News Center newsletter

James “Jim” C. Ripp, 93, of De Soto, WI, made his journey to Heaven Wednesday, February 26, 2025. Memorial services will be held Saturday, May 17 at 1:30 p.m. at Saint Charles Church in Genoa, WI. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to the charity of your choosing.

James “Jim” Cornelius Ripp was born February 28, 1931, in Watertown, WI, to Christian and Elizabeth (Geraths) Ripp. He was the eighth of 11 children. The family moved to Cross Plains, WI, and Jim attended Middleton High School, graduating in 1949.

After high school, Jim joined the United States Army. He served three years, was honorably discharged, and returned to Cross Plains. He attended University of Wisconsin Extension School for Engineering to become a civil engineer.

Mary H. Wachter, 89, of Harpers Ferry died Friday, April 11, 2025, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 17 at 11 a.m. at Martin - Grau Funeral Home in Waukon with Fr. Paulraj Sellam officiating. Burial will be in St. Pius Cherry Mound Cemetery, rural Harpers Ferry. Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until the time of services Thursday at the funeral home.

Mary Helen Wachter was born October 18, 1935, the daughter of Maple and Veronica (Muench) Moody. She was baptized and confirmed in McGregor and graduated from McGregor High School in 1953. June 13, 1953, Mary married the love of her life, Jim Wachter, at St. Pius Cherry Mound Catholic Church in rural Harpers Ferry.

The Waukon Fire Department was called to 28 Spring Avenue in downtown Waukon at approximately 4 a.m. Friday, April 4 for a report of a fire in the three-building structure pictured in the photo at right. Waukon Fire Chief Dave Martin reported that a tenant in one of the two apartments in the back of the structure called building owner Rachel Curtin after he heard a smoke detector ringing in the front business area of the structure. Upon her arrival, smoke could be seen emerging from the front of the building, and a 911 call was placed dispatching the Waukon Fire Department to the scene.

The Waukon High School chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) continued to extend the recent dynasty it has established at the annual State Leadership Conference, winning its fifth consecutive Lloyd V. Douglas Chapter of the Year Award at the 2025 Iowa FBLA State Leadership Conference held at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids March 30-April 1. This year’s competition saw the Waukon chapter tally 477 points, 133 points ahead of second-place Waukee.

Waukon FBLA Advisor Joanne Ericson noted that this is the first year that it is required by State of Iowa legislation that schools that have a business or information solutions program also have a career and technical student organization, with three organizations being available to choose from for business programs - FBLA, DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), and BPA (Business Professionals of America).

Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) is working to protect 21 acres located 12 miles northeast of Decorah in Allamakee County, along Quandahl Drive and Bear Creek. This unique site offers rare geological formations, a high-quality coldwater stream, and native woodland and prairie plant communities.

INHF will work with partners to open the property to the public and expand use around the adjacent North Bear Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA), which is owned by the State of Iowa and managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The property is not currently open to the public.

Preservation of the site includes protecting 0.35 miles of Bear Creek, a coldwater stream with naturally reproducing brown trout and catchable rainbow trout. The site also includes an algific talus slope - a rare landform where a steep north-facing hillside releases cool air from ice found in cracks and caverns underground.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, April 7 to address a full agenda of matters including the Sexual Assault Awareness Month Proclamation, appointment of the at-large council vacancy seat and discussion of the outdoor warning siren system. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members Steve Wiedner, Nicholas Engrav, Dave Blocker and John Lydon present.

The meeting moved into Public Comment with West Street SW property owner Ann Fossum recognizing the Street Department for installing speed limit signage on her street. Fossum made note of follow-up from Engineer Sam Ertl of Fehr Graham Engineering relating to a variety of matters. She expressed her appreciation for his work.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, April 7 to address a variety of matters including the Proclamation for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the consideration of contracts and bonds for gravel road rock, and the consideration of a proposed underground natural gas main southwest  of Waukon. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Tom Clark present.

The Friends of Pool 9 Annual River Clean-Up is scheduled for this Saturday, April 12 and volunteers of all ages are needed from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Many families use this opportunity to pass on to their kids a love of taking care of the river so that they can enjoy its bounty for years to come.

Since this project began several years ago, Friends of Pool 9 volunteers have collected and removed more than 185,800 pounds (92.9 tons) of debris from the river and recorded over 10,560 hours of volunteer time to keep Pool 9 clean.

Primary registration will be held at the VFW river landing  in Lansing (across from the ball diamond and below the VFW building), beginning at 8 a.m. Other sites are listed below. Assigned tasks range from walking the State boat landing and river banks to riding in a boat to clean islands and sandbars.

The Waukon Police Department is hosting its annual open house Thursday, April 17 from 12-5 p.m. at the Waukon Police Station. During the open house, the Waukon Police Department is also hosting an American Red Cross community blood drive at its building. Allamakee County Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) Director Jean Bossom will also be there with a display of various products that are being used by companies to hook today’s youth on vaping and other harmful products.
 

The Allamakee County Conservation Board has announced the offering of three free summer day camps for local youth this upcoming summer season. Each day camp will be for a different age range and will feature outdoor activities along a certain theme.

Registration is required and space is limited. For more information or to register, call 563-538-0401. The day camps being offered include the following:

Insectigations (Students entering 1st-2nd Grade): Wednesday, July 9 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Waterville Farm. Come and explore all the tiny critters Iowa has to offer. Participants will dig in to the fascinating world of insects and explore how they may be small but they are just as cool.