River Valley

Main Street Lansing is seeking sponsors for its 18 downtown flower pots to help bring Main Street to life this season. Main Street Lansing Executive Director Jackie Cooper says that a $100 sponsorship will help beautify downtown Lansing with vibrant flowers for the community and visitors to enjoy all season long.

As a thank you, sponsors will receive a personalized plaque placed inside one of the flower pots, such as what is pictured in the submitted photo above. That plaque can include a business name, be in memory of a loved one, or include a family name, for example. Every dollar raised goes directly toward purchasing and planting the flowers. Those interested in sponsoring a flower pot should use the following link to complete the quick form and submit payment: https://impact.locable.com/widgets/contact_form_widgets/eedab176-f337-48....
 

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, April 20, addressing a variety of matters on a full agenda. The council conducted a public hearing for the Fiscal Year 2027 City Budget and scheduled another public hearing for an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026 City Budget, in addition to holding a discussion regarding memorials and accepting the retirement resignation of Street Superintendent Ken Ripp.

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, April 6, addressing a variety of agenda items that included routine approvals, infrastructure planning, utility rate changes, citizen concerns, event logistics, park maintenance, and traffic-related operational matters. Notable actions taken included advancing grant-writing and engineering steps for the Main Street reconstruction project, completing the first reading of a utility billing amendment, and approving tree removal at the municipal pool.

Area residents and/or visitors are invited to join the Lansing community in a Community-Wide Clean-Up Initiative scheduled for Friday, April 24 from 1-3 p.m. The event offers an opportunity to work together to freshen up Lansing for the spring season.

Volunteers will help with small clean-up projects around town, supporting local parks, non-profits, and community spaces, including areas that serve elderly neighbors. Anyone who knows of an elderly resident’s yard, back alley, or area that could use some extra help is asked to reach out to Main Street Lansing so that area can be added to the clean-up list.

Anyone who would like to participate is asked to also connect with Jackie Cooper at Main Street Lansing to find a location or project where they’d like to help. She can be reached by telephone at 563-538-9229 or by email at director@lansingiowa.com.
 

A video program about Rattlesnakes in Allamakee County produced by the Allamakee County Historical Society will be presented to the public at two different viewing opportunities Saturday, April 25. The program includes a presentation by Ross Gerdes, Allamakee County Conservation Commission Director, about local rattlesnakes, including their range, life cycle, poisonous nature, and cautions for humans interacting with them.

The presentation will feature a video appearance by Tim the Timber Rattler. The video also continues with an interview with Mary Egan of Harpers Ferry, who was bitten by a rattlesnake in 2023 and was hospitalized for 13 days. The video concludes with interviews by county residents Paul Howes, Kathy Howes and Kathy Renk, all of whom will recount their interactions with the snakes in years past.

Life can be challenging. It’s helpful to hear how people have overcome or learned to live with their challenges. That’s the idea behind the “When Relationships Change” program offered free to the public.

The program has been in existence for several years and is next scheduled for Sunday, April 19 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing, beginning with a meal at 5 p.m. followed by a featured speaker. The speaker for the April 19 event will be Jeremy Smerud, a 2000 Kee High School graduate and the son of Denise and Cullen Becker and David Smerud.

Jeremy Smerud is currently working for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Volunteer Administrator in Des Moines. He was a resident of Lansing prior to his enlistment and retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2012. Following his service, Smerud returned to Lansing where he became involved in local youth activities and mentorship programs, most notably the Boy Scouts of America.

Main Street Lansing welcomed a new business to the downtown district with a ribbon cutting and First Dollar presentation for LP Styles LLC, owned and operated by local entrepreneur Lilly Peterson. A Lansing native and graduate of Kee High School, Peterson pursued her passion for hairstyling at the Salon Professional Academy in Onalaska, WI. Her dream of opening a salon in her hometown has now come full circle.

Located inside the Driftless Edit storefront at 211 Main Street in Lansing, LP Styles brings professional hair services and a hometown touch to the community. As pictured in the photo above, friends, family, and community members gathered to celebrate Peterson’s accomplishment and officially welcome her business to the Main Street Lansing business district.

The congregation of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing invites the community to take part in a meaningful Good Friday tradition: the Justice and Peace Stations of the Cross, scheduled to be held this year Friday, April 3, beginning at 10 a.m. at the church, located at 480 Diagonal Street in Lansing.

Now in its sixth year, this contemplative prayer walk offers participants an opportunity to reflect on the suffering of Christ alongside the ongoing struggles faced in the world today. The walk begins at the church and moves through the heart of Lansing, making 12 stops along the way for prayer, song, and reflection before concluding near the Mississippi River.

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council convened Monday, March 16 to address a blend of long-term infrastructure strategies and immediate seasonal issues. During the meeting, council members received an update on the Main Street project, established a public hearing date regarding potential utility rate increases, approved a variance request, and discussed marina parking and enforcement in anticipation of the summer season.
 
DAVY ENGINEERING UPDATE
Alex Jaromin of Davy Engineering provided an update on the engineering aspects of the upcoming Main Street/Highway 9 project. He informed the council that the city remains in the planning and funding-positioning stage, with bidding anticipated to begin in 2028. The materials presented to the council included a summary of the preliminary engineering report and the foundational financing required to advance the project toward State Revolving Fund and grant consideration.

Main Street Lansing is inviting residents, business owners, and community partners to attend its Annual Public Meeting Monday, March 30 from 6-7 p.m. at TJ Hunter’s in downtown Lansing. This open meeting is an opportunity for the public to learn about the work Main Street Lansing has accomplished over the past year, hear updates on downtown initiatives, and learn about the organization’s vision for the future of Lansing.

Community members will also have the chance to hear from board leadership, celebrate individuals making a difference in the community, and share their own thoughts during a public comment period.

“Main Street Lansing is built on community collaboration,” said Chris Troendle, President of Main Street Lansing’s Board of Directors. “Our annual meeting is a chance to reflect on the progress we’ve made together and invite residents to be part of the conversations shaping the future of downtown Lansing.”