Archive for: May 2009

The Wellman City Council Monday in a brief meeting, approved three change orders for the Parkside Activities Center. Two were deductions and one was an additional cost.
The deductions were for $11,100 for a change recommended by the electrician for electrical …

by Mary Zielinski
He admits that he “always has to be busy,” something that has led Merlyn Beckler, 78, to create and collect all manner of things, and some of the most interesting, unusual and beautiful of those creations go on display late this month in the English Gallery museum of the Visitors Center in the Kalona Historical Village. The show will be hung May 28 and remain in place through August.
The Tipton resident, who taught industrial arts for the Tipton School District for about 30 years, creates embroidered panels that initially he assembled into quilts, one for each of his four children. Later, his niece, Juanita Seward of Wellman took over the final quilting.
“He does mitered corners,” she said of his distinctive style. “I would have done just straight ones.”
The corners may well be a transferance of Beckler’s skills with all things mechanical and his incredible collection of carved wooden projects and scaled replicas of everything from a 19th century steam engine to an 18-wheeler.
As for the embroidery and quilting?
Well, he stressed that as the youngest and only brother to six older sisters, he really didn’t have any choice but to acquire some of their hobbies. Two of his sisters, Laurene Carter and Margaret Hazelton live in Wellman. And, yes, they each have a quilt made by their brother.

Several Mid-Prairie girls qualified for the state track and field meet to be held Thursday through Saturday, May 21-23.
Candice Henrichson qualified in the shot put.
Brandee Bohr and Natalie Figenspan qualified in the 100 meter dash. Sofia Chmaruk qualified in the …

Mid-Prairie boys’ track events that will be going to state May 21-23: 110 highs Tanner Miller, 400 lows Miller, 800 m run Quinn Hollan, 400 m run Miller; 4X400 Miller, Justin Hochstetler, Lavon Ropp, Quinn Alt: …

By Mary Zielinski
The Kalona City Council Monday accepted quotes for two separate projects to repair the Kalona Community Center from Schlabach Construction: $94,000 to do re-roofing and $63,800 for re-siding. Work is expected to be done this year. Schlabach is the only one who submitted quotes, although there were six contractors who had obtained specifications.
The action came after City Administrator Doug Morgan presented a memorandum from City Attorney William Sueppel stating the projects are two independent ones and that competitive bidding requirements do not apply. The latter would require legal notices, a public hearing and bid letting.
Citing Iowa code, Sueppel said the projects constitute maintenance work that is not interrelated, that one is not dependent upon the other. Sueppel also said that nether was a licensed engineer required to prepare plans and specifications, since it is not a public improvement as defined by Iowa Code 26.2 and neither project exceeds the competitive bid threshold that would demand competitive bidding. Sueppel’s advice (which is billed at $225 per hour) was sought in response to a demand by a Kalona resident, made at the last council meeting for a legal opinion about the matter as well as a council member’s concern about needing an engineer.
The council also approved allocating up to $135,000 to help the Kalona Valley Apartments obtain a site for an additional building to provide four to five more units. The property, at 702 C Avenue, will be available next month and indications are the cost is the assessed value of $116,000. The additional funds are for site preparation which includes moving the house and other buildings on the property.
Phil Ropp, who represented KVA at the meeting, had no figures on what the total project will cost, noting that grants will be sought as had been done for the original Kalona Valley Apartment South and the later north ones.
Council member Dave Bentley asked tht KVD provide a list of the costs, just as formal documentation.
In other business, the council:

March 20, 1919 - May 17, 2009
Norean Weeber, 90, a resident of Pleasantview Home, Kalona, Iowa, died there Sunday, May 17, 2009, following a lingering illness. Private graveside services are planned with burial in Welsh Cemetery, rural Iowa City, Iowa. …

Marie Hesser, 95, of Winter Haven, Florida, died Wednesday, May 13, 2009, in Winter Haven. Graveside services will be held at Oakhill Cemetery in Coralville, Iowa, Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at 10 a.m.
Marie Glanz was born September 25, 1914, …

November 14, 1935 - May 12, 2009
George R. Miller, 73, of Washington, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at the United Presbyterian Home after a long illness. George enriched the lives of those he touched with his strong faith, kindness and passion for nature.
Celebration of life services were held 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2009, at the First Baptist Church in Washington with Pastor Darryl Carr officiating. Military honors conducted by Washington American Legion Post 29 took place in conjunction with the memorial service. Visitation began at noon Friday at the Jones-Eden Funeral Home where the family was present to receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Private family interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Paws and more, the Assure Center in Washington, Iowa, or Hospice of Washington County.

Meetings for the nonprofit organization Angels Called to Action are the second Sunday of each month at 3 p.m. and the fourth Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room at Reha Greenhouses in Wellman. Everyone is welcome to attend. …

By Mary Zielinski
The city of Riverside is willing to meet with the county supervisors to discuss Riverside’s claim that its revenue sharing agreement with the county is “void and unenforceable.” The city, through its special attorney Dean Spins, proposes that two council members and two supervisors, with counsels, meet. It would not be a public meeting. Spina, in his May 11 letter, notes: “Council members and members of the Board of Supervisors have varying amounts of first hand knowledge regarding the events in 2005. Bill Poch, Mayor, and Tina Thomas, City Clerk, have the most first hand knowledge regarding the events in 2005 and they could be available for all or part of the meeting to answer questions from the supervisors.”
The letter also suggests that “Prior to such a meeting it would be benefical to receive an analysis of the County’s position regarding the constitutional debt issue.”
During the supervisors meeting Tuesday, May 19, County Auditor Bill Fredrick referred to the recent letter and also outlined what had occurred in 2005 that led to the Infrastructure Finance and Development Agreement between the city and the county. In essence an urban renewal, tax increment financing (TIF) district was established to encompass the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort to provide TIF revenue to pay for the needed water and sewer improvements for the $140 million project.

June 19, 1937 - Sunday, May 10, 2009
Keith E. Yoder, 71, of Iowa City, Iowa, died Sunday, May 10, 2009, in his home following a lengthy illness. Funeral services were held …

March 19, 1934 - May 2, 2009
Jimmie Lloyd Whetstine, 75, of North Liberty, Iowa, died Saturday, May 2, 2009, in Parkview Manor, Wellman, Iowa, following a lengthy illness.
Services were held …