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The Shopko Foundation recently made a donation to the Driftless Area Visitor and Education Center under construction just south of Lansing. Pictured above, left to right, at the donation presentation are Shopko team members April, Lorna and Laurie, Allamakee County Conservation Director Jim Janett, Waukon Shopko manager Valerie Reinke and Shopko team member Mary. Janett says the donated funds will be put toward the interpretive displays that will be housed within the Center. Standard photo by Sara Aleckson-Melcher.
 

The Midwest Veterans of America, an organization newly created and recently registered with the office of the Iowa Secretary of State to assist local military veterans, hosted the third annual Northeast Iowa Pie Championships Sunday, January 29 at the Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank Community Room in Waukon, with a “celebrity” pie-eating contest (pictured below) being a featured highlight of that event. In the photo at left, this year’s pie-eating contest winner, Patrick Monroe, is pictured with his championship plaque. Monroe finished eating his vanilla cream pie in a reported time of 35 seconds, defeating last year’s champion, KNEI radio personality Erik Kelly, and the inaugural event champion, Sandy Halverson of the S&D Cafe, to claim this year’s crown. Halverson reportedly finished second for the second consecutive year.

The 2017 Northeast Iowa Pie Championships, held January 29 to raise funds for the Midwest Veterans of America, has released its list of top placewinners in the Pie Judging Contest held as part of the event. A total of 41 pies were entered into the Pie Judging Contest. This year's top-three placewinners each received a ribbon and are listed below:

Rick Larson of Waukon was recently honored for his 25 years of service to the Waukon Fire Department. Pictured left to right, Waukon Fire Chief Dave Martin presents Larson with a watch in recognition of his service milestone anniversary. Submitted photo.
 

Winneshiek County Development Incorporated has awarded Iowa's Dairy Center and Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) with the annual Sustainability Award. This award is presented to any business or organization that has gone above and beyond in employing good sustainability practices.

Waukon Veterinary Service and Brodahl Veterinary Service of Waukon partnered with Zoetis and the National FFA Organization to donate a total of $635 to the Little Switzerland FFA chapter at Waukon High School through the FFA Support Program. The donated funds are provided to chapters through the sale of cattle and equine medical products at both locations. The Zoetis Industry Support Program was pleased to announce that the participants in the program helped contribute more than $1.3 million to local FFA chapters nationwide. Their goal is to support the development of individual FFA chapters across the country. The donated funds will be used to provide contest materials and other necessities for the Waukon FFA Chapter. The support from Waukon Veterinary Service and Brodahl Veterinary Service has allowed the chapter to reach out to more students through their participation in FFA contests.

Saturday Clover Kids met January 21 at the Waukon Wellness Center, hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Ross Geerdes, Allamakee County Conservation's Naturalist, joined the meeting to share his knowledge about watersheds and the animals that live there. He brought along many furs to share and explained how each animal was different and how they lived around or in a watershed. With Waukon being close to the Mississippi River, most of these animals are common in the local area. The Clover Kids were able to touch each fur (pictured above) and note the differences in color and also how the fur felt; for example, animals that lived mainly in the water, such as otters, had fur that felt oily in order to repel the water off of them. Geerdes explained characteristics of each animal and how that helps each animal thrive in its environment. The youth also had the opportunity to meet Sally the salamander and pet her, along with a toad (pictured below).

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Wednesday, February 8 at 2 p.m. This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief.

Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support group meets the second Wednesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested  Thursday, February 16. Men and women are welcome to attend, even if not a member of the Auxiliary. The Euchre marathons are held the third Thursday of each month at the Senior Citizens Room located in the Waukon Wellness Center. 

The Auxiliary’s Euchre Marathons begin at 11:30 a.m. with dinner if chosen. Contact Northland Agency on Aging at 877-838-8077 to eat dinner. Card playing will follow at 12:30 p.m. until approximately 2:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to stay and play cards following the Senior Citizens meal is more than welcome to do so. All proceeds go toward the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Prizes will be awarded.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Evelyn Welper by Russ and Mary Jo Meyer, Jane Dietrich, Tharin and Bailey Meyer Benson, Patsy Kerndt, David and Suzanne Hahn, Rick and Cathy Larson, Jeff Mitchell and family and friends of Evelyn Welper.

Memorials were also received in memory of Donna Wiley by Marv and Marge Strike, Norb and Nola Palmer, Dave and Laurie Martin, Mae Jean Bakke, Dr. Bill and Libby Withers, Gayle Larkin, Carl and Betty Christianson and family of Donna Wiley.

Memorials and donations are greatly appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation.  The Foundation is a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.