Celebrating advocacy success on Capitol Hill ... The four ladies pictured below are members of an advocacy group for the Lymphedema Treatment Act that was passed into law this year and will go into effect January 1 of the new year. Among those advocacy group members is Allamakee County native and current California resident Judith (Gallagher) Vilbrandt, standing at far left in the photo and pictured with, left to right, fellow California advocate Jennie Carpenter, Founder and Executive Director of the Lymphedema Advocacy Group Heather Ferguson, and fellow California advocate Amy Catarina. The photo was taken on the steps of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. in May of this year following the group’s celebratory meeting after passage of the legislation. Submitted photo.
A bit of home on the Hill ... Allamakee County native Judith (Gallagher) Vilbrandt stands next to the bronze statue of former Iowa Governor and U.S. Senator Samuel J. Kirkwood during a May 2023 visit to the U.S. Capitol as an advocate for the Lymphedema Treatment Act recently passed into law and scheduled to go into effect January 1 of the new year. Dedicated in 1913 and placed in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., the statue is one of two commemorating historical figures from Vilbrant’s native home state of Iowa. Submitted photo.
by David M. Johnson
Lymphedema is a medical condition that is not readily known or recognized by the general public. Those who are afflicted by this condition know quite well what it is and can struggle through life trying to live with it.
The official definition of lymphedema is a condition in which swelling occurs in one or more of the extremities of a human body like arms or legs (and sometimes may occur in the chest wall, abdomen, neck and genitals) due to the impairment of the flow of the lymphatic system. The swelling is caused by an accumulation of protein-rich fluids that is usually drained through the body’s lymphatic system.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, November 13 to address a full agenda of matters including the Third Reading of Amendment #13 to Zoning Ordinance L, consideration of the Resolution for the Solid Waste Comprehensive Plan and the consideration of a detour route for Waukon’s Lighted Holiday Parade. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Mark Reiser and Dennis Keatley present.
Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer advised that the liquor license renewal for Wings in Dorchester was being removed from consideration at the meeting with the amended meeting agenda then approved by the Supervisors.
The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program will be hosting live-streamed Commercial Continuing Instruction Courses (C-CIC) online this fall as an additional opportunity for commercial pesticide applicators to attend. Attendees will need a computer or device with good internet connection to participate in any of the programs.
Applicators can register by going online to the Extension Store (https://store.extension.iastate.edu) and searching for “Live Streamed”. Note that registration ends when the maximum of 290 attendees is reached or at 9 a.m. the day before the program, whichever occurs first. Following is the schedule for the statewide CIC reshow dates and times:
The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing will host the Driftless Birding Fest Saturday, November 18. The Driftless Birding Fest will include a guest speaker, exhibits and self-guided field trips to area birding hotspots. The self-guided field trips will include the Brownsville, MN overlook, Stoddard, WI overlook, New Albin’s Army Road, Red Oak Road near Harpers Ferry and the Ferryville, WI overlook.
November 18 At 10:30 a.m. “Tundra Swans, an Icon of the Upper Mississippi River” will be presented at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center by Stephen Winter, Wildlife Biologist for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge. Immediately following the presentation, Winter will be heading out to the Brownsville Overlook with spotting scopes where he will be available to answer questions.
Mary (Evanson) Bleckwehl, a Waterville area native who grew up on her family farm on Elon Road in Allamakee County and is now a children’s author living in Minnesota, will be in Waukon Tuesday, November 21 for two author events.
She will be at Robey Memorial Library Storytime from 10:30-11 a.m. and will be introducing and reading from her newest picture book, Arrrgh! Me HATE To Wait!, a story of an impatient piggy pirate who learns that good things come to those who wait.
That afternoon, the author will be at St. Patrick Catholic School. She will spend the afternoon meeting with all grade levels to share her author journey, newest books and more.
Robey Memorial Library and The Oneota Valley Literary Foundation have partnered to host Main Street Story Walk in November and December in Waukon featuring the children’s story “Winter is here” by Kevin Henkes. Families are encouraged to read this story as they stroll the downtown area of Waukon. Six selected businesses have a portion of the story posted in the front window of their establishment for viewing from the sidewalk. Each stop along the story walk will direct readers to the next location. Selected businesses for this latest Main Street Story Walk are all located on West Main Street at the following locations also labeled above: 1. KNEI Radio Station; 2. Teslow’s Formal Wear; 3. Waukon State Bank; 4. Main Feature Theater, labeled above as Wolfpack Theater Company; 5. Howards Home Furnishings; and 6. Wax by Amber. Submitted image.
Saturday, November 18 at 10 a.m., the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will honor another World War II veteran by presenting a video program in the Veterans Museum located at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon. A video interview filmed in 2006 by staff from the Five Sullivans Museum in Waterloo with U.S. Army veteran Marvin Chevalier will be played.
Lt. Marvin Chevalier served in the artillery as a forward observer with the 28th Division in the European Theater after the Normandy Invasion. November 7, 1944, he was taken prisoner by the German Army and was held in German prison camps until his camp was liberated April 7, 1945.
After the war, Chevalier had a long career as an Iowa banker, retiring in 1983 as President and CEO of Citizens State Bank in Postville. He passed away in 2006.
The public is invited to attend. There is no admission or membership charge. The facility is handicapped accessible.
The Waukon Patriot Quilters honored a number of area veterans this year for their service to their country during a ceremony held on the Veterans Day observance date of Friday, November 10 in the Community Room at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon. Pictured in the photo at right, area veterans (left to right) Richard Christianson, Amanda Willoughby, Sarah Collins, Terry Lubahn, Daryle Ferguson and Tom Gregor each hold the quilt they received during the Veterans Day observance event. Photo submitted by Waukon Patriot Quilters.
During its regular meeting Monday, November 6, the Lansing City Council heard from Nick Hammell, a member of the Lansing Volunteer Fire Department, about the department’s need for a new city pumper - the vehicle used to attack a structure fire.
The city pumper is not in service right now, Hammell said, due to an issue with the battery or with the battery charging system. “I know it’s a lot to bite off,” Hammell told the council. “But it has to happen.” Currently, the city is relying on the rural fire district’s pumper to handle structure fires.
Area residents are invited to donate blood Wednesday, November 22 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Kee High School gym in Lansing and receive an exclusive pair of Elf & Red Cross socks, while supplies last. The blood donation event, sponsored by the Kee High School Student Council, will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film “Elf” and make giving blood a holiday tradition.
Those willing to donate at the November 22 event can make an appointment at redcrossblood.org or by calling Allison Fitzwater at 563-538-4201.
