River Valley

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in alignment with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for public health and safety, Effigy Mounds National Monument has closed the Visitor Center and all indoor facilities to the public, effective immediately.

Park trails will remain open, including the North Unit trail system to Fire Point and Hanging Rock, and the South Unit trail system to the Marching Bear Group. All trails are open daily from dawn to dusk.

Rangers will be present at various times during the day to answer questions, weather and staffing permitting. Visitors can also call the Visitor Center at 563-873-3491 for additional information.

by Alexis Johnson

The regular meeting of the Lansing City Council was held Monday, March 16. The discussion centered around the consent agenda, budgets for the 2021 year and the Parks report. A motion was made and seconded to approve the consent agenda consisting of several items.

An open public hearing for budget FY21 started at 7:03 p.m. and closed at 7:40 p.m. Following discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve the budget hearing.

Former Kee High School softball players Makayla Walleser and Katie Brennan will be hired to be the assistant coaches for the summer recreation softball program. Harvey Ekern will be hired as the summer recreation baseball coach. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Parks report.

Open 4 Business contest will still happen

The Main Street Lansing Annual Meeting and Dinner scheduled for this Saturday, March 21 at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall in Lansing has been postponed, according to a statement released by Main Street Lansing Executive Director Andy Kelleher. The released statement reads, in part:
“A number of people have reached out to ask us about the status of our upcoming events in light of COVID-19. We have been in communication with our county public health officials, and we’ve been monitoring the Iowa Department of Public Health information.

The City of Lansing is taking all steps necessary to ensure the continuation of public services during this potential health concern. Effective immediately, all City departments are closed to walk-in traffic.

The Public Restrooms have not been opened for the season and will remain closed until further notice. Library activities are canceled and hours have been reduced. The Lansing City Council and Administration will evaluate risk and appropriate action as the days follow.

The City is working in cooperation with and following the direction of the Iowa Department of Public Health and Allamakee County Emergency Management in taking all necessary steps to provide for public safety and the continuation of essential, critical City services. Staff shall follow specific procedures to help limit the exposure or spread of COVID19 within their respective departments and the City overall.

The Seventh Annual Official Allamakee County Chili Cook-Off, sponsored by Main Street Lansing, KNEI Radio and The Copy Shoppe/JaDecc’S, was held Saturday, February 29 at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall in Lansing. Over 60 people came to taste the chili, listen to live music by JR Brink and select the winners.

For the business division, first place went to Kerndt Brothers Bank. Representing the bank, Julie Papp (left in above photo) received the business trophy to display for the next year. In the individual division, first place ($200) went to Owen Buckmaster (right in above photo), second place ($75) went to Kevin Hall and third place ($25) went to Monica and Jennifer Davis. Submitted photo.
 

Monday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m., Main Street Lansing, in partnership with Main Street Iowa, will be offering a Marketing for Small Business class at the Kerndt Brothers Community Center on Main Street in Lansing. This class is free to the public and will be taught by Robin Bostrom, Business Specialist with Main Street Iowa.

Everything done as a small business owner helps build a unique brand and markets that business to the public. Attend this class to learn about all the ways a small business can market itself without spending a great deal of money. Attendees will hear about the current trends affecting small business and be exposed to a considerable number of examples on what they can do to better market their business in 2020.

Contact Main Street Lansing Executive Director Andy Kelleher for more information at 563-538-9229 or email director@lansingmatters.com.
 

by Alexis Johnson

The Lansing City Council met in special session Wednesday, March 4. The meeting discussion centered around a Main Street Matters update and reports from the Parks Board and City Clerk.

Main Street Matters is working on updating the Lansing website, which should be completed soon. The hope is to provide more information about Lansing and what is happening in the community.

Angel Walleser was appointed to the Parks Board. That board is still in need of one more person to be completely filled. It was also reported that the local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops will continue operating the concession stands during the summer youth recreation season and Lansing Fish Days. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Parks Board report.

The 12th Annual Bald Eagle Watching Day is scheduled to be held Saturday, March 7 in Ferryville, WI at the Village Community Center located on State Highway 35 “The Great River Road”.  This program is sponsored by the Ferryville Tourism Council, co-sponsored by Friends of Pool 9, and is free to the public to attend.

Event activities are scheduled to take place from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., with doors opening at 9 a.m. Returning to the program is the Decorah Raptor Resource Project/Decorah Eagle Cam organization presenting at 12:30 p.m. on “Rehabbing the 2019 Eagles”.  John Howe and Amy Reis of the Raptor Resource Project and their team tell about these frisky eaglets and how they recovered from injury to fly the Mississippi River Valley once again.

Waukon native and Ulysses S. Grant portrayer Pete Grady (pictured here) will present a show entitled “Unconditional Surrender: A visit with Ulysses S. Grant” Saturday, March 14 at 11 a.m. at the New Albin Community Center. The presentation will feature Grant’s childhood in Ohio on through to the final years of his life, when he struggled to complete his autobiography while dying of throat cancer. The event is free and everyone is welcome to attend. Submitted photo.
 

Local business can win $2,000 prize in Open 4 Business contest

The Main Street Lansing Annual Meeting and Dinner is set for Saturday, March 21 at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall on Main Street in Lansing. New this year is a contest that will award $2,000 to a local business in an Open 4 Business: Fish Tank Edition contest.

Open 4 Business is a statewide contest sponsored by Main Street Iowa, with potential winnings of $28,000 in grant funds. Any business located within a designated Main Street District and in operation for at least one year is eligible. Funds can be used for things like inventory, equipment, marketing, computers and software.