River Valley

Those who travel on the State of Iowa Highway 9 bridge (Black Hawk Bridge) over the Mississippi River from Lansing to its intersection with the State of Wisconsin Highway 82 in rural Crawford County, WI need to be aware of a construction project that may slow down their trip through the end of next week. That construction project started Monday, December 4 and will last through Friday, December 15, weather permitting, according to information provided by the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Construction crews will close the eastbound lane on the bridge so the bridge rail can be repaired. Motorists will be guided across the bridge with flaggers while work is taking place. More can be learned about this project on either of the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation (DOT) websites or by following posts on the project’s Facebook page.

Thursday, December 14, from 5-6 p.m., Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library will be hosting another monthly learning and informational session with the lead engineering staff working on the Black Hawk Bridge replacement project. Everyone is invited to bring questions and curiosity. The engineers plan to have hands-on activities and this is a unique opportunity for the local community to learn a lot about the bridge building process.

Sessions will be held monthly the second Thursday each month and are for all ages. Questions about this program can be sent to libary@lansing.lib.ia.us.
 

A presentation featuring Dr. Patrick Jung has been scheduled to take place Monday, December 18 at 7 p.m. at the New Albin Community Center. Dr. Jung is an expert on Native American History and will be speaking on the Native American people who lived around the New Albin area, The Black Hawk War of 1832, and specifically what was happening in the local area during that war.

The event is open to the general public. There is no admission charge to attend.
 

Community input session on speed cameras scheduled for December 4

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Immediately prior to the regular meeting of the Lansing City Council Monday, November 20, Benjamin Ghelf was sworn in as a new council member, having won one of two seats on the ballot in the November 7 election. Councilman Ghelf was sworn in at the first regular meeting after the election due to being elected to the seat which had previously been an appointed position following the resignation of councilman Bruce ReVoir just over one year ago. Corey Richards, the other new councilman elected November 7, will be sworn in at the end the current term (the start of the new year) of councilman Curtis Snitker, who did not seek re-election this year.

Commander Dan Hanson of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the U.S. Post Gustave F. Kerndt #5981 announces the kick-off of this year’s VFW’s Voice of Democracy Scholarship competition. Local high school students have the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and a trip to Washington, D.C.

Prizes and scholarships are awarded at the Post, District, State and National level. All State first-place winners receive a four-day trip to Washington, D.C., to tour the city, be honored by the VFW and its Auxiliary and receive their portion of $171,000 in national awards, the top scholarship being $35,000.

Students must record a three-to-five minute audio essay on a flash drive and submit the recording, typed essay and completed entry form to their local VFW Post by October 31 of this year.  The 2023 theme selected is “What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?”

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds lake property owners to check their boat and trailers, and docks and lifts, for aquatic invasive species before storing them for the winter. Aquatic invasive species, everything from zebra mussels to Eurasian watermilfoil, move from one waterbody to another by hitchhiking on boats, in bait buckets and on other equipment used in the water. They can create serious problems for Iowa waters and negatively impact the quality of outdoor recreation experiences.

Everyone is invited to the 13th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting scheduled for Monday, November 27 at 6 p.m. at the Observation Deck/River View Park in the center of the Village of Ferryville, WI. Santa Claus will be in attendance to hear children’s Christmas wishes, and everyone can sing along to Christmas carols and enjoy treats as the lights of the holiday season are illuminated.

Santa Claus is scheduled to arrive at 6 p.m., and at 6:15 p.m. elves will light the Christmas tree for the season. The Ferryville Tourism Council will lead everyone in Christmas carols and all can enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, holiday cookies and treats. There will also be gift bags for children.
 

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, November 6, the Lansing City Council heard from Nick Hammell, a member of the Lansing Volunteer Fire Department, about the department’s need for a new city pumper - the vehicle used to attack a structure fire.

The city pumper is not in service right now, Hammell said, due to an issue with the battery or with the battery charging system. “I know it’s a lot to bite off,” Hammell told the council. “But it has to happen.” Currently, the city is relying on the rural fire district’s pumper to handle structure fires.

Area residents are invited to donate blood Wednesday, November 22 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Kee High School gym in Lansing and receive an exclusive pair of Elf & Red Cross socks, while supplies last. The blood donation event, sponsored by the Kee High School Student Council, will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film “Elf” and make giving blood a holiday tradition.

Those willing to donate at the November 22 event can make an appointment at redcrossblood.org or by calling Allison Fitzwater at 563-538-4201.
 

Sunday afternoon, November 12, shortly after 3 p.m., fire alarms in the Kee High/Lansing Middle School building detected smoke in the second story of the building, and first responders from the Lansing Rural Fire Protection District and Lansing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were quickly dispatched to the scene. A small electrical fire in the second floor boys restroom was quickly extinguished, preventing it from spreading any further but causing some damage to the bathroom area and some smoke damage within the building.