Archive for: November 2008

By Mary Zielinski
When it started in 1984, few were looking far enough into the future to imagine Trek Fest celebrating a 25th anniversary. Or, that just maybe the five surviving members of the original Star Trek television show may come to it.
It’s a better possibility than ever before, especially since three of them, Nichelle Nicols (Uhuru), Walter Koenig (Chekov) and George Takei (Sulu), have committed to coming to Riverside, the future birthplace of Captain James Kirk.
Announcement came at the Riverside Area Community Club meeting November 20, and was followed by the hope–just maybe–that William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy (Kirk and Spock) may beam in.
RACC members approved contract with the three who have committed and to allow another member to “negotiate” for the other two.
Estimated cost for all five is $65,750. The Casino is on board already with contributing meals, a car, hotel for the “stars” and the use of the Events Center for Trek Fest
The event, at the Riverside Casino, was the group’s annual meeting and membership drive and had 40 in attendance.
Guest speaker was Olena (Lena) Popkova of Ukraine, a foreign exchange student at Highland High School this year. She had a slide presentation about her country and its culture.

May 20, 1923 - November 20, 2008
Marjorie Blum, 85, a resident of Pioneer Park Care Center in Lone Tree, Iowa, died there Thursday, November 20, 2008, following an extended illness.
A celebration of life service was held Sunday, November 23, 2008, in the Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Wellman, Iowa. Chaplain Donnita Payne-Hostetler officated. Burial was in the Wellman Cemetery. A general memorial fund has been established. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.

By Mary Zielinski
Creation of a transport officers pool for the Washington county Sheriff’s Department not only will pay for itself but also bring some additional funds to the county, Sheriff Jerry Dunbar told the board of supervisors Tuesday.
Cost for the officers, which Dunbar said would be a pool of ten available for on-call service, works out to $7,175 annually. The figure is based on an hour wage of $12.50 for 575 hours annually.
Reimbursement for the transporting of federal prisoners is $20 per hour which, using the 575 hours per year, means payment of $11,480, Dunbar explained.
He added that the department currently has $10,000 in its budget to pay for the officers. He said it would not start until after the first of the new year.

By Mary Zielinski
His successful run for the 89th District seat in the Iowa House means Larry Marek will not continue with the Washington County Riverboat Foundation (WCRF).
Marek’s term expiries in December, before he takes his state office, and WCRF members November 19 discussed not filling the resulting vacancy.
“If we do not replace the member, we will have an odd number for the board,” said member Patricia Koller. She and others indicated that could be preferable. Not filling Marek’s position would mean a 13 rather than a 14 member board. The board has a representative from eight of the nine incorporated cities. The ninth, Coppock, is in three counties with Henry County as the one of record. The additional members are rural or from Washington.

by Ranee Fladung
Highland board members voted 6-1 Monday to proceed with the design development stage for an estimated $3.5 million building project at the Highland Middle and Senior High School. Board member Bruce Temple was the sole opposition.
The improvements would add a new wrestling room, media center, administrative offices and five classrooms.
Board Secretary Bev Colbert said it was decided Monday “That this is the best time to go ahead with the project especially now with the economy.”

By Mary Zielinski
Dave Patterson, the county engineer, Monday presented the supervisors with a set if FEMA flood recovery maps, a first for the county.
The maps, which show areas subject to the colloquial l00 year flood, include approximate water flood surface elevations for all the drainage areas of more than one square mile.

They had $1 billion to pay for it,” said Patterson, “and then two things happened, they found it was insufficient money and Hurricane Katrina hit

Patterson explained that the county was one of 16 previously unmapped counties (for flood). Initially, it was to have been part of a national flood plain mapping undertaken three years ago by FEMA.
“They had $1 billion to pay for it,” said Patterson, “and then two things happened, they found it was insufficient money and Hurricane Katrina hit.”
The maps also would be a step to what the county would need to join the National Flood Insurance Program, noted Patterson.
The new maps will help in determining if a building site is floodable and would assist with obtaining a flood plain construction permit through the Iowa DNR.

Chloe Plank would have been three years old November 9.  Born with a rare heart condition, doctors initially gave her 48 hours.  Instead, she lived slightly more than two years and touched a wide circle of people.  The memorial  at …

July 3, 1915 - November 2, 2008
Eunice Lenore Marner, 93, of Wellman, Iowa, died suddenly Sunday, November 2, 2008, at the Silver Pond Assisted Living Center in Wellman. Celebration of Life Service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 6, 2008, at the Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church, near Wellman. Rev. Don Patterson will officiate. Burial will be in the Lower Deer Creek Cemetery, near Wellman. Visitation is from 2-8 p.m. with the family present from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, November 5, 2008, at the Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Wellman. A memorial fund has been established for the Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.

December 12, 1927 - October 31, 2008
Robert “Bob” Becker, 80, of Kalona, Iowa, died Friday, October 31, 2008, in Mercy Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa, following complications of a stroke.
A celebration of life service was held Tuesday, November 4, 2008, in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wellman, Iowa, with Father Rich Adam officiating. Burial was in the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa. A memorial fund has been established for the Kalona First Responders. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.

June 11, 1924 - October 30, 2008

Elmer Anthony Metz, 84, of Lone Tree, Iowa, died Thursday, October 30, 2008, in the Lone Tree Health Care Center.
Funeral services were Monday, November 3, 2008, in the St. MaryÕs Catholic Church in Lone Tree. Rev. Vitalis Torwel and Parish Life Coordinator Carol Kaalberg officiated. Burial was in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Amenity Hospice in memory of Mr. Metz. Online condolences for the Metz family may be sent to www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.

November 27, 1955 - October 31, 2008

John David Moyer, 52, of Kaysville, Utah, died Friday, October 31, 2008, in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his family at his bedside, from complications resulting from a motorcycle accident.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, November 5, 2008, in the Kaysville East Stake Center. Interment was in Kaysville City Cemetery with military honors. Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

Republicans kept control of  the Washington County Board of Supervisors with incumbent James Miksch (1,164 votes) to Bob Goodrich’s 755 in District 1; Wes Rich, 1,010, to Mike Niffenegger, 968, District 2; Steve Davis, 1,003 to Rodney Stogdill, 822, and …