At 20 years old, Derrick Ryce Jr. is his own boss, operating a business he’s been dreaming about since he was old enough to cut hair.

“I got into cutting real early,” he said. “First, I practiced on myself, then I practiced on family members.”

Ryce, the middle child of five boys, gave his first haircut at 11. Nine years later, he’s learned how to pay taxes and supply his business needs on a budget. The hard part is over.

Now, he cuts hair all day. And he loves it. He remembers when he cut his own hair for the first time at the age of 8. It was no random scissors snip. His father stood with him in front of the mirror and showed him how.

“It’s been my favorite thing to do for years now,” he said, noting that mirror training helped him use his non-dominant hand.

About six months ago, Ryce opened up his own barbershop — Jr. Kutz — inside one of the suites at Sade Suites in Burlington. His clientele consists mainly of men and young boys, although his chair is open to anyone.

Ryce’s skills aren’t limited by race or gender. He’s always been a natural. Those natural skills blossomed when he attended the American Hair Academy in Mount Pleasant.

What couldn’t be taught is the ability to engage in small talk — a trade secret for barbers since man first noticed he had a shaggy cranium. Those conversations, mostly mundane and occasionally significant, create a client base that can sustain a barber for a lifetime.

Despite his homeschool upbringing, Ryce never had trouble chatting up strangers. Though his hands never stop moving, Ryce takes his time when he cuts. He sets aside half an hour for a simple haircut, continually measuring and snipping as his mouth motors on.

At 20 years old, Ryce is versed enough in the world to keep a conversation going forever. As a part-time lay therapist and a full-time hair technician, Ryce is just a lot of fun to talk to.

“I’m a third-generation barber,” Ryce said.

Ryce usually sees upwards of a dozen clients daily, many of whom have signed a painted chalkboard on the wall. That only happens after a customer has proven they can keep appointments without breaking them too often – a kind of barber client hall of fame.

Of course, some clients – especially the younger ones – come to Ryce with unrealistic expectations. He said some youths have brought in pictures of anime characters with ridiculously spiky hair. He warns the client that it’s not going to look like the cartoon.

But he can still come pretty darn close. Keeping up with new hairstyles is more than a job requirement. It’s a hobby.

“There’s always new techniques, new systems, new hairstyles, which kind of force you into learning different stuff. Every so many years, it seems like there’s a new style that comes around or comes back. So, it’s something to really stay on your toes about,” he said.

Much like trimming a hedge or carving a sculpture, cutting hair is a semi-permanent art that leaves little room for error. For the uninitiated, grabbing a pair of scissors can be as intimidating as learning calculus.

But Ryce doesn’t feel fear when he cuts hair. He doesn’t worry about cutting too much. Repetition is key, he said, and his hands have developed a muscle memory from hundreds of haircuts.

“There are barbers I watched on YouTube growing up. I used to watch my uncle cut. There’s so many different hair shapes, different hair textures,” he said.

Not every hair texture can support a movie star haircut, and Ryce is honest with his customers going into a cut.

But he doesn’t view it as his job to suggest haircut style unless someone wants advice. The challenge and fun come from taking on every hair assignment possible. Every cut makes him better.

“When I get to the end of the day, it’s like, man, I dealt with 20 people, 20 different personalities. But I love each and every one of them,” Ryce said.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/5/1746474499697.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithAt 20 years old, Derrick Ryce Jr. is his own boss, operating a business he’s been dreaming about since he was old enough to cut hair.“I got into cutting real early,” he said. “First, I practiced on myself, then I practiced on family members.”Ryce, the middle child of five boys, gave his first haircut at 11. Nine years later, he’s learned how to pay taxes and supply his business needs on a budget. The hard part is over.Now, he cuts hair all day. And he loves it. He remembers when he cut his own hair for the first time at the age of 8. It was no random scissors snip. His father stood with him in front of the mirror and showed him how.“It’s been my favorite thing to do for years now,” he said, noting that mirror training helped him use his non-dominant hand.About six months ago, Ryce opened up his own barbershop — Jr. Kutz — inside one of the suites at Sade Suites in Burlington. His clientele consists mainly of men and young boys, although his chair is open to anyone.Ryce’s skills aren’t limited by race or gender. He’s always been a natural. Those natural skills blossomed when he attended the American Hair Academy in Mount Pleasant.What couldn’t be taught is the ability to engage in small talk — a trade secret for barbers since man first noticed he had a shaggy cranium. Those conversations, mostly mundane and occasionally significant, create a client base that can sustain a barber for a lifetime.Despite his homeschool upbringing, Ryce never had trouble chatting up strangers. Though his hands never stop moving, Ryce takes his time when he cuts. He sets aside half an hour for a simple haircut, continually measuring and snipping as his mouth motors on.At 20 years old, Ryce is versed enough in the world to keep a conversation going forever. As a part-time lay therapist and a full-time hair technician, Ryce is just a lot of fun to talk to.It likely runs in the family.“I’m a third-generation barber,” Ryce said.Ryce usually sees upwards of a dozen clients daily, many of whom have signed a painted chalkboard on the wall. That only happens after a customer has proven they can keep appointments without breaking them too often – a kind of barber client hall of fame.Of course, some clients – especially the younger ones – come to Ryce with unrealistic expectations. He said some youths have brought in pictures of anime characters with ridiculously spiky hair. He warns the client that it’s not going to look like the cartoon.But he can still come pretty darn close. Keeping up with new hairstyles is more than a job requirement. It’s a hobby.“There’s always new techniques, new systems, new hairstyles, which kind of force you into learning different stuff. Every so many years, it seems like there’s a new style that comes around or comes back. So, it’s something to really stay on your toes about,” he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/5/1746474526705.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Much like trimming a hedge or carving a sculpture, cutting hair is a semi-permanent art that leaves little room for error. For the uninitiated, grabbing a pair of scissors can be as intimidating as learning calculus.But Ryce doesn’t feel fear when he cuts hair. He doesn’t worry about cutting too much. Repetition is key, he said, and his hands have developed a muscle memory from hundreds of haircuts.“There are barbers I watched on YouTube growing up. I used to watch my uncle cut. There’s so many different hair shapes, different hair textures,” he said.Not every hair texture can support a movie star haircut, and Ryce is honest with his customers going into a cut.But he doesn’t view it as his job to suggest haircut style unless someone wants advice. The challenge and fun come from taking on every hair assignment possible. Every cut makes him better.“When I get to the end of the day, it’s like, man, I dealt with 20 people, 20 different personalities. But I love each and every one of them,” Ryce said.Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

