River Valley

The Ferryville Tourism Council is sponsoring the second installment of its Chautauqua Summer Series for 2018.  This program will be held Wednesday, July 18 at 8 p.m. in the Ferryville Village Hall, at the south end of Ferryville along Wisconsin State Highway 35, the Great River Road.

Featured speaker for this program will be Mary Antoine. Her topic will be the Fur Trade along the Mississippi River. Antoine is the current director of the Fort Crawford Museum in Prairie du Chien, WI and is a local historian. She has researched and written two books that she will be bringing with her for this event.

Antoine’s books include “The War of 1812 in Wisconsin: the Battle for Prairie du Chien” and “Frenchtown Chronicles of Prairie du Chien.” These are stories about life in this area in the second half of the 19th century.

Thursday, July 19, the public is invited to photographer Bob Modersohn’s presentation, “Click by Click: Humor in Photography.” He’ll show a sampling of the sometimes quirky black and white imagery that he shot for The Des Moines Register in the 1970s and 1980s.

Now living in Lansing, Modersohn had a long career as a staff photographer, reporter and travel columnist for The Register. These days, his heart is in the life and landscapes of the Driftless Area, where he’s known online as DriftlessMode.

The free program will begin at 6:30 p.m., preceded by a light supper with freewill offering. For more information call 563-538-4693.
 

Thornton Manor in Lansing has received a “Deficiency Free” result on its annual survey conducted in May by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. The annual  survey, which is conducted over several days, covers over 500 quality, safety and performance issues such as medication management, proper skin care, assessment of residents’ needs, respect for residents’ rights and dignity, food service, environment and administration. The complete evaluation includes a tour of the facility, review of residents’ clinical records, and interviews with residents and family members about life and the care they are receiving. Thornton Heights Assisted Living also received an “Insufficiency-Free” survey in January 2018. With the increase in regulations, achieving the distinction of a “deficiency-free” rating is considered a very prestigious achievement.

by Macie Hill

The regular session of the Lansing City Council was held Monday, July 2. Discussion centered around the council reviewing pedestal and dock quotes for the Marina, adopting a multi-hazard mitigation plan and welcoming a new member to the Library Board.

The council discussed pedestals and dock quotes for docks one and seven for the City Marina. A Waterworks representative was present at the meeting to explain the whole process involved with the project. The Marina Board will discuss the offer and finalize the decision and discuss financing options.

Peregrine falcons have returned to Effigy Mounds and in celebration of this historic event Effigy Mounds National Monument is hosting a special evening program this Friday, July 6 at 7 p.m. The presentation will take place in the Effigy Mounds National Monument Visitor Center located at 151 Highway 76, Harpers Ferry.

Effigy Mounds Natural Resources Manager Rodney Rovang and Amy Ries of the Decorah Raptor Resource Project will present on the history and recent discovery of Peregrine falcons at Effigy Mounds National Monument.

May 18 of this year, William Smith, biologist volunteer with the Raptor Resource Project, spotted Peregrine falcons in what appeared to be a nest on the bluffs over the Mississippi River within Effigy Mounds National Monument. This is the first-ever recorded discovery of Peregrines in the park.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

“We’ve met a lot of great people; it’s been nothing but fun,” is the sentiment John and Judy Schild express as they reflect back on their 20-year ownership of the Eagle’s Next Gallery and frame shop in Lansing. The Schilds will be retiring in mid-July and the shop will close unless an interested buyer comes along to keep it going.

The business has been a mainstay on Lansing’s Main Street. “Only the Other Place bar and the dentist have been here with the same owners as long as we have in this block of Main Street. Some of the businesses are the same but with different owners,” Judy said.

Trees Forever was proud to recognize Ric Zarwell of Lansing with its Outstanding Advocate Award. Zarwell has been committed to conservation advocacy his entire life, primarily on behalf of birds. Over the past ten years, his involvement with Trees Forever has grown, and he has invested hundreds of hours working with Trees Forever staff and others to found Bird Friendly Iowa, a statewide bird habitat conservation and education outreach group. “Ric Zarwell has spent hundreds of hours in the last four years as a volunteer to help create Bird Friendly Iowa. He has participated in a number of Trees Forever programs and sees Bird Friendly Iowa as a way to carry the conservation message to more people in Iowa, and to call people to take action to protect and restore the environment,” Trees Forever Field Coordinator Patty Reisinger said. “His passion for trees and the environment are obvious as he steps forward to be the voice for trees and the environment.”

Iowa rivers and streams are swollen and swift with consistent rainfall most of last week, according to Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials. Some rivers are already dangerously high, and more rivers could rise fast with chances of rain forecast again through this week.

“We encourage all paddlers, especially new and inexperienced paddlers, to stay on lakes and flat-water while the rivers are high due to heavy rain,” said Todd Robertson, paddling instructor and Outreach Coordinator for Rivers Programs at the DNR.

“Swollen rivers are super powerful and have unpredictable current along with tons of wood debris coming downstream to form deadly ‘strainers’,” said Robertson. He said that even experienced paddlers should stay off of rain swollen rivers. “If you get into a situation where you are struggling and fighting the current, the river will win,” said Robertson.

The 65th Jubilee Mass of Father Donald Hawes has been scheduled for Sunday, July 1 at 12 noon in Immaculate Conception Church, Wexford. In addition to celebrating 65 years as a priest, Father Hawes is also planning to celebrate his 90th birthday.

As part of the celebration, Brian FitzGerald and Martin McCormack of “Switchback” are planning to lead the music for the Jubilee Mass July 1. They will present “The Hibernian Mass,” one of six Mass settings they have written. The Hibernian Mass touches on Switchback’s Celtic roots and portrays the arrival of Christianity to the Irish people through the venerable Saint Patrick. After Mass they will also present a brief concert.

by Macie Hill

The Lansing City Council met in a very brief regular session Monday, June 18. Discussion centered around a new storm sewer being put in and approval of revised seal coat bids for City streets. Another agenda item pertaining to Hazard Mitigation was not able to take place and will likely be rescheduled for the next meeting.

There will be a new storm sewer put in place in the area of Main and Front Streets due to an issue discovered with the existing storm sewer in that area. The council also approved the bids to seal coat the City streets approved during the previous council meeting, with the exception of the pool parking lot due to a budgeting matter.