News Center newsletter

Jason L. Thorsten, 47, of Waukon died Thursday, December 25, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, WI. Private family burial will be held at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Martin – Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Brian Dale Carstens, 67, of Waterville passed away peacefully at home December 18, 2025. A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 10 at 11 a.m. at Old East Paint Creek Church, in rural Waterville. Brian was laid to rest at Old East Paint Creek Church Cemetery December 22, 2025.

Memorials can be sent to: Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice (Decorah), Gundersen Medical Foundation (La Crosse, WI), and/or Al-anon Family Groups (Virginia Beach, VA). Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Born June 18, 1958, in St. Paul, MN, Brian Dale Carstens was the son of Orma and Bernard Carstens.  He was baptized at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN and confirmed at a Lutheran church in Circle Pines, MN.

Colin C. Ahlstrom, 56, of Decorah, formerly of Waukon, died Saturday, December 20, 2025, at the Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital in La Crosse, WI, surrounded by his family. Private family burial was held in Oakland Cemetery in Waukon with Fr. Philip Agyei officiating.

Colin Clark Ahlstrom was born October 26, 1969, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Douglas Ahlstrom and Deborah (Whalen) Peterson. He was baptized at St. Ludmila Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids and was later confirmed at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. He attended school in Waukon as well.

Always a dedicated man, Colin worked since his early life, beginning with bailing hay for farmers. Most notably, he worked at Iowa Rotocast Plastics, Advanced Engineering Technology, and was a well-loved store manager for Rockweiler Appliance.

Freezing temperatures delay final connections a bit but implosion of Black Hawk Bridge goes as planned

The physical and iconic connection between Iowa and Wisconsin that had spanned the Mississippi River at Lansing for the last 94 years was dropped into those very same waters in a matter of seconds Friday morning, December 19, as the demolition of the Black Hawk Bridge that was deemed necessary to safely complete construction of its replacement took place on a bright, sunny day that was contrary in appearance to what most who watched were feeling internally as they watched the historic structure first be surrounded by black plumes of smoke before descending into the river below, as depicted in the photos surrounding this article.

Brigid Whalen, RN, recently joined SouthCrest Manor II Assisted Living in Waukon as an Assisted Living Registered Nurse that is part of the care team serving the facility’s tenants. After graduating from Waukon High School in 2019, the former Brigid Berns earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI.

Whalen brings nursing experience from both clinic and hospital settings to her new position and say she has always had a passion for working with the geriatric population. She is especially excited to build lasting relationships with long-term residents and support their health and well-being.

Whalen lives just outside of Waukon with her husband, Ryan, and their daughter, Caroline. A lifelong Waukon resident, she enjoys reading, staying active, spending time outdoors (especially on the water), and embracing all the joys of motherhood.
 

Students and families are encouraged to spend some time at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon during the Winter Break from school. Besides its collections of reading materials for all ages, Robey Memorial Library is offering special activities for students and families this Winter Break.

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, December 22 to address a full agenda of matters including an update and funding request from Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation, the consideration of bids relating to the Patterson Creek Bridge project, and discussion of County Courthouse security related matters. The meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Tom Clark and Dennis Keatley present.

Allamakee Community School District scores as the top-rated district in the state of Iowa

Iowans now have access to district-level performance ratings through a new addition to the Iowa School Performance Profiles, providing critical, transparent information on how Iowa’s public school districts are serving students. The new district-level ratings show more than 58% of Iowa’s 325 public school districts and four public charter schools during the 2024-2025 school year performed within the top three of six rating categories, with over 88% rating acceptable or higher.

The Light The Way Committee, the group of volunteers organizing the lighting of the new bridge spanning the Mississippi River at Lansing, has so far raised $105,000 of its $170,000 goal to pay for the 24 LED lights that will be placed on the south-facing panel points of the new bridge and four LED lights lighting up the two main pillars. Since these lights were not part of the Iowa or Wisconsin Departments of Transportation responsibility when the project started, the Committee needs the help of the public to reach its fundraising goal.

The fundraising campaign will end December 31, 2026. Those interested are encouraged to make their 2025 tax deductible donation to Light The Way, P.O. Box 145, Lansing, IA 52151. Also, interested individuals can visit the project’s website at lansingiowa.com/blackhawkbridgelights to make a donation or print off a donor form.

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, December 15, with Mayor Mike Verdon and council members present, establishing a quorum. The agenda combined routine financial approvals with several policy questions: a citizen request for utility relief, long-range hazard mitigation planning, winter recreation and sidewalk maintenance, final payment on a major street project, and detailed operational updates from city departments and the public library.