52 FACES: Shear success

The YMCA Xcel&nbsp;gymnastics&nbsp;competition team returned from the state meet with a couple of strong team finishes.

The bronze-level team earned a fifth- and a third-place trophy.

All 24 members of the Xcel team qualified for the state meet, and 12 of 14 eligible&nbsp;gymnasts&nbsp;qualified for the USAG Region 4 Xcel Regionals competition on April 25-27 in Madison, Wis. That ends the season, which started in November.

But&nbsp;gymnastics&nbsp;is a year-round program for the Y, and it’s been going on for at least 40 years, according to current Xcel coach Alaina Mathews.

It even outgrew the Y facility 11 years ago; the YMCA&nbsp;Gymnastics&nbsp;and Cheer Center is at 2830 Mount Pleasant Street. It’s Door No. 8 in the series of warehouses.

Mathews started the Xcel competition program in 2019 and became the head coach, with just four girls on the squad. The team has 31 ready to compete next year.

Mathews started&nbsp;gymnastics&nbsp;when she was six. She competed until she was 14, and three years later, she was working in the recreational portion of the program and giving private lessons. A year later, she was working with head coach Tasha Prickett.

Prickett coached the Junior Olympic/Development team for the majority of the 30 years she was with the Y program.

“I love the sport of&nbsp;gymnastics,” said Mathews, who also manages the facility.

“Gymnastics&nbsp;can teach so many things: strength training, determination, dedication. It helps develop a great work ethic. It teaches them grit and, self-motivation and confidence.”

There are multiple levels based on age and skill level. Nine were on the gold team, five on the silver team, and 10 on the bronze.

“Pre-team is an invited group of athletes from our other group of athletes that are looking for that next step to get them ready to compete,” Mathews said.

“They show they have the work ethic and desire to go forward in&nbsp;gymnastics. They work on strength training, body shaping, and flexibility.”

The youngest member of the pre-team is five, and an invitation is based on the child’s level of maturity and physical stamina.

To participate in the competitive portion, a girl must be a Y member, but anyone can sign up for the recreational program or get private lessons.

Next year’s roster is full, but there is space on the recreational side for those wanting to learn the sport and improve their skills.

Matthews said they have boys in the recreational program, but there aren’t enough apparatuses for boys to try out for the Xcel team.

“They can work on floor skills and strength skills,” Mathews said.

One of the sites for a meet is in a club’s gym, but the other meets are in sports complexes or convention centers, with between 50 and 100 gymnasts&nbsp;competing.

Mathews said that can be stressful for new competitors.

“It’s really fun to be able to see them start their first (meet) and be absolutely terrified, and then by the end of their season, they’re comfortable in the competition setting,” Mathews said.&nbsp;

“They’re less guarded. Their true ability steps out, and they start to shine out there.”

So even though it is a competitive team looking to score high and win medals, Mathews said, “It’s more than just a sport for us. It teaches them so much about themselves. They learn to be confident and trust in themselves. They learn to push themselves outside their comfort zone and truly see what they are capable of.”

The recreational sessions are held on Mondays, Tuesdays, some Thursdays, and Saturdays.

