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.
The Waukon City Council met in regular session Monday, February 16 to address a full agenda of matters including the consideration of a Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund demolition application, a presentation relating to the City Hall building and City Space Assessment, and consideration of the Resolution relating to the 1st Avenue reconstruction from 2nd Street SE to 4th Street SE. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Arvid Hatlan with council members present including Tim Smedsrud, John Lydon, Cassie Handke and Steve Wiedner.
The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Board of Trustees met for its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, January 27. Reports provided during the meeting indicated that the month of December was a good month for the hospital.
Gross Patient Revenue came in just under the five-million-dollar mark at $4,933,466. There was a slight reduction in contractuals for the month, and VMH Administrator Michael Coyle explained that the hospital received an additional settlement to the end of the year cost report, which reduced the contractuals.
After taking out contractuals and Charity Care and Bad Debt, the Total Operating Revenue for the month was $2,678,430. Coyle noted that the Charity Care and Bad Debt were a little bit higher for the month, but he also noted that it is there for a purpose and they want to make sure that it’s being used appropriately.
Ryan and Kari Beeman ... Owners of Riverscape Vacation Rentals. Submitted photo.
Connections with area’s natural amenities, neighboring communities offer further enhancement
by Joshua Sharpe
From the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River near De Soto, WI, the Driftless landscape changes by the hour. On some winter mornings, fog settles so thick in the valley that the river and lowlands disappear entirely. From above, the scene becomes a band of treetops and sky, with eagles occasionally lifting over the ridge on steady currents.
Riverscape Vacation Rentals owner Kari Beeman said those mornings can feel almost unreal - looking down, you see “nothing but clouds” because “you are above the clouds.”
On to State with runner-up finish at 120 pounds ... Waukon boys wrestling 120-pound sophomore Kolton Grotegut battles Decorah sophomore Meison Tollefson in their semifinals match at the Class 2A District 7 Tournament hosted by Osage High School Saturday, February 14. Having lost to Tollefson by fall in an earlier dual meet between their two squads, Grotegut turned the tables this time in recording a 7-3 win by decision on his way to ending up as the 120-pound District Tournament runner-up to earn qualification for this year’s Class 2A State Tournament. Grotegut will now compete among the Class 2A 120-pound elite beginning this Thursday afternoon, February 19 at 2:30 p.m. at the Casey’s Center, formerly known as Wells Fargo Arena, in Des Moines. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photos link on this webpage.
Regan, Keeling, Lange and Egan earn wrestleback opportunities, join Stortz and Mitchell in third place
The Waukon boys wrestling team competed in its Class 2A District 7 Tournament at Osage Saturday, February 14, an event that offered the opportunity to extend the season for any wrestlers finishing within the top two of their weight class but also held the reality of an end to any wrestler’s season. In a tournament field loaded with at least a dozen wrestlers ranked within the top eight of their respective weight classes, including eight from a Decorah squad that had recently wrestled to a Team Dual State Tournament runner-up finish, the Indian matmen ended up advancing one wrestler to this season’s Class 2A State Tournament but had six others on the brink of qualification who all ended up in third place, all helping the mat Tribe to a third-place team finish in this year’s eight-team District Tournament field.
