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The Great Cycle Challenge is back, and Waukon residents Tracey Tepesch and Linda Wilder are ready to take on that Challenge for a second consecutive year.

The Waukon pair biked  649 miles and raised $2,432.07 combined for Children’s Cancer Research in 2015. This year they have plans to bike a minimum of 700 miles (combined) and raise even more funds to help fund Children’s Cancer Research.

Their goal in 2016 is to raise $10 for every mile they bike in the hopes of reaching their goal of $7,000. They both felt that this challenge was rewarding, exhausting and all-consuming in a very positive way.

Tepesch said, “As each mile is pedaled you know that the sore muscles and sore bums do not compare with the struggles that individuals and families face when cancer enters their lives. We want to support and help to make a difference by doing something we love, which is pedaling for a great cause.”

Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will be visiting Harpers Ferry at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4 at the boat landing by the Conservation Office. She plans to highlight the importance of the Mississippi River for trade and speak about economic development. She has been promoting the Iowa Feeds The World campaign. The Lt. Governor plans to have time to visit with the public and would like to have farmers present to speak with them about how Iowa feeds the world.

Sunday, May 1 at approximately 2:13 a.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Emergency Dispatch Center received a report of a one-vehicle accident near the intersection of State Highway 76 and Dorchester Drive just east of Dorchester.
Accident reports from both the Allamakee County Sheriff's Office and the Iowa State Patrol indicate that a vehicle driven by Benjamin Bednarski, age 20, of Waukon was traveling southbound on State Highway 76. The driver was unable to negotiate a curve in the roadway and the vehicle entered the ditch, drove off a culvert and rolled over, coming to rest upside down.
One of two passengers in the vehicle, William "Billy" Johns, age 20, of Dorchester, was fatally injured as a result of the accident. Johns was reported as wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Ground was officially broken this past week on the new Allamakee County Public Safety Center to be constructed at the former Makee Manor site along State Highway 9 just north of Waukon. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday evening, April 19, with a small crowd in attendance. Pictured below performing the groundbreaking duties are, left to right: veteran Allamakee County Dispatcher Revelyn Lonning, Allamakee County Public Safety Center Committee Chairperson John Ellingson, Allamakee County Board of Supervisors members Dennis Koenig, Dan Byrnes and Larry Schellhammer, and Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick. Sheriff Mellick explained that digging for the building's footings is expected to begin within the next two weeks, with the actual structure expected to take shape in June of this year and a move-in date planned for late February/early March of 2017.
 

Waukon High School seniors Nicole Behrend and Joe Frieden were selected as the 2016 Waukon High School Prom Queen and King at the annual event held Saturday, April 23. Behrend was selected from a Queen court that also involved fellow seniors Jade Diop, Annika Wahlberg and Alyvia Jones. Frieden was chosen from a King court that included fellow seniors Gus Pladsen, Mason McMillan and Adam Drew.
 

Kee High School seniors Kristina Mooney and Cross Colsch were selected as the 2016 Kee High School Prom Queen and King at the annual event held Saturday, April 23. Mooney was selected from a Queen court that also consisted of fellow seniors Lily Winters, Sydney Stahl, Marissa Dodd and Aubreanna McQuade. Colsch was chosen from a King court that included fellow seniors Logan Flack, Jacob Clauson, Josh Yeoman and Ethan Walleser. Photo courtesy of Sheila Simmonds.
 

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, April 25 with a meeting split between two locations to accommodate the large crowd expected for a scheduled public hearing in regard to an ordinance for ATV/UTV use on County secondary roads. The first part of the meeting took place in the Ethel Robinson Meehan Community Center in Harpers Ferry with around 100 individuals in attendance, a majority of them in favor of the proposed ordinance which would allow ATV/UTV use on County gravel roads during a designated timeframe throughout the year.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Although the month of April is designated as a time to be particularly aware of this issue, unfortunately, child abuse is a plague that happens all too often every day of the year.

The statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Prevent Child Abuse Iowa show that the number of children in abusive situations or those being neglected are staggering. In 2014, in Iowa there were 7,429 cases of child abuse. Daily in the United States, 1,900 children are abused. Four of those children die. Three-fourths of those abused or neglected are under the age of three.

The Northeast Iowa Drug Task Force, in cooperation with Helping Services of Northeast Iowa, is participating in National Prescription Drug Drop-Off Day. This year's event is being held Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. nationwide for the purpose of disposing of expired and/or unused medications and keeping them out of the hands of people who may misuse or abuse them, especially youth.

Three communities in Allamakee County will be hosting drop-off locations for local residents to dispose of prescription drugs during that event timeframe. The Waukon Police Department will host a drop-off location at the Waukon Police Station located at 104 First Street NW. The fire station in Lansing will be a host site at 51 North Front Street. The Postville Police Department will also host a drop-off site at its City Hall location at 147 North Lawler Street.

The 2016 Waukon High School Prom is scheduled for this Saturday, April 23 at the current Waukon Junior High School gymnasium. Doors will open at 7:15 p.m. to the public for the 8 p.m. Grand March, with seating available in the Waukon High School Auditorium. Following the Grand March, coronation of this year's Prom King and Queen is scheduled for 8:30 p.m., after which community members will be dismissed. The ensuing Prom dance will come to an end at 11:45 p.m., and the annual Post Prom event will be held from midnight to 4 a.m. at the Waukon High School gymnasium. Pictured at right are the senior class Queen and King candidates for the 2016 Waukon High School Prom. Left to right - Front row: Queen candidates Jade Diop, Annika Wahlberg, Nicole Behrend and Alyvia Jones. Back row: King candidates Joe Frieden, Gus Pladsen, Adam Drew and Mason McMillan. Photo courtesy of Waukon High School.