West Burlington’s DECA class feathers The Nest coffee shop.

Coffee shops abound in the area, but there’s only one run by high school students.

In the foyer, when you first walk into West Burlington High School, you’ll see against one of the walls a sign identifying The Nest, an appropriate title given that the school nickname is the Falcons.

Business has been slow these days, but the current DECA president, Tristin Lee, has been working to change that.

Distributive Education Clubs of America are in many high schools.

“It’s based around giving students a business experience, allowing them to see the business world and provide them the skills needed for a career in business,” Lee said.

But West Burlington has the only DECA in the area that has its own business.

“Most of them take place within competitions, or they speak to business leaders or something like that,” Lee said.

Prices are meant to reflect a student’s budget, so coffee, smoothies, and tea start at $1.75 a cup for regular and $2 for a large. You can buy Rice Krispie treats, and the other day Nutri-grain bars were on sale at two for $1.

The Nest was the brainchild of former business teacher and DECA sponsor Scot Fransk, who is now teaching at Central Lee. He is starting a business there as well, Lee said.

Two years ago, when Lee was just a freshman, Fransk and some of the senior DECA members opened the business. “It gave the students a unique experience, as well as providing a positive impact on the school culture,” Lee said.

But this isn’t just a glorified lemonade stand where students take turns pouring coffee and taking payment, which must be by card only, as students aren’t allowed to bring cash.

“We’ve created departments. We have a department based on operations to make sure everything runs smoothly, it’s clean, and everybody knows how to work it,” Lee said.

“Then we have a marketing department that focuses on creating specials and bringing students to the business. And we have an inventory and finance department which actually focuses on how much money we’re making and making sure our products are not being stolen by employees and make sure we have enough of everything.”

It wasn’t always this organized, but Lee said when he became president back in December, he wanted to make it a complete business experience.

“We had two slushie machines, but one of the slushie machines broke,” Lee said. “So, right now, we’re going to try to figure out how we’re going to contact the manufacturer and see if we can get another part.”

When Fransk left, Lee said, “We took a decline, so we no longer had that solid figure of someone who knew how to keep this going. It became much more focused on students, and the students weren’t as interested.”

Any money The Nest does make goes into a school account and then back into the business.

Lee said The Nest is supposed to be open throughout the day, but there have been some scheduling conflicts this trimester — another real-life experience — but he hopes to get those worked out for the final trimester.

At the beginning of the year, Lee said students from a Workplace Experience class helped out at The Nest, even though they weren’t in DECA.

Lee wants to get into the management field.

“I think that being able to speak to people is essential in all career fields,” Lee said. “So this is more focused on getting those people skills for my future career.”

Lee added: “Eventually, I want to be a lawyer, and I want to go into politics after that. Being able to work and talk with people and relate to them is extremely important in both those careers.”

Broden Hanson, a senior, works up front but is also part of the financial end of the business.

“It has a lot of potential to teach students about business and keeping up on certain things like inventory.”

He wants to become a welder but sees value in working at The Next.

&nbsp;“It teaches me more about finances and the business side of anything. I also keep up on inventory, and I think just being able to work the number side of any business is good,” Hanson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/3/1743443107771.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>West Burlington’s DECA class feathers The Nest coffee shop.By&nbsp;Chris&nbsp;FaulknerCoffee shops abound in the area, but there’s only one run by high school students.In the foyer, when you first walk into West Burlington High School, you’ll see against one of the walls a sign identifying The Nest, an appropriate title given that the school nickname is the Falcons.Business has been slow these days, but the current DECA president, Tristin Lee, has been working to change that.Distributive Education Clubs of America are in many high schools.“It’s based around giving students a business experience, allowing them to see the business world and provide them the skills needed for a career in business,” Lee said.But West Burlington has the only DECA in the area that has its own business.“Most of them take place within competitions, or they speak to business leaders or something like that,” Lee said.Prices are meant to reflect a student’s budget, so coffee, smoothies, and tea start at $1.75 a cup for regular and $2 for a large. You can buy Rice Krispie treats, and the other day Nutri-grain bars were on sale at two for $1.The Nest was the brainchild of former business teacher and DECA sponsor Scot Fransk, who is now teaching at Central Lee. He is starting a business there as well, Lee said.Two years ago, when Lee was just a freshman, Fransk and some of the senior DECA members opened the business. “It gave the students a unique experience, as well as providing a positive impact on the school culture,” Lee said.But this isn’t just a glorified lemonade stand where students take turns pouring coffee and taking payment, which must be by card only, as students aren’t allowed to bring cash.“We’ve created departments. We have a department based on operations to make sure everything runs smoothly, it’s clean, and everybody knows how to work it,” Lee said.“Then we have a marketing department that focuses on creating specials and bringing students to the business. And we have an inventory and finance department which actually focuses on how much money we’re making and making sure our products are not being stolen by employees and make sure we have enough of everything.”It wasn’t always this organized, but Lee said when he became president back in December, he wanted to make it a complete business experience.That includes the downside.“We had two slushie machines, but one of the slushie machines broke,” Lee said. “So, right now, we’re going to try to figure out how we’re going to contact the manufacturer and see if we can get another part.”Then there’s the business slowdown.When Fransk left, Lee said, “We took a decline, so we no longer had that solid figure of someone who knew how to keep this going. It became much more focused on students, and the students weren’t as interested.”Any money The Nest does make goes into a school account and then back into the business.Lee said The Nest is supposed to be open throughout the day, but there have been some scheduling conflicts this trimester — another real-life experience — but he hopes to get those worked out for the final trimester.At the beginning of the year, Lee said students from a Workplace Experience class helped out at The Nest, even though they weren’t in DECA.Lee wants to get into the management field.“I think that being able to speak to people is essential in all career fields,” Lee said. “So this is more focused on getting those people skills for my future career.”Lee added: “Eventually, I want to be a lawyer, and I want to go into politics after that. Being able to work and talk with people and relate to them is extremely important in both those careers.”Broden Hanson, a senior, works up front but is also part of the financial end of the business.“It has a lot of potential to teach students about business and keeping up on certain things like inventory.”He wants to become a welder but sees value in working at The Next.&nbsp;“It teaches me more about finances and the business side of anything. I also keep up on inventory, and I think just being able to work the number side of any business is good,” Hanson said.<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/3/1743443161725.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>

Brewing business skills

The “War on 34” isn’t just a slogan, Southeastern Community College men’s basketball coach Lorenzo Watkins will tell you.

Watkins should know. He’s been a combatant on both sides.

As any Blackhawk fan can tell you, “The War on 34” is the basketball rivalry between SCC and Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. Both schools are located near U.S. Highway 34. It has been heralded as the fiercest rivalry in junior college basketball.

This year’s battles will ignite on the western front. The Blackhawks will deploy to Indian Hills on Jan. 18. The Warriors invade SCC’s Loren Walker Arena on Feb. 15.

Indian Hills head coach Terry Carroll, who later coached at SCC, found Watkins at Craddock High School in Portsmouth, Va., in 1991 and lured him to Ottumwa. Watkins became a two-time All-Region XI guard and played on the Warriors’ first team to qualify for the national tournament, finishing fourth.

“My mom and dad were in the military,” Watkins said. “They got stationed in Korea, so I stayed in Virginia and graduated from high school. My mom, dad, and two sisters went to Seoul, Korea. Coach Carroll came out to Portsmouth, Va., and watched me play. I got recruited to play at Indian Hills.”

After Indian Hills, Watkins played two seasons at Idaho State, averaging 14.1 points a game. As a player, however, he had no plans to enter coaching.