To sign up for the program, email Mathews at&nbsp;alaina@burlingtony.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/4/1745783466349.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerThe YMCA Xcel&nbsp;gymnastics&nbsp;competition team returned from the state meet with a couple of strong team finishes.The bronze-level team earned a fifth- and a third-place trophy.All 24 members of the Xcel team qualified for the state meet, and 12 of 14 eligible&nbsp;gymnasts&nbsp;qualified for the USAG Region 4 Xcel Regionals competition on April 25-27 in Madison, Wis. That ends the season, which started in November.But&nbsp;gymnastics&nbsp;is a year-round program for the Y, and it’s been going on for at least 40 years, according to current Xcel coach Alaina Mathews.It even outgrew the Y facility 11 years ago; the YMCA&nbsp;Gymnastics&nbsp;and Cheer Center is at 2830 Mount Pleasant Street. It’s Door No. 8 in the series of warehouses.Mathews started the Xcel competition program in 2019 and became the head coach, with just four girls on the squad. The team has 31 ready to compete next year.A Lifelong PursuitMathews started&nbsp;gymnastics&nbsp;when she was six. She competed until she was 14, and three years later, she was working in the recreational portion of the program and giving private lessons. A year later, she was working with head coach Tasha Prickett.Prickett coached the Junior Olympic/Development team for the majority of the 30 years she was with the Y program.“I love the sport of&nbsp;gymnastics,” said Mathews, who also manages the facility.“Gymnastics&nbsp;can teach so many things: strength training, determination, dedication. It helps develop a great work ethic. It teaches them grit and, self-motivation and confidence.”There are multiple levels based on age and skill level. Nine were on the gold team, five on the silver team, and 10 on the bronze.The Y also has a pre-team of 22 girls.“Pre-team is an invited group of athletes from our other group of athletes that are looking for that next step to get them ready to compete,” Mathews said.“They show they have the work ethic and desire to go forward in&nbsp;gymnastics. They work on strength training, body shaping, and flexibility.”The youngest member of the pre-team is five, and an invitation is based on the child’s level of maturity and physical stamina.To participate in the competitive portion, a girl must be a Y member, but anyone can sign up for the recreational program or get private lessons.Next year’s roster is full, but there is space on the recreational side for those wanting to learn the sport and improve their skills.Matthews said they have boys in the recreational program, but there aren’t enough apparatuses for boys to try out for the Xcel team.“They can work on floor skills and strength skills,” Mathews said.One of the sites for a meet is in a club’s gym, but the other meets are in sports complexes or convention centers, with between 50 and 100 gymnasts&nbsp;competing.Mathews said that can be stressful for new competitors.“It’s really fun to be able to see them start their first (meet) and be absolutely terrified, and then by the end of their season, they’re comfortable in the competition setting,” Mathews said.&nbsp;“They’re less guarded. Their true ability steps out, and they start to shine out there.”So even though it is a competitive team looking to score high and win medals, Mathews said, “It’s more than just a sport for us. It teaches them so much about themselves. They learn to be confident and trust in themselves. They learn to push themselves outside their comfort zone and truly see what they are capable of.”The recreational sessions are held on Mondays, Tuesdays, some Thursdays, and Saturdays.To sign up for the program, email Mathews at&nbsp;alaina@burlingtony.org.<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/4/1745783498606.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/4/1745783517806.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/4/1745783556726.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>

Sticking the landing 

Larysa Volovod and her daughter, Alina, came to the United States almost two years ago from Ukraine to escape the perils of their country’s war with Russia.

Burlington residents Laura and Jim Francisco sponsored them.

Larysa’s husband, Andrey, had to stay back, along with most men between the ages of 18 to 60, according to a government dictate.

Mother and daughter fell in love with the city of Burlington and quickly built a life in their adopted hometown. Alina even recently won the local Iowa League of Cities’ contest with her essay entitled “If I Were Mayor of Burlington.”

But in late February, President Donald Trump put on pause the processing of several applications for those from Ukraine and a few other countries, including the renewal of the Volovods and other immigrants’ Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

If the restriction isn’t lifted by June 2, 2025 — the two-year anniversary of Larysa and Alina’s arrival — they, along with many others, will be deported back to their countries of origin.

But Larysa and Alina’s home was destroyed seven weeks ago. So the Volovod family will be sent to a refugee camp along with other displaced Ukrainians.

Even the city of Kostyantynifka itself is no place to return to, Larysa said.

“There is practically no infrastructure in the city, no hospitals; schools and kindergartens are destroyed,” she said.

Before the war, the population of Kostyantinifka was 80,000. Between war casualties and those emigrating, there are only 11,000 residents remaining.&nbsp;

Larysa has been working up to 70 hours a week at Shearer’s — not just for rent and other bills, but to send money back to Andrey.

“I’m very worried right now,” Larysa said, “so I’m wondering how I could be left without work. Legally, I can be here while I’m waiting for Temporary Protected Status.”

But, she said, she can’t get an extension while the processing is on pause. That also goes for immigrants wanting to apply for asylum or for a green card as a path to American citizenship.

