River Valley

The Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library is hosting a Summer Reading Program themed “Read, Renew, Repeat!” and all about conservation and nature. Readers of all ages are invited to participate by logging their reading and attending some of the library’s Earth-friendly events.

The family friendly kick-off event will be held Wednesday, June 5 at Mount Hosmer Veterans Memorial Park beginning at 10:45 a.m. There will be a flag tribute, a short nature walk and light lunch.

Friday, June 7 at noon will be the first Lego® Club meeting of the summer which runs through July 12 each Friday. Friday, June 21 USDA Tree Specialist (retired) Linda Haugen will be at the library at 10:30 a.m. to do a talk and activity for all ages about “Trees! Why are they so important?”

Additionally, each weekday over the summer starting May 28, free lunch is available from 11a.m.-1 p.m. at the library for all children. Follow the library Facebook page for additional summer events.

The Ferryville Tourism Council has announced its June 12 Chautauqua Program will be John Armbruster speaking on the survival story of Gene Moran, who was a Crawford County, WI resident whose WWII experience led to his survival after falling four miles from his airplane without a parachute. He subsequently also survived being a Prisoner of War and being forced to walk on a 600-mile death march.

Attendees will be intrigued by the story as told by Armbruster in his best-selling book, Tailspin.  This book was written by John Armbruster after many evenings spent listening to Gene Moran carefully and cautiously tell his story to the author. Armbruster will have his book for sale at the conclusion of his presentation.

Allamakee County Conservation and the Harpers Ferry American Legion Auxiliary are co-sponsoring a Water Safety Program scheduled for Saturday, June 8 at 11 a.m. at the Legion Hall in Harpers Ferry. The event is free to the public, and is open to all adults and children.
 

by Julie Berg-Raymond

After a public hearing during its regular meeting Monday, May 20, the Lansing City Council approved Resolution No. 1006 regarding the budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025). No written or verbal comments were made to City Hall.

PARKS AND REC
The council approved the following Department of Parks and Recreation hires: Robert Ekern at $12/hour as assistant softball coach and $15/hour as head T-ball coach; and lifeguards Lilly Kolsrud at $11.25/hour, Sawyer Gramlich at $11.25/hour, Zoey Timmerman at $11.50/hour, and Mallory Mohn at $11.75/hour. The council also approved hiring Craig Wood to rebuild the roof over the dugout in the sports complex. The bid is for $1000 for materials and $1200 for labor; it was the only bid received.

The Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library is hosting a Summer Reading Program themed “Read, Renew, Repeat!” and all about conservation and nature. Readers of all ages are invited to participate by logging their reading and attending some of the library’s Earth-friendly events.

The family friendly kick-off event will be held Wednesday, June 5 at Mount Hosmer Veterans Memorial Park beginning at 10:45 a.m. There will be a flag tribute, a short nature walk and light lunch.

Friday, June 7 at noon will be the first Lego® Club meeting of the summer which runs through July 12 each Friday. Friday, June 21 USDA Tree Specialist (retired) Linda Haugen will be at the library at 10:30 a.m. to do a talk and activity for all ages about “Trees! Why are they so important?”

The Ferryville Tourism Council has announced its June 12 Chautauqua Program will be John Armbruster speaking on the survival story of Gene Moran, who was a Crawford County, WI resident whose WWII experience led to his survival after falling four miles from his airplane without a parachute. He subsequently also survived being a Prisoner of War and being forced to walk on a 600-mile death march.

Attendees will be intrigued by the story as told by Armbruster in his best-selling book, Tailspin.  This book was written by John Armbruster after many evenings spent listening to Gene Moran carefully and cautiously tell his story to the author. Armbruster will have his book for sale at the conclusion of his presentation.

The New Albin Public Library will be hosting an interactive bird exhibit by Blank Park Zoo from Des Moines Friday, May 31, beginning at 3 p.m. The free event will feature a variety of educational opportunities to learn about birds, including different sensory bins that let kids explore human-made items that were inspired from different bird beaks. There will also be an opportunity to view a variety of bird feathers, skulls and eggs. No live animals will be present at the event.
 

by Brianne Grimstad

The Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society (HFAHS) is sponsoring a pop-up museum in Harpers Ferry this Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, at the Ethel Robinson Meehan Community Center, located at 234 North 4th Street in Harpers Ferry. Entitled “They’re More Than a Name on a Wall,” the museum will honor fallen veterans from Harpers Ferry, Waterville and the surrounding area who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Hours available for visitation will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., following the Memorial Day Program at the Veterans Memorial in Harpers Ferry. The museum will also be available during the annual American Legion Scenic Unit #722 pork chop dinner Memorial Day.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Attendees at the Thursday, May 9 session of “Let’s Talk Bridges!” - informational meetings on the new bridge construction held the second Thursday of each month at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library - had an opportunity to appreciate the sheer magnitude of the drilled shafts upon which the piers of the new Mississippi River bridge at Lansing will sit, when they were able to stand next to a section of the rebar cage from the demonstration shaft built by Kraemer North America, contractors on the bridge project.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, May 6, the Lansing City Council set the public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget for Monday, May 20, at 7 p.m. The council also accepted a bid of $.85/gallon from Welch Inc. of Waukon, for dust control for the City of Lansing this summer. No other bids were submitted.

In other business, the council approved Resolution #1007 regarding the transfer of monies between funds for accounting purposes, and approved liquor licenses for Casey’s, The Buck Stops Here and Kwik Trip, Inc.

UPDATE: TAX ABATEMENT
In an email interview following the council’s May 6 meeting, during which Mayor Mike Verdon was asked about the status of the Tax Abatement Ordinance/Urban Revitalization Plan, Mayor Verdon said, “tax abatement will be on the next (May 20) agenda.”