River Valley

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Attendees at the Thursday, May 9 session of “Let’s Talk Bridges!” - informational meetings on the new bridge construction held the second Thursday of each month at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library - had an opportunity to appreciate the sheer magnitude of the drilled shafts upon which the piers of the new Mississippi River bridge at Lansing will sit, when they were able to stand next to a section of the rebar cage from the demonstration shaft built by Kraemer North America, contractors on the bridge project.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, May 6, the Lansing City Council set the public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget for Monday, May 20, at 7 p.m. The council also accepted a bid of $.85/gallon from Welch Inc. of Waukon, for dust control for the City of Lansing this summer. No other bids were submitted.

In other business, the council approved Resolution #1007 regarding the transfer of monies between funds for accounting purposes, and approved liquor licenses for Casey’s, The Buck Stops Here and Kwik Trip, Inc.

UPDATE: TAX ABATEMENT
In an email interview following the council’s May 6 meeting, during which Mayor Mike Verdon was asked about the status of the Tax Abatement Ordinance/Urban Revitalization Plan, Mayor Verdon said, “tax abatement will be on the next (May 20) agenda.”

The New Albin Public Library will be hosting an interactive bird exhibit by Blank Park Zoo from Des Moines Friday, May 31, beginning at 3 p.m. and open to the public. The free event will feature a variety of educational opportunities to learn about birds, including different sensory bins that let kids explore human-made items that were inspired from different bird beaks. There will also be an opportunity to view a variety of bird feathers, skulls and eggs. No live animals will be present at the event.
 

Kee High School’s Post Prom was held Sunday, April 21 from midnight until 4 a.m. Guests played games, took part in challenging and fun activities and entered raffles. Refreshments were enjoyed by everyone attending. Special entertainment was provided by hypnotist Mike Winters from Wand Entertainment, who also performed several magic tricks before his performance. Guests were given tickets to enter for prize package drawings and everyone won a prize according to their number assigned at registration. Before leaving, each guest drew a numbered chip to win the corresponding prize.

Little Miss competition for girls ages 7-9 added to this year’s pageantry for the Allamakee County Fair

The Allamakee County Fair Board is seeking applicants for the 2024 Allamakee County Fair Queen contest and will also be offering a similar pageant experience to younger girls this year, as the 2024 Allamakee County Fair will run from July 17-21. Expanding on the new format initiated last year for the Allamakee County Fair Queen Contest, an Allamakee County Fair Little Miss competition is also going to be held this year for girls ages 7-9.

As one part of celebrating the 100th Anniversary year of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, the Friends of Pool 9 organization will be offering the public 10 two-hour boat tours on the longest and one of the most beautiful and ecologically rich wildlife refuges in the nation.

These unique experiences are focused on informing all age levels about the wildlife, fishes, habitats, and rich history of this publicly-owned refuge. The tours will  be especially pleasing to families, the elderly, and anyone else who seldom, and perhaps never, get to explore, up close and personally, the Mississippi River.

The tour boat comfortably holds 49 passengers, and is Coast Guard inspected and certified. Captain Robert Vavra has a long and varied history as a Mississippi River man, and is an exceptional story-teller. He enjoys explaining everything passengers see, hear, and have questions about, while exploring secluded backwaters.

Public invited to Lansing event this Saturday

The Northeast Iowa Community Connectors and Main Street Lansing are hosting a “Shop, Sip & Support Lansing” event Saturday afternoon, April 27, from noon-3 p.m. in Lansing. The event is open to the public, with a “pay your own way” shopping and dining experience in Lansing. Adults of all ages are welcome.

The day will kick off at “The Buck Stops Here” for quick introductions and lunch. The group will visit various businesses along downtown Lansing. A group photo will be taken by the new mural, painted by Erik Burke. At 3 p.m. the group will meet back at “The Safe House” for drinks and socializing.

Those attending should RSVP to neicommunityconnectors@gmail.com or text a message (563-379-3619) with how many are attending, so a head count can be taken for lunch.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, April 15, the Lansing City Council discussed the status of a speed camera ordinance in Lansing. The city council had earlier approved the installation of one or more speed cameras during its regular December 4, 2023, meeting.

Once the council had approved the installation of speed cameras in Lansing, its next task was to work on drafting a proposed ordinance involving their use; but there has been some delay in that process.

“There was a great deal of discussion concerning cameras and the contract for them,” Mayor Mike Verdon said in an email interview following the April 15 regular meeting. “There were some committee changes when the new council was seated that resulted in ‘handing off’ information between council members that resulted in delays in properly processing [that information]. That hand-off, coupled with the bridge situation, made for the delays.”

Read Across Iowa launched March 1 and began a month-long celebration to bring the joys of reading to kids of all ages. Agriculturally-themed Read Across Iowa events were held in Allamakee County and across the state and featured books and materials about agriculture that appealed to all readers.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County went into classrooms in New Albin Elementary and read an egg-themed book. As depicted in the photos here, students learned some fun facts about chickens and had an egg and spoon relay race to get the egg from the nest to the egg carton.

“When you read with children, you are making an investment,” said Becky Rea, K-12 Program Coordinator. “Early reading and talking with children gives them a strong start and a life-long return.”

The Iowa PBS series “Road Trip Iowa” will feature some Allamakee County highlights in an upcoming episode to be aired next week. The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing, and Mohn’s Fish Market and Effigy Mounds National Monument near Harpers Ferry will all be featured in the same episode that will premiere Wednesday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. and be rebroadcast Saturday, April 27 at 9 a.m.

In that episode of “Road Trip Iowa”, explore the history of river life in the Driftless Area. The episode will also highlight other stops along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway including the Lockmaster’s House Heritage Museum, Pikes Peak State Park, the Fenelon Place Elevator, Catfish Charlie’s, the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, and the Dubuque Street Art Trail.