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The Kee boys basketball team posted just a single win in another busy week of three games this past week, falling early in the week at home before splitting a pair of away games with scoring totals on each end of the spectrum. The Hawks began the week with a 45-64 home loss in Upper Iowa Conference (UIC) play to Postville Tuesday, December 5 before back-to-back days of competition away from home yielded a 77-39 win at West Central Friday, December 8 followed by a 14-60 loss to Leroy-Ostrander out of Minnesota in an Iowa-Minnesota Border Battle match-up hosted by Luther College in Decorah Saturday, December 9.

The Waukon girls basketball team split its pair of games this past week played on back-to-back nights, falling to another strong non-conference opponent but remaining undefeated in Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) play. The Indians fell at home to Caledonia, MN Thursday, December 7 by a 36-57 final result but bounced back in record-setting fashion to dominate Oelwein, 58-11, in a Friday, December 8 road game that allowed the fewest points by an opponent in program history, rewriting the previous record of 14 points last allowed during the 2002-2003 season.

The Waukon boys basketball continued its early-season roll with another pair of sizable victories this past week, both of them at home. The Indians opened this past week with a recent team-scoring high of 91 points in a 91-44 home beat-down of Sumner-Fredericksburg Monday, December 4 before opening Northeast Iowa Conference play with a 65-45 home victory over Oelwein Friday, December 8 to post a 3-0 start to this season.

The Waukon bowling team turned in a tough split as the Indians of the alleys hosted North Iowa High School out of Buffalo Center for their first home match of their 2017-2018 season schedule. The Waukon boys team scored its second consecutive victory of the young season, bowling a best-ever team total for a 2609-2271 win, while the Waukon girls team fell by a 1738-1975 final.

The Indians are scheduled to wrap up the 2017 portion of their schedule this Friday, December 15 when they host Decorah. After the holiday break, the bowling Tribe will return to action Friday, January 5 against North Fayette Valley in West Union.

For more complete coverage, pick up this week's print edition or subscribe to our e-edition by clicking here.

James Raymond Teaser, age 85, passed away at his home in McGregor December 2, 2017 after a short illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 16 at St. Mary Catholic Church, McGregor with Rev. Nils de Jesus Hernandez as the Celebrant. Burial will follow at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, McGregor.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday, December 15 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, McGregor. There will also be a one hour visitation before Mass at the church Saturday.

Jim was born in southwestern Minnesota November 16, 1932 at Hunt Hospital in Fairmont, MN, the youngest child of Henry Raymond and Mary Lillian Hines Teaser. He grew up on the family farm that was homesteaded by his great-great-grandfather, Irish immigrant James Murphy.

Christine (Chrissy) Marie Hammel, age 48, of Lansing passed away Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at Gundersen Clinic in La Crosse, WI surrounded by family. A family graveside service will be held at Gethsemane Cemetery, Lansing before a “Celebration of Life” Saturday, December 16. We will celebrate this amazing woman Saturday, December 16 at the Driftless Center, 1944 Columbus Road, Lansing, from 4-7 p.m.

May 2, 1969, a baby girl was born to Donald and Linda (Halverson) Hammel. The doctors said she wouldn’t live but a few days. She defied them. And when she was a sweet little girl, the doctors said she wouldn’t live to see adulthood. She laughed at them. And she grew to be a strong, smart, witty woman who loved her family more than anything.

Helen L. Wagner, 91, of Waukon died Friday, December 8, 2017 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 13 at 11 a.m. at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon with Pastor Bill Odermann officiating. Burial of ashes will be in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, December 12 at Martin Funeral Home.

Helen Louise Wagner was born May 1, 1926 on her parents’ farm in rural McGregor, the daughter of Frank and Lillian (Cords) Dahlstrom. She attended rural schools and graduated from McGregor High School.

March 22, 1947, Helen married Urban Leander Wagner in Waterloo; years later they divorced. They lived in both Waterloo and Elkader for a short time before settling in Waukon. Helen worked various jobs, including waitressing at Leiran’s restaurant (now the Waukon Inn). In her younger years, she loved dancing with Urban and liked dressing up for Halloween. Helen also enjoyed reading, sewing and cooking.

Tanner Patrick Walker, 21, of Luana, formerly of Postville, died December 4, 2017 at Floyd County Medical Center, Charles City. Funeral Services were held Saturday, December 9 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville with Rev. Lynn Noel as the Officiant. Burial followed at Postville Cemetery, Postville. Memorials in Tanner's name may be made to Postville Dollars for Scholars.

Tanner was born August 11, 1996 to Patrick and Denise (Bugenhagen) Walker at Mayo Health in La Crosse, WI. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville.

Tanner graduated from Postville High School in 2014 and attended Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, where he was enrolled in the lineman program. After lineman school, Tanner worked for North Central Line Setters in Alta. He was currently at Missouri Valley Apprenticeship, working for MJ Electric since June of 2017.

by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates
• December 15: Report acreages intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2018
• December 15: Sign up for, or opt out of, the 2018 Margin Protection Program
• December 25: Office closed for Christmas

Fall Forage Certification
Make sure you stop in and certify all forage and fall seeded crops by December 15! This includes all hay and pasture acres you are planning on cropping for the 2018 crop year. Also any cover crops that were seeded this fall will need to be reported. If reported after the December 15 deadline a $46 late-filed fee per farm can be assessed. 

The upcoming Driftless Region Beef Conference will showcase utilization of cover crops for feed by Midwest beef producers, according to Denise Schwab, beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The conference will be held January 25-26, 2018, at the Grand River Conference Center in Dubuque.

“Cover crops have great potential to reduce erosion, improve soil health and protect water quality,” Schwab said.

“They also have the potential to produce high quality cattle feed if managed correctly. Our conference will feature several speakers presenting information on the value of cover crops in our diverse Midwestern farms.”

Jim Johnson from the Noble Research Institute will discuss how cover crops and cattle can improve soil health, and Morgan Hayes from the University of Kentucky will talk about how cover crops can be a compatible with manure application.