News Center newsletter

The Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative (ACEC) members elected two newcomers and one incumbent to its Board of Directors following ACEC’s 88th Annual Meeting held Monday, September 14. The new board will select its officers at its September 28 regular monthly meeting.

In District A, Cindy Heffern, Harpers Ferry, was the lone incumbent board member elected. She has been a member of the ACEC board since 2017. Also in District A, Dan Byrnes, Waukon, received the second most votes, earning a spot on the board. Kerry Troendle, Waukon, was also on the ballot in District A. Michael Gibbs, Waterville, chose not to seek re-election this year after serving for 18 years on the ACEC Board.

In District C, Peggy Connor, Farmersburg, defeated incumbent Greg Formanek, also of Farmersburg. Formanek had been on the board since 2021.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session at the New Albin Public Library as part of its annual schedule of offsite meeting locations away from the County Courthouse. The Supervisors addressed a full agenda of matters including updates relating to the New Albin community, discussion and consideration of a solid waste contract, and the discussion and consideration of a county vehicle. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Tom Clark with Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Dan Byrnes present.

During Public Comment, Gary Bottorff of Lansing questioned the Supervisors about the status of the replacement flagpole on the eastern portion of the County Courthouse grounds. Clark noted that this replacement, made necessary due to storm damage, is anticipated to take place soon with the contractor having received the replacement flagpole.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, September 21 to address a full agenda of matters including the consideration of approving the Functional Design Professional Services Agreement with MSA for the 1st Street NE Reconstruction Project, consideration of approving pay application #1 for the 1st Avenue SE Reconstruction Project, and the Public Hearing relating to the proposed sale of city-owned property at 219 4th Street NE. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members present including Steve Wiedner, Nicholas Engrav, Cassie Cahoon and John Lydon.

During Public Comment, Kent Sweeney, owner of Side Street Cycles, questioned the council about a variety of matters relating to garbage collection, dumpsters and the pick-up of large items like furniture in consideration of a potential switch to a new service provider being discussed.

Downtown Lansing will come alive with creativity, music, food and family-friendly activities during the second annual Makers on Main, taking place Sunday, September 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free, and everyone is encouraged to spend the day exploring downtown, meeting the makers and experiencing everything Lansing has to offer.

Presented by Main Street Lansing, this free community event will feature 38 vendors, two live musical performances, live painting and a Kids’ Creative Corner. Visitors are invited to shop, eat, create and explore while supporting artists, makers, entrepreneurs, food vendors and downtown businesses.

In addition to the Artists & Makers line-up, several Main Street storefronts will also feature special participants throughout the event, and there will also be food and drink vendors. Live music will also be featured throughout the day.

by Joshua Sharpe

The September 10 Bridge Talk at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library took on a different tone than earlier updates on the Iowa 9/WIS 82 Mississippi River bridge, as the project now moves toward an early-November opening and crews focus on the work needed to make the new crossing ready for traffic. Iowa Department of Transportation District Staff Engineer Clayton Burke led much of the presentation alongside HNTB structural engineer Travis Konda, walking attendees through roadway reconstruction, bridge-deck work, safety barriers, remaining structural connections, and the work expected to continue after the bridge opens.

Burke described the number of activities underway across the project as crews work toward the accelerated schedule, saying there are “all kinds of things going on all at once by so many different people” as crews work “to make this early opening happen.”

An open house will be hosted Thursday, September 24, for all area communities to attend at the new Postville Medical Clinic. The clinic will then open for patients the following Monday, September 28. Postville Clinic staff will host the open house from 4:30-6:30 p.m.  The new Postville Clinic is located in the former Upper Explorerland building at 134 West Greene Street, right next door to the current clinic location.   

Postville Clinic Trivia and giveaways will be offered throughout the night, along with complimentary blood pressure checks, blood sugar/diabetes tests and hemoglobin tests, all with immediate results. In addition, flu shots will also be offered for all adults attending the open house which is planned during the final Postville Farmer’s Market event for the season.

Tours of the new facility will be given by the clinic staff including Medical Assistants Selena Perez and Sandy Lopez, and Alisha Henderson, RN. 

September is Pain Awareness Month. Many individuals suffer from ongoing pain, thinking it will eventually go away, or that there are no options other than surgery.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) began offering a Pain Management Clinic to the area communities nearly two years ago, which continues to be a successful option in treating ongoing pain.

Shawn Blake, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, originally of Dorchester, began offering his services to provide relief for patients with chronic pain, in October 2024, just one day per month. That demand quickly grew to two days per month and now will be offered three days per month.

The local Grief Support Group will again be holding their monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Thursday, October 1, from 5-6 p.m. in the Meditation Healing Center, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital. Nancy Haberichter will be facilitating the meeting.

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 will continue meeting the first Thursday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital’s annual Pillow Perk will return Monday, October 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Lower Level of Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH). Kraft Pillow Service will be on site to make old pillows look like new.

Everyone is encouraged to bring in their feather pillows to the Pillow Perk to be cleaned, sanitized and given new ticking. Foam and Dacron pillows may also be renovated by this process. People are also encouraged to bring in their feather beds and have them made into new pillows. The pillows are cleaned and renovated the same day and ready for pick up by 3 p.m. 

For more information, feel free to call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, October 5, from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.