River Valley

The Taste of Lansing retail promotion will take place Thursday, May 12 from 4-8 p.m. Stores will stay open late that night so that patrons can visit the Lansing downtown stores to taste various tidbits at each store and see what’s new for spring and summer. Tasting samples available at each location will vary, with each participating store offering a different “Taste”.

New this year, businesses that are outside of the downtown area will have tables at the Kerndt Brothers Community Center to offer samples and also hand out coupons and other promotional material. Passports to enjoy all the “tastes” and shopping are available for purchase from the Main Street Lansing office and also the Red Geranium. Completed passports can then be turned into the last stop on the passport holder’s tour to be entered into a drawing for Downtown Lansing Dollars.

Two Kee High School junior students from Lansing, Daniel Brennan and Thomas Martin, have been selected to attend Boys State being held the June 12th-17 at Fort Dodge in Johnston. Local selection of attendees is sponsored by the Lansing Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5981 and Lansing American Legion Post 50.

Brennan is the son of Mike and Kerry Brennan of Lansing. Martin is the son of Andy and Marie Martin of Lansing.

Begun in 1938, Boys State is a six-day course in self government, consistently taught with a hands-on approach. The young men of 2016 Boys State, all of whom will have finished their junior year of high school, will be divided into 32 cities. Four cities constitute a county and eight counties make up Boys State. The cities are composed of members of the Nationalist and Federalist parties. The citizens within these cities hold party caucus meetings, conventions, campaigns and general elections.

by B.J. Tomlinson

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday night, April 18. The Council reviewed and approved two requests from Lansing Fire Chief Tony Becker, both related to department training. One request was to close Valley Street for a few hours this Saturday, April 23  for house fire training and the other was to park a confined space trailer at the Sports Complex April 30-May 1 for training purposes.

The Council voted to advertise three City-owned vehicles and related equipment via a bidding process. The vehicles, which are older and no longer needed, include a 1996 Chevy 3500 flatbed truck with hoist and Meyer snow plow, a 1988 GMC 6000 flatbed with hoist and Meyer snow plow, and a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria. All three vehicles will be sold “as is”.

“Full Steam Ahead!”  That’s Main Street Lansing’s motto going into 2016 and 2017. Main Street Lansing plans to continue with its successful programs and events such as Winterfest, which even with spring-like temperatures earlier this year doubled its participation from last year. New events include the Peak to Peak Leaf Tour, the Scarecrow Contest and the Driftless Area Biggest Pumpkin Contest, which will be in partnership with TASC of Waukon.

Also moving full steam ahead is a project that will have a lasting impact much further than Lansing, the Allamakee County Conservation Foundation’s Driftless Education and Visitor Center. This development is anticipated to bring increased tourism as people from near and far come to Lansing to learn about the Driftless geography, animal life and history.

Spring has arrived and so have the summer feathered visitors: the spring migratory birds. Ferryville Tourism Council and the Mississippi Valley Conservancy are co-sponsoring the third annual Spring Migration Day Hike at Sugar Creek Bluff in Ferryville Saturday, May 7.

Mayo Health Systems is the corporate sponsor of this “Linked to the Land” hike.  Expert guides will be leading the groups and listening for the cheerful birdsong in the woods. This is a fairly level walk and is very family friendly. Last year’s hike was featured in the recent episode of Discover Wisconsin!  Crawford, Grant, and Vernon Counties were showcased and designated as a “Discover Wisconsin 2016 Choice Destination”.

Participants should plan to meet at the Ferryville Village Hall (south end of town along Hwy. 35) at 7:30 a.m. for handouts, treats, coffee and water. They will then carpool to the trailhead on Big Buck Creek Road for the 8-10 a.m. hike.

Patients hear her friendly voice every time they call to make an appointment and see her friendly smile every time they enter the Gundersen Lansing Clinic. Faye Halverson has been there since day one - April 1, 1996 - in her role as office manager. This month, Halverson and the rest of the staff at the Lansing Clinic are celebrating 20 years of caring for the Lansing community.

“Having this clinic in Lansing is important for the community’s growth and for providing primary care services in close proximity to La Crosse and the surrounding tri-state area,” comments Halverson.

When the Lansing Clinic opened in 1996, it was a big deal to the community. Lansing had been without a medical clinic since 1991 when Dale Wicklund, MD closed his private practice when he was called to active duty.

by Sue English

Mother River is ready to start spring cleaning and Friends of Pool 9 (FOP9) will be there to help, but they can’t do it alone.

Since 2004, FOP9 has sponsored a spring river clean-up day within Pool 9 of the Mississippi River. Since that year, over 120,000 pounds of debris have been collected. This wasn’t done by just a few volunteers. Over 7,000 volunteer hours have gone into this project saving approximately $140,000 in work-related costs. Last year alone, a record breaking 20,000 pounds of accumulated garbage was harvested.

Young and old, fathers, mothers, grandparents and kids are urged to join FOP9 Saturday, April 30 in this valuable endeavor.  Both people and boats are needed. Participants gather at the Lansing VFW building (across from the ball diamond) on Front Street in Lansing at 7:30 a.m. for registration, orientation, clean-up assignment and to receive clean up supplies.  Canvas gloves, garbage bags and water are provided.

Hannah Lee Chapter National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), in partnership with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, presented a Vietnam Veterans Recognition day Friday, April 1.  The event took place at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Decorah. More than 80 veterans, guests and DAR members attended the recognition event.

The Presentation of the Colors by DAR member Wendy Novak and Eagle Scout Cody Michel, both of Decorah, began the official program. The Pledge of Allegiance and singing of “America” followed with an invocation by DAR member Carol Hasvold of Decorah.  After the Posting of the Colors, a tribute entitled “The Significance of the Missing Man Table” was presented by DAR member Marilyn Holland of Decorah. These activities were followed by a luncheon.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

Jeff Morris of Lansing has been growing giant pumpkins for eight years. He started when a buddy from South Dakota suggested it to him. He passed on some of his winning expertise to 15 people who met at the Main Street Lansing office Wednesday, March 30.
This fall during the last weekend in September, Main Street Lansing will sponsor the Giant Pumpkin Festival previously sponsored by TASC in Waukon. TASC contacted the Lansing group last year, asking them to take over the celebration.
The first step in preparation for that contest is to plant some pumpkins. As those in attendance at the meeting soon discovered, the process is not as simple as sticking a seed in the ground if they want the plant to produce a pumpkin that could be over 1,000 pounds.