River Valley

by B.J. Tomlinson

A community-wide planning initiative is scheduled to kick off its visioning project to establish a baseline of Harpers Ferry residents' dreams and needs. Harpers Ferry/Vision for Our Future will host six “community conversation” sessions in April and May to address key issues related to strengths and weaknesses, goals and achievements for the community.
Those "community conversations" will begin Wednesday, April 8 at 10 a.m. in the Harpers Ferry City Hall, with the remainder of the meetings scheduled as follows:
• Monday, April 20 at 7 p.m. at the Legion Hall
• Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. at the Legion Hall
• Wednesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. at the Legion Hall
• Monday, May 11 at 5:30 p.m. at Tillinghast Memorial Library
• Monday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Harpers Ferry City Hall.

by B.J. Tomlinson

A workshop for beginning gardeners will be presented by the Allamakee County Master Gardeners at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library Thursday, April 16 from 5-7 p.m. Some of the topics discussed during the workshop will include: garden site, soil preparation, compost and mulch,  seed starting, vegetables and flowers, tomatoes and peppers, straw bale gardening, and how to become a Master Gardener. Contact the library at 563-538-4693 for more information.

Meehan Memorial Lansing Public library will host an informational meeting regarding the effect of the emerald ash borer on the ash trees in local woods, yards, parks and boulevards. According to state authorities, all ash trees will be dead or infected within the next five years. Neighborhoods and city beauty will be in jeopardy.
Learn about the effect of the ash borer and preventative action plans that can be taken. Program presenters include Tom Burke, Arborist, and Pat Short, Certified Applicator for Pest Control. The meeting will be held at the library in Lansing Thursday, April 9 at 7 p.m.

Kee High’s Post Prom has been scheduled for April 2.    This event is a substance-free celebration providing prizes, snacks and drinks, games and entertainment for Kee High juniors and seniors and their guests. Nearly 40 adult volunteers gather from midnight to 4 a.m. after Prom to offer a fun-filled event for everyone.
Hypnotist Pete Mamos from Wand Enterprises has been booked and his show is very popular with the students. This year Kee High will be sharing a hypnotist with Waukon High School, as both school’s Proms fall on the same day. Even with a discounted price, each school will still pay $1,250 for the show. The Post Prom Committee has been hosting Bingo, working concessions and held a bake sale in order to raise funds for Post Prom.

As the weather turns warm and the first signs of spring arrive, users of the river begin to think about the river and the annual Friends of Pool 9 river clean up. FOP9 Board members have selected Saturday, April 18 as the date of this years clean up event.  The earlier date was selected to allow high school students from area schools (Waukon, Lansing, and De Soto) to be involved, since the date doesn’t conflict with their high school prom weekend.  
In case of high water or threatening weather, May 1 has been selected as the alternate date. Organizers will locate backwater debris and assign boats (and volunteers) to each collection site.

Saturday, March 28, Main Street Lansing will be hosting its Annual Meeting, an evening that will include complimentary appetizers, plus a comedian. This event is open to everyone and will be held at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall in Lansing.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. to sample appetizers and socialize with others in attendance. Silent auction items, including merchandise and services provided by Lansing area merchants, will be available to bid on, and there will be a 50/50 cash fundraiser to participate in as well on three separate occasions throughout the night. The auction and other fundraisers of the evening will help finance Main Street Lansing, the organization working to promote Lansing through tourism and economic development plans.
At 6:45 p.m., Dan Fisher, Executive Director of the Main Street Lansing, will give a brief overview of Main Street Lansing’s milestones of 2014 and goals for 2015. The annual meeting business will be brief and informative.

by B.J. Tomlinson

by B.J. Tomlinson
 
Maxine Dawn, who has lived at 120 Valley Street in Lansing for the past 22 years, smelled smoke at around 5 p.m. Thursday, March 5. Then she heard a whooshing noise and turned off the thermostat. The mobile home, heated with diesel fuel, filled with black smoke.
With the outdoor temperature at four degrees below zero, Dawn, in her nightclothes, ran across the street and yelled at neighbor John Gage, who gave her a jacket, and Lorie Gage called the Lansing Fire Department. Dawn and her neighbors watched as the home was consumed with thick black smoke and flames.
In addition to the mobile home and its contents, Dawn’s car, which was parked next to the trailer, was also destroyed.