River Valley

In the midst of the pandemic summer, Allamakee County families were able to enjoy a safe, socially-distanced new outdoor opportunity. The New Albin Splash Pad, a play space that sprays, dumps, splashes and shoots water, opened in late August with an abundance of support from local residents and organizations, including the Allamakee County Community Foundation.

“The first day we opened the splash pad, it was almost 100 degrees outside, and children really flocked to it,” said Betsy Whitlatch of the New Albin Improvement League (NAIL), which organized the project. “We’ve heard great feedback that younger kids and older kids all have something engaging to play with on the splash pad.”

The Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) and the Mississippi Valley Sportsman Club will be hosting a Hunters Education Field Day Saturday, October 24 at the Mississippi Valley Sportsman Club in Lansing from 8-11 a.m. This will be a field day course to complete online hunters education requirements for anyone 17 years of age or younger.

Attendees must bring with them a certificate of completion of the online Iowa Hunters Education Course. To register for the field day, go to https://register-ed.com/events/view/162870. Registration for the field day is limited to 20 students. For more information on the Hunters Education Field Day, contact the Allamakee County Conservation Board at 563-538-0403.

With the year 2020 being unprecedented and unpredictable in so many aspects, the one thing that has remained constant is the mission of the Friends of Pool 9 (FOP9) organization. Since 2006, Friends of Pool 9 and its over 800 members have worked diligently to preserve the environment  of the Mississippi River within its boundary, educating young and old about this topic and promoting safe and responsible recreational use of the river.

Each year, FOP9 has sponsored activities such as a Mississippi Adventure Day for students, scholarships, spring river clean-up and island tree planting, to name just a few. Most recently, a team of members has been working to create a “no wake” zone that runs the length of the Lansing shore line.

The Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) and the Mississippi Valley Sportsman Club will be hosting a Hunters Education Field Day Saturday, October 24 at the Mississippi Valley Sportsman Club in Lansing from 8-11 a.m. This will be a field day course to complete online hunters education requirements for anyone 17 years of age or younger.

Attendees must bring with them a certificate of completion of the online Iowa Hunters Education Course. To register for the field day, go to https://register-ed.com/events/view/162870. Registration for the field day is limited to 20 students. For more information on the Hunters Education Field Day, contact the Allamakee County Conservation Board at 563-538-0403.

by Alexis Johnson

The regular meeting of the Lansing City Council was held Monday, October 5. The discussion centered around the consent agenda, budget amendment and the Parks report.

The consent agenda consisted of council meeting minutes from September 21, payment of claims, Marina Board minutes from September 29, 2020, and Parks Board minutes from September 21, 2020. A motion was made and seconded to approve the consent agenda with minimal discussion.

A public hearing started at 7:02 p.m. and ended at 7:04 p.m. to discuss budget amendment #1 for fiscal year 2021. A motion was made and seconded to approve the budget amendment.

Lansing Women in Business, in partnership with Main Street Lansing, will be hosting the first-ever “A Sip of Lansing” event this Friday, October 9 from 4-7 p.m. Participants will walk downtown Lansing and sample a variety of adult and alcohol-free beverages, while they enjoy exclusive shopping discounts.

Participating businesses may provide beverage samples, such as wine, beer, cocktails, soda, lemonade, hot chocolate, iced tea or any beverage a local business may dream up. Businesses may also provide discounts or coupons for future purchases, drawings or giveaways. It is up to each individual business owner how they will showcase their goods and services and serve attendees.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will be used by the Lansing Women In Business organization to support local charities. Tickets may be purchased in advance or the day of the event, and are available at Coffee on the River, Red Geranium, the Good Life Gallery and Lansing Fitness Center.

The Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) and the Mississippi Valley Sportsman Club will be hosting a Hunters Education Field Day Saturday, October 24 at the Mississippi Valley Sportsman Club in Lansing from 8-11 a.m. This will be a field day course to complete online hunters education requirements for anyone 17 years of age or younger.

Attendees must bring with them a certificate of completion of the online Iowa Hunters Education Course. To register for the field day, go to https://register-ed.com/events/view/162870. Registration for the field day is limited to 20 students. For more information on the Hunters Education Field Day, contact the Allamakee County Conservation Board at 563-538-0403.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

It’s not every 13 year-old who can already write a professional resumé that includes testimonials from satisfied clients.

Izzy Hammell, of Lansing, is among those who can. The young artist and designer - who markets and sells her work under the name, Candy Heart, Ink - has already had her designs commissioned and purchased for use on business logos and has sold print reproductions of her work. An eighth grader at Lansing Middle School, she has a seven year-old sister, Leona. Their parents are Nick and Melissa, owners of the Safe House Saloon and Simply Salon in Lansing.

Hammell says she doesn’t really remember a time when she didn’t like to draw; but, looking back, she does remember when she realized it might be more than that. “When I was about six my mom first taught me how to draw a person when I was really frustrated one night,” she recalls. “And then I just exploded into a million characters.”

Help Allamakee County 4-H reach its fundraising goal so the program can continue to support local county youth. The Allamakee County 4-H Endowment Fund is a non-profit organization that provides financial resources to develop, deliver and enhance quality 4-H youth programs throughout Allamakee County.

These opportunities help young people enhance their ability to use critical thinking, leadership, communication and social skills - tools that will give them a competitive edge in their future endeavors. This money will be used to supply materials, offer innovative programs, provide scholarships and financial support.

Allamakee County 4-H and its programs empower youth to reach their full potential through caring youth-adult partnerships; hands on, skill building projects and meaningful leadership opportunities. ISU Extension and Outreach - Allamakee County offers research-based youth development programs aimed at preparing young people for the future.

by Alexis Johnson

The regular meeting of the Lansing City Council was held Monday, September 21. The discussion centered around the consent agenda and the Street Department report.

The consent agenda consisted of council meeting minutes from September 8. A motion was made and seconded with minimal discussion to approve the consent agenda.

Dead trees were taken down at the city swimming pool, and the pool is being winterized now that the summer season is over. There is a low amount of water that has been left in the pool to help with keeping the cement structure stabilized. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Street Department report.