James N. Gruber Sr., 101, of Lansing died Saturday, February 11, 2023 at Good Samaritan Society in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Thursday, March 2 at 11 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Lansing with Pastor James “Buck” Buckhahn officiating. Burial will be held at a later date in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing. Friends may greet the family from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 1 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon.
James Norbert Gruber Sr. was born April 16, 1921 in Lafayette Township, rural Lansing, the son of Leslie and Salome (Hacklander) Gruber. He attended Prairie Lafayette School in rural Lansing. September 28, 1952, he married Catherine Hancock at Waterville Lutheran Church in Waterville.
Award nominations due by February 20; Dairy Banquet scheduled for March 25
The Allamakee County Dairy Promotion Board is asking for assistance from the general public in identifying worthy candidates to be recognized as this year’s top producers in Allamakee County at the2023 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet scheduled for Saturday, March 25. Every year, top producers and several other awards are nominated from members within the county. The Allamakee Dairy Promotion Board and the Allamakee County Extension office are accepting nominations for the following awards:
Alaina Gebel, a graduating senior at Waukon High School and the daughter of Nate and Tami Gebel of rural Lansing, has been named a Career and Technical Education candidate as part of the 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The Career and Technical Education candidates were nominated by their Chief State School Officers based on their accomplishments in career and technical education fields.
Gebel was chosen as one of 67 high school senior candidates from all nominations across the state of Iowa. She was one of five state of Iowa nominations selected within the Career and Technical Education Department.
“John - The Last Cowboy” to be in Waukon ... John Hoiland, a rancher from Montana in his 90s, does not know a word of Norwegian, but he can extract several Norwegian 20th century songs from his father’s old accordion. The son of a Norwegian immigrant, Hoiland is the subject of a documentary film, “John - The Last Cowboy,” which is being screened at Town Theatre in Waukon this Sunday, February 19, beginning at 2:30 p.m., as part of the annual Oneota Film Festival. Image courtesy of FIMfilm.
Best friends for as long as they can remember ... John Hoiland and Jim Larkin have been best friends for as long as they can remember. Hoiland is the subject of a documentary film, “John - The Last Cowboy,” which is being screened at Town Theatre in Waukon this Sunday, February 19 as part of the annual Oneota Film Festival. Image courtesy of FIMfilm.
by Lynsey D. Moritz
From the day-to-day life of a Montana rancher, to the story of emigrating from Norway and holding onto those traditions, to generations of passionate and talented musicians, to a genuine and heartfelt lifelong friendship… Frode Fimland takes viewers on a journey of getting to know John Hoiland, the last cowboy, through the changing seasons in this beautiful country. This story is sure to resonate and move those who view it, and perhaps even make them reflect on their own life, too.
The Allamakee County Veterans Museum in Waukon will be offering another program to the public in the meeting room of its new museum in the former Vet’s Club building at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon. Thursday, February 23 at 6:30 p.m., area native Craig Timmerman will give a public presentation titled “Harley Davidson Goes to War” where he will detail his efforts to locate and restore an authentic World War II Harley Davidson U.S. Army motorcycle, model WLA (which he is pictured with in the photo above).
Timmerman is an experienced WWII collector who will explain the training, experiences and contributions of this modern “cavalry” to the war effort. He will also introduce a documentary from the U.S. Army Quartermaster School where the motorcycle troops trained. His restored Harley Davidson WLA with maintenance tools and manuals will be on display.
Plans have been announced to hold the 2023 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Waukon Sunday, March 19 at 1 p.m. All are invited to participate in this year’s parade with an Irish-themed entry at no cost. The parade route will be the same as it has been in the past.
A can and bottle redemption drive is now underway to benefit the Post Prom event that takes place each year after the Waukon High School Prom. This year’s Prom is scheduled for Saturday, April 22 at Waukon High School.
The can and bottle drive is being conducted through Waukon Redemption, located at 707 West Main Street in Waukon. Everyone is encouraged to redeem their cans and bottles at that location during its open hours of Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and Saturdays from 8-10 a.m. However, Waukon Redemption will be closed this Saturday, February 18 (see advertisement below).
Group Mime - “1” Rating ... Left to right: Lilly Kolsrud, Jaylyn Walleser, Alaina Bakewell, Addison Winters. Submitted photo.
Reader’s Theatre - “1” Rating ... Left to right - Front row: Ashlyn Henkes, Isabelle Hammell; Back row: Brendan Jones, Cadan Evanson, Jack Schweitzer, Phoenix Crass, Neva Peterson, Brooklyn Bakewell, Zoey Timmerman, Danica Janzen. Submitted photo.
DRWN Radio News - “1” Rating ... Left to right: Riley Troendle, Austin St. Mary, Jack Schweitzer, Cadan Evanson, Brooklyn Bakewell. Submitted photo.
The Kee High School Speech program competed in the State Large Group Speech Contest Saturday, February 4 at Waterloo West High School. Kee was one of approximately 70 schools with performances competing at the State Contest, with three Kee performances receiving “1” ratings and five other performances receiving “2” ratings.
The three teams receiving “1” ratings included the Reader’s Theatre team of Ashlyn Henkes, Isabelle Hammell, Brendan Jones, Cadan Evanson, Jack Schweitzer, Phoenix Crass, Neva Peterson, Brooklyn Bakewell, Zoey Timmerman and Danica Janzen; the DRWN Radio News team of Riley Troendle, Austin St. Mary, Jack Schweitzer, Cadan Evanson and Brooklyn Bakewell; and the Group Mime team of Lilly Kolsrud, Jaylyn Walleser, Alaina Bakewell and Addison Winters. Those three “1” rating teams are pictured in the submitted photos accompanying this write-up.
The Iowa 4-H Foundation has announced applications are now available for its 4-H scholarship program. Over 130 scholarship opportunities valued at over $120,000 will be awarded.
Former and current Iowa 4-H members are eligible to apply for 4-H scholarships if they meet individual scholarship requirements, as determined by the scholarship donors. Applicants must enroll as a full-time student to receive scholarship awards.
The various scholarship awards range in amounts from $500 to $5,000. Some scholarships are open to students pursuing any field of study, while others are open to students pursuing degrees in agriculture, food and nutrition, ag business, animal science, and journalism, as well as veterinary medicine and more.
Lesya Ryzhenkova and her family earned a reputation for their Ukrainian cuisine last year in a free-will donation fundraiser for the Ukraine war effort in March of 2022, shortly after the beginning of the Russian conflict with the family’s native country. Offering specialties such as Varenyky and Chicken Kyiv, residents of the Driftless region enjoyed the offerings and wondered when they might be able to enjoy them again.
From that demand evolved Ryzhenkova’s new venture to provide weekly carryout meals through her “Facebook Restaurant” called Ukrainian Village. With the new meal service launching Sunday, March 12, Ryzhenkova and her family will hold a Ukrainian Day and Open House at Lansing Office Works and Kitchen Works Sunday, February 26 where visitors can sample a variety of these specialties and note their favorites to prepare for their orders in March.
