River Valley

by Alexis Johnson

The regular meeting of the Lansing City Council was held Monday, January 18. The meeting centered around the consent agenda, citizen’s action, PeopleService, police report and parks report.

Citizen’s actions consisted of an update on the Walleser property in regard to it becoming a potential subdivision with guidelines including road widths and directed sewer routes. A motion was made and seconded to continue moving forward with the proposed plan.

A heater that went out at the Lansing swimming pool has recently been replaced. When warmer weather was around, crews jetted the City sewers and everything is working as it should. A motion was made and seconded to approve the PeopleService report.

Lansing’s VFW Auxiliary #5981 is continuing to seek entries for its scholarship contest for local art students in ninth through 12th grades. Patriotic students in ninth through 12th grades with a passion for art are encouraged to enter the 2020-2021 VFW Auxiliary Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest.

Students will compete with other student artists from across the nation for a chance to win one of 10 national scholarships. The first-place winner receives a $15,000 scholarship.

To request entry forms or for additional information about the contest email vfwauxiliarylansing@gmail.com. Entries must then be submitted to vfwauxiliarylansing@gmail.com no later than midnight March 31, 2021.
 

The Ferryville Vision and Promotion Board has made the decision to cancel its annual Sweetheart Pancake Breakfast originally scheduled for February 13 at the Ferryville Village Hall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board looks forward to hosting the breakfast again in 2022.
 

Join the Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) for a Fullmoon Snowshoe Hike January 28 at 7 p.m.  The hike will take place on County Road 527, a level B dead end road that travels along the Mississippi River for approximately two miles. Participants should meet at the Allamakee County rural recycling drop-off location near the Alliant Lansing power plant.

The Fullmoon Snowshoe will be a guided trail hike taking place after dark to enable the participants to see the stars and full moon like they have never seen before. The event requires preregistration for those wishing to use snowshoes provided by the ACCB and is open to all ages. However, anyone under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. In the case of inclement weather or poor snow conditions, the Fullmoon Snowshoe may be postponed or canceled and will be announced on ACCB’s Facebook page.

The Harpers Ferry Youth Ice Fishing Clinic sponsored by the Harpers Ferry Boosters Club and the Allamakee County Conservation Board will be at Nobles Island Boat Access, located at 645 Hwy. 364, Harpers Ferry, Sunday, January 31.  Registration for youth aged 15 and under will begin at 11 a.m. and fishing will take place until 2 p.m.

Youth participating in the clinic may use their own equipment, but ice fishing equipment will also be available to youth who do not have their own. Food and drink will be available for those participating in the clinic. Prizes will be awarded to participants in each of three age groups.

Kee High School Student Council is holding a second blood drive this school year to help offset the critical need for blood in the local area. The money earned from each blood drive is dedicated for scholarship funds for Kee High School students.

The next Kee High School Blood Drive is scheduled for Friday, February 26 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Kee High School gym in Lansing. To make an appointment to give blood, visit redcrossblood.org or call Allison Fitzwater at 563-538-4201, ext. 111.
 

The Lansing City Council met in its first regular session of the new year Monday, January 4. The meeting took approximately 20 minutes and addressed two main decisions as agenda items to start the new year.

The council voted to approve a 1.2% increase in the amount paid to People’s Service for the company’s contracted operations and maintenance in regard to the City’s water/wastewaster systems. The council also approved a wage increase for seasonal snowplow help from the current rate of $11 per hour to a new rate of $16.50 per hour for the current winter season.
 

The Lansing Volunteer Fire Department met Thursday, January 7 and held its annual election of officers for the new year. Those election results for each particular office are as follows:
Chief - Stephen Darling
Assistant Chief - Troy Hill
Second Assistant Chief - Keith Schwartzhoff
Secretary - Ben Verdon
Treasurer - Jamie Rasque
President - Chubby Mohn
Vice President - Ben Ghelf
Training Officer - Joe Manning
Safety Officer - Kenny Johnson
Trustees - Nick Hammell, Tony Becker and Eric Rowan.
 

Join the Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) for a Fullmoon Snowshoe Hike January 28 at 7 p.m.  The hike will take place on County Road 527, a level B dead end road that travels along the Mississippi River for approximately two miles. Participants should meet at the Allamakee County rural recycling drop-off location near the Alliant Lansing power plant.

The Fullmoon Snowshoe will be a guided trail hike taking place after dark to enable the participants to see the stars and full moon like they have never seen before. The event requires preregistration for those wishing to use snowshoes provided by the ACCB and is open to all ages. However, anyone under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. In the case of inclement weather or poor snow conditions, the Fullmoon Snowshoe may be postponed or canceled and will be announced on ACCB’s Facebook page.

The Lansing FFA Chapter at Kee High School partnered with Carquest/Lansing Auto Parts and owner Dave Moritz to win the first-ever Adopt-a-Pot holiday competition in Lansing. The Adopt-a-Pot program, sponsored by Main Street Lansing, involved local businesses partnering with community organizations to decorate a total of 18 flower pots along Main Street with holiday decorations. Main Street Lansing provided each participant a four-foot pine tree and solar-powered holiday lights, and each group let their imaginations design the rest of the tree’s decorated theme.