“Did I want to get into coaching?” he asked. “Nope. I was always in criminal justice programs and really wanted to work in like a juvenile detention center to try to help kids get through some stuff. Pat Lacy, who is with the detention center in Mount Pleasant and with the one here in Burlington, was my college roommate (at Indian Hills). We always talked about doing it and he’s been doing it for 30-plus years now. We played basketball together at Indian Hills.”

Lacy is currently the division manager for the Eighth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services.

Watkins’ coach at Idaho State muddled the plans.

“My head coach, Herb Williams, said, ‘Hey, what do you think about staying on, helping us out (as a graduate assistant) and see how you like it?’&nbsp; I did it, liked it, and then got an opportunity to come back to Indian Hills to work with Coach Carroll” as his assistant.

He also worked as an assistant at some four-year programs and as Carroll’s assistant at SCC.

Watkins was head coach at Indian Hills four years, posting a 94-16 record, and is now in his eighth season as head coach at SCC. His Blackhawk teams have gone 171-56. His current team is 14-1 at the holiday break.

To some die-hard fans, going from Indian Hills to SCC may be heresy.

“I’ve been here 16 years,” Watkins said, “and it was probably the hardest thing to do as a player, as an assistant coach, as a head coach at Indian Hills. Now you come to the biggest rival. It was tough. I have life-long friends still over there, some that I went to school with over there, some that helped me get my career going.

“Once I got over here,” Watkins continued, “the thing with Coach Carroll, they looked at him and said, ‘We’ve been rooting against you for ages. Not just rooting, we’ve been hating you.’ That War on 34, that was for real. That wasn’t just a slogan. It was real.”

“I really, really appreciate the open arms of people here,” Watkins said. “That’s what Burlington’s about. I have life-long friends here now, and that’s why we continue to stay here.”

Watkins is looking for more than just basketball skills on the recruiting trail.

“Everybody talks about you’ve got to get the most talented kids,” Watkins said. “I think a lot of it is looking at the kid as a person. How are you going to fit into the community? I want a kid who will sacrifice.”

He added: “They’ve got to come from a winning program. Everybody is teaching these kids about being offensive-minded. So then, when I get them, some of them shut down. Some of them can’t understand that you’ve got to sacrifice one end of the floor for the other. If you want to have success, you’ve got to change a little bit, your mindset. Some things have to be a little bit more important, defending, rebounding the ball, taking care of the ball. Those things don’t need any talent. It’s commitment and determination.”

“It’s about sacrifices,” Watkins said. “The guy to the right of you and the guy to the left of you is as good or better than you. Now, you have to coexist. So, what are you going to sacrifice to win? That’s what it’s about. I have to get these guys to understand that.”

The most important victory for the basketball players is the diploma.

“To me, to see our guys graduate and move on, that’s my gratification,” Watkins said. “We’re going to win games. Yep. I’d love to win every game and the national championship every year. Nothing’s going to change my work ethic, but my success comes from going into these kids’ homes and seeing where they come from and where they have an opportunity to go. We’re going to give you every opportunity to be successful on and off the floor.”

He continued: “If I ever get to a point where it’s just win, win, win, win, then I’m going to find something else to do.”

Watkins and his wife Sara have four sons and a daughter. Their son Mason is in the midst of a successful high school basketball career at West Burlington High School. Since SCC and the high school normally have games on different days, Watkins is able to follow Mason’s career.

Sara, a native of Eldon, played softball for Indian Hills.

Watkins has had offers to coach elsewhere.

“But why?” Watkins asked. “I love coaching here. I love the town. I love raising our kids here, and I have great friends. I don’t need anything else.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/1/1736010152652.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By Joe GerenThe “War on 34” isn’t just a slogan, Southeastern Community College men’s basketball coach Lorenzo Watkins will tell you.“It’s real,” he said.Watkins should know. He’s been a combatant on both sides.As any Blackhawk fan can tell you, “The War on 34” is the basketball rivalry between SCC and Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. Both schools are located near U.S. Highway 34. It has been heralded as the fiercest rivalry in junior college basketball.This year’s battles will ignite on the western front. The Blackhawks will deploy to Indian Hills on Jan. 18. The Warriors invade SCC’s Loren Walker Arena on Feb. 15.Indian Hills head coach Terry Carroll, who later coached at SCC, found Watkins at Craddock High School in Portsmouth, Va., in 1991 and lured him to Ottumwa. Watkins became a two-time All-Region XI guard and played on the Warriors’ first team to qualify for the national tournament, finishing fourth.“My mom and dad were in the military,” Watkins said. “They got stationed in Korea, so I stayed in Virginia and graduated from high school. My mom, dad, and two sisters went to Seoul, Korea. Coach Carroll came out to Portsmouth, Va., and watched me play. I got recruited to play at Indian Hills.”After Indian Hills, Watkins played two seasons at Idaho State, averaging 14.1 points a game. As a player, however, he had no plans to enter coaching.“Did I want to get into coaching?” he asked. “Nope. I was always in criminal justice programs and really wanted to work in like a juvenile detention center to try to help kids get through some stuff. Pat Lacy, who is with the detention center in Mount Pleasant and with the one here in Burlington, was my college roommate (at Indian Hills). We always talked about doing it and he’s been doing it for 30-plus years now. We played basketball together at Indian Hills.”Lacy is currently the division manager for the Eighth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services.Watkins’ coach at Idaho State muddled the plans.“My head coach, Herb Williams, said, ‘Hey, what do you think about staying on, helping us out (as a graduate assistant) and see how you like it?’&nbsp; I did it, liked it, and then got an opportunity to come back to Indian Hills to work with Coach Carroll” as his assistant.He also worked as an assistant at some four-year programs and as Carroll’s assistant at SCC.Watkins was head coach at Indian Hills four years, posting a 94-16 record, and is now in his eighth season as head coach at SCC. His Blackhawk teams have gone 171-56. His current team is 14-1 at the holiday break.To some die-hard fans, going from Indian Hills to SCC may be heresy.“I’ve been here 16 years,” Watkins said, “and it was probably the hardest thing to do as a player, as an assistant coach, as a head coach at Indian Hills. Now you come to the biggest rival. It was tough. I have life-long friends still over there, some that I went to school with over there, some that helped me get my career going.“Once I got over here,” Watkins continued, “the thing with Coach Carroll, they looked at him and said, ‘We’ve been rooting against you for ages. Not just rooting, we’ve been hating you.’ That War on 34, that was for real. That wasn’t just a slogan. It was real.”But all is well now.“I really, really appreciate the open arms of people here,” Watkins said. “That’s what Burlington’s about. I have life-long friends here now, and that’s why we continue to stay here.”Watkins is looking for more than just basketball skills on the recruiting trail.“Everybody talks about you’ve got to get the most talented kids,” Watkins said. “I think a lot of it is looking at the kid as a person. How are you going to fit into the community? I want a kid who will sacrifice.”He added: “They’ve got to come from a winning program. Everybody is teaching these kids about being offensive-minded. So then, when I get them, some of them shut down. Some of them can’t understand that you’ve got to sacrifice one end of the floor for the other. If you want to have success, you’ve got to change a little bit, your mindset. Some things have to be a little bit more important, defending, rebounding the ball, taking care of the ball. Those things don’t need any talent. It’s commitment and determination.”“It’s about sacrifices,” Watkins said. “The guy to the right of you and the guy to the left of you is as good or better than you. Now, you have to coexist. So, what are you going to sacrifice to win? That’s what it’s about. I have to get these guys to understand that.”The most important victory for the basketball players is the diploma.“To me, to see our guys graduate and move on, that’s my gratification,” Watkins said. “We’re going to win games. Yep. I’d love to win every game and the national championship every year. Nothing’s going to change my work ethic, but my success comes from going into these kids’ homes and seeing where they come from and where they have an opportunity to go. We’re going to give you every opportunity to be successful on and off the floor.”He continued: “If I ever get to a point where it’s just win, win, win, win, then I’m going to find something else to do.”Watkins and his wife Sara have four sons and a daughter. Their son Mason is in the midst of a successful high school basketball career at West Burlington High School. Since SCC and the high school normally have games on different days, Watkins is able to follow Mason’s career.Sara, a native of Eldon, played softball for Indian Hills.Watkins has had offers to coach elsewhere.“But why?” Watkins asked. “I love coaching here. I love the town. I love raising our kids here, and I have great friends. I don’t need anything else.”

