News Center newsletter

by Lissa Blake

The conditions for the 57th annual Yellow River bird count were perfect. That’s according to Larry Reis, the northeast Iowa naturalist who compiles the results each year.

Each year, the Yellow River bird count is among hundreds taking place across the nation. Data is compiled and submitted to the National Audubon Society.

The 2016 Yellow River bird count took place Tuesday, December 20. Eight area birders spent the day counting birds in a 15-mile radius spanning from north of Effigy Mounds to Waterville, Harpers Ferry, Wexford, Marquette and across the Mississippi River to Prairie du Chien, WI. Reis said December 20 was a sunny day that stayed around 30 degrees.

“We had eight observers, but we could always use more,” said Reis.

The December count spotted a total of 51 different species making up 2,912 individual birds. Highlights included two American black ducks, which were found along the Mississippi.

The Northeast Iowa Council, Boy Scouts of America recognized 46 scouts who earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2016 at a brunch at the Grand River Center in Dubuque Sunday, February 19, where keynote speaker was U.S. Army Major Clayton Degenhardt. Scouts from Waukon's Troop 64 recognized with the Class of 2016 Eagle Scouts are pictured above with Scoutmaster John Troendle (far left) and include, left to right, Jacob Dougherty, Adam Hansen, Dolan Jones, Tyler O'Neill and Kyle Gordon. The Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than two million young men. Requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating Scout Spirit through the Boy Scout Oath and Law, service and leadership. This includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads and manages.

Paul Cienfuegos, a nationally known community rights educator, will lead a discussion with northeast Iowans interested in protecting the health and beauty of the region at a gathering Tuesday, March 7 at 7 p.m. at Fiesta Vallarta in Waukon.

“Anyone interested in learning more about what we can do to protect our rights to a healthy community are welcome to gather at 6:30 p.m. at Fiesta Vallarta. Formal discussion will begin at 7 p.m.,” said event co-organizer Mary Klauke Abbas. “Cienfuegos has been a leading educator and organizer in the Community Rights approach to dismantling corporate power in many successful local endeavors across the nation. He can explain how corporations have come to claim the protections of the Constitution for themselves, often to the detriment of local people, and how we, the people of a local community, can protect ourselves from corporate power.”

by Joe Moses

The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in a pair of regular sessions within this past week due to the President's Day holiday falling on the board's usual Monday meeting date February 20. Coverage of both the Tuesday, February 21 and Monday, February 27 regular meetings of the Board appears below.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Tuesday, February 21 due to the President's Day holiday Monday, February 20. The Supervisors addressed a full agenda of items including an insurance quote presentation by Upper Iowa Insurance Services, consideration of a bridge embargo and a public hearing for a Fiscal-Year 2017 budget amendment.

by Joe Moses

The Waukon City Council met in regular session Tuesday, February 21 as a result of the President's Day holiday falling on its usual meeting night of Monday. The Council discussed a full agenda of items, including the repair or replacement of City Hall windows, the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®) and the review of Town & Country Sanitation's new contract options.

A Public Hearing was opened for an Amendment to the TIF District, which City Attorney Jim Garrett clarified as being an amendment to the Urban Renewal Plan to include the proposed Waukon Police Station facility, not to exceed $500,000. There were no written or verbal comments from the public and the hearing was closed.

The Ninth Annual Bald Eagle Watching Day is scheduled to take place this Saturday, March 4 in Ferryville, WI at the Village Community Center located on State Highway 35, “The Great River Road”. This program is sponsored by the Ferryville Tourism Council, co-sponsored by Friends of Pool 9 and free to the public.

Event activities are scheduled to take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Doors will open at 9:45 a.m. New to the program is the Decorah Raptor Rearch Project Eagle Cam organization presenting at 12:30 p.m. on “What we learned from an Eagle’s Nest”. John Howe of the Raptor Resource Project and his team will be in attendance for the first time.

Free refreshments and children’s craft activities will be available throughout the event. There are many eagle nests in the Ferryville, WI area, including a new one just south of Ferryville. The Pool 9 section has more nests than in any other part of the Mississippi River.

by B.J. Tomlinson

Because of scheduling conflicts, the Lansing City Council could not meet Monday, February 20 and, instead, met in a delayed regular session Tuesday, February 21. After approving the Consent Agenda, the Council adopted the Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2017 and set Monday, March 13 at 7 p.m. for the Public Hearing. Those residents interested in discussing the proposed budget are invited to attend.

In observance of the community of Lansing’s Sesquicentennial 150th birthday being celebrated this year, Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library has put together monthly programs, and more, regarding the history and exploration of Lansing. Some of those programs will address the fur trade, the river, mining, how the community grew from the lumber mills, to grain elevators, to mercantile, manufacturing, tourism, along with the people, their heritage and their livelihood.

To start the year off, “Coffees with Lansing’s Elders: Talking about how got to where we are” will be held Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. in March (March 4, 11, 18 and 25) at the library. Everyone is welcome to come join the roundtable, participate or just listen in.
Additional history programs will be held Thursdays, with exceptions, at 6:30 p.m., with a soup supper beginning at 5:30 p.m. Current scheduled history programs include the following:

The Kee High School Speech Department will be hosting its annual fundraising Speech Dinner Theatre Saturday, March 4 at TJ Hunter’s Ballroom in Lansing. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. A full buffet will be served and entertainment from Kee's Large Group Speech contestants will begin at 6 p.m. The event will also offer a sneak peek at Kee High School's spring musical. Tickets for the event can be purchased from a Kee Speech student or at the Kee High School office in Lansing.
 

The Band Department of the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) is excited to announce that its band students will be performing the world premiere of the piece "Iowa River Scenes" at the annual All-School Band Concert scheduled for Monday, March 6 at 7 p.m. in the Waukon High School gym. The piece was commissioned by the band department in honor of Cloy and Bonnie Meyer and Clay Kramer from a donation made to the program in their honor. The piece, "Iowa River Scenes," was composed by Cory J. McBride of Oelwein and is based on life in Allamakee County. It is a three-movement work with sections depicting the bluff country, rolling river and American Indian heritage. All band students in grades 5-12 will be participating in the performance of this piece. Submitted photo.