After competing in Miss Iowa competitions since 2019, Burlington native and resident Olivia Keller will be hanging up her sash when her time as Miss Scott County is complete on Aug. 20.

But she was able to make a splash before leaving. Keller, who is also a former Miss Great River, placed fourth runner-up in the Miss Iowa pageant on June 10 and 11.

“It was pretty exciting for me because I didn’t even make the finals last year,” Keller said.

Ever the competitor, Keller didn’t want a repeat of that performance. So she learned to sing Mozart’s Queen of the Night Aria – in German. Singing opera is Keller’s specialty, and she rehearsed with the other Miss Iowa contestants until 11 p.m. the nights before her performance.

“This year looked quite a bit different than last year. Last year we had a lot of COVID restrictions,” she said. “This year, we had princess camp and got to meet the princesses, and we had rehearsals every day.”

Now that Miss Iowa is over, Keller is back in Burlington, focusing on her latest service project called “Spread the Love.” It’s a combination canned food drive and literacy drive, designed to collect food and books for children. She’s looking to set up drop-off points soon.

“I just need some help from local businesses,” she said.

Keller shined her local fame on her “Project Kindness” initiative two years ago, teaming with local businesses to provide books and winter clothing donations for children. She re-launched it last year to coincide with her reign as Miss Scott County.

Keller was raised by a single mother and understands how times can get tough. She found out a lot of other locals possess the same understanding.

“I was really shocked last year by all the donations,” she said.

Keller, 25, didn’t expect another reign as a pageant queen before becoming Miss Scott County. But then the rules changed, and the age limit was pushed up a year. She has dreamed of being a pageant queen since she was a little girl and will continue to work with the Miss Iowa Scholarship Program.

Keller plans on using the scholarship money she has earned from Miss Iowa to attend Western Illinois University and major in music therapy and vocal performance.

“I will help out at local competitions and in the Miss Burlington program. I would love to be a part of that,” she said. “I’ve grown so much. My speaking skills, my confidence, my walk, and how I present myself as a woman. I really couldn’t be more grateful for what the organization has done for me.”

Those interested in donating to Project Spread the Love or providing a venue to drop off items can contact Keller through Facebook at “Miss Scott County 2021, Olivia Keller,” call her at 319-768-9974, or send monetary donations to the project to P.O. Box 853, Burlington, Iowa, 52601.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/7/1657209034164.jpeg" alt="Olivia Keller, the current Miss Scott County, placed fourth runner-up in the Miss Iowa pageant held in June. (Submitted photo)" />
 <figcaption>Olivia Keller, the current Miss Scott County, placed fourth runner-up in the Miss Iowa pageant held in June. (Submitted photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon StaffAfter competing in Miss Iowa competitions since 2019, Burlington native and resident Olivia Keller will be hanging up her sash when her time as Miss Scott County is complete on Aug. 20.But she was able to make a splash before leaving. Keller, who is also a former Miss Great River, placed fourth runner-up in the Miss Iowa pageant on June 10 and 11.“It was pretty exciting for me because I didn’t even make the finals last year,” Keller said.Ever the competitor, Keller didn’t want a repeat of that performance. So she learned to sing Mozart’s Queen of the Night Aria – in German. Singing opera is Keller’s specialty, and she rehearsed with the other Miss Iowa contestants until 11 p.m. the nights before her performance.“This year looked quite a bit different than last year. Last year we had a lot of COVID restrictions,” she said. “This year, we had princess camp and got to meet the princesses, and we had rehearsals every day.”Now that Miss Iowa is over, Keller is back in Burlington, focusing on her latest service project called “Spread the Love.” It’s a combination canned food drive and literacy drive, designed to collect food and books for children. She’s looking to set up drop-off points soon.“I just need some help from local businesses,” she said.Keller shined her local fame on her “Project Kindness” initiative two years ago, teaming with local businesses to provide books and winter clothing donations for children. She re-launched it last year to coincide with her reign as Miss Scott County.Keller was raised by a single mother and understands how times can get tough. She found out a lot of other locals possess the same understanding.“I was really shocked last year by all the donations,” she said.Keller, 25, didn’t expect another reign as a pageant queen before becoming Miss Scott County. But then the rules changed, and the age limit was pushed up a year. She has dreamed of being a pageant queen since she was a little girl and will continue to work with the Miss Iowa Scholarship Program.Keller plans on using the scholarship money she has earned from Miss Iowa to attend Western Illinois University and major in music therapy and vocal performance.“I will help out at local competitions and in the Miss Burlington program. I would love to be a part of that,” she said. “I’ve grown so much. My speaking skills, my confidence, my walk, and how I present myself as a woman. I really couldn’t be more grateful for what the organization has done for me.”Those interested in donating to Project Spread the Love or providing a venue to drop off items can contact Keller through Facebook at “Miss Scott County 2021, Olivia Keller,” call her at 319-768-9974, or send monetary donations to the project to P.O. Box 853, Burlington, Iowa, 52601.