52 Faces: Former rival  molds SCC  program

Southeastern Community College’s men’s soccer team rallied from a two-goal deficit and ousted Iowa Central, 4-3, in overtime in the Division 2, Region 11 quarterfinals at Bracewell Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Juan Lagares scored in the 98th&nbsp;minute off a pass from Felix Martin for the sudden victory.

SCC (11-7-2), the tournament’s No. 4 seed, advances to Tuesday’s semifinal round at Norfolk, Neb., facing top-seeded Northeast (17-1-1). Western Iowa Tech (10-6-3) plays No. 2 seed Iowa Lakes (12-1-3) at Estherville in the other semifinal. The Region 11 championship match is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2, to be hosted by the higher seed.

“It was a really difficult game,” SCC head coach Jorge Sierra said. “It was a good opponent coming in so it was whoever wanted it more. Thankfully for is we wanted it more. We just have to be ready for Northeast Nebraska on Tuesday.

“I feel they (the Tritons) really wanted to advance,” Sierra said. “They wanted to win, same way we wanted to win. This conference is the best one in the country and any team can beat the other on a given day. Thankfully, today it went for us.”

The Blackhawks struck first with a goal by Timeo Cordiez in the 14th&nbsp;minute, Diego Lozano assisting, but Iowa Central tied the score two minutes later. The Tritons scored twice more in the first 23 minutes of the second half for a 3-1 cushion.

Cordiez scored, this time unassisted, in the 80th&nbsp;minute, and Lagares added the tying goal in the 87th minute, assisted by Javier Hernandez. That set up overtime and Lagares's game-winner.

Sierra is expecting pressure from Northeast in Tuesday’s semifinal. “They just beat the No. 1 team (Iowa Lakes) in the country,” Sierra said, “so it’s going to be a difficult game for us. But we’ll be ready for it.”

No. 1 ranked Iowa Lakes fell at home to Northeast, 3-2, on Oct. 23. On Sept. 28, the Lakers visited Bracewell Stadium and tied with the Blackhawks, 3-3.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/10/1730041733126.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By Joe GerenSoutheastern Community College’s men’s soccer team rallied from a two-goal deficit and ousted Iowa Central, 4-3, in overtime in the Division 2, Region 11 quarterfinals at Bracewell Stadium Saturday afternoon.Juan Lagares scored in the 98th&nbsp;minute off a pass from Felix Martin for the sudden victory.SCC (11-7-2), the tournament’s No. 4 seed, advances to Tuesday’s semifinal round at Norfolk, Neb., facing top-seeded Northeast (17-1-1). Western Iowa Tech (10-6-3) plays No. 2 seed Iowa Lakes (12-1-3) at Estherville in the other semifinal. The Region 11 championship match is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2, to be hosted by the higher seed.Iowa Central ended its season at 4-11-2.“It was a really difficult game,” SCC head coach Jorge Sierra said. “It was a good opponent coming in so it was whoever wanted it more. Thankfully for is we wanted it more. We just have to be ready for Northeast Nebraska on Tuesday.“I feel they (the Tritons) really wanted to advance,” Sierra said. “They wanted to win, same way we wanted to win. This conference is the best one in the country and any team can beat the other on a given day. Thankfully, today it went for us.”The Blackhawks struck first with a goal by Timeo Cordiez in the 14th&nbsp;minute, Diego Lozano assisting, but Iowa Central tied the score two minutes later. The Tritons scored twice more in the first 23 minutes of the second half for a 3-1 cushion.Cordiez scored, this time unassisted, in the 80th&nbsp;minute, and Lagares added the tying goal in the 87th minute, assisted by Javier Hernandez. That set up overtime and Lagares's game-winner.Sierra is expecting pressure from Northeast in Tuesday’s semifinal. “They just beat the No. 1 team (Iowa Lakes) in the country,” Sierra said, “so it’s going to be a difficult game for us. But we’ll be ready for it.”No. 1 ranked Iowa Lakes fell at home to Northeast, 3-2, on Oct. 23. On Sept. 28, the Lakers visited Bracewell Stadium and tied with the Blackhawks, 3-3.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/10/1730041771982.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>

SCC rallies for regional win

Notre Dame struggled against No. 3 Holy Trinity in volleyball action on Thursday, and the Nikes' late surge down the stretch of the third game wasn't enough to avoid a sweep at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.

The Nikes trailed the third set 15-9, but over the next five servers cut the lead to 18-17. The Nikes then took the lead at 20-19 and soon led 22-20. After trading side outs, Notre Dame led 23-21, but Adalyn Kruse for the Crusaders made a kill to return the serve. Presley Myers served out the set and the match, with Kruse making another kill to end it.

It didn't help that Notre Dame missed six serves in the first two sets. But Holy Trinity missed six serves in the final set.

Notre Dame drops to 18-10 overall, 4-2 in the South and plays in the New London Tournament Saturday.

Holy Trinity remains unbeaten at 5-0 in the South and is 19-5 overall. The Crusaders host Central Lee next Thursday.

“We've got some young players, and we couldn't get in system some times,” Notre Dame coach Susan Reid said.

“We had a pretty good game plan, and when we're in system, that game plan works.”

It's never easy taking on HTC on its home court.

“It's a big environment to play in,” Reid said. “They have some good players, and they're a tough team to play.”

HTC coach Melissa Freesmeier said, “We were doing the little things we've been working on in practice.

But in the third set, Freesmeier said there were “a lot of mistakes on our end that shouldn't have happened. But we still overcame it. We still stayed in the set, and we were able to pull it off.”

Freesmeier said that Notre Dame is a “great ball club. They continue to have a good season.”

So even though it was a three-and-out&nbsp;match, “you know it was a better match than that,” Freesmeier said.

Notre Dame had a balanced hitting attack. Addi Brockway made nine kills, Madelyn Knapp eight and Chloe Wenzel seven. McKenna Kipp added two.

Mallory Lily had 23 digs, Brockway 11, Knapp nine, Elmore five and Bella Drew and Addison Reid two each.

Wenzel made two blocks and also served an ace.

For Holy Trinity, Kruse had 14 kills and Myers 13 to lead the team. Anna Bendlage made 16 assists, and Elizabeth Griffith had 12.

Myers served four aces, and Olivia Bendlage three. Kruse led in digs with 12. Myers had three blocks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/10/1728060843131.jpeg" alt="Photo by Chris Faulkner" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Chris Faulkner</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerNotre Dame struggled against No. 3 Holy Trinity in volleyball action on Thursday, and the Nikes' late surge down the stretch of the third game wasn't enough to avoid a sweep at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.Holy Trinity 25-12, 25-20, 25-23.The Nikes trailed the third set 15-9, but over the next five servers cut the lead to 18-17. The Nikes then took the lead at 20-19 and soon led 22-20. After trading side outs, Notre Dame led 23-21, but Adalyn Kruse for the Crusaders made a kill to return the serve. Presley Myers served out the set and the match, with Kruse making another kill to end it.It didn't help that Notre Dame missed six serves in the first two sets. But Holy Trinity missed six serves in the final set.Notre Dame drops to 18-10 overall, 4-2 in the South and plays in the New London Tournament Saturday.Holy Trinity remains unbeaten at 5-0 in the South and is 19-5 overall. The Crusaders host Central Lee next Thursday.“We've got some young players, and we couldn't get in system some times,” Notre Dame coach Susan Reid said.“We had a pretty good game plan, and when we're in system, that game plan works.”It's never easy taking on HTC on its home court.“It's a big environment to play in,” Reid said. “They have some good players, and they're a tough team to play.”HTC coach Melissa Freesmeier said, “We were doing the little things we've been working on in practice.But in the third set, Freesmeier said there were “a lot of mistakes on our end that shouldn't have happened. But we still overcame it. We still stayed in the set, and we were able to pull it off.”Freesmeier said that Notre Dame is a “great ball club. They continue to have a good season.”So even though it was a three-and-out&nbsp;match, “you know it was a better match than that,” Freesmeier said.Notre Dame had a balanced hitting attack. Addi Brockway made nine kills, Madelyn Knapp eight and Chloe Wenzel seven. McKenna Kipp added two.Emma Elmore made 23 assists.Mallory Lily had 23 digs, Brockway 11, Knapp nine, Elmore five and Bella Drew and Addison Reid two each.Wenzel made two blocks and also served an ace.For Holy Trinity, Kruse had 14 kills and Myers 13 to lead the team. Anna Bendlage made 16 assists, and Elizabeth Griffith had 12.Myers served four aces, and Olivia Bendlage three. Kruse led in digs with 12. Myers had three blocks.

ND falls to HTC

Southeastern Community College's Taryn Havener took on  Northeast Community College on Wednesday at  SCC's Loren Walker Arena. SCC defeated Northeast 3-1. First set 25-20, second set 23-25, third set 25-15, and fourth set 25-21.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/9/1726806669986.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Photos by John LovrettaSoutheastern Community College's Taryn Havener took on Northeast Community College on Wednesday at SCC's Loren Walker Arena. SCC defeated Northeast 3-1. First set 25-20, second set 23-25, third set 25-15, and fourth set 25-21.<figure>
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SCC vs. Northeast Community College

West Burlington's ninth-ranked (Class 2A) volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit at No. 5 (1A) Holy Trinity Catholic and sent the match into a fifth set.

But the host Crusaders defeated the Falcons 15-11 in the deciding set to win the two-hour, 10-minute match at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.

West Burlington (14-2) plays Saturday in the Williamsburg Tournament. Holy Trinity improves to 3-2.

HTC won the first set 25-17 and had West Burlington down 20-11 and 22-15 in the second set. But the Falcons stormed back with five service points from Jayonna Hiley – including two from aces – to make it 22-20. West Burlington was serving match point, but Holy Trinity managed to stay alive and finally won 27-25.

West Burlington won the next two sets, 26-24, 25-17, getting big help from Brenna Beggs, who had 11 kills and a couple of big blocks in those two sets.

In the fifth set, through the first five rotations, West Burlington led 6-4. But HTC soon led 10-8 and pulled out the victory.

There were a number of long rallies in the two-hour night. West Burlington finished with 139 digs and Holy Trinity 124.

“I'm very, very pleased with the way they battled,” West Burlington coach Maureen Heath said of the Falcons. “That was a very good match. It didn't go our way, but that's going to make our team grow and grow.

“Everybody got their money's worth, that's for sure.”

Coach Heath praised Beggs for her contribution on the night. Beside Beggs' team-high 17 kills and six blocks, she also served 20 of 20 with two aces and added 15 digs.

Beggs' strength as a middle hitter is her swift windmill motion on her attacks that are hard for opposing defenses to dig up.

“No, I taught myself,” Beggs said. “It's just something I caught on.”

Taryn Snodgrass plays a big part in that as her setter. “We've been playing togther since like the sixth grade,” Beggs said. “We have a good connection.”

Coach Heath praised Snodgrass for her abilities.

“Snodgrass is like a workhorse out there,” Heath said. “You know you're going to get every maximum effort from that girl. She tries to move the ball around, running things down, but with control.”

Jayonna Hiley had 12 kills and served 14 of 14 with five aces, Mady Hamelton had 10 kills, Isabella Callison five and freshman Kaylee Webb four.

Webb came into the game as a middle hitter, “trying to mix things up,” Coach Heath said. “In this big of a game, she was very in tune, she was asking questions, the girls were helping her, I thought she did a great job.”

Hiley had a block and Webb and Snodgrass had one each.

Carli Cline led in digs with 42, Hiley had 31, Hamelton 20 and Snodgrass 15. Baylee Woodsmall added 12.

Cline served 21 of 22 with an ace, Hamelton was 16 of 16 with an ace, Snodgrass 11 of 12 with an ace and Woodsmall 12 of 12.

The Falcons served 94 of 96 on the night.

Holy Trinity is tough to beat at home, especially in the fifth set, but Crusaders coach Melissa Freesmeier didn't take anything for granted.

“When you play a team like West Burlington, and they're going to dig the ball, and they're going to keep the ball in play, they're not going to make a lot of mistakes, we're just going to have to go at them. Our hitters did that in set 5.”

