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by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, June 27 to discuss several items, including the construction permit application for Regancrest Holsteins LLC, quotes for a compact track loader for the Secondary Roads Department and the termination of the 28E collections agreement with Winneshiek and Clayton Counties. There were no comments heard or read during the public comments portion of the meeting.

The public hearing for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) construction permit application for Regancrest Holsteins LLC was opened and closed without any comments from the public. This application involves updating the animal units on the farm, and it was approved.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reports that a young black bear was struck and killed by a truck Friday evening, June 24 on Highway 76 South near the Yellow River Forest in southeast Allamakee County. The bear is believed to be the same one that had been pictured on social media last week in a corn field near the Yellow River Forest. It was a young bear weighing about 200 pounds. The last bear reported to be killed in a traffic collision in Iowa was just over a year ago on U.S. Highway 20 near Jesup.

Low flying airplanes may be seen by Allamakee and Jackson County residents the early part of the week of June 27. The planes will be releasing pheromone flakes to help slow the spread of gypsy moth, a pest that can be destructive to trees and shrubs.

The tentative treatment date is Monday or Tuesday, June 27 or 28, depending on weather conditions and other scheduling issues. A total of 13,520 acres are slated for treatment: two treatment blocks in Allamakee County (one of 11,749 acres south of Churchtown and the other of 742 acres to the southwest of New Albin) and one in Jackson County (1,029 acres). Only wooded areas will receive treatment. Planes will begin their work around 7 a.m. on the day of treatment.

by B.J. Tomlinson

The roof is on, the windows are in and the excitement continues to grow. And Iowa Governor Terry Branstad said “Wow!” after viewing the picturesque scene from the north window of the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center being constructed south of Lansing. The Governor was delivered to the Center from the Decorah airport by Iowa State Troopers as part of an overall trip to several northeast Iowa venues Thursday, June 16.

After the smiles, introductions and handshaking, Allamakee County Conservation Board Director Jim Janett reviewed the history of the project and took the Governor on a personal tour of the impressive, three-story building that will house the Center with its many large windows that all offer spectacular views of the surrounding Mississippi River Valley.

by Brianne Eilers

Graduating high school is a major event for most teenagers. It signals the end of one phase of life and the beginning of another phase, along many changes and choices.

Waukon High School Class of 2016 graduate T.J. Treptau, son of Tom and Camie Treptau of rural Lansing, made up his mind several years ago as to the direction he wanted his future to take him - the United States Air Force (USAF). When he was in 5th grade, T.J. attended an air show in LaCrosse, WI and had the opportunity to see the United States Air Force Thunderbirds air demonstration team.

“I wanted to fly fighter jets,” T.J. said. When he informed his dad that he wanted to be a fighter jet pilot, T.J. said his father told him he could do it, but he’d have to work really hard at it. With that in mind, T.J. set out to make his dream a reality, and was accepted to the United States Air Force Academy, located in Colorado Springs, CO, earning a very prestigious honor.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, June 20 to discuss several items, including further details of the ATV Ordinance, approval of a bid for bridge deck repair and a rental agreement between Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission and Allamakee County.

During the public comments portion of the meeting, Ardie Kuhse with Allamakee County Economic Development addressed the Board about the Tractorcade event that took place the previous week within the county. She thanked everyone involved, including Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick and Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker, for their hard work in helping make the event a huge success.

Sunday, June 19 at 11:12 p.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center received a report of a one-vehicle accident on Columbus Road just south of Lansing in rural Allamakee County.

The report from the Sheriff's office indicates that a vehicle driven by Gerry Lee Martin, Jr., age 59, of Lansing was traveling southbound on Columbus Road when the vehicle entered a right-hand curve in the roadway and the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle entered the ditch and struck a tree. Martin died as a result of injuries received in the accident. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

Assisting at the scene was the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office, Lansing-New Albin Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Lansing Fire Department and Lansing Ambulance Service.
 

The 17th annual Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade sponsored by WMT Radio completed its four-day journey through the hills and valleys of Allamakee County and some of the adjacent counties, covering almost 200 miles during its three different treks. Two different ventures covering nearly 80-mile routes Monday and Tuesday, June 13 and 14 were undertaken by 503 tractors, with Wednesday’s shorter 30-plus mile route taking only about half a day before the event was wrapped up that afternoon.

More than 500 tractors began their three-day trek throughout Allamakee County Monday morning, June 13 for the 17th Annual Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade. Departing in six different traveling groups at staggered times from the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon, the tractors' Monday journey covered nearly 81 miles through the southwestern corner of the county and the four-county area that includes Postville, Clermont, Ossian and the Freeport area of Decorah before returning to Waukon. The group also ventured nearly 79 miles Tuesday, June 14 through New Albin, Lansing, Harpers Ferry and Waterville before wrapping up the event Wednesday, June 15 with a half-day ride covering just shy of 33 miles up State Highway 76 through the Upper Iowa River valley on Iowa River Drive to Lycurgus Road and back to Waukon on State Highway 9.

Despite a heat index flirting with 100 degrees Saturday and a morning thunderstorm Sunday, the annual "Thunder in the Park" event was considered to be another successful venture this year with more re-enactors taking part in the event than in year's past, according to local organizer Al Lyon. The fourth annual event held Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, June 10-12 at the Waukon City Park offered a variety of insights into the history of this nation once divided by war but brought together, in part, by the efforts of the man pictured at left, the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln (who was portrayed throughout the weekend by Lance Mack and is pictured with his "wife" portrayed by Jessica Michna). In between all the weather challenges, this year's event was able pull off the night firing of cannons, as pictured in the photo at right. Standard photos by Joe Moses.