River Valley

Chautauqua is defined as an experience that provides popular education and entertainment. The Ferryville Tourism Council will be presenting a Chautauqua Summer Series for 2018. Each event will be held at the Ferryville Village Hall at the south end of town beginning at 8 p.m. with refreshments and time for visiting.

The first program of the series will be Wednesday, June 20 at 8 p.m. Barbara Kailean Welsh will be the featured guest. She grew up just outside of Lansing, and she now lives in Viroqua, WI. She is the author of a biography of Harriet Hosmer, a woman whose name is forever connected to the Lansing area.

Harriet Hosmer never lived in Lansing, and in fact, only visited once for a short time.  So why, one might wonder, is one of the most famous landmarks in Lansing named Mount Hosmer? Those who come to the June 20 Chautauqua program in Ferryville, WI will find out.

Friday, June 22 - the day after summer solstice, the public is invited to hear Carl Bracken give the talk “Reasons for Seasons and Summer Skies” at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library, located at 515 Main Street in Lansing. He’ll explain why planet Earth enjoys four distinct astronomical and climatologist seasons, helping listeners better understand the night skies.

Telescopes will be available for viewing the stars. This is a program for kids and adults. Bracken is a member of the Cedar Amateur Astronomers (CAA) in Cedar Rapids, whose mission is to share its members’ passion for observing, studying and imaging the cosmos.

The free program will begin at 7:30 p.m. - note the change in time due to viewing of the night sky. The program will be preceded by a light supper with a freewill offering. For more information about the program contact Library Director Derva Burke at 563-538-4693.
 

Friday, June 22 - the day after summer solstice, the public is invited to hear Carl Bracken give the talk “Reasons for Seasons and Summer Skies” at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library, located at 515 Main Street in Lansing. He’ll explain why planet Earth enjoys four distinct astronomical and climatologist seasons, helping listeners better understand the night skies.

Telescopes will be available for viewing the stars. This is a program for kids and adults. Bracken is a member of the Cedar Amateur Astronomers (CAA) in Cedar Rapids, whose mission is to share its members’ passion for observing, studying and imaging the cosmos.

The free program will begin at 7:30 p.m. - note the change in time due to viewing of the night sky. The program will be preceded by a light supper with a freewill offering. For more information about the program contact Library Director Derva Burke at 563-538-4693.
 

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing will be hosting Gary Eldred of The Prairie Enthusiasts for an interactive flint knapping demonstration Saturday, June 9 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Along with Eldred will be other Driftless Area residents who share a passion for flint knapping and bow making in traditional Native American styles.

Flint knapping is the art of making arrowheads, knives and other tools using chipped rock and stones in the same manner Native Americans have done for thousands of years. The demonstration will be free of charge and will be ongoing throughout the day. Visitors to the Driftless Center are encouraged to ask questions and interact with the demonstrators while they are working.

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center is located at 1944 Columbus Road, Lansing and is an interpretive center highlighting the Driftless Area of Allamakee County. The building is open seven days a week and is free for all visitors.

The community is invited to give back and help save lives by donating blood this Friday, June 8 from 1-6 p.m. at the Kerndt Brothers Community Center located on Main Street in Lansing. To make an appointment or to learn more about blood donation, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements in order to donate blood.
 

As part of the “Allamakee Libraries Rock” program, Dolores Tillinghast Memorial Library in Harpers Ferry is hosting a series of events as part of its Kids Summer Reading Program. The following events are scheduled to take place at the library, unless otherwise indicated:

The community is invited to give back and help save lives by donating blood Friday, June 8 from 1-6 p.m. at the Kerndt Brothers Community Center located on Main Street in Lansing. To make an appointment or to learn more, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767.
 

As part of the “Allamakee Libraries Rock” program, Dolores Tillinghast Memorial Library in Harpers Ferry is hosting a series of events as part of its Kids Summer Reading Program. The following events are scheduled to take place at the library, unless otherwise indicated:

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

Tuesday, May 15 at Kee High School in Lansing, area residents attended a second open forum meeting hosted by the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) in regard to the potential replacement of the Black Hawk Bridge at Lansing. The first meeting held last August collected opinions about potential designs.

This May 15 meeting had more details about the alternatives under consideration and the issues which need to be addressed in selecting the best alternative. In addition, the DOT wants to be transparent as to what the next steps in this process are.

by Macie Hill

The Lansing City Council held its regular meeting Monday, May 21. Discussion centered around the final reading of the franchise agreement with Alliant Energy, approval of the Municipal Tool and Pipe Contract, reviewing seal coating bids and setting annual salaries and wages for union and non-union employees.

The third and final reading of Ordinance #199 repealing Ordinance #124 and starting a 25-year franchise agreement with Interstate Power was read at the meeting. The council made and seconded a motion to approve the Municipal Tool and Pipe Contract to lock in pricing for manhole rehabilitation throughout City street areas.

After reviewing and considering chip seal bids, the council approved Scott Construction Inc. to asphalt chip seal several streets in the city. Center Street, Seventh Street, Shaw Street and Cross Street are scheduled to receive the chip seal coating this summer.