HTC's 6-2 standout in the middle, Presley Myers, had a career high 23 kills and six blocks. Adalyn Kruse had 21 kills and Olivia Bendlage 13. Anna Bendlage made 38 assists. Teagan Snaadt had 33 digs and Elizabeth Griffin 32.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/9/1726584171021.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Falcons rallied from 2-0 deficitBy Chris FaulknerWest Burlington's ninth-ranked (Class 2A) volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit at No. 5 (1A) Holy Trinity Catholic and sent the match into a fifth set.But the host Crusaders defeated the Falcons 15-11 in the deciding set to win the two-hour, 10-minute match at Shottenkirk Gymnasium in Fort Madison.West Burlington (14-2) plays Saturday in the Williamsburg Tournament. Holy Trinity improves to 3-2.HTC won the first set 25-17 and had West Burlington down 20-11 and 22-15 in the second set. But the Falcons stormed back with five service points from Jayonna Hiley – including two from aces – to make it 22-20. West Burlington was serving match point, but Holy Trinity managed to stay alive and finally won 27-25.West Burlington won the next two sets, 26-24, 25-17, getting big help from Brenna Beggs, who had 11 kills and a couple of big blocks in those two sets.In the fifth set, through the first five rotations, West Burlington led 6-4. But HTC soon led 10-8 and pulled out the victory.There were a number of long rallies in the two-hour night. West Burlington finished with 139 digs and Holy Trinity 124.Falcons can grow from this“I'm very, very pleased with the way they battled,” West Burlington coach Maureen Heath said of the Falcons. “That was a very good match. It didn't go our way, but that's going to make our team grow and grow.“Everybody got their money's worth, that's for sure.”Coach Heath praised Beggs for her contribution on the night. Beside Beggs' team-high 17 kills and six blocks, she also served 20 of 20 with two aces and added 15 digs.Beggs' strength as a middle hitter is her swift windmill motion on her attacks that are hard for opposing defenses to dig up.Did someone teach her to do it that way?“No, I taught myself,” Beggs said. “It's just something I caught on.”Taryn Snodgrass plays a big part in that as her setter. “We've been playing togther since like the sixth grade,” Beggs said. “We have a good connection.”Snodgrass had 40 assists.Coach Heath praised Snodgrass for her abilities.“Snodgrass is like a workhorse out there,” Heath said. “You know you're going to get every maximum effort from that girl. She tries to move the ball around, running things down, but with control.”Jayonna Hiley had 12 kills and served 14 of 14 with five aces, Mady Hamelton had 10 kills, Isabella Callison five and freshman Kaylee Webb four.Webb came into the game as a middle hitter, “trying to mix things up,” Coach Heath said. “In this big of a game, she was very in tune, she was asking questions, the girls were helping her, I thought she did a great job.”Hiley had a block and Webb and Snodgrass had one each.Carli Cline led in digs with 42, Hiley had 31, Hamelton 20 and Snodgrass 15. Baylee Woodsmall added 12.Cline served 21 of 22 with an ace, Hamelton was 16 of 16 with an ace, Snodgrass 11 of 12 with an ace and Woodsmall 12 of 12.The Falcons served 94 of 96 on the night.HTC shines in Set 5Holy Trinity is tough to beat at home, especially in the fifth set, but Crusaders coach Melissa Freesmeier didn't take anything for granted.“When you play a team like West Burlington, and they're going to dig the ball, and they're going to keep the ball in play, they're not going to make a lot of mistakes, we're just going to have to go at them. Our hitters did that in set 5.”HTC's 6-2 standout in the middle, Presley Myers, had a career high 23 kills and six blocks. Adalyn Kruse had 21 kills and Olivia Bendlage 13. Anna Bendlage made 38 assists. Teagan Snaadt had 33 digs and Elizabeth Griffin 32.

HTC outlasts West Burlington in five sets

Notre Dame swept Van Buren County 25-9, 25-17, 25-22 in volleyball Thursday night at Father Minett Gym.

Madelyn Knapp made 13 kills, and Addi Brockway 11 to lead the winners. Chloe Wenzel added six kills, McKenna Kipp five, Addison Reid four, and Emma Elmore three.

Knapp made 13 digs, Mallory Lillie and Brockway 12 each, and Bella Drew 10.

Elmore served 13 of 14 with an ace, Brockway was 12 of 12 with an ace, Reid was 12 of 13 with two aces, Lillie was 11 of 12 with three aces, and Lexi Korschgen served an ace on her only attempt.

The team plays at Central Lee next Tuesday.

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 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/9/1726252360221.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Beacon SportsNotre Dame swept Van Buren County 25-9, 25-17, 25-22 in volleyball Thursday night at Father Minett Gym.Madelyn Knapp made 13 kills, and Addi Brockway 11 to lead the winners. Chloe Wenzel added six kills, McKenna Kipp five, Addison Reid four, and Emma Elmore three.Emma Elmore made 36 assists.Knapp made 13 digs, Mallory Lillie and Brockway 12 each, and Bella Drew 10.Wenzel made four blocks and Reid two.Elmore served 13 of 14 with an ace, Brockway was 12 of 12 with an ace, Reid was 12 of 13 with two aces, Lillie was 11 of 12 with three aces, and Lexi Korschgen served an ace on her only attempt.The team plays at Central Lee next Tuesday.<figure>
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NDHS Volleyball vs. Van Buren 

Indian Hills spoiled Southeastern Community College’s soccer home openers, sweeping the Blackhawks at the Burlington Regional RecPlex Monday afternoon.

Indian Hills won the women’s match 5-1 and the men’s game 6-0. Indian Hills is an NJCAA Division I school; SCC is Division II.

In the women’s match, Kevynn Siefken scored SCC’s lone goal on the rebound of a Myah Rehman shot in the 50th minute. Rehman was awarded an assist. It was the first goal scored this season by SCC, now 0-4.

Siefken and Rehman were freshmen and teammates at Burlington High School last spring.

“We’ve been struggling with injuries the past couple of weeks,” Siefken said, “but we’re slowly getting those girls back, and we know we deserve it. We worked hard, that’s for sure.”

On her goal, she said, “It was good. It was well deserved. That first half was hard-fought, and that second half, we wanted it, and we got it.” 

          In the men’s game, SCC managed just five shots, three on goal. The defense held Indian Hills scoreless for the first 33 minutes. SCC fell to 1-4. 

It was the first time former SCC coach Zac Newton coached against the Blackhawks. He coached SCC to its spring 2021 national championship. Newton is currently in his first year as head coach at Indian Hills. 

“It’s a weird experience,” Newton said of his return to West Burlington, “and then to have the sort of result we had was tough because this place always has a special place in my heart. It’s very, very weird, but it does bring back a lot of good memories.”

The Indian Hills men improved to 5-0; the women are 3-1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/9/1725582340335.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Beacon SportsIndian Hills spoiled Southeastern Community College’s soccer home openers, sweeping the Blackhawks at the Burlington Regional RecPlex Monday afternoon.Indian Hills won the women’s match 5-1 and the men’s game 6-0. Indian Hills is an NJCAA Division I school; SCC is Division II.In the women’s match, Kevynn Siefken scored SCC’s lone goal on the rebound of a Myah Rehman shot in the 50th minute. Rehman was awarded an assist. It was the first goal scored this season by SCC, now 0-4.Siefken and Rehman were freshmen and teammates at Burlington High School last spring.“We’ve been struggling with injuries the past couple of weeks,” Siefken said, “but we’re slowly getting those girls back, and we know we deserve it. We worked hard, that’s for sure.”On her goal, she said, “It was good. It was well deserved. That first half was hard-fought, and that second half, we wanted it, and we got it.” In the men’s game, SCC managed just five shots, three on goal. The defense held Indian Hills scoreless for the first 33 minutes. SCC fell to 1-4. It was the first time former SCC coach Zac Newton coached against the Blackhawks. He coached SCC to its spring 2021 national championship. Newton is currently in his first year as head coach at Indian Hills. “It’s a weird experience,” Newton said of his return to West Burlington, “and then to have the sort of result we had was tough because this place always has a special place in my heart. It’s very, very weird, but it does bring back a lot of good memories.”The Indian Hills men improved to 5-0; the women are 3-1.

Warriors sweep SCC soccer teams

The Southeastern Community College volleyball team scrimmaged against three other teams on Saturday, and the optimism in the Blackhawk camp is sky-high. 

“I expect us to take it all the way to nationals,” said McKenna Marlow, a sophomore from West Burlington.“I expect us to take it all the way to nationals.,” said Taryn Stephens, a freshman who played for Burlington’s Notre Dame High School last season. 

“That just seems like so much fun. We all want to go so bad. We’ve been working for it.”Read Joe Geren's story in this Friday's print edition of The Beacon.

