Archive for: November 2007

The Washington County Riverboat Foundation (WCRF) received 41 applications, totaling $1,736,207 in its third round of grant awards. Deadline was October 1.

All but four of the applications indicate matching funds ranging from 1 percent to 100 percent. The four, who seek full funding from the WCRF are the Crawfordsville American legion, $3,736 to refurbish the American Legion Building; Lending Hands, Inc., $36,966, for an emergency generator; Wellman Heritage Society, $10,490 for a new heating and cooling system for its museum, and the Kalona Historical Society, $15,475 for building preservation in the Village.

The following Iowa Mennonite School athletes (cross country and volleyball) were named to the Southeast Iowa Super Conference All-Academic list for fall 2007 sports: Tara Djelic, Alyssa Litwiller, Liz Miller, Nicole Ropp, Megan Schlabaugh, Hannah Schrock, Kelsey Schrock, Brooke …

The Mid-Prairie girls’ basketball team lost 49-62 to Washington in the season opener Monday, November 19, at Wellman.
The Golden Hawks kept the game close until a 14-2 run in the third quarter by the Demons.
Missy Hershberger led Mid-Prairie’s offense with …

by Coach Dwight Gingerich
Amanda Bates, Iowa Mennonite School volleyball player, was selected to play in the Iowa Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game in Carroll, Iowa, November 17. Bates is the first IMS player to be so honored since Jessica Wilson …

by Mary Yoder
The IMS girls’ basketball team opened the 2007-08 season at the Mid-Prairie Jamboree against Belle Plaine Friday, November 16. A core of juniors leads the young team in the absence of the only returning senior, Nicole Ropp, who was reinjured during the volleyball season.
The team returns two full-time starters from last year, juniors Kelsey Schrock and Elizabeth Miller. Also returning is sophomore Nicole Hershberger who was pressed into a starting role last season after a season-ending injury to Ropp.

When Vision Iowa awarded Wellman’s Parkside Activities Center an $800,000 grant November 14, it raised the total funding for the approximate $5.9 million project to $5,165,836. The grant is contingent upon all fundraising being completed in the next 120 days (mid-March).
“We are grateful to the Vision Iowa Board for seeing all the positives Wellman has to offer and were thrilled when they told us they firmly believe our city is taking a huge step in the right direction,” said Mayor Ryan Miller, a long-time supporter of the project.
With more than $5.1 million raised, organizers said additional local support must reach $480,000 to $730,000, depending on some items being negotiated. That figure is within what was expected from the start if Vision Iowa came through.

By Mary Zielinski
Consultant fees for the Kalona Community Center concept drawings that would take the city all the way to a bond referendum range from $108,099 to $112,523 the Kalona council learned at its meeting Monday.
The fees, provided by Ament Inc. of Cedar Rapids, would be for plans with “real costs,” said City Administrator Doug Morgan.
The fees are based on a percentage of the total project cost with the lowest cost, $1,237,852 (for Option A that would remodel existing space) having a 10 percent fee ($112,532). The fee for Option B, $1,438,830 is eight percent or $106,580 and the fee for Option C, $1,801,650 is six percent, $108,099.
Option C would see both the 1914 high school and parts of the 1980s additions razed and replaced. Option B would remove only the 1914 segment.
Morgan explained that the council does not have to continue with Ament who did the initial space analysis and rough facilities plan.
“It can be bid out,” he noted, adding that the council needs to pick a design before proceeding any further.

The group meetings are held the first Monday of each month at the Presbyterian Church in Washington, Iowa at 6:30 p.m.  Everyone is welcome to attend.

The AL-ANON group meets every Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Wellman Municipal Council Chambers.

Meetings for AA (open) are held in the Wellman Municipal Building basement every Thursday at 8 p.m.

When the $234,000 addition to the Visitors Center in the Kalona Historical Village is done, the east windows that look onto the Grout Church will still frame the same scene, only closer. …

by Montana Hart
This week I’d like to introduce Mr. Jim Cayton, Kalona Elementary School’s new principal. I interviewed him so that the students might learn something new about our principal.
Mr. Cayton was born in Maquoketa, Iowa, and he has two brothers and two sisters. In grade school he played sports and also was the president of the science club. In the science club he helped plant trees around his school.