River Valley

The annual Friends of Pool 9 (FOP9) River Clean-Up Day has been set and volunteers are needed. Saturday, April 21 marks the 14th year  this event has been scheduled. Last year alone, close to five tons of trash and debris were collected by 104 volunteers, making for a total of almost 140,000 pounds in the span of the previous 13 clean-up years. FOP9 River Clean-Up Day organizers are looking to try and better that volunteer number this year.

“Bring your outdoor friend or make it a family experience,” shared FOP9 Clean-Up Day organizers. “Help clean Pool 9 of the Mississippi River and take pride in the beauty of the great river valley.”

Thursday, April 19, the public is invited to celebrate Earth Day (a little early) by learning about the unique layers of rock that have formed over the past 500 years beneath the landscape of the local area. In a presentation entitled “Disappearing Streams: Karst Geology of the Driftless Area,” Dr. Kelvin Rudolfo will talk about the area’s karst geology, which is marked by sinkholes, springs and shallow soils, and also by a vulnerability to pollution. Dr. Rudolfo is Professor Emeritus of Earth & Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The free program is part of a monthly speaker series and will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library, located at 515 Main Street in Lansing. The program will be preceded by a light supper at 5:30 p.m. with freewill offering.

The Allamakee County Conservation Board will be hosting author Dick Stahl Saturday, April 14 at 2 p.m. in the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center library in Lansing. The program is free of charge.

Stahl has compiled a book, entitled “Bluffing,” of poems and color photographs inspired by the mighty river.  His work has also appeared in three other books, including “After the Milk Route” and “Under the Green Tree Hotel,” published by Augustana College’s East Hall Press and “Mr. Farnam’s Guests” published by the Midwest Writing Center. For more information on this program or any other program that is offered by the Allamakee County Conservation Board and the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center contact the office by phone at 563-538-0403 or by email at accb.naturalist@gmail.com.
 

by Macie Hill

A regular session of the Lansing City Council was held Monday, April 2. Discussion centered around a public hearing date scheduled, information concerning moving City Hall to a different location, designating a day for citywide clean-up, hiring groundskeeping and maintenance positions for the City and hiring Lansing summer recreation baseball and softball coaches.

There will be an open public hearing Monday, April 16 at 7 p.m. to discuss the Alliant Energy electric franchise. Members of the public are invited to comment on the continuation of the City’s contracted services with Alliant (See Page 5B in this week’s issue of The Standard for further details on the public hearing).

Four Compatibility Determinations (CDs) which evaluate various economic and/or commercial uses of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are available for public comment through April 9 of this year. The draft CDs re-evaluate the following uses of the Refuge:

• Commercial Fishing Floats
• Commercially Guided Wildlife/lands Observation
• Guided Sport Fishing
• Guided Waterfowl Hunting.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has announced a Boating Safely Course to be held Saturday, April 21 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at City Hall in Prairie du Chien, WI, located at 214 East Blackhawk Avenue. This course qualifies for the Wisconsin or Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Boating Safety Certificate.

This eight-hour course provides basic training in the safe operation of watercraft including vessel familiarization, rules of the road, federal and state boating laws and safety on the water and is designed for all ages. Students must be at least 12 years of age to attend the class alone.

Boater education is required in Wisconsin for anyone born after January 1, 1989 to operate a vessel, including a personal watercraft (PWC). In Iowa, it is required of anyone age 12 to 17 years old to operate a boat of more than 10 horsepower or a PWC.

Each year, Crossing Rivers Health in Prairie du Chien, WI presents Ambassador of the Year awards to individuals who represent the organization’s core values of joy, unity, integrity, compassion and excellence, along with awards for Ambassador of Leadership and Ambassador of Provider Excellence. Nominations are submitted by employees and presented to the Senior Leadership Team for selection. For the year 2017, Susan “Sue” McMillan of Waukon, Family Nurse Practitioner at Crossing Rivers Health, was recognized as the organization’s Ambassador of Provider Excellence.

The Allamakee County Conservation Board will be hosting author Dick Stahl Saturday, April 14 at 2 p.m. in the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center library in Lansing. The program is free of charge.

Dick Stahl fell in love with the Mississippi River as a small child exploring and growing up in Davenport. His fascination with the river has led him to explore the Upper Mississippi River as well as many other rivers around the world including the Rhine River and the Nile River.

He has compiled a book, entitled “Bluffing,” of poems and color photographs inspired by the mighty river.  His work has also appeared in three other books, including “After the Milk Route” and “Under the Green Tree Hotel,” published by Augustana College’s East Hall Press and “Mr. Farnam’s Guests” published by the Midwest Writing Center. He served as Quad City Arts’ first Poet Laureate of the Quad Cities from September 2001 to September 2003.

Volunteers, contributions needed to make Post Prom possible

Kee High School’s Post Prom has been scheduled for April 22 from midnight until 4 a.m. for Kee juniors and seniors and their guests, following their Prom Saturday, April 21. The Post Prom event is a substance free celebration providing table games, raffles and silent auctions, snacks and drinks and door prizes.

All Kee junior and senior students are welcome, even if not participating in Prom. There is no fee to attend. Hypnotist Blake Powers from Wand Enterprises has been booked and all guests will be entertained by his show.

The Post Prom Committee has been hosting Sunday Bingo events and worked the brat stand at Lansing Fish Days to raise funds for Post Prom. The group is very appreciative to all area businesses and individuals for their continued support.

by Macie Hill

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, March 19 at Lansing City Hall. Discussion centered around renewing the electric franchise contract, Allamakee Housing Survey review of results, summertime city mowing positions being available, hiring a part-time police officer, an open position for a full-time patrol officer and the City Clerk's office being closed Friday, March 30.

Craig Clefesch and Keith Sherman with Alliant Energy were present at the meeting to answer any questions about renewing the 25-year electric franchise with the City of Lansing. Clefesch, Sherman and the council had discussion about adding a franchise fee to the electric bills, although no final decision was made on that proposal. The topic will come up again during a future meeting.