River Valley

The Lansing Farmers Market is honoring Bob Raymond, one of the founding members of the Lansing Farmers Market Board, this Saturday, July 18 during the Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to noon on the Plaza in Lansing. Raymond passed away Friday, April 10 of this year, after a multi-year battle with cancer.

The concept of restarting the Lansing Farmers Market was developed by Daniel Wagner, a former Kee High School student who proposed the market for an Innovation Project, but making the concept into an actual working market was due in large part to Bob Raymond. With his knowledge, real-life experience, and patience, he gently guided the Farmers Market Board toward the expansion of the market, to the weekly Saturday market now taking place.

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, July 6 addressing a variety of topics that included election code clean-up, transient vendor parking, preparations for Lansing Fish Days, police staffing, changes in pool staffing, city maintenance reports, and a funding update on the Highway 9/Main Street project. The council engaged in extended discussions about three significant issues, ultimately deciding to delay the advancement of Ordinance 211 for further adjustments, but approving a restricted parking arrangement for a local vendor, and hiring a reserve police officer.

Fireflies are one of the most captivating kinds of insects that Iowa has to offer. However, not many people know that firefly populations have declined over the past few decades. Allamakee County Conservation will celebrate these bright bugs by explaining why fireflies are in decline, how to protect fireflies at home, and practicing safe catch-and-release. Adults must be present with children for the duration of the program.

This event will take place Saturday, July 18, beginning at 8 p.m. The program location will be Clear Creek Park, located at 1971 South Road Drive, Lansing. Attendees should note that this is not the city park located off of Highway X52. Registration is not required.

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council held a regular meeting Monday, June 15 during which the council approved the hiring of a new full-time street department employee and addressed a series of wage and fund-transfer resolutions.

Additionally, the council received updates regarding city operations, splash pad water usage, the Liberty Motorcycle Rally, Highway 9 funding, and police vehicle replacement.

The meeting commenced with a roll call, revealing that three council members were present, while Ben Ghelf and Corey Richards were absent. Given that only three members were in attendance, Mayor Mike Verdon reminded the council that resolutions require a majority of the full council, not just a majority of those present.

The Ferryville Tourism Council has announced the second of the four Chautauqua Summer Series programs for this season. Wednesday, July 8, Lee Hendrix will be conducting a presentation on his life as a tow boat captain up and down the Mississippi River.

The program will be held at the Ferryville Village Hall at 6:30 p.m. Treats will be available. There is no cost for this program, and a donation can will be out to help defray the costs of Ferryville Tourism events.

Hendrix grew up in the St. Louis area, and he became a deck hand on a tow boat in 1972. The river “bug” caught him, and he received his license to be a tow boat pilot just four years later. His long career includes teaching, developing curriculum for schools about the Mississippi River, and piloting casino boats in the Quad Cities area.

Over the past several months numerous caring and compassionate deeds for wild animals have taken place in New Albin. The young, the middle aged, and the older residents of this community have all taken a focused interest in protecting individual turtles of at least three different kinds, as well as the nests full of eggs the pregnant turtles entrust to residents year after year.

“Young people have been amazingly caring,” shares Friends of Pool 9 Turtle Conservation Project Committee Chairperson Ric Zarwell. “Learning about and practicing compassion is a truly important goal. It is a way of acting everyone could use more of, and that kind of learning surely exists here.”

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council met in a regular session delayed a couple days from its typical Monday meeting night due to schedule conflicts for both the mayor and mayor pro-tem with the Monday, June 1 regularly scheduled meeting date for the council. Instead, the meeting was held Wednesday, June 3, with Mayor Mike Verdon and Councilman Ben Ghelf not able to be in attendance, and Mike Manning serving as Mayor Pro-Tem.

by Joshua Sharpe

Located at 315 Main Street in De Soto, WI Pike’s Den has crafted its identity around a simple principle: stay familiar while progressing forward. According to public listings from the Tavern League of Wisconsin, Pike’s Den is a bar and grill owned by Christal Sudol, who describes it online as “locally owned and full of character,” emphasizing that it’s “more than just a bar - it’s a gathering place.” This language highlights the vital role the business plays within the community.

Before becoming Pike’s Den, the same location was known as Pork’s Bar and Pork’s Hilltop. Historical references to these previous names illustrate how deeply rooted this Main Street building is in the local memory, long before the current branding took hold. Rather than starting fresh in a new or unfamiliar location, Pike’s Den has embraced a space that has long been part of De Soto’s social fabric.

A video program about rattlesnakes produced by the Allamakee County Historical Society will be presented to the public June 14 and again later this summer. The program includes a presentation by Ross Geerdes, Allamakee County Conservation Director about local rattlesnakes, including their range, life cycle, poisonous nature, and cautions for humans interacting with them, and featuring a video appearance by Tim the Timber Rattler.

The video program continues with an interview with Mary Egan of Harpers Ferry, who was bitten by a rattler in 2023 and was hospitalized for 13 days. The video concludes with interviews by county residents Paul Howes, Kathy Howes, and Kathy Renk, all of whom will recount their interactions with the snakes in years past.

A new resource for birding in Allamakee County has been released thanks to collaborative efforts between the Upper Iowa Audubon Society and regional partners. The Allamakee County Birding Guide is made especially for those who are new to birding in Allamakee County, and those who are just new to birding. Birding locations and opportunities are grouped into categories built around different group needs, skill levels, visit lengths, and more.

The Guide is available for free at local Visitors Centers, including Allamakee County Economic Development in Waukon, the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing, and Effigy Mounds National Monument in Harpers Ferry. A digital copy can be downloaded at www.northeastiowarcd.org.