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 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/8/1724023610717.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>Photos by John LovrettaThe Southeastern Community College volleyball team scrimmaged against three other teams on Saturday, and the optimism in the Blackhawk camp is sky-high. “I expect us to take it all the way to nationals,” said McKenna Marlow, a sophomore from West Burlington.“I expect us to take it all the way to nationals.,” said Taryn Stephens, a freshman who played for Burlington’s Notre Dame High School last season. “That just seems like so much fun. We all want to go so bad. We’ve been working for it.”Read Joe Geren's story in this Friday's print edition of The Beacon.<figure>
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Spike in Optimism

By Joe Geren Beacon Sports When you’re already a national champion, perhaps only one goal remains. Perfection. That’s the goal for Odessa Cornick in the upcoming indoor archery season. Odessa, 16, of Burlington, and her sister Alina, 12, are three-time national champions. Their most recent titles occurred in July at the Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) Eastern Outdoor National on the University of the Cumberlands campus in Williamsburg, Ky. Odessa won the female young adult (age 15-18) championship, and Alina captured the female Eagle division for ages 10-12. In June, Alina won an indoor national title in Rend Lake, Ill. “They shoot their first couple rounds, and that’s how they get into the shoot-off,” their dad, Zach Cornick, explained. After the shoot-off, “there’s a bracket-type system where they shoot against each other. It’s two full days.” In young adult competitions, “the top three finishers get academic scholarships,” Zach said. “There are probably 15 scholarships around the country. They’re adding up.” Last March, Odessa won the national title in the Eastern Indoor S3DA in Owensboro, Ky., and won several scholarships, including some to the University of the Cumberlands, Kentucky Christian, Southeast Illinois, and Lindenwood. With the win in Williamsburg, some of the scholarships were duplicated. Odessa, who soon begins her junior year at Burlington High School, has not decided which scholarship she’ll use. “I haven’t started looking too much yet,” she said. Zach and his wife Denissa founded the Flint River Archery Club in late 2020. Last Sunday, the Cornick sisters were among four Flint River Archery Club members who won state titles in the Iowa State ASA championship in Iowa City. Odessa won the young adult female pins division, and Alina captured the Eagle girls’ pins. Isaiah Mendenhall won the Eagle boys open division and Brody Foley won young adult male pins. Other club members competing in the state meet were Timothy Burns Jr. (2nd, Eagle boys open), Addison Ewinger (2nd, Eagle girls open), Raelle Miller (2nd, Eagle girls pins), and Abigail Foley (3rd, Eagle girls pins). Miller also finished 10th in the Eastern Outdoor National in Kentucky last month. According to a Flint River Archery Club Facebook post, Miller’s sights were going low left the first day of the competition. Coaches fixed the problem, and Miller shot a personal best the second day. “In a couple weeks, the ASA Outdoor National is in South Dakota,” Zach Cornick said. “We’ll be going to that.” Both Cornick girls have played other sports, but archery is their preference. “I did golf for a little bit, but mostly archery is what I do,” Odessa said. She played on the BHS girls’ golf team. “I started (archery) when I was four years old.” “I played volleyball and soccer, but not right now,” Alina said. In archery, “I like outdoor targets better. It’s cells (in 3D animal-shaped targets). Basically, it’s upper and lower cells.” Odessa has goals. “I want to win some more things, obviously,” she said, “get some more scholarships collected. Indoor season is next, so right now, my goal is to shoot an absolutely perfect score, a 150 with 30 Xs.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/8/1723517598554.jpeg" alt="Photo by Joe Geren Odessa Cornick, left, and her sister Alina won national championships in archery recently. Alina won two in the Eagle (age 10-12) Division and Odessa captured a national outdoor championship in the Young Adult (15-18) Division. " />
 <figcaption>Photo by Joe Geren Odessa Cornick, left, and her sister Alina won national championships in archery recently. Alina won two in the Eagle (age 10-12) Division and Odessa captured a national outdoor championship in the Young Adult (15-18) Division. </figcaption>
 </figure>By Joe Geren Beacon Sports When you’re already a national champion, perhaps only one goal remains. Perfection. That’s the goal for Odessa Cornick in the upcoming indoor archery season. Odessa, 16, of Burlington, and her sister Alina, 12, are three-time national champions. Their most recent titles occurred in July at the Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) Eastern Outdoor National on the University of the Cumberlands campus in Williamsburg, Ky. Odessa won the female young adult (age 15-18) championship, and Alina captured the female Eagle division for ages 10-12. In June, Alina won an indoor national title in Rend Lake, Ill. “They shoot their first couple rounds, and that’s how they get into the shoot-off,” their dad, Zach Cornick, explained. After the shoot-off, “there’s a bracket-type system where they shoot against each other. It’s two full days.” In young adult competitions, “the top three finishers get academic scholarships,” Zach said. “There are probably 15 scholarships around the country. They’re adding up.” Last March, Odessa won the national title in the Eastern Indoor S3DA in Owensboro, Ky., and won several scholarships, including some to the University of the Cumberlands, Kentucky Christian, Southeast Illinois, and Lindenwood. With the win in Williamsburg, some of the scholarships were duplicated. Odessa, who soon begins her junior year at Burlington High School, has not decided which scholarship she’ll use. “I haven’t started looking too much yet,” she said. Zach and his wife Denissa founded the Flint River Archery Club in late 2020. Last Sunday, the Cornick sisters were among four Flint River Archery Club members who won state titles in the Iowa State ASA championship in Iowa City. Odessa won the young adult female pins division, and Alina captured the Eagle girls’ pins. Isaiah Mendenhall won the Eagle boys open division and Brody Foley won young adult male pins. Other club members competing in the state meet were Timothy Burns Jr. (2nd, Eagle boys open), Addison Ewinger (2nd, Eagle girls open), Raelle Miller (2nd, Eagle girls pins), and Abigail Foley (3rd, Eagle girls pins). Miller also finished 10th in the Eastern Outdoor National in Kentucky last month. According to a Flint River Archery Club Facebook post, Miller’s sights were going low left the first day of the competition. Coaches fixed the problem, and Miller shot a personal best the second day. “In a couple weeks, the ASA Outdoor National is in South Dakota,” Zach Cornick said. “We’ll be going to that.” Both Cornick girls have played other sports, but archery is their preference. “I did golf for a little bit, but mostly archery is what I do,” Odessa said. She played on the BHS girls’ golf team. “I started (archery) when I was four years old.” “I played volleyball and soccer, but not right now,” Alina said. In archery, “I like outdoor targets better. It’s cells (in 3D animal-shaped targets). Basically, it’s upper and lower cells.” Odessa has goals. “I want to win some more things, obviously,” she said, “get some more scholarships collected. Indoor season is next, so right now, my goal is to shoot an absolutely perfect score, a 150 with 30 Xs.”

Cornick sisters claim national titles

Bryce Brown’s two-run double to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Burlington Bees to a 7-6 win over Clinton in a Prospect League baseball game at Community Field Saturday night. It was the third win in the last four games for the Bees, who are now 11-7 in the season’s second half.

Clinton went up 2-0 in the first half-inning, but Burlington tied it in the second and led 3-2 after three innings. The score was knotted at 3-3 and 4-4, then the LumberKings scored twice in the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the Bees came to within a run of Clinton at 5-6 on Cedric Dunnwald’s RBI double.

Both teams had 12 hits. Brown and Landon Akers had three hits each for the Bees. Jeremy Figueroa tripled for the Bees and Logan Reidelberger doubled. Catcher Noah Gordon went 3-for-5 to lead Clinton.

