News Center newsletter

For your meditation:
Acts 4:32-35
I John 5:1-6
John 20:19-31

These scriptures are all echoes of the Good Friday catastrophe and the East Triumph.

The gospel, even though it is a post-resurrection event, is still in the mood and feeling of Good Friday because the apostles and particularly  Thomas, Doubting Thomas, still have not accepted the fact that Jesus has really, really risen from the dead.

The first reading, on the other hand, is definately in the upbeat mood and feeling of Easter. “The community of believers were of one heart and one mind.” “With power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great respect was paid to them all.”

Quite a change, eh, from the Eleven hiding out in the Upper Room. “Where they were for fear of the Jews.”

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• April 9 - June 1: Margin Protection Program (MPP) Signup (Additional details below)
• May 15 - August 2: Primary Nesting Season. No Mid-Contract Management Activities on CRP Acres
• May 31: Marketing Assistance Loans for Prior Year Harvested Corn and Soybeans
• August 1: ARC/PLC Sign-up

Enyart Farms, LLC of Postville was awarded the High Herd Production Award for both milk and protein at the 2018 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet Saturday, March 24 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Pictured above, left to right, are Avery, Steve, Alex and Adam Enyart. Not pictured: Paula Enyart. Submitted photo.

As the date for corn planting approaches, farmers who planted cover crops last fall need to prepare to terminate that growth and apply the right amount of nitrogen at corn planting to ensure the best corn yields.

Research by Practical Farmers of Iowa has found that killing the cover crop two to three weeks before corn planting, the common timeframe on most Iowa farms, combined with an effective fertilizer strategy can maintain corn yields while saving farmers money.

Stefan Gailans, research and field crops director for Practical Farmers, says there’s a misconception among new or inexperienced cover crop farmers that extra nitrogen beyond their typical corn fertilization rates must be applied to corn following a cover crop, a belief that leads these farmers to spend money needlessly. In reality, it’s not rate that matters, he says, but the timing of application.

Becker discusses son’s mental illness that led to shooting of family friend

by Lissa Blake

Don’t be afraid of someone who has an illness in their brain.

That was just one of the many lessons speaker Joan Becker has shared since the fateful day when her son, Mark, took the life of beloved family friend and Parkersburg town hero, Ed Thomas.

Becker, author of the book “Sentenced to Life,” spoke to a crowd of more than 200 people at the Waukon High School Auditorium Friday night, April 6 as part of a program sponsored by Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) and the VMH Nursing Council.

Becker discussed the years of struggle her family endured trying to get her son help before he walked into his high school’s weight room the morning of June 24, 2009 and shot  legendary Aplington-Parkersburg football coach Ed Thomas.

Larry Schellhammer of rural Lansing is announcing his candidacy for the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors. Schellhammer is seeking re-election to the Board of Supervisors, on which he has served since 2010.

He and his wife, Cindy, have two adult children, John of rural Lansing and Leah of Cedar Falls. Schellhammer has been a dairy farmer in Allamakee County since 1977 and is currently in a farming partnership with his son, John. He is a member of Iron Ridge Church in Waukon, where he is part of the Worship and Leadership Teams.

At a Tuesday morning, April 10 special session, the Allamakee Community School District Board of Directors approved a bid submitted by the City of Waterville for the purchase of the Waterville Elementary School building and land. The board held a public hearing regarding the sale of the property and later opened three bids for its purchase before going into closed session to discuss the bids. Upon return to open session, the City of Waterville bid in the amount of $15,000 was approved. Additional information about the public hearing, bid openings and other business addressed at the 7 a.m. Tuesday morning session can be found on Page 8A inside the April 11 edition of The Standard.

For more complete coverage, pick up this week's print edition or subscribe to our e-edition by clicking here.

Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) is conducting a Housing Needs Assessment with assistance from Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission. The housing needs assessment includes data, projections and recommendations for action. The public is invited and encouraged to attend public open houses to view the findings from the assessment, and to share their comments and ideas.

Those Public Meetings are scheduled to be held according to the following schedule:

Allamakee County libraries, including Delores Tillinghast Memorial Library in Harpers Ferry, Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library, New Albin Public Library, Postville Public Library, Waterville Public Library and Robey Memorial Library in Waukon, along with Allamakee County Economic Development, are hosting a new, fun activity for the whole community, entitled “Allamakee Libraries Rock” (ALR).

ALR is a fun way for individuals and their families or groups to share their creativity in the community by painting/decorating rocks with a positive message or image. Once a rock is decorated, it can be placed in a park, wayside, playground, nature trail, etc. for someone else to find. Follow the @Allamakeelibrariesrock Facebook page to post about rocks that have been hidden or found, and to see what others in the community are posting.

Waukon High School Prom 2018 is scheduled for Saturday, April 21. Parents of high school students are again hosting the annual substance-free Post Prom event at the Waukon High School gymnasium immediately following Prom, from 11 p.m. until 3:30 a.m. the next morning.

Very strong past support from parents of Waukon High School students, as well as from local businesses and civic organizations, has resulted in the continued success of providing Prom-goers a safe alternative for celebrating the annual event. That support has provided these young adults with games, food, entertainment and prizes at the Post Prom event each year.

Assistance is needed for the event in two main areas: