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Funeral services were held Thursday, December 7 at Atonement Lutheran Church in St. Cloud, MN for Alf Thorson Odegaard, age 101, of St. Cloud, MN, who passed away Sunday, December 3, 2017 at home with his family by his side. Rev. John Gabrielson officiated and interment was at Old East Paint Creek Church, Waterville Friday, December 8. Arrangements were entrusted to Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN.

Alf Thorson Odegaard was born June 12, 1916 on the family farm in Center Township, Allamakee County, Waterville. He was the third of three children born to Otto Albert (Hanson) Odegard and Barbara Oline Thorson Odegard. He attended rural school located at the corner of his home farm. He graduated from Waterville Consolidated High School as salutatorian in 1932 at the age of 15. He had scholarship offers to Luther and St. Olaf, but because of his young age and lack of money during the Depression, he stayed home and worked on the farm with this father.

Nick and Brittany Tilleraas of Waterville announce the birth of their son, Wade Richard Tilleraas, born November 21, 2017 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 7 lbs. 3 ozs. and measured 20-1/2 inches at the time of his birth. He joins a sister, Dallas (4).

Grandparents are Jim and Michele Wood of Waukon, Troy and Niki Tilleraas of Waverly, and Tracy and Christina Waters of Belfry, MT. Great-grandparents are Larry and JoAnn Gelo of Waukon, John and Sharon Wood of Harpers Ferry, Julie Wood of Lansing, DuWayne and Laurayne Snitker of Waukon, Dana Waters of Waukon, Ray and Patricia Kirchmeyer of Arbor Vitae, WI and Mary Peterson of Rochester, MN.

Benjamin and Nicole Lampert of Brownsville, MN announce the birth of their son, Noah Charles Lampert, born November 26, 2017 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 7 lbs. 11 ozs. and measured 22 inches in length at the time of his birth. He joins a brother, Paul (2-1/2).

Grandparents are Charles and Alta Lampert of Brownsville, MN and Craig and Vicki Trytten of Harris, MN. Great-grandparents are Wilbert Schuldt of Brownsville, MN, Ruth Drost of Duluth, MN and Carla Trytten of Gregory, SD.

Anthony and Samantha Ledesma of Postville announce the birth of their daughter, Annalise Elizabeth Ledesma, born November 28, 2017 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 8 lbs. 9 ozs. and measured 20-1/2 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins siblings, Ariana (3), Aaliyah (2) and Zane (1).

Grandparents are Sandy Bellmer of Oelwein and Michelle Ledesma of McAllen, TX.

The Allamakee Ecumenical Choir will present its 41st annual "Festival of Lessons and Carols" service this Sunday, December 10 at 7 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, located at 8 Fifth Street SW in Waukon. Area clergy will read the lessons, and carols will be sung by the choirs and congregation. Choral numbers will be presented by the Ecumenical Choir, Ecumenical Men’s Choir, Ecumenical Women's Choir and Ecumenical Children’s Choir. Musical selections will also be presented by a Brass Ensemble and the St. John’s Lutheran Church Youth and Senior Handbell Choirs.

The Bixby Children String Quintet will also perform and accompany some of the choral selections. They are the grandchildren of James Bieber, who first organized and continues to prepare and direct the Allamakee Ecumenical Choir for this annual community celebration of Christmas that is open to the public. He will once again be assisted by his daughter, Sarah Palmer, this year.
 

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

Longtime Lansing resident Chris Bolson and her sister, Margaret Walter from Decorah, recently returned from Washington D.C. where they took part in  the 35th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Wall Memorial. Their brother, PFC Lloyd C. Wohlford, was killed in the Vietnam War in 1967 at the age of 20.
Every five years, a ceremony is held where the  58,318   names of the individuals who died in the Vietnam War are read. When Bolson and Walter learned of the ceremony this year, they decided it was a memorial they wanted to be a part of for their brother and they quickly made travel arrangements.
Volunteers read the names over a period of 19 hours from 5:00 a.m. until midnight over a period of four days. They  knew  the approximate time that their brother’s name would be read was at  12:32 p.m. and they wanted to be there to hear it.

The annual Lighted Holiday Parade held in Waukon Monday evening, December 4 brightened up the beginning of the holiday season in more ways than one as nearly two dozen entries made their way through the city streets. Unseasonable temperatures hovering in the lower 50s made for comfortable viewing conditions for parade-goers, and a rare December rainstorm had made its way out of the area just in time to not be a bother for the event. Among the many displays and messages featured by this year's parade entries was the one displayed by First Presbyterian Church in its parade entry pictured above reminding all parade viewers of the foundational message of "Peace on Earth" that will likely be heard throughout many holiday services and events this season but should be a year-round consideration. Standard photo by Joe Moses. View and find out how to purchase this photo and more from the holiday parade and additional area events by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this website.

by Brianne Eilers

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, December 4 to address a full agenda of items including the Delta 3 Engineering Professional Service Agreement for a tennis court, a Park, Rec and Wellness Board vacancy and discussion of establishing minimum requirements for commercial tax rebates.

There was no Public Comment, which allowed the council to immediately move into Departmental Reports, with Street Superintendent Keith Burrett discussing a quote for street light replacements. Park and Rec Wellness Director Jeremy Strub discussed the 10-year anniversary of the Waukon Wellness Center and a variety of associated events that were well attended.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 4 to address a full agenda of items including the approval of a pay request for signage at the Public Safety Center, consideration of joining other counties in litigation against opioid manufacturers and approval of the Homestead Credit and Military Exemption for 2017 property taxes.

Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order and the current agenda and meeting minutes of November 27 were approved. There was no Public Comment.

The Supervisors reviewed the Manure Management Plan for Grove 5 from Adam Grove, which was accepted and placed on file.