Erik Kiewiet (2-1) pitched the final inning and picked up the win. He allowed no runs on one hit and two walks. Clinton’s Kieran Bailey (2-1) took the loss.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2024/7/1722270737475.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Beacon SportsBryce Brown’s two-run double to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Burlington Bees to a 7-6 win over Clinton in a Prospect League baseball game at Community Field Saturday night. It was the third win in the last four games for the Bees, who are now 11-7 in the season’s second half.Clinton went up 2-0 in the first half-inning, but Burlington tied it in the second and led 3-2 after three innings. The score was knotted at 3-3 and 4-4, then the LumberKings scored twice in the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the Bees came to within a run of Clinton at 5-6 on Cedric Dunnwald’s RBI double.The LumberKings wouldn’t score again.Both teams had 12 hits. Brown and Landon Akers had three hits each for the Bees. Jeremy Figueroa tripled for the Bees and Logan Reidelberger doubled. Catcher Noah Gordon went 3-for-5 to lead Clinton.Erik Kiewiet (2-1) pitched the final inning and picked up the win. He allowed no runs on one hit and two walks. Clinton’s Kieran Bailey (2-1) took the loss.&nbsp;

Brown’s Double Lifts Bees

Randy Long started his automotive business, Long Enterprises, over 50 years ago.

He didn’t need much back then. Already an experienced auto mechanic, Randy started the business in 1974 — three years after he graduated from Burlington High School. All he needed was a building, some tools, and himself.

If Long were graduating high school today, he doesn’t think he would ever have the chance to open his own shop. The startup costs are just too steep.

“It would be very expensive to get into this business now. You can’t just run out and buy everything right off the bat,” Long said.

A typical, modern vehicle could have upwards of 20 computers on board. Back when Randy started, there weren’t any.

But Randy made sure the times never left him behind. Ever a stickler for detail, he continued to update Long Enterprises for decades.

His most worthwhile addition is his son, Damie, who has helped his dad run the business since 1991. Much like his father, all Long knows is mechanic work.&nbsp;

Their shared gift became apparent when Damie started working there during high school.

“I grew up in the shop,” Damie said. “I would work there full-time during the summer. I’ve always enjoyed taking stuff apart and putting it back together.”

Damie and his father are the only two employees at the shop and are never hurting for business. Damie has several siblings and a daughter, but none of them are interested in joining the business.

The father-son duo works on a relatively even mix of older and newer cars, but they have noticed more customers hanging on to their old vehicles over the past few years. They have even served a handful of hybrid vehicles.

The Longs remain skeptical about the long-term feasibility of electric vehicles, though they would happily service them.

“The infrastructure just isn’t there,” Damie said.

The pandemic proved to be a boon to business as locals took stock of what they needed to repair.

“It was dead during that first week when everything was shut down, and then it got busy,” Damie said.

It’s been so busy that Damie didn’t even have time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the auto shop with his father. He was going to take out an advertisement, but the shop has been so slammed with business that he didn’t think they could take on any more.

Busy times for the shop used to be somewhat seasonal — when winter hit, business would increase. Cars don’t start so well when the temperature dips below zero.

But with the advent of fuel-injection engines, business evened out.&nbsp;

Damie thinks it’s a bit busier in the summer than in the winter.

“Back when cars had carburetors, they would have trouble starting when it would get extremely cold, and they would get flooded and wouldn’t start,” Randy said. “I mean, we sell some extra batteries when it gets extremely cold, but summer is probably a little busier.”

Not every day is fun. The stress of an overfull workload is mentally taxing for both men. But they’re still having the time of their lives, indulging in a father-son business that many sons — and fathers — would be envious to have.

Neither is anywhere close to burnout — quite the opposite.

“We’re just going to keep plugging along,” Randy said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/3/1741376243091.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithRandy Long started his automotive business, Long Enterprises, over 50 years ago.He didn’t need much back then. Already an experienced auto mechanic, Randy started the business in 1974 — three years after he graduated from Burlington High School. All he needed was a building, some tools, and himself.If Long were graduating high school today, he doesn’t think he would ever have the chance to open his own shop. The startup costs are just too steep.“It would be very expensive to get into this business now. You can’t just run out and buy everything right off the bat,” Long said.A typical, modern vehicle could have upwards of 20 computers on board. Back when Randy started, there weren’t any.But Randy made sure the times never left him behind. Ever a stickler for detail, he continued to update Long Enterprises for decades.His most worthwhile addition is his son, Damie, who has helped his dad run the business since 1991. Much like his father, all Long knows is mechanic work.&nbsp;Their shared gift became apparent when Damie started working there during high school.“I grew up in the shop,” Damie said. “I would work there full-time during the summer. I’ve always enjoyed taking stuff apart and putting it back together.”Damie and his father are the only two employees at the shop and are never hurting for business. Damie has several siblings and a daughter, but none of them are interested in joining the business.The father-son duo works on a relatively even mix of older and newer cars, but they have noticed more customers hanging on to their old vehicles over the past few years. They have even served a handful of hybrid vehicles.The Longs remain skeptical about the long-term feasibility of electric vehicles, though they would happily service them.“The infrastructure just isn’t there,” Damie said.The pandemic proved to be a boon to business as locals took stock of what they needed to repair.“It was dead during that first week when everything was shut down, and then it got busy,” Damie said.It’s been so busy that Damie didn’t even have time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the auto shop with his father. He was going to take out an advertisement, but the shop has been so slammed with business that he didn’t think they could take on any more.Busy times for the shop used to be somewhat seasonal — when winter hit, business would increase. Cars don’t start so well when the temperature dips below zero.But with the advent of fuel-injection engines, business evened out.&nbsp;Damie thinks it’s a bit busier in the summer than in the winter.“Back when cars had carburetors, they would have trouble starting when it would get extremely cold, and they would get flooded and wouldn’t start,” Randy said. “I mean, we sell some extra batteries when it gets extremely cold, but summer is probably a little busier.”Not every day is fun. The stress of an overfull workload is mentally taxing for both men. But they’re still having the time of their lives, indulging in a father-son business that many sons — and fathers — would be envious to have.Neither is anywhere close to burnout — quite the opposite.“We’re just going to keep plugging along,” Randy said.

BEACON BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Built to last

Beacon Arts &amp; Entertainment Columnist

It’s the final weekend of Players Workshop’s rendition of Hallelujah Girls, a hilarious Southern comedy set in SPA-DEE-DAH! Catch the show on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. or the matinee on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are just $15 and can be snagged online at <a href="https://playersworkshop">playersworkshop</a>theater.com.&nbsp;

Looking to get in on all the fun of performing at this gem of a theater? Open auditions for Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express will be held Sunday at 7 p.m. Parts are available for five men aged 20-60 and five women aged 30 60.

La Boheme hosts its third Spoken Word event this Sunday at 5 pm. Step into a judgment-free space where all voices and writing styles are welcome — poetry, prose, lyrics, letters, and more. Join them at 5 pm for a mingling hour with book signing, snacks, and cocktails before the stage opens at 6 pm. Multiple authors will have books available for purchase and signing. If you are interested, contact Kira! Enjoy a special “poets” cocktail (non-alcoholic option available) crafted by our amazing bar host, Cindy. This evening is hosted by Kira Bryant at Liberating Love. Reach out to be added to the lineup.

On Wednesday at 7 p.m., The Capitol will present a free concert as the grand finale to a three-day residency by Svetlana and the NY Jazz Collective called Swing Makes You Sing. As part of their visit, they will have put on six shows for our local K-12 students and, most importantly, worked with our very own BHS Jazz Band under the leadership of Derrick Murphy. Come hear some of today's most accomplished jazz musicians perform on our Capitol stage alongside the BHS Jazz Band for an unforgettable evening of great music. 

Let's show our support and appreciation for all the hard work and dedication Derrick and the students have put in over the past few months. This programming is made possible by The Burlington Education Foundation, CFDMC, Southeastern Community College, Bart Howard Foundation, John H. Witte, Jr. Foundation, Harry and Virginia Murray Foundation, and The Capitol Theater.

