Last fall, TNT Gymnastics opened up its first Iowa facility in Waukon. Owner Tracy Troxel explained that the gymnastics company has been in business for 17 years, and also has facilities in several Wisconsin locations: Richland Center, Mauston, Spring Green and Prairie du Chien.
"We had people commuting from all over to our classes in Prairie du Chien," Troxel said. One of the parents of a student suggested that Troxel look at opening up a facility in Waukon.
Troxel explained that TNT Gymnastics offers classes for all skill levels in fully-equipped gyms. She noted that there aren't a lot of additional things that parents need to purchase in order for their kids to participate in gymnastics.
"The only requirements are that long hair is pulled back, the kids are wearing comfortable clothes and they can bring a water bottle," Troxel noted.
A sign indicates the new home for a satellite facility for Prairie Industries in the former Blumenthal building on the west side of Lansing. Following closing about a year ago of the longtime button factory, as it was more locally referred to, the Blumenthal facility was purchased by Tumbleweed Welding, whose owners not only occupy a portion of the building with their business but also reached out to Prairie Industries in Prairie du Chien, WI to offer the remaining portion of the building to potentially meet that company's expansion needs, thus gaining back some of the jobs and other economic and community benefits lost by the Blumenthal closing. Photo by Susan Cantine-Maxson.
Both "sight" and "site" are appropriate for the above caption headline, as seeing the former Blumenthal facility on the west end of Lansing with a full parking lot is, indeed, a welcome sight to community and county residents following closure of the Blumenthal facility just over a year ago. The site, itself, has also proven to be welcoming to a pair of businesses new to the Lansing area, as Tumbleweed Welding had originally purchased the facility and has been utilizing about one-third of it before reaching out to Prairie Industries of Prairie du Chein, WI with an invitation to accommodate its expansion needs in the remaining two-thirds of the building, a proposition that has proven to be a nice fit, according to industry and local officials. Photo by Susan Cantine-Maxson.
by Susan Cantine-Maxson
Two businesses have filled the gap left by the closing of the Blumenthal-Lansing button factory in 2016 in Lansing. Tumbleweed Welding and Prairie Industries have both started operations in the former button factory within this past year.
When news of the closing of the button plant hit the local area, it was the end of an era. Many people in Lansing and the surrounding area, along with generations of their families, had worked at the facility all of their lives. There had been button factories in Lansing since the 1800s, and the building sat idle following announcement of the Blumenthal closing next to a vacant lot where the Northern Engraving building had once been as well.
Many wondered if this building would meet the same fate, including the 70 employees who were left without jobs. The future seemed grim.
The Ferryville Tourism Council is sponsoring the first of three summer bonfire programs Wednesday, June 28 at 8 p.m. at the south end of Sugar Creek Park in Ferryville, WI. Ric Zarwell will be the speaker for a program entitled, “Birdwatching in the U.S., from an Expert like John James Audubon to an Active, Maybe Obsessed Local Man.”
Zarwell was born and raised in New Albin. He has been a lifelong birder and has created, along with his wife, Betty, the River and Bluffs Birding Festival in the Lansing area. They have traveled to 44 nations and all seven continents to view birds native to those areas. Zarwell has a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology and a Master of Science degree in Natural Resources, both from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He leads birding trips and conducts monitoring of bird species in various habitats.
The Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) will be hosting a series of summer day camps for the youth of Allamakee County throughout the month of July. The camps will be held at parks throughout Allamakee County. The series will feature camps for all age levels from three to 15 years of age. All camps will be free of charge, however, participants must be pre-registered.
Children ages seven to 10 will be able to participate in Birds Camp July 27. Birds Camp will be from 9:30-11 a.m. at County Home Park. Participants will learn about kinds of birds in Iowa, what calls they make, and why they have different colors.
