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by David M. Johnson

Extreme northeast Iowa, especially Allamakee County, is famous for its deep valleys and high ridges. Meandering streams working their way into the smaller rivers that cross the county into the “Mother of all waters,” the Mississippi, add that essence and aura of a land as it might have been decades and centuries ago. Deer, raccoon, eagles and wild turkey are among the abundance of wildlife that crisscrosses the deep country and are now joined by black bear and the straying cougar or mountain lion.

The airing of a recent television show suggests that a legendary creature that has stirred the imagination of many may have also established roots in local timber tracts and hills that have made Allamakee County famous. The legendary Bigfoot has corralled a following of a group of individuals who believe the creature is real and is making its presence known here in the county.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, April 3 to address a full agenda of items, including a zoning change request, manure management plan updates and the consideration of motor grader quotes. Board chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order with the current agenda and the minutes of March 27, 2017 being approved.

A Lansing man lost his life after getting caught in the roller gates of the Genoa Dam on the Mississippi River early Friday evening, March 31. According to reports issued by the Vernon County, WI Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), James Kenneth Freeman, age 52, of Lansing was killed Friday around 4:45 p.m. when his boat was pulled into the dam after being anchored in a restricted area. Freeman’s body was recovered from the water around 6 p.m. that same evening.

Further details of the incident will appear in the April 5 edition of The Standard. You can subscribe to The Standard's print edition or e-edition by clicking here.

by Lissa Blake

Two Waukon dairies recently were honored by having one of their cows included in the Northeast Iowa Community-Based Dairy Foundation’s Hall of Breeds at Iowa’s Dairy Center in Calmar.

Featured in the display are Prairie Moon Y Antebella, of Prairie Moon Guernseys owned by Frank and Dan Sivesind of Waukon, and Snow-N Denises Dellia-ET, owned by Regancrest of Waukon and raised by Robert Snow of Viroqua,WI.

Friday, March 10, the Northeast Iowa Community-Based Dairy Foundation hosted an open house to unveil its newest attraction, which includes life-size photos of some of Iowa’s most notable cows. The Hall of Breeds is located in the corridor between the Iowa Dairy Museum and the facility’s milking parlor.

Family representatives connected to the seven cows chosen for the display were on hand to celebrate the completion of the Hall of Breeds and Nutrition Room areas at Iowa’s Dairy Center.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 27 to address a full agenda of items including holding a public hearing for a zoning change request, a Proclamation for April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the consideration of motor grader quotes for the Secondary Roads Department. During Public Comments, Jack Knight discussed anticipated budget cuts that will impact the County and how the closure of the Luster Heights facility will impact County jails.

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors signed a proclamation recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month during its Monday, March 27 regular meeting. Pictured above at the proclamation are, left to right, Tirzah Corbin and Brandi Lewin of Riverview Center providing sexual assault intervention services to northeast Iowa, Supervisors Dennis Koenig, Dan Byrnes and Larry Schellhammer, and Lacy Jorgensen of Riverview Center. Photo by Joe Moses.
 

by Joe Moses

Following a tour of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, Senator Charles Grassley held a healthcare focused legislative forum with the hospital employees Friday, March 17, one of three forums held regionally at hospitals as part of Grassley's larger effort to meet with various industry specific professionals across the state. During the meeting introduction, Grassley discussed the importance of providing healthcare workers an opportunity to voice concerns and inquire about current legislation affecting the healthcare industry.

Victoria Waters (right in above photo), daughter of Chad and Kim Waters of Dorchester, was crowned the 2017 Allamakee County Dairy Princess at the Saturday, March 25 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet. Carmen Wille (left in above photo), daughter of Carl Wille and KaLynne Opperman of Waukon, was named the 2017 Allamakee County Alternate Dairy Princess. Photo courtesy of Paula Enyart.

Additional information about Saturday's banquet and other award winners can be found in the March 29 edition and future editions of The Standard. You can subscribe to The Standard's print edition or e-edition by clicking here.

The sun was shining almost as brightly as the Irish pride at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade held Sunday, March 19 in Waukon, the event taking approximately an hour to display the wide variety of well over 100 entries. As depicted in the three photos below, there was certainly an abundance of ways entries displayed their Irish pride and made their way along the parade route. While one such entry appears to have been carried along the route with a little luck from a leprechaun, it also appears that Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg (photo at right) was carrying along his own bit of leprechaun luck as he made his way along the parade route on the way to seeking re-election in the annual race for the office of Mayor of Hanover. Photos by Lissa Blake. Additional photos from this year's event can be found on Page 14A of this week's print edition of The Standard. All of the parade photos found in this issue, along with many more from Sunday's St.

The 2017 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet will be held this Saturday, March 25 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. The meal will be served from 7-8:30 p.m. with the program starting at 8 p.m.

The annual celebration recognizes the importance of the dairy industry in Allamakee County and the contributions dairy families make to this important industry. Every year, top producers from the county are recognized at the banquet. In addition, several other awards are presented that evening, some of which include the following:

• Outstanding Young Dairy Family Award
• Pioneer Dairyman Award
• Distinguished Dairy Family Award
• Service to Dairy Industry Award
• Golden Butter Knife Award.