News Center newsletter

Riley and Kaylee Reis of Waukon announce the birth of their son, Macson Riley Reis, born September 21, 2025 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 8 lbs. 5 ozs. and measured 21 inches in length at the time of his birth.

Grandparents are Chris and Kerri Gibbs of Waterville and Charlie and Shannon Reis of Lime Springs. Great-grandparents are Mike and Cindy Gibbs of Waterville, Lyle and Cindy Leikvold of Waukon, Mark and Winky Reis of Lime Springs and Neil and Ruth Wenthold of Cresco.

To the Editor:

The drive to deport undocumented immigrants, or “illegal aliens,” appears to be motivated largely by financial interests. Consider the implications of the Big Beautiful Bill, which allocated $45 billion to the construction of new detention centers - a staggering 308% increase from 2024.

These Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities are operated by private companies that are compensated based on the number of detainees housed each day. The more individuals detained, the greater the financial gain.

The government’s push focuses on arresting and holding as many people as possible, but the increase in immigration judges - from 700 to just 800 - remains insufficient. Consequently, many detainees are left waiting in these facilities for constitutionally guaranteed hearings, prolonging their confinement and further benefiting contractors.

To the Editor:

I don’t like the way our country is going. There are 20 million-plus illegal people, and a large number are criminals. Even our little Allamakee County should be concerned.

When I went to high school in Waukon, we had Ben Kettleson as the main cop, and Mr. Brandt was his helper. Ben never carried a gun.

Now, we have a chief of police and six assistants. We  have a six million dollar jail. We have a good sheriff and several assistants.

If you are a thinking, concerned person, this should concern you. We take too good of care of our felons, with very little concern for the victims. Let’s make it easy for our sheriff, so that all felons get a bread and water diet as long as they are in jail. Jail should be a place you don’t want to be.

USDA Issues Second Economic Assistance Payment to Agricultural Producers
Washington, September 26, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing a second Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) payment to eligible producers for the 2024 crop year. Of the authorized $10 billion in ECAP assistance, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already provided over $8 billion in payments to eligible producers to mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins made the announcement yesterday at the Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City.

As fall harvest starts across Iowa, the risk of wildfires in crop fields increases.  Parts of Iowa are seeing dry conditions with the risk of relative humidities dropping to dangerous levels for wildfires and ignition sources in the fields. Ready to harvest standing crops contain very low moistures, creating fuels that are receptive to ignition and at risk of rapid rates of fire spread. 

It is with deep love and sorrow that we announce the passing of Gloria Ann Brink Burkart, aged 75, September 27, 2025. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, colleague, and friend, she lived a beautiful life marked by deep love, faith, kindness, strength, integrity, perseverance, and devotion to her family and loved ones.

A celebration of her life will take place at Pikes Peak Pavilion in McGregor October 26 from 1-4 p.m., with a short session for speakers starting at 2:30 p.m. Friends and family are welcome to come together in remembrance and honor.

Born October 14, 1949, in Farmersburg, Gloria Ann grew up on a farm in Waukon with her sister Gerri and four brothers, Gale, Gary, Greg, and Gene. She has many fond memories of farm life, including fishing, baking, and doing chores. She treasured memories of visiting the family cabin on the Mississippi River in Harpers Ferry.

Theresa E. Anderson, 103, formerly of Waukon, was called to Jesus Thursday, July 24, 2025. Memorial services will be held Saturday, October 11 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Joseph Sevcik officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, rural Waukon.

Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.
 

Curtis “Curtie” G. Schoenthal, 98, of Waukon died Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Society in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Friday, October 10 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Deacon Patrick Malanaphy officiating. Burial will be held in Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. Friends may greet the family from 10 a.m. until time of services Friday at the funeral home.

Curtis George Schoenthal was born October 25, 1926, in Jefferson Township in rural Waukon, the son of Edward and Caroline (Wacker) Schoenthal. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon.

Lennis D. Shurtleff, 60, of Waukon died Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. A Celebration of Life was held Monday, October 6 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon assisted the family.

Lennis Dale Shurtleff was born January 10, 1965, in Sioux City. His parents were Dale Eugene and Lucille Mae (Heidebrink) Shurtleff. He attended North Junior School and graduated from West High in 1983, both in Sioux City, where he played basketball, baseball, and football. Lennie worked for Gateway Computers in South Sioux, NE, before transferring to Virginia, as a technician. When he moved to the Waukon area, he worked for Monona Wire and drove an Amish construction crew until he retired.

Michael Stok of Harpers Ferry passed away unexpectedly September 30, 2025, at the age of 76. There will be a Celebration of Life Wednesday, October 8, from 1-4 p.m. at the Portside Bar & Supper Club in Harpers Ferry. Friends and family are invited to stop in and share Mike stories.
Mike was born and raised in Belle Plaine, where he ran the Stok’s Country Store, before becoming a successful salesman. Mike is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joan (McBride) Stok. He was a proud father to his four children: Michael (Laura) Stok, Matt (Beth) Stok, Marc (Kerry) Stok, and Marisa (Scott) Burch. He loved his six grandchildren: Ellie, Abby, Emma, Roman, Ian, and Maddie, and was thrilled to become a great-grandfather to Wrenley Petersohn.