News Center newsletter

by Lissa Blake

“We’re on two wheels to get you on your feet.”

That’s the motto of Goodfellas Riding Club (GRC), a non-profit group of like-minded individuals who get together to ride motorcycles or operate motorized vehicles in order to raise funds to help local charities or individuals in the surrounding community.

Since its formation in 2012, the group has donated almost $85,000 to local scholarships, businesses and individuals who may be in need. Among the local entities benefiting from those efforts are the local Kids Club after school program, the Allamakee County Food Shelf, Allamakee County Relief Center and the Allamakee Community School District Nurses Fund, to name just a few.

Carson Johanningmeier (pictured at right), son of Roxie Johanningmeier of Waukon and Travis Johanningmeier of Harpers Ferry, has ridden his way to qualification in two different racing classes for the largest and most prestigious amateur motocross race in the world, the Monster Energy American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn’s. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the national championship event has been hosted since 1982 at the ranch home of country music legend Loretta Lynn near Hurricane Mills, TN, and it is scheduled for August 2-7 this year.

Although rain was very much needed in the local area as drought conditions prevailed through most of the month of June, the early Saturday morning, June 27 storm that passed through the area brought too much of it at once for creek beds and many roadways to handle in southeast Allamakee County and the Yellow River State Forest specifically, as pictured above with rushing water crossing roadways and causing wash-outs in many locations. Amounts hovering on either side of the seven-inch mark have been reported for rainfall totals from the storm in the vicinity of Harpers Ferry and the State Forest area, with that storm dumping reports of as much as nine inches of rain just across the Mississippi River in Crawford County, WI, resulting in the National Weather Service issuing a Flash Flood Warning for southeast Allamakee County and in northeast Crawford County in Wisconsin from 6-9:30 a.m. that Saturday morning.

by Lissa Blake

The public is invited to stop in during Nightingale Drug’s grand opening Thursday, July 1 from 4-7 p.m. The newly opened pharmacy is located at 606 Rossville Road in Waukon.

Co-owners Linda, Eric and Sylwia Nightingale are eager to meet the community, where they recently opened their eighth small-town pharmacy.

Linda Nightingale is a graduate of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Iowa. In the late 1970s, she convinced her father, John Law, to remodel a building that would become her first pharmacy. Despite the odds, Linda was able to grow a successful practice and expand. She has always felt it was important to bring pharmacy services to small-town Iowa.

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon is connecting its community of readers together during the next Big Library Read, the world’s largest digital book club. From June 28-July 12, readers can solve a compelling mystery in S.F. Kosa’s debut thriller, “The Quiet Girl”, and ebook from their library. Robey Memorial Library card holders can borrow the ebook for free without waiting by visiting https://bridges.overdrive.com/ or downloading the Libby app.

Readers can then discuss online at https://biglibraryread.com/join-the-discussion/. Robey Memorial Library is also discussing “The Quiet Girl” in its Online Book Discussion group on Facebook. Access that book club information at https://www.waukon.lib.ia.us/services/programs/adult/book-clubs.

First Baptist Church of Waukon held its 2021 AWANA Grand Prix Car Race earlier this spring at the Church. Pastor Duane Smith gave the AWANA Challenge, and the evening was opened with the pledges to the American flag, the AWANA flag and the Bible. Grand Prix Chairman was Larry Gelo, and he also announced the race.

Jeff Goettel was the Starter Chairman and Chris Kerndt was the Chart Keeper. Judging the cars on Design were Pam Kerndt, Paul Promnitz and Kari Roney. Finish line monitors were Cole Kruse and Gabe Goettel, and weigh-in judges were Dale Roney and Craig Schrick. JoAnn Gelo was in charge of decorations, and refreshments were served by Brenda Schmidt and Jean Buntrock.

Rob and Julie Goddard of Chicago, IL, parents of the bride-to-be, and Larry and JoAnn Gelo of Waukon, parents of the groom-to-be, announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their children, Emily Goddard and Shawn Gelo.

The bride-to-be is a graduate of the University of Iowa in Iowa City with a degree in French and Anthropology, in addition to achieving a Masters degree in Elementary Education. She is employed as a fourth grade teacher at Mendota Elementary in Madison, WI.

The groom-to-be is a graduate of the University of Iowa in Iowa City with a degree in Management Information Systems (MIS). He is employed as the Information Technology (IT) Director for the University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Nursing.

The couple will exchange vows Saturday, July 23, 2022 near Madison, WI.
 

The family of Rod and Evonne (Odegard) Bloxham is celebrating the couple’s 60th wedding anniversary with a card shower. Rod Bloxham and Evonne Odegard were united in marriage July 8, 1961 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church, Waterville.

The couple has three children, Julie (Mike), Sheri (Jeff) and Jodi, as well as six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Due to illness, a private renewal of vows and celebration with immediate family will take place July 10, 2021.

Cards and well wishes may be sent to 1203 Mallard Street, Lansing, IA 52151.
 

Mike and Kaley McKee of Waukon announce the birth of their twin daughters, Fern Margaret McKee and Mabel Lynn McKee, born June 7, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Fern weighed 4 lbs. and measured 18 inches in length and Mabel weighed 4 lbs. 11 ozs. and measured 18-1/2 inches in length at the time of their births.

Grandparents are Jack and Cindy Heffern of Harpers Ferry, Diane McKee of Waukon and Dean McKee of Lansing. Great-grandparents are Don and Joan Ewing of Lansing, Carol Schaefer of Lansing and Ron and Carol Opfer of Waukon.

Kyle and Ashley Mara of Waukon announce the birth of their son, Landen Mara, born June 23, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 4 lbs. 14 ozs. and measured 17-3/4 inches in length at the time of his birth. He joins siblings, Jayden (13), Bradley (10), Riley (9) and Hayley (3).

Julie Mooney of Waukon is a grandparent. Audrey Mara of Prairie du Chien, WI is a great-grandparent.