News Center newsletter

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, January 17, the Lansing City Council approved, or made official with signed paperwork, either payments or cost estimates for three ongoing projects.

A Professional Services Agreement with WHKS of Rochester, MN for Center Street water and sanitary sewer replacement was signed by Mayor Melissa Hammell. The City is being billed hourly for the company’s engineering services involved in the project with an estimated fee of $18,200. The project will involve one block from just west of South 4th Street east to just beyond South 3rd Street to replace water main and sanitary sewer lines and then reconstruct the street subbase.

The Harpers Ferry Youth Ice Fishing Clinic sponsored by the Harpers Ferry Boosters and the Allamakee County Conservation Board will be held at Nobles Island Boat Access, 645 Hwy. 364, Harpers Ferry Sunday, January 30. Registration for youth aged 15 and under will begin at 11 a.m. and fishing will continue until 2 p.m.

Youth participating in the clinic may use their own equipment, but ice fishing equipment will be available to youth who do not have their own. Food and drink will be available for those participating in the clinic.  Prizes will be awarded to participants in each of three age groups.

In case of inclement weather, all cancellations and delays will be posted on the Allamakee County Conservation Board Facebook page the day of the event. A make-up date for the Harpers Ferry Kids Ice Fisheree will be February 13 at the same times and location, unless noted.

Counties interested in evaluating construction permits for proposed animal feeding facilities must adopt and submit a construction evaluation resolution by the end of January.

“County boards can pass a resolution to participate in the master matrix at any time, but they must submit the resolution to DNR between January 1 and 31,” said Kelli Book, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) attorney.

On average, 88 counties pass a resolution each year, allowing them to review construction permit applications required for larger, totally roofed animal feeding operations (confinements). Producers in counties that file the resolutions must meet additional standards in their construction permits than sites in other counties. They must earn points on a master matrix by choosing a site and using practices that reduce effects on the environment and the community.

In addition to cheering on its football schoolmates, the Waukon High School cheerleading squad participated in its own competition season this past fall. The Indians ended up finishing among the best in the state of Iowa once again this season in those competition activities over three consecutive weekends.

The squad started its competition season at the Triton Cheer Challenge held at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge Sunday, October 24. In that competition, the Indians placed first in three different divisions of competition, including Band Chant, Time Out and Fight Song, along with finishing second in the Stunt division. Pictured above at that Triton Cheer Challenge are: Left to right - Front row: Shania Dundee, Ella Dehli, Kylie Strittmater, Princess Goc Ong, Hayden VanGorp, Candyce Klein Hagensick; Bank row: Remy Gulla, Gracia Goc Ong, Ana Acosta, Sofia Acosta, Keira Miller, CiAnne Robinson.

The 43rd enshrinement into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) Hall of Fame will take place in Madison, WI at the Marriott West April 2 of this year, and among this year’s 12 newly inducted members will be Waukon High School 1988 graduate Jason Piittmann.

Piittmann, the son of Gerald and Diane Piittmann of Waukon, has spent the last 22 years at Kewaskum High School in Kewaskum, WI, assuming the head football coaching reins in 2003 and compiling a 16-year head coaching record of 140 wins against just 39 losses. Not straying too far from his own high school alma mater’s mascot namesake, Piittmann guided the Kewaskum Indians to 10 consecutive seasons of 10 or more wins during his tenure.

In what turned out to be its only competition of this past week, the Kee boys basketball team played host to North Fayette Valley Thursday, January 13 in a game rescheduled from December, aand senior Dalton Dibert made it worth the wait, as he poured in the 1,000th point of his high school basketball career in the game’s first quarter. Despite Dibert’s milestone achievement and a valiant comeback effort from a 34-19 halftime deficit, the Kee boys ended up having the game snatched away in the closing seconds for a 56-55 Hawk defeat.

Naoma F. Humphreys, 92, of Waukon, formerly of Lanark, IL, passed away to her heavenly home Saturday, January 8, 2022 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Family graveside services will be held at a later date in Clinton, IL.

Memorials may be sent to Rock River Christian Camp, 16486 W. IL Route 64, Polo, IL 61064. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family.

Naoma, along with her twin brother, Ned, were born May 14, 1929 to Oran and Hilda (Wright) Wade of rural Clinton, IL. Naoma went to country school until her family moved into Clinton, and in 1948 she graduated from Clinton High School. She worked at the local drug store and then later took a job as a cashier with the power company.

October 20, 1950, she married the love of her life, Boyce Humphreys; they raised five children and were longtime residents of Lanark, IL. Naoma worked at Elkay Manufacturing and then later worked at Rolling Hills.

Plans have been announced to hold the 2022 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Waukon Sunday, March 13. All are invited to participate in this year’s parade with an Irish-themed entry at no cost. Further details of the annual event will be printed as they become finalized.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, January 10 to address a full agenda of items during its first meeting of the 2022 calendar year.

Mayor Pat Stone called the meeting to order with approval of the consent agenda which included several beginning of the year reorganizational matters and appointments. Council appointments included Health Officer Dr. Nicole Barbee, City Clerk Sarah Snitker, Water and Sewer Superintendent Jim Cooper, Street Superintendent Keith Burrett, Zoning Administrator Gary Boden and City Attorney Jeff Swartz. Mayor appointments included Police Chief Paul Wagner, Mayor Pro-Tem Kevin Johnson and Fire Committee members John Lydon and Kevin Johnson.

Council meetings were again set for the first and third Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. The Standard was designated as the official City newspaper. There was no Public Comment and the meeting moved into Department Reports.

The grandstand at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon will be rockin’ like it never has before Friday, July 22, as this year’s grandstand musical act for the Allamakee County Fair will feature one of the most popular arena rock and roll experiences around as its headline performer. The Allamakee County Fair Board has announced that Hairball, the widely sought-after national touring act that brings the glory of ‘80s rock and roll to life, will bring its multi-faceted act to that grandstand stage, returning to Waukon after filling the town’s downtown stoplight intersection with fans during an overnight RAGBRAI stop in 2017.