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Wed
12
Mar

Musical grandstand acts for the 2025 Allamakee County Fair include up-and-coming country music soloists Shane Profitt and Mae Estes

The Allamakee County Fair Board has announced this year’s grandstand musical entertainment for the 2025 Allamakee County Fair scheduled for July 16-20. A pair of up-and-coming young country music artists will be taking to the stage Friday, July 18, as Tennessee “blue collar” story-teller Shane Profitt will headline the night’s musical entertainment following the opening act of three-time Arkansas Country Music Association (CMA) Female Vocalist of the Year Mae Estes.

Wed
12
Mar

Unveiling the Hidden Crisis: A community initiative to combat human trafficking within Iowa


Human trafficking in Iowa ... Stacy Besch, a member of the Team Iowa initiative combating human trafficking, shared resources and other information that can be found on the Team Iowa website at stophtiowa.org as part of a March 6 educational presentation held at the NICC Waukon Center. Standard photo by Joshua Sharpe.

A beacon of hope and resources ... Co-founders of the Lighthouse Foundation (left to right) Brittany Sowder and Heather Van Hemert-Glenn display some of the resources the organization has available in its efforts to combat human trafficking. Sowder is holding the book she published regarding her own experience with human trafficking, something she spoke of during a March 6 educational presentation held at NICC Waukon Center. The Lighthouse Foundation focuses on educating students, schools, and communities about human trafficking, empowering individuals to recognize red flags and understand online safety. Standard photo by Joshua Sharpe.

by Joshua Sharpe

Human trafficking awareness has become an urgent concern in states such as Iowa, which ranks third nationally for trafficking cases per capita. An educational event led by anti-trafficking advocate Stacy Besch, a key member of Team Iowa, a priority initiative on combating human trafficking, was held Thursday, March 6 at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Waukon Center  and featured expert presentations, survivor testimonies, and legislative updates aimed at dispelling misconceptions about human trafficking and providing tangible strategies for community intervention and prevention.

Wed
12
Mar

St. Patrick's Day Parade, other festive events taking place this weekend in Waukon

The 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Waukon will be held this Sunday, March 16, beginning at 1 p.m. All are invited to participate in this year’s parade with an Irish-themed entry at no cost.

Any businesses, organizations, families or individuals wishing to have an entry are asked to be lined up by 12 noon Sunday, with float entries lining up in the parking lot of WW Homestead Dairy and the former Northern Engraving plant, tractors unloading and lining up at the Sweeney Auction Service parking lot and horse units gathering at the Croell Redi-Mix plant on the southeast edge of Waukon.

Wed
12
Mar

Public informational meeting March 19 regarding battery energy storage system at former Lansing Generating Station site

Interstate Power and Light Company, Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy company, is proposing to construct a battery energy storage system at the site of the company’s decommissioned Lansing Generating Station in Lansing. The project will be built on land that continues to be owned by Alliant Energy; therefore, no eminent domain will be used for this project.

A public informational meeting regarding the project will be held with the Iowa Utilities Commission Wednesday, March 19 at 12:30 p.m. at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center, located at 1944 Columbus Road, Lansing. At the meeting, Interstate Power and Light Company will provide project details, and time will be allotted for answering questions from those attending.

Wed
05
Mar

Area supporters gather at Effigy Mounds National Monument as part of nationwide effort ...

More than 100 people gathered at Effigy Mounds National Monument the morning of Saturday, March 1 to speak out in favor of federal employees and the lands they protect as part of a planned nationwide show of support for all 433 National Park sites across the United States. Due to recent actions through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), about five percent of National Park Service staff has been terminated nationwide, totaling approximately 1,000 employees thus far. In addition to mass firings at federal agencies across the country, the National Park Service is also facing budget cuts based on DOGE actions.

“Without adequate resources for protection, parks face impacts that can never be reversed. We need to preserve our national treasures for all generations to come,” said Pam Havlicek, whose daughter lost her seasonal ranger job at Yellowstone National Park.

Wed
05
Mar

August 2023 conviction of Lansing man on second-degree murder charges recently affirmed by Iowa Court of Appeals

Andrew Karvel ...  Submitted photo from August 2022 arrest.
Andrew Karvel ... Submitted photo from August 2022 arrest.

Andrew Karvel will continue serving his 50-year prison sentence for May 2022 strangulation of Daniel Lundy

The August 2023 conviction of a Lansing man found guilty of second-degree murder in the May 2022 death of his roommate has been affirmed by the Iowa Court of Appeals, according to documents filed within the State of Iowa Judicial Branch. An appeal was filed on behalf of Andrew Raymond Karvel, now age 68, two months after an Allamakee County jury found him guilty of strangling 83-year-old Daniel William Lundy in the home they shared at 650 South 2nd Street in Lansing.

