River Valley

Mother River is ready to start spring cleaning and Friends of Pool 9 (FOP9) will be there to help, but they can’t do it alone.

Since 2004, FOP9 has sponsored a spring river clean-up day. Since that year, over 130,000 pounds of debris has been collected. This wasn’t done by just a few volunteers.  Over 7,000 volunteer hours, including 890 last year, have gone into this project saving approximately $140,000 in work related costs. Last year alone, 13,000 pounds of accumulated garbage was harvested.

Young and old, fathers, mothers, grandparents and kids are urged to join Friends of Pool 9 Saturday, April 29 in this clean-up endeavor.  Both people and boats are needed. Participants gather at the Lansing VFW building on Front Street in Lansing at 7:30 a.m. for registration, orientation, clean-up assignments and to collect clean-up supplies.  Canvas gloves, garbage bags and water are provided.

Kee High School’s Post Prom was held Sunday, April 23 from midnight until 4 a.m. Guests played table games and other challenging activities using play money. The raffle and silent auction prize packages were also popular with the guests. Special entertainment was provided by hypnotist Blake Powers from Wand Enterprises. Door prizes were awarded throughout the evening and everyone drew a number to win a prize package at the end of the event. A special drawing was held and the Guest grand prize (Garmin Vivofit) was won by Drew Gaunitz (pictured at left above). The Kee junior student grand prize (Sylvania DVD player) was won by Ian Sickles (pictured in center above) and the Kee senior student grand prize (Samsung TV) was won by Clayton Eubanks (pictured at right above). Everyone attending was given an opportunity to guess the number of candies in a jar and Allison Colsch (pictured at right) won $100 for guessing closest to the actual number.

Prohibition and Civilian Conservation Corps in Northeast Iowa will be the next subject  for the monthly Sesquicentennial program at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library. The program will be presented by author Linda Betzinger McCann Tuesday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m.  A soup supper will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a donation jar available for free-will donations. McCann will be talking about two books she has authored, "Prohibition in Eastern Iowa" and "Civilian Conservation Corp in Northeast Iowa."

Prohibition was the 13-year period when it was illegal to manufacture, sell or transport any sort of liquor in the U.S. So, why did residents choose to break the law? According to McCann, Al Capone did business in Iowa and there were murders in Iowa over liquor. Whatever went on nationwide seemed to happen in Iowa also.

Contributions from local businesses and individuals have provided a big step forward, and a pathway, literally, for many steps, in preparing the Stone Schoolhouse in Lansing to host visitors this spring in celebration of Lansing's Sesquicentennial. Brennan Construction, Croell Redi-Mix Concrete and Wally Mahr contributed a combination of labor and materials for building a sidewalk and ramp to the main entrance of the schoolhouse to provide for easier access this spring. Submitted photo.
 

The children of former Lansing resident Lynn Lange recently made a $2,500 donation in memory of their mother to the Lansing Lions Club Playground Enhancement Project at the Sports Complex in Lansing. Pictured, left to right, are Travis Meyers, Lansing Playground Honorary Campaign Chairman Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg, Sarah Lange and Cole Lange. Ground breaking for the playground project is anticipated to be taking place in the middle of May. Submitted photo.
 

Mother River is ready to start spring cleaning and Friends of Pool 9 (FOP9) will be there to help, but they can’t do it alone.

Since 2004, FOP9 has sponsored a spring river clean-up day. Since that year, over 130,000 pounds of debris has been collected. This wasn’t done by just a few volunteers.  Over 7,000 volunteer hours, including 890 last year, have gone into this project saving approximately $140,000 in work related costs. Last year alone, 13,000 pounds of accumulated garbage was harvested.

Young and old, fathers, mothers, grandparents and kids are urged to join Friends of Pool 9 Saturday, April 29 in this clean-up endeavor.  Both people and boats are needed. Participants gather at the Lansing VFW building on Front Street in Lansing at 7:30 a.m. for registration, orientation, clean-up assignments and to collect clean-up supplies.  Canvas gloves, garbage bags and water are provided.

by B.J. Tomlinson

The Lansing City Council met in its regular session Monday night, April 17. De Soto, WI resident Lynn David, a water aerobics instructor, addressed the Council regarding the Lansing Swimming Pool. David said 284 people attended the water aerobics program last year and drew participants from several surrounding communities. Lansing Mayor Mike Brennan said that the City is still hopeful that employees can be found so that the pool will open again this year. "So far," Brennan said, "no applications have been received."   Lansing City Clerk Katie Becker said that wages didn't seem to be the issue, as Lansing pays the highest wages for lifeguards in the area.

The Ferryville Tourism Council and the Mississippi Valley Conservancy are hosting the annual International Spring Migration Day Hike at Sugar Creek Bluff Natural Area Saturday, May 13. Hikers are invited to gather at the Ferryville Village Hall, along the Great River Road, Hwy. 35, at the south end of the Village of Ferryville between 7:30 and 8 a.m. Treats, handouts and a sign-in will be available at the village hall, and then the group will carpool to the trailhead for the 8 a.m. hike.

Kee High School's Post Prom has been scheduled for April 23 from midnight until 4 a.m. for Kee High School juniors and seniors and their guests following the school's April 22 Prom. This event is a substance free celebration providing table games, raffles and silent auctions, snacks and drinks, and door prizes.

Hypnotist Blake Powers from Wand Enterprises has been booked and all guests will be entertained by his show. The committee is also providing a photo booth from Absolute Music Photo Booths at Prom so all guests will have souvenir pictures of their night.

The Post Prom Committee has been hosting Sunday Bingo events and has worked the brat stand at Lansing Fish Days to raise funds for Post Prom. The Committee is very appreciative to all area businesses and individuals for their continued support.  Adult volunteers are needed to help with games and activities, serve food and general supervision.

by B.J. Tomlinson

The Lansing City Council met in its regular session Monday night, April 3, addressing a variety of agenda items. Most of the meeting discussion centered around a pair of larger projects within the city.

People Service Representative Heath Draeger first advised that water hydrant flushing would commence Wednesday, April 12, and will continue each Wednesday for several weeks. Residents are reminded that rust may be detected in their water those days. There is an MSA meeting for radium treatment Thursday, April 6 at 10 a.m. for a tour of the water distribution system, and a formal meeting at 1:15 p.m. to determine options.