River Valley

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, McGregor District of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) is seeking to complete construction of a multipurpose building, maintenance shop, cold storage building, and maintenance yard located near Harpers Ferry in Allamakee County. The requirement is being procured in accordance with FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiation. This will be a Firm Fixed Priced Contract and award will be based on best value.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District has released its 2023 navigation season statistics regarding the Upper Mississippi River.

The 2023 navigation season unofficially ended November 23, after the Motor Vessel W. Red Harris departed St. Paul, MN. The 2023 navigation season started March 12 when the Motor Vessel Philip M. Pfeffer broke its way through the ice of Lake Pepin to travel to St. Paul, MN.

Navigation statistics fluctuate from year to year, depending on the weather, river flows and the length of the navigation season. The St. Paul District maintains a nine-foot navigation channel from Minneapolis, MN to Guttenberg. Keeping this system open is vital to the nation’s economy.

Statistics for the 2023 for the most local lock and dam facilities include the following:

One of the best parts of the holiday season is adding colorful seasonal plants to the home. That includes the poinsettia. However, poinsettias do require special care to reach their full potential. Horticulture specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offer tips and tricks to keeping poinsettias healthy and beautiful through the new year.

What should I look for when buying a poinsettia?
Poinsettias are available in a wide range of colors. Red is the most popular color, though poinsettias are also available in burgundy, pink, salmon, white, cream and gold. There are also bicolored, marbled and speckled poinsettias. The colorful part of the poinsettia, commonly referred to as the plant’s flowers, are actually modified leaves or bracts. The true flowers are yellow to green, button-like growths located in the center of the bracts.

It’s hard to have a happy holiday when you’re arrested for drunk driving. Keep the season merry and bright by following the law and refusing to drink and drive.

During this busy winter holiday season, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Region 7, is partnering with the State Highway Safety Offices in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska and local law enforcement to urge drivers to think twice before drinking and driving. The goal is for all drivers to remember this lifesaving message: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Drivers will see officers working on a special high-visibility enforcement campaign to spread the message about the dangers of drunk driving from December 15 through January 1, 2024.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

In an effort to both correct misconceptions held by members of the Lansing community about the purpose and function of speed cameras in traffic enforcement and to offer those same community members  - and others - an opportunity to voice concerns and ask questions about the cameras’ efficacy and purpose, Lansing/New Albin Chief of Police Conrad Rosendahl and Officer Troy Riehm held a community input session on speed cameras Monday, December 4, in Lansing City Hall.

About 30 people attended the input session, which immediately preceded that evening’s regular meeting of the Lansing City Council.

“Public safety falls under my job title,” Chief Rosendahl told the community members in attendance. “There are always lots of complaints about speeding from both towns (Lansing and New Albin).”

Thursday, December 14, from 5-6 p.m., Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library will be hosting another monthly learning and informational session with the lead engineering staff working on the Black Hawk Bridge replacement project. Everyone is invited to bring questions and curiosity. The engineers plan to have hands-on activities and this is a unique opportunity for the local community to learn a lot about the bridge building process.

Sessions will be held monthly the second Thursday each month and are for all ages. Questions about this program can be sent to libary@lansing.lib.ia.us.
 

Those who travel on the State of Iowa Highway 9 bridge (Black Hawk Bridge) over the Mississippi River from Lansing to its intersection with the State of Wisconsin Highway 82 in rural Crawford County, WI need to be aware of a construction project that may slow down their trip through the end of next week. That construction project started Monday, December 4 and will last through Friday, December 15, weather permitting, according to information provided by the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Construction crews will close the eastbound lane on the bridge so the bridge rail can be repaired. Motorists will be guided across the bridge with flaggers while work is taking place. More can be learned about this project on either of the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation (DOT) websites or by following posts on the project’s Facebook page.

Thursday, December 14, from 5-6 p.m., Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library will be hosting another monthly learning and informational session with the lead engineering staff working on the Black Hawk Bridge replacement project. Everyone is invited to bring questions and curiosity. The engineers plan to have hands-on activities and this is a unique opportunity for the local community to learn a lot about the bridge building process.

Sessions will be held monthly the second Thursday each month and are for all ages. Questions about this program can be sent to libary@lansing.lib.ia.us.
 

A presentation featuring Dr. Patrick Jung has been scheduled to take place Monday, December 18 at 7 p.m. at the New Albin Community Center. Dr. Jung is an expert on Native American History and will be speaking on the Native American people who lived around the New Albin area, The Black Hawk War of 1832, and specifically what was happening in the local area during that war.

The event is open to the general public. There is no admission charge to attend.
 

Community input session on speed cameras scheduled for December 4

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Immediately prior to the regular meeting of the Lansing City Council Monday, November 20, Benjamin Ghelf was sworn in as a new council member, having won one of two seats on the ballot in the November 7 election. Councilman Ghelf was sworn in at the first regular meeting after the election due to being elected to the seat which had previously been an appointed position following the resignation of councilman Bruce ReVoir just over one year ago. Corey Richards, the other new councilman elected November 7, will be sworn in at the end the current term (the start of the new year) of councilman Curtis Snitker, who did not seek re-election this year.