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Leader of group now facing federal investigation; Local dismissal still leaves door open for possible future action

The five individuals from Iowa and Wisconsin recently charged in Allamakee County with violations of Iowa securities laws by the Iowa Insurance Division Fraud Bureau have all had their cases dismissed without prejudice as of a motion filed Thursday, June 12 in Allamakee County District Court.

According to its legal definition, dismissal without prejudice means that a case has been closed and charges have been dismissed but can be filed and tried again at a later date.

The cases dismissed involved charges filed earlier this year following an investigation conducted after an initial local complaint and a February 1 investment meeting arranged in Waukon by undercover investigators from the Iowa Insurance Division Fraud Bureau involving the five individuals, who were determined to be acting as agents for a company named Bright Silver LLC.

Female turtles of at least eight different species frequently move across highways, gravel roads and muddy side-tracks in the local area to find places to lay their precious eggs. At this time, the Driftless Area is currently at or near the peak of the critical three-month long turtle nesting season for 2025, according to Friends of Pool 9.

“Unfortunately, far too many vehicle drivers do not pay sufficient attention to these slow moving forms of wildlife, and either smash them accidentally, or to get some sort of weird thrill out of crushing them,” shares Friends of Pool 9 members. “Either way, using caution to avoid running over turtles (or any type of wildlife) is an easier solution than is commonly realized. Be alert. Be careful.”

The new EPIC Electronic Health Record is now live at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon after an entire year of preparation by the staff, with the help of the University of Iowa Health Care team. The system was fully implemented this past week and offers a number of advantages for patients, their families as well as the hospital and clinics, but the hospital would like all to be aware that some changes will be noticed at a patient’s next visit.

After three weeks of closure due to safety precautions, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has reopened the Black Hawk Bridge across the Mississippi River connecting Lansing and Crawford County, WI. The bridge was opened back up to traffic starting at approximately 10 a.m. Monday, June 9.

The Iowa DOT District 2 office had closed the Black Hawk Bridge late Saturday, May 17, when the sensor system being used to help monitor the bridge detected movement in the area of the third pier as one travels east across the bridge. Following a detailed inspection and engineering analysis over the past three weeks, Iowa DOT has determined that the bridge is safe for motor vehicle traffic with the same size and weight restrictions that were in place prior to the May 17 closure. The extensive analysis and inspection process determined that no repairs were deemed necessary from the detected movement, and the Iowa DOT will continually monitor the bridge to ensure continued safety.

The signs says it all as the 2025 Allamakee County Dairy Days Parade traveled the streets of Lansing Sunday evening, June 8, with a number of area businesses, families and organizations paying tribute to the dairy industry. The annual celebration brings together those representing the future of the industry, as well as those who have represented or supported the industry in a variety of ways currently and throughout its storied past in Allamakee County, all in an effort to recognize the importance of the dairy industry to all who live in or visit Allamakee County. Photo by Danielle Potter. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
 

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) staff has been in the process of converting the hospital’s entire electronic medical record system to the EPIC system during the past year. The new system is designed to offer numerous advantages for patients, their families, as well as the hospital its clinics.

This transition will happen this Saturday, June 14. The hospital and clinics would like to forewarn their patients that the process for check-in will change somewhat following this transition and they may experience delays the first few weeks of this transition.

Sharon Drahn
Contributing Writer

In a week’s time from initial jury selection to the final verdict being returned - with an extended holiday weekend in between, the first-degree murder trial of 41-year-old Brandon Kasemeier of Waukon came to an end last week. The ending to that trial took a 12-person jury of Allamakee County men and women less than an hour to decide, as they returned a verdict of guilty Tuesday afternoon, May 27 in Allamakee County District Court at Waukon.

Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) officials have announced that a free water taxi and shuttle service connecting Lansing and De Soto, WI will be starting this Wednesday, June 4, and that service will be available during the closure of the Black Hawk Bridge, which began May 17 when pier movement was detected. Within the Monday, June 2 announcement of the availability of the water taxi service, DOT officials also offered the following statement in regard to the continued closure of the Black Hawk Bridge:

“Iowa DOT is reviewing findings from the most recent engineering study and is evaluating ongoing construction for the new bridge which is occurring near the existing bridge. The department has not finalized any repair or reopening plans for the existing bridge.”

The Allamakee County Dairy Promotion Board has scheduled the June Dairy Days Parade to be held in Lansing this year. The parade will be held this Sunday, June 8, beginning at 7 p.m., a bit of a change from its usual Monday night schedule.

Line-up for parade entries begins at 6:30 p.m. at Kee High School on Center Street in Lansing. The parade route will travel from the high school up South 6th Street to Main Street/State Highway 9, taking a right and traveling east down Main Street to South 3rd Street, where another right will take the parade back to Center Street, traveling back to Kee High School.

The Allamakee County Dairy Promotion Board will be setting up its dairy wagon and the Allamakee County Cattlemen will be grilling at the Kerndt Brothers Bank parking lot area and serving from 5-7:30 p.m. For more information, contact Kerri Gibbs at 563-419-2260 or ckgibbs@acegroup.cc.
 

Saturday morning, May 31, at approximately 8:43 a.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Emergency Dispatch Center received a report of a one-vehicle accident on State Highway 76 north of Waukon, between Grand View Road and Iowa River Drive. The accident resulted in fatal injuries for the lone individual involved.

A report issued by the Iowa State Patrol indicates that Daniel M. Fisher, age 64, reported to be from Salem, WI but also being a more recent resident of Lansing and having served for a time as the Executive Director of Main Street Lansing a decade ago, was traveling northbound on State Highway 76 on his 2007 Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he struck a deer in the roadway near mile marker 42. Upon impact, Fisher lost control of the motorcycle and it entered and came to rest in the east ditch, throwing him from the vehicle. Fisher was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident as a result of his injuries.