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by Julie Berg-Raymond

An important moment in area history unfolded Thursday, November 2, at the site of what will be the new Mississippi River bridge at Lansing.

Representatives from the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Kraemer North America (contractors on the project), along with community members ceremonially broke ground on the project to replace the Black Hawk Bridge. According to a short statement released by the

Iowa DOT, “work is about to begin on the new Mississippi River Bridge that will improve the connection between Lansing and Crawford County, Wisconsin.” The new bridge will offer a safer, smoother ride as travelers move through the area.

“The groundbreaking is just the beginning of the multi-year process to replace the bridge,” the statement continues. “Completion of the new bridge is expected in 2026. During construction, the current bridge will stay open and ready for use.”

The mission of the Allamakee County Veterans Museum is to preserve the history and service of local veterans. A key part of that mission is the museum’s video Veterans History Project. Currently, the museum’s library of video interviews includes 18 videos (listed further below in this article) with veterans who served in  World War II, Korean  Conflict, Vietnam Conflict, and career service.

Many of these videos have already been presented at public programs in the museum at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon during the last two years. The videos are also available for the public to watch upon request while visiting the museum at any time the museum is open to the public.

Tuesday, November 7 is scheduled as the City/School Election to determine which candidates will be elected by voters to leadership positions at the most local levels of government and guidance. A Notice of Election with polling sites and a complete list of candidates and offices for this year’s election was published on Page 24 in the October 25 print edition and e-edition of The Standard. Polling sites will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, November 7.

INFORMED CHOICES
In an effort to help inform voters prior to their venture to the polls November 7, The Standard issued a questionnaire to each of the candidates in the contested races on this year’s election ballot, with the exception of the Postville community which has its own newspaper. The series of questions asked and each candidate’s returned responses to those questions can be found throughout this week’s edition, most of them beginning on this week’s front page.

Gathering to honor one of their own, family, friends and law enforcement colleagues of fallen Iowa State Patrol Trooper and Allamakee County native Ted Benda were in attendance at a dedication ceremony held Monday, October 16 to designate the State Highway 51 bridge that spans Yellow River, approximately four miles north of Postville, as Trooper Ted Benda Memorial Bridge.

Sentencing was handed down in Allamakee County District Court in Waukon Monday, October 23 following the murder conviction of 66-year-old Andrew Karvel of Lansing, who had been found guilty of second degree murder in the May 9, 2022 strangulation death of his roommate, 83-year-old Daniel Lundy. Karvel had been found guilty of the crime by an Allamakee County jury in August of this year.

by Lissa Blake

The deadline to weigh in on housing needs in Allamakee County is fast approaching, and organizers need more input from across the county.

“Whether you live, work or own a business in Allamakee County, we need to hear from you,” said Val Reinke, executive director of Allamakee County Economic Development and Tourism.

Reinke explained each county in Iowa is required to do a housing study every five years.

“We use this data to work with developers, city councils and builders, and to apply for programs,” said Reinke, adding, “The first thing they ask us is to see our housing study.”  

So far, only 200 people have responded to the current survey, which has a deadline of Tuesday, October 31.

“We need input from every community in the county… people who rent, people who own, people who come to the county for work. Housing is a real issue here,” she said.

by Lissa Blake

Trying to raise half a million dollars to increase child care availability in Allamakee County might seem like a monumental task, but the opportunity is readily available if the local community can come together to take advantage of it.

The State of Iowa Department of Health and Human Services is offering half of that funding total, and the Allamakee County community needs to raise the other $250,000 by the end of October in order to receive the State’s contribution, with $60,000 already pledged to that county match commitment by some local businesses and organizations.

Everyone interested in helping to find solutions for additional access to child care in Allamakee County is invited to an informational meeting scheduled for this Thursday, October 19 from 12-1:30 p.m. at Lansing Office Works, 274 Main Street in Lansing. Lunch will be provided (see additional details in the shaded box printed on this same page).

Allamakee County is one of 10 communities in the state of Iowa that has been selected to participate in a child care solutions program. The program has $2.5 million available to invest within the communities that are able to provide a 50/50 match to access the funds.

An informational meeting about the program and that funding opportunity is scheduled to be held Thursday, October 19 at the Lansing Office Works building, 274 Main Street in Lansing, from 12-1:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided. There is also a virtual link available for those who cannot access the meeting in-person, and that link is available at https://us06web.zoom.us/i/87181480659.

“Be a part of the solution!” meeting organizers urge. “Child care is a critical building block for our workforce and economy. We are looking for our county to come together to support this fund in efforts to create sustainability for our providers.”

by Julie Berg-Raymond

By early last week, Main Street Lansing (MSL) Executive Director Andrew Boddicker had all his boxes checked for an event he’d organized and scheduled for Wednesday, October 11 - a visit to Lansing by Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA).

Among the checked boxes, city council approval had been granted for an ATV/UTV Mt. Hosmer permit, and the council had also granted permission for Boddicker to clean the front, northwest room on the ground floor of the Old Stone School. Blake Schoh, owner of S&S Houseboat Rentals, was lined up to captain a short pontoon ride on the Mississippi River in the afternoon. Chef Wendi Wilson-Eiden had designed a menu and would be preparing dinner in the evening at Coffee On The River - the restaurant she co-owns with her sister, Diana Wilson-Thompson. The guest list was confirmed, and The Standard newspaper had assigned a reporter.

A Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Training event is scheduled to take place Tuesday, October 24 in Waukon. Sponsored by MHT (Mental Health Today/Matt Howe Tribute), the event is planned to take place from 6-8 p.m. that October 24 evening at Iron Ridge Church at 512 9th Street SW in Waukon.

Mental Health Today (Matt Howe Tribute) is hosting Ryan Nesbit of Alive and Running for a free suicide prevention training. Nesbit is a certified trainer of QPR’s “industry leading approach to suicide prevention.” QPR, just like CPR, is an emergency response to someone in crisis and can save lives.