River Valley

June 5, representatives of Lansing’s American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post installed new signage at the entrance to Mt. Hosmer Memorial Veterans Park on Sixth Street in Lansing. The sign contains metal emblems of the American Legion and VFW and a brief narrative about the origin of the park, which was created by Lansing’s Legion Post 50 and gifted to the City of Lansing in 1923 as a World War I Memorial. Three more veterans memorials were added to the park over the years. Installation of the sign, assembled by Tumbleweed Welding of Lansing, helps to mark the 100th anniversary of the Legion.

Organizers of River Bluff Daze in Ferryville, WI have announced that events associated with the annual celebration have been canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those events include the Antique Tractor Pull, morning hike on Sugar Creek Bluff, kid’s games and fireworks display at dusk, all previously scheduled for Saturday, July 25.

“Our first concern is for the public health of our community and our visitors,” organizers shared in explaining the cancellation. “We are all very disappointed, and we look forward to having a grand celebration for River Bluff Daze in July 2021. Thank you for your support and understanding.”

The quilt raffle held annually as part of the event will also be postponed until 2021. Those who have already purchased raffle tickets will have those added to any sold in 2021 and still be eligible for the drawing.

Coffee on the River, located along the Mississippi River in Lansing, has been honored with the “Best Small Commercial Project” award from Preservation Iowa. Coffee on the River was one of 14 projects recognized during the annual “Preservation at Its Best” awards ceremony held June 4. The ceremony, held during the Preserve Iowa Summit, was originally set to take place in Dubuque, but due to COVID-19 it was instead hosted digitally.

Bruce Perry, President of Preserve Iowa, verbally presented the award to Coffee on the River owners Diana Wilson-Thompson and Wendi Eiden. Perry stated that Coffee on the River was a remarkable project, using a modest business loan and 1,500 hours of their own time to transform an 1868 grain elevator into the only coffee shop in Lansing. Perry further highlighted their interior design that reflects both the period of construction and contemporary standards, utilizing reclaimed furniture and scrap lumber when possible.

Marylu and John Baker of Lansing recently noticed a bird which seemed unusual for their neighborhood and soon discovered that a racing pigeon had come calling. Marylu noticed a band on the pigeon’s foot and felt the need to find out where the pigeon belonged. The Bakers gave the pigeon water and food, and it seemed content to hang out on the deck of their home, except when it followed John into the house; it was obviously tame.

Main Street Lansing Executive Director Andy Kelleher released the following statement on determining the future of the Farmers’ Market held in Lansing this year:

In the past, Main Street Lansing has held its farmers’ market in the Main Street Plaza. Over the past couple years, we have received a suggestion to relocate the farmers’ market to Lioness Park (the green space next to the sports complex, where the gazebo is located).

Reasons supporting the move include better parking, easier access, more shade, and more room for expansion. Reasons against a move include lack of foot traffic and lack of visibility. Every time we have received this suggestion, we have discussed it with both the Main Street Lansing Board of Directors and the vendors themselves; both groups have always been in agreement that the benefits of foot traffic and visibility far outweighed any other considerations, and therefore decided to remain in the Main Street Plaza.

Mississippi River Pool 9 fishing guide Capt.  Ted Peck’s latest book “Tails, Trails & Tales with the Old Guide” (pictured at left) is now available through Amazon.com in paperback, on Kindle ebooks and through retail sales outlets. The book is a collection of vintage outdoor columns and magazine articles Peck has written the past 20 years.

Peck said “unprecedented events with an uncertain future” was his primary reason for releasing the book at this time, 10 years after publishing his first book “Mississippi Musings with the Old Guide” in 2010.

“Life in these United States may never return to the normalcy we knew in pre-COVID times,” Peck said. “My intent with this book is to provide folks who love the outdoors with a back trail to reference as our country moves forward.”

Following a June 3 committee meeting, the decision has been made to move forward with plans for the annual Lansing Fish Days celebration scheduled for August 7-9 this year. The Lansing Fish Days Committee released the following statement advising the public of its decision and course of action:

“Lansing Fish Days Committee, at this time, has chosen to go ahead with planning Fish Days 2020. We are working hard to take all precautions to keep everyone safe. In the coming weeks we will be informing you of new guidelines and changes that may take place this year to keep everyone safe and healthy during our event. Please be patient with us to get information out as we make these changes and updates.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic initially modifying the graduation ceremony for the Kee High School Class of 2020 to just a virtual ceremony on the school’s originally scheduled graduation date of May 10, plans have recently been announced to hold an actual in-person graduation ceremony for the entire class Saturday, June 27 at 11 a.m. at the Kee High School football field. Attendance will be limited to family only and social distancing rules will be followed. Additional details will be made available by the school district.

With traditional programs for Memorial Day either being canceled or modified this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, a few of the Lansing Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) members traveled up to Mt. Hosmer to symbolically recognize the day and the honor for which it stands. Pictured above is VFW member Dick Roeder playing Taps at noon from an overlook at Mount Hosmer. Submitted photo by Katie Dodge Hansen.
 

by Alexis Johnson

The Lansing City Council held its regular meeting Monday, June 1. The meeting centered around considering the consent agenda and Parks report, both of which were approved by the council.

The Parks Board is considering improvements to the sidewalks on Mount Hosmer to the flagpole. Discussion also took place regarding considerations for the summer recreation programs. In order for children to enter the Lansing Swimming Pool or the ball field to take part in the youth baseball or softball programs, they are not allowed to have a temperature any higher than 99.3 degrees. The summer recreation program is able to start practice Tuesday, June 2.

All certifications for the swimming pool, if expiring, are extended until August of this year. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Parks report.