 4-H Hall of Fame Award ceremony are, left to right, Teresa Myers, Iowa 4-H Foundation Executive Director Emily Saveraid and Iowa 4-H Volunteer Development Specialist Tillie Good.

Wed
06
Sep

AVEKA begins next step in effort to reduce noise, odor


Plans continue to progress to extend the smokestack, pictured above from a ground up perspective and pictured below as part of the overall processing exhaust system, at the AVEKA Nutra Processing facility in north Waukon. Plans are currently underway to extend the existing smokestack an additional 30 feet, from its current 55 feet tall to 85 feet with help from a surrounding support structure, to help disperse and dilute some of both the noise and odor produced by the facility during its operations. That improvement is currently awaiting the return of soil testing results around the facility to determine what type of footing will be best suited for the support structure. A 13-foot wall around the area featuring the smokestack in the photo at right is also scheduled to be constructed, with use of sound absorption panels, to help quiet some of the noise produced from the facility's drying fan. Standard photos by Joe Moses.

Pictured above is just a portion of the inner workings of the AVEKA Nutra Processing facility in north Waukon. The area pictured is part of a liquid filtration system and evaporator used to concentrate the filtrate before either packaging or a further drying processing step takes place, depending on the product. Submitted photo.

by Joe Moses

Since his recent addition of general manager duties at the AVEKA Nutra Processing plant in Waukon, John Anderson has been working to address concerns expressed by the public and the Waukon City Council regarding the production facility's noise and odor levels and to develop and implement plans being made to address these concerns. Anderson has experience working at four plants that use spray dryers, saying that each plant produces some noise and odor. He is currently dividing his time between the Cresco and Waukon AVEKA facilities serving as general manager at both locations.

Wed
30
Aug

Sports complex at Waukon High School dedicated in honor of Dr. Richard Hermeier ...


Richard Hermeier Sports Complex ...
Dr. Richard Hermeier ...
Dr. Richard Hermeier ...

Fans in attendance at the Friday, August 25 season-opening game for the Waukon Indian 2017 football season perhaps either passed through or witnessed the dedication of the new entrance (pictured above) designating the Richard Hermeier Sports Complex located directly behind Waukon High School. Dr. Richard Hermeier (pictured below), a 1955 graduate of Waukon High School, was honored at halftime of the August 25 football game in front of his hometown's fans at the Waukon High School sports complex that he and his family helped created through generous donations valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars throughout the past decade or so. In addition to Dr. Hermeier's name being forever commemorated in a metal arch above the pictured entrance, Dr.

Wed
30
Aug

Drone saves time and resources during rescue from Yellow River


Decorah Fire Department volunteers Marcus Hageman and Zach Kerndt (left to right in above photo) fly the drone recently purchased by the Decorah Fire Department and even more recently used to help area entities in search and rescue efforts. The drone was used August 20 in a search and rescue in Allamakee County that involved six ladies from the Quad Cities area who were lost along a stretch of the Yellow River between Ion and Effigy Mounds. Photo by Lissa Blake, Decorah Newspapers.

Although there doesn't appear to be much to it, the drone pictured above owned by the Decorah Fire Department has performed some significant tasks since its recent purchase. The drone was used August 20 in a search and rescue in Allamakee County that involved six ladies from the Quad Cities area who were lost along a stretch of the Yellow River between Ion and Effigy Mounds. Photo by Lissa Blake, Decorah Newspapers.

by Lissa Blake

New technology recently saved precious time during a call to rescue six tubers lost on the Yellow River in Allamakee County.

According to Harpers Ferry Fire and Rescue Chief Dave Cota, the Decorah Fire Department’s new drone helped emergency personnel locate the stranded individuals in record time. The six women rescued were from the Quad Cities area.

“The stretch of Yellow River between Ion and Effigy Mounds is both rugged and desolate. They were out there in no-man’s land,” said Cota of the rescue that occurred Sunday evening, August 20.

Cota said it was the second time his department has been called to that stretch of the river. “People don’t realize there’s really no current along that stretch of the river,” he said.

Wed
30
Aug

Not much to see locally, but eclipse draws attention ...

The Monday, August 21 total solar eclipse that cast the moon's shadow diagonally across the United States from northwest to southeast provided many viewers along that estimated 100-mile wide shadow path with a phenomenon that has not been seen within the 48 contiguous United States since February of 1979 and is not scheduled to happen again within the contiguous United States until April of 2024. Only an estimated 87% eclipse was expected to be seen locally within the Allamakee County area, but overcast skies made local viewing of the eclipse somewhat fruitless.

Wed
30
Aug

Allamakee County part of Presidential Disaster Declaration following July storms

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds received word Sunday, August 27 that President Donald Trump approved her request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for seven Iowa counties impacted by flooding and severe weather July 19-23 of this year. Governor Reynolds requested the declaration August 10.

The counties included in the declaration are Allamakee, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette and Mitchell. The declaration will provide federal funding to the included counties under the Public Assistance Program. A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance puts into motion long-term federal recovery programs, some of which are partially matched by state programs to help public entities and select non-profits.

Wed
23
Aug

Sports complex at Waukon High School to be dedicated in honor of Dr. Richard Hermeier this Friday ...

This Friday, August 25 not only marks the start of the Waukon High School football season, but will also mark the generous contributions of a Waukon High School alumnus to his alma mater and its athletic programs. Dr. Richard Hermeier, a 1955 graduate of Waukon High School, will have the sports complex behind Waukon High School that he and his family made possible through generous donations throughout the past decade or so dedicated in his name. At halftime of the season-opening Waukon varsity football game against MFL/MarMac this Friday, a dedication ceremony will take place to honor Dr. Hermeier and name the sports complex that now is graced by a new ticket booth entrance (pictured at right) that is nearing completion and that will bear Dr. Hermeier's name in a metal arch above the pictured entrance, along with relocation of the school's victory bell (seen in the photo background near the center of the photo). "Because of Dr.

Wed
23
Aug

Waukon Corn Days crowns 2017 royalty ...

The five young ladies pictured were vying for three separate Miss Corn Days crowns in their respective age categories during the annual Waukon Corn Days event held Friday through Sunday, August 18-20 in Waukon. Pictured above, left to right, are Little Miss Corn Days 2017 Bella Moudy, Natalie Byrnes, Junior Miss Corn Days 2017 Kiana Krueger, Diana Davison and Miss Corn Days 2017 Gabrielle Marti. Although rain drizzled down on and off throughout the day Friday, the weather cleared up by late afternoon for a nearly ideal weekend for events held Friday evening through Sunday morning. See more photos from this year's event on Page 14A of this issue, as well as in the Photo Gallery at www.waukonstandard.com. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
 

Wed
23
Aug

Jeff Hawes receives Meritorious Award at Governor's Lifesaving Awards Ceremony at the Iowa State Fair ...

Jeff Hawes of Waukon (far right in photo) was presented with a Meritorious Service Award during the Governor's Lifesaving Awards and Outstanding Service Awards Ceremony held at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater on the Iowa State Fairgrounds during the opening day of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines Thursday, August 10. The Meritorious Award is presented to those individuals who have rendered expeditious service in a time of emergency, and Hawes received the award for the role he played in rescuing a West Union man, Les Keune, after he fell through the ice while ice fishing on the Mississippi River near New Albin in February of 2016. It was Keune, himself, who nominated Hawes for the honor.

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