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The Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CPKC) Holiday Train is scheduled to make its way to the Lansing and New Albin areas again this year as part of its 2023 trek to help raise money, food and awareness for local food banks in communities along the CPKC network. The festive railway celebration is scheduled to make its way through northeast Iowa Friday, December 8 with stops in Ossian, Marquette, Lansing and New Albin before a final stop that day in La Crescent, MN.

Highlighting the return of the Holiday Train will be a pair of concert performers, Tenille Townes and BRELAND, who will present about a half-hour show at each location. Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Tenille Townes hails from Grande Prairie, Alberta in Canada. Her acclaimed debut album was named Country Album of the Year at the 50th JUNO Awards and Album of the Year at the 2021 Canadian Country Music Awards. Townes also earned her third consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year trophy.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society (HFAHS) celebrated its 10th anniversary Saturday, November 4 with an event held at the Ethel Robinson Meehan Community Center in Harpers Ferry. Guests at the celebration heard from two speakers, Effigy Mounds National Monument Superintendent Susan Snow and Maiden Voyage Tours, LLC Captain and Harpers Ferry resident Robert Vavra.

“Preserving this history is preserving my history,” Vavra noted. His riverboat tours cover many topics and he is well-versed in Mississippi River history, as he has relied on the river to make a living, including spending time as a clammer and a diver for mussels to be used in the cultured pearl industry.

Live music was performed at the November 4 celebration by John Stravers following the presentations. A sample of some of the donated artifacts with ties to the Harpers Ferry area were also on display.

by Julie Berg-Raymond

A lot of people have been talking - and wondering - about the new bridge being built across the Mississippi River at Lansing.

Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library and Executive Director Derva Burke, along with Clayton Burke (no relation), project manager with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) and the overseeing engineer on the new bridge project, are presenting an opportunity for everyone to have their questions answered. “Let’s Talk Bridges!” - a monthly series focused on learning about and celebrating the new bridge project at Lansing - was held for the first time Thursday, November 9, from 5 to 6 p.m., at Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library.

Waukon City Council At-Large race requires run-off election

Voters throughout Allamakee County were making decisions on a combination of nearly two dozen ballot items when they went to the polls Tuesday, November 7 for the biennial City/School Election. Within that list of ballot items between all Allamakee County communities, there were eight contested races for either city government or local school board positions, and half those races saw an incumbent candidate denied re-election to his or her seat - at least for the time-being, in one case.

by David M. Johnson

Lymphedema is a medical condition that is not readily known or recognized by the general public. Those who are afflicted by this condition know quite well what it is and can struggle through life trying to live with it.

The official definition of lymphedema is a condition in which swelling occurs in one or more of the extremities of a human body like arms or legs (and sometimes may occur in the chest wall, abdomen, neck and genitals) due to the impairment of the flow of the lymphatic system. The swelling is caused by an accumulation of protein-rich fluids that is usually drained through the body’s lymphatic system.

Waukon native Mary Plein served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during World War II and Korean War, continued her service in her community

by David M. Johnson

Veterans Days is designated as a time to remember those who have served their country through military experience. They have sacrificed part of their lives to fulfill what they believe is a responsibility to their community and their nation.

Those who have not had the experience of military service, who have gone on to live their day-to-day lives, can be appreciative of those who put that day-to-day living on hold and joined the military services in order to make that freedom a possibility. Whether serving on the front line in combat, on the decks or holds of naval ships or flying sorties, or serving more behind the scenes as cooks, truck drivers or mechanics, all have done their part during their service to their country.

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.