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The FFA chapters at both Waukon and Kee High Schools each brought home top state of Iowa honors in their respective Career Development Events (CDE) held in conjunction with the Youth Dairy Classic in Manchester Saturday, September 8. Both chapters will now advance to compete in their respective events at the National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, IN in October.

The Little Switzerland FFA Chapter at Waukon High School won the Iowa FFA Dairy Cattle CDE, being crowned the Iowa Champion FFA Dairy Cattle Team among 18 total teams and 63 individuals competing. Team members include Kaylee Gibbs, Grace Howe, Cayla Nolting and Faith Palmer.

The Lansing FFA Chapter at Kee High School won the Iowa FFA Milk Quality & Products CDE and was crowned the Iowa Champion FFA Milk Quality & Products Team among 15 teams and 52 individuals competing. Team members include Peter Boland, Brooke Stanley, Charles Stendel and Rachel Walleser.

by Brianne Eilers

The Oil Springs School restoration project in Harpers Ferry is nearing completion. For the past three years, volunteers from various entities such as the Harpers Ferry Area Historical Society (HFAHS), the Harpers Ferry Booster Club, City of Harpers Ferry, Allamakee Historical Preservation Society and many other businesses, groups and individuals in the Harpers Ferry area or with ties to the area have come together to donate time, talents, money and artifacts to this project.

The finishing touches were slated to be completed in August, with a grand opening scheduled for Saturday, September 8 beginning at 10 a.m. The programming for that day begins with a ribbon cutting and flag raising ceremony. The 48-star American flag will be raised, as it was the one flying when the school was in operation. There will also be presentations at the school, now located on Vine Street in Harpers Ferry.

Dr. Richard Hermeier (right), a 1955 graduate of Waukon High School and long-time supporter of his alma mater and hometown community, presents a donation check for $10,000 to Waukon Park and Recreation Wellness Director Jeremy Strub (left) to help fund the outdoor community tennis court project being planned for the area pictured in the background of the above photo, near the Waukon Park and Recreation soccer fields on the west edge of Waukon. The donation kicks off the public fundraising campaign to help complete the financing of the project, which has already accumulated nearly $100,000 of its estimated $165,000 cost through grant and other established funding. For additional information about the project or to contribute to the project campaign, contact Jeremy Strub at 563-568-0074, extension 1. Submitted photo.
 

The Allamakee County Auditor’s office has determined polling site locations for the special election regarding the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) bond levy continuation scheduled for Tuesday, September 11. Registered voters in the following school districts in Allamakee County may visit the polling locations listed below to cast their ballots. The polls will be open from 12 noon-8 p.m.

Allamakee Community School District
Dorchester residents: St. Mary’s Church
Harpers Ferry residents: Community Center
Waterville residents: Public Library
Waukon residents: NICC Center

Eastern Allamakee Community School District
Lansing residents: Kerndt Brothers Community Center
New Albin residents: Community Center

Postville Community School District
Postville residents: Turner Hall

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is asking voters to decide whether to continue the College’s existing bond levy in a special election scheduled for Tuesday, September 11. The NICC Board of Trustees approved the continuation at its meeting in April of this year and is now bringing the matter in front of voters, to be labeled “Public Measure B” on the special election ballot.

The bond levy up for renewal is a continuation of an already existing levy - not a new tax, and if approved by voters would allow NICC to secure $39 million in taxpayer support. The College’s current property tax levy rate for the bond and interest fund is set at $0.288 per $1,000 assessed valuation, and the new bond issuance, if approved by district voters, is structured to be paid off at that same $0.288 levy rate.

by Lissa Blake

There are so many emotions one can experience when a loved one takes his or her own life.

And when Matt Howe passed away earlier this year, his wife, Rachelle Howe, and sister, Becky Decker, decided to organize an effort to do something to try to help others.

“When Matt passed away, there were so many emotions … looming guilt, sadness, bewilderment … I wanted to take his loss and have him be remembered for something good, and to do something good for myself, my kids and my community,” said Howe.

When Matt’s younger brother, Tom, took his own life three months after Matt passed, Howe and Decker knew they had to do something. An endowment fund has now been established to help support people with all types of struggles, including mental illness, suicide or abuse.

Students and faculty of the Kee High School Drama Department had the opportunity to provide lunch as well as participate in a meet and greet session with the cast and crew of the film “The Burial” which is being filmed Monday through Friday of this week in Lansing and the surrounding area. As pictured above in the Kee High School cafeteria in Lansing, the cast and crew visited with the students while enjoying a potluck-style lunch Sunday afternoon, August 26. After lunch, cast and crew members introduced themselves to those in attendance and shared their experiences about their career. They also provided some valuable insight about the many skills the students will need as they graduate high school and move on to the next chapter in their lives, especially those pursuing careers in the arts or film industry in particular.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, August 27 to address a full agenda of items including an unexpected election expense update, a vehicle replacement for the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department and the contract and bond for Brennan Construction to complete the A26 Bridge replacement project.

Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) is seeking nominations for the 2018 Cloy Kuhse Positive Impact Award. To be eligible, the recipient must be a business located in Allamakee County.

ACED will accept nominations for the Positive Impact Award until Friday, September 7 of this year. The award winner announcement and ceremony will be at the ACED Annual Banquet in October. The award recipient will receive a plaque and will be added to the award plaque that is displayed at the ACED office in Waukon.

New Albin Savings Bank was the 2017 Cloy Kuhse Positive Impact Award winner, and ACED looks forward to announcing another business that is making a positive impact at the annual meeting this October.

by Lissa Blake

It seems like it’s taking over the county this summer. A white, flowering vine which is engulfing trees and shrubs and can be seen along fences and in ditches throughout Allamakee County, especially noticeable along State Highway 9 between Waukon and Decorah.
The plant is echinocystis lobata, more commonly known as wild cucumber.

Allamakee County Weed Commissioner Laurie Moody recently contacted Lane Kozel, entomologist from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, to find out more about the invasive weed. Moody said from the description, Kozel was concerned it may be Mile-A-Minute weed, which has also begun to establish a presence in Iowa; however, when he visited the county, Kozel realized it was wild cucumber.