News Center newsletter

by Macie Hill

The regular session of the Lansing City Council was held Monday, July 16. Discussion at the meeting centered around the Platt Street water run-off issue, a sewer matter being remedied downtown and adding a new member to each of the Parks and Library Boards.

A motion was made and seconded to construct a means to redirect rainwater run-off at the north corner of the intersection of Diagonal Street and Platt Street to address an issue at that location during storms. The sewer issue located at the intersection of Main Street and Front Street has also been resolved by crews working this past week.

Pam Herman has been approved as a new member of the Parks Board. The Parks Board is now full having five members, including Herman. Deb Dietzenbach has also been approved as a new member of the Meehan Memorial Library Board.
 

Hikers should plan to participate in the Saturday, July 28 River Bluff Daze Hike in Ferryville, WI. Participants will meet at 8:30 a.m. under the shelter at the Ferryville Boat Landing (turn onto Oak Street by the Cheapo Depot and head over the railroad tracks toward the river). There will be treats and water and the group will carpool a short distance to the trailhead for a hike at Sugar Creek Bluff Natural Area. This is a property that is managed by the Mississippi Valley Conservancy. Participants are asked to wear long pants and bring bug spray. The hike is gradual and is an easy walk through mature woods. Participants will be looking at the summer wildflowers, listening for bird song and emerging at the top to a view of the Mississippi River. The hike will take approximately one and a half hours, from 9-10:30 a.m.

by Anne Falken

The City of New Albin was recently awarded a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant in connection with its plan for a new wastewater treatment facility. Iowa Economic Development Authority awarded a total of $4.1 million to 11 Iowa communities, including New Albin.

Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) played a vital role in helping New Albin obtain this grant. Upper Explorerland is a council of governments that serves as an extension of city and county governments in order to assist them. The organization delivers customized planning, advisory and resource development services to help communities in northeast Iowa maintain infrastructure, while also assisting in other community needs.

Jeanette I. (Fink) Rohde, 90, of Caledonia, MN passed away peacefully in her home June 3, 2018 surrounded by the love of her family and ready to join her heavenly family. Mom did not want a funeral. Please, with any thoughts of Jeanette, “save your pennies” or give to a charity of your choice. Her wisdom and laughter she lovingly passed onto us all.

She was born July 22, 1927 along with her twin sister, Geneva, in rural Lansing to Leo and Lydia (Meyer) Fink. Jeanette played basketball at Lansing High School with Geneva, graduating in 1945. Opportunity called, moving her to Kansas City, KS. While working as a secretary, she met an older couple who became lifelong friends. She was 27 years old when asked to manage their hotel/cafe in Nisswa, MN. She was later joined by her youngest sister. Hard work and many happy memories were made with her sister, young daughter, nieces and nephews (who came to work and play during the summer).

Rev. Kevin W. Smith, former pastor at Lansing United Methodist Church, was involved in a critical motorcycle accident in Indiana May 24, 2018. The family has already held a funeral service and burial in Oskaloosa and will have a Memorial “Celebration of Life” Service Saturday, July 28 at the Lansing United Methodist Church, 490 Center Street in Lansing.

The family will be available at the church from 10-11 a.m. with the Celebration of Life Service from 11 a.m.-12 noon. A lunch will be served at the Lansing United Methodist Church following the service for family and friends.

Rev. Smith was the Pastor for the Lansing/New Albin Grace Parish for six years. He left in June 2017 to be closer to his family and assume leadership of the Lacey, Beacon, Eddyville Parish in southern Iowa.
 

Saturday, June 30, Harpers Ferry Boosters, Inc. hosted its fifth annual Firecracker 5K Run/Walk. The 5K, which follows a route through Harpers Ferry, drew runners, walkers and onlookers from all across the state of Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and from as far away as California.

There was an overall male and female winner of the event and first-, second- and third-place finishes for female and male participants were broken down by age category. The overall male winner was Lenny Bulman from Waukon with a time of 20:45. Leeta Votsmier of  Waukon was the overall female winner with a time of 22:29. The winners of the other categories are shown below in order of First Place-Gold, Second Place-Silver and Third Place-Bronze.

After the awards ceremony, a Superhero Children’s Race took place on the grounds of St. Ann’s-St. Joseph’s Church. Approximately 50 boys and girls participated in the race and each received a special medal for their efforts and hard work.

The Kee baseball team rode a bit of a postseason rollercoaster this past week, allowing its two Class 1A District 7 opponents faced to jump to an early lead before climbing back into contention in each postseason tournament game. The first of those comebacks continued to climb all the way to a 7-3 Hawk victory over Starmont at home in the quarterfinal round of District 7 play Tuesday, July 10, but the Kee baseballers’ climb back in their Thursday, July 12 district semifinals match-up played at the South Winneshiek High School baseball field in Calmar against Wapsie Valley could only pull the Hawks even with those Warriors before a final single-run descent in the late innings brought Kee’s 2018 season to a close with a 5-4 defeat.

The Waukon baseball team had its 2018 season brought to a close Tuesday, July 10 in the semifinal round of its Class 2A District 5 Tournament played at New Hampton. The Indians were matched up with a Denver team that featured the pitching talents of senior Zach Miller, who came into the game with a 5-1 season record and 0.72 earned run average (ERA) with a 73:7 strike-out-to-walk ratio over 48-2/3 innings.

According to an update from the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office, as of 11:30 a.m. Friday, July 13:

Dalton Adam (18) has been located by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin. Adam was arrested on felony willful injury causing serious injury warrants with a total bond amount of $50,000. Adam will be incarcerated in the Crawford County Jail pending extradition.

John Francis Delaney, 90, of Harpers Ferry died Sunday, July 8, 2018 at Thornton Manor, Lansing. Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, July 13 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Wexford with Rev. John Moser, Msgr. Cletus Hawes, Rev. Donald Hawes and Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg as the Celebrants. Burial followed at Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery, Wexford.

John Francis was born October 10, 1927 to John Joseph and Cecilia Ann (Conway) Delaney. He attended school through the eighth grade at Mound City. John continued to live on the farm and help his parents. He took great pride in raising his beef cattle.

John is survived by his siblings, Myrtle Egan, Lester Delaney, Mark Delaney, Joseph Delaney, Patrick Delaney and Delores Mooney. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Cecilia Delaney; two siblings, Aelred Delaney and Martin Delaney; three nephews, Michael Delaney, Leo Mooney and James Egan; and a niece, Catherine (Kate) Rose.