News Center newsletter

by Lissa Blake

A group of local residents is taking steps to make Waukon a more inviting place to walk. Walk-On Waukon is a non-profit organization which recently was formed to address the fact that many areas within the city do not have sidewalks.

Group co-organizer Brooke Troendle said, “Jayne McCormick and I were walking and discussing how there are a lot of areas in Waukon that do not have sidewalks. We also talked about how generations before us worked really hard to make sure we had a nice city park, swimming pool and Wellness Center.”

Troendle said when she and McCormick approached the Waukon City Council to discuss the matter, they realized the City already had a lot of infrastructure projects and improvements that were needed in Waukon.

“They were not against the idea of improving the sidewalks, but they suggested we look into funding options like grants,” she said.

Grace Howe (left in above photo), daughter of Shelly and the late Matt Howe of Waukon, was crowned the 2018 Allamakee County Dairy Princess at the annual Allamakee County Dairy Banquet held Saturday, March 24 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Also selected at Saturday’s annual banquet as the 2018 Alternate Dairy Princess was Cayla Nolting (right in above photo), daughter of Chad and Cheryl Nolting of Waukon. The two are pictured above with 2017 Allamakee County Alternate Dairy Princess Carmen Wille (center in above photo). Additional photos of award winners and other events from the 2018 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet will appear in a future issue of The Standard. Photo courtesy of Paula Enyart.
 

Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa is observed March 26-30 and includes the State of Iowa Tornado Drill Day taking place Wednesday, March 28, with Allamakee County authorities and communities planning to take part in this exercise. The drill should consist of the National Weather Service station out of La Crosse, WI issuing a mock tornado watch at around 10 a.m. that Wednesday followed by a tornado warning at 10:30 a.m., at which time the intent would be to activate community warning sirens.

Residents and businesses should use this as an opportunity to think about their plans for seeking shelter during an actual event. As part of his next monthly emergency management article, Allamakee County Emergency Management Director Corey Snitker plans to discuss the topic of severe weather awareness and readiness as weather patterns move into the spring and summer storm seasons.

Allamakee County Treasurer Lori Hesse would like to remind property owners the second installment of property taxes is due by the end of this month (March 2018). Being the end of March falls on a weekend, property owners will have until Monday, April 2 to pay their taxes without penalty. It should also be noted that the Allamakee County Courthouse will be closed Friday, March 30 this year in observance of Good Friday.

Property owners may pay their taxes at the Allamakee County Treasurer’s office in the Allamakee County Courthouse located at 110 Allamakee Street in Waukon, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Those paying taxes are reminded to bring their tax stubs with their payment to insure proper credit. To avoid penalty on the second installment, payment must be received in the Treasurer’s Office by Monday, April 2. Penalty begins Tuesday, April 3.

The Waukon City Council has scheduled a special session for Wednesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Among the agenda items listed to be addressed during the meeting are sewer rate increases, clarification of City duties, and the resignation of a city council member.

Students in pre-kindergarten through second grade at West Elementary School in Waukon celebrated Be Kind to Bees day Thursday, March 22 as part of the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative’s (FFI) Harvest of the Month program. According to FFI Americorps Service Member Elizabeth Happ, each month students learn about a local food that is in season. The featured food for the month of March was honey, and students traveled to five different learning centers inside the West Elementary gymnasium to learn a variety of things related to bees and the harvesting of honey, with many of those activities pictured in the surrounding photos:

Pictured above: Joel Fassbinder of the Highlandville Honey Farm explains how honey is harvested from the hive.

Pictured at center: Brielle Kruger helps Ross Geerdes of Allamakee County Conservation explain bee anatomy.

Pictured below: Waukon High School students Lilly Kossman and Mia Strub help administer the honey taste test.

Waukon High School welcomed the newest members into its local chapter of the National Honor Society at an annual induction ceremony held Thursday, March 22 at Waukon High School. Pictured above are this year’s new inductees, left to right - Front row: Zaida Bockman, Cayla Nolting, Nicole Campbell, Michael Headington, Nathan Helgerson, Andrew Mellick, Caleb Opfer, Emma Roe, Michaela Dehli, Berklee Hanson, Molly Brodahl. Second row: Carlee Benzing, Peyton Bieber, Lauryn Behrend, Grace Howe, Aleah Howes, Megan O’Neill, Landon Berns, Madisen Ahlstrom, Allison Goltz, Emily Kolsrud. Back row: Jasmyn Enyart, Aubree Cota, Lauren Griffith, Cassidy Byrnes, Brooke Wasson, Mary Vander Velden, Micah Treptau, Sean Liddiard, Robert Drew, Brigid Berns. Not pictured: Thomas Byrnes. Photo courtesy of Waukon High School.
 

Each year, Crossing Rivers Health in Prairie du Chien, WI presents Ambassador of the Year awards to individuals who represent the organization’s core values of joy, unity, integrity, compassion and excellence, along with awards for Ambassador of Leadership and Ambassador of Provider Excellence. Nominations are submitted by employees and presented to the Senior Leadership Team for selection. For the year 2017, Susan “Sue” McMillan of Waukon, Family Nurse Practitioner at Crossing Rivers Health, was recognized as the organization’s Ambassador of Provider Excellence.

The Allamakee County Conservation Board will be hosting author Dick Stahl Saturday, April 14 at 2 p.m. in the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center library in Lansing. The program is free of charge.

Dick Stahl fell in love with the Mississippi River as a small child exploring and growing up in Davenport. His fascination with the river has led him to explore the Upper Mississippi River as well as many other rivers around the world including the Rhine River and the Nile River.

He has compiled a book, entitled “Bluffing,” of poems and color photographs inspired by the mighty river.  His work has also appeared in three other books, including “After the Milk Route” and “Under the Green Tree Hotel,” published by Augustana College’s East Hall Press and “Mr. Farnam’s Guests” published by the Midwest Writing Center. He served as Quad City Arts’ first Poet Laureate of the Quad Cities from September 2001 to September 2003.

Volunteers, contributions needed to make Post Prom possible

Kee High School’s Post Prom has been scheduled for April 22 from midnight until 4 a.m. for Kee juniors and seniors and their guests, following their Prom Saturday, April 21. The Post Prom event is a substance free celebration providing table games, raffles and silent auctions, snacks and drinks and door prizes.

All Kee junior and senior students are welcome, even if not participating in Prom. There is no fee to attend. Hypnotist Blake Powers from Wand Enterprises has been booked and all guests will be entertained by his show.

The Post Prom Committee has been hosting Sunday Bingo events and worked the brat stand at Lansing Fish Days to raise funds for Post Prom. The group is very appreciative to all area businesses and individuals for their continued support.