Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test to assess the capabilities of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alert next Wednesday, August 11, with a back-up date of August 25 in case of an actual weather or other emergency. This is the sixth national Emergency Alert System (EAS) Test and the second national Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) Test.
This time, however, the WEA portion of the test will be directed only to those cellphones where the subscriber has opted-in to receive WEA Test messages. Both the WEA portion and the EAS Test will commence at 1:20 p.m. CST. The test will assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed.
Saturday, July 17, during the opening ceremony for the Iowa Department of Public Safety Fire Service Training Bureau State Fire School in Ames, the Fire Service Training Bureau posthumously awarded the late Daniel Howe of Waukon with its Field Programs Instructor of the Year Award. Howe’s wife, Linsey, and their son, Easton, (center of photo) were present at the ceremony to accept the award in Howe’s honor. Presenting the award were John Kraemer (far right), Fire Service Training Bureau Chief, and Al McCune (far left), Fire Service Training Bureau Instructor. The award was given “In recognition of dedication to training fire service professionals across the state,” noting that Howe “made a positive contribution toward fulfilling the mission of the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of the State Fire Marshal.” Submitted photo.
As part of a nationwide tour presented by the Nation of Patriots, a volunteer organization with a mission to provide financial support to families of wounded military veterans who have made sacrifices in service to their country, Patriot Tour riders John Schumacher and Brad Washburn (left to right in photo above) arrive at Iron Hill Harley-Davidson in Waukon after traveling from Fennimore, WI July 27. This year’s tour began in Las Vegas, NV May 13 with the U.S. flag then traveling to Honolulu, HI and Palmer, AK before a return to Las Vegas and the tour resuming in the contiguous 48 states. Pictured below at right, Patriot Tour rider Quentin Quandahl (left in photo) accepts the transfer of the U.S. flag in a ceremony officiated by Washburn (right). Quandahl and fellow Patriot Tour rider Steve Trumblee next traveled from the Waukon area July 28 to Silver Eagle Harley-Davidson in Waterloo to transfer the flag for the next portion of the tour, which will reach all 50 U.S.
Home gardeners and plant enthusiasts can still receive helpful advice and answers to their questions from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Aaron Steil, newly named consumer horticulture extension specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, is working on a new delivery method that will empower county extension staff to provide answers locally.
Steil began the new position June 14, following the retirement of horticulture specialist Richard Jauron. Steil previously worked as assistant director at Reiman Gardens and taught a horticulture lab course for a decade.
“My hope is to really work to build up resources and trainings for county staff that gives them the information and confidence to answer the gardening questions that come to their county offices,” he said.
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Waukon Center held a “Build Your Own Business” Summer Camp July 28-29 for students entering fourth through sixth grades this fall. This two-day camp was a “Shark Tank”-style experience (based on the “Shark Tank” television series) where students learned basic business concepts and vocabulary, created a business plan, discussed customer service and created their own logo and business cards. Students listened to presentations from local businesses including Indi-Com Electric & Surveillance, WW Homestead Dairy and Decker Delish. The students concluded camp by presenting their business ideas to area business leaders who represented the “sharks” that provided feedback on the business ideas. Build Your Own Business Camp is sponsored by Northeast Iowa Community College, Allamakee County Economic Development & Tourism and the Allamakee County Community Foundation.
The regular meeting of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors held at Kee High School in Lansing Monday, July 19 dealt mainly with the business of preparing for the new school year by reviewing and approving numerous items. Board President Heather Schulte attended by phone, and just two other board members were present, Bobbie Goetzinger and Melanie Mauss. School district staff and administration present included EACSD Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier, Kee Middle and High School Principal Dr. Sarah Updegraff, and board secretaries Marian Verdon and
Michele Martin. Board members not attending included Tony Becker and Kelli Mudderman.
St. Patrick School in Waukon is beginning its registration process for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. Parents will be receiving all registration/tuition forms through the mail this week of August 2-6. Parents are also required to have their child registered on Powerschool by August 24 as this school year gets underway.
Families interested in enrolling their child/children at St. Patrick School can contact the school office at 563-568-2415 or email Katie Fahey at kfahey@st-pats.pvt.k12.ia.us.
St. Patrick School will also be hosting an Open House at both of its school buildings Monday, August 23 from 3-5:30 p.m. Students can bring in their school supplies and meet their teacher.
In its regular meeting Monday, August 2, the Lansing City Council discussed a proposal by Damon Olson of Damon Construction of New Albin for repair work and renovations to the Lansing swimming pool guard house.
The council considered whether to replace or repair the building’s existing walls, as well as three options for the roof - including replacing it entirely. Council member Curtis Snitker suggested the present damage to the guard house walls is a water mitigation issue and could be corrected with repair to the walls and a new roof. Olson agreed, adding that “after 50 years, I’m actually surprised the damage (to the walls) isn’t worse.”
The Lansing City Council met in a regular session delayed a week to Monday, July 26 due to scheduling conflicts. The council was updated by Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker on an alert system being tested for weather and other emergency situations, as well as continued participation in mitigation planning.
Michelle Barness with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission also had some questions on the City Code of Ordinances she is updating. She will provide follow-up information at the council’s August 16 meeting.
The council approved all requests from the Lansing Lions Club for the 2021 Lansing Fish Days celebration coming up August 13-15. Approval was also given to hiring WHKS as engineer for the Center Street project.
The Ferryville Tourism Council is announcing the third and final Chautauqua Summer Program in its summer series. The program will be held Wednesday, August 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Ferryville Village Hall, along Wisconsin Hwy. 35 on the south end of the village.
The final program of this summer’s series will be given by Bob O’Connor, an author and historian from Charles Town, WV. His topic will be “Mrs. Slater, the Missing Lincoln Conspirator”. Sarah Slater was a courier for the Confederacy, moving parcels from the South to Montreal, Canada. During the course of her movements, she came into contact with John Wilkes Booth and John Surratt. She was very secretive by always wearing a mourning veil to cover her face. This greatly led to her anonymity both during her movements and after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln when no one could describe what she looked like.
