by Jeremy Leitz, Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148
Mid-Contract Management (MCM) on CRP Acres
Now that temperatures are starting to feel more like spring, and the snow is really starting to melt, please start thinking about your MCM, if you are scheduled for this year. Those that are scheduled for this year would have received a packet from our office this past fall detailing what needs to be done. You do have until May 14, 2019 to complete the work, but now is a good time to start lining up contractors if you haven’t already done so, buy seed if needed, and get equipment ready. If you have technical questions, need a seeding plan, or contractor list please contact the NRCS office. Any other questions can be directed to FSA.
Little Red Schoolhouse ... Pictured above and below is the Franklin #3 School, more affectionately called the Little Red Schoolhouse. The photo above is of the school building at its original location on Smithfield Drive in Section 3 of Franklin Township in Allamakee County, with the photo below showing the school building at its current location at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds, since moving there in 1978. The school building will be open to tour during the Sunday, April 28 All-County Rural School Reunion being planned by the Allamakee County Historical Society. Submitted photos.
Little Red Schoolhouse to be open for tours
The Allamakee County Historical Society is planning an All-County Rural School Reunion for Sunday, April 28. The reunion will be from 1-4 p.m. and held at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Treats, coffee and lemonade will be served.
It is hoped that those fortunate enough to have attended one of the county’s rural schools will come celebrate and share memories, stories and pictures of their educational years. The Historical Society will have equipment available to scan photographs of students and teachers even if they are not identified or not sure of the name of the school - no matter the condition, as well as poems, stories, school souvenirs, certificates for attendance, reading, spelling, or anything pertaining to the one-room schools in Allamakee County that those attending would like to have preserved to share with future generations.
Senator Grassley visits Kol-Gol, Inc. ... Senator Charles Grassley visited Allamakee County Tuesday, March 19 as part of his annual 99-county tour throughout the state of Iowa, making a stop at Kol-Gol, Inc. in rural Waukon. In addition to taking a tour of the facility (pictured below), Grassley also held a discussion forum (pictured above) with individuals from the Allamakee County area, fielding questions and providing his input on such matters as trade, border security, FEMA, prescription drug prices, rural broadband, rural health care and the Green New Deal, among others. Standard photos by Joe Moses.
by Joe Moses
Senator Charles Grassley toured the Kol-Gol, Inc. manufacturing facility in rural Waukon Tuesday, March 19 as part of his annual 99-County Tour in which he hears the concerns of Iowans he represents. Kol-Gol, Inc. is a custom metal forming company specializing in a variety of metal products including point of purchase displays, agricultural fixtures and powder coating hanging solutions.
Allamakee County Treasurer Lori Hesse would like to remind property owners the second installment of property taxes is due by the end of this month (March 2019). With the end of March falling on the weekend (Sunday, March 31), property owners will have until Monday, April 1 to pay their taxes without penalty.
Payments may be made in person at the Allamakee County Treasurer’s Office in the Allamakee County Courthouse at 110 Allamakee Street in Waukon between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Property owners should bring their tax stubs with their payment to ensure proper credit. To avoid penalty on the second installment, payment must be received in the Treasurer’s Office by Monday, April 1. Penalty begins Tuesday, April 2.
Helping Services for Youth & Families is overwhelmed by the generous community response to the Rootin’ Tootin’ Mentoring Bowl-A-Thon held March 16 at Arrowhead Lanes in Waukon. A total of 94 bowlers and sponsors helped raise $8,089 to provide caring adult role models for youth in Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek Counties. Donations are still coming in. Mentoring Coordinator Kathy Schwartzhoff shares, “Bowlers really got into the theme wearing cowboy hats, vests, big belt buckles, and someone even brought a spur! It was so much fun!”
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 25 to address a full agenda of items including a request to place pinwheels and signage on the County Courthouse lawn for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, consideration of a Health Insurance Committee recommendation for Fiscal-Year 2020 health insurance for County employees and an appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission.
