River Valley

The inaugural Driftless Half-Marathon Relay and 5K event held October 13 between Harpers Ferry and Lansing had more than 220 runners registered, with 187 of those actually finishing the event. The first-year event, under the direction of Amanda Hess, raised a total of $3,600 that has since been donated to area non-profit organizations such as the Lansing Fire Department, Lansing Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Harpers Ferry Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Lansing Lions Club, Lansing Swimming Pool Water Aerobics, Friends of Pool 9, Kee High School/Middle School Activities and the Waukon High School Girls Cross Country Club.

The Kee High School Post Prom Committee will host Bingo Sunday, December 2 in the Kee High School cafeteria in Lansing. Games will start at 4 p.m., with doors opening at 3:30 p.m.

Participants can bring a non-perishable food item or $1 donation and play an extra Bingo card free. All donations will be given to LIFT (Lansing Iowa Food Trust). All players will be eligible for a door prize drawing at intermission. Proceeds will be used to fund 2019 Post Prom prizes and entertainment.
 

The Allamakee County Conservation Board and filmmakers from Untamed Science will host the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center premier of “Decoding the Driftless” Saturday, December 15. There will be two showings at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing. “Decoding the Driftless” is the sequel to the popular Emmy award winning “Mysteries of the Driftless.”

The documentary will take viewers on a wild ride of adventure through the air, across rugged landscapes, on and under water, through a secret underworld, and across time itself to explore and decipher ancient clues of the Driftless Region, with its captivating scenic beauty. The premier will begin with an introduction from writer and producer George Howe and be followed by the 62-minute “Decoding the Driftless.”

Seats are limited and anyone interested in attending the premier must register in advance by calling 563-538-0401.

An event held during the final two weekends in September helped raise more than $7,200 for the future of local farming and a local farming family, and those funds were recently distributed to those respective benefactors at check presentation events. Waukon Feed Ranch created a corn maze for the public to try and navigate at its agronomy center located west of Waukon along Old Highway 9, taking a freewill donation the weekends of September 22-23 and 29-30 to help raise funds for the local FFA chapters of Waukon High School and Kee High School, along with the family of Brogan Gavin, son of Tom and Alana Gavin of rural Lansing who is undergoing treatment for leukemia. Along with the corn maze proceeds, the Allamakee County Cattlemen hosted a grilling event, WW Homestead Dairy sold cheese curds and the Allamakee County Dairy Promotion Board had its dairy wagon on site, with additional proceeds from those offerings also being added to the donated funding.

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing will remain open until 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 5 for anyone who is interested in watching the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train. The train will arrive in Lansing at approximately 4:50 p.m. and the musical performances will begin at 5 p.m. near the Lansing City Park and ballfield. 

As part of the Holiday Train event, the Driftless Center will be taking donations of nonperishable food items beginning Friday, November 30 for food banks of Allamakee County. Anyone wishing to donate items may drop them off during regular business hours or until 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 5 at the Driftless Center.

For more information on this program or any program that is offered by the Allamakee County Conservation Board or the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center, contact the Center at 563-538-0403 or follow the Allamakee County Conservation Department through its online presence.
 

Small Business Saturday, November 24, Main Street Lansing is hosting a food drive for Lansing Iowa Food Trust (LIFT). Bring a donation to the Main Street Lansing office at 253 Main Street and be entered to win gift certificates from local businesses. Specific donation requests from LIFT include soup, peanut butter, personal care items (such as shampoo, soap and toilet paper), cake and cookie mixes, and saltine crackers.
 

Main Street Lansing recently conducted a First Dollar Visit at 2nd Hand Heaven, located at 341 Main Street in Lansing. Pictured above at the First Dollar presentation, left to right, are Main Street Lansing representatives Judy Schild, Maryann Baldwin, Bruce Palmborg, Julie Papp and Jana Schoh, 2nd Hand Heaven owner Kim Kozelka, and Main Street Lansing representatives Mary Palmborg and Gary DeVilbiss. Submitted photo.

The Kee High School Post Prom Committee will host Bingo Sunday, December 2 in the Kee High School cafeteria in Lansing. Games will start at 4 p.m., with doors opening at 3:30 p.m.

Participants can bring a non-perishable food item or $1 donation and play an extra Bingo card free. All donations will be given to LIFT (Lansing Iowa Food Trust). All players will be eligible for a door prize drawing at intermission. Proceeds will be used to fund 2019 Post Prom prizes and entertainment.
 

Winter is knocking at the door, and some may be putting their boat up for the winter while some are still planning to use it for some cold weather sports such as hunting or fishing. If the approaching cold weather doesn’t necessarily mean the boating season is over, there are some important things to be considered.

Many unconsciously feel that accidents only happen to the “other” guy. For those who are planning to be on the water this time of year, the cold can be a mortal enemy, especially if they are not prepared. Not only must they dress warm so they can enjoy their time on the water, but they must also consider the possibility that they could end up in the water. No one plans on going swimming this time of year but accidents can and do happen. Always consider the “what if’ factor.

First: Boaters should not be out there alone. Two or three individuals stand a better chance working together than being alone. Consider the advantages of a second boat.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

Andy Kelleher, the new Main Street Lansing Executive Director, is no stranger to northeast Iowa. Kelleher grew up in the Lansing/New Albin area and attended school in the Eastern Allamakee Community School District. He graduated with top marks from Kee High School in Lansing and was ready to meet the world.
Kelleher had spent several summers at Village Creek Bible Camp, working with young people and organizing activities for their camps. He ventured away from the area to check out Cincinnati, OH and was ready to move there but eventually came back, ready to find his niche back in his hometown area. He continues to work with an area church’s youth group.