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Fri
01
Mar

Lynne Kruse

Lynne M. Kruse, 60, of Seattle, WA, formerly of Eitzen, MN, died Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Swedish Hospital, Cherry Hill Campus in Seattle, WA. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 16 from 1-4 p.m. at the Eitzen Community Center. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Lynne Marie Kruse was born December 8, 1963, in Waukon, the daughter of Delton and Margaret “Maggie” (Herman) Kruse. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Luke’s Church in Eitzen, MN, graduated from Caledonia High School in 1982, and received a master’s degree in public health from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA.

She loved to travel and after college Lynne joined the Peace Corps. She taught cultural English in Japan for several years and worked in refugee camps in Thailand. Lynne moved to Seattle, WA, where she worked at the Polyclinic for several years as a medical assistant.

Wed
28
Feb

Connie Hobson

In Loving Memory of Connie Kay Hobson
June 2, 1955 - February 25, 2024

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Connie Kay Hobson, age 68, of Waterloo. Connie passed away February 25, 2024, surrounded by her loving family at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home. A gathering of family and friends was held Sunday, March 3 at Locke at Tower Park in Waterloo. Memorials may be directed to Connie’s family for later designation.

Arrangements were entrusted to Locke at Tower Park in Waterloo. For those wishing to share memories and condolences, please visit LockeFuneralServices.com.

Born June 2, 1955, to Ronald and Darlene (Flage) Winkie in Waukon, Connie’s life was a testament to love, kindness, and unwavering devotion to her loved ones.

Wed
28
Feb

Jane Smerud-Beseler

Our Angel on Earth is now an Angel in Heaven. Jane Marie Smerud-Beseler passed away suddenly, unexpectedly at St. Francis/Mayo Health System Saturday, February 24, 2024, at age 68. Memorial services were held Thursday, February 29 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in New Albin with Fr. Joseph Sevcik officiating. Burial was at St. Joseph Cemetery, New Albin. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in Lansing handled arrangements.

Jane was born July 1, 1955, at St. Francis Hospital in La Crosse, WI, the youngest daughter of Alfred J. and Lorna (Darling) Smerud of New Albin. She attended school in New Albin until the family moved to La Crosse, WI in 1966, when she attended and graduated from Aquinas High School with the Class of 1973.

Wed
28
Feb

Black Hawk Bridge closed to inspect structural integrity ...


Photo by Susan Cantine-Maxson.

Submitted photo.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) closed the Black Hawk Bridge (Highway 82) at Lansing Sunday afternoon, February 25 due to safety concerns after discovering suspected movement of the bridge following the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department notifying DOT officials that something “didn’t look right” (the bend in the guard rail structure on the right side of the photo below providing the most visible evidence of the concerns on the east approach to the bridge from the Wisconsin side). Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick said the Allamakee County Dispatch Center received a call early Sunday afternoon from a Lansing resident, who had been contacted by another individual and then took their own look at the bridge before calling the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Mellick said a Deputy traveled to the bridge and then requested that DOT officials be contacted after witnessing what the photo below shows.

Wed
28
Feb

Friends of Pool 9 to present celebration in honor of 100th anniversary of Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge March 9


One iconic Mississippi River organization will help celebrate another ... In its early existence more than a decade ago, members of the Friends of Pool 9, Upper Miss Refuge, Inc. accepted the National Friends Group of the Year Award for 2009, at a recognition event in Washington, D.C. The award-winning Friends of Pool 9 group is now helping another Mississippi River icon, the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, celebrate its 100th year of existence this year, beginning with a March 9 event. Submitted photo.

Telling the story of the “Father of the Refuge” ... Steve Marking (photo above) will share the story of Will Dilg (photo below), considered to be the “Father of the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge”. Marking will perform “A Visit from Will Dilg and Scenes from our Mighty Mississippi” at a March 9 event hosted by Friends of Pool 9 in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Refuge. Submitted photos.

