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The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office reports that a Wednesday, September 10 motorcycle accident has resulted in the death of a Dorchester man. Gregory Michael Hanson, age 29, of Dorchester died Thursday morning, September 11 from injuries suffered in the accident, according to the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office report.
The Iowa State Patrol reported Hanson was traveling northbound on Winneshiek County Road W-38 (Locust Road) at about 6 p.m. Wednesday when he lost control of his motorcycle, which struck the Springwater Bridge approximately six miles north of Decorah. Hanson was transported by ambulance to Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah.
The Iowa State Patrol was assisted by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Department, Decorah Police Department and Decorah Fire Department.

What began with a single conversation, then led to an idea, which ultimately resulted in phone calls being made and more conversations taking place. From those initial conversations and ideas has now come the birth of free community meals in Waukon.
Over the past several months, a core group of clergy and interested community people have been meeting to discuss just what Waukon Community Meals might look like. The idea of free, no-strings-attached community meals isn't a new one. Manchester, Decorah, Farley and Calmar are a few communities in the area already hosting free community meals.
The first of the Waukon Community Meals will be held in the First Presbyterian Church's fellowship hall located at 204 West Main Street Monday, September 29 from 5-7 p.m. Zion United Church of Christ will be providing the food for the meal. All those who work the meals will be invited to eat the meals as well.

State Representative Patti Ruff, Allamakee County Economic Development and Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) jointly hosted a community meeting Tuesday, September 9 at the Old Rossville Store to discuss strategies for promoting economic development in Allamakee County and surrounding area. Ruff said that she hoped that the discussion would serve as a springboard to the next legislative session. Community and businesses leaders from the Waukon, Lansing and Postville areas participated in the discussion, along with Northeast Iowa Community College President Dr. Liang Chee Wee.

by Lissa Blake

“Suicide is a permanent solution to temporary problems.”
That quote from Robin Williams has gone viral since the beloved actor and comedian took his own life early last month.
Dacia Sommer of Waukon said the news of Williams’ death hit her "like a ton of bricks," as it brought back memories of her own brother’s untimely death just five years ago.
“I cried for about four days,” said Sommer. “Robin Williams was the Hollywood version of Andy’s situation. He liked to entertain and he hid it well.”
In honor of September being observed as Suicide Prevention Month, Sommer and her twin sister, Danielle Howe of Waukon, recently reached out to share their story with the public.
“Suicide is way more common than people realize. Talking about it used to be so taboo. We need to be open about it, because the more you bury it, the worse it’s going to get,” said Howe.

by Bob Beach

Waukon and northeast Iowa played host Wednesday, September 3 through Friday, September 5 to members of the 13th annual Great Southeast Iowa Tractor Ride as 80 to 90 tractor enthusiasts toured the highways and scenic byways of northeast Iowa on approximately 70 tractors during that three-day tour. Riders traveled pre-determined routes of about 70 miles on each of the three days of the ride, mainly along the Driftless Area Scenic Byway route, with the Allamakee County Fairgrounds serving as an overnight parking and point of origin location. Ride organizer Steve Scholtus said with the event in its 13th year, practically every road in southeast Iowa had been traveled upon, so the group decided to come have a look at northeast Iowa, stating the riders have enjoyed the change in scenery. "All the comments have been very, very positive," he said. "The economic development team has been just fabulous to work with.

The report of a missing nine-year-old boy Monday, September 8 prompted Allamakee County officials to call on the assistance of a vast array of local and statewide help before he was found safely about a mile away from his home at a neighboring farm. An initial report released by the Allamakee County Sheriff's Office relayed that the boy was seen shortly before 7:30 a.m. walking along Moose Road near his home approximately four miles north of Waukon. He would end up trekking through wooded area and farm fields to end up being found at a neighbor's farm along State Highway 9 more than four hours later.

The Allamakee County Sheriff's Office has now advised that the missing nine-year-old boy from Allamakee County has been found, safe and sound. The Sheriff's Department appreciates all the assistance and concern offered by those involved in finding the child and helping spread the word.

The Nation of Patriots, a volunteer organization with a mission to provide financial support to families of wounded military veterans who have made sacrifices in service to their country, brought its 2014 Patriot Tour through Waukon last week on its way to completion of its annual three-month tour across the country. Tour participants display a United States flag which is transferred between riders at each designated stop along the tour. The tour began over the Memorial Day weekend, May 24 from Madison, WI, making its way through every one of the contiguous 48 United States before finally ending up back in Madison, WI, where it arrived this past Saturday, August 30.

by Bob Beach