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The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department recently recognized the generous support of three area businesses toward the Third Annual Swinging “Fore” Our K-9 Best Shot Golf Tournament held Saturday, September 25 at the Waukon Golf & Country Club. Sheriff Deputy Ross Kolsrud and K-9 Officer Tyr are pictured in each of the three surrounding photos presenting plaques to Beau Bennett, representing Kious Kountry Auto Collision Center of Waukon (photo above); Amy and Keith Bresnahan, representing A-OK Well Service of Waukon (photo at center); and Shelly Galema, representing New Albin Savings Bank (photo below) in recognition of their high level of financial support each year of this fundraising event and of the Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 Fund, which assists with program expenses including equipment, training and veterinary costs.

The 2021 Allamakee County Bible Reading Marathon was held the first two Saturdays in September, and was sponsored by Center Baptist Church in Lansing and First Baptist Church of Waukon this year. With a new format of holding the event on consecutive Saturdays and hosted by local churches, it was decided to read just the New Testament instead of the whole Bible this year.

Ever wonder why apples turn brown and rot? Allamakee County 4-H Clover Kids took that question a step farther with some apple science at their September meeting. They predicted what would happen to apple slices left out in the air or placed in water, soda pop, vinegar, tonic water and lemon juice (such as pictured in the photo above). After letting the apple slices sit for an hour, the Clover Kids compared the slices to their predictions.

Among states and U.S. territories that use HiSET, a high school equivalency exam, Iowa ranks the highest for the percent of individuals who passed the test. Last year, 95.9 percent of Iowans seeking a high school equivalency diploma passed the exam, compared to 80.5 percent nationally.

The HiSET has served as the state-approved test since 2014. The exam measures the knowledge and proficiencies equivalent to those of an Iowa high school graduate. A total of 1,003 Iowans passed the test last year, which is administered in 25 states, including Iowa, as well as four U.S. territories.

Meanwhile, the highest number of high school equivalency diploma students at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) also passed the HiSET for program year 2020-2021, with 94 graduates, more than any other program year since the test was introduced in 2014. During that time span, 401 students have graduated from the NICC program.

Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association is offering ten $1,250 scholarships for the 2022 academic year to college students pursuing careers, as well as two $1,000 scholarships for students earning degrees from technical colleges/short courses.

“Equity Livestock is proud to help students further their educational endeavors by offering scholarships,” says Curt Larson, president/CEO. “Education can make a difference, and the expense to attend college can be a challenge. Offering scholarships can help make it affordable, and we believe in investing in our future leaders.”

To be eligible, applicants must be a member or the son or daughter of an Equity Cooperative Livestock producer pursuing higher education from an accredited college, university, or technical school. Scholarship winners are selected based on their scholastic achievements, extracurricular activities, application essay response and letter of reference.

Driftless Integrative Psychiatry recently opened its clinic doors at 20 North 2nd Street in downtown Lansing in an historic limestone building that once was home to a real estate office and, back in the late 1800s, an implement dealership.

Dr. Erica Burger, psychiatrist and founder of the clinic, and her husband had contacted the current owners, Dave and Josh Bourassa of Cresco, last winter to see if they had any interest in renovating the building, as there were not many other commercial buildings in the area suitable for a medical clinic. The Cresco pair agreed and worked tirelessly to convert the vacant building into a modern clinic space that opened August 1 of this year.

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.

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