River Valley

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council convened for its regular meeting Monday, May 5 at City Hall. The session opened with public recognition for Police Officer Maison Schoh, who completed 16 weeks of intensive training at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA). Lansing Mayor Mike Verdon highlighted the personal sacrifice involved, stating that Schoh had been away from home for months, studying “at least eight or ten hours a day,” and attending classes “after supper pretty much every evening.”

Officer Schoh affirmed that evening scenarios became a critical part of training toward the end. The mayor described how trainees had to subdue a perpetrator while being pepper-sprayed and then “fire four shots on target,” followed by decontamination. The council formally acknowledged Schoh’s ILEA certification, and the mayor added, “LPD-3 is ILEA certified... and he’s going to stay at Lansing the rest of his career.”

Effigy Mounds National Monument has scheduled several free, public events for Spring, many of those scheduled to take place during the month of May. Those events range from hiking as a designated event or as part of a challenge series offered by the National Park Service facility, to historic presentations, and they include the following remaining dates:

May 18: National Historic Preservation Month Celebration
Visitors are invited to join Effigy Mounds National Monument and local historical associations in the celebration of National Historic Preservation Month from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, May 18. There will be information on local historic sites and museums as well as hands-on activities that can be completed to help participants earn the National Historic Preservation Act Junior Ranger badge and the 75th anniversary Effigy Mounds National Monument Junior and Senior Ranger badges.

The Allamakee County Conservation Board has announced the offering of three free summer day camps for local youth this upcoming summer season. Each day camp will be for a different age range and will feature outdoor activities along a certain theme.

Registration is required and space is limited. For more information or to register, call 563-538-0401. The day camps being offered include the following:

Insectigations (Students entering 1st-2nd Grade): Wednesday, July 9 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Waterville Farm. Come and explore all the tiny critters Iowa has to offer. Participants will dig in to the fascinating world of insects and explore how they may be small but they are just as cool.

Join the Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) for a Mother’s Day Hike Sunday, May 11 at 10 a.m. This hike is created to give moms an opportunity for a little outdoor relaxation break while also exploring Iowa’s spring wildflowers. The hike will begin at the Mount Hosmer Overlook in Lansing.

The Mother’s Day Hike will be a guided trail hike for participants to explore Iowa’s short-lived wildflowers. Participants should dress for the weather with appropriate layers and outerwear. Any dogs must be on a leash at all times. In the case of inclement weather the hike will be cancelled and announced via the ACCB’s Facebook page.

Upper Iowa Audubon will be hosting a spring bird walk at the Luster Heights Unit of the Yellow River State Forest. The event will be held Saturday, May 10 starting at 8 a.m. The walk will begin at the parking area for the former Luster Heights facility; the address is 481 Luster Heights Road.

The walk will culminate at the overlooks with great views of the Mississippi River Valley. The selected trail is very manageable for all ages. This will be an excellent time to look for warblers and other spring migrants.

In addition to birding, this year, the group will be joined again by Mary Damm, a plant ecologist, who will assist with wild flower and plant identification. Watch for signs to help find the location. For more information, contact Dean at 563-535-7100.
 

by Joshua Sharpe

The Lansing City Council convened for a regular meeting Monday, April 21 to address a range of infrastructure updates, finalize the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and approve seasonal staff appointments. The session at the City Hall chambers included presentations from city staff, resident feedback, and votes on municipal actions.

CITIZEN CONCERNS
During the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Ken Hanson addressed ongoing issues concerning the private water line servicing 471 Platt Street. Questions were raised regarding the extent of municipal and private responsibilities for the newly installed infrastructure. It was explained that, according to city ordinance, costs associated with the water line from the main to the house are the homeowner’s responsibility.

Join the Allamakee County Conservation Board for a Springtime Photography Hike Friday, May 16 at 5 p.m. The Springtime Photography program will be a guided hike for participants to explore the landscape that is bursting with new life.

Join Assistant Naturalist Becca for a hike looking for all the new subjects for photography. Bring a camera (phone or professional) to explore what spring has in store.

Meet at the Luster Heights Unit of Yellow River State Forest, located five miles south of Harpers Ferry on the Great River Road (Hwy 364) on the east side of the road. Turn onto Luster Heights Road; there is a parking lot located one mile on the left.

The Allamakee County Conservation Board invites everyone to a public program featuring Mike Kintner, entomologist with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, for a presentation on invasive insects affecting Allamakee County. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing.

Spongy moth (formerly called gypsy moth) and other invasive insects will be addressed. Registration for this event is not required. For more information call the Driftless Center at 563-538-0403.

A full schedule of upcoming events hosted by the Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB) is available by following the ACCB on Facebook. For more information on this event or any event, call the ACCB at 563-538-0403.
 

In honor of Earth Day, Main Street Lansing and Kee High School are hosting a Community-Wide Clean-Up Day this Friday, April 25 from 12-3 p.m. in an effort to give back to the local community - and to the Earth. The general public is invited to come together to help clean, refresh, and show some love to their town.

Organizations are welcome that may have a team or group that wants to join in. The more helping hands, the better. Adult volunteers are needed to help guide breakout groups and oversee clean-up tasks throughout the afternoon.

Anyone who knows of an elder who could use a hand should reach out to Main Street Lansing with their name, address, and the outdoor task they need help with. Anyone who has a clean-up idea, a location in town that could use some extra attention, should also reach out. Main Street Lansing can be reached at 563-538-9229 or by email at director@lansingiowa.com.

The National Scenic Byway Association has recognized the Great River Road and the Mississippi Parkway Commission with the 2025 Byway Partnership Award, celebrating a multi-state collaboration that is turning the iconic route into a model for environmental stewardship and public engagement.

Spanning 3,000 miles through 10 states along the Mississippi River - including the entire eastern border of Allamakee County, the Great River Road is a lifeline for wildlife and communities alike. In recent years, the Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MRPC) and its state partners have launched an ambitious and wide-reaching effort to support pollinators - including bees, butterflies, and birds - whose health is critical to ecosystems and agriculture.