The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, May 15 to address a full agenda of matters including a Public Hearing Amending the Current City Budget, discussion of the process to fill the mayor vacancy, and discussion of changing the July 2023 City Council meeting dates.
Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Johnson called the meeting to order with approval of the meeting agenda to include the removal of one item relating to the Partial Pay Request of Retainage for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project. Johnson noted this matter would be addressed at a later date.
Waukon High School graduating senior Katerina Kovarik was recently honored as a member of the 2023 “Best of the Class”. KWWL and the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) recognized valedictorians or top graduating seniors from across eastern Iowa at a celebration held Saturday, April 29 at the McLeod Center on the UNI campus in Cedar Falls. Kovarik is pictured in the center of the above photo with (left to right) KWWL Sports Director Rick Coleman, news anchors Collin Dorsey and Ron Steele, and Chief Meteorologist Mark Schnackenberg.
The Waukon Lions Club hosted the annual Waukon High School Honors Banquet at the First Presbyterian Church in Waukon Wednesday, April 26. The top 15% academically of the 2023 Waukon High School graduating class were honored. The evening included a meal served by the Presbyterian Women and an inspirational talk by guest speaker Erica (Langland) Nosbisch, a 2003 Waukon High School graduate and the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Waukon Center Director. The graduates told the audience of their future plans and were presented certificates and medallions by Waukon High School Principal Jennifer Garin, Guidance Counselor Amy Wasson and Allamakee Community School District Superintendent of Schools Jay Mathis.
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met Monday, May 15 for its regular monthly board meeting. Under the consent agenda, the following personnel items were approved: substitute bus drivers; Caleb Ferring as Skills USA advisor; Sara Retallick as summer technology assistant; John O’Neill as varsity girls basketball coach; and Justin Piggott as transportation director.
The board also accepted the following resignations: Jon Fretham from his Social Studies teaching position and John O’Neill from his 10th grade boys basketball coach position. Approval was also given to an out-of-state field trip for the music department scheduled for November 8 of this year to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater for a performance of “Jersey Boys.”
Celebrating 20 years and a new name ... The success of Tough Tek Metals® in Lansing is due to a team effort, and co-owners Brian Houlihan and Dave Monserud emphasize that every employee is valuable to the company. Over the past 20 years, the team has grown to 23 members, many of whom are pictured above in this staff photo, and it is looking to add more as the venture continues to grow in many areas. The public is invited to come and meet the team and learn more about what Tough Tek Metals® has to offer at a May 25 open house event in Lansing that will celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the business and its rebranding from the original name of Lansing Housing Products. Submitted photo.
Standing up to standing on it ... Members of the Tough Tek Metals® team demonstrate the strength and durability of a screen manufactured at its facility in Lansing by standing on it without it breaking. In 2017, the business received a patent for its child safety screen that helps prevent falls from windows. That stainless steel screen can withstand 100 pounds of static pressure and is being used in construction of military family housing and public housing units in the U.S. and internationally. Submitted photo.
by Brianne Grimstad
May 25 of this year Lansing Housing Products will be celebrating 20 years in business with an open house from 2-7 p.m. at its Lansing facility, along with unveiling the rebranding of the business name to Tough Tek Metals®. In 2015, the team at Lansing Housing Products partnered with a branding firm and came up with the name of Tough Tek Metals®, which they felt more accurately represents the quality of their products and what they do in the focus and the operation of their business.
Lansing Housing Products came into existence in 2003, when co-owners Brian Houlihan and Dave Monserud purchased the former RTG, Inc. assets in order to help keep jobs in Lansing and prevent another business from leaving the small river town. When they first began Lansing Housing Products, it was located near the former lumber yard in Lansing, but the business soon moved to its current location at 331 Platt Street in Lansing.
All-Conference finish at NEIC Tournament ... Waukon boys golf freshman Dylan Stegen displays the medal he received after playing to All-Conference honors within the top 15 individual scores at the Northeast Iowa Conference Tournament hosted by Crestwood Monday, May 8. Stegen carded an 18-hole total of 83 strokes to tie for 14th place, the only freshman to play to All-Conference honors in this season’s Northeast Iowa Conference Tournament field. Submitted photo.
Freshman Dylan Stegen plays to All-Conference honors within top 15 scores
The Waukon boys golf team had its 2023 season brought to a close this past week, competing in a pair of multi-team tournaments within a couple days of one another. The first of those tournaments was the Northeast Iowa Conference Tournament Monday, May 8 at Crestwood, where the golf Tribe finished sixth but did record one All-Conference finisher. The Indians then had their season brought to a close tying for a seventh-place team finish at their Class 3A Sectional Tournament at Decorah Wednesday, May 10, with no players managing the required top-end individual finishes to earn further advancement down the postseason path and thus, bringing the Tribe’s 2023 campaign to an end.
