Panelists who participated in a recent Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) and water quality forum aren’t anti-agriculture, they’re pro-clean air and water.
That was the consensus during the Thursday, November 9 forum, which was co-sponsored by the Luther College Center for Sustainable Communities and the Allamakee County Protectors Education Campaign. About l30 people attended the meeting held on the Luther College campus in Decorah.
Monday, November 6, many community members came together to assist rural Waukon farmer Mark Miller with his corn harvest as he continues to undergo treatment for an illness. More than 30 volunteers with seven combines, 10 semi-trailer combinations and five tractors with grain carts harvested 185 acres of corn in six hours (as depicted in the surrounding photos). Adding to the rural northeast Iowa feel, none of those involved wanted to be identified, relaying that the focus should be on the reason behind the event itself. The corn was hauled to Waukon Feed Ranch for drying and Kruger Seeds provided the fuel for the event. In addition to the work in the field, a lunch was also coordinated by volunteers to feed those involved. Submitted photos.
This group of local area men, along with others, have been carrying on a local tradition started approximately 70 years ago with a daily gathering of about a half hour for coffee each weekday around 9 a.m. at the S&D Café on Main Street in Waukon. The tradition dates back to when Clare Duggan owned the cafe in the late 1940s, when Dr. Clark Rominger was joined by a similar group of men, some of whom were local downtown business owners that included dime store owner Joe Cronin, Dutch Jacobi of Jacobi's Clothing Store and Dan Regan of Regan's Pharmacy. Much like today, the group would meet to discuss the business, politics and gossip of the day. Dr. Rominger recruited Dr. Louis Bray to join the group when he moved to town in 1956, and Dr. Bray was reported as having attended faithfully each morning he could until he passed away in 2015.
Making it official ... Members of the Lansing Lions Club officially cut the ribbon signifying the official opening of the "Our Ship of Dreams" playground (pictured in the background) in the park located along South Front Street in Lansing. The year-long campaign of planning, fundraising and installation was celebrated with the ribbon cutting. Photo by Susan Cantine-Maxson.
More than just a bicycle rack ... A bicycle rack in the shape of a fish holds special meaning as part of the Lansing Lions Club playground improvements. The bicycle rack was initiated by a donation from Lansing resident Steve Casterton in memory of his nephew, Danan John Lansing of Ossian, who passed away at the age of 16 but loved to fish and take part in other activities with his grandparents in Lansing and was a strong student and athlete at South Winneshiek High School involved in many activities. The "tail-end" placard near the bicycle rack memorializes the donation by Casterton, along with an additional contribution to the rack by Lansing Housing Products. Photo by Susan Cantine-Maxson.
Indeed, a community project ... Pictured above celebrating the official opening of the "Our Ship of Dreams" playground in Lansing are members of the Lansing Lions Club, along with some of the 50 volunteers who helped install the new playground equipment and others who supported the project in a variety of ways to help make it become a reality over the past year. Photo by Susan Cantine-Maxson.
by Susan Cantine-Maxson
Lansing Lions Club President Tara Kolsrud, along with fellow Lions and volunteers, officially opened the newly-constructed “Our Ship of Dreams” playground equipment Sunday, November 5 at the playground along South Front Street just south of the Lansing ball diamond. Project Chairperson Arlen Wonderlich presented remarks to those gathered to celebrate the culmination of a year-long project.
Proclaim November 13-19 National Apprenticeship Week ... At its Monday, November 13 meeting, the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors proclaimed November 13-19 as National Apprenticeship Week in Allamakee County. Pictured above at the proclamation are: Left to right - Front row: Barb Hyke, Workforce Advisor and Katie Bahl, Business Marketing Specialist - Region 1, both with IowaWORKS. Back row: Supervisors Dennis Koenig, Dan Byrnes and Larry Schellhammer.
by Joe Moses
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, November 13 to address a full agenda of items, including the Proclamation of National Apprenticeship Week in Allamakee County, discussion of 2018 County holidays and consideration of hiring temporary part-time help for the Christmas season in the County Relief Office. There were no public comments presented.
Take-home contest begins November 20 for return by December 4 for judging
The Robey Memorial Library Foundation is hosting a gingerbread decorating contest and awarding three Amazon Fire tablets to the most creative decorators. This year the contest, hosted in previous years by Kitchen Krafts, will be a take-home decorating event open to all families in Waukon.
Beginning Monday, November 20, while supplies last, families can pick up a free gingerbread house from Robey Memorial Library, located at 401 First Avenue NW in Waukon. They can then decorate the house with the materials in the box, or put their own twist on it and add their own decorations. Participants are encouraged to be creative.
Once decorated, gingerbread houses must be returned to the library for display and public voting by December 4. The three gingerbread houses that receive the most votes will each win an Amazon Fire 7 tablet from the Robey Memorial Library Foundation.
Students assist with BackPack Program in ACSD ... Students in Gail Hilleshiem's classes at Waukon High School and Middle School have been sharpening their resumés with volunteer efforts through the BackPack Program offering meal assistance to students in need within the school district. Pictured above, students work at packing meals for the program, and pictured below, students also help deliver the meals to student recipients. Submitted photos.
by Brianne Eilers
It can be hard to imagine that hunger is an issue for families in America. However, life's twists and turns put many families in a situation where it can be a struggle to put food on the table.
One in five children in America faces hunger, and when children don't get proper nutrition, it can affect a number of things, such as concentration. Imagine having to go a whole weekend without having much to eat and then trying to focus on school lessons the following Monday morning.
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) has been involved in a program that has been trying to address those hunger issues for local students who may need such assistance. For almost 10 years now the ACSD has been partnering with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank to provide the BackPack
Program to help students make sure they have something to eat when school meals aren't available.
As college and career options begin entering the conversation for high school juniors and seniors, Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), the Northeast Iowa Career Learning Link Partnership and the Waukon Center are resources that can be used now by students looking to answer the question of what they plan to do after high school graduation.
Taking advantage of the concurrent enrollment agreement between Waukon High School and NICC, as well as Career Learning Link, are good strategies for high school students who want a head start on a two- or four-year college degree, conveniently and more affordably.
Dietsy Mitchell, a 2017 Waukon High School graduate, completed numerous college credits through the college credit agreement. Her participation in the Career Learning Link program as an upperclassman also brought her healthcare career goals into focus.
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering the class “Kids and Canvas - It’s Elementary!” Tuesday, November 28 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW.
Children can explore the world of painting in this class designed for elementary school-aged kids. In class, the kids are provided the paint and artist’s canvas, an age-appropriate subject and step-by-step guidance to release each child’s inherent creativity.
To register online for “Kids and Canvas - It’s Elementary!” (#57895) or for more information, visit www.nicc.edu/solutions or call NICC Business and Community Solutions at 800-728-2256, ext. 399 (Calmar campus) or 563-568-3060 (NICC Waukon Center).
Lansing City Clerk Katie Becker has been awarded the designation of "Iowa Certified Municipal Finance Officer" from the Iowa Municipal Finance Officers Association (IMFOA) for achieving its high educational, experience and service requirements. Becker joins a number of Municipal Officers in the state of Iowa who currently hold the designation through the program first launched by IMFOA in 2005.
The program aids Municipal Clerks, Deputy Clerks and Finance Officers in improving job performance and recognizes the professionalization of the Municipal Professionals Office. Completion of the Iowa State University Institute on Basic Government and Professional Curriculum or a baccalaureate degree in public administration or related field, responsible experience in local government, and participation in conferences, meetings and educational seminars are required to earn this prestigious Iowa Certified Municipal Clerk designation.
