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Maxwell Moore, son of Andy and Emily Moore of Waukon, decided he wanted to do something special for his fifth birthday recently celebrated. Instead of gifts for himself, he asked his friends to bring a new toy to be donated to Toys for Tots. He is pictured above at the Toys for Tots collection site at Fareway in Waukon donating all of the toys collected by his friends. Submitted photo.

by Bob Beach
and Jason Meyer

SafeWise, an independently-owned organization offering review and comparisons on information and products related to home security, released its 15 Safest Cities in Iowa Report for 2015 December 7, and the city of Waukon was ranked number one in that report based on criteria used by SafeWise to compile such rankings. To coordinate the report, SafeWise analysts considered the most recent Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) crime data on violent crimes and property crimes from the year 2013 to rank applicable cities in the state of Iowa which have a minimum population of 3,000 people.
Although local law enforcement would be most people's first thought when it comes to a city's safety ranking such as one conducted by SafeWise, Waukon Police Chief Phil Young and his crew of six additional officers are quick to give credit back to members of the community themselves.

by Jason Meyer

 Democrat Bernie Sanders, Republican Ben Carson lead results at both levels

In 1902 the ladies of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Waukon with the assistance of The Democrat newspaper in circulation at that time published a history of Waukon. The publication was used as a fundraiser for the church at that time.
This year, more than 100 years later, a committee from today's Methodist church decided to reprint an updated edition of that original history as a fundraiser, and copies are available to the public for purchase. An original copy of the 1902 publication was discovered in the collection of the late Lloyd and Marilyn Clark of Waukon. Two of their daughters, Dianne Clark Rissman and Carolyn Clark, both of whom were instrumental in the recent update and reprinting of the original history, think that the reprint is a way to honor the hard work done by those early church ladies and Democrat publisher E.F. Medary.

by Jason Meyer

Editor's Note: The following article was submitted by siblings Kerry and Maria Magner, children of Jim Magner and Rose Magner of Waukon. Both are graduates of Waukon High School, Kerry in 1993 and Maria in 2003.

The string quartet pictured at right will be performing with the Allamakee Ecumenical Choirs during this year's Allamakee Ecumenical Choir Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols being hosted by St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon this Sunday, December 13, beginning at 7 p.m. The quartet is comprised of four grandchildren of James and Sue Bieber of Waukon: Left to right - Alivia, Abram, Addyson and Evan Bixby. They are the children of Aaron and Dr. Elizabeth (Bieber) Bixby of Waverly. The four children, along with their older brother, Ethan, who is now a freshman in college, have performed together as a family string quintet as well in the Waverly and Waukon areas. In addition to their performance with the Allamakee Ecumenical Choirs, the family quartet will also be presenting special music for the St. John's Lutheran Church services Sunday, December 27, which will be heard on KNEI Radio at 8:30 a.m. Submitted photo.

by Jason Meyer

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in its last regular session of the month Monday, November 30. The meeting was opened with the Board approving the minutes of its November 23 meeting and approving an amended agenda. A single item was struck from the agenda due to Michael Hart of Northland Securities being unable to attend because of adverse weather conditions impacting travel in the area.