News Center newsletter

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center will host the Driftless Birding Fest November 12 and 13. The Driftless Birding Fest will include speakers, exhibits, and guided and self-guided field trips to area birding hotspots.

The self-guided field trips will include the Brownsville, MN overlook, Stoddard, WI overlook, New Albin’s Army Road, Red Oak Road near Harpers Ferry, and the Ferryville, WI overlook.

Friday, November 12 from 6-8 p.m. “Raptors of Iowa” will be presented at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center.  Following the presentation, from 8-10 p.m., there will be an “Owl Prowl” to find and hear owls on the bluffs surrounding the nature center.

VFW Auxiliary Gustave F. Kerndt #5981 announces the kick-off of the VFW Auxiliary’s National Anthem Singing Contest, “Get Excited for the Red, White and Blue!” Local youth in grades K-12 can showcase their talent, display their patriotism and express their creativity while competing for their share of $2,000 in national awards.

Contestants must submit a video of their solo vocal performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Video must be saved to a DVD or flash drive, or uploaded to an online video platform (e.g., YouTube or Vimeo) and submitted to a local Auxiliary for judging.  The video must be recorded between July 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. Entries will be judged on vocal ability, mastery of lyrics, originality or interpretation and entertainment value.

Win results in fourth consecutive District 4 championship, eighth Class 2A State Play-Off berth

by Perry Hesse

Two defensive touchdowns on consecutive possessions in the third quarter propelled the Waukon football team to a 26-14 victory at Jesup Friday, October 8. Those defensive scores allowed the Tribe to overcome a sluggish first half which left them trailing, 7-6, at halftime, a position they have not been in since a season-opening home loss against Class 4A top-five rated Waverly-Shell Rock.

“The kids were frustrated at halftime,” said Waukon football head coach Chad Beermann. “But we explained to the kids that you will have days like this. Things will not always go your way. But you have to keep playing.”

The Kee girls and boys cross country teams had just one meet on their schedule this past week, taking part in the South Winneshiek Invitational Tuesday, October 5. The Lady Hawks ran to a third-place team finish in their field of seven scored teams, scoring 85 team points, while the boys did not have enough runners to compile a team score.

The Hawks were next scheduled to compete in their Upper Iowa Conference Meet to be hosted by South Winneshiek at Silver Springs Golf Club in Ossian Thursday, October 14. The Kee distance dandies will then prepare for their Class 1A State Qualifying Meet scheduled for Thursday, October 21 at a location soon to be officially released.

For more complete coverage, pick up this week's print edition or subscribe to our e-edition by clicking here.

The Waukon boys cross country team had just one meet on its competition on its schedule this week, and the Indians were within just a couple points of making it their very best meet of the season. Those two points were enough to keep the Indians from a win over Class 3A 14th-rated Decorah, as the distance Tribe finished right on the heels of those perennial power Vikings.

The Indians were next scheduled to compete at the Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) Meet to be hosted by Decorah at Oneota Golf and Country Club Tuesday, October 12. They are then scheduled to compete in their Class 2A State Qualifying Meet Thursday, October 21 at a site to soon be officially announced.

For more complete coverage, pick up this week's print edition or subscribe to our e-edition by clicking here.

District 5 title on the line in battle of unbeatens as Kee hosts #3 Easton Valley this Friday

by Perry Hesse

Heading into the final week of the regular season, there are eight undefeated teams left standing in the Eight-Player class of Iowa high school football. Two of those teams will meet this Friday, October 15 in Lansing as the host Hawks will take on the River Hawks of Easton Valley with the Eight-Player District 5 title hanging in the balance. It will be the only game in the state of Iowa featuring unblemished teams in the Eight-Player division matched up against one another.

Easton Valley was ranked third in the Radio Iowa high school football poll while Kee came in with a number-10 ranking last week. Needless to say, there’s very little need to spend much time hyping that game, as it draws plenty of its own attention.

The County Drop Box outside the south entrance of the Allamakee County Courthouse will be temporarily UNAVAILABLE starting October 13, 2021 due to changes in election laws regarding returning ballots. It will be reopened for use November 3, following the November 2 City-School election.** PLEASE CALL 563-568-3522 with any questions.

Samuel D. Meyer, 26, of New Albin passed away Friday, October 8, 2021. A private family memorial service was held Friday, October 15 at St. Peter’s Christian Community Church in New Albin. Pastor Dick Wohlgemuth and Rev. William Reese officiated. Burial followed in St. Peter’s Memorial Cemetery, New Albin.

Sam was born November 12, 1994 to Wayne and Jane (Gavin) Meyer, also of New Albin. He has three surviving sisters, Katie (Alex) Berns, Jill (Cody) Mathis, and Valerie Meyer and her fiancé, Ethan Von Arx.  He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Layla, Collin and Levi Mathis, and Brooklyn and Kashton Berns.

Sam was a 2013 graduate of Kee High School and also earned an Associate’s Degree in Agriculture Business from NICC in Calmar in 2016. After he graduated, he began working with his father at Valley Ag in New Albin for two years and since has been employed at the CHS River Grain Terminal in Winona, MN.

Austin J. Onken, 22, of Waukon, formerly of New Hampton, died unexpectedly Friday, October 1, 2021. A celebration of life ceremony will be held Saturday, October 16 from 2-8 p.m. at the City Club private room in Waukon.

All gifts, cards and monetary donations to console or help in this very trying time should be forwarded to his wife, Veronica Onken, at 510 West Street SW, Waukon, IA 52172.

Austin James Onken was born July 28, 1999 in New Hampton, the son of Sara Dreckman and Shawn Howard. He graduated from New Hampton High School in 2017 and after high school went on to college for law enforcement.

In 2019, Austin met his future wife, Veronica, and they were married November 3, 2020. He loved spending time with his wife, Veronica, whether it was ice fishing trips or watching their TV shows together. He also loved spending time with his son, Aldous, teaching him all about life, love and video games. Austin always enjoyed what time they had.

Ruby Jean (Snitker) Koenig was born March 9, 1929 to August and Martha Snitker on the family farm in Allamakee County near Waukon. She died Saturday, October 2, 2021 at the Postville Good Samaritan Society. She was 92 years old.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Postville Ambulance Service.

Ruby was baptized and confirmed at the Salem United Church of Christ in Ludlow. She attended Allamakee County Schools of Iowa and received her Eighth Grade Diploma May 26, 1943 in Waukon.

April 10, 1947 Ruby was married to Loren William Koenig in the Salem United Church of Christ, south of Waukon. To this union four sons and one daughter were born. The couple farmed together in the Castalia area for more than 58 years. They moved to Postville in 1980.