News Center newsletter

Midwest Veterans of America will be hosting an America 250 event Saturday, July 4 at the Waukon City Park to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. All area Veterans and their family and friends are invited to a cookout at the Sweeney Shelter near the Freedom Rock in the Waukon City Park, beginning at 11 a.m.

Those attending are asked to bring a salad or a dessert to pass, all other items for the cookout event will be provided. There will also be a live auction with proceeds from that auction being donated to Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. The musical anthem for each branch of the U.S. military will be played as all Veterans will be honored for their service.

Lunchtime meals served each weekday in July, donations welcome to help sustain the program

Waukon churches and community members have banded together once again this July to bring hot lunches to area children, ages 18 and under. In 2025, its third year, the Feed the Kids (FTK) program served 2,849 lunches and distributed 2,383 breakfast bags in the 23 days of the program. This was an increase of 874 meals from 2024. The number of days to serve will again be 23 this year, and the lunch menu for each of those days can be found accompanying this article at right.

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) provides a summer feeding program to local children ages 18 and under during the months of June and August, but there is nothing in place for July. Community members felt there were still “food insecure” children who needed to eat all summer long and the program got started based on that premise.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Allamakee County Monday afternoon, June 22 in response to severe weather that occurred Wednesday, June 17, and its continuing impacts.

Governor Reynolds’ proclamation allows State of Iowa resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of these storms and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Advocacy Program. The proclamation is effective immediately and will remain in effect for 30 days unless terminated or extended.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants up to $7,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of personal property or food, and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery.

Public input sought to help determine community needs and direction for growth

by Joe Moses

Waukon City Manager Grayson Rowlet and Senior Regional Planner Michelle Barness of Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) recently met with The Standard relating to the City of Waukon’s Comprehensive Plan update. Through public engagement opportunities including meetings and surveys seeking input, this planning process will allow Waukon residents to help determine needs and direction for growth relating to housing, economic development, infrastructure and facilities, agricultural and natural resources, recreation and land use, among other aspects impacting the daily lives of community residents.

Deadlines/Dates
July 3: Office closed in observance of Independence Day
July 13-19: Allamakee County Fair
July 15: Deadline to Report Acres
August 12: Deadline to submit an SDRP application

FSA Ready for Your 2026 Acreage Report
With the planting season now behind us, we wanted to take this opportunity to send a friendly reminder about certifying your planted acres. Completing your certifications promptly is essential for keeping your records up to date and ensuring you remain eligible for future program benefits. By submitting your information in a timely manner, you help us support you more efficiently and avoid any potential issues down the road. If you have any questions about the certification process or need assistance at any stage, please feel free to reach out. 

To the Editor:

I don’t know a thing about soccer, but I am enjoying the reactions of the soccer fans who have followed their country’s teams to the USA. The World Cup games are being played in small and large cities across our country. The interactions between these visitors and ordinary Americans have been fun, respectful, and joyous.

Videos of the Scotts drinking Boston dry, the Norwegians rowing, the Aussies discovering Walmart, an Englishman gushing about being able to drink Pepsi with free refills. It’s a reminder of what it means to be an American. We are the land of opportunity, of welcoming the stranger, of helping others improve their lives.

It’s only fitting that this year, our 250th as a nation, we remember who we are. That we are more alike than different. That we are guaranteed the freedom to express ourselves in our speech, our religion, our free press.

West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon will be the site for “Music in the Country” Sunday, July 12, a musical event featuring Alan & Roxy Fauque, a saxophone and piano duo, from the Madison, WI area. Beginning at 2 p.m. and hosted by the West Paint Creek Synod Cemetery Association (WPCSCA), ice cream, bars, and coffee will be served in the church’s newly remodeled fellowship/dining area, located at 1351 Elon Drive.

Alan and Roxy Fauque moved to Wisconsin from Bozeman, MT. They perform together at social events and as contemporary worship musicians, displaying their considerable musical background in many other avenues.

Roxy once prepared 126 sixth graders to perform a premier composition at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She also was honored with a Yale Distinguished Music Educator award. Upon arriving in Mount Horeb, WI, she taught music in the schools there for four years.

Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank has announced the promotion of Erik Helgerson to President. Helgerson will assume his new responsibilities immediately while James Kerndt continues to serve as Chief Executive Officer until his planned retirement in the coming years.

Helgerson brings 30 years of banking experience and leadership to the position. He began his banking career as a Credit Analyst with Firstar Bank before serving as a Commercial Loan Officer with U.S. Bank and a Loan Officer with Waukon State Bank. Prior to joining Kerndt Brothers, Helgerson served as Senior Loan Officer for FreedomBank, where he was responsible for credit administration, risk management, and strategic lending initiatives.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, June 29 to address a full agenda of matters including the consideration of bids received for bulk highway de-icing salt, the Public Hearing for the Allamakee County Fiscal-Year 2026 (FY26) Budget Amendment, and discussion and consideration of the annual designation of location for posting public notices.

The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Tom Clark with Supervisors Dan Byrnes and Dennis Keatley present. There was no Public Comment during the time allotted for that matter.

This past spring, Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission’s (UERPC) Safe Routes to School Program provided bike safety education to over 800 second grade students and distributed helmets to schools throughout Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek Counties. Through the program, more than 400 students who needed a helmet received one to take home, helping ensure they have the equipment needed to ride safely.