River Valley

by B.J. Tomlinson

Alyvia Jones, a junior at Waukon High School, has been selected to attend the American Legion Auxiliary’s Iowa Girls State scheduled to be held on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames June 14-19. She is the daughter of Laurie and Herman Jones of Harpers Ferry.
Jones was selected for participation based on criteria through Auxiliary Unit 722 of Harpers Ferry and her teachers at Waukon High School.  Representing her state as a legislator, Jones will study local, county and state government processes in this non-partisan political learning experience.
Every summer, the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Program provides approximately 25,000 young women with a hands-on educational opportunity designed to instruct tomorrow’s leaders in the privileges and duties of responsible citizenship.

Spring has arrived and so have the summer feathered visitors -  our spring migratory birds. The  Ferryville Tourism Council and the Mississippi Valley Conservancy are co-sponsoring the second annual Spring Migration Day Hike at Sugar Creek Bluff in Ferryville Saturday, May 9. Mayo Health Systems is the corporate sponsor of this “Linked to the Land” hike. Expert guides will be leading the groups and listening for the cheerful birdsong in the woods. This is a fairly level walk and is family friendly.
Hikers should plan to meet at the Ferryville Village Hall (south end of town along Hwy. 35) at 7:30 a.m. for handouts, treats, coffee and water. The group will then carpool to the trailhead on Big Buck Creek Road for the 8-10 a.m. hike.

Follow a team of explorers and scientists as they reveal the majesty and allure of the Driftless Area using a stunning combination of filmmaking and genuine adventure in the documentary, “Mysteries of the Driftless,” which will be shown at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library Thursday, May 14 at 7 p.m.
What strange forces spared one isolated region along the Upper Mississippi River from the repeated crushing and scouring effects of massive continental glaciers during the last 1.6 million years? What pre-Ice Age throwbacks survived here in this unique refuge that holds more Native America effigy mounds, petroglyph caves, strange geological features and rare species than anywhere in the Midwest?
A team of science filmmakers explore these questions and more in this captivating new adventure documentary about the Driftless Zone.

Kee High School’s Post Prom was held Sunday, April 26 from midnight until 4 a.m. Guests played table games and other challenging activities using play money. The raffle and silent auction prize packages were also very popular with the guests. Special entertainment was provided by hypnotist Pete Mamos from New Hampshire. Everyone attending was given an opportunity to guess the number of candies in a jar and Randy Merten won $100 for guessing closest to the actual number. Guests were able to pose and take pictures home by using the Absolute Music Photo Booth service. Door prizes were awarded throughout the evening and everyone drew a number to win a prize package at the end of the event. A special drawing was held and the Senior Grand Prize (24” television) was won by Keegan Ahouse (left). The Junior Grand Prize (DVD player and movie) was won by Mikayla Gavin (center) and the Guest Grand Prize (speaker dock) was won by Jade Blake (right).

Friends of Pool 9 volunteers gathered at the VFW building in Lansing (and other sites around the Pool) for the group’s eleventh Annual River Clean-Up Saturday, April 18. Registration data shows the group numbered about 115, slightly above last year’s total of 112. Area youth again were able to clean both sides of the three-mile long Hwy. 82 dike. This has been one of the most difficult areas in the entire Pool to clean because of the rocky slopes on both sides of the highway down to the river’s edge. Quart beer bottles in brown paper bags were common, as were auto and truck tires. With the effort of two young men from Waukon the group was able to remove a couch from the river, as well as a television set, a desk and hoards of beer cans and plastic water bottles.  Don Thran, FOP9 coordinator for the Hwy. 82 dike clean-up commented that it was “probably the worst it has been for years” for that area.

Two Lansing Kee High juniors, Ethan Walleser and Nick Boland, have been selected to attend the June 14-19 Boys State at Fort Dodge in Johnston. Ethan is the son of Fred and the late Dora Walleser of Lansing. Nick is the son of Steven and Dolly Boland of New Albin.                 
Local selection of attendees is being sponsored by the Lansing Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5981 and Lansing American Legion Post 50.  
Begun in 1938, Boys State is a six-day course in self government, consistently taught with a hands-on approach. The young men of 2015 Boys State, all of whom will have finished their junior year of high school, will be divided into 32 cities. Four cities constitute a county and eight counties make up Boys State. The cities are composed of members of the Nationalist and Federalist parties. The citizens within these cities hold party caucus meetings, conventions, campaigns and general elections.

by B.J. Tomlinson

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, April 20, first discussing a proposed golf cart ordinance. Mayor Mike Brennan admitted he is not in favor of the measure, citing safety issues and opposition by the Police Department and citizens in the community. Councilman Dick Roeder was concerned about underage drivers, racing, etc. After further discussion, the Council voted to deny approval of the ordinance. Mayor Brennan said that individuals who want to drive a golf cart in Lansing would have to get it licensed by the State Department of Transportation as a registered vehicle with license plates and other required equipment.

Downtown Lansing businesses will host the annual “Taste of Lansing” event Thursday, April 30 from 5 to 8 p.m.
The “Taste of Lansing” is a social event in which participants take a tour of downtown businesses, sampling dishes from around the world at each stop. Door prizes will be awarded at some of the locations.
“Passports” can be purchased at Main Street Lansing’s office, the Red Geranium, and Eagle’s Nest Gallery. Participants who get their “passports” stamped at every location on the tour will be eligible to enter a drawing for $25 Downtown Dollars.

by B.J. Tomlinson