National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) Director Dan Neenan presented to the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Board of Trustees at its June 19 meeting to provide updates on successful outcomes of its farm safety programming and give an overview of services the center delivers to local, regional, national and Canadian communities. Neenan and his team coordinate a variety of safety training programs for fire departments, Emergency Medical Services, agribusinesses and independent farmers each year. NECAS is the only farm safety training center in the U.S.
The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD)was held Monday, June 19. Board members Melanie Mauss and Kelli Mudderman were not present at the meeting.
The board approved the following food service and registration fees for the 2017-2018 school year:
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met in a pair of meetings this past month. Coverage of both meetings appears below.
MAY 25 SPECIAL SESSION
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met Thursday morning, May 25 for a brief special meeting. In personnel matters, the board approved staff for the 21st Century After School Program.
Greg Criswell was hired as Middle School Physical Education teacher ($59,947) and head girls' basketball coach ($5,568). Andrew Turpen was hired as a fourth grade teacher ($33,304) and Bridget Dolan was hired as a sixth grade teacher ($33,304). Randy Nordheim was hired as head varsity volleyball coach ($5,714). Virginia Kurth was hired as the Middle School 21st Century Site Coordinator ($15 per hour). The board also accepted the resignation of Jackie Rubendall from her paraprofessional position.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, June 26 to address a full agenda of items, including the need for a fireworks resolution or ordinance, the renewal of a Veterans Counselor's contract and bids for the County Line Bridge replacement on Ferris Mill Road. Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order.
During Public Comment, John Roe, head of maintenance at the Allamakee County Courthouse, discussed the retaining wall near the parking area by the Allamakee County Historical Society Museum. The Supervisors discussed the repair work needed and that Attorney Jim Garrett, President of the Allamakee County Historical Society, will be contacted and Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer will research the ownership of the retaining wall.
Tom Weighner (far right) of WW Homestead Dairy in Waukon describes the equipment used at the dairy's processing plant in south Waukon to members of the Northeast Iowa Food and Farm Network during a June 11 tour. The tour also included a visit to the Weighner dairy farm in rural Dorchester. Submitted photo.
During the June 11 gathering of the Northeast Iowa Food and Farm Network, 13 farmers and individuals involved in food businesses visited WW Homestead Dairy in Waukon. Network members took a break from their farms and businesses to learn about the dairy’s story and network with other farmers and business owners.
The gathering started at the Tom and Angela Weighner dairy farm in rural Dorchester with a tour led by Tom Weighner and his daughter, Stephanie Iverson. The Weighners are milking about 100 cows and hauling milk to the WW Homestead Dairy processing plant in town on a daily basis. The mix of farmers was able to tour the farm's milking parlor, loafing barn and calf shed. Some attendees had extensive backgrounds in livestock and dairy, but others hadn’t spent much time on dairies and had many questions about infrastructure, herd management and production systems.
Waukon baseball sophomore pitcher Levi McGeough unleashes a pitch in the first game of the Indians’ home doubleheader loss to the Cadets by scores of 9-5 and 17-3 Tuesday, June 20. McGeough threw six and two-thirds innings, striking out two batters and giving up eight hits, two walks and just two earned runs while also going two-for-four at the plate with two singles. Photo by Krystal Johnson. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this website.
The Waukon baseball team picked up a pair of wins during this busy past week, including the baseball Tribe’s first Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) victory of the season. The Indians opened the week with a 13-0 loss at home to Waverly-Shell Rock in five innings Monday, June 19 before falling in a NEIC doubleheader at Crestwood that began Friday, June 16 but was suspended by rain to Tuesday, June 20, those losses coming by scores of 9-5 and 17-3. The Tribe also fell at home to Starmont in a non-conference contest Wednesday, June 21, 10-8, before picking up that first NEIC win, 7-4, at home over Charles City Friday, June 23. The Indians then pieced together their first win streak of the season by opening their own home Jeff Houg Tournament Saturday, June 24 with a 14-8 victory in eight innings over Kee before having the championship game against South Winneshiek rained out.