Bob Bartels is one of the volunteers who has helped coordinate the U4U (United 4 Ukraine) program. He said there are 208 Ukrainians being sponsored in southeast Iowa, ranging from Washington and Muscatine in the north down to Fort Madison and Keokuk in the south.

“Every Ukrainian that we deal with, all of them are legal immigrants,” Bartels said. “They came on Humanitarian Parole.”

That status is good for up to two years, and last August the Volovods and other immigrants were able to apply for, and received, Temporary Protected Status.

This also included immigrants from Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Haiti.

The subject of illegal immigrants from the southern border was a key issue during the past election. There were concerns over the lack of vetting and safety factors.

But Bartels said the Ukrainian situation isn’t the same.

“No one can come here through that (U4U) program unless they have a sponsor in America,” he said.

“The American government takes a look at who wants to come, from the perspective of, ‘Are these criminals, terrorists?’ Everybody’s been checked out.

“The American government also checks out the sponsors, to make sure they’re not traffickers and are not going to abuse people.”

At a recent Rotary Club meeting, Alina presented her winning essay, and Larysa and Laura Francisco also attended.

Francisco described the mother’s and daughter’s journey.

She said Bartels knew of a Ukrainian woman named Victoria, who said she had a friend and her daughter who were trying to get out of their country.

“We filed paperwork and they filed paperwork,” Francisco said.

“They traveled via bus and went through multiple checkpoints to get to Poland’s border.”

There, they stayed overnight. The next day, the bus arrived at the airport as their plane was taking off.

After another overnight stay, the mother and daughter flew to Chicago, where they were picked up by the Franciscos.

“My heart has been changed drastically,” Francisco said, “to hear what they had to go through.”

Alina is a seventh-grader at Great River Christian School, and she said she likes the school.

One of the things that surprised her when coming to America was how welcoming people are.&nbsp;

“People are kind,” Alina said. “In Ukraine, it’s not really the same as here. I like this place. Everyone wants to be your friend. You are coming somewhere and everyone says to you, ‘Hi, hello, how are you?’ ”

Of her interests, Alina said, “I like art, to draw something, music, and I like to ride a bike.”

Her father is a well-known artist and has had his work shown in galleries in Kyiv,&nbsp; Moscow, and New York City.

In order to help resume the processing, Bartels said, “There are a lot of people writing Congress. Those 208 Ukrainians have hundreds of Americans in this area that support them; they want them to stay.

“They’re wonderful people. They work hard. Their kids are charming. The support in our part of Iowa is humbling. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Bartels also stressed that this has been a non-partisan endeavor from a political standpoint.

“It’s an awful situation,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/4/1744919849972.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerLarysa Volovod and her daughter, Alina, came to the United States almost two years ago from Ukraine to escape the perils of their country’s war with Russia.Burlington residents Laura and Jim Francisco sponsored them.Larysa’s husband, Andrey, had to stay back, along with most men between the ages of 18 to 60, according to a government dictate.Mother and daughter fell in love with the city of Burlington and quickly built a life in their adopted hometown. Alina even recently won the local Iowa League of Cities’ contest with her essay entitled “If I Were Mayor of Burlington.”But in late February, President Donald Trump put on pause the processing of several applications for those from Ukraine and a few other countries, including the renewal of the Volovods and other immigrants’ Temporary Protected Status (TPS).If the restriction isn’t lifted by June 2, 2025 — the two-year anniversary of Larysa and Alina’s arrival — they, along with many others, will be deported back to their countries of origin.But Larysa and Alina’s home was destroyed seven weeks ago. So the Volovod family will be sent to a refugee camp along with other displaced Ukrainians.Even the city of Kostyantynifka itself is no place to return to, Larysa said.“There is practically no infrastructure in the city, no hospitals; schools and kindergartens are destroyed,” she said.Before the war, the population of Kostyantinifka was 80,000. Between war casualties and those emigrating, there are only 11,000 residents remaining.&nbsp;Larysa has been working up to 70 hours a week at Shearer’s — not just for rent and other bills, but to send money back to Andrey.“I’m very worried right now,” Larysa said, “so I’m wondering how I could be left without work. Legally, I can be here while I’m waiting for Temporary Protected Status.”But, she said, she can’t get an extension while the processing is on pause. That also goes for immigrants wanting to apply for asylum or for a green card as a path to American citizenship.Bob Bartels is one of the volunteers who has helped coordinate the U4U (United 4 Ukraine) program. He said there are 208 Ukrainians being sponsored in southeast Iowa, ranging from Washington and Muscatine in the north down to Fort Madison and Keokuk in the south.“Every Ukrainian that we deal with, all of them are legal immigrants,” Bartels said. “They came on Humanitarian Parole.”That status is good for up to two years, and last August the Volovods and other immigrants were able to apply for, and received, Temporary Protected Status.This also included immigrants from Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Haiti.The subject of illegal immigrants from the southern border was a key issue during the past election. There were concerns over the lack of vetting and safety factors.But Bartels said the Ukrainian situation isn’t the same.“No one can come here through that (U4U) program unless they have a sponsor in America,” he said.“The American government takes a look at who wants to come, from the perspective of, ‘Are these criminals, terrorists?’ Everybody’s been checked out.“The American government also checks out the sponsors, to make sure they’re not traffickers and are not going to abuse people.”The Volovods journeyAt a recent Rotary Club meeting, Alina presented her winning essay, and Larysa and Laura Francisco also attended.Francisco described the mother’s and daughter’s journey.She said Bartels knew of a Ukrainian woman named Victoria, who said she had a friend and her daughter who were trying to get out of their country.“We filed paperwork and they filed paperwork,” Francisco said.“They traveled via bus and went through multiple checkpoints to get to Poland’s border.”There, they stayed overnight. The next day, the bus arrived at the airport as their plane was taking off.After another overnight stay, the mother and daughter flew to Chicago, where they were picked up by the Franciscos.“My heart has been changed drastically,” Francisco said, “to hear what they had to go through.”Alina is a seventh-grader at Great River Christian School, and she said she likes the school.One of the things that surprised her when coming to America was how welcoming people are.&nbsp;“People are kind,” Alina said. “In Ukraine, it’s not really the same as here. I like this place. Everyone wants to be your friend. You are coming somewhere and everyone says to you, ‘Hi, hello, how are you?’ ”Of her interests, Alina said, “I like art, to draw something, music, and I like to ride a bike.”Her father is a well-known artist and has had his work shown in galleries in Kyiv,&nbsp; Moscow, and New York City.Letter-writing campaignIn order to help resume the processing, Bartels said, “There are a lot of people writing Congress. Those 208 Ukrainians have hundreds of Americans in this area that support them; they want them to stay.“They’re wonderful people. They work hard. Their kids are charming. The support in our part of Iowa is humbling. I’ve never seen anything like it.”Bartels also stressed that this has been a non-partisan endeavor from a political standpoint.“It’s an awful situation,” he said.

