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Here is the final daily RAGBRAI route for Saturday, July 29 from Waukon to Lansing. The entire route will be new RAGBRAI territory as it travels 44.8 miles with some nice climbs totaling 3,200 feet throughout Allamakee County. You will not think you are in Iowa as scenic landscape and winding scenic byways show off the splendor of the Driftless Area. RAGBRAIers will visit the town of Waterville for the very first time and then ride through the Yellow River State Forest. Riders will then pull into Harpers Ferry, another first time RAGBRAI community. Riders can dip their tires, if they wish, in the Mississippi River at one of Harpers Ferry’s many boat ramps. The last 13-mile leg of RAGBRAI XLV will travel north along the Great River Road as we travel to Lansing to end in the river town of Lansing. If you didn’t get enough fun on the bike, you can climb the ultra-steep Mt. Hosmer just blocks from downtown and the river.

Here is the complete RAGBRAI route for Friday, July 28 from Cresco to Waukon. The route travels 60.1 miles as we climb 2,483 feet. RAGBRAIers will visit Decorah during the 51st annual Nordic Fest, which celebrates their Norwegian heritage. RAGBRAI will then make a return visit to the town of Ossian before traveling to Castalia and Postville for the first time before making their way into Waukon. Friday is College Spirit Day where we encourage you to proud wear your school’s jersey or apparel. FRIDAY – JULY 28, 2017 Cresco to Decorah (Meeting) – 19.5 miles Decorah to Ossian – 14. 7 miles Ossian to Castalia – 5.1 miles Castalia to Postville – 6.1 miles Postville to Waukon – 14.7 miles Total Mileage: 60.1 miles Total Feet of Climb: 2,483

Click this link to download pdf of Friday’s Map: http://ragbrai.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2017DayMaps_Day6.pdf

Waukon wrestling 182-pound senior Blain Swenson will be among the top senior wrestlers from northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota who will face off in the 16th annual Iowa-Minnesota All-Star Border Battle dual meet at 7 p.m. this Friday, March 10 at Crestwood High School in Cresco. The event is sponsored by the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame housed in Cresco, and tickets for the event will be sold at the door at Crestwood High School. Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame President and event organizer Dennis Meirick noted wrestlers from Crestwood, Waukon, Decorah, Osage, South Winneshiek, MFL/MarMac, Postville, Sumner-Fredericksburg and North Fayette Valley have been invited to wrestle for the Iowa squad, which holds an 8-7 series advantage over the Minnesota squad.
 

The Northeast Iowa Rugby Club will be kicking off its fifth season as a club this spring. The club is comprised of members from around the tri-state area who range in age from 18 to 51 years old. The Club is always welcoming new members that may be interested in playing and/or as a social member. Right now the club has enough male members to field a male side (team), and women are also welcome to join. The goal of the club is to start a women’s side and an under 18 or high school side. The mission of the club is to grow the sport of rugby in the northeast Iowa area, while also contributing to the communities that its members reside through donations of time, labor and monetarily. The tentative spring schedule for the Northeast Iowa Rugby spring season includes the following: March 18 at Osage; March 25 at Clinton; April 8 vs. Bremer County (home games played in Decorah); May 6 at All Iowa Tournament in Iowa Falls; May 20 vs. River City (Mason City) in game held at West Union.

Steady progress continues to be made in the construction process of the new Allamakee County Public Safety Center located north of Waukon along Highway 9 at the location of the former Makee Manor property. Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick says the project continues to remain on track for a late April public open house and early May transition into the new facility, despite some limited weather delays during this past winter.

Midwest Veterans of America President Robert Kolsrud (left) presented U.S. military veteran Terry Grotegut and his wife, Sue, with a monetary donation to help them in their recovery from the February 1 fire in Waukon that claimed their home and belongings. The Midwest Veterans of America is committed to helping local veterans and simply requires their name and their need. Anyone who is a veteran or who knows a veteran who could use help is asked to call 563-568-5275. Submitted photo.
 

Saturday, March 11, Democratic members of the Iowa House of Representatives will visit Waukon for a legislative listening post. Those Democratic Representatives will listen to local concerns regarding recent efforts to lower Iowa's minimum wage, close down and lay-off employees of Luster Heights Camp, underfund public schools, raise property taxes and close down women's health clinics.

The listening post will begin at 1 p.m. this Saturday at Robey Memorial Library, located at 401 First Avenue NW in Waukon. Saturday's listening post is part of a series of such events being conducted by Iowa House of Representative Democrats throughout Iowa.

"I hope Iowans will join us to share their concerns and learn what's really happening at the State Capitol this year," said Representative Mark Smith of Marshalltown, House Democratic Leader and District 71 Representative.
 

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 6 to address a full agenda of items including the Review of Property/Liability and Workers Compensation insurance policies, setting a public hearing date for a zoning district change request and the approval of manure management plan updates. Chairperson Larry Schellhammer was not in attendance and Chairperson Pro-Tem Dennis Koenig called the meeting to order.

The 9:40 a.m. agenda item, the Historic Preservation Commission Report by Marcia Rush, was removed from the agenda and will be rescheduled for a later Board meeting. There were no public comments and no members of the public in attendance.
Tax abatements for Craig Freilinger, Don and Dolores Topel and Mary Ann Bustamante were approved as presented. Manure Management Plan updates for Devin Humpal, West Ridge Ag and Gibbs Dairy were accepted and placed on file.

by Lissa Blake

The Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) Family Planning Clinic in Decorah will close its doors June 30 of this year. At a meeting Monday night, February 27, the NEICAC Board of Directors voted to close the Clinic when its contract with the Iowa Department of Public Health ends at this year's midpoint.

“The decision was very difficult for the Board,” said David Boss, NEICAC director of community outreach and development.

According to NEICAC Director Mary Ann Humpal, the program has lost over $90,000 per year for the past two years and is looking at losing that much again by the close of this fiscal year.

“We are jeopardizing other programming within the agency,” said Humpal.

Humpal said there are many factors that went into the Board’s decision to close the office, which serves around 600 customers in a seven-county area.

Kyle Gordon, son of David and Connie Gordon of Waukon, has achieved the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank, Eagle Scout. He is the grandson of Herbert (Jr.) and the late Mary Lou Halvorson and Ervin and Sharon Gordon, all of Waukon.
Gordon is a member of Troop 64 in Waukon under the direction of John Troendle, Scoutmaster. The charter organization is VFW Post 4117 in Waukon.

Gordon will be honored this Sunday, March 12 at a 2 p.m. Court of Honor at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon. The community is welcome to attend.

Gordon began his scouting career as a Tiger Cub Scout in first grade with Ann Klenske-Ewing serving as his den leader. Shortly thereafter, DiAnne Haler took over the den in the following years working the boys toward Boy Scouts. As a Cub Scout, Gordon achieved the Arrow of Light, Cub Scouting's highest award, in February 2010. He then crossed over to Troop 64 under the direction of Joe TeKippe and Tim Smith.