River Valley

by Macie Hill

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, February 5. Discussion centered around an engineering proposal for the Clear Creek Project and a WHKS radium proposal.

John Beiderman was at the meeting proposing a FEMA-approved Clear Creek project which involved creating a new gravity main with a lift station. Beiderman stated that, “By redoing the gravity line as it crosses under the creek and getting that significantly deeper, the erosion problem should go away with the depth we will be at.” This plan would cost approximately $406,383. Discussion by the council concerning this proposal will be held at a future meeting.

by Shirley Darling

We who are lucky enough to live within eyesight of this beautiful “Father of Waters” have much to share with others. One could be persuaded to think that the course of the Mississippi River has been the same for eons and gives us nothing new at which to marvel.

For eons, the waters have traced a southward journey from the river's source in Lake Itasca, MN to its final emptying into the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana.  Sounds like a ho-hum trip day after day with no change worthy of notice.

So, what’s the big deal?

That question can be answered with a quote from Lansing resident Steve Casterton, whose home overlooks this river. In Steve’s words, “the view from my front yard changes every five minutes.”

That’s not a claim that can be made by every home owner, but those with a view much like Steve’s know that his claim is no exaggeration.  That view, literally, does change every five minutes.

Editor's Note: The following article was first published in the December 31, 2017 issue of the La Crosse Tribune and is being reprinted here with permission of that publication. Mary Meehan-Strub, the subject of the article, is a Harpers Ferry area native, the daughter of the late Lloyd and Ethel Meehan. She is married to Lansing area native Dennis Strub.

by Randy Erickson
La Crosse Tribune

In the spring of 1976, life took Mary Meehan-Strub in a direction she wasn’t exactly expecting to go. But there’s something about Meehan-Strub - a combination of work ethic, determination, intelligence and sense of mission - that almost guaranteed she’d succeed whatever path she took.

The Nightcrawlers Forever committee is planning its annual community benefit potluck to be held at T.J.'s Banquet Center in Lansing Sunday, February 25. A pork dinner, kid's games, silent auction and raffles will be starting at 11 a.m., with an auction to begin at 1:30 p.m.

The committee members appreciate the support of the many local businesses and individuals who have made this event successful in the past. Those who have not contributed in the past are asked to consider a donation to this year's event. Contributions can be made either in the form of cash or merchandise.

The Lansing ice harvest scheduled for Saturday, January 27 has been rescheduled to February 10 due to poor ice conditions. The Allamakee County Conservation Board, along with Karen and Gary Galema of Lansing, will now be hosting an Ice Harvest Demonstration at Village Creek State Boat Landing on the south edge of Lansing Saturday, February 10. The ice harvest demonstration will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Anyone who is interested in the event is asked to park in the boat landing parking lot and walk to the boat ramp area.

Harvesting ice during the winter months was important before modern refrigeration was found in households, and Lansing was home to seven different ice houses throughout the period. Ice houses were large, stone buildings where the ice could be stored, buried in saw dust for use during the hot summer months. The demonstration will be performed using equipment that was used during ice harvests in and around Lansing from the 1900s to the 1950s.

Sunday, January 7, the Lansing Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Front Street in Lansing involving a vehicle operated by Geramia Swadley of Soldiers Grove, WI. While the traffic stop was being conducted, Swadley and a female passenger fled on foot into a nearby residence. Swadley was later apprehended inside the residence, but the female is still at large. Anyone who may know the whereabouts of the female associated with Swadley in regard to this incident may contact the Lansing Police Department or the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department

The Kee High School Post Prom Committee will host Bingo Sunday, February 11 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 food item to be donated to the Allamakee County Food Shelf and play an extra Bingo card free. All players will be eligible for door prizes.  Proceeds will be used to fund Post Prom prizes and entertainment.
 

by Macie Hill

The Lansing City Council met in another brief regular session Monday evening, January 15. Discussion at the meeting was centered around Tony Becker being appointed as Lansing Fire Chief, as well as the consideration of writing an Allamakee County Community Foundation Grant for the City Police Department.

The council reviewed and considered appointing Tony Becker to the position of Lansing Fire Chief once again. After further discussion that included making sure all the members of the Lansing Volunteer Fire Department had voted, Becker was officially appointed.

A motion was made to allow the City to apply for an Allamakee County Community Foundation Grant for the purchase of new body armor for officers in the City Police Department, as well as for the purchase of both a brush guard and an interior cage for the new police vehicle. The motion was approved and the grant will be pursued, with an application deadline of February 1.
 

The Nightcrawlers Forever committee is planning its annual community benefit potluck to be held at T.J.'s Banquet Center in Lansing Sunday, February 25. A pork dinner, kid's games, silent auction and raffles will be starting at 11 a.m., with an auction to begin at 1:30 p.m.
The committee members appreciate the support of the many local businesses and individuals who have made this event successful in the past. Those who have not contributed in the past are asked to consider a donation to this year's event. Contributions can be made either in the form of cash or merchandise.

by Macie Hill

The Lansing City Council met for a very brief, 20-minute regular session Tuesday, January 2 due to the New Year's Day holiday falling on the council's usual meeting night of Monday. Discussion centered around welcoming newly-elected members to the council and the City needing a new plow truck.

Mayor Mike Brennan welcomed the new members of the Lansing City Council elected this past November in the City Election. Deb Volker, Mike Manning and Justin Shepard each took their respective seats for the first time to begin their new terms as city council members.

City Street Supervisor Ken Ripp asked the council to take into consideration buying a new plow truck because the current truck is rusting badly and has ongoing mechanical issues.