River Valley

Life can be challenging. It’s helpful to hear how people have overcome or learned to live with their challenges. That’s the idea behind the “When Relationships Change” program offered free to the public.

The program has been in existence for several years and is next scheduled for Sunday, April 19 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing, beginning with a meal at 5 p.m. followed by a featured speaker. The speaker for the April 19 event will be Jeremy Smerud, a 2000 Kee High School graduate and the son of Denise and Cullen Becker and David Smerud.

Jeremy Smerud is currently working for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Volunteer Administrator in Des Moines. He was a resident of Lansing prior to his enlistment and retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2012. Following his service, Smerud returned to Lansing where he became involved in local youth activities and mentorship programs, most notably the Boy Scouts of America.

Main Street Lansing welcomed a new business to the downtown district with a ribbon cutting and First Dollar presentation for LP Styles LLC, owned and operated by local entrepreneur Lilly Peterson. A Lansing native and graduate of Kee High School, Peterson pursued her passion for hairstyling at the Salon Professional Academy in Onalaska, WI. Her dream of opening a salon in her hometown has now come full circle.

Located inside the Driftless Edit storefront at 211 Main Street in Lansing, LP Styles brings professional hair services and a hometown touch to the community. As pictured in the photo above, friends, family, and community members gathered to celebrate Peterson’s accomplishment and officially welcome her business to the Main Street Lansing business district.

The congregation of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing invites the community to take part in a meaningful Good Friday tradition: the Justice and Peace Stations of the Cross, scheduled to be held this year Friday, April 3, beginning at 10 a.m. at the church, located at 480 Diagonal Street in Lansing.

Now in its sixth year, this contemplative prayer walk offers participants an opportunity to reflect on the suffering of Christ alongside the ongoing struggles faced in the world today. The walk begins at the church and moves through the heart of Lansing, making 12 stops along the way for prayer, song, and reflection before concluding near the Mississippi River.

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council convened Monday, March 16 to address a blend of long-term infrastructure strategies and immediate seasonal issues. During the meeting, council members received an update on the Main Street project, established a public hearing date regarding potential utility rate increases, approved a variance request, and discussed marina parking and enforcement in anticipation of the summer season.
 
DAVY ENGINEERING UPDATE
Alex Jaromin of Davy Engineering provided an update on the engineering aspects of the upcoming Main Street/Highway 9 project. He informed the council that the city remains in the planning and funding-positioning stage, with bidding anticipated to begin in 2028. The materials presented to the council included a summary of the preliminary engineering report and the foundational financing required to advance the project toward State Revolving Fund and grant consideration.

Main Street Lansing is inviting residents, business owners, and community partners to attend its Annual Public Meeting Monday, March 30 from 6-7 p.m. at TJ Hunter’s in downtown Lansing. This open meeting is an opportunity for the public to learn about the work Main Street Lansing has accomplished over the past year, hear updates on downtown initiatives, and learn about the organization’s vision for the future of Lansing.

Community members will also have the chance to hear from board leadership, celebrate individuals making a difference in the community, and share their own thoughts during a public comment period.

“Main Street Lansing is built on community collaboration,” said Chris Troendle, President of Main Street Lansing’s Board of Directors. “Our annual meeting is a chance to reflect on the progress we’ve made together and invite residents to be part of the conversations shaping the future of downtown Lansing.”

The annual Eagle Day in Ferryville, WI is taking place this Saturday, March 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Ferryville Village Hall, co-sponsored by the Ferryville Tourism Council and the Friends of Pool 9.  The chairwoman again this year will be Monique Gonzalez with Lori Novelli as co-chair, and the emcee will be Bob Schmidt.

A program of events for the whole family will showcase the lives of eagles. Events during the day include nest building, a program on duck identification, details about the Raptor Resource Project with the Decorah Eagles, and a live bird program at 1 p.m. with the birds coming from the River Valley Raptors.

Main Street Lansing is inviting residents, business owners, and community partners to attend its Annual Public Meeting Monday, March 30 from 6-7 p.m. at TJ Hunter’s in downtown Lansing. This open meeting is an opportunity for the public to learn about the work Main Street Lansing has accomplished over the past year, hear updates on downtown initiatives, and learn about the organization’s vision for the future of Lansing.

Community members will also have the chance to hear from board leadership, celebrate individuals making a difference in the community, and share their own thoughts during a public comment period.

“Main Street Lansing is built on community collaboration,” said Chris Troendle, President of Main Street Lansing’s Board of Directors. “Our annual meeting is a chance to reflect on the progress we’ve made together and invite residents to be part of the conversations shaping the future of downtown Lansing.”

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, March 2, addressing a variety of matters. Among those was the scheduling of a public hearing for the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) property tax levy, decisions on a public works vehicle purchase and demolition of the former city hall building, and a citizen concern about water service.

The meeting commenced with a brief community recognition prior to addressing the scheduled agenda items. Mayor ProTem Mike Manning acknowledged the recent success of the Kee High School girls basketball team and the team’s upcoming participation in the State Tournament scheduled for Wednesday, March 4. Manning recognized this achievement as both an honor for the team and the community, stating, “Congratulations to the Kee High basketball team on their date with State. They’re going down Wednesday. This is a big honor for them.”

by Joshua Sharpe

Lansing City Council members convened Monday, February 16 for a regular session that encompassed a range of fiscal actions, approvals for parks and recreation, environmental land management planning, and updates from city partners. The meeting featured discussions on the city’s budget amendment and capital project funding, including specific financial figures.

BUDGET AMENDMENT HEARING, APPROVAL
The meeting opened with a public hearing regarding an amendment to the city budget. No comments or concerns were expressed by the public during the hearing, which was then closed and moved the meeting into approval of that amendment.

Connections with area’s natural amenities, neighboring communities offer further enhancement

by Joshua Sharpe

From the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River near De Soto, WI, the Driftless landscape changes by the hour. On some winter mornings, fog settles so thick in the valley that the river and lowlands disappear entirely. From above, the scene becomes a band of treetops and sky, with eagles occasionally lifting over the ridge on steady currents.

Riverscape Vacation Rentals owner Kari Beeman said those mornings can feel almost unreal - looking down, you see “nothing but clouds” because “you are above the clouds.”