Refugees’ American dream in jeopardy

Shannon Lee has only operated her Uppers drive-thru coffee shop for 18 months.

But she had the idea to start her own business two years before that, and her interest in coffee began when she was 10 years old.

“I would stay overnight at a friend’s and drink coffee,” said Lee. But, she qualified, “It was mostly sugar and milk.”

Lee’s small structure is at 871 Jefferson St., and it stands out as it’s on an otherwise vacant lot. Lee also owns the building at 875 Jefferson, home to the florist shop, Downtown Daisy, and a tattoo shop, the Gold Tooth Gallery.

After graduating from Southeastern Community College, Lee went to cosmetology school in Fort Madison but had experience at Mister Moto’s vegetarian cafe and coffee shop, which was part of that stretch, and Napoli’s.

“It was the first time I worked with an espresso machine,” she said of her stint at Mister Moto’s.

Then, in 2008, Lee moved to Tennessee and stayed there for 10 years. She bought her own espresso maker to make coffee at home.

Before returning to Iowa, Lee bought the building and the empty lot.&nbsp;

“I lived in my same apartment in this building as a kid when my dad rented it,” Lee said.

Lee’s brother Eric had bought The Sombrero restaurant in 2017 and renamed it The Som. When she came back in 2018, “I worked there for him and managed the bar,” she said. “I had even more drink-making experience.”

“My brother Eric and I talked about how busy Jefferson is and how many cars drive that way all day long,” Lee said. “We talked about it hypothetically,” she said of starting a coffee business.

Two years later, in September of 2023, she opened the window on Uppers.

“Caffeine is an upper; it’s a stimulant,” Lee said of the choice for the name. “Sometimes we just need a little pick-me-up.”

Her hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, and closed on Sunday.

There’s no shortage of places to buy coffee in Burlington, but Lee said, “I think one thing I have an advantage of is I do use locally roasted coffee. I get my beans from Swed and Co. in Fort Madison.”

Also, “I make the majority of my syrups. There’s a big difference in my syrup than what other places use.”

She also offers monthly specials, so there’s always something new to try.

Lee has lemonade with different flavors for the non-coffee drinkers in her clientele, and she also acquired a home food processing license.

“I was a lot more limited in the coffee shop because of the amount of space,” Lee said. She said the Lee County Health Department, which works with businesses in Des Moines County, was helpful in the process.

“I can make fresh-baked goods and bring them to the store,” Lee said.

As she expands her menu, she expects to be able to add more hours. She’ll have breakfast and lunch items as well as snacks.

“I do look forward to the time when I can hire someone,” Lee said. “I knew when I got into it, I would be married to the business for a while.”

