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Friday, September 29 the most physical evidence of the end of a local era took place when a planned implosion event brought down the 492-foot tall smokestack and an adjacent bag house at the Alliant Energy Lansing Generating Station just south of Lansing along Great River Road. The facility had been decommissioned in December 2022, providing its final electric power to customers after more than 70 years in operation.

The implosion event (pictured in the surrounding photos) involved a large booming sound that is reported to have been heard for several miles, followed by a loud crashing noise and large cloud of dust and smoke as the smokestack and bag house structures collapsed within themselves into a planned demolition area. Alliant Energy spokesperson Morgan Hawk said the implosion “was successful and went as planned.”

This is the first article in a series that aims to provide occasional updates on the bridge replacement project at Lansing. Purposes of the series include a) addressing questions and rumors that might arise within the community as the project progresses - particularly for those who do not use the Internet and social media as their primary source of area news; b) directing people to the website developed by the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation and to the project’s Facebook page, where those interested can access the latest information and sign up to receive project updates via email; and c) offering periodic feature articles that take a closer look at various aspects of the project as it continues to develop.

Readers are encouraged to send ideas for feature and human-interest stories related to the bridge project to The Standard at news@waukonstandard.com.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Everyone is invited to join area youth on athletic fields across the nation Wednesday, October 4 in sharing their Christian faith with fellow students and the general public for this year’s Fields of Faith event. The local event is now in its 12th year and will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Waukon High School football field Wednesday, October 4, or in the Waukon High School gym in the event of bad weather.

Featured speaker for this year’s Fields of Faith event in Waukon will be Harpers Ferry area native Jeff (JT) Olson, who is the founder and executive director of Both Hands Foundation, a faith-based non-profit serving orphans and widows. With over 153 million orphans worldwide and the costs of adoption on the rise, the mission of the organization is to fulfill the message of James 1:27 by serving orphans, widows and Christian adoptive families.

Waukon High School seniors Cameron Johnson (left) and Jack O’Neill (right) were crowned Waukon High School's 2023 Homecoming Queen and King at the "Burning of the W" pep rally held Thursday, September 21 at Waukon High School. Additional photos of Waukon High School's Homecoming events are featured on Page 16 in the Wednesday, September 27, 2023 print edition and e-edition of the Standard, as well as coverage of the Waukon football team's Homecoming victory over Crestwood featured on Page 27. Even more photos from this year’s Homecoming festivities can also be found at the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.

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Seniors Andrew Kolsrud (left) and Mallory Mohn (right) were crowned Kee High School’s 2023 Homecoming King and Queen at a coronation event held prior to Homecoming Week for the first time Sunday, September 24 in the Kee High School gymnasium to kick off this week’s Homecoming festivities. That timing change in the coronation will now allow the King and Queen to preside over the entire Homecoming Week. Celebratory pages highlighting Kee’s 2023 Homecoming can be found inside the Wednesday, September 27, 2023 print edition and e-edition of the Standard on Pages 20-21. Photo by Danielle Potter.

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The next phase in a planned deployment of fiber optic internet in Waukon is set to begin next month, according to representatives from AC Skyways, a division of Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative (ACEC).

Beginning in October, the physical work of boring the main fiber optics lines will begin on the north Waukon project, which will bring over 800 “drops” to the community. This is the next phase in a large development to bring fiber to the entire community.

“Bringing high quality fiber optic internet is a major goal of ours. Every year, it becomes even more apparent how much this is needed in our area,” said Hollee McCormick, ACEC General Manager. “This is a continuation of our overall project to bring fiber to the entire Waukon area, benefiting both residents and businesses in a variety of ways. It’s exciting to be moving one step closer, we only wish we could move faster, as we know how badly folks everywhere want this service.”

Students at Waukon High School have selected their Homecoming Court representatives for the 2023 celebration, with the coronation of this year's Homecoming Queen and King scheduled to take place at the "Burning of the W" pep rally scheduled for this Thursday evening, September 21, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Waukon High School gym. Pictured in the photo above are this year's Waukon High School Homecoming Queen and King candidates from the 2023-2024 Senior class, including: Left to right - Front row: Queen candidates Cameron Johnson, Lynsey Houg, Azlynn Cota, Olivia Bossom; Back row: King candidates Wyatt Gulla, Jack O’Neill, Dylan Hogan, Jacob Courtney.

It should be noted that the pep rally will take place this Thursday evening, as scheduled, but there will be no traditional burning of the “W” at the end of the rally due to the ban on open burning currently in place within Allamakee County.

Change to Kee High School Homecoming for 2023 moves public coronation ceremony to this Sunday ...

Kee High School will be celebrating its 2023 Homecoming the week of September 24-30, and that celebration will kick off with a change to the traditional crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen this year. Instead of crowning this year’s King and Queen at the traditional Friday afternoon pep rally toward the end of Homecoming Week, that coronation event will now kick off the week full of celebration and is taking place this coming Sunday evening, September 24 at 5:45 p.m. and will also include the illumination of a lighted Kee High School display in the interior entrance area of the high school building, near the high school office location. The public is invited to attend that Sunday ceremony but will then be excused prior to the student-only Dodgeball in the Dark Tournament scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Allamakee County became the 18th county in the state of Iowa, and the 11th county in northeast Iowa, to institute a ban on open burning as Extreme Drought conditions continue to grip many of those same counties, especially in the northeast Iowa region. That ban became effective as of 6 p.m. Tuesday, September 12 after all six fire chiefs in Allamakee County agreed the ban was necessary and Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker submitted the burn ban request to the State of Iowa Fire Marshal’s Office, which issued the proclamation putting the burn ban into effect.

“Given the extreme dry conditions, lack of future heavy moisture, and with the county being in extreme drought conditions, it was felt this was prudent,” Snitker explained in his email announcing the burn ban.

The Mississippi River bridge connecting Iowa Highway 9 in Lansing to Wisconsin Highway 82 in rural Crawford County, WI stands as an icon for the region. A new icon is in the works to replace this aging structure and improve safety and mobility as motorists and river enthusiasts move around the area.

The cantilever Black Hawk Bridge structure has served the area since 1931 with a closure from 1945 to 1957 when the crossing was damaged by ice dams. Depreciation over time and changing vehicle size and traffic patterns now call for a new, wider, safer crossing.

Working with area residents and interest groups through public meetings and other outreach efforts, the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation are proud to get started on a new, safe, functional and beautiful bridge that will serve the area for generations. Kraemer North America, LLC headquartered in Plain, WI was awarded the bid following a special bid letting in early August.