Keller Named Fourth Runner-up in Miss Iowa Competition

By Beacon Staff The tentative plan by Transitions DMC President Craig Fenton to purchase the Lincolnville Motel and turn it into 32 apartments to house the homeless and financially disadvantaged is on hold for now. The sale and rezoning of the motel from commercial to residential was contingent upon a National Housing Trust Fund grant to pay for most of the purchase. Fenton said he chose not to file the application for the grant due to concerns that not everything in the application was properly in place. The plan to convert the Lincolnville emerged just a few months ago, with a total purchase and renovation cost between $2.7 million and $3 million. Fenton is currently pursuing other, less competitive grants. “The application is mostly complete and will work for about any grant that has similar type of reason to exist,” Fenton said. “To put together a project like this in 90 days was overly ambitious, but it was worth a shot.” Fenton is leading a committee comprised of officials and representatives from Burlington and Des Moines County to address Burlington’s homeless population. The committee will continue to explore ideas to help house that homeless population, which could include tiny houses, a renovation project into an apartment building elsewhere, or possibly even the Lincolnville again. Fenton said a tentative offer from Transitions DMC had been accepted to purchase the Lincolnville Motel for $575,00, but that was contingent on the grant. Fenton said the motel could still be on the market by the time another project is formed, in which case it could be an option again. But not the only option. “The idea is not to pin everything on that one project,” Fenton said. Whatever form the project takes on, Fenton wants to stress that the apartments or homes wouldn’t be just for the homeless. They would be for anyone living under a certain income level. Fenton said he did not communicate that information clearly enough for the Lincolnville project. “We have more than 34 people who need that assistance. They are not all homeless. Some of them are barely hanging on. They can barely pay the taxes on their home,” he said. Fenton’s mission to provide stable housing for the homeless hasn’t changed. It’s just going to take more time, and maybe another location.&nbsp; More than a dozen residents who live around the Lincolnville spoke out against the plan to convert the motel into apartments during a zoning commission meeting on June 21. A petition against the project had garnered 115 signatures from residents and businesses in the neighborhood. “It needs to be done the correct way, with people welcoming it into their neighborhood, rather than feeling like they’re having something shoved down their throats. That was never our intention,” Fenton said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

By Beacon Staff The tentative plan by Transitions DMC President Craig Fenton to purchase the Lincolnville Motel and turn it into 32 apartments to house the homeless and financially disadvantaged is on hold for now. The sale and rezoning of the motel from commercial to residential was contingent upon a National Housing Trust Fund grant to pay for most of the purchase. Fenton said he chose not to file the application for the grant due to concerns that not everything in the application was properly in place. The plan to convert the Lincolnville emerged just a few months ago, with a total purchase and renovation cost between $2.7 million and $3 million. Fenton is currently pursuing other, less competitive grants. “The application is mostly complete and will work for about any grant that has similar type of reason to exist,” Fenton said. “To put together a project like this in 90 days was overly ambitious, but it was worth a shot.” Fenton is leading a committee comprised of officials and representatives from Burlington and Des Moines County to address Burlington’s homeless population. The committee will continue to explore ideas to help house that homeless population, which could include tiny houses, a renovation project into an apartment building elsewhere, or possibly even the Lincolnville again. Fenton said a tentative offer from Transitions DMC had been accepted to purchase the Lincolnville Motel for $575,00, but that was contingent on the grant. Fenton said the motel could still be on the market by the time another project is formed, in which case it could be an option again. But not the only option. “The idea is not to pin everything on that one project,” Fenton said. Whatever form the project takes on, Fenton wants to stress that the apartments or homes wouldn’t be just for the homeless. They would be for anyone living under a certain income level. Fenton said he did not communicate that information clearly enough for the Lincolnville project. “We have more than 34 people who need that assistance. They are not all homeless. Some of them are barely hanging on. They can barely pay the taxes on their home,” he said. Fenton’s mission to provide stable housing for the homeless hasn’t changed. It’s just going to take more time, and maybe another location.&nbsp; More than a dozen residents who live around the Lincolnville spoke out against the plan to convert the motel into apartments during a zoning commission meeting on June 21. A petition against the project had garnered 115 signatures from residents and businesses in the neighborhood. “It needs to be done the correct way, with people welcoming it into their neighborhood, rather than feeling like they’re having something shoved down their throats. That was never our intention,” Fenton said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Plan To Convert Lincolnville Into Apartments On Hold

