River Valley

Having proven time and time again that they are dedicated to coming to the aid of their community, it is certainly no surprise that members of the Lansing Fire Department have also been more than willing to step up to help out one of their own during a challenging time.

When Bill Bartels, a 31-year veteran of the Lansing Fire Department, recently received word that his non-Hodgkins lymphoma had returned, his fellow firefighting volunteers once again answered their call to duty, volunteering to have their heads shaved in an effort to raise funds for the Bartels family to help with expenses related to Bill’s most recent treatment. It was two years ago, when Bill was first diagnosed, that his fellow volunteers did the same thing.

Over two dozen people gathered Tuesday, August 6 at the Driftless Area Education & Visitor Center in Lansing to celebrate the development of a new original water color painting that depicts the view from the Visitor Center, as well as the release of new posters and postcards that were developed by Northeast Iowa RC&D from the painting. The painting is the artwork of Decorah artist Mary Ann Gloe, and the posters and postcards based on that painting are available at the Driftless Area Education & Visitor Center Gift Shop.

Saturday, August 17, family and friends of lifelong resident and local “River Rat” Pat Sandry will be honoring his memory with the Second Annual Pat Sandry Memorial Fishing Derby and Friends of Pool 9 Fundraiser held on the Mississippi River. Sandry passed away in November of 2017 after a short, courageous battle with cancer. He enjoyed the outdoors, had a passion for fishing and hunting, and he truly treasured the beauty of the Lansing area.

Entry fee is $50 per boat with 50% payback in prize money and 50% being donated to Friends of Pool 9. There is a limit of two adults and two children per boat.

The New Albin Public Library will be hosting a “Hidden in Plain Sight” event Tuesday, August 20 for the general public to attend anytime from 6-8 p.m. at the New Albin Community Center. Made possible by Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) in cooperation with the Clayton County Community Collaboration Council (5C), the interactive exhibit is intended to serve as a drug indicator exhibit, providing an example of what most would call a typical bedroom for a teenager but also offering insight into what may also be some areas that are easily overlooked by parents/guardians and may provide evidence of teen substance use or abuse. The exhibit is open to everyone. In addition to the exhibit on display similar to the one pictured above, knowledgeable hosts will be available to guide those attending through the exhibit and answer any questions they may have. Submitted photo.
 

Historian and author Bob O’Connor will present a program, “The American Civil War, Brother Against Brother,” at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday, August 15 at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library. His presentation will be about the Culp brothers of Gettysburg who fought on opposite sides in the Civil War.

O’Connor, of Charles Town, WV, has written 15 books and visits the Driftless Area frequently. He writes historical fiction and non-fiction about the American Civil War and hosts a weekly podcast, “The Chronicles of the American Civil War.”

The program is free and open to the public. The library is located at 515 Main Street in Lansing and can be reached at 563-538-4693. A light lunch will be available at 5:30 p.m., prior to the program.

Finney, the wooden fish hidden somewhere within the Lansing community as part of The Standard newspaper’s promotion of this past weekend’s Lansing Fish Days celebration, has been found. Summer Walleser, 12-year-old daughter of Ted and Stacy Walleser of Lansing, found Finney hidden in the tree located at the back of the Main Street Plaza in Lansing. She is pictured above at the location of her discovery displaying her prizes for finding Finney, which include $50 in Downtown Dollars donated by Kerndt Brothers Bank, a gift bag with nutMeg’s items and a gift certificate donated by nutMeg’s, one large specialty pizza donated by Expresso, a $20 gift certificate donated by Studio K, a $20 gift certificate donated by Carquest/Lansing Auto Parts, a $20 gift certificate donated by Milty’s/Skinny Dip, a $20 gift certificate donated by Main Channel Grill, and a fishing pole with tackle donated by Village Farm & Home, Lansing.
 

Main Street Lansing held a ribbon cutting and First Dollar presentation for Polished on Main, located at 353 Main Street in Lansing. Polished on Main is the area’s newest full service nail spa, featuring services such as spa pedicures, gel manicures, acrylic nails, acrylic dip nails and gel builder overlay. “I am looking forward to taking care of all your nail needs!” said owner Michelle Stiehl. Pictured above at the First Dollar presentation and ribbon cutting event are, left to right, Main Street Lansing representatives Andy Kelleher and Jana Schoh, Polished on Main owner Michelle Stiehl, and Main Street Lansing representatives Mary Palmborg and Maryann Baldwin. Submitted photo.
 

The Relay of Voices relay team will be coming into Lansing August 7 from La Crosse, WI and leaving August 8, and entering Harpers Ferry August 8 and leaving August 9 to move on to Guttenberg, and the public is invited to greet and meet the Relay of Voices relay team as they enter and leave each community. Lansing and Harpers Ferry will each host the relay team and its crew with a community potluck, local entertainment and an opportunity to gather along the Mississippi River and share local stories.

Saturday, August 17, family and friends of lifelong resident and local “River Rat” Pat Sandry will be honoring his memory with the Second Annual Pat Sandry Memorial Fishing Derby and Friends of Pool 9 Fundraiser held on the Mississippi River. Sandry passed away in November of 2017 after a short, courageous battle with cancer. He thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors, had a great passion for fishing and hunting, and he truly treasured the beauty of the Lansing area.

Entry fee is $50 per boat with 50% payback in prize money and 50% being donated to Friends of Pool 9. There is a limit of two adults and two children per boat.

Hours of the tournament will be from 6 a.m.-12 noon with weigh-in at Shipwrecked, Shep’s Riverside Patio Bar, starting at 10 a.m. Categories of fish include Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Crappie, Northern, Perch, Catfish and Roughfish. Only one fish from each category per boat can be weighed.

Lansing and Harpers Ferry are “Calling all runners, walkers, bikers and paddlers!”

The Relay of Voices relay team will be coming into Lansing August 7 from La Crosse, WI and leaving August 8, and entering Harpers Ferry August 8 and leaving August 9 to move on to Guttenberg, and the public is invited to greet and meet the Relay of Voices relay team as they enter and leave each community. Lansing and Harpers Ferry will each host the relay team and its crew with a community potluck, local entertainment and an opportunity to gather along the Mississippi River and share local stories.