Lee said she’s doing well in the business and thinks it helped to take her time before taking the plunge.&nbsp;

“Lots and lots of time,” she said. “I do see a lot of regulars, and I’m still seeing lots of new people. I do enjoy it. It’s a lot of fun. I’m making people happy.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/4/1744560787503.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerShannon Lee has only operated her Uppers drive-thru coffee shop for 18 months.But she had the idea to start her own business two years before that, and her interest in coffee began when she was 10 years old.“I would stay overnight at a friend’s and drink coffee,” said Lee. But, she qualified, “It was mostly sugar and milk.”Lee’s small structure is at 871 Jefferson St., and it stands out as it’s on an otherwise vacant lot. Lee also owns the building at 875 Jefferson, home to the florist shop, Downtown Daisy, and a tattoo shop, the Gold Tooth Gallery.After graduating from Southeastern Community College, Lee went to cosmetology school in Fort Madison but had experience at Mister Moto’s vegetarian cafe and coffee shop, which was part of that stretch, and Napoli’s.“It was the first time I worked with an espresso machine,” she said of her stint at Mister Moto’s.Then, in 2008, Lee moved to Tennessee and stayed there for 10 years. She bought her own espresso maker to make coffee at home.Before returning to Iowa, Lee bought the building and the empty lot.&nbsp;“I lived in my same apartment in this building as a kid when my dad rented it,” Lee said.Lee’s brother Eric had bought The Sombrero restaurant in 2017 and renamed it The Som. When she came back in 2018, “I worked there for him and managed the bar,” she said. “I had even more drink-making experience.”But there was that empty lot.“My brother Eric and I talked about how busy Jefferson is and how many cars drive that way all day long,” Lee said. “We talked about it hypothetically,” she said of starting a coffee business.Two years later, in September of 2023, she opened the window on Uppers.“Caffeine is an upper; it’s a stimulant,” Lee said of the choice for the name. “Sometimes we just need a little pick-me-up.”Her hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, and closed on Sunday.There’s no shortage of places to buy coffee in Burlington, but Lee said, “I think one thing I have an advantage of is I do use locally roasted coffee. I get my beans from Swed and Co. in Fort Madison.”Also, “I make the majority of my syrups. There’s a big difference in my syrup than what other places use.”She also offers monthly specials, so there’s always something new to try.Lee has lemonade with different flavors for the non-coffee drinkers in her clientele, and she also acquired a home food processing license.“I was a lot more limited in the coffee shop because of the amount of space,” Lee said. She said the Lee County Health Department, which works with businesses in Des Moines County, was helpful in the process.“I can make fresh-baked goods and bring them to the store,” Lee said.As she expands her menu, she expects to be able to add more hours. She’ll have breakfast and lunch items as well as snacks.Lee is a staff of one right now.“I do look forward to the time when I can hire someone,” Lee said. “I knew when I got into it, I would be married to the business for a while.”Lee said she’s doing well in the business and thinks it helped to take her time before taking the plunge.&nbsp;“Lots and lots of time,” she said. “I do see a lot of regulars, and I’m still seeing lots of new people. I do enjoy it. It’s a lot of fun. I’m making people happy.”

Business Spotlight: Lee brews up a successful business

Jerry Rigdon has served in many different roles in his 86 years.

He’s been a business owner, a professional window cleaner, an artist, a pastor, and even the mayor, as well as his various family roles.

But one thing that can tie all those things together is that Rigdon is an Optimist (little ‘o’ as well as big ‘O’).

Rigdon came to Burlington in 1967 from his hometown of Dunkerton. He opened Brite-Way window cleaning service and kept working there several years after selling the business to Richard Luckinbill.

He had been a charter member of the Dunkerton Lions Club but never found time to go to the meetings.

However, seven years after arriving in Burlington, he was recruited to be a charter member of the Optimist Club.

“They needed 32 people to charter, and I was No. 32,” Rigdon said, finishing with the infectious laugh that follows many of his stories.

More than 32 started the club, and it was there he first heard the Optimist creed.

“Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind,” Rigdon quoted one of the 10 lines of the creed. “Promise to talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet. Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

“I just fell in love with that,” Rigdon said. “It’s reinforcing on a weekly basis the attitude to have.”

From there, he said, he developed this mantra: “Expect to give and receive joy every day.”

He added, to anyone listening, “I expect you to do that too.”

The club meets at noon each Thursday at Happy Joe’s. As with many service clubs, attendance and overall membership are down.

“At one time, we had 71 or 72 members,” Rigdon said, noting there are now 39 members.

“In the past, major industries like G.E. wanted their people to be involved in service clubs,” Rigdon said. “Now, that’s passed. That doesn’t happen anymore.”

As a young adult in the 1960s, Rigdon was a journeyman carpenter making $4.65 an hour. One of his brothers worked at a factory for $3.50 an hour.

But another brother became a window cleaner, and Rigdon and the other sibling found out he got paid by a business owner $12 for a job that took 15-20 minutes.

