News Center newsletter

Waukon native Dr. Michael Osterholm says goal is to provide comprehensive resource of relevant, useful information

The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota has announced that it has launched a new online CIDRAP CWD Resource Center dedicated to educating the public, particularly hunters, the medical and public health communities, wildlife scientists and managers, and public policymakers and elected officials about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

CWD is a prion-related transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids, including deer, elk, reindeer, sika deer and moose. CWD has been confirmed in at least 26 U.S. states, three Canadian provinces, South Korea, Finland, Norway and Sweden, with a notable increase in the past five years.

The Allamakee County 4-H Youth Development Committee is proud to recognize Brad and Mary Kerndt of rural Lansing as the 2019 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame inductees from Allamakee County. Brad and Mary are both Allamakee County 4-H alumni. In their 4-H days Brad exhibited Holsteins and Mary exhibited Guernseys while also participating in dairy judging and static exhibits. Pictured in the submitted photo above at this year’s 4-H Hall of Fame event are, left to right, Iowa 4-H Foundation Executive Director Emily Saveraid, Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame award recipients from Allamakee County Brad and Mary Kerndt, and Iowa 4-H Volunteer Development Specialist Tillie Good.

Final week to make nominations

Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) is seeking nominations for the 2019 “Cloy Kuhse Positive Impact Award”.

To be eligible, the recipient must be a business located in Allamakee County.  ACED will accept nominations until Tuesday, September 10. Award winner announcement and ceremony will be at the ACED Annual Banquet October 10. The Award Recipient will receive a plaque and will be added to the Award Plaque that is displayed at the ACED office.

Growing Bear Daycare in Waukon was the 2018 Cloy Kuhse Positive Impact Award winner, and ACED looks forward to announcing another business that is making a positive impact at its annual meeting this October.

Students from Waukon High School will join thousands of other youth and any others who may be interested on athletic fields across the nation Wednesday, October 9 to share their Christian faith with fellow students and the general public. The local event is now in its eighth year and will start at 7 p.m. at the Waukon High School football field that Wednesday evening. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. In the case of inclement weather, the event will be held inside the Waukon High School gymnasium.

Tuesday, August 27 at 7:15 p.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s 911 Dispatch Center received a report of a vehicle fire on Iron Mine Drive just north of Waukon. Upon arrival, Sheriff’s Deputies observed a 1999 Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck on fire and fully engulfed, according to a report issued by the Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle was unoccupied and the owner of the vehicle, Ryan Daniel Peters (formerly known as Ryan Troendle prior to a recent marriage and name change), age 34, of Waukon was not located at the scene. The vehicle fire was extinguished by the Waukon Fire Department.

Youth entering grades Kindergarten through third grade are welcome to join 4-H Clover Kids. Clover Kids can participate in a club setting, such as Saturday Clover Kids, or in the Afterschool Clover Kids program in Waukon and Postville. The 4-H Clover Kids program offers the opportunity for some hands-on fun and learning (such as pictured above), as well as the opportunity to participate in the Allamakee County Fair next summer. Space is limited for each program, so those interested are encouraged to contact Becky Rea at the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach - Allamakee County Office at 563-568-6345. Program brochures were sent home the first week of school with more information and registration forms. Registration is due by this Friday, September 6. Submitted photo.
 

Iowa Lottery officials have confirmed that as of Tuesday morning, September 3 no one has come forward yet to claim the prize of $10,000 from a winning Mega Millions lottery ticket purchased at the Kwik Star location at 101 Rossville Road in Waukon for the Tuesday, August 27 drawing. The ticket matched four of the first five numbers and the Mega Ball in that Tuesday night drawing to win a $10,000 prize. Tuesday’s winning numbers were 8-12-23-39-43 and Mega Ball was 6. The Megaplier number was 2.

The Gundersen Vision and Medical Clinics recently donated money to purchase a memorial bench (pictured above) which has been placed outside of Dr. Jim Rixen’s former office at the Gundersen Eye Clinic in Waukon in honor and in memory of Dr. Rixen, who passed away December 3, 2018 after a long, dedicated career of caring for his patients’ eyesight. Friday, August 23, members of the Rixen family were able to come to the clinic for a dedication ceremony for the bench. Pictured below are members of Dr. Rixen’s family at that bench dedication. Left to right - Seated in front: Debbie Rixen, Isla Rixen and Molly Haberichter; Standing in back: Jarod and Kayden Haberichter, Cael and Kiera Rixen, Korine Haberichter and Jonathan Rixen. Not pictured are Jordan and Erin Rixen and their children, Flynn, Fletcher and Elin Rixen. Submitted photo.
 

Old West Paint Creek Church in rural Waukon will host speakers Jason and Shannon Kerr Sunday, September 8 at 2 p.m., an event that had to be rescheduled from February of this year due to winter weather. The community is welcome to attend and hear their story of survival and recovery following a horrific traffic accident near their Lakeville, MN home.

This family’s story involves angels, prophetic dreams and visions, and words from God Himself. It inspires faith and hope in God’s unfailing love, care and answers to prayer.

Shannon Kerr will also have her book, “Against All Odds,” (pictured above) available at the presentation, inspired by her recovery experience. For further information about the Kerr family (pictured below), their story and the book, visit www.againstalloddsbook.com.
 

The Waukon Kids Day Program “Food, Fitness, Fun!” has been working hard to keep the plants in the school gardens as nourished and bountiful as possible. In August, the tomatoes, peas, cucumbers and ground cherries were coming in quickly and students shared the bounty with the Summer Feeding Program and also donated to the Allamakee County Food Shelf.

“On donation day, we took a five-minute walk to the Food Shelf,” reports Alyssa Bell, 4-H AmeriCorps member. “We donated seven pounds of produce from our small garden. That’s great! The students were very proud to share what they have grown.”