River Valley

At the August 7 Friends of Pool 9 (FOP9) Board meeting, Deb Sullivan presented FOP9 with a check for $2,500 from the Norwex Company.  At a recent company convention, Sullivan was informed of grants available to non-profits for being involved in projects to clean the environment.  She was aware of the thousands of pounds of debris Friends of Pool 9 volunteers have removed from the Mississippi River annually and decided to apply for the grant. Thanks to the efforts of Deb Sullivan and the Norwex Company, the expenses for the 2018 river clean-up on the Mississippi River are already paid for. FOP9 appreciates the hundreds of volunteers that give their time and efforts to keep the Mississippi River environment a clean and safe place, making Pool 9 one of the best pools on the Upper Mississippi River. The next Pool 9 river clean-up is scheduled for the last Saturday in April.

by Macie Hill

The Lansing City Council meeting was held Wednesday, September 6, delayed initially a day from its usual Monday evening date due to the Labor Day holiday Monday, September 4, but then delayed to Wednesday due to a quorum of council members not being available for Tuesday's meeting date.

Discussion circled around a new sidewalk being put in on North Third Street, street light infrastructure information, the second reading of the City's ATV ordinance, and the police department seeking to get speed radars placed throughout the city.

It has been reported that rain water has been overflowing the sidewalk and running into houses on North Third Street. To fix this problem, the City will be replacing approximately sixty feet of sidewalk on that street in an effort to prevent the problem from happening again.

Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D., professor of criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Co-Director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, will be conducting a presentation on cyberbullying Monday, September 25 at the New Albin Community Center, beginning at 7 p.m.

Entitlted "Teen Technology Use and Misuse," Dr. Patchin's presentation will cover a broad overview of cyberbullying, including issues parents, educators, and teens need to know about how youth use and misuse technology to cause harm to their peers. The presentation will define and provide examples of cyberbullying and discuss the role of parents in preventing and responding to inappropriate online behaviors.  It will also describe many of the online environments popular among adolescents today and strategies to use to make sure they are used safely and responsibly.

As part of continued Sesquicentennial Programming at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library, there will be a pair of programs held at the library within the next two weeks. Doors will open for each program at 5:30 p.m. with a light lunch, with a donation jar being in place. Actual programs will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 7, Barbara Kailean Welsh, Author of "Blazing A Trail: The Unconventional Life of Harriet Hosmer," will give a presentation. Welsh is bringing to life the character of a 20-year-old woman who, in 1851, raced up Mt. Hosmer in Lansing, thus resulting in the name of the Lansing landmark.

Many of the people of the area have only known her name, but such questions remain as to how that name happened to stay with Mt. Hosmer and what kind of a girl was she to be traveling on the river alone at the age of 20 in 1851. It is also known that she became a sculptor, but to what extent is her work known?

Community members are invited to give back and help save lives by donating blood Wednesday, September 6 from 2-6 p.m. at Kerndt Brothers Community Center in Lansing. To make an appointment or to learn more, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Blood is a perishable product that can only come from generous volunteers. By donating blood, individuals can help make a difference in the lives of patients in their community and throughout the nation.

Completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire found at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass is encouraged to help speed up the donation process. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

by Macie Hill

The Lansing City Council meeting was held Monday, August 21. Discussion centered around Milty's putting tables outside its business, ATV ordinance information, S&S Rentals buying property, a radium treatment study timeline, and city street light information.

Local restaurant Milty’s proposed having three to four bistro tables sitting outside the business on the sidewalk. The members of the council discussed the dimensions of the tables that would be placed and the sidewalk itself, and decided that the tables would not take up too much of the sidewalk and can be put out there.

The first reading of the new ATV ordinance was read at Monday's meeting and the second and third readings will be read during the next two meetings. The ordinance will only be good for one year. When that time is reached, the council will discuss and review how the first year went and edit anything that needs to be changed from there.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is now distributing the 2017-2018 Iowa Bicycle Map. This popular publication has been updated to show new four-foot or wider paved shoulders and recreational trails completed since the 2015-2016 version of the map was published.

As in past versions, the map highlights bike-friendly routes when traveling on two wheels through Iowa by identifying bike trails and traffic levels on all paved roads. The map also includes insets of Iowa's 16 largest cities.

Denise Becker and her daughter, Jessica Verdon, both of Lansing, headed to Chicago, IL the weekend of July 14-16 for the annual Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon event. This is the eighth year in a row Becker and at least one of her children have completed the half marathon event to raise awareness and money to help veterans who are experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Together, the mother/daughter duo ran the 5K race Saturday and the J4 marathon Sunday, continuing with the belief that "If we send them, we must mend them." Although they run several races throughout the year to try and spread awareness, Becker says this run is when they ask the community to get involved and donate money to go to the local Veterans Administration and programs that help veterans get the help they need to overcome these disorders.

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. Rylee Mudderman, eight-year-old daughter of Dustin and Kelli Mudderman of Lansing, found Finney near the Lansing sign that greets travelers arriving to Lansing from the west on Highway 9/Main Street. 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, and a fishing pole with tackle donated by Village Farm & Home, Lansing. Submitted photo.
 

Local youth are invited to join Rangers at Effigy Mounds National Monument Saturday, August 19 at 8 p.m. for a Junior Ranger Night Explorer Program. Junior Rangers will have an opportunity to work on a special Night Explorer Junior Ranger activity book, listen to a Winnebago story about the origin of the Big and Little Dippers, and explore the night sky with Janet Finn, a retired science teacher and member of the Starsplitters of Wyalusing.

Upon completion, children will leave with a Night Explorer activity book and badge, solar eclipse viewing glasses, and a better understanding of the night sky. This program is designed for children ages five and over. Registration is required and space is limited. Call 563-873-3491, ext. 123 for reservations. No pets or unaccompanied minors will be allowed.