Nolte, Cornman & Johnson P.C. of Newton recently released an audit report on the Allamakee Community School District in Waukon. A copy of the audit report is available for review on the Auditor of State’s web site at https://auditor.iowa.gov/audit-reports.
The District’s revenues totaled $17,363,803 for the year ended June 30, 2021, a 3.78% increase from the prior year. Expenses for District operations for the year ended June 30, 2021 totaled $16,401,681, a 2.57% increase from the prior year.
The increase in total revenues was due in part to increases in revenues from operating grants, contributions and restricted interest compared to the prior year. The increase in total expenses occurred primarily in the support services function.
Navigating a buoy that’s seen its better days ... Friends of Pool 9 members (left to right) Bruce Carlson, Bob Henkel, Gus Kerndt, Glen Reed and Jim Kerndt (in tractor) move a battered red navigation buoy from the shoreline at Brennan Landing in Lansing to the waiting dumpster during the Spring 2022 River Clean-Up of Pool 9. Photo courtesy of Driftless Mode, Bob Modersohn.
Barrel loads of hard work and dedication ... Volunteers land ashore and begin the process of smashing plastic barrels and other items into the Vernon County dumpster during the 2022 Friends of Pool 9 Clean-Up. Submitted photo.
submitted by Friends of Pool 9
It was a warmer than usual late April day when the Friends of Pool 9 (FOP9) members and volunteers boarded their boats in groups of two, three and more for their annual Mississippi River Clean-Up Day. The pool water level was just below 12 feet, which is about four feet above normal.
This makes it easier in some cases to retrieve trash scattered among the backwater islands, but also makes it more difficult with increased stream velocity and river flow at nearly 100,000 cubic feet per second. However, regardless of the obstacles, these seasoned “river-veterans” prevailed.
At its regular meeting Monday, May 16, the Lansing City Council reviewed Auditor of State Rob Sand’s agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Lansing, Iowa, for the period July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The agreed-upon procedures engagement was performed pursuant to Chapter 11.6 of the Code of Iowa.
A press release issued May 2 by the Office of Auditor of State, State of Iowa, indicated that “Sand reported fifteen findings related to the receipt and disbursement of taxpayer funds …The findings address issues such as a lack of segregation of duties, errors in the utility reconciliation, disbursements exceeding budgeted amounts, excess TIF collections, and the need to seek legal counsel regarding the relationship between the City and the Lansing Fire Department, Inc. (Non-profit Fire Department). Sand provided the City with recommendations to address each of the findings.”
Thornton Manor would like to invite anyone who has (or who knows of someone who has) an old-fashioned car or fun motorcycle to participate in Thornton Manor’s First Annual Father’s Day Fun Parade scheduled for Friday, June 17. Participants can call Karen at Thornton Manor to confirm they are going to participate, or for more information, at 563-538-4236.
Parade will start at 10 a.m. Friday, June 17. Staff will be outside Thornton Manor to direct the traffic and set up the parade line.
All residents and staff who want to watch the parade will be seated safely outside the front of Thornton Manor. In the case of a rainy day, the parade will be canceled and rescheduled for a later date, which will be announced.
Pair of top-10 finishes in four State events ... Waukon boys track and field senior Braxton Stewart elevates over the bar in the Class 2A high jump competition at the State Track and Field Meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines Friday, May 20, clearing 6’2” to finish in a tie for ninth place among the Class 2A leaping elite. Competing infour individual events at this year’s season grand finale, Stewart also finished ninth in the Class 2A 400 meter hurdles in a time of 56.17 seconds, soared 20’1.25” to finish 18th in the Class 2A long jump and also ran to an 11th-place finish in the Class 2A 400 meter dash with a clocking of 51.07 seconds. Photo courtesy of Nate Troy, Cresco Times Plain Dealer.
The grand finale of the 2022 Iowa high school boys track and field season saw the Waukon boys track and field team qualified in eight events for the State Track Meet Thursday through Saturday, May 19-21 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. Those eight events involved seven Indian competitors, three of which were repeat performers from last spring and four of which are slated to return as underclassmen next season. Although none of those events found the team scoreboard with top-eight finishes, a couple neared that landmark and more than half of them resulted in finishes within the top half of their respective Class 2A fields of elite competitors.
