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Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Anaruth Bechtel by Dave and Laurie Martin, Jim and Bev Larson-Needham, Carol Moe, Lois Evans, Jane Dietrich, Lillian Larson and Dennis and Sandy Deal.

Memorials were also received in memory of Cletus Althoff by Marv and Marge Strike, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Dave and Laurie Martin and family and friends of Clet Althoff.

In addition, memorials were received in memory of Bradford Krambeer by Ken and Jill Lampman, Betty Hogan, George Pickett, Robert and Kristi Campbell, Dave and Laurie Martin, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, John and Lorna Kerndt, Mae Jean Bakke, Bob and Marilyn Bulman, Pat and Kathy McMillan, Ed and Karen Stamper, Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Ardys Kuhse, Dean “Beanzy” Schellhammer, Carol Krumme, Dan and Sue Schlitter, Russ and Mary Jo Meyer, Tony and Terry Link, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Dave and Sandy Lyons and Dave and Rhonda Bahr.

Merlin Hansmeier of Ossian will be celebrating his 90th birthday December 29. In honor of the occasion, cards and well wishes may be sent to: 114 Fisher Ave., Box 98, Ossian, IA 52161.
 

Chad Rethwisch and Julie Papp of Lansing announce the birth of their son, Camden Peter Rethwisch, born December 15, 2017 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz. and measured 22 inches in length at the time of his birth. He joins a sibling, Cael (12).

Grandparents are Joe and Sue Papp of Lansing, Jay Rethwisch of Lansing and Kathryn Sanderson of Harpers Ferry.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

• Two million children are currently exploited in the commercial sex trade.
• Human trafficking generates about $150 billion per year.
• More than 30 million people are currently enslaved, worldwide.

Local individuals may be as unaware of these statistics as the initiative and the website, www.dressember.org, from which they came. Lest anyone think these statistics might be referring to something that is happening “somewhere else” and doesn’t have much to do with northeast Iowa, two Waukon residents are here to say it does - and they are dressing up as part of a global effort with the hope that someday it does not.

Allamakee County and its jurisdictions have worked diligently over the last year and a half to complete an update to a comprehensive Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management, provided grant funds for the planning process, which was lead by the Allamakee County Emergency Management Agency with assistance from Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission and a countywide Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee.

The Committee started working together in the summer of 2016. That process began by identifying the characteristics and potential consequences of hazards, and assessing vulnerabilities of communities and the county. After gaining an understanding of hazard risks, the Committee determined what the priorities should be and then looked at possible ways to avoid or minimize the undesired effects, culminating in a list of potential countywide hazard mitigation actions.

Members of Cub Scout Pack 64 of Waukon collected toys at their December Pack meeting for donation to the Allamakee Giving Tree sponsored by the Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) Allamakee County Family Service Office prior to the Christmas holiday. The donated toys pictured in photos at right were taken by the Cub Scouts to the NEICAC office in Waukon, where they were distributed to families in need for Christmas. Submitted photos.
 

Monday, December 18, the Waukon Police Department received a report of checks returned to local businesses in Waukon from their financial institution because they were reported as forged. After completing an investigation, 40-year-old Jill Marie Schroeder of Prairie Du Chien, WI was charged with five counts of forgery, each being a class D felony, and five counts of theft. An arrest warrant was issued for Schroeder on these charges.

Saturday, December 23, the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office and the Lansing/ New Albin Police Department took Schroeder into custody in Lansing on the arrest warrant. A criminal charge is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Saturday, December 9, the St. Patrick School RoboCats robotics team competed in a First Lego League (FLL)  regional competition held at the Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School in Dubuque. The theme of the 2017 First Lego League season is Hydrodynamics.

Thirty teams of students, ranging in age from nine to 16, competed in the three major areas of First Lego League including Core Values, Robot Design and Robot Game, and Hydrodynamics Project.  Teams were judged in the areas of Core Values, Robot Design and Hydrodynamics Project, and they received points for each mission that was completed during the Robot Game matches. At the end of the competition, the judges tabulate points and choose teams to advance to the state competition held on the campus of the Iowa State University College of Engineering in Ames January 13-14.

Students in Kindergarten through fifth grade in the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) under the direction of art instructor Carlyn Lechtenberg had their artwork selected to be put on display at the Keystone Area Education Agency (AEA) building in Elkader during the months of January and February. The art displays are open to the public for viewing during office hours. Students whose artwork was selected for the display include Kaleb Finn, Ada Iverson, Roland Melcher, Laryn Bulman, Raleigh Lonning, Emma Retallick, Sutton Jones, Mariesa Gibbs and Kelby Cahalan. Their artwork is pictured above and labeled accordingly. Submitted images.
 

Prairie Industries' Lansing location donated to the Allamakee Giving Tree sponsored by the Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) Allamakee County Family Service Office. Staff members of Prairie Industries collected and donated $1,590 and several boxes of new toys and canned food items (all pictured above) to give to families in need in Allamakee County. The items were donated to the Northeast Iowa Community Action Family Service Office in Waukon so that office could provide gifts and food to families in Allamakee County in time for the holidays. Submitted photo.