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Allamakee County is planning to replace the Cota Creek Bridge on Lansing Harpers Road (County Road B25) on the western edge of the town of Harpers Ferry, beginning Monday, April 5. Lansing Harpers Road (B25) will be completely closed to traffic in the area of the Cota Creek Bridge (short red line with black X) as shown on the above map, with a quarter-mile gravel detour past the small electric station - marked with detour signs - allowing vehicles to connect Lansing Harpers Road (B25) with Great River Road (County Road X52/Highway 364) just south of Harpers Ferry, also as shown on the above map (longer red line). According to Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour, the closure is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Monday, April 5 and estimated to be a 14-week closure, pending weather. Submitted image.
 

Lansing’s VFW Auxiliary #5981 is continuing to seek entries for its scholarship contest for local art students in ninth through 12th grades. Patriotic students in ninth through 12th grades with a passion for art are encouraged to enter the 2020-2021 VFW Auxiliary Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest.

Students will compete with other student artists from across the nation for a chance to win one of 10 national scholarships. The first-place winner receives a $15,000 scholarship.

To request entry forms or for additional information about the contest email vfwauxiliarylansing@gmail.com. Entries must then be submitted to vfwauxiliarylansing@gmail.com no later than midnight March 31.
 

The Allamakee County Conservation Foundation (ACCF) is offering scholarship opportunities for graduating seniors who will be attending a college or university pursuing a degree in natural resources or a related field. One $500 scholarship will be offered to a senior from each of the area high schools in Allamakee County in the Postville, Allamakee Community, and Eastern Allamakee Community School Districts.

Students who would like to apply for the scholarship are encouraged to visit www.allamakeecountyconservation.org, the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center, or their school’s guidance counselor for an application. Applications will be accepted until April 1 and recipients will be notified by May 1.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a “Cooking with Your Air Fryer” class scheduled for Tuesday, April 20 from 6-8 p.m. at Kee High School, located at 569 Center Street in Lansing. Owners of an air fryer or those thinking of getting one can join the class to explore a range of easy-to-prepare meals and snacks.

To register online for “Cooking with Your Air Fryer” (#81869) or for more information about the class, visit www.nicc.edu/solutions/81869, or call the NICC Waukon Center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700. Registration deadline with payment is April 16.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering “Kids and Canvas - It’s Elementary!” Wednesday, April 14, from 3:30-5 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW.

Children can explore the world of painting in this class designed for elementary school-aged kids. In class, the kids are provided the paint and artist’s canvas, an age-appropriate subject and step-by-step guidance to release each child’s inherent creativity.

To register online for “Kids and Canvas – It’s Elementary!”  (#81871) or for more information, visit www.nicc.edu/solutions/81871, or call 844-642-2338, ext. 6700. Registration deadline with payment is April 9.

The 2021 Waukon boys track season is being looked to with strong anticipation, as 67 young men from the freshman through senior ranks will be competing for the track and field Tribe this spring. Most of that anticipation stems from the fact that, like every other Iowa high school squad, the Indians were denied their 2020 campaign last spring by the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down all Iowa high schools last spring.

“I feel we may have missed out on a very successful track season last year,” Waukon boys track coach Ted Snitker said. “With what we had coming back and kids that had developed, I think we were ready to do very well. Not having that season, we have kids who didn’t get to see the successes I think our athletes, team and program would have had.”

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It’s been about two years since the Waukon girls track team has been able to compete, following last spring’s emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic that ultimately closed down the spring high school athletic seasons and the last couple months of the 2019-2020 school year. In addition to that pandemic erasing the entire 2020 track season, the loss of that season will likely continue to have impact throughout this spring as well, according to Waukon girls track coach Bob Wasson.

The 2021 Kee boys track and field season will bring an abundance of new into a mix of returning veterans - most of whom have been waiting to return to the track for nearly two years following the cancellation of last spring’s Iowa high school sports seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Just one senior and five juniors are returning with at least one full season of varsity competition experience for the Hawks to lead a team of 17 young men reporting for early-season track and field duty, with all of them being led by a new head coach this season who brings his own bit of veteran and first-time experience, Ray Rankin.

The 2021 Kee girls track season has been looked forward to for a variety of reasons, as 14 young ladies have reported for early-season duty for the Lady Hawks this spring. Not only are the Hawks likely in the vast majority of teams wanting to get back into track and field competition after last spring’s season was canceled by the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Kee girls also have plenty to look forward to with the return of some strong remnants of State Championship accolades on this spring’s squad, both from the last completed Iowa high school track season in 2019 and just this past fall at the State Cross Country Meet.

James Matthew Reed, age 42, of Waukon, formerly of South Bend, IN, passed away March 21, 2021 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Services are being planned for a later date.

James was born February 20, 1979 to Jim and Rebecca (Briggs) Reed. He moved to Waukon in July 2020. James was a loving brother and friend to all who knew him well. He loved the outdoors, bonfires, camping and fishing. He was truly a great mentor to all his friends and to many others who hold him dear.

James was the type of guy who would give you the shirt off his back or his last dollar if you needed something. He was always there to lend a helping hand when needed and always wore his heart on his sleeve. He made friends with everyone he encountered. He was also a big fan of the Detroit Lions football team.