During Public Comment, Executive Director Val Reinke with Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) discussed the 6th Annual Allamakee County Chili Cook-Off held March 16 in Lansing. Reinke also discussed the Friends of Yellow River State Forest group with fundraising projects to include firewood sales and aluminum can collection and that grant writing is being looked into for a variety of projects.
Heaven’s Best Service Group receives First Dollar Visit ... Heaven’s Best Service Group, providing locally owned professional cleaning services, recently received a First Dollar Visit from the Waukon Chamber of Commerce. Pictured above at that First Dollar presentation are, left to right, Sherrie Hunstad of the Waukon Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Heaven’s Best Service Group local owner Pat Schellsmidt and Tony Smith of the Waukon Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Submitted photo.
Some years ago, Pat Schellsmidt was preparing to enter the so-called “real world”, when he graduated from Caledonia High School in 1975. After starting a family and many years of doing various types of employment, which most recently included janitorial work, Schellsmidt feels he has found his own little piece of “Heaven” as an independent business owner/operator in a carpet, upholstery, tile and grout cleaning franchise called Heaven’s Best Service Group.
Through mutual friends Adam and Rosemary Hagensick of Waverly, Schellsmidt learned of this opportunity and was encouraged to become the franchise owner for the northeast Iowa district, which includes Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties. Schellsmidt has lived in the Waukon/Lansing area for more than 30 years and he and his wife have two children who attend school in Waukon.
Kee High School will be presenting its musical production of “Fiddler on the Roof” this weekend in the Kee High School gymnasium in Lansing. Show times are 7 p.m. Saturday, March 30 and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 31, and tickets are sold at the door. The production is set in the small village of Anatevka in Russia in 1905, on the eve of the Russian revolutionary period. It is based on the book by Joseph Stein, with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI (www.MTIShows.com).
Waukon High School Prom/Post Prom set for April 27-28 ... Pictured above is a previous Waukon High School Post Prom. Donations and volunteers are being sought to help make the annual event a success again for Waukon High School students and their Prom guests. Submitted photo.
Waukon High School Prom 2019 is scheduled for Saturday, April 27. Parents of high school students are again hosting the annual substance-free Post Prom event at the Waukon High School gym immediately following Prom, from 11 p.m. until 3:30 a.m. the next morning.
Very strong past support from parents of Waukon High School students, as well as from local businesses and civic organizations, has resulted in the continued success of providing Prom-goers a safe alternative for celebrating the annual event. That support has provided these young adults with games, food, entertainment and prizes at the Post Prom event each year.
Assistance is needed for the event in two main areas:
Area high school seniors participate in Reality 101 ... Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon sponsored Reality 101, which was held at the Waukon High School for all area schools March 20. Nearly 170 Kee High School, Postville High School, MFL/MarMac High School and Waukon High School graduating seniors were able to attend. Over 80 individuals and businesses volunteered their time to create a real life financial scenario for all of these students preparing for graduation. The students were required to visit each of the 30 stations (some of which are pictured in the photos above and farther below) to open a bank account, pay their taxes, purchase an automobile and insurance, pay for daycare, groceries, a home, household supplies, vet expenses, health and life insurance, and still have a balance of $0 to $200 in their checking account when finished. Submitted photos.
Nearly 170 graduating seniors from Postville, Kee, MFL/MarMac and Waukon High Schools attended “Reality 101” at the Waukon High School Wednesday, March 20. Over 80 individuals and businesses volunteered their time to create a real life financial scenario for all of these students preparing for graduation.
Each student chose a career and researched monthly income based on average northeast Iowa wages in the classroom setting prior to the activity. The day of Reality 101, the students were provided with a life scenario which may include a spouse, children and possibly even child support situations, including the information they provided on their chosen career and college plans. The students were then required to visit each of the 30 stations to open a bank account, pay their taxes, purchase an automobile and insurance, pay for daycare, groceries, household supplies, vet expenses, health and life insurance, etc.
