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Canoe/kayak series set to begin Thursday, June 17 at Harpers Ferry Public Boat Landing

Join the Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) for a guided Mississippi River backwater paddling adventure Thursday, June 17 starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Harpers Ferry Public Boat Landing and returning to the landing by sunset. Participants are welcome to use their own canoe or kayak but must follow all rules and regulations in accordance with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). A limited number of solo and tandem kayaks will be available to use from the Allamakee County Conservation Board provided with paddles and life jackets.

Advanced registration is required for this series of programs. To register or reserve a kayak, call 563-538-0403. Solo participants are encouraged to register, but may be paired with other paddlers in a tandem kayak if using ACCB equipment.

Iowa lakes and streams are starting to become busy with paddlers eager to get on the water as summer is finally here. For many, it will be their first time out for the year, and experts advise they go through their equipment and review safety tips before heading to the water.

“The number-one hazard on the river is strainers,” said Todd Robertson, river programs outreach coordinator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Strainers are piles of wood or trees that can appear anywhere on a river, especially after it rains.

“These wood piles can trap a boat and paddler with little chance of escape if sucked under,” Robertson said. “The best way to avoid these strainers is to know how to properly navigate your boat or by portaging around them.”

The Kee baseball team played its way to an undefeated week during a heavy schedule of eight games this past week, with more than half of those victories coming in Upper Iowa Conference (UIC) play to keep the Hawks’ UIC campaign unblemished at this point in the season. That continued UIC perfection included a Monday, June 7 home doubleheader sweep of Class 1A 13th-rated South Winneshiek by scores of 7-0 and 5-3, a 16-1 win at Clayton Ridge Thursday, June 10 and another home doubleheader sweep of MFL/MarMac, 13-0 in five innings and 9-8, Friday, June 11 in a date rescheduled from May 27. The Kee diamond dwellers also worked in a 7-3 home win over Crestwood Tuesday, June 8 before closing out their winning week with a sweep of two more non-conference games in the Cedar River Classic Saturday, June 12, winning at Charles City by a 6-2 result and also posting a 7-4 victory over St. Ansgar in nine innings.

The Waukon baseball team worked a single non-conference win into this past week in the midst of a trio of Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) losses. The Indians opened the week falling to Oelwein in an extra-inning heartbreaker, 4-3 in eight innings, Tuesday, June 8 before securing their week’s lone victory, 15-8 at Turkey Valley Wednesday, June 9. The diamond Tribe finished its week with a pair of early-ending losses at home to NEIC-unbeaten Decorah by scores of 20-0 and 16-5 Friday, June 11.

Holding a 7-7 overall season record that now includes a 2-6 mark in NEIC play, the Tribe was next scheduled to play at Osage Tuesday, June 15 and in a doubleheader at Crestwood Wednesday, June 16 before traveling to Charles City Friday, June 18. The Indians will then host Waverly-Shell Rock Monday, June 21 and Oelwein for a doubleheader Wednesday, June 23 before playing at Decorah Friday, June 25.

The Kee softball team played its way to an undefeated week of competition this past week, keeping its Upper Iowa Conference (UIC) season record unblemished with a sweep of a pair of UIC foes, both in doubleheader action. The Lady Hawks first claimed a doubleheader at MFL/MarMac Monday, June 7 by scores of 7-2  and 6-4 in eight innings before doing likewise at home against Clayton Ridge Wednesday, June 9 by final results of 11-4 and 18-15.

The Waukon softball team won two of its six games played this past week, saving its best for last in posting those wins in the Lady Indians’ final competition date of a fairly busy week. Still in search of their first win in Northeast Iowa Conference play this season, the diamond Tribe came close once again in falling at Oelwein Monday, June 7 by just a 13-11 result, but then fell victim at home to Decorah in a doubleheader Wednesday, June 9 by scores of 21-1 and 11-0, both in five innings. The softball Indians finished their week at the Riceville Tournament Saturday, June 12, winning two of three games played, including victories over St. Ansgar, 7-4, and Riceville, 9-3, but also falling to Hudson by a 4-3 result.

Shirley Kay Elliott, 79, of Harpers Ferry died Friday, June 11, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 16 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Jacob Dunne and Rev. Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon.

Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, June 15 at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 3:30 p.m. scripture service.

Shirley Kay Hahn was born November 26, 1941 in Iowa City, the daughter of Maurice and Catherine (Lloyd) Hahn. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar. After graduating from Calmar High School in 1959, she attended Paris Academy in Cedar Rapids, obtaining her cosmetology license.

There will be a memorial service for Geneva Marie (Meiners) Renk Saturday, June 26 at St. John’s United Church of Christ (Wheatland), rural New Albin. The memorial will start at 2 p.m. inside the church, followed by graveside services, and conclude at the New Albin Community Center from 4-7 p.m.

Face masks are required. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be available at https://www.facebook.com/renkg.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Geneva’s memory to St John’s United Church of Christ, New Albin or United Church of Sun City, Sun City, AZ.

Duane Clifford Soride, age 69, of Knoxville, TN passed away Thursday, June 10, 2021. A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 10 at the Waukon City Club.

Duane was a lifelong mechanic and a NASCAR fan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Verna Soride; and a niece, Tina Soride.

He is survived by his partner, Rhonda McCollough of Knoxville, TN; his son, Matthew (Cara) Soride of Fort White, FL; his daughter, Masie (Chris) McGraw of Fairbault, MN; his grandchildren, Emma and Gunnar Soride of Fort White, FL; his brother, Dennis (Chris) Soride of Postville; a niece, Ann (Ken) Howe of Monona; and a nephew, Eric (Laura) Soride of Iowa City.
 

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s 28th Annual Benefit Golf Tournament will be held Monday, June 21 at the Waukon Golf and Country Club beginning with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. Teams of three will play 18 holes of golf. Breakfast rolls, lunch, dinner and prizes for everyone will all be provided for the donation of $75.

This is the 28th annual golf tournament the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation has sponsored.  All those interested in participating are asked to pre-register their team by calling the Waukon Golf and Country Club at 563-568-9939.

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation is a volunteer board that raises funds to help promote health care in the area communities served by Veterans Memorial Hospital.