River Valley

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During the regular meeting of the Lansing City Council Monday, September 5, Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) Executive Director Val Reinke spoke about the Allamakee County Housing Study being undertaken by ACED in partnership with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC). She encouraged all county residents to participate in the study by completing a housing needs survey.

Friday, September 15 at 1 p.m., the Lansing VFW Post and Auxiliary and the Lansing American Legion Post #50 will commemorate National POW/MIA Recognition Day with a Missing Man Ceremony and Dedication of the Ralph Bartels Patio located next to the shelter on Mt. Hosmer in Lansing.

Ralph Bartels was a member of the Lansing Gustave F. Kerndt VFW Post #5981 and served for 50 years as Post Adjutant in the Lansing American Legion #50.

Everyone is invited to attend this special ceremony. The Missing Man ceremony honors those still missing from this Nation’s past wars and conflicts, as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice and whose remains have not yet been recovered and returned home to the country they served.
 

Friday, September 15 at 1 p.m., the Lansing VFW Post and Auxiliary and the Lansing American Legion Post #50 will commemorate National POW/MIA Recognition Day with a Missing Man Ceremony and Dedication of the Ralph Bartels Patio located next to the shelter on Mt. Hosmer in Lansing.

Ralph Bartels was a member of the Lansing Gustave F. Kerndt VFW Post #5981 and served for 50 years as Post Adjutant in the Lansing American Legion #50.

Everyone is invited to attend this special ceremony. The Missing Man ceremony honors those still missing from this Nation’s past wars and conflicts, as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice and whose remains have not yet been recovered and returned home to the country they served.
 

Commander Dan Hanson of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the U.S. Post Gustave F. Kerndt #5981 announces the kick-off of this year’s VFW’s Voice of Democracy Scholarship competition. Local high school students have the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and a trip to Washington, D.C.

Prizes and scholarships are awarded at the Post, District, State and National level. All State first-place winners receive a four-day trip to Washington, D.C., to tour the city, be honored by the VFW and its Auxiliary and receive their portion of $171,000 in national awards, the top scholarship being $35,000.

Students must record a three-to-five minute audio essay on a flash drive and submit the recording, typed essay and completed entry form to their local VFW Post by October 31 of this year.  The 2023 theme selected is “What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?”

The Lansing Women in Business Group will host its 3rd Annual Fall Fashion Show Friday, September 15 from 6-9 p.m. at Coffee on The River in Lansing. This event will feature local boutiques and salons, along with regional businesses.

Ticket sales are through September 14 and can be purchased at Coffee On The River, or online via www.Eventbrite.com (search for Lansing Iowa events and the Fall Fashion Show will list). Each ticket holder will enjoy an evening of fun and fashion with hors d’oeuvres, a glass of wine and door prizes. Tickets have been limited to 50 guests for 2023. There will not be any day-of or door sales.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During the regular meeting of the Lansing City Council held Monday, August 21, Mayor Melissa Hammell read Ordinance No. 206 - amending Title VI, Chapter 5 of the Municipal Code of the City of Lansing regarding utility rates - for the second and final time. The council approved waiving the third reading of the ordinance. A copy of Ordinance No. 206 is on file at Lansing City Hall and a summary of the ordinance is printed on Page 28 in this week’s edition of The Standard.

PLATT STREET PROJECT
Ryan Wicks, a principal with Fehr Graham Engineering and Environmental and manager of its West Union office, presented the company’s proposal for the Platt Street project. The project involves the replacement/upgrade of existing water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer utilities along Platt Street, North Street and 4th Street.

Saturday, September 9, family and friends of lifelong resident and local “River Rat” Pat Sandry will be honoring his memory with the Sixth Annual Pat Sandry Memorial Fishing Derby and Friends of Pool 9 Fundraiser held on the Mississippi River. Sandry passed away in November of 2017 after a short, courageous battle with cancer. He thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors, had a great passion for fishing and hunting, and he truly treasured the beauty of Lansing and the surrounding area.

Entry fee is $50 per boat with 50% payback in prize money and 50% being donated to Friends of Pool 9. There is a limit of two adults and two children per boat.

The Ferryville Tourism Council has announced a bonus program for its annual Summer Chautauqua Series. Wednesday, September 13, a fourth program will be offered in the series.

Dr. Patrick Jung, a professor of history and cultural anthropology at the Milwaukee School of Engineering will conduct a presentation entitled: “The Massacre at Bad Axe: Understanding the Final Battle of the Black Hawk War in 1832”. This presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Ferryville Village Hall on the south end of the village along Hwy. 35.

Dr. Jung has recently completed a three-part series on Father Marquette for the 350th anniversary of the founding of Prairie du Chien, WI. These very interesting articles were published in the Crawford County Independent newspaper and included great details.

by Ellen Modersohn

Main Street America is changing how it evaluates communities for accreditation with the organization. Jackie Swihart, program officer for revitalization services with Main Street America, and Carol Lilly, with Main Street Iowa, were in Lansing Wednesday, August 16, to explain the new process and standards. They toured Lansing’s downtown and met throughout the day with the Main Street Lansing Board and director, city council members and area volunteers.

Lansing is one of 54 Main Street-accredited cities affiliated with the Main Street Iowa coordinating program, which is part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Forty-six coordinating programs partner with the National Main Street Center to provide support and training to Main Street America communities across the country, such as Main Street Lansing.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

After an extended conversation with artist Erik Burke - whose mural, “Reverse Effigy,” commissioned by Main Street Lansing in 2022, is now the aesthetic centerpiece of the recently completed Main Street Plaza in downtown Lansing, it’s easy for people to feel like they’ve made a new friend. He’s just that kind of guy: Down-to-earth, friendly, funny, interested in the people and places he meets on his travels. And make no mistake: His travels and his artwork go hand-in-hand. “I love traveling - going to new places,” Burke says. “It could be a 20-minute drive and I meet the right person, at the right time - or wrong time, sometimes. Sometimes, the wrong time is the right time.” These are the words of someone who is open to whatever new thing there is to learn, along his way. “There’s just nothing like traveling,” he says. “It’s like being outside yourself and kind of re-discovering yourself and what’s important to you.”