Wed
05
Mar

Presentation on human trafficking in Iowa taking place locally this Thursday

Everyone is invited to attend a presentation on human trafficking in the state of Iowa this Thursday, March 6 in Room 113 of the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Waukon Center, located at 1220 3rd Avenue NW in Waukon. The presentation is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., and those attending can watch the film “Gridshock” and hear a presentation on human trafficking in Iowa from Stacy Besch of Team Iowa, a priority initiative on combating human trafficking.

An Iowa survivor of human trafficking will talk about her experience and her book, “She Survived,” that was recently published. She will also talk about what she is doing to educate students across the state of Iowa through her organization, The Lighthouse Foundation.
 

Wed
05
Mar

Allamakee County Treasurer’s Office reminds property owners of tax due date coming up March 31

Allamakee County Treasurer Nicki Smedsrud would like to remind property owners the second installment of property taxes is due by March 31, 2025. Those tax payments can be made at the Allamakee County Treasurer’s office in the Allamakee County Courthouse at 110 Allamakee Street in Waukon between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Property owners are reminded to bring their tax stubs with their payment to ensure proper credit. To avoid penalty on the second installment, payment must be received in the Treasurer’s Office by Monday, March 31. Penalty will begin to apply April 1.

E-check and credit card payments are also accepted online at www.iowatreasurers.org. Property owners will need their receipt number to pay by E-check, and this can be found on their tax statement.

Wed
26
Feb

Nonprofits in Allamakee County complete major energy projects following recommendations from the Allamakee Energy District


First Presbyterian Church, Waukon ... As part of the energy planning measures recommended by the Allamakee Energy District, First Presbyterian Church of Waukon recently installed the 15 kW solar array pictured on the roof of the church’s Fellowship Hall area in the photo above. Additionally, the church had 10 mini-split heat pumps installed, as well as LED lighting in the Fellowship Hall as part of the energy upgrades. Photo courtesy of the Allamakee Energy District.

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Lansing ... Father Joseph Sevcik, pastor of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing, stands in the church’s parking lot with the church’s new 42 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) array on display in the background of the photo. The solar array was recently installed following the energy planning recommendation of the Allamakee Energy District and is expected to generate approximately 90% of the electricity the church and parish rectory consume during a typical year, with the cost of the project expected to be paid back in savings experienced over the next eight to nine years. Photo courtesy of the Allamakee Energy District.

United Methodist Church, Lansing ... Pastor James “Buck” Buckhahn of United Methodist Church in Lansing stands with part of the high-efficiency heat pump system the church has installed following energy planning recommendations from the Allamakee Energy District. In addition to the heat pump system the church has installed to replace several 45-year-old electric furnaces, LED lighting upgrades were also completed as part of the energy planning recommendations. Photo courtesy of the Allamakee Energy District.

Friends of Yellow River State Forest ... Friends of Yellow River State Forest had this solar array installed within the State Forest within the past 18 months. The solar array provides power to seven buildings within the State Forest, including the forester’s office, park technician office, sawmill, wood shop, and garage. Photo courtesy of Allamakee Energy District.

submitted by the Allamakee Energy District

In 2024, the Allamakee Energy District (AED) started offering free energy assessments to non-profit organizations in Allamakee County with funding from the Just Transition Fund, a project of the Rockefeller Philanthropies.

To date, AED has contacted 35 non-profit organizations in Allamakee County. It has provided detailed on-site energy assessments to 20 entities and other forms of assistance to six others.  Five nonprofits in the county recently completed major energy projects.

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing recently installed a 42 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) array on a non-utilized south-facing slope behind the church’s parking lot. The system is sized to generate approximately 90% of the electricity the church and the rectory consume over a typical year.

Wed
26
Feb

Corps of Engineers seeks public comment on Blackhawk Park bank stabilization

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is seeking public comments on a draft Environmental Assessment, or EA, for its proposed Blackhawk Park bank stabilization and erosion protection project. The proposed project is upstream of Lock 9 on the Upper Mississippi River on the Wisconsin side, adjacent to Vernon County, WI.

The purpose of the project is to stabilize the bank and shoreline at five sites with seven work areas around Blackhawk Park that were affected by the flooding events in spring 2023. Construction would occur in summer 2025. There will be temporary effects to recreational activities in the immediate area during construction, which will last several weeks.

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