Bruce M. Reilly, 70, of Lone Tree, passed away  Sunday, January 22, 2012, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 26,  at the Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree.  Pastor Susan Barnes will officiate the services.  Burial will be in the Lone Tree Cemetery.

Following the committal services at the cemetery, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the United Presbyterian Church in Lone Tree.

Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m.  Thursday, January 26,  at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice in memory of Bruce.  Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.

Read the complete obituary in the Jan. 26 issue of the Riverside Current.

Investigators said Friday morning that  there is no evidence to suggest that foul play was involved in the disappearance of a rural Crawfordsville woman. Instead, the information they’ve uncovered suggests that her disappearance stemmed from the pressures she was dealing with on a day-to-day basis.

Sharon Hopf, 45, failed to show up for work Thursday morning (Jan. 5)  at Hopf Furniture in Kalona. Later that evening, Hopf was reported missing to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office by her husband and other family members who had been looking for her throughout the day.

Hopf’s vehicle was discovered two days  later  by the Warren County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office near Wright City, Missouri, which is located approximately 30 miles West of St. Louis, Missouri on Interstate 70.  The car was located at an abandoned home located at 28566 Hwy F just outside the city limits.  The surrounding area near the location of Hopf’s car was searched, but she was not located. Hopf’s car was searched and processed for evidence. During that examination, several items were collected and examined for fingerprint and DNA evidence at the DCI’s Crime Laboratory.

The Warren County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office organized and conducted a thorough grid search of a one-mile radius in the area Wednesday where Hopf’s car was located.  Again, she was not located.

Authorities stressed there is no threat to public safety stemming from this incident in and around Washington County.

The following statement was released on behalf of the family of Sharon Hopf and read by Perry Hopf, husband of Sharon Hopf, at the press conference:

” My name is Perry Hopf and my wife is Sharon.  My family and I trust that everything that can be done to find Sharon is being done.  We want Sharon to know that we understand the stress she has recently been under and just want her to contact us and let us know that she is okay.  Sharon if you see this, please know that I love you and miss you, and that you are the most important thing to me.”

The search continues for missing Kalona business owner, Sharon Ruth Hopf, 45, who was reported missing when she failed to report for work Thursday morning

Sharon Hopf

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According to Washington County Sheriff Jerry Dunbar, Hopf was last seen at 7 a.m. Thursday when she left her home at 2886 280th Street, rural Crawfordsville.  A report that she was seen at a BP gas station in Washington at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, January 5, could not be verified said Dunbar.

Hopf was reported driving a 1999 white Chevy Lumina with an Iowa plate, 419WXF.

Dunbar said that law enforcement and other units searched the surrounding areas for the car and for Hopf, finding no trace of either.

Her husband reported her as missing.  The Hopfs are the owners of Hopf Home Furnishing advertised as Furniture, Floors and More at 101 B Avenue (corner of B Avenue and Highway 1), Kalona.

Anyone with any possible information regarding Hopf’s whereabouts is asked to the call the sheriff’s department at 319-653-2107.

Highland wrestlers couldn’t avoid being “fall guys” Thursday night.

Which was a good thing since the bonus points

Travis Cole of Highland prepares to wrap West Burlington/Notre Dame's Bryon McCarron for a pin Thursday in a 113-pound bout.

they amassed via pins ensured a sweep of Wapello (42-30) and West Burlington/Notre Dame (42-28) in a home meet.

Read the complete story in the Jan. 12 issue of the Riverside Current.

Harley Hamilton, 85, of Lone Tree, died Tuesday, December 27, 2011, at Iowa City Rehab and Health Care Center.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, December 31, at the Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree.  Pastor Jeff Tackaberry will officiate.

Burial will be in the Conesville Cemetery with full military rites performed by the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457. Following the interment, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the Conesville Community Center.

Visitation will be observed from 4-7 p.m. Friday, December 30, at the Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree.

A memorial fund has been established at the funeral home in memory of Harley. Online condolences may be sent to the Hamilton family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.

harley hamilton

Robert A. Waldschmidt, 77, of Iowa City, formerly of Riverside, passed away Tuesday, December 27, 2011, at Windmill Manor in Coralville.  Mass of the Resurrection will be held 10 a.m. Friday, December 30,  at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Riverside.  Fr. Marty Goetz will officiate.

Burial will be in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Following the committal services at the cemetery, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the St. Mary’s Parish Center.

Visitation will be held  4-7 p.m. Thursday, December 29, at the Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Riverside with a 7 p.m. prayer service.

