After an opening-round step down the postseason path with a first-round Class 3A Region 4 Tournament win over Oelwein the weekend before, the Waukon girls basketball team’s tournament trail took a much steeper direction when the Lady Indians had to travel to fourth-rated Dubuque Wahlert Wednesday, February 18. Coached by 1978 Waukon High School graduate Kris Spiegler, the Golden Eagles returned more than half their starting line-up from a Class 3A State Tournament Runner-Up finish from last season and added a sharp-shooting freshman to the mix who nearly outscored the Indians all on her own in firing in seven three-pointers to lead Wahlert to a 71-30 defeat of the bucket Tribe.
Deadlines/Dates
February 26: Deadline to apply for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program
March 2: Deadline to apply for 2025 Livestock Indemnity Program
April 30: Deadline to apply for SDRP Stage 1, SDRP Stage 1 Quality Loss, and SDRP Stage 2
County Director Notes and Reminders
The Farmer’s Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program was announced by USDA Undersecretary Richard Fordyce, encouraging producers to contact their local FSA office to file an application. FSA staff have not been trained yet on this program and applications are not expected to be available until the last week in February. Payments could begin as early as February 28th, 2026.
Make no mistake; America has become an authoritarian country. The Trump administration no longer follows the constitution and the rule of law.
ICE has been transformed into a paramilitary answerable only to Trump. Masked men jump out of unmarked cars, stop, assault, arrest, and sometimes kill individuals all without probable cause. When ICE’s actions are challenged, the government lies about the behavior despite clear evidence to the contrary and refuses to investigate, claiming they have “absolute immunity.”
Plans have been announced to hold the 2026 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Waukon Sunday, March 15, beginning at 1 p.m. All are invited to participate in this year’s parade with an Irish-themed entry at no cost. Any businesses, organizations, families or individuals wishing to have an entry are asked to be lined up by 12 noon that Sunday, with float entries lining up in the parking lot of WW Homestead Dairy and the former Northern Engraving plant, tractors unloading and lining up at the Sweeney Auction Service parking lot and horse units gathering at the Croell Redi-Mix plant in southeast Waukon.
For additional information about the St. Patrick’s Day Parade contact the Sweeney family at Village Farm and Home in Waukon at 563-568-4577 or the Waukon Chamber of Commerce at 563-568-4110.
Those who travel on the Great River Road in Lansing will need to be aware of an upcoming nighttime road closure that may slow down their trip, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) District 2 Office.
Construction crews will temporarily close Iowa 9/Iowa 26 between Henry and Hale Streets in Lansing, starting at 10 p.m. Thursday, February 19, until 6 a.m. Friday, February 20, weather permitting. This closure will allow the contractor to move a crane (similar to the one pictured in the photo above accompanying this article) into position to help with the removal of the steel structure that remains from the former Black Hawk Bridge. The back-up date and time, if needed, is Friday, February 20 at 10 p.m. until Saturday, February 21 at 6 a.m.
Award nominations due by March 6, Dairy Princess applications due March 2; Dairy Banquet scheduled for March 28
The Allamakee County Dairy Promotion Board is asking for assistance from the general public in identifying worthy candidates to be recognized as this year’s top dairy producers in Allamakee County at the 2026 Allamakee County Dairy Banquet scheduled to take place March 28 this year at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Every year, top producers and several other awards are nominated from members within the county. The Allamakee Dairy Promotion Board and the Allamakee County Extension office are accepting nominations for the following awards:
The Music Department in the Allamakee Community School District will be hosting its 17th annual Pops Concert Friday, February 27 at the Waukon Middle School gymnasium. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with concert time scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Pops Concert is an annual fundraising event sponsored by the Allamakee Music Boosters, and it features high energy musical numbers from the 1950s through today. Groups performing will include the high school and middle school choirs, high school and middle school jazz bands, drumline, featured soloists, song and dance skits, and emcees. Every year, music students enjoy getting ready for and performing in the Pops Concert, which allows them to play some of their personal favorite songs, present solos, or perform other pieces that they would otherwise not be able to play.
This Saturday, February 21 at 10 a.m., the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will present another program from its Veterans History Project honoring operation Desert Storm Veterans. The program will be held at the museum located at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon, and the public is invited to attend.
A video interview by Chuck Bloxham with U.S. Air Force veteran John Farley of Waukon will be played. Farley will also be present to share comments and answer questions. Other Gulf War veterans are encouraged to attend and contribute their perspectives.
Farley served two enlistments in the U.S. Air Force. His service included Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was stationed in Saudi Arabia from 1990-1991. Farley’s Air Force unit of meteorologists was assigned to the U.S. Army 24th Mechanized Division during the War for the Liberation of Kuwait.
There is no admission or membership charge for the program. The museum building is handicapped accessible.
Business, industry, higher education, non-profit, and government organizations are invited to exhibit at the Northeast Iowa Family STEM Festival Thursday, April 9 from 5-7:30 p.m. at Waukon High School in Waukon.
This fun, high-energy community event will bring the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to life for students and families across northeast Iowa - and organizers of the event are looking for exhibitors to help make it happen.
Exhibitors are asked to provide a hands-on, interactive STEM activity that engages families while showcasing the value of STEM learning and the wide range of STEM-related careers and educational opportunities available in northeast Iowa.
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) has been awarded a $74,925 grant from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to expand its commercial driver’s license (CDL) training program. The Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) grant will provide full tuition coverage for 15 qualified students, including veterans and their family members, over the next two years.
The grant addresses a critical regional need for skilled drivers. According to Lightcast, a labor market analytics company, the demand for CDL drivers in the NICC district is projected to grow by 12.8%, which is 4% higher than the national average. This growth is further complicated by a “retirement cliff,” as 25% of the current regional workforce is over the age of 55.
