River Valley

Lansing Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 5981 recently made donations of $500 each to Lansing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the Lansing Fire Department. Pictured in the photo above, VFW Post 5981 Commander Dan Hanson (middle right) presents a donation check to Lansing Fire Chief Stephen Darling. Pictured in the photo below, VFW Post 5981 Commander Dan Hanson (center of photo) presents a donation check to Lansing EMS Service Director Conrad Rosendahl with a number of other Lansing EMS volunteer crew members in attendance at the donation presentation. Submitted photos.
 

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Ian Zahren was appointed to the Lansing City Council during the council’s regular meeting Monday, November 21. Zahren takes the seat vacated by Bruce ReVoir upon his resignation, effective October 17 of this year. In his letter of resignation, ReVoir referred to “a few unforeseen health events that need my full attention.”

Zahren, a vocal music teacher at Kee High School in Lansing, has taught theatre and dance and started a non-profit in the Cedar Rapids area to support the arts. He served as executive director of Lansing RAGBRAI 2022 and led a large team of volunteers to realizing the biggest profit from the event of any participating city this year. In a text request for comment following the meeting, Zahren said, “I want to say thank you to the council for appointing me to the remainder of Bruce’s term; I look forward to serving the city of Lansing.”

The Ferryville Holiday Market and Craft Event is scheduled to be held Saturday, December 3 at the Ferryville Community Center, 170 Pine Street in Ferryville, WI. The event will take place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Farmers Market vendors are selling their bakery items, crafts, canned pickles, salsas, home made soaps and other items. There will also be jewelry, wood products, holiday home decor and other gift ideas. There will be complimentary coffee plus bags of coffee for sale. Lunch sandwiches and chips will also be available to purchase. Many new vendors for the market will be at this year’s event.
 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, has awarded the second part of the McGregor Lake Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project to Dubuque Barge and Fleeting Service Company doing business as Newt Marine Service, of Dubuque. The $6.9 million option award will go toward the stage 2 construction contract in the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge located near Prairie du Chien, WI.

The stage 1 contract was awarded in September 2020 and work is ongoing. The stage 2 base construction contract was awarded in September and this next stage of the project will raise the elevation of the northernmost floodplain forest features above McGregor Lake, along with additional improvements to backwater fisheries by means of habitat dredging areas north of the Highway 18 bridge. Completion of stage 2 construction is scheduled for 2025.

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.