News Center newsletter

To the Editor:

Snow’s turned to slush, and water to ice; Santa forgot to check the list twice.

Sugars are high, and the temperature’s low; “Kids, go out and shovel the snow!”

The carolers sing out of key; The shopping lists’ end I cannot see.

The reindeer are on a break; Santa’s on a diet for his own sake.

The cookies are stale, hard as a rock; Over an open fire I must hang this big sock.

We cut down a tree and dress its corpse in lights; As we await Santa through the sleepless days and nights.

The holly is decked in the halls all askew; Santa’s retired, now they need someone new.

The elves are all sick, in bed with a cold; “Sorry, we don’t have Christmas lights, the last one’s been sold.”

It’s Christmas Eve now and I’m finally done; I’ve got the presents wrapped for everyone.

And as I lay down in bed and turn out the light; I can hear Santa yell, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

To the editor:

The height of hypocrisy is Republicans proclaiming their allegiance to the constitution and democracy but failing to embrace the most fundamental democratic principle of acceptance of election results and the peaceful transfer of power. Republicans continue to peddle the big lies of a stolen election and election fraud. They turn a blind eye to the attempted coup of our government. They have dismissed the violence of attackers of police guarding the capitol. Meanwhile, Republicans are passing voter suppression bills in Iowa and other states. How anti-democratic.

To the Editor:

I read a little of the Allamakee Republican Party letter. Not one little word was written about the attempt to overthrow a democratic government of over 200 years, in one of the fairest and honest elections in our history.

This country, for four years, had a career liar of over 25,000 lies told while in the White House who had dictatorial intentions of staying in office until he died. But he couldn’t overcome the election or the electoral college. People died during the riot at the Capitol who were told and encouraged by the ex-president and members of his congressional followers to come to Washington while he and the former party of Lincoln were holding a coup.

To the Editor:

“Birds aren’t real”. They set on power lines to recharge.

Steve Paul
Waukon

Upcoming Deadlines/Dates
Dec. 24: Office closed in observance of Christmas holiday
Dec. 31: Office closed in observance of New Year’s Day holiday
Jan. 7: Organic and Transition Education Certification Program (FY20, FY21)
Feb. 18: Dairy Margin Coverage Program
Feb. 25: Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program
Mar. 15: ARCPLC Program deadline

Stay safe with these helpful tips and suggestions

Farmers and those employed in the agricultural industry should be mindful of the risks involved with internet security and what they can do to keep themselves and their companies safe.

With so much activity being done online, farmers share the same risks as those employed in other industries – sometimes even more so.

According to Doug Jacobson and Ally Frickel, electrical and computer engineering specialists at Iowa State University, the farming sector is sometimes targeted by cybercriminals because of farming’s critical function – supplying the food and fiber that humans and animals depend upon.

Farmers and the food industry cannot afford to be without their computer system for long, a fact some cybercriminals have used to their advantage.

Educational event for Iowa’s dairy producers

Iowa dairy producers will have the opportunity to hear Iowa State University Extension and Outreach specialists share information on emerging dairy industry issues at the 2022 Dairy Days, scheduled at four eastern Iowa locations and one northwest Iowa location.

At this year’s program, producers will learn about methods of euthanasia, composting mortalities, farm personalities, transition cow nutrition, milk marketing, industry updates and more.

“The Iowa State Extension Dairy Team is excited to bring back our annual Dairy Days program in person this year,” said Jenn Bentley, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “This program gives producers a chance to learn about a variety of topics and be able to network with other producers and industry representatives.”

by Joe Moses

Allamakee County is moving forward with plans to utilize solar energy at the County’s Public Safety Center north of Waukon. That location will soon be home to a completed solar array, a collection of multiple solar panels that will generate electricity as a system. This renewable energy option will provide electricity not only for the Public Safety Center, but also for storage buildings associated with that facility in addition to the Allamakee County Waste and Recycling facility located just south of the Public Safety Center grounds.

Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick and Vice President John Nielsen of Perry Novak Electric in Decorah recently provided an update to The Standard relating to this project. Mellick discussed how the solar array project came to be, with the County being approached earlier this year by a contractor and an investor expressing interest in developing a solar array.

A rare December severe thunderstorm roared through Allamakee County and the surrounding area Wednesday evening, December 15, not necessarily causing a significant amount of visible damage but certainly having an impact on local electrical utilities. That impact was both immediate for most of that same night of the storm and then forced to return later the next day in an effort to remedy lingering effects.

Weather forecasters had been advising the Upper Midwest of a weather rarity for that mid-December day that would elevate temperatures into the 60s and ultimately bring strong winds and even stronger wind gusts. Those winds began to pick up throughout Wednesday and ultimately reached peak reports of 60 to 70 miles per hour at various locations in northeast Iowa.

The Allamakee County Veterans Museum will observe Iowa Statehood Day and the 175th Anniversary of Iowa Statehood December 28 by offering a program to the public in the Program Room of its new museum in the former Vet’s Club building in Waukon.

Tuesday, December 28 at 6:30 p.m. a video documentary entitled “Iowa - An American Portrait” will be presented. The video was produced by Iowa Public Television in 1996 for the 150th Anniversary of Iowa Statehood and is narrated by NBC broadcaster Tom Brokaw. Credits for the program include contributions from Larsh Bristol Photography and Jim Janett of Allamakee County Conservation. Northeast Iowa area scenes are featured.

Iowa celebrates “Statehood Day” December 28 of each year, because that is the date in 1846 when Iowa was officially granted statehood status. The year 2021 marks the 175th anniversary of Iowa’s statehood.