River Valley

Doctors and medical students from the group Climate 911 are touring the Mississippi River valley in August with a puppet show about climate solutions. They will do a free show at the Community Center in De Soto, WI Tuesday, August 9 at 6 p.m.  The physicians and their puppets will perform in 14 river towns between Minneapolis, MN and St. Louis, MO. In order to practice what they preach, the doctors are traveling by bicycle.

The show’s title is “D.O.G.S.”, which stands for “Dozens of Good Solutions”. The main characters are two dogs who train their humans to cut climate pollution in half in “a dog’s life” (14 years). This aligns with scientific consensus on what must be done to keep global warming below 2º C.

by B.J. Tomlinson

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, August 1. After approving the Consent Agenda, the Council reviewed and approved two proposals related to street repairs. One proposal was for paving a portion of Valley Street which will become a part of the Clear Creek Project; the Council approved the Strub bid of (up to) $8,000, which will be considered a contingency cost covered by grant funds. The second was a proposal from IIW Engineers (Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin) for the South Road Bridge over the Clear Creek Project.

The Queen of the Mississippi riverboat sailed south past Lansing on the Mississippi River during the late afternoon of Monday, July 25 as part of an eight-day Upper Mississippi River Cruise from St. Paul, MN to St. Louis, MO. The Queen of the Mississippi is part of the American Cruise Lines fleet and it was built in 2015 to offer an authentic paddlewheel experience with all the modern comforts. Photo courtesy of Sue Stirn.
 

The Lansing business community has welcomed two new businesses to the downtown district recently. Representatives from Main Street Lansing recently presented The Main Channel Grill & Lodging - a restaurant and lodging facility, and River N Ridge Outdoors - a bait, tackle, fishing, hunting, gun and ammunition retailer, with welcome certificates and congratulations.

The Main Channel Grill and Lodging is located at 10 South Second Street and is open from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Tuesdays. Owners are Allyson Leppert, Lisa Leppert and Kirk Kious. Pictured at their welcome presentation are, left to right: Judy Schild, Sue Papp, Allyson Leppert, Lisa Leppert, Kirk Kious, Kelly Hutchison, Jana Schoh, Arlene Lynes, Mary Palmborg, Tom Limbach.

Thanks to a helpful community, the Sports Complex ballfield in Lansing has received a needed facelift. A series of projects has been completed over a two-year period at the sports facility.
Improvements during that renovation process cost approximately $50,000 and were funded by a diverse group of public and private entities. What began with complaints of a “rock-hard” infield to Lansing Parks Board members has now come to completion with a safer and a more fan-friendly venue for local sports events.

Improvements started with funding from the R.J. McElroy Foundation to aid in the purchase of a new scoreboard. With the assistance of Brennan Construction, Big River Companies, Mauss Electric and City of Lansing employees, the new scoreboard was installed. Tumbleweed Welding next installed a flag pole adjacent to the new scoreboard.

by B.J. Tomlinson

The Lansing City Council met Monday night, July 25 in a delayed regular session, a week later than normal due to scheduling conflicts last week. After approving the Consent Agenda, the Council reviewed letters from three candidates - Curtis Snitker, Joe Strobel and Deb Volker - who expressed interest in filling the council seat vacated by John Rethwisch earlier this year. After discussion, the Council appointed Snitker to fill that open seat. Snitker was immediately sworn in by Mayor Mike Brennan and joined the other Council members at the table. Snitker will hold the position until the next general election in November of this year.

The Bug Olympics are coming to New Albin this Friday, July 22. Iowa State University’s Insect Zoo will be presenting its Bug Olympics at the New Albin Community Center this Friday, beginning at 5 p.m.

Attendees will witness the speed of cockroaches in the Roach Races, the power of the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach in the Roach Pulls, and the agility of the crickets in the Cricket Jump. After the Olympic events, those attending can get up close and personal with the bug athletes and many of their friends.
 

The regular meeting of the Lansing City Council scheduled for its typical Monday, July 18 date has been postponed until Monday, July 25 due to the first-round State Tournament game of the Kee softball team played that same Monday evening.
 

A busy day is in store for everyone in Ferryville, WI Saturday, July 23 for the annual River Bluff Daze event. At 8:30 a.m., a Nature Hike at Sugar Creek Bluff starts with participants gathering at the Ferryville Boat Landing to carpool up to Sugar Creek Bluff. An expert guide will accompany those who are on the hike to see birds, wildlife, wildflowers and experience the panoramic view of the Mississippi River Valley. This is co-sponsored by the Ferryville Tourism Council and the Mississippi Valley Conservancy. Call Joanne White for additional information needed at 608-734-9018.

by B.J. Tomlinson

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Tuesday, July 5. The Council’s regular meeting was delayed a day due to the Fourth of July holiday falling on the Council’s typical Monday meeting day.

Mayor Mike Brennan opened a public hearing to start the July 5 meeting, the hearing regarding a proposal  to enter into a General Obligation Corporate Purpose Loan Agreement. The “not-to-exceed” $300,000 loan will be used to complete the Clear Creek water/sewer project. There were no comments from the public and Mayor Brennan closed the hearing.

The Council then approved Resolution #873 to move forward with the agreement. Bids will be accepted from Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank and New Albin Savings Bank. Brennan noted that water/sewer rates have already been adjusted so there will not be any additional increases in water bills for Lansing residents in regard to the loan agreement.