River Valley

The 70th Jubilee Mass of Father Donald Hawes has been scheduled for Sunday, June 4 at 11 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford. In addition to celebrating 70 years as a priest, Father Donald is also celebrating his 95th birthday.

Donald John Hawes was born December 22, 1928 to John and Ellen (Conway) Hawes of Wexford (rural Lansing). He was baptized December 24, 1928 in Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford. Following the tragedy of his father’s sudden death May 9, 1935, his mother raised Donald and his siblings on the family farm.

Donald Hawes graduated from Loras College in Dubuque in 1949 and from St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, MD in 1953. He received his sub-diaconate at St. Mary’s Seminary June 6, 1952. Father Donald Hawes was ordained a priest May 16, 1953 in Christ the King Chapel at Loras College, Dubuque.

Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa welcomed students of Kee High School in Lansing Tuesday morning, May 2 to the Senate steps of the U.S. Capitol. During the students’ Senior Trip to Washington, D.C., Grassley answered questions on the importance of bipartisanship, representative government, and internship opportunities in both his Washington and Iowa offices.

“I started my morning meeting with a group of students from Kee High School. I always enjoy hearing what Iowans have to say - particularly young people. Their views help me to better represent the people of Iowa. And of course, I’m happy to meet with a school that shares the school colors of my alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa Panther purple,” said Grassley. Official U.S. Senate photo by John Klemmer.
 

by Julie Berg-Raymond

John Danos, of Des Moines, with Dorsey & Whitney LLP, spoke to the Lansing City Council during its regular meeting Monday, May 1 about a complex of issues related to urban revitalization plans and tax abatement policies.

The council took no action on this item; it was offered as a first step toward further discussions about the possibility of passing a local tax abatement policy for housing development in Lansing. Danos, a frequent presenter on topics related to tax increment financing, economic development, municipal debt and complex local government issues, explained - among other topics - the differences between tax increment financing (TIF) and tax abatement policies, and between urban renewal and urban revitalization.

Although nestled in between the two National Weather Service river level gauges between Lansing and McGregor on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River, there was still plenty of evidence of the river’s flooding water levels around the Harpers Ferry community this past week. A river gauge at the Allamakee County Conservation Boat landing at Harpers Ferry further confirms the height of the river at its crest Friday, April 28, as well as its ranking among the top four crests all-time (behind the 1965 record and two more recent recordings in 2001 and 1997 shown on the gauge).

Kee High School’s Post Prom event was held Sunday, April 23 from midnight until 4 a.m. Guests played board games, Bingo and other challenging and fun activities. Plastic eggs were hidden around the building for guests to find and redeem for prizes, and refreshments were enjoyed by everyone attending.

Special entertainment was provided by hypnotist Mike Winters from Wand Entertainment, who also did several magic tricks before his performance. Guests were given tickets to enter for prize package drawings and everyone won a prize according to their number assigned at registration. Before leaving, each guest drew a numbered chip to win the corresponding prize.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

After a public hearing during its regular meeting Monday, April 17, the Lansing City Council approved the budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. No written or verbal comments were made to City Hall. The council also scheduled a special meeting for Monday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m. in Lansing City Hall, to discuss the possibility of hiring a city manager. The meeting is open to the public.

Lupita Solis, bilingual advocate with Riverview Center in Decorah, presented the council with a Proclamation for the month of April 2023 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. After Mayor Melissa Hammell read aloud the proclamation, it was approved by the council. The proclamation reads as follows:

Friday, April 7, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing led a Good Friday Justice and Peace Stations of the Cross event. This was the third such walk hosted by the congregation with the largest group of walkers so far. Some carried signs calling for justice or declaring God’s wide embrace.

The tradition began in 2021 when being outside was the safest way to hold the service during the pandemic. “We wanted to make a strong connection between our faith in Christ and how his suffering continues whenever any of God’s people suffer,” explained Pastor Laura Gentry of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors met in regular session Monday, April 17. Board President Bobbie Goetzinger called the meeting to order with fellow board members Tony Becker, Melanie Mauss and Arla Wagner all present. Board member Kelli Mudderman was absent. Also present at the meeting were EACSD Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier, Kee High School and Middle School Principal Dr. Sarah Murray, New Albin Elementary School Principal Donna Thomas, Board Secretary Michele Martin and Technology Coordinator Dave Ellefson.

The board held a public hearing on the 2023-2024 school budget that was opened and closed with no comment. The board then approved the agenda, followed by approval of the April consent items, minutes of the March meeting, bills for April, Secretary’s Financial Report for March, and the Student Activity and Food Service March Reports.

Lansing Iowa Food Trust (LIFT), the food bank in Lansing, will be closed indefinitely because of the rising flood waters of the Mississippi River. As evident in the photos above and below, volunteers evacuated all items from the building this past weekend. LIFT personnel will not restock the food bank until after the flood danger has passed and the building has been cleaned of any flood residue that may be left behind.

Clients are encouraged to seek out other area food banks in order to serve any of their food needs in the near future, and they can search for nearby food banks on https://www.neifb.org or https://www.foodpantries.org. Clients may also want to check with  the Allamakee County Food Shelf located at 1125 West Main Street, Lot #39 in Waukon. The Allamakee County Food Shelf can be reached by telephone at 563-568-3994. Submitted photos.
 

In honor of this year’s 50th annual Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), a documentary film titled “Shift: The RAGBRAI Documentary” has been created by The Des Moines Register. “Shift” tells the story of RAGBRAI through photography and interviews with three riders and a pair of community leaders as they overcome grueling miles and personal hurdles to find peace, redemption and clarity in the annual ride across Iowa.