River Valley

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, November 1, the Lansing City Council approved lighting the bridge that will replace the historic Black Hawk Bridge in the next few years.

“The council approved bridge lighting - meaning we are giving the DOT (Iowa Department of Transportation) the go-ahead to install the (necessary) wiring, etc.,” Lansing Mayor Melissa Hammell further explained. “Formal discussion on how to pay for that still needs to happen.”

Referring to information provided by the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), Mayor Hammell said, “the City will receive a construction agreement in late 2022 or early 2023 which will outline the City costs for utilities plus the lighting. If there is need for fund raising, there is still time. The project will be let July 2023. Installation of the lighting would occur after bridge construction, likely before it is open to traffic - late 2025 is the estimate.”

VFW Auxiliary Gustave F. Kerndt #5981 has announced the kick-off of the VFW Auxiliary’s annual Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. Local students in grades 9-12 have the opportunity to compete for $33,000 in national scholarships.

Students must submit an original two- or three-dimensional piece of artwork.  Digital art, photography and jewelry are not accepted.  The entry must have been completed during the current 2021-2022 school year and the application must include a teacher or supervising adult’s signature.

Students begin by competing at the local VFW Auxiliary level. The first-place winner from each Auxiliary will advance to District competition with District winners advancing to the State competition.  State first-place winners compete for their share of $33,000 in national awards, and the national first-place winner is awarded a $15,000 scholarship.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

The Lansing City Council voted Monday night, November 1 to approve sending out Requests for Proposals to renovate the historic Lansing Stone School into apartment units, using an Iowa Economic Development Association (IEDA) downtown housing grant.

The annual Fall Migration Day will be held Saturday, November 13 from 9-11 a.m. at the River View Park observation deck in the middle of Ferryville, WI. Scopes (such as pictured above) will be set up by Dan Jackson and Michael White for better viewing of the migrating water fowl. Swans, bald eagles, herons, white pelicans and many species of ducks are all possibilities for viewing that day. Treats will be provided. This event is for every level of birder and for families who want an outside activity in the morning. For more information, call Joanne White at 319-240-5692 to leave a message, and a call will be returned. More information can also be found on the Ferryville, WI Facebook pages. Submitted photo.
 

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center will host the Driftless Birding Fest November 12 and 13. The Driftless Birding Fest will include speakers, exhibits, and guided and self-guided field trips to area birding hotspots.

The self-guided field trips will include the Brownsville, MN overlook, Stoddard, WI overlook, New Albin’s Army Road, Red Oak Road near Harpers Ferry, and the Ferryville, WI overlook.

Friday, November 12 from 6-8 p.m. “Raptors of Iowa” will be presented at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center.  Following the presentation, from 8-10 p.m., there will be an “Owl Prowl” to find and hear owls on the bluffs surrounding the nature center.

Main Street Lansing will be hosting “Trick or Treat on Main Street” Friday, October 29 from 4:30-6 p.m. Trick-or-Treaters can visit participating businesses on Lansing’s Main Street during that time and also enjoy Halloweenies and Haunted Chocolate at the Kerndt Brothers Community Center from 5-6:30 p.m.

The downtown event should not be confused with the more traditional trick-or-treating throughout the entire community slated to take place during the actual Halloween holiday, which is Sunday, October 31 this year.
 

Sunday, October 24 at approximately 8:13 a.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s E911 Dispatch Center received a report of a train versus all-terrain vehicle (ATV) incident on the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks approximately five miles south of Lansing near the Alliant Energy Lansing Station.

Edward Charles Cottone, age 51, of rural Lansing was operating an ATV on the railroad track when a southbound train approached. Cottone attempted to remove the ATV from the railroad tracks but could not. He was able to jump from the tracks as the train approached and struck the ATV, but he was uninjured during the incident.

Cottone was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence and booked into the Allamakee County Jail. A criminal charge is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed not guilty unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Cheryl Garin (far right in photo), Commander of Lansing American Legion Post 0050, recently presented a check for $500 on behalf of the Legion to the Lansing Ambulance and Emergency Medical Service (EMS). Accepting the check on behalf of the Lansing Ambulance/EMS are Savanna Deering (far left) and Conrad Rosendahl (center). Submitted photo.
 

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Main Street Lansing Executive Director Andy Kelleher has asked the Lansing City Council to consider sending out a Request for Proposals to renovate the Stone School into apartments, using an Iowa Economic Development Association (IEDA) downtown housing grant.

“The grant is designed to create new housing opportunities in communities with populations under 30,000,” Kelleher noted during a presentation to the council Monday night, October 18, during its regular meeting. “On the surface, it’s a program to increase upper story housing in downtown buildings, and we don’t really have a strong need for that; most of our upper stories are activated. But the program also explicitly states that it can be utilized for vacant school buildings within the downtown vicinity.”

The Stone School is only two blocks from downtown, and it’s within Main Street Lansing program boundaries, so it is eligible for this funding, Kelleher explained.

Main Street Lansing will be hosting a city council candidate forum Wednesday, October 20 at 6 p.m. at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall in Lansing. There are five registered candidates running for three council seats in the upcoming November 2 City/School Board election: Michael J. Manning, Steve Murray, Deb Volker, Lisa Welsh and Ian Zahren.

Questions will come from both the moderator and the audience. The moderator for the forum is Kraig Tweed, Regional Director for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.