A memorial fund has been established at the funeral home in memory of Bob.  Online condolences for the Waldschmidt family may be sent to www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.

Roberta E. Musser, 95, of Lone Tree, passed away  Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at Pioneer Park in Lone Tree.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 23, , at the United Presbyterian Church in Lone Tree.  Pastor Susan Barnes will officiate. Burial will be in the Lone Tree Cemetery.

Following the committal services at the cemetery, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the United Presbyterian Church.

Visitation will be held on 4-8 p.m. Thursday, December 22,  at the Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree.

Memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice in memory of Roberta.  Online condolences may be sent to the Musser family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.

Clifford Smith, 82, of Lone Tree, died Monday, December 19, 2011, at his home in Lone Tree.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m.. Friday, December 23,  at the Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree.  Burial will be in the Lone Tree Cemetery with full military honors provided by the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457.

Visitation will be held 9-11 a.m,. Friday, Dec. 23,  at the Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree.

Memorials for Clifford may be directed to the Arthritis Association.

Online condolences may be sent to the Smith family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.

Clifford Henry Smith, Jr. was born April 17, 1929, in Iowa City, the son of Clifford Henry and Velma Margaret (Hartsock) Smith. Upon graduating Iowa City High School, Clifford joined the United States Air Force in Big Spring, TX, serving his country during the Korean Conflict. On October 23, 1951, Clifford was united in marriage to Mary Margaret Forwald in Lone Tree.  Clifford farmed and worked for Standard Oil in Nichols as well as Eldon E. Stutsman Corp. in Hills.  Clifford was a member of the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457, past member of the Lone Tree Fire Department and Lone Tree City Council.  He enjoyed traveling with his wife and friends, playing cards, and gambling at the casinos.

Clifford will be deeply missed by his children, Gerald Smith and his wife, Jessica of Allen, TX, Nancy Waldschmidt and her husband, Jim of Lone Tree, Marianne Smith of Lone Tree, Jane Smith and special friend, Angela Beaty of Keller, Texas, Bill Smith of Iowa City, Tom Smith and his wife, Jennifer of North Liberty; seven grandchildren, Adam Waldschmidt and his wife, Dr. Kristen of Iowa City, Eric Smith and his wife, Heather of Allen, TX, Brandon and Sarah Smith of Allen, TX, Andy Waldschmidt of Lone Tree, Rachel and Maggie Smith of North Liberty; three great-grandchildren, Max and Lauren Waldschmidt of Iowa City, and Clayton Smith of Allen, TX; four sisters, Maxine Meyers of Bellwood, IL, Florine Roegler, Velma Fisher and husband, Bob, Marjana Lamp of Iowa City; brother-in-law Dave Brenneman of Kalona, and many nieces and nephews.

The Washington County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved the third reading and passage of the ordinance establishing a Local Option Sales and Services Tax (LOSST).  County voters approved the measure by a wide margin in the November 8 elections and with the exception of Riverside and Brighton, there is no sunset clause in the municipalities. LOSST was first approved in the county in 2002 with Washington (city), Kalona and Coppock never setting a time limit.

Read the entire story in the Dec. 8 issue of the Riverside Current

During its meeting November 16 at the Riverside Casino, the Washington County Riverboat Foundation (WCRF) awarded a total of $653,837 to 34 of the 80 applicants with slightly more than 50 percent going to area schools.  The amount, $327,942, in 16 grants went to Highland, Keota, Mid-Prairie, Washington, Columbus  and St. James schools for everything from musical instruments to football and track lighting.

Among the 18 non-school awards was $70,000 to the city of Riverside for the splash pad and  $7,750 to the Riverside Ball Association for a backstop replacement, both of which will benefit youth.  Another youth involving grant, awarded to Main Street Washington, is $2,000 to aid with Youth Art Show Exhibits and Displays.  The largest single grant, $80,000 went to the Highland School District for new football/track lighting at the high school, and the grant for the splash pad in Riverside was the second highest.

By Mary Zielinski

Washington County Auditor Bill Fredrick submitted his resignation, effective in mid-January, to the Washington County Board of Supervisors.  The resignation is the second within a week for the county; last week Dave Patterson, the county engineer, announced his effective January 13.

Fredrick said he was essentially retiring and might extend his departure until the end of January, depending on what the board wants.  If he had remained, his position would have been up for election in November 2012.

“This way the board can have an interim auditor,” he said, “someone who may then want to run for election.”  It also will provide sufficient time for any candidates to consider the post, he noted.

The board also learned of another resignation, that of Jennifer Bennett from the Washington County Environmental Health office.