“The owner offered to show (my brother) how to do it for $500, but he didn’t have $500,” Rigdon said. So Rigdon loaned his brother the $500, learned the skill himself, and said, “I can do this.”

He then headed to Burlington and started the Brite-Way business.

He formed many a close bond with his customers, and one woman even asked him to give her eulogy when the time came. A reluctant and nervous Rigdon agreed and later honored his client.

Rigdon’s living room has many paintings and photographs that he has done, as well as other art items he has purchased.

He was a board member of the Art Center and taught art there. Lois, his wife of 65 years, was director of the Art Center for 25 years.

“My father drew,” Rigdon said, of where he got the talent. “My oldest brother could draw like an angel. We sat around in the wintertime and drew pictures.

“I wasn’t a good athlete. I wasn’t the smartest kid in the class. But my ability to draw and do art gave me a place to stand out in this small little school.” His graduating class at Dunkerton was only 26 students.

He would later pass on his skills to other budding artists, with this perspective:

“Whether it’s teaching art or Bible studies, I would say, ‘I want you to know that this effort here is all about me, and hopefully, I can make it all about you.’ ”

Rigdon joined the Asbury United Methodist Church, and later in his life, he served eight years as a licensed pastor.

Rigdon will gladly tell you, “What I knew about city government, you could write a really, really short paragraph.”

He only served two years as mayor of Burlington — and not because of any groundswell of community support.

Rigdon had been elected to the Burlington City Council in 1983, and when it came time to pick the mayor, he said, “Two other city council members came to me and said, ‘We don’t want to be mayor, but those other two guys have been.’ So that’s how I got the job, by default.”

To this day, Rigdon still thinks the city’s residents should pick the mayor.

At the time, the federal government wanted to build a special facility for building atomic weapons in Amarillo, Texas, as part of President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative.

But the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant had assembled atomic weapons until 1976, so that was an option.

Rigdon had been mayor for all of 21 days when he was approached by a journalist.&nbsp;

Recounting the experience, Rigdon said: “An AP reporter called me and said, ‘What do you think of assembling atomic weapons in Burlington?’ ”

“I knew something was going on, housing and all that stuff. But they were never going to do it here anyway, but I didn’t know that. I said, ‘I’m opposed to building weapons in Burlington, Rocky Flats, Moscow, Russia, and Amarillo, Texas,’ ” said Rigdon.

He continued, “The next day, the Des Moines Register had a story that read, ‘Mayor of Burlington against $1.5 million weapons facility.’ (The Chamber) went bonkers. They came to me and said, ‘You know, Mayor, it’s really not in your jurisdiction.’ ”

So he responded, “Would you have said the same thing if I was in favor of it?”

He ended up being featured on the Good Morning America show. “My 15 minutes of fame,” Rigdon said.

Rigdon fared much better dealing with local matters.

“My definition of a city is ‘reasonable people living together reasonably,’ ” he said.

He had a neighbor whose dog barked all day long. “I confronted the neighbor, talked to them about it, and they remedied the situation,” Rigdon said.

“When I was mayor, people had neighborhood complaints. I tried to get people together to solve the problem at that level.”

There was one resident who worked on cars until 9 p.m.&nbsp;

A neighbor called Rigdon and complained about the noise from the revving of engines.

“We met at city hall,” Rigdon said. “It was Harvey and two of his neighbors. Harvey complained to the man quite a bit, and the guy was absolutely chagrined that he was a bother.”

The result: “He stopped working on cars, which satisfied everybody. It was a win-win situation.

“It’s pushing things to the lowest level to solve the problem,” Rigdon said. “Don’t call the police. Go to the neighbor and just tell them. You’d be surprised.”

One could tell many more stories about Rigdon. He rode in the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa for 19 years.&nbsp;

He served on the YMCA Board of Directors back in the 1970s when the new building was being planned.

But it’s enough to say that Rigdon’s optimistic attitude has carried him through most of his life.

