News Center newsletter

God’s Blessings on the People who dwell in the land we call Driftless. Here are more wondering thoughts from a wayward follower of Jesus the Christ. Let me get right to the point… We need the CHURCH (i.e., the Community of Believers, the Body of Christ), but do we really need organized religion (i.e., the Lutherans, the Catholics, the Protestants, the Baptists, the Methodists, etc.)? The answer is yes, if just for the reason, as people, we need some kind of structure to govern our lives and the activities we are called to do together. The problem is when we try to control ourselves and leave God out of it, either entirely or more often, not putting Him in total charge. At a Christian summer camp I attend for many years in my youth, I learned that I needed to live by this guideline, “God First, Others Second, and I’m Third”. We have turned that around, where “I’m” is first, others are used to benefit “I” and God if consisted at all, is used as window dressing, a name drop.

To the Editor:

I read the Letter to the Editor in the May 28 issue of The Standard from Harriet Sharp. Even though several of her comments about President Trump are blatantly false: “President Trump is highly respected by world leaders, he is a brilliant businessman and boldly stands for Biblical values,” I am not overly concerned with those views because any American who follows multiple news and media outlets knows better.

What is much more bothersome is her belief that “God’s anointing is upon President Trump.” I know Harriet Sharp and consider her a friend and fellow Christian. It saddens me to see her true Christian values be diminished by the words and actions of America’s greatest conman since P.T. Barnum.

Contact Lansing City Clerk’s Office prior to July 15 to have coal chutes documented or questions answered

by Joshua Sharpe

The City of Lansing is seeking assistance from downtown property owners in preparation for a significant infrastructure project slated for 2028. The upcoming full reconstruction of Main Street, designated as Iowa Highway 9 through downtown Lansing, includes not only roadway resurfacing but also the complete removal and replacement of sidewalks.

A Wednesday, June 25 storm system that rolled through the tri-state area in the late afternoon and evening hours has been confirmed by the National Weather Service to have spawned at least eight tornadoes between 5:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa and western Wisconsin, all ranging in the EF0 to EF1 designation on the EF-Scale. Five of those confirmed tornadoes occurred within a 30-mile radius of the tri-state “corner” of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. One of those tornadoes was confirmed to have originated about halfway between Eitzen, MN and New Albin and was classified by the National Weather Service as an EF0 storm.

The Allamakee County Veterans Services Office and the Allamakee County Veterans Museum hosted a third annual walk event in Waukon in support of mental health awareness Saturday, June 28, initially hosting the first two events as PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Awareness Walks but this year broadening that awareness to the broader overall aspect of mental health in an effort to be more inclusive. Approximately two dozen individuals made the trek from an initial gathering location at the Allamakee County Freedom Rock in Waukon City Park down through Waukon via Rossville Road (photo above) to the front lawn of the Allamakee County Courthouse (photo below) and the Allamakee County Veterans Museum, where information and resources were available for individuals, or their family and friends, whose lives have been impacted by mental health or those seeking information about maintaining their own mental health.

Midwest Veterans of America will be hosting a Birth of America celebration event this Sunday, July 6 at the Sweeney Shelter near the Allamakee County Freedom Rock in the Waukon City Park. The free event will begin at 11 a.m. and will honor more than 30 area Veterans with a cook-out meal followed by an awards presentation that will feature some special awards.

Among the special recognition will be the honoring of the five “most veteran” Veterans still living in Allamakee County. Those “most veteran” Veterans being honored for their service and their longevity on Earth will include:
• Osmund Quandahl, Waukon
• Gladwin Anderson, Waukon
• James B. Klenske, Waukon
• Cyril Larkin, Waukon
• Emmett Larkin, Waukon.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, June 30 to address a full agenda of matters including the review and signing of watershed inspection reports, the discussion and consideration of signing a letter in support of Iowa’s Community Action Agencies, and discussion of the proposed Local Workforce Development Area merger. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Tom Clark and Dennis Keatley present.

During Public Comment, County Auditor Denise Beyer noted that the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) from the Federal government was received in the amount of $22,504. Byrnes clarified that this amount was received as an annual payment in place of property taxes for Effigy Mounds National Monument, a non-taxable Federal land.

U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst met in mid-June with Iowa students visiting Washington, D.C. to participate in the Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. The tour encourages leadership development and provides learning opportunities in advocacy and history. During the tour, students engage in electric cooperative advocacy activities, meet with federal agencies and hear from their U.S. senators and representatives. Additionally, the program allows them to learn more about American history and partake in civic engagement.

submitted by Cristina Smith

First Baptist Church’s Mission Team members returned to the United States after a two-week mission trip, June 5-18, to Vitoria da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil. Fourteen team members participated in this life-changing mission trip: Pastor Duane Smith, Cristina Smith, Michael Smith, Mike Roth Sr., Diane Roth, Michael Roth Jr., Larry Barthel, Lin Barthel, Brent Beyer, Denise Beyer, Steve Kiley, Deb Kiley, Valeria White, and Larry Straate.

Despite the weariness after a 40-hour trip home, the team returned elated with excitement over all that was accomplished in the two weeks of the mission trip. The team’s hosts, and brother to Cristina Smith, missionaries David and Debbie Thompson, were kind and gracious and made sure the team’s needs were met - planning all the details that included lodging, transportation, meals, and outings.

Tuesday, June 17, a forum on the summer feeding programs at Allamakee Community Schools, Eastern Allamakee Community Schools and the Feed the Kids program in Waukon was held at the AJ Bar & Grill patio area in Waukon, sponsored by the Allamakee County Democrats. Pictured in the submitted photo above, left to right, are Eastern Allamakee Community School District Food Service Director Sarah Veare, Feed the Kids co-coordinator Kathy Hay, and Allamakee Community School District Food Service Director Jess Keenan, each of whom reviewed her respective summer feeding program during the forum.