William Smith The Burlington Beacon After seven years of trapping, neutering, vaccinating, and releasing stray cats around Burlington, the charity and feline advocate organization A Street Cat With No Desire has dissolved. The three remaining core members of the group – Nathalie Girod, Robin Schneiderman, and Janine Walsh – said they just don’t have the volunteers needed to trap enough cats. The final cat was taken to the veterinarian Thursday, June 30. “I’m sad about it. I think we’re all remorseful,” Walsh said. The organization has trapped and neutered at least 600 cats over the past seven years, and it’s a lot more work than most realize. Communicating with cat caretakers, planning and following through with trapping, maintaining a limited vet schedule, and coordinating volunteers to transport to and from the vet – all played a factor in the decision to dissolve. Girod, who lives in Des Moines now, said roughly 200 cats were neutered, spayed, and vaccinated last year. “We felt so happy to have done something good for this planet and these animals,” Girod said. Humble Beginnings Girod founded the organization with Lanie Fritz, and at first, they weren’t sure what the mission of the group was – they just knew they wanted to help cats. Their mission started with a single cat colony. A Burlington woman had posted on Facebook about a cat colony that was getting out of control, and she needed help. Girod and Fritz took the job. “We just couldn’t help ourselves. Animals suffering is not something I could support,” Girod said. “We knew something had to be done.”&nbsp; &nbsp; They started out taking half a dozen cats to the Noah’s Ark Animal Foundation in Fairfield. “We were clueless. We didn’t even know how to work a live trap. We were just two ladies concerned with the welfare of these cats,” Girod said. Scientific studies demonstrate that trapping, neutering, and returning the felines improves the health and lives of feral cats and their relationships with the people who live near them. It also lowers the cat population, preventing cruelty, starvation, homelessness, and the spread of disease. Regular trapping, neutering, vaccinating, and releasing decreases the size of colonies over time, which doesn’t happen if a cat is caught and euthanized. Girod said killing a cat creates a vacuum effect, allowing another cat to simply take its place in the colony and start breeding. Nothing is solved. A cat that has been neutered and returned, however, will defend that territory against possible replacements, and there’s no risk of breeding. The cat’s ear is tipped (a corner is cut out of the top), indicating to animal control officers that the cat is spayed or neutered and should be left alone. Evolving Street Cat Walsh joined the organization in 2017, and Schneiderman started a year later in 2018. Girod credits both ladies for pushing the group forward – Walsh for organizing the group into a 501(c) 3, and Schneiderman for developing the much-needed traps. The organization was funded strictly by donations. “We had a big meeting and a lot of people came to that, but that was the end of a lot of people coming,” Walsh said. Walsh said there has always been a lot of interest in the group, but finding volunteers who have the time to trap feral cats is nearly impossible. Schneiderman has been bitten several times and recalls spending four or five hours trapping one cat – only for the cat to never show up. “We have a permit from the city to do live captures,” Schneiderman said. But she can’t just leave the trap and go home. She has to be around the trap the entire time, often hiding behind a house or some greenery so they won’t see her. Since the organization utilizes out-of-town veterinarians, the lack of a facility to house the cats as they recover is a big hindrance. “When you trap a cat, you can’t keep it. It’s a wild cat,” Schneiderman said. Schneiderman had been using her garage but doesn’t believe that is humane enough. She said it’s not fair to the cat. “You’re traumatizing them in some way,” she said. “This year, we had not to do that. So we have been trapping around their homes, or we can have them pick up the strays if they aren’t too feral.” Hoping for the Future Running the organization became increasingly difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Girod has since moved to Des Moines. She has still been working with Street Cat on vet appointments and other organizational details, but only Schneiderman and Walsh are around for trapping. At this point, they’re overwhelmed. But they hope they’ve made a difference. Both Schneiderman and Walsh have several feline additions to their family thanks to the organization.&nbsp; Now they would love to see another group of volunteers make a difference by creating a similar group. “It’s sad when anything comes to an end. We’re not saying it’s the end of trap, neuter, and release in Burlington,” Schneiderman said.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/7/1657046686343.jpeg" alt="The last two active, local members of A Street Cat With No Desire -- Robin Schneiderman (left) and Janine Walsh (right). (William Smith/The Burlington Beacon)" />