Calling all artists — the 58th annual Snake Alley Art Fair returns Sunday, June 15, and artist applications are live. The Art Center of Burlington is looking for the finest and is accepting applications through March 14. Visit btownart.com to apply today!

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 </figure>By Elizabeth PappasBeacon Arts &amp; Entertainment ColumnistIt’s the final weekend of Players Workshop’s rendition of Hallelujah Girls, a hilarious Southern comedy set in SPA-DEE-DAH! Catch the show on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. or the matinee on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are just $15 and can be snagged online at <a href="https://playersworkshop">playersworkshop</a>theater.com.&nbsp;Looking to get in on all the fun of performing at this gem of a theater? Open auditions for Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express will be held Sunday at 7 p.m. Parts are available for five men aged 20-60 and five women aged 30 60.La Boheme hosts its third Spoken Word event this Sunday at 5 pm. Step into a judgment-free space where all voices and writing styles are welcome — poetry, prose, lyrics, letters, and more. Join them at 5 pm for a mingling hour with book signing, snacks, and cocktails before the stage opens at 6 pm. Multiple authors will have books available for purchase and signing. If you are interested, contact Kira! Enjoy a special “poets” cocktail (non-alcoholic option available) crafted by our amazing bar host, Cindy. This evening is hosted by Kira Bryant at Liberating Love. Reach out to be added to the lineup.On Wednesday at 7 p.m., The Capitol will present a free concert as the grand finale to a three-day residency by Svetlana and the NY Jazz Collective called Swing Makes You Sing. As part of their visit, they will have put on six shows for our local K-12 students and, most importantly, worked with our very own BHS Jazz Band under the leadership of Derrick Murphy. Come hear some of today's most accomplished jazz musicians perform on our Capitol stage alongside the BHS Jazz Band for an unforgettable evening of great music. Let's show our support and appreciation for all the hard work and dedication Derrick and the students have put in over the past few months. This programming is made possible by The Burlington Education Foundation, CFDMC, Southeastern Community College, Bart Howard Foundation, John H. Witte, Jr. Foundation, Harry and Virginia Murray Foundation, and The Capitol Theater.Calling all artists — the 58th annual Snake Alley Art Fair returns Sunday, June 15, and artist applications are live. The Art Center of Burlington is looking for the finest and is accepting applications through March 14. Visit btownart.com to apply today!

'Hallelujah!' It's a Weekend Full of Fun

Despite being a Wisconsin native, Mary Krohlow loved Burlington.

She taught here. She researched here. She produced stirring works of drama here.

Most Burlingtonians recognized Krohlow by her elbow-length hair, which turned silver in her later years. Aside from that, though, Krohlow mostly avoided the spotlight. She preferred the focus to be on Burlington — the town she loved and had written about all her life.

“Mary was the first non-Hawk Eye employee I met when I moved into town,” said Dale Alison, former managing editor of The Hawk Eye.

Krohlow passed away at her home on Jan. 28 at the age of 80. She was constantly at The Hawk Eye, often visiting with late city editor Randy Miller about various local issues. She even wrote a book, “Streets of Hope,” detailing parts of Burlington’s history.

Former Hawk Eye Lifestyles editor Craig Neises said Mary often stopped by his desk to chat. That eventually led to her book.

“Mary’s book originated as a Friday feature in The Hawk Eye’s then-Currents section, dubbed, “They Oughta Name a Street,’” Neises said.

Mary wrote the weekly column on which the book was based. Among her many talents, she was a top-notch researcher. That’s how many in the community knew her.

“She was the obvious choice to recruit as its writer. Mary was a little hesitant at first, and who could blame her? I was asking her to make a big commitment to research the history behind the names on the street signs and write about them each week for an entire year. And, of course, there was no budget to pay her,” Neises said.

Mary stuck to her word and later compiled the columns into her book.

“It was a popular feature in the paper that year, so it was hardly a surprise when the book was a hit,” Neises said.

Krohlow was heavily involved in several Burlington organizations — notably, the Des Moines County Historical Society and Players Workshop.

Krohlow was an active member of Players Workshop for over 50 years and directed 21 plays. She co-directed one play, was the assistant director for eight plays, and produced six more.

She worked at the box office and managed season tickets for decades. After her passing, Players Workshop paid tribute to Krohlow on their Facebook page.

“She served on the board of directors for many years, was committee chair of many committees involving such things as re-writing bylaws, Production Committee, planning special events, and most recently, serving as the chair of the Archives Committee from its inception to her death,” Players Workshop said in its statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/2/1740150751121.jpeg" alt="Photo submitted" />
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 </figure>By William SmithDespite being a Wisconsin native, Mary Krohlow loved Burlington.She taught here. She researched here. She produced stirring works of drama here.Most Burlingtonians recognized Krohlow by her elbow-length hair, which turned silver in her later years. Aside from that, though, Krohlow mostly avoided the spotlight. She preferred the focus to be on Burlington — the town she loved and had written about all her life.“Mary was the first non-Hawk Eye employee I met when I moved into town,” said Dale Alison, former managing editor of The Hawk Eye.Krohlow passed away at her home on Jan. 28 at the age of 80. She was constantly at The Hawk Eye, often visiting with late city editor Randy Miller about various local issues. She even wrote a book, “Streets of Hope,” detailing parts of Burlington’s history.Former Hawk Eye Lifestyles editor Craig Neises said Mary often stopped by his desk to chat. That eventually led to her book.“Mary’s book originated as a Friday feature in The Hawk Eye’s then-Currents section, dubbed, “They Oughta Name a Street,’” Neises said.Mary wrote the weekly column on which the book was based. Among her many talents, she was a top-notch researcher. That’s how many in the community knew her.“She was the obvious choice to recruit as its writer. Mary was a little hesitant at first, and who could blame her? I was asking her to make a big commitment to research the history behind the names on the street signs and write about them each week for an entire year. And, of course, there was no budget to pay her,” Neises said.Mary stuck to her word and later compiled the columns into her book.“It was a popular feature in the paper that year, so it was hardly a surprise when the book was a hit,” Neises said.Krohlow was heavily involved in several Burlington organizations — notably, the Des Moines County Historical Society and Players Workshop.Krohlow was an active member of Players Workshop for over 50 years and directed 21 plays. She co-directed one play, was the assistant director for eight plays, and produced six more.She worked at the box office and managed season tickets for decades. After her passing, Players Workshop paid tribute to Krohlow on their Facebook page.“She served on the board of directors for many years, was committee chair of many committees involving such things as re-writing bylaws, Production Committee, planning special events, and most recently, serving as the chair of the Archives Committee from its inception to her death,” Players Workshop said in its statement.Krohlow began writing a complete workshop history before her death.A Wisconsin native, Krohlow lived another life before arriving in Burlington. She graduated from Seymour High School as the valedictorian of her class in 1962.&nbsp;She continued her education and graduated from Wartburg College, starting her career teaching English at Burlington High School in 1966.During her time at the school, she served as the staff advisor for the "The Purple and Gray” newspaper and the “Pathfinder” yearbook.Mary had many adventures as she traveled the world for the Benner Tea Company and Aldi. She served on the Burlington Public Library Board of Trustees and the Regional Southeast Iowa Libraries Board of Trustees. She was instrumental in the fundraising efforts for the present public library building.Telling the truth was always of paramount importance to Krohlow. She would have it no other way. She continued to tell Burlington’s true story until the day she died.“She deserved all the praise that came her way,” Neises said.Mary’s celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice in memory of Mary.

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