News Center newsletter

Ervin and Barbara Borntrager of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Katelyn Fern Borntrager, born August 24, 2022 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. She weighed 6 lbs. 5 ozs. and measured 20 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins a sister, Kaylene Rose (15 months).

Grandparents are Amos and Mary Edna Lambright of Waukon. Great-grandparents are Clarence and Ada Borntrager of Waukon.

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
October 31: Organic Certification Cost-Share and Transition/Education Certification Program

Vehicle Weight Causing Subsoil Compaction
by LuAnn Rolling, District Conservationist
“I really think we are wrecking the soil quicker than 30-40 years ago,” Anthony Bly, SDSU Extension Soils Field Specialist, tells Civil Eats in a June 6, 2022 article. He is concerned that the enormity of modern equipment causes tillage-based soil degradation. He said “The total weight of combine harvesters has increased nearly 10-fold, from around 8800 pounds in 1958 to about 80,000 pounds in 2020. At a time when farmers are desperate to hold onto soil moisture, the subsequent compaction caused by all this weight can limit water infiltration, which is particularly troublesome when high intensity rains can’t be captured and stored in the soil.”

Meetings to begin September 13 in Waukon

This past March, Veterans Memorial Hospital shared its intent to file a petition to invoke a public vote for a City to County conversion and received the Waukon City Council’s support. In July, the hospital turned in a petition with more than enough signatures to earn inclusion on the ballot for the November 8 General Election for voters to vote on this conversion. Veterans Memorial Hospital staff and board members will now visit each Allamakee County community in the next two months to hold meetings to present and discuss the needs and impacts of this City to County conversion.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

RAGBRAI 2022 is in the books - and Lansing, hosting the end-of-the-line “dip-site” for the third time (1977, 2017 and 2022), made the biggest profit from the event of any participating city this year.

Ian Zahren, Lansing RAGBRAI executive chair, recently announced that the organization generated $208,000 in total revenue (Main Street restaurants and bars made an additional $50,000) and recorded an after-expenses profit of $115,400. By way of context, the 2017 event in Lansing generated $102,855 in total revenue, and recorded a profit of $33,017, after expenses. These numbers, Zahren noted, reflect a doubled revenue, and a quadrupled profit from that 2017 venture.

Residents within the city limits of Harpers Ferry will be voting on Public Measure AM seeking approval of a seven-percent hotel/motel tax in a special election scheduled for Tuesday, September 13 in Harpers Ferry. The Harpers Ferry Community Center will be the lone polling location for the election, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The official language that will be on the special election ballot for Public Measure AM reads as follows:

“Shall the City of Harpers Ferry, Iowa, be authorized to impose a hotel and motel tax at the rate of seven percent (7%), effective January 1, 2023, with at least fifty percent (50%) of the revenues derived from the tax to be used for park and recreation programs and facilities for the City of Harpers Ferry?”

A simple majority of 50% of voters plus one more is required to pass the measure. The tax would then go into effect January 1 of the new year for a time period yet to be determined.

A trio of Allamakee County 4-H members earned recognition as communicators at the Iowa State Fair held August 11-21 in Des Moines. Earning advancement from their respective county fairs, 4-H members can compete in three categories of oral communication: educational presentations, working exhibits and extemporaneous speaking, as well as in one category of visual communication.

In Educational Presentations, the 4-H members teach their audience about a topic they selected and researched. In Working Exhibits, the exhibitors invite passers-by to try a skill they demonstrate. In Extemporaneous Speaking, the 4-H members prepare a speech in 30 minutes and deliver it to an audience. Share-the-Fun participants perform vocal or instrumental music, dance, humorous skits, monologues, and specialty acts for fun. In Poster Communication, they convey a message visually.

by Joe Moses

Waukon City Manager Gary Boden recently met with The Standard to provide an update relating to ongoing projects and a variety of other matters relating to the City of Waukon.

The discussion with Boden began with an update relating to the water retention/wetland area north of the Waukon City Park along 2nd Street SW. That project is one of six projects near the City Park and the new Pladsen Subdivision included as part of the Storm Water Quality Improvement Project, which is a side benefit of the funding associated with the new Wastewater Treatment Plant, a project mandated by the State of Iowa.

Local veterans were recognized by retired U.S. Navy Admiral Michael Franken during a dinner event sponsored by the Allamakee County Democrats Sunday, August 27. Admiral Franken served in the U.S. Navy for 39 years and is now a candidate for the U.S. Senate. Pictured above, left to right, are Al Hanson, Dale Osterhaus, Ric Zarwell, George Blair, Michael Franken, Lanny Fields, Dan Hanson. Submitted photo.
 

The Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) will host an Iowa Department of Natural Resources Hunter Education Class Thursday, September 29 and Saturday, October 1 at the Allamakee Sportsman Club, 450 Highway 9, Waukon. Students will be required to attend both days of the class in order to receive certification.

September 29 the class will be from 6-9 p.m. and October 1 the class will be from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Students are asked to bring a water bottle both days and a sack lunch October 1. The class will be free of charge.

Catherine Cecelia Wagner, 82, of Lansing died  suddenly in her home Monday, September 5, 2022. Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, September 10 at Immaculate Conception Church. Interment followed Mass at Gethsemane Cemetery, Lansing.

Cathy was born November 22, 1939 in Winona, MN, the sixth child of Bernard and Elizabeth (Bratek) Cerney, Sr. She graduated from Cotter High School in 1957, and November 15, 1958 she married Clair Wagner at St. John’s Catholic Church in Winona. To this union 10 children were born.

After growing up in the river city of Winona, Cathy quickly adjusted to life in rural Allamakee County. Cathy and Clair were hard working, devoted parents who raised their family in the Catholic faith. She was one of Paul Horsfall’s first employees and also worked at Thornton Manor in Lansing.