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Construction crews have been working on removing the steel grate deck from the Black Hawk Bridge since its permanent closure October 20. As evident in the photo above, sparks fly as a cutting torch and steel-cutting saw are used to cut out pieces of the grated deck that are supported by the long arm of the telehandler machine also pictured in that photo and then lifted up off the deck once cut free and taken away for disposal. Left behind are the gaping holes pictured in the bridge deck in the photo below between the supporting beams and remaining steel structure of the Black Hawk Bridge. Also evident is the removal of the steel railing that ran along each side of the bridge but has been removed in areas where the bridge deck has already been cut away.

The 7 Rivers Alliance, an economic development organization for the tri-state area of the Upper Mississippi Region, held its 10th Annual Rising Stars Under 40 Reception October 20 at the La Crescent Event Center in La Crescent, MN. The Rising Stars Under 40 recognition honors emerging young leaders across the region who are making a difference in their communities - and beyond.

Among this year’s nearly two dozen honorees were four ladies from northeast Iowa who have each had their own impact within their local community and perhaps further beyond by themselves, but may also have collaborated within some of their work for even greater and farther reaching impact.

Those four ladies include Jenny Cole of Learning Tree Child Center in Lansing, Jackie Cooper of Main Street Lansing, Kristy Turner of Postville Childcare Center, and Ashley Christensen of Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC).

With very few contested races and no public measures to decide upon, the Tuesday, November 4 City/School Election to determine which candidates would be elected by voters to leadership positions at the most local levels of government and guidance yielded just over a 10% voter turnout in Allamakee County. Out of the six locally-governed communities and three school districts within Allamakee County, there were just five contested races on this year’s ballots, and the four of those five races that had incumbent candidates seeking re-election ended up returning all of those incumbents to their seats, according to unofficial results released by the Allamakee County Commissioner of Elections office shortly after polls closed the night of the election.

Photos still being sought for some Veterans from Allamakee County

The Allamakee County Veterans Museum, located on Allamakee Street in Waukon, proudly displays a Wall of Honor (pictured at right) that memorializes Allamakee County Veterans who were Killed in Action (KIA) or held as Prisoners of War (POW) during their military service. The wall currently features 95 such soldiers of Allamakee County origin who include 17 Prisoners of War and 78 who were Killed in Action.

Area residents and entities are invited to participate by changing at least one light bulb to green

Allamakee County has announced that several county buildings are being illuminated green during the next week as part of Operation Green Light for Veterans, a nationwide effort by counties, the National Association of Counties (NACo), and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers.

From November 4-11, county buildings and landmarks will be illuminated green to show support for veterans and raise awareness around the resources available at the county, state, and federal levels to assist veterans and their families. As of press time for this week’s edition of The Standard, those Allamakee County buildings include certain offices in the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon and the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing.

Monday morning, November 3, the Cassville Car Ferry began transporting vehicles and people back and forth across the main channel of the Mississippi River at Lansing, allowing motorists to avoid the long detours to the north or south since the permanent closing of the Black Hawk Bridge Monday, October 20. Pictured above is the unloading of vehicles from the ferry at the landing on the Iowa side of the river, located at the Lansing City Marina.

The Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation (DOT) are partnering to offer a free car ferry across the Mississippi River during the closure of the Iowa 9/Wisconsin 82 bridge. This service connects Lansing with Wisconsin near De Soto and Ferryville while the new bridge is under construction.

According to DOT information available at iowadot.gov/lansingbridge, the ferry is expected to begin service in early November. The exact start date is anticipated to be announced by DOT officials in the near future.

The car ferry is expected to run seven days a week, starting each day at 5:30 a.m. from the Wisconsin landing area, with a first departure from the Iowa side expected to be at 5:45 a.m. The final trip of each will take place at 9 p.m. from the Wisconsin side, and at 9:15 p.m. from the Iowa side.

by Joe Moses

Current State Auditor and Iowa Gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand visited the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing Tuesday, October 21 as part of his 100 Town Hall Tour across Iowa. The Allamakee County stop October 21 in Lansing was one of five Town Hall Q&A sessions for Sand that day including Howard County, Chickasaw County, Bremer County and Allamakee County with the 100 Town Hall Tour concluding in Decorah in Winneshiek County.

Prior to the Town Hall at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center, in response to a question from The Standard relating to the closure of the Black Hawk Bridge in Lansing and the continued pursuit by local officials relating to disaster relief to provide assistance during the anticipated two-year period remaining for the bridge replacement, Sand noted his frustration about the closure, “I can’t understand how it came to this point. I mean, it’s irresponsible.”

Tuesday, November 4 is scheduled as the City/School Election to determine which candidates will be elected by voters to leadership positions at the most local levels of government and guidance. Out of the six communities and three school districts within Allamakee County, there will be a total of five contested races, according to candidate listings from the Allamakee County Auditor’s Office that were also printed, along with additional election information, on Page 24 of the October 15 edition of The Standard. Those candidates can also be found on sample ballots that are available online at https://allamakeecountyelections.iowa.gov/.

The Monday, October 20 permanent closure of the Black Hawk Bridge at Lansing marks the end of the iconic structure’s service to those who crossed the Mississippi River between Lansing and Wisconsin Highway 35 over a period of 94 years. Although such a closure was not originally planned to take place until much closer to the anticipated Spring 2027 completion of the bridge currently being constructed to take over those crossing duties, safety concerns regarding construction activity for that new bridge impacting the structural integrity of the older bridge that was first opened for duty in 1931 forced the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation to come to the decision that the Black Hawk Bridge would need to be closed and eventually dismantled and demolished, which will take place as the remainder of this calendar year 2025 unfolds.