News Center newsletter

Sunday evening, July 4, at 9:48 p.m., the Allamakee County Sheriff’s E-911 Dispatch Center received a report of a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) rollover accident with injuries near 2062 Lafayette Ridge Drive, rural Lansing in Allamakee County.

Drew Cody Gaunitz, age 22, of Lansing was operating a Polaris Ranger 900 off-road vehicle in a wooded area and was attempting to traverse an incline when the machine rolled over. Gaunitz was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of the injuries he received during the incident. A passenger in the vehicle, Jacob David Manning, age 24, of Harpers Ferry was treated at the scene for minor injuries and was released.

Assisting at the scene of the incident were the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office, Lansing Police Department, Lansing Fire and Ambulance, and Gundersen Air Care.
 

The Transportation Policy Board for Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC)/Regional Planning Affiliation 1 (RPA-1) will hold a public hearing at its upcoming meeting to receive comments on the draft RPA-1 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for federal fiscal years (FFY) 2022-2025. The meeting will take place Wednesday, July 21 at 11 a.m. at UERPC’s offices in Postville, 134 West Greene Street.

The RPA-1 TIP document identifies the multimodal transportation projects - street, transit, highway, bridge, planning, and pedestrian and bicycle facilities - on which State and Federal funding will be used over the next four years within Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek Counties.

A new round of workforce training agreements between businesses and Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) will help employers remain competitive and hire new skilled employees in the next year.

These agreements, as part of the 260E Iowa Industrial New Jobs Training program, will offset training costs for businesses seeking to upskill their workforce. Training can include hard skills such as welding, industrial maintenance, heavy equipment operation, workplace safety and computer skills, as well as human resources, management and leadership training.

The 260E program allows NICC and its business partners to enhance the region’s workforce through employee upskilling and education. Businesses also participate in the program to retain employee talent.

Robey Memorial Library’s “Reading Colors Your World” Summer Reading Program began Monday, July 5 and runs through Saturday, July 31. Activities include Reading Challenges with prizes for all ages, Kids and Teens Grab and Go Activity Bags, craft events and fine forgiveness.

Middle School Site Coordinator Virginia Kurth with the 21st Century Grant program in the Allamakee Community School District ended the month of June with the theme: “Back to the Future”. The students enjoyed American Bandstand dances from the 1950s, tie-dye from the ‘60s, Pac Man from the ‘70s and fashion trends from the ‘80s, just to name a few. Students experienced first-hand trends from the past, with some trends returning over time.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions and Allamakee County Economic Development & Tourism is offering a “Build Your Own Business” summer camp (#81182) July 28-29 for students entering fourth through sixth grades in the fall.

This two-day camp gives students a chance at a “Shark Tank-style” experience where they can learn basic business concepts and vocabulary, create a business plan and pitch their ideas in a presentation to young entrepreneurs from the area. The entrepreneurs will share their business stories and help students learn everything from a proper greeting handshake to good customer service skills to building a professional business card.

The deadline for paid registration is July 19. To register online for “Build Your Own Business” or for more information, visit www.nicc.edu/solutions/81182 or call NICC Waukon Center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.

Over the past year, many essential workers in the northeast Iowa region have made sacrifices to serve and care for their communities. Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) has created a new “Moving Forward” Speaker Series, supported by federal CARES Act dollars, that provides local professionals with an opportunity to learn from nationally recognized experts from five presentations.

Remaining speakers include Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach. Their presentations provide insights in how to rise above the long-term effects of the pandemic, overcome stress and thrive. Learn more and register for the series at https://www.nicc.edu/business-community/.

The final “Moving Forward” Speaker Series presentation is scheduled for July 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach, Bestselling Authors will present “Finding the Strength to Persevere”.

Friends of Yellow River State Forest will be hosting a free concert Saturday, July 10. Local band Big Blue Sky will be performing at 737 State Forest Road - the Sawmill Complex/Ranger’s Office - beginning at 6:30 p.m.

“Big Blue Sky is an eco/folk/bluesy band from the Driftless Region with a lot of amazing original music,” says Friends of Yellow River State Forest President Kelli Boylen. “The event is family friendly. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket and snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, if you wish.”

The concert is free but donations to Driftless Area Bird Conservation will be accepted. In the case of inclement weather, an announcement will be made on the Friends of Yellow River State Forest Facebook page. To learn more about Friends of Yellow River State Forest go to www.friendsofyellowriverstateforest.org.
 

The United Methodist Church in Lansing is sponsoring a non-denominational summer Vacation Bible School starting July 19 and running through July 23.

Those attending will be taking a cool step back in time were they will see Jesus changing water into wine, and Jesus helping a Samaritan woman at a well. Hear how Jesus instructed adults to “let the children come to me” and after his death and resurrection how Philip teaches the Ethiopian that Christ came for each and every one. Enjoy Bible explorations, cool crafts, sing new songs and enjoy Chadder’s Snow Show. A light supper will be served and games will be played.

Registration will begin at 5 p.m. Monday, July 19. There is no registration fee, but all are encouraged to bring a gift or two to be sent to Operation Kid to Kid sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse.

The Ferryville Tourism Council will be hosting the second in its Summer Series of Chautauqua Programs in Ferryville, WI Wednesday, July 14 at the South Shelter at Sugar Creek Park along Hwy. 35, The Great River Road. Dan Jackson will present a program entitled “Dragonflies and Damselflies” at 6:30 p.m.

This program will be outside at the park shelter, and not in the Ferryville Village Hall.

Jackson is an avid birder, outdoorsman, naturalist, nature photographer and citizen scientist for dragonflies, damselflies and birds of Wisconsin. He helps with Fall Migration Day as well as birding hikes on Sugar Creek Bluff. For this presentation, he will provide an introduction to the insect order Odonata, which includes dragonflies and damselflies.

There are picnic tables under the shelter, but feel free to bring a lawn chair and bug spray to keep other insects away. Dragonflies and damselflies do not bite.