River Valley

River-N-Ridge Outdoors of Lansing has been announced as a semifinalist in Main Street Iowa’s Open 4 Business competition. The business is one of 12 businesses to advance to the next round, and the next step is an online interview with the judging panel. If River-N-Ridge Outdoors advances again, the business will receive $8,000 as a finalist, with the chance to win a further $20,000 as the overall winner.

River-N-Ridge Outdoors previously won the Lansing contest, Open 4 Business: Fish Tank Edition, which awarded $2,000 provided jointly by Kerndt Brothers Bank, Kerndt Brothers Insurance Agency, Lansing Fitness Center and Main Street Lansing.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

Lansing Iowa Food Trust (LIFT), voted the Nicest Place in Iowa in a Reader’s Digest contest last year,  has been actively working to meet the needs of local families during the COVID-19 pandemic. On average each week, approximately 21-23 families had been using LIFT prior to the current pandemic, but during this stressful time the organization has seen an increase in the weekly distributions, serving as many as 35 families per week.

Families may pick up food every other week. LIFT, located at 220 South Third Street in Lansing, is open from 4-6 p.m. each Wednesday for that food distribution. Drop-off points for donated food and supplies are Village Farm & Home Store in Lansing and at the City Clerk’s office in Lansing. Donated items are quarantined for 72 hours to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

Kerndt Brothers Bank and the Lansing Fitness Center in Lansing have joined together to provide a community garden space to benefit local residents seeking space to grow a vegetable garden. Four raised beds have been placed and outfitted behind the Fitness Center at 51 North Fifth Street in Lansing for the use of four individuals or families as vegetable gardens. An opportunity to reserve a vegetable garden was offered to residents beginning May 20 for either their own use, or for the benefit of those in need in the community. Those who claim a raised bed need to provide their own plants and gardening tools. Water will be available for irrigation from the Fitness Center.

“Ever since I took on the Fitness Center three years ago, I felt the space out back would be a perfect spot to grow vegetables with bright sunshine all day long,” said Maryann Baldwin, owner of the Fitness Center. “When Amy mentioned her desire for this project, it all came together quickly!”

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has provided an update on the upcoming nine-day closure scheduled for the section of Wisconsin Highway 82 (WIS 82) that crosses the Mississippi River between Wisconsin Highway 35 (WIS 35) and the Black Hawk Bridge at Lansing.

The WIS 82 nine-day closure is now scheduled to begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 6 and will be closed through Sunday, June 14. It is planned to reopen WIS 82 Monday, June 15. No other full closures are planned for this project, the remaining work will be completed with single-lane closures and flaggers, as it has been.

During the closure, traffic wanting to cross the Mississippi River between Iowa and Wisconsin will have to do so at Marquette and Prairie du Chien, WI or through La Crescent, MN. Motorists should also be reminded that there is currently single-lane traffic on the bridge at Marquette due to another bridge improvement project there.

by Alexis Johnson

The regular meeting of the Lansing City Council was held Monday, May 18. The discussion centered around the consent agenda, Parks report and Clerk’s report.

The consent agenda consisted of council meeting minutes from May 4, liquor license renewal for the Red Barn Resort, Marina Board minutes from May 11, and Parks Board meeting minutes from May 11. A motion was made and seconded with minimal discussion.

Curtis Snitker was hired to become the Certified Pool Operator (CPO) for the Lansing Swimming Pool. New updates are happening at the swimming pool and are forecasted to be done by the end of the month.

The City of Lansing is looking to fill its Deputy City Clerk position. The position will be available to apply for at the end of this month.

The U.S. Coast Guard/Coast Guard Auxiliary officially kicks off the boating season with National Safe Boating Week, observed May 16-22. According to the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division, each year more than 70 million Americans participate in recreational boating activities on the nation’s waters including lakes, rivers and coastal waters. The U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division publishes some interesting statistics:

Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) provides services and supports for older individuals and caregivers to help them remain in their homes and independent as they age.  During the COVID-19 crisis, emphasis has been placed on remaining at home and reducing the possibility of being exposed to disease through limiting social interactions or going to public places.

To help older individuals and caregivers remain at home and get the nutrition they need to stay healthy, NEI3A has partnered with a dozen grocery stores in northeast Iowa for the delivery of food to senior citizens. Lansing IGA is the only grocery store in Allamakee County that is currently taking part in this program through NEI3A.

The U.S. Coast Guard/Coast Guard Auxiliary officially kicks off the boating season with National Safe Boating Week, which is being observed May 16-22 this year. While starting off under the burden of the COVID-19 virus, at least this year the river is below flood stage, so far. The lower water levels do not mean boaters can relax their attention to safety on the water. The normal year-round hazards still remain.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division, each year more than 70 million Americans participate in recreational boating activities on the nation’s waters including lakes, rivers and coastal waters. The U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division publishes some interesting statistics:

Under the auspices of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank of Waterloo, the Northeast Iowa Mobile Pantry will be at the Lansing Iowa Food Trust (LIFT) facility, located at 220 South Third Street in Lansing, Monday, May 18 from 1:30-3 p.m. The mobile pantry will be handing out additional food items to those in need, this distribution being in addition to LIFT’s weekly food distributions.

Those additional food items being handed out will include 30-35 pounds of frozen items, 25-30 pounds of dry food, in addition to fresh produce, milk, eggs and bakery items. All who are food insecure are welcome and will need to supply their name, zip code and size of household.
 

Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) provides services and supports for older individuals and caregivers to help them remain in their homes and independent as they age.  During the COVID-19 crisis, the emphasis has been placed on remaining at home and reducing the possibility of being exposed to this disease through limiting social interactions or going to public places.

To help older individuals and caregivers remain at home and get the nutrition they need to stay healthy, NEI3A has partnered with a dozen grocery stores in northeast Iowa for the delivery of food to senior citizens. Lansing IGA is the only grocery store in Allamakee County that is currently taking part in this program through NEI3A.