Top Stories

The Standard newspaper will be issuing questionnaires to candidates involved in contested races on this year's November 4 General Election ballot. In an effort to base those questions for the candidates on the issues of greatest concern to the people they will be representing, The Standard is asking residents of Allamakee County to submit questions they would like to have considered for inclusion in the General Election questionnaire.
Questions for the candidates must be based on issues and not on personal or private matters. Not all questions will be included on the questionnaire, but all questions will be considered and those appearing with the most frequency will likely be prioritized for inclusion.

The Allamakee County Public Safety Committee will be presenting its findings to Township Trustees and city officials regarding the need to construct a new jail and public safety center at 7 p.m. in the large courtroom at the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon Thursday, October 2. The public is welcome to attend the informational meeting.
Members of the Committee will also give presentations regarding the proposed facility during a meeting at the Allamakee County Farm Bureau building Saturday, October 4 at 10 a.m. and at upcoming city council meetings throughout the county during the month of October, beginning with the Waukon and Waterville City Councils Monday night, October 6.
Other informational public meetings will be scheduled during the month of October to inform voters about the $4.9 million dollar bond referendum on the November 4 ballot to fund the construction of the proposed facility.
 

by Bob Beach

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday, September 23 with Kim Waters, Allamakee County Coordinator of Disabilities Services, who reviewed the services available to those in the County with mental illnesses and/or developmental disabilities. Waters explained that there had been numerous changes since the implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act and the regionalization of mental health and developmental disabilities services (MH/DD), but overall the services offered have remained stable throughout the process. She noted that Allamakee County is fortunate to be able to offer services to those with traumatic brain injuries, as there are other counties that are not able to offer those services. Waters also reviewed the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the County Social Services Board, the governing body of the MH/DD region that includes Allamakee County, along with 20 other counties.

by Lissa Blake

Kee High School seniors Marquise Phillips (left) and Nicole Vinson (right) were crowned Kee High School's 2014 Homecoming King and Queen at the annual pep rally held in the Kee High School gymnasium Friday afternoon, September 19. Additional photos of Kee High School's Homecoming festivities are featured on Page 15A of this week's issue of The Standard, along with coverage of the Hawks' 52-0 Homecoming victory over Central City featured on this week's Sports pages. Photo courtesy of the Kee High School yearbook.
 

by Kelli Boylen
freelance writer

“It’s a unique place and it’s right here in our backyard,” says Brian Fankhauser, Blufflands Program Manager of Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation about the Paint Creek Valley project.
The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) is in the process of raising funds before the 368-acre parcel is sold to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), hopefully later this year. The Iowa DNR Commissioners approved the future purchase of the land from the INHF at their September 11 meeting.
Fankhauser says because of the significant conservation values, INHF and other conservation organizations have been trying to protect Paint Creek Valley for nearly 10 years. The property, locally known as the Nelson property, is located between Yellow River State Forest and the City of Waterville.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital, together with Elliott Jewelers of Waukon, will be hosting the tenth annual Women’s Health Day wellness event and luncheon Tuesday, September 30 at the Waukon and Banquet Center. All ages are invited to attend this educational event, beginning at 11 a.m. with a wellness fair offering a variety of free health tests and information, and a salad luncheon and program held from Noon to 1 p.m.
Tickets are available in advance at Veterans Memorial Hospital and Elliott Jewelers in Waukon. Tickets will also be available at the door. The proceeds from this event will be used to purchase a new fetal heart monitor for the Maternity Services Department at the hospital.

To read more, pick up this week's print edition or subscribe to our e-edition by clicking here.

by Bob Beach

During the regular meeting of the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, September 16, Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick presented the Board with the annual jail inspection report. Mellick said that the deficiencies noted in the report are not new, the least of which include the lack of an exercise area for prisoners and inadequate water supply and lighting.
Mellick said that the jail inspector's more serious concerns include the safety and security of prisoners, staff and the public when prisoners are being moved, also noting that prisoners' personal items and files are stored in areas that are accessible to the public.

To read more, pick up this week's print edition or subscribe to our e-edition by clicking here.

by Bob Beach

Members of the Kee High School Homecoming Court for 2014 include the King and Queen candidates from the senior class pictured above, as well as the underclassmen representatives pictured at right. Pictured above are, left to right: Front row - Senior Class Homecoming Queen candidates Val Meyer, Molly Walleser, Nicole Vinson, Sadie Hill. Back row - Senior Class Homecoming King candidates Nolan Welsh, Ryan Kuhn, Marquise Phillips, David Richards. Pictured at right, front to back and left to right, are: Freshman class representatives Annika Stahl and Eric Rud, Sophomore class representatives Sierra Schobert and Evan Whalen, and Junior class representatives Téa Fink and Josh Yeoman. Further details of this week's Homecoming events at Kee High School in Lansing, along with a celebratory page, can be found on Page 2A inside this issue. Photos courtesy of Kee High School Yearbook.