A consistent update of local information for RAGBRAI® XLV
RAGBRAI® Director T.J. Juskiewicz and Assistant Director Scott Garner met officially Wednesday, February 1 with available members of the Advisory Boards and Executive Committees for the local RAGBRAI communities in both Waukon and Lansing for the first time since the announcement was made that Lansing would be this year's final RAGBRAI destination, Saturday, July 29, and Waukon would be the final overnight stop, Friday, July 28, for this year's annual ride. The RAGBRAI staff provided a general overview of what designated route communities can expect and should prepare for during the next few months prior to the annual event.
The Waukon Fire Department was called to a house fire at 807 First Avenue SW in Waukon, the residence of the Terry Grotegut family, just before 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 1. No one was home at the time of the fire, which was reported by a passer-by, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to a report from the Waukon Area Fire Protection District. No injuries were reported in the fire, but a dog did reportedly perish as a result of the blaze. The house is considered to be a total loss, but a home and fifth-wheel travel trailer (pictured at far right) immediately adjacent to the east and an apartment complex (pictured at far left) immediately adjacent to the west were spared due to the actions of the Waukon Area Fire Protection District volunteers. The initial block of Ninth Street SW (in front of Quillin's Food Ranch) was closed to traffic to prevent vehicles from running over hoses connected to nearby fire hydrants used to battle the blaze.
The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, February 6 to discuss a full agenda of items including a Housing Study request, the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®) and the Review of Budget Requests with Department Supervisors.
There were no Public Comments and the meeting moved into Departmental Reports with Water/Sewer Superintendent Bob Campbell providing an update on Well 3. Waukon Police Chief Phil Young discussed the Official Launch Ceremony for the Effigy Mounds Quarter taking place February 7 at the Waukon High School. Young indicated that extra precautions have been made with security being ramped up and planning for the additional traffic anticipated for the ceremony. Park, Recreation and Wellness Director Jeremy Strub discussed that things are picking up with usage of the Wellness Center over the winter months and, on the Parks and Recreation side, the basketball programs are ongoing.
Jacob Dougherty, son of Dave and Brenda Dougherty of Waukon, has achieved Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank of Eagle Scout. Dougherty is a member of Boy Scout Troop 64 under the leadership of John Troendle as scoutmaster and charter organization VFW Post 4117 in Waukon.
This Sunday, February 12 at 2 p.m., Dougherty's Eagle Scout Court of Honor will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. The community is welcome to attend this ceremony.
Dougherty began his scouting journey as a Cub Scout when he was in third grade with DiAnne Haler as his Cub Scout den leader. After attending an older scout’s Eagle ceremony for the first time, she asked the boys who would like to obtain the Eagle Scout rank. All the boys eagerly raised their hands, except for Dougherty, who honestly replied, “I don’t think I want to do that.” Somewhere along his scouting path he must have changed his mind.
The Lansing Veterans Memorial Association has donated $3,000 to the Lansing Parks Board to develop a Veterans Memorial patio adjacent to the south side of the existing park shelter on Mt Hosmer in Lansing. Pictured at right, Veterans Memorial Association President Bill Burke (right) recently presented the Association's check to Lansing City Parks Board Chairman Dave Pleasants (left), the funds of which will be placed into a City fund for the memorial patio.
Tim Alberts (pictured at right in photo), Quartermaster of Lansing VFW Post 5981, presented a check for $200 from the VFW to the Lansing Ambulance and EMT service. Accepting the check on behalf of the Lansing Ambulance/EMT service are Ann and Matthew Wagner (pictured left to right at left in the above photo). The Wagners also were recently presented with the Lansing VFW Community Service Award for 2016 for their continuing contribution and dedication to the Lansing Ambulance/EMT service and their involvement in other local organizations and church activities that have benefited the Lansing community. Submitted photo.
Pictured above is an example of the type of playground equipment the Lansing Lions Club would like to purchase to replace the older, deteriorating equipment at the park along Front Street near the ball diamond in Lansing. This year's WinterFest celebration is being hosted by the Lansing Lions Club, with all proceeds from the event going toward the purchase of the new playground equipment, which is anticipated to resemble a riverboat theme, such as is pictured above. Submitted photo.
Lansing’s third annual WinterFest scheduled for Saturday, February 18 will have a special purpose this year. While WinterFest started with the organization committee from Main Street Lansing in Lansing, the group has branched out this year to partner with the Lansing Lions Club to promote family fun and fundraising for new playground equipment in the Front Street park down by the ball diamond.
Several old wooden playground pieces at the park have had to be dismantled, leaving a real need for an enhanced playground space. Equipment and improvements to the area will cost approximately $60,000. The Lansing Lions have taken on the task of raising funds to get this project done. The WinterFest committee agreed that a whole community event was a great way to start this fundraiser. All profits from WinterFest will go to the fundraising for the park.
The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, February 6 and reviewed two applications for the Council seat left vacant by the resignation of Don Peters. After discussion, Lansing resident Stephanie Runkle was selected and immediately seated at the Council table.
The next regular Council meeting date was changed from February 20 to February 21 because of scheduling conflicts. The Council also postponed setting the Public Hearing date for the South Road Bridge Replacement Project until February 21. Spring Clean-Up Day was scheduled for April 18.
Waukon girls bowling senior Emma Johnson fires a roll down the alley in the Indians’ 2000-1999 victory at home over Denver Friday, February 3. After the two teams finished in a 1990-1990 tie through two rounds of competition, Johnson toed the line in an extra frame and picked up a two-pin spare to edge her opponent by a single pin to give the Indians the 2000-1999 team victory. Johnson also bowled a 128 and a 96 for a 224 series in head-to-head competition. Photo by Joe Moses. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this website.
The Waukon bowling team rolled to a split of its two meets this past week, competing in its final dual meets of the regular season. The Indians first were swept by Oelwein Tuesday, January 31 in a meet rescheduled from January 17, the girls falling by an 1847-1945 final result and the boys doing likewise, 2147-2440. The bowling Tribe bounced back with some dramatics in it second meet of the week, both teams edging out the visiting Cyclones of Denver by their narrowest margin of victory this season, the girls winning by the narrowest of margins, 2000-1999, in an extra frame and the boys bowling some of their highest totals of the season to post a 2461-2435 win over Denver.
Waukon girls basketball sophomore McKenzie Cooper puts up this shot attempt over a pair of Spring Grove, MN defenders in the Indians’ 45-44 home victory over the Lions Monday, January 30. Cooper scored a team-high 11 points in the contest, grabbed eight rebounds and posted one each of assists, steals and blocked shots. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this website.
The Waukon girls basketball team posted an undefeated week, pulling out a non-conference thriller before handling the two teams that sit beneath the Indians in this season’s Northeast Iowa Conference standings. The Indians’ week began with a 45-44 home triumph over Spring Grove, MN secured in the game’s final seconds before downing both Charles City and Decorah on back-to-back nights at home, 38-28 Friday, February 3 and 47-19 Saturday, February 4 in a game rescheduled twice with the Vikings from its original January 3 date.
Evening its season record to 10-10, including a 4-7 mark in Northeast Iowa Conference play, the basketball Tribe was scheduled to travel to Decorah Tuesday, February 7 to wrap up its regular season before beginning postseason tournament play Saturday, February 11 at third-rated Crestwood, details of which can be found in a shaded box elsewhere on this same page.
