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After three weeks of closure due to safety precautions, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has reopened the Black Hawk Bridge across the Mississippi River connecting Lansing and Crawford County, WI. The bridge was opened back up to traffic starting at approximately 10 a.m. Monday, June 9.

The Iowa DOT District 2 office had closed the Black Hawk Bridge late Saturday, May 17, when the sensor system being used to help monitor the bridge detected movement in the area of the third pier as one travels east across the bridge. Following a detailed inspection and engineering analysis over the past three weeks, Iowa DOT has determined that the bridge is safe for motor vehicle traffic with the same size and weight restrictions that were in place prior to the May 17 closure. The extensive analysis and inspection process determined that no repairs were deemed necessary from the detected movement, and the Iowa DOT will continually monitor the bridge to ensure continued safety.

The signs says it all as the 2025 Allamakee County Dairy Days Parade traveled the streets of Lansing Sunday evening, June 8, with a number of area businesses, families and organizations paying tribute to the dairy industry. The annual celebration brings together those representing the future of the industry, as well as those who have represented or supported the industry in a variety of ways currently and throughout its storied past in Allamakee County, all in an effort to recognize the importance of the dairy industry to all who live in or visit Allamakee County. Photo by Danielle Potter. View and find out how to purchase this photo and many more by clicking on the Photo Galleries link on this webpage.
 

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) staff has been in the process of converting the hospital’s entire electronic medical record system to the EPIC system during the past year. The new system is designed to offer numerous advantages for patients, their families, as well as the hospital its clinics.

This transition will happen this Saturday, June 14. The hospital and clinics would like to forewarn their patients that the process for check-in will change somewhat following this transition and they may experience delays the first few weeks of this transition.

Sharon Drahn
Contributing Writer

In a week’s time from initial jury selection to the final verdict being returned - with an extended holiday weekend in between, the first-degree murder trial of 41-year-old Brandon Kasemeier of Waukon came to an end last week. The ending to that trial took a 12-person jury of Allamakee County men and women less than an hour to decide, as they returned a verdict of guilty Tuesday afternoon, May 27 in Allamakee County District Court at Waukon.

Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) officials have announced that a free water taxi and shuttle service connecting Lansing and De Soto, WI will be starting this Wednesday, June 4, and that service will be available during the closure of the Black Hawk Bridge, which began May 17 when pier movement was detected. Within the Monday, June 2 announcement of the availability of the water taxi service, DOT officials also offered the following statement in regard to the continued closure of the Black Hawk Bridge:

“Iowa DOT is reviewing findings from the most recent engineering study and is evaluating ongoing construction for the new bridge which is occurring near the existing bridge. The department has not finalized any repair or reopening plans for the existing bridge.”

The Allamakee County Dairy Promotion Board has scheduled the June Dairy Days Parade to be held in Lansing this year. The parade will be held this Sunday, June 8, beginning at 7 p.m., a bit of a change from its usual Monday night schedule.

Line-up for parade entries begins at 6:30 p.m. at Kee High School on Center Street in Lansing. The parade route will travel from the high school up South 6th Street to Main Street/State Highway 9, taking a right and traveling east down Main Street to South 3rd Street, where another right will take the parade back to Center Street, traveling back to Kee High School.

The Allamakee County Dairy Promotion Board will be setting up its dairy wagon and the Allamakee County Cattlemen will be grilling at the Kerndt Brothers Bank parking lot area and serving from 5-7:30 p.m. For more information, contact Kerri Gibbs at 563-419-2260 or ckgibbs@acegroup.cc.
 

Saturday morning, May 31, at approximately 8:43 a.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Emergency Dispatch Center received a report of a one-vehicle accident on State Highway 76 north of Waukon, between Grand View Road and Iowa River Drive. The accident resulted in fatal injuries for the lone individual involved.

A report issued by the Iowa State Patrol indicates that Daniel M. Fisher, age 64, reported to be from Salem, WI but also being a more recent resident of Lansing and having served for a time as the Executive Director of Main Street Lansing a decade ago, was traveling northbound on State Highway 76 on his 2007 Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he struck a deer in the roadway near mile marker 42. Upon impact, Fisher lost control of the motorcycle and it entered and came to rest in the east ditch, throwing him from the vehicle. Fisher was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident as a result of his injuries.

Sharon Drahn Contributing Writer

With nearly 90 potential jurors summoned to the Allamakee County Courthouse Tuesday, May 20, jury selection began in the first-degree murder trial of Brandon Kasemeier, age 41, of Waukon, who is accused of killing his estranged wife, Jami, January 21, 2024.
Kasemeier was taken into custody in Colorado a day after Jami was found dead in the Waukon home the couple once shared.

Although Kasemeier had requested the trial be moved out of Allamakee County on two separate occasions within the past six months, those motions for change of venue were denied both times. Kasemeier’s attorneys argued that media attention and the smaller rural population of Allamakee County would make it difficult to select an impartial jury; however, court documents noted that Iowa First District Court Judge Alan Heavens ruled that selecting an impartial jury, although challenging, would indeed be possible.

by Jennifer Bissell

A Waukon man recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to speak to local legislators about the impact of renewable energy in Iowa and veterans in the renewable energy industry.

Jim Downing, a retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran, a former police officer and now an 11-year professional in the energy world, was chosen to represent his industry and Project Vanguard during the Clean Power on the Hill event April 29-30. Downing and other representatives from Iowa visited with Iowa legislators about the importance of energy generation in Iowa and grants available for small farmers, business owners and home owners.

Friday, May 23, at 9:01 p.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Emergency Dispatch Center received a report of a one-vehicle accident north of the intersection of Paint Creek Drive and Ness Ridge Road in rural Allamakee County, northwest of Waterville.

A Can Am Maverick off-road vehicle driven by Jason Lee Matthias, age 33, of Cedar Falls was traveling southbound on Paint Creek Drive when it struck a deer in the roadway. The driver lost control of the off-road vehicle and it struck an embankment and rolled onto its side. A passenger, Heather Lynn Jones, age 33, of Raymond, was pinned under the vehicle. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

Assisting at the scene of the accident was the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office, Waterville Fire and Rescue Squad and Veterans Memorial Hospital. The accident remains under investigation by the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office.