4x800 finishes 17th at State Meet ... The Waukon girls track team’s 4x800 relay foursome pictured above ran to a 17th-place team finish at the Class 2A State Track Meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines Thursday, May 19 in a time of 10:29.87. That crew included (left to right in the above photos) juniors Katerina Kovarik and Jayden Knox, and junior Paige Hansmeier and sophomore Mia Kurth. Photos courtesy of Nate Troy, Cresco Times Plain Dealer.
The 2022 Waukon girls track and field season came to a close where all high school track and field athletes long to be at season’s end, as the Lady Indians competed in five events at this year’s Class 2A State Track and Field Meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines that took place Thursday through Saturday, May 19-21. Although none of those five event efforts by the Indians cracked the top half of their respective 24-qualifier elite fields at this year’s season grand finale and avoided the final team scoreboard, all nine athletes who competed for the track Tribe are all underclassmen and are set to return again next season - and some for even longer than that.
400 meter bronze is best of top-six quartet... Kee girls track senior Haley Meyer makes her way toward the finish line in the 400 meter dash at the Class 1A State Track and Field Meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines Thursday, May 19 in one of her four events she qualified in for the season grand finale as her high school track and field career came to a close. Meyer’s first time competing in that 400 meter dash in that State Meet field proved to be her best finish in all four of those events, as she placed third in a time of 59.61 seconds. In a busy Saturday, May 21 for her, Meyer ran to a pair of new school records in placing fourth in the 800 meter run in 2:21.05 and finishing sixth in the 1500 meter run in 4:54.25. She also joined forces with sophomore Mallory Mohn and the junior pair of Alaina Bakewell and Jaylyn Walleser for another sixth-place finish time of 1:54.11 in the sprint medley to score team points in all four of the events she qualified in for her final high school performance on the big blue oval. Photo courtesy of Nate Troy, Cresco Times Plain Dealer.
The Kee girls track and field team continued to not only be represented but also continued to make its presence felt at the Class 1A State Track and Field Meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines Thursday through Saturday, May 19-21, qualifying for five events for the 2022 season grand finale and ending up on the final team scoreboard for the sixth consecutive season. This year’s efforts also marked the fourth consecutive season that Hawk team scoring ended up among the Class 1A top-20 elite, as the four Kee girls competing in this spring’s State Meet scored points in four their five qualified events, including top-six finishes in all four of those events to compile 17 points and finish tied for 16th as a team in the final Class 1A field of nearly 60 teams scoring points.
Near top half of 1A long jump elite... Kee boys track senior Tyson Cota takes flight in his return in the long jump to the Class 1A State Track and Field Meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines Thursday, May 19. Cota soared to a 14th-place finish in that Class 1A field of 24 jumpers with a leap of 19’11.25”. Photo courtesy of Nate Troy, Cresco Times-Plain Dealer.
For the second consecutive season, the Kee boys track and field team was represented where all high school track and field athletes strive to be, as the senior pair of Tyson Cota and Damon Weber each made return trips to the Class 1A State Track and Field Meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. With both earning returns in the same events they competed in last spring, the pair of senior leaders both improved on their 2021 showings within yet another strong field of Class 1A elite competitors in their respective field events.
Virginia Hanson, age 72, of Decorah died Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, May 28 at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church, Decorah, with Rev. Adam Starrett presiding. Burial was in the church cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the family at 1349 Coon Creek Road, Decorah, IA 52101.
Virginia Jean Hanson was born August 14, 1949 in Waukon to Melvin and Oretta Ellefson Hill. On the very same day of her birth, the Allamakee County Fair was in full swing and her father, Melvin, decided to run to the fair while her mother was in the hospital waiting to give birth; Oretta was not happy! Sam Hill, her uncle, has said he remembers when Virginia was brought home from the hospital.
Betty Jean Fish, 76, of Maquoketa went to be with her beloved husband, Jack, May 19, 2022 at Clarissa Cook Hospice House located in Bettendorf. Online condolences may be shared at www.rungemortuary.com.
She fought hard and is now at rest joining her family reunion in Heaven.
A Celebration of Life gathering for family and friends will be scheduled in the near future. A date and time are yet to be determined.
Betty Jean was born on Father’s Day, June 17, 1945 in Centerville to Glen (Big Shorty) Bennett and Polly (Thackrey) Bennett. Betty was married to Jackie (Jack) Fish April 18, 1964, and they were married 50 years at the time of his death December 20, 2014.
