News Center newsletter

Wayne V. Schmieden, 91, of Waterville died Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at his home in rural Waterville. Funeral services were held Monday, November 18 at King of Grace Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Pastor Abe Faugstad officiating. Burial was at East Paint Creek Synod Cemetery, rural Waterville.

Wayne Victor Schmieden was born April 21, 1933, on the family farm in Waterville, the son of Victor and Violet (Anderson) Schmieden. He was baptized and confirmed at East Synod Lutheran Church in Waterville. Wayne attended Dalby Country School through the fourth grade and graduated from Waterville High School in 1951.

Wayne spent his life as a hardworking farmer and lived on the family farm his entire life. While out dancing one day, he met a beautiful woman named Lillian, and the two were married September 25, 1999.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday, November 7 signifying the beginning of work at the site of a new 36-unit apartment complex being constructed by Dexter Quandahl of Quandahl Custom Homes/q4 Rentals along the new 8th Avenue SW in Waukon, just north of the Waukon City Park and west of the Waukon Mobile Home Community in part of the area deemed as the Pladsen Addition. The apartment complex will initially include two buildings housing 18 apartments each that have been described as “workforce housing” and not intended to be low-income housing, benefiting not only the Waukon area but the northeast Iowa and tri-state region in helping address a housing need expressed by area employers in such areas as school districts, healthcare and other industry and professional staffing necessities.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) recently awarded $930,808 in Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants to 10 communities across Iowa. These grants aim to revitalize underused buildings and stimulate economic growth in historic main streets.

Main Street Lansing was awarded over $76,000 of that funding, which will support the restoration of Lansing Hardware, a long-standing cornerstone in the heart of Lansing’s historic downtown. Announcement of the grant was made at a Thursday, November 7 open house event.

Lansing Hardware occupies five connected buildings, built between 1868 and 1908, each with a unique history. This restoration project, led by owners Dave and Laurie Janzen, will focus on  unifying the facade, restoring historic details, and refreshing the storefronts for an enhanced visual impact.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office will host a Fumigation Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial and private pesticide applicators Tuesday, November 19. The program provided by the ISU Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) can be seen at office locations across Iowa.

The local attendance site is the Allamakee County Extension and Outreach Office, Waukon. The course runs from 9-11 a.m. The registration fee increases after November 12. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office at 563-568-6345.

The Greenhouse Pest Control Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators is now available. The program is provided by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP).

The course will fulfill 2024 continuing instruction requirements for commercial pesticide applicators certified in category 3G. Some of the topics covered will include information on application equipment use, maintenance, and calibration; safe application techniques, including pesticide drift reduction; and pests and pest management topics including phytotoxicity as appropriate.

To obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office in Waukon at 563-568-6345. Additional information for this and other courses offered by PSEP can also be accessed online at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/psep/.
 

Saturday, November 16 at 10 a.m., the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will present another program from its Veterans History Project at the Allamakee County Veterans Museum located at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon.

A video interview by Chuck Bloxham with U.S. Army Veteran John Curtin of Waukon will be played. Curtin will also be present to share comments and answer questions.

In 1968 and 1969, Curtin served in the U.S. Army as a squad leader in an infantry company with the 1st Cavalry Division during the War in Vietnam.

The public is invited to attend. There is no admission or membership charge to attend the program our tour the museum, which is handicapped accessible.
 

by Jennifer Bissell

A Waukon area native is giving back to her community by providing a much needed health service. In doing so, Malory (Hartong) Larson, a 2005 Waukon High School graduate, has also fulfilled a dream of her own by recently opening Wellful Psychiatry, located at 520 West Main Street in Waukon.

FINDING HER PASSION
Following her high school graduation, Larson went on to earn her associates degree in nursing from Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) in Calmar. She then received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Upper Iowa University in Fayette.

It was during a clinical rotation while studying at Upper Iowa that she found her calling to work in mental health. She completed a rotation at Mental Health Institute in Independence that she said sparked her interest in a career in mental health.

The 2024 Holiday Parade in Waukon has been scheduled for Saturday, December 7, beginning at 6 p.m. Anyone from the general public, business community, or any school or community organization is invited to decorate any vehicle, float, side-by-side or other creative avenue with lights and participate in the parade as it travels through Waukon on a route similar to last year.

The parade route will start at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds and travel from the rear entrance of the Fairgrounds for one block south on First Street NE to 7th Avenue NE and then west to Allamakee Street, where the parade will turn left and then head south to the stoplight intersection in downtown Waukon before turning right and heading west up Main Street before ending at the First Presbyterian Church at the intersection of West Main Street and Second Street SW.

Iowa snowmobilers are no longer required to purchase and display an annual trail user permit, according to a new law that went into effect July 1 of this year. The law folded the trail user permit into the annual snowmobile registration fee, which will now be $30 plus administration fees. The previous price for each type was $15.

Registration and permit fees for snowmobiles are placed in a dedicated account for snowmobile programs in Iowa, including the Iowa Snowmobile Trail Grant Program, which is administered through the Iowa State Snowmobile Association. The grant program supports snowmobile trail development and grooming; equipment purchases and maintenance; and trail signage in cooperation with snowmobile clubs all across Iowa.

by Joshua Sharpe

Monday, November 4, the Lansing City Council convened to address a variety of matters, including strategic investments to enhance city funds, and infrastructure improvements. The meeting also featured a presentation by Allamakee County Child Care Solutions Fund representatives, who explained the fund’s contributions to family support and its role in bolstering the local economy. Additionally, the council approved a new hire for the police department, the allocation of infrastructure funding, and upgrades to the marina facilities.

REPEAL OF TRASH COLLECTION FEE INCREASE
The council approved the repeal of Resolution 1027, which initially sought to increase trash collection fees. The council concluded that adjustments to such fees should adhere to a distinct regulatory process, and the repeal was approved unanimously.