River Valley

Everyone is invited to the 12th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting scheduled for Monday, November 28 in Ferryville, WI at the Observation Deck/River View Park in the center of the Village of Ferryville. Santa will hear children’s Christmas wishes and everyone can sing Christmas carols and enjoy treats as the lights of the Holiday Season are lit.

Santa arrives at 6 p.m. to hear what children want for Christmas and then, at 6:15 p.m., the elves light the Christmas tree for the season. The Ferryville Tourism Council leads everyone in Christmas carols while all can enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and have holiday cookies and treats, plus there are gift bags for children.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul, MN District, is seeking comments on its draft feasibility report and integrated Environmental Assessment, or EA, for its proposed Reno Bottoms Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project on the Upper Mississippi River near New Albin.

The project is located in Pool 9 of the Upper Mississippi River within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The project sponsor is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The project aims to increase the quality and extent of floodplain forest habitat and expand fisheries overwintering habitat. Work would include forest management of over 600 acres and almost 30 acres of fish habitat.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, November 7, Main Street Lansing (MSL) Executive Director Andy Kelleher requested that the Lansing City Council increase its investment in MSL from $10,000 to $20,000 per fiscal year.

Kelleher noted that 2016 was the last time the City of Lansing had increased its investment in Main Street Lansing - eight fiscal years ago. “Lansing’s economy has grown significantly since 2016,” Kelleher said. “The efforts of Main Street Lansing are responsible for much of that growth.”

Kelleher offered a presentation outlining the ways in which MSL has contributed to the city’s economic growth and explained why an increased investment on the part of the City would benefit Lansing. Following a brief discussion, the council postponed making a decision until its January 16, 2023 meeting.

This week is National Collection Week

More than 4,500 locations will open to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts for the Samaritan’s Purse project. Volunteers are preparing to collect shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, which is scheduled for this week, November 14-21.

Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts - filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys - to children worldwide since 1993. Everyone is invited to pack a shoebox to contribute. Individuals, families and groups still have time to transform empty shoeboxes into gifts. The project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God’s love to children in need. Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage at https://samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/.

The Lansing man charged in the May 9 strangulation death of another Lansing man has had his rescheduled trial date set and will also now be undergoing a psychological evaluation, according to documents filed in Allamakee County District Court this past week. Andrew Karvel, age 65, was arrested in August of this year after an investigation into the May 9 death of 83-year-old Daniel Lundy inside a Lansing residence.

Karvel has since pleaded not guilty in September to the charge of First Degree Murder in the case. His initial trial in the case was scheduled for November 2 but was postponed at the request of all legal counsel involved in the case.

Bill Nation (left), representing American Legion Scenic Post #722 in Harpers Ferry, recently presented Lansing Iowa Food Trust (LIFT) President Karen Galema (right) with a donation check for $500. Each Saturday, the Legion Hall in Harpers Ferry, located at 118 North 4th Street, opens at 6 p.m. to the general public. A light lunch and snacks are served and bingo begins at 7 p.m. There is a progressive jackpot for the bingo games with a winning jackpot of $500. The proceeds of these bingo games are donated to area charities. Area residents are encouraged to join the fun and raise money for good causes Saturday nights in Harpers Ferry. Submitted photo.

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center will host the Driftless Birding Fest Saturday, November 12. The Driftless Birding Fest will include speakers, exhibits and self-guided field trips to area birding hotspots. The self-guided field trips will include the Brownsville MN overlook, Stoddard, WI overlook, New Albin’s Army Road, Red Oak Road near Harpers Ferry and the Ferryville, WI overlook.

At 1 p.m. Saturday, November 12, a program entitled “Commercial Waterfowl Hunting on the Mississippi Flyway” will be presented at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing by Allamakee County Conservation Naturalist Ross Geerdes.

Self-guided field trips are available anytime during that November 12-13 weekend. Maps and directions to each site will be available from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday the week prior to the Driftless Birding Festival at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing.

The Annual Kee High School Red Cross Blood Drive will be held Wednesday, November 23 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kee High School in Lansing. For an appointment, call Allison Fitzwater at 563-538-4201, ext. 110 or visit redcrossblood.org

Donating at this blood drive helps one or more graduating seniors earn a scholarship. Those who are donating can save up to 15 minutes when they donate blood by using RapidPass. Visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass for more information.
 

The first-degree murder trial of Andrew Karvel of Lansing has been postponed from its originally scheduled November 2 date in Allamakee County by joint request of both the defense and prosecution legal teams involved in the case, according to Allamakee County District Court documents. Karvel had waived his right to a speedy trial in late September. Another pre-trial conference is scheduled for November 8.

Karvel is charged in the May 9, 2022 strangulation death of another Lansing man, 83-year-old Daniel William Lundy. Following an investigation into Lundy’s death, Karvel was arrested August 17 of this year and had entered a written plea of not guilty at his arraignment hearing in early September.
 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul, MN District, is seeking comments on its draft feasibility report and integrated Environmental Assessment, or EA, for its proposed Reno Bottoms Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project on the Upper Mississippi River near New Albin.

The project is located in Pool 9 of the Upper Mississippi River within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The project sponsor is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The project aims to increase the quality and extent of floodplain forest habitat and expand fisheries overwintering habitat. Work would include forest management of over 600 acres and almost 30 acres of fish habitat.

The Corps is hosting an open house to discuss the Reno Bottoms project Thursday, November 3 at the New Albin Town House, located at 136 Elm Street in New Albin, from 6-7:30 p.m. The public is welcome to drop in to learn more and meet with staff.