River Valley

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.

Wednesday, March 29 at approximately 10:25 p.m., the Lansing/New Albin Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence located at 280 Third Street NE in New Albin. During the search, officers seized several items of drug paraphernalia and marijuana.

As a result of the search the following people were arrested:

Joseph N. Mahl, age 38, of New Albin was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Skyler J. Mahl, age 19, of New Albin was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

The investigation into the case is ongoing and other arrests and criminal charges are likely to be filed in this case. A criminal charge is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

The Lansing/New Albin Police Department was assisted by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office and the Waukon Police Department.
 

The Village of Ferryville, WI is gearing up for another successful year of “Rummage Along the River” with help from a $1,500 Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. The 70-mile garage sale winds through multiple communities along the Great River Road. This year’s Rummage Along the River will take place May 19-20.

The Village of Ferryville aims to increase the number of shoppers and overnight stays for this year’s event. Participating communities in Wisconsin include Stoddard, Genoa, the Bad Axe Neighborhood, De Soto, Ferryville, Lynxville, Seneca and Mt. Sterling. The event is expected to attract over 1,900 visitors to the area, generating an estimated $82,000 in visitor spending. Grant funds will go toward online, print and radio advertising leading up to Rummage Along the River.

Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library has invited Richard King to speak at its monthly Public Issues program Thursday, April 6. King is an expert on many facets of the Mississippi River and will be speaking on "Ecology and History of the River." His presentation is based primarily on the book "Great River: An Environmental History of the Upper Mississippi, 1890-1950" by Philip Scarpino.

King is with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region (3) based in La Crosse, WI, and is the former manager of Pool 9 Fish and Wildlife District.  He is well versed and has a great love for the subject - the Mississippi River.

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.