River Valley

Six individuals have submitted applications to the Subdistrict 1A Judicial Nominating Commission for consideration for nomination to the District Court. The 1A Judicial Nominating Commission will meet Monday, January 28 to interview applicants to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Margaret Lingreen.

The applicants include John William Bernau, Shea Marie Chapin, Alan Thomas Heavens, Nathan Carl  Moonen, Stephanie Christine Rattenborg and Justin Michael Vorwald. Any citizen may communicate with any Commissioner listed below to express their views of a candidate prior to the January 28 interview date.

The Judicial Nominating Commission for State of Iowa Judicial District 1A includes the following Commissioners (listed with their email contact information):

Holy Family of the Bluffs, consisting of the parishes of Immaculate Conception Churches at both Lansing and Wexford, St. Ann-St. Joseph Church in Harpers Ferry, St. Joseph Church in New Albin and St. Pius Oratory at Cherry Mound, celebrated First Reconciliation Wednesday, January 9 at Immaculate Conception Church in Lansing. Pictured above, left to right, are students who celebrated their First Reconciliation: Josy Connelly, Laira Davis, Madeline Mauss, Mallory McKee, Wesley McKee and Rowan Troendle. Submitted photo.
 

A total of 125 relatives of the Mary and Patsy Welsh family gathered for the Welsh Christmas Sunday, December 23. This legacy first began at the home of Mary and Patsy in 1920 and branched into parish halls and now, in order to accommodate the growing number of family members, a banquet hall.

Pictured above, left to right, are Essie Welsh, Bernard Welsh and Leona Welsh. A mass for the Welsh family was held at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, followed by a noon luncheon in Lansing. The meal was followed with a family picture, Welsh bingo, the story of “The Giving Tree”, the family’s own

Giving Tree in which they shared gifts with community members, and many shared memories. The Welsh Tree was decorated with just under 400 decorations with each of Mary and Patsy’s descendants’ names on the ornaments. Submitted photo.
 

The Kee High School Post Prom Committee will host Bingo Sunday, February 10 in the Kee High School cafeteria. Games will start at 4 p.m., with doors opening at 3:30 p.m.

Participants can bring a non-perishable food item or $1 donation and play an extra Bingo card free. All donations will be given to LIFT (Lansing Iowa Food Trust).
 

The Allamakee County Conservation Board and the Harpers Ferry Booster Club will host the annual Kids Ice Fisheree January 27, 2019 from 11-2 p.m. at Nobles Island Boat Landing. Nobles Island Boat Landing is approximately 5 miles south of Harpers Ferry on County Road 364. Anyone 15 years of age and under is encouraged to attend with an adult. Ice fishing equipment, bait, food, and hot chocolate will be provided. Entry to the fisheree is free of charge and prizes will be awarded to many of the participants.

In case of inclement weather or poor ice conditions a makeup date will be February 10, 2019 at the same time and location. Announcements will be made as soon as possible via the Allamakee County Conservation Facebook page.

The Lansing Knights of Columbus, Council 12244, presented TASC, Inc. with a check raised through the Council’s Tootsie Roll Drive held this past fall. The donation will benefit individuals with disabilities served by TASC.  Pictured above, left to right, is Bob Teff of Council 12244 presenting the donation to TASC Executive Director Sheila Schulte. Submitted photo.
 

The children and youth of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church presented their annual Sunday School Christmas Pageant December 23. The production, entitled “Are We There Yet?”, was written by Pastor Laura Gentry. Through narration and song, the pageant followed the epic journey of the three wise people who made their way on camelback to worship the newborn king. It featured unique camel-riding costumes, a dancing star, angels, sheep and a live baby Jesus played by Kaysley Creasman. Retired drama teacher Susan Cantine-Maxson co-directed the pageant with Pastor Gentry. The barn set was constructed by Dr. Mike Schweitzer. A solo of “Mary, Did You Know?” was sung by Leslie Halvorson. The entire cast is pictured above and includes the following: Left to right - Back row: Kai Timmerman, Isabella Hammell, Tyrone Rosas, Isla Henkes, Adrian Weipert, Zoey Timmerman, Ashlyn Henkes holding Kaysley Creasman, Hailey Gonzalez, Emilio Rathbun, Austin Weipert. Front row: Amanda Romie holding Sienna St.

by Macie Hill

The regular Lansing City Council meeting was held Monday, January 7. Discussion centered around the adoption of the consent agenda, appointing a Fire Chief, a semi-final project payment, a parks report update, approving the resignation of a council member and a motion to appoint a new member.

The council appointed Tony Becker to the position of Fire Chief once again. Contract payment #9, a semi-final payment, was approved to be made in the amount of $11,415.22 for the South Road Bridge Project.

A Parks Board member was present at the meeting and explained that a piece of concrete that was approximately one foot by six feet in size has fallen away in the shallow end of the City swimming pool. The board has a preliminary $10,000 raised that will be used to resolve that problem as well as any other minor fixes that need to be done before the pool opens later this year.

The Allamakee County Conservation Board and the Harpers Ferry Booster Club will host the annual Kids Ice Fisheree January 27, 2019 from 11-2 p.m. at Nobles Island Boat Landing. Nobles Island Boat Landing is approximately 5 miles south of Harpers Ferry on County Road 364. Anyone 15 years of age and under is encouraged to attend with an adult. Ice fishing equipment, bait, food, and hot chocolate will be provided. Entry to the fisheree is free of charge and prizes will be awarded to many of the participants.

In case of inclement weather or poor ice conditions a makeup date will be February 10, 2019 at the same time and location. Announcements will be made as soon as possible via the Allamakee County Conservation Facebook page.

Main Street Madness, the annual punch card event sponsored by Main Street Lansing, recorded a record-setting $220,100 in holiday sales between November 12 and December 15. The promotion featured punch cards that were available from participating businesses, and for every $5 spent, a customer received a card punch. Once a card was full with $100 worth of punches, a customer was eligible to enter a drawing for a variety of prizes, from business gift certificates to $150 in Downtown Dollars. The 2018 prize winners are: