River Valley

Community input session on speed cameras scheduled for December 4

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Immediately prior to the regular meeting of the Lansing City Council Monday, November 20, Benjamin Ghelf was sworn in as a new council member, having won one of two seats on the ballot in the November 7 election. Councilman Ghelf was sworn in at the first regular meeting after the election due to being elected to the seat which had previously been an appointed position following the resignation of councilman Bruce ReVoir just over one year ago. Corey Richards, the other new councilman elected November 7, will be sworn in at the end the current term (the start of the new year) of councilman Curtis Snitker, who did not seek re-election this year.

Commander Dan Hanson of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the U.S. Post Gustave F. Kerndt #5981 announces the kick-off of this year’s VFW’s Voice of Democracy Scholarship competition. Local high school students have the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and a trip to Washington, D.C.

Prizes and scholarships are awarded at the Post, District, State and National level. All State first-place winners receive a four-day trip to Washington, D.C., to tour the city, be honored by the VFW and its Auxiliary and receive their portion of $171,000 in national awards, the top scholarship being $35,000.

Students must record a three-to-five minute audio essay on a flash drive and submit the recording, typed essay and completed entry form to their local VFW Post by October 31 of this year.  The 2023 theme selected is “What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?”

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds lake property owners to check their boat and trailers, and docks and lifts, for aquatic invasive species before storing them for the winter. Aquatic invasive species, everything from zebra mussels to Eurasian watermilfoil, move from one waterbody to another by hitchhiking on boats, in bait buckets and on other equipment used in the water. They can create serious problems for Iowa waters and negatively impact the quality of outdoor recreation experiences.

Everyone is invited to the 13th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting scheduled for Monday, November 27 at 6 p.m. at the Observation Deck/River View Park in the center of the Village of Ferryville, WI. Santa Claus will be in attendance to hear children’s Christmas wishes, and everyone can sing along to Christmas carols and enjoy treats as the lights of the holiday season are illuminated.

Santa Claus is scheduled to arrive at 6 p.m., and at 6:15 p.m. elves will light the Christmas tree for the season. The Ferryville Tourism Council will lead everyone in Christmas carols and all can enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, holiday cookies and treats. There will also be gift bags for children.
 

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, November 6, the Lansing City Council heard from Nick Hammell, a member of the Lansing Volunteer Fire Department, about the department’s need for a new city pumper - the vehicle used to attack a structure fire.

The city pumper is not in service right now, Hammell said, due to an issue with the battery or with the battery charging system. “I know it’s a lot to bite off,” Hammell told the council. “But it has to happen.” Currently, the city is relying on the rural fire district’s pumper to handle structure fires.

Area residents are invited to donate blood Wednesday, November 22 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Kee High School gym in Lansing and receive an exclusive pair of Elf & Red Cross socks, while supplies last. The blood donation event, sponsored by the Kee High School Student Council, will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film “Elf” and make giving blood a holiday tradition.

Those willing to donate at the November 22 event can make an appointment at redcrossblood.org or by calling Allison Fitzwater at 563-538-4201.
 

Sunday afternoon, November 12, shortly after 3 p.m., fire alarms in the Kee High/Lansing Middle School building detected smoke in the second story of the building, and first responders from the Lansing Rural Fire Protection District and Lansing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were quickly dispatched to the scene. A small electrical fire in the second floor boys restroom was quickly extinguished, preventing it from spreading any further but causing some damage to the bathroom area and some smoke damage within the building.

At the conclusion of the ninth New Albin Public Library Quilt Show held October 13-15, New Albin Public Library head librarian Brittany Wallace was presented with a $100 donation by members of the Loose Threads Quilting Group, an amount in addition to the proceeds raised and donated to the library from the quilt show. Pictured above, left to right, are Library Board President and Quilt Show Chairperson Robin Harmon, head librarian Brittany Wallace, and Loose Threads Quilting Group members Peggy Landsom, Arlis Myhre, Joan Weymiller and Eileen Smith, all of whom worked at the quilt show. The proceeds raised from the quilt show are used by the library to fund special projects, such as additional shelving and other needs within the library. Submitted photo.
 

Beginning Thursday, November 9, from 5-6 p.m., Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library will be hosting monthly learning and informational sessions with the lead engineering staff working on the Black Hawk Bridge replacement project. Everyone is invited to bring questions and curiosity. The engineers plan to have hands-on activities and this is a unique opportunity for the local community to learn a lot about the bridge building process.

Sessions will be held monthly the second Thursday each month and are for all ages. Questions about this program can be sent to libary@lansing.lib.ia.us.
 

The Northeast Iowa Community Connectors, Main Street Lansing and Lansing Office Works are hosting a “Building Bridges” afternoon Saturday, November 4 from 1-4 p.m. in Lansing. The event is open to the public, with “pay your own way” shopping and dining experiences in Lansing. Adults of all ages are welcome.

The afternoon will kick off at Coffee on The River at 1 p.m. and the group will visit a variety of businesses in downtown Lansing before a group photo will be taken by the new mural, painted by Erik Burke. At 2:45 p.m., the group will visit the Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center before the event concludes with food and drinks at Shep’s Riverside Bar and Grill.

The Community Connectors are a newly formed group with a goal of “connecting” northeast Iowa community members through social gatherings to form friendships, make professional connections and create mentorships. There is no cost to join or participate.