“If you can laugh in the face of opposition, humor wins a lot of arguments,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/burlington-beacon-media-bucket/public/2025/4/1744252682020.jpeg" alt="Photo by John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo by John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerJerry Rigdon has served in many different roles in his 86 years.He’s been a business owner, a professional window cleaner, an artist, a pastor, and even the mayor, as well as his various family roles.But one thing that can tie all those things together is that Rigdon is an Optimist (little ‘o’ as well as big ‘O’).Rigdon came to Burlington in 1967 from his hometown of Dunkerton. He opened Brite-Way window cleaning service and kept working there several years after selling the business to Richard Luckinbill.He had been a charter member of the Dunkerton Lions Club but never found time to go to the meetings.However, seven years after arriving in Burlington, he was recruited to be a charter member of the Optimist Club.“They needed 32 people to charter, and I was No. 32,” Rigdon said, finishing with the infectious laugh that follows many of his stories.More than 32 started the club, and it was there he first heard the Optimist creed.“Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind,” Rigdon quoted one of the 10 lines of the creed. “Promise to talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet. Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.“I just fell in love with that,” Rigdon said. “It’s reinforcing on a weekly basis the attitude to have.”From there, he said, he developed this mantra: “Expect to give and receive joy every day.”He added, to anyone listening, “I expect you to do that too.”The club meets at noon each Thursday at Happy Joe’s. As with many service clubs, attendance and overall membership are down.“At one time, we had 71 or 72 members,” Rigdon said, noting there are now 39 members.“In the past, major industries like G.E. wanted their people to be involved in service clubs,” Rigdon said. “Now, that’s passed. That doesn’t happen anymore.”The Business OwnerAs a young adult in the 1960s, Rigdon was a journeyman carpenter making $4.65 an hour. One of his brothers worked at a factory for $3.50 an hour.But another brother became a window cleaner, and Rigdon and the other sibling found out he got paid by a business owner $12 for a job that took 15-20 minutes.“The owner offered to show (my brother) how to do it for $500, but he didn’t have $500,” Rigdon said. So Rigdon loaned his brother the $500, learned the skill himself, and said, “I can do this.”He then headed to Burlington and started the Brite-Way business.He formed many a close bond with his customers, and one woman even asked him to give her eulogy when the time came. A reluctant and nervous Rigdon agreed and later honored his client.The ArtistRigdon’s living room has many paintings and photographs that he has done, as well as other art items he has purchased.He was a board member of the Art Center and taught art there. Lois, his wife of 65 years, was director of the Art Center for 25 years.“My father drew,” Rigdon said, of where he got the talent. “My oldest brother could draw like an angel. We sat around in the wintertime and drew pictures.“I wasn’t a good athlete. I wasn’t the smartest kid in the class. But my ability to draw and do art gave me a place to stand out in this small little school.” His graduating class at Dunkerton was only 26 students.He would later pass on his skills to other budding artists, with this perspective:“Whether it’s teaching art or Bible studies, I would say, ‘I want you to know that this effort here is all about me, and hopefully, I can make it all about you.’ ”Rigdon joined the Asbury United Methodist Church, and later in his life, he served eight years as a licensed pastor.The MayorRigdon will gladly tell you, “What I knew about city government, you could write a really, really short paragraph.”He only served two years as mayor of Burlington — and not because of any groundswell of community support.Rigdon had been elected to the Burlington City Council in 1983, and when it came time to pick the mayor, he said, “Two other city council members came to me and said, ‘We don’t want to be mayor, but those other two guys have been.’ So that’s how I got the job, by default.”To this day, Rigdon still thinks the city’s residents should pick the mayor.At the time, the federal government wanted to build a special facility for building atomic weapons in Amarillo, Texas, as part of President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative.But the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant had assembled atomic weapons until 1976, so that was an option.Rigdon had been mayor for all of 21 days when he was approached by a journalist.&nbsp;Recounting the experience, Rigdon said: “An AP reporter called me and said, ‘What do you think of assembling atomic weapons in Burlington?’ ”“I knew something was going on, housing and all that stuff. But they were never going to do it here anyway, but I didn’t know that. I said, ‘I’m opposed to building weapons in Burlington, Rocky Flats, Moscow, Russia, and Amarillo, Texas,’ ” said Rigdon.He continued, “The next day, the Des Moines Register had a story that read, ‘Mayor of Burlington against $1.5 million weapons facility.’ (The Chamber) went bonkers. They came to me and said, ‘You know, Mayor, it’s really not in your jurisdiction.’ ”So he responded, “Would you have said the same thing if I was in favor of it?”He ended up being featured on the Good Morning America show. “My 15 minutes of fame,” Rigdon said.Rigdon fared much better dealing with local matters.“My definition of a city is ‘reasonable people living together reasonably,’ ” he said.He had a neighbor whose dog barked all day long. “I confronted the neighbor, talked to them about it, and they remedied the situation,” Rigdon said.“When I was mayor, people had neighborhood complaints. I tried to get people together to solve the problem at that level.”There was one resident who worked on cars until 9 p.m.&nbsp;A neighbor called Rigdon and complained about the noise from the revving of engines.“We met at city hall,” Rigdon said. “It was Harvey and two of his neighbors. Harvey complained to the man quite a bit, and the guy was absolutely chagrined that he was a bother.”The result: “He stopped working on cars, which satisfied everybody. It was a win-win situation.“It’s pushing things to the lowest level to solve the problem,” Rigdon said. “Don’t call the police. Go to the neighbor and just tell them. You’d be surprised.”One could tell many more stories about Rigdon. He rode in the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa for 19 years.&nbsp;He served on the YMCA Board of Directors back in the 1970s when the new building was being planned.But it’s enough to say that Rigdon’s optimistic attitude has carried him through most of his life.“If you can laugh in the face of opposition, humor wins a lot of arguments,” he said.

52 Faces: A lifetime of leadership, service, and optimism

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>

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