“The true angler is more a lover of nature than a fish getter.”
   ~ Will Dilg, “father” of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

“You put together some sky and some cliff,
slash the bluffs with a glacial rift
Winds rise from that rocky shear
and witness the same peregrinations each year.
Going Driftless.
There’s magnetic force in this Paleozoic Plateau
Tugs at my spirit, it resonates in my soul.
Another ridge to climb - another valley to explore
A lifetime of looking – still I wanna find more.
I keep Going Driftless.”

    ~ Last verse of “Going Driftless,” lyrics by Jon Stravers Sr. and Jon Stravers Jr. The song appears on two Big Blue Sky recordings, “Bird Dance” and “River Dreams.”

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Wed
28
Feb

Kasemeier ordered to appear for arraignment on first-degree murder charges, bond review is continued

A pair of appearances in Allamakee County District Court for Brandon Kasemeier, the 39-year-old man from Waukon charged in the January 21 death of his estranged wife, Jami Kasemeier, did not take place as scheduled this past week. Action taken in regard to both appearances, however, has resulted in further court proceedings being scheduled in the case.

As Allamakee County Attorney Anthony Gericke had previously forecasted, the preliminary hearing scheduled for Friday, February 23 for Kasemeier did not take place after Gericke and State of Iowa Assistant Attorney General Keisha Cretsinger filed Trial Information in regard to the charge of Murder in the First Degree being brought against Kasemeier. Gericke had previously explained that the Trial Information and minutes of testimony lay out the charges, a brief explanation of fact as to why the charges were filed and a list of witnesses expected to testify at trial.

Wed
28
Feb

Allamakee County Veterans Museum program to focus on Civil War era this Saturday

This Saturday, March 2, at 10 a.m., the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will present another program from its Veterans History Project at its museum located at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon.

February 15, 1862, Private John Stillman, Co. B, 12th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Union Army, became the first soldier from Allamakee County to die in battle during the Civil War. Stillman served under the command of General U. S. Grant in his campaign against Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in Tennessee.

This was the first combined arms operation including U.S. Navy ironclad ships and U.S. Army land forces, which paved the way for Grant’s victory in April 1862 at the Battle of Shiloh. A video will be shown explaining the Battles for Forts Henry and Donelson, along with their importance to the Shiloh Battle and eventual control of the Mississippi River.

Wed
28
Feb

“Murder in the Knife Room” to be presented March 8-9 ...

Empty Nest Winery and Allamakee Community Players, Inc. will be presenting a dinner theater production of “Murder in the Knife Room” Friday and Saturday, March 8-9, at 6 p.m. each evening, at the Empty Nest Winery. This comedy has one murder, with 10 suspects. Who did it? Was it a wealthy dowager, a respected general... maybe it was Santa Claus? The mystery unfolds on the most thrilling and baffling murder case in the history of thrilling and baffling murder cases.

Cast members for the production are pictured in the submitted photo above during a recent dress rehearsal. Left to right - Front row: Barb Hagen, Cheri Turner, Kim Gates, Gwen Schroedel, Karla Lubahn; Back row: Vickie Larsen, Karen DeBuhr, Barry Mueller, Cameron Berges, Jonathan Buhl, Russ Hagen, Zach Troendle, Rick Gramlich. Not pictured: Joeann Tesar and director Sarah Hagen.

Wed
28
Feb

ACED Executive Director among travel and hospitality leaders who advance leadership skills ...

Iowa Travel Industry Partners (iTIP) gathered statewide partners to host the iLEAD Leadership Symposium February 8-9. Sessions taking place at Eagle Point Park Lodge in Clinton focused on the growth of leadership skills for Iowa’s tourism organizations. Among those attending the symposium was Val Reinke (pictured second from left in seated front row), executive director of Allamakee County Economic Development and Tourism.

The group learned that leadership is about taking risks and challenging the status quo, and that leaders motivate others to achieve something new and better. The last few years have proven that tourism leaders need to innovate and collaborate in order to grow their organizations. The goal of the iLEAD Leadership Symposium is to allow anyone in Iowa’s tourism industry to advance growth of leadership skills. Attendees ranged from someone only a few months into their position to individuals who have been leading their organizations for years.

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