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Launches his way to the State Meet ... Waukon boys track senior Josh Reichard unleashes a shot put effort at the Indians’ Class 2A State Qualifying Meet at Monticello Thursday, May 11. Reichard launched a 48’6.5” result to finish second and earn automatic qualification for the Class 2A State Track Meet. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
Striving for a chance to continue this 2023 track season on to the elite level, the Waukon boys track team was able to do that in seven events at its Class 2A State Qualifying Meet hosted by Monticello Thursday, May 11. Needing a top-two finish in an event to earn guaranteed qualification for this year’s State Track Meet being held at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, the track Tribe came away with one event win and three runner-up finishes to earn that automatic advancement, but as the dust settled during the next day in figuring out Class 2A’s additional “next eight” best event efforts that also qualified, the Indians ended up claiming four more qualifications in three additional events, with all those efforts pacing the way to 76 team points and a fourth-place finish in the final team scoring field of 12 teams at Thursday’s State Qualifying Meet.
Seniors qualify in pair of relays, Bakewell in 200 as well... Kee girls track seniors Alaina Bakewell and Jaylyn Walleser (left to right) complete a hand-off at the Hawks’ Class 1A State Qualifying Meet at Edgewood-Colesburg Thursday, May 11. Bakewell won the 200 meter dash in a time of 27.06 seconds to earn automatic State Meet qualification in that event, and the two veteran speedsters also joined forces with junior Mallory Mohn and freshman Addison Winters to help Kee’s 4x200 and sprint medley relays to State Meet qualification in respective times and placewinnings of 1:50.61 for fourth place and 1:54.60 for third place. Photo courtesy of the Kee High School Yearbook. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
Winters breaks 400m hurdle school record, joins Bakewell, Walleser and Mohn for new 4x200 mark
The Kee girls track team was competing to extend its 2023 season as much as possible at its Class 1A State Qualifying Meet hosted by Edgewood-Colesburg High School Thursday, May 11. That extension was accomplished in five events for the Lady Hawks, including a pair of event victories for automatic qualification for this year’s State Meet and one each of second-, third- and fourth-place finishes that gained additional at-large qualification among Class 1A’s elite at this season’s grand finale. All of those efforts led the way to 54 team points and a sixth-place team finish for the Kee girls in the final 15-team scoring finishes, while also leading to the rewriting of a pair of school records.
Automatic State Meet qualification for junior field event trio ... The Waukon girls track team trio of juniors pictured above each earned automatic State Meet qualification and return trips to the season grand finale with their top-two finishes in their respective field event specialties at the Indians’ Class 2A State Qualifying Meet at Monticello Thursday, May 11. Pictured above, left to right, Kloe Hemmersbach won the shot put with a heave of 37’8”, Kaitlyn Krambeer soared 16’7.5” to finish second in the long jump, and Cameron Johnson cleared 5’1” to also claim runner-up in the high jump, with Johnson also helping the track Tribe’s shuttle hurdle and 4x400 relays to State Meet qualifications in respective times and places of 1:09.10 for third place and 4:17.31 for fourth place. View and find out how to purchase these photos and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
Competing for the opportunity to extend the 2023 season a bit further, the Waukon girls track team was able to do just that for five events involving nine of this season’s team members at the track Tribe’s Class 2A State Qualifying Meet held at Monticello Thursday, May 11. Needing at least a second-place event finish to earn automatic qualification for this year’s State Track Meet being held later this week at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, the Lady Indians claimed one event victory and two runner-up finishes to pace their advancing effort, but also had their lone third-place event finish and one of their three fourth-place results at the meet earn State Meet qualification on the way to 73 team points and a fifth-place finish in Thursday’s final scoring field of 12 teams.
Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic - Waukon celebrates two years of serving area communities ... The Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic-Waukon opened just two years ago. This team of providers has had a total of 16,182 patient visits serving 4,507 patients, more than doubling since the first year. Pictured, from left to right, are Katy Maker, Nurse Midwife and Nurse Practitioner; Tara Fink, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner; Dr. Dave Schwartz, Family Practice Physician; Halie Ruff, Nurse Practitioner; Jon Hawes, Physician Assistant; Sue McMillan, Nurse Practitioner; and Alex Berns, Nurse Practitioner. Submitted photo.
The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Medical Clinic-Waukon opened just two years ago, May 3, joining the Gundersen Waukon Clinic in providing accessible family health care to the area communities.
“The statistics show, after just two years, the incredible need and impact of this new clinic. A total of 16,182 patient visits have been made since opening day, serving 4,507 patients. This number is more than doubled since our first year,” states Laura Baxter, Clinic Director. “We have added providers since last year, to allow for greater access to local healthcare, and even added a nurse mid-wife and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner to widen the range of services we provide, to meet the growing needs of our area communities.”
