This summer, area teenagers will meet monthly at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon to discuss books as part of the library's Teen Summer Book Club. Snacks will be provided, and any area teenagers are welcome to attend any of the scheduled sessions which are slated for the second Wednesday of each month. Monthly selections to be discussed include the following:
August 9 at 10:30 a.m.: Read "We were liars" by E. Lockhart. Attend either or both of the previous two book club sessions (June or July) to receive a copy of this title free, sponsored by the Robey Memorial Library Foundation. For additional information contact Robey Memorial Library at www.waukon.lib.ia.us or 563-568-4424.
The regular monthly meeting of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors was held Monday, July 17 at Kee High School. Board Member/Vice President Bobbie Goetzinger called the meeting to order. Bruce Palmborg and Kelli Mudderman were present along with Board Secretary/Business Manager Marian Verdon, Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier and Principals Mary Hogan and Chad Steckel. Board member Melanie Mauss and board president Heather Schulte were absent.
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Monday, July 17. Board member Scott Melcher was absent.
During the Secretary's Report, Board Secretary Jaime Curtin noted that her office has been busy working on the fiscal year-end reports and state reports. ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold gave the school lunch report, noting that at this time of the year there is money going out but not a lot coming in because of school not being in session. However, he said the balance is "very healthy overall."
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, July 17 to address a full agenda of items, including the discussion of handicapped signage, a proposed half marathon and relay running event, and quarterly reports for Planning and Zoning and the Relief Office. Chairperson Larry Schellhammer called the meeting to order.
The Supervisors moved into Public Comment, with Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker offering to provide a presentation at the July 24 meeting regarding the Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) safety plans and protocols for Allamakee County, including plans for severe weather, emergency shelters, railroad safety, law enforcement, medical and fire safety. The Supervisors discussed their recent tour of the Agri Star meat and poultry facility in Postville.
Take the journey up to the Marching Bears mound group with a Ranger at Effigy Mounds National Monument Thursday, July 27. Marching Bears is a late woodland mound complex that is thought to be amongst the most important preserved effigy mound groups in North America. This four-mile guided interpretive hike will take approximately three hours to complete. The moderately strenuous walk will focus on the lifestyles of American Indians who built the mounds between 1,250-900 years ago. Visitors should wear sturdy walking shoes, bring plenty of water and meet the Ranger at 9 a.m. at the Marching Bears trail access located across the railroad tracks off Highway 76, a quarter mile south of the headquarters of Effigy Mounds National Monument. Reservations are required, space is limited to 20 people, and no pets are allowed. To register, call 563-873-3491, ext. 123 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Participating in the Thunder Rode Drill Team event during the Winneshiek County Fair Wednesday, July 21 were a pair of Waukon residents. Justin Berns of Waukon is pictured above riding Buddy, who is being led by Meg Sessions with the assistance of sidewalker Rebecca Anderson. TJ Vobr of Waukon is pictured below riding Lilly, who is led by April Kruse with assistance from sidewalker Rose Hansen. The Waukon pair made up half of this year's Thunder Rode Drill Team event at the fair, a therapeutic horseback riding program based in rural Decorah. Photos by Lissa Blake.
... that Iowa has experienced its first Fourth of July with legal fireworks sales in a long time, and the results seem mixed. There were a few fires, and a few city councils received enough complaints to maybe reconsider previous actions.
I don’t even know if fireworks were legal in Waukon. There was something in a news story, but since I was not involved, it did not register. I do know I heard fewer fireworks this year than in many past years, when they were not allowed to be sold. It was as if those inclined to purchase them decided that if it was legal, it wasn’t fun anymore!
Were fireworks legal in Iowa in the days of my youth? I don’t know. I know the kids in the neighborhood in which we lived in those days, just west of the Waukon Greenhouse, had firecrackers. That would have been in about 1943 or 1944.
Lansing RAGBRAI® officials have provided the maps at left and below to alert area residents of the road closures and detours that will be put in place during the RAGBRAI visit to Lansing scheduled for Saturday, July 29. RAGBRAI bicyclists will be entering Lansing on the south edge of town, traveling Great River Road (County Road X52) from Harpers Ferry, before making their way to one of the three final tire-dip locations along the Mississippi River.
The black bars located on the maps at left and below indicate where streets in Lansing will be blocked off to vehicle traffic. That blocking of traffic basically protects the Great River Road bicyclist entrance route, as well as the Main Street locations that will serve as the activity and entertainment center for Lansing's celebration as the final destination of RAGBRAI XLV.
As one could appreciate, with 10,000-plus bike riders moving across the state during RAGBRAI® XLV, there is a large support system that also moves along with this group in the form of motor vehicles. These support vehicles follow the bike ride across the state and that supporting crew is made up of approximately 1,500 vehicles of all types who are transporting the riders' tents, personal items and other articles. These vehicles are normally registered with Des Moines RAGBRAI and issued vehicle passes and move from overnight town to overnight town during the ride.
These support vehicles are provided an official route separate of the bike riders and are directed to remain off the bicycle route and not to go into any pass-through towns. In addition, these roads are marked to assist the drivers as they travel.
