Archive for: June 2010

by Ranee Fladung
It may take many years, and be a long drawn out process, but the Riverside council Monday night approved funds for the first step in developing a recreational trail to run from the west end of Riverside and join Vine Avenue.
Mary Jane Stumpf, Community Visioning committee member said she is supportive of the multi-use trail and hopes it will “further enhance the Veterans Park by having the trail go through it.” The council approved a contract with French Reneker Associates, Inc of Fairfield to design plans for the recreational trail. City Administrator Tina Thomas said the contract also includes writing up to four grant applications for the trail project. The Washington County Conservation Department has committed $10,000 toward the project if the plan is supported by the council.
The City of Riverside hired Clean Harbors Monday to help get rid of an eyesore on River Street. Thomas told the council it could cost $13,000, minus the estimate for salvage, to clean out the tar in the city tank on River Street and haul it away, but “don’t quote me on that.” Very few organizations do this kind of work. But they follow the EPA guidelines. The company needs at least two weeks notice as they are cleaning up the oil spill in the Gulf.”
During Citizen time, Jeanine Redlinger suggested the council take some of the money they plan to use for the new Riverside welcome signs and use it to fix the street signs in town, so “people can find their way around town once they get here.” She pointed out numerous signs that are difficult to read when one is driving by and that a sign for Boyse Street is spelled two different ways. She also addressed the problem with the house numbering system in town since she has the same address as one other home on her street. The administrator will check into what is involved in changing an address. City worker Brad Herig said the city plans to replace signs late this summer or early fall.
Chris Kirkwood gave an update about the Veterans Memorial Park. Lighting and concrete benches still need to be finished.

By Ranee Fladung
Despite assurances it would significantly lower transportation costs and be a “wise move” the Highland Board of Education Monday voted against buying an 84 capacity activity bus. Those opposed wanted more information about cost savings, indicating they would reconsider the issue.
Russell Fox, the district’s transportation/maintenance director,explained that the higher capacity bus would not only eliminate the need for a second bus, but also have storage space for equipment, noting it is just a highway bus.
Superintendent Chris Armstrong said it was a “wise move” to have a travel bus “so we don’t have to send out two (school) buses or an additional equipment van.” He added, “We should get a lot of life out of it.”
Board member Bruce Temple asked which account would pay for it, and was told SILO which for the last six months has averaged $400,000. Board Secretary Bev Colbert explained that event with the funds used to pay construction costs, it continued to maintain itself.
Board member Ed Ossman said that “the idea was to use that money for the building, not a bus.” He added the district needed to pay off debt, that “in tough times maybe we should not spend money on this (bus).”

By Mary Zielinski
By day, he is a biologist with G.E Water Technology in Cedar Rapids, but at night Mike Aucutt builds ships for sea and stars. Friday, he “beamed” into Riverside with a scaled replica of the original USS …

by Ranee Fladung
Highland ended its winning streak in the Class 1A District Final in Mt. Pleasant Saturday, July 17, by a tough Burlington, Notre Dame team. Highland fell 15-1 in five innings.
Notre Dame had a seven run rally …

For Travis Riggan, finding a way to celebrate the centennial of Boy Scouting in the United States simply meant looking to Riverside’s future, the one written in the stars. The Star Trek ones, that is.
The 16-year-old high school student, …

Amy Pearl Westlake Brenneman, 102, of Lone Tree, Iowa, died Sunday, June 13, 2010, at the Mercy Hospital Hospice Unit in Iowa City, Iowa. Funeral services were Wednesday, June 16, in the Lone Tree Presbyterian Church. Burial was in …

Robert “Bob” C. Ramer, 93, of Iowa City, Iowa, died Tuesday, May 25, 2010, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City. A time of remembrance was held Friday, May 28, at the Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral …

Kenneth Lloyd Harrison, 76, of Columbus Junction, Iowa, died Saturday, May 29, 2010, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. Funeral services were Wednesday, June 2, 2010, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Riverside, Iowa with Rev. …