River Valley

The annual Spring Migration Day Hike to celebrate the migrating birds returning to the Upper Mississippi Flyway region will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday, May 7 at the trailhead for Sugar Creek Bluff Natural Area just off North Buck Creek Road in Ferryville, WI. The earlier starting time this year should enable the group to hear and spot more of the migrating warblers.

This is a relatively gradual hike of 1.5 miles round-trip. The halfway point provides an overlook of the Mississippi River. Expert birders will guide hikers in spotting the returning birds.  Ferryville Tourism Council is hosting this hike, with Mississippi Valley Conservancy presenting this event as part of its Linked to the Land series.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, March 21, the Lansing City Council opened the public hearing for the proposed Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Budget at 7:14 p.m. and closed the hearing at 7:15 p.m., with no comments or questions. The budget was approved and adopted.

The council also opened and closed a public hearing for the proposed 2022 Municipal Code adoption. No comments or questions were offered. Mayor Melissa Hammell conducted the first of three readings of Ordinance No. 202, approving the Code adoption. A copy of the 2022 Municipal Code is available for public review in the Lansing City Clerk’s office.

The council reviewed and considered the use of City property for long-term and VIP (closer to town) parking and camping for RAGBRAI riders. Details, including amount of compensation to the City via a percentage of VIP parking funds raised, will be discussed at a later date.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has announced that WIS Hwy. 35 is scheduled to be completely closed to through-traffic between De Soto and Genoa, beginning Monday, April 4, for a road replacement project. Road closure on that nearly 12-mile stretch is expected to continue through August of this year, with some preliminary work already being performed this week that may impact traffic as well.

Through-traffic (traveling north to La Crosse or south from La Crosse) will be detoured using WIS 82, WIS 27 and WIS 56 through Viroqua, WI, adding 55 miles and more than an hour on to any venture to or from La Crosse via WIS 35. The project will replace deteriorating pavement and resurface 11.8 miles of the highway, along with replacing 21 pipe culverts, one box culvert and guard rails, and rehabilitating two bridge structures.

The Allamakee County Conservation Board (ACCB), in partnership with the Mississippi Valley Sportsman’s Club, will be offering two Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Hunter Education Online Field Days Saturday, April 9 at the Mississippi Valley Sportsman’s Club.

The first field day will be from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and the second field day will be from 1-4 p.m. The Mississippi Valley Sportsman’s Club is located at 1797 Columbus Road, Lansing.

Hunter Education is required for anyone 12 years of age or older in the state of Iowa to purchase a hunting license. In order to participate in the online field day, students must complete the online course work at  https://www.hunter-ed.com/iowa/. Completion of the online portion of the program is not needed to register for the class, but must be completed by the day of the class.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Amy Stracener was named Volunteer of the Year during Main Street Lansing’s (MSL) 2022 annual meeting held Wednesday, March 16 at the Safehouse Saloon in Lansing. MSL held three annual meetingsin one that night, because COVID shutdowns across the state went into effect four days before the 2020 meeting was to be held.

Describing Stracener’s volunteer work in the organization, MSL Executive Director Andy Kelleher said she “has played a major role in creating successful outreach and marketing materials for Main Street Lansing. Her marketing experience has allowed her to provide numerous methods to improve the program’s communications, and her work to draft MSL’s physical PR material has enhanced the program’s visibility. As a member of the promotions committee, she has provided valuable insight that resulted in very successful promotions. Her effective fundraising efforts ensure the continued sustainability of Main Street Lansing.”

by Julie Berg-Raymond

More than two dozen community members filled Lansing City Hall Friday, March 18 for a public meeting called by Lansing Chief of Police Conrad Rosendahl.

Rosendahl called the meeting to address a rumor circulating within the community, initiated by a person or persons unknown, and to correct misinformation and answer any questions from members of the public. The rumor involved the suggestion that, earlier this year, Rosendahl had hit a parked car; that alcohol might have been involved; that the damaged car had been towed without the owner’s knowledge; and that no police report had been filed.

The Kee High School Speech program hosted its Dinner Theatre event Saturday, March 5 at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall in Lansing, with 211 meals served and a showcase of the speech team’s events, as well as a sneak peek of the upcoming musical “Little Shop of Horrors” (pictured at center), which is scheduled for production dates of April 2 at 7 p.m. and April 3 at 2 p.m. at Kee High School. The evening consisted of a buffet catered by TJ Hunter’s that included smoked pork loin, barbecue chicken, party potatoes, corn, Oreo fluff and a drink, along with a dessert bar that was provided by the speech team members. Candlelit tables were decorated with black and gold centerpieces, piano music filled the hall, and glamorous lighting set the dining area and stage.  Entertainment consisted of the speech teams’ events performed in contests this season and a couple musical numbers, which all followed the meal.

Main Street Lansing will be holding its 2022 Annual Meeting Wednesday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Safe House Saloon on Main Street in Lansing. All are invited to attend and hear about Main Street Lansing’s efforts over the past couple years and plans for the future.

There will also be a presentation of the annual Leadership Award, which is given to a volunteer with unmatched dedication to improving Downtown Lansing. For additional information, call 563-538-9229 or send an email to director@lansingmatters.com.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

The Lansing Police Department is initiating a D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program at the Lansing Middle School, beginning in Fall 2022.

“It’s not just for drugs, it also covers vaping and teen suicide,” City of Lansing Chief of Police Conrad Rosendahl said during an informational presentation before the Lansing City Council at its regular meeting Monday, March 7. “If we can save one life then we’ve done something, in my opinion.”

He said another benefit of the program is that it involves “positive interaction with law enforcement.” The only cost to the police department would be for the 80 hours of training for certification, he said.

Lansing VFW Post #5981 has announced this year’s Voice of Democracy winners at the District level of the essay writing contest. The sister-brother tandem of Rhianna and Brendan Jones, children of Eric and Liz Jones of Lansing, are this year’s top award winners in that District contest.

Brendan Jones, a freshman at Kee High School in Lansing, was named the District 9 first-place winner of the contest and the recipient of a $100 award. He also received a $100 award from Post #5981 in the Voice of Democracy Scholarship program. As the top District essay, his entry advanced to the State level of competition, where it was not selected among the State placewinning essays.

Rhianna Jones, a junior at Kee High School in Lansing, was named the District 9 second-place winner and the recipient of a $75 award. She also received a $50 award from Post #5981 for her Voice of Democracy essay. VFW Post #5981 sponsored both essay writers.