 <figcaption>The last two active, local members of A Street Cat With No Desire -- Robin Schneiderman (left) and Janine Walsh (right). (William Smith/The Burlington Beacon)</figcaption>
 </figure>William Smith The Burlington Beacon After seven years of trapping, neutering, vaccinating, and releasing stray cats around Burlington, the charity and feline advocate organization A Street Cat With No Desire has dissolved. The three remaining core members of the group – Nathalie Girod, Robin Schneiderman, and Janine Walsh – said they just don’t have the volunteers needed to trap enough cats. The final cat was taken to the veterinarian Thursday, June 30. “I’m sad about it. I think we’re all remorseful,” Walsh said. The organization has trapped and neutered at least 600 cats over the past seven years, and it’s a lot more work than most realize. Communicating with cat caretakers, planning and following through with trapping, maintaining a limited vet schedule, and coordinating volunteers to transport to and from the vet – all played a factor in the decision to dissolve. Girod, who lives in Des Moines now, said roughly 200 cats were neutered, spayed, and vaccinated last year. “We felt so happy to have done something good for this planet and these animals,” Girod said. Humble Beginnings Girod founded the organization with Lanie Fritz, and at first, they weren’t sure what the mission of the group was – they just knew they wanted to help cats. Their mission started with a single cat colony. A Burlington woman had posted on Facebook about a cat colony that was getting out of control, and she needed help. Girod and Fritz took the job. “We just couldn’t help ourselves. Animals suffering is not something I could support,” Girod said. “We knew something had to be done.”&nbsp; &nbsp; They started out taking half a dozen cats to the Noah’s Ark Animal Foundation in Fairfield. “We were clueless. We didn’t even know how to work a live trap. We were just two ladies concerned with the welfare of these cats,” Girod said. Scientific studies demonstrate that trapping, neutering, and returning the felines improves the health and lives of feral cats and their relationships with the people who live near them. It also lowers the cat population, preventing cruelty, starvation, homelessness, and the spread of disease. Regular trapping, neutering, vaccinating, and releasing decreases the size of colonies over time, which doesn’t happen if a cat is caught and euthanized. Girod said killing a cat creates a vacuum effect, allowing another cat to simply take its place in the colony and start breeding. Nothing is solved. A cat that has been neutered and returned, however, will defend that territory against possible replacements, and there’s no risk of breeding. The cat’s ear is tipped (a corner is cut out of the top), indicating to animal control officers that the cat is spayed or neutered and should be left alone. Evolving Street Cat Walsh joined the organization in 2017, and Schneiderman started a year later in 2018. Girod credits both ladies for pushing the group forward – Walsh for organizing the group into a 501(c) 3, and Schneiderman for developing the much-needed traps. The organization was funded strictly by donations. “We had a big meeting and a lot of people came to that, but that was the end of a lot of people coming,” Walsh said. Walsh said there has always been a lot of interest in the group, but finding volunteers who have the time to trap feral cats is nearly impossible. Schneiderman has been bitten several times and recalls spending four or five hours trapping one cat – only for the cat to never show up. “We have a permit from the city to do live captures,” Schneiderman said. But she can’t just leave the trap and go home. She has to be around the trap the entire time, often hiding behind a house or some greenery so they won’t see her. Since the organization utilizes out-of-town veterinarians, the lack of a facility to house the cats as they recover is a big hindrance. “When you trap a cat, you can’t keep it. It’s a wild cat,” Schneiderman said. Schneiderman had been using her garage but doesn’t believe that is humane enough. She said it’s not fair to the cat. “You’re traumatizing them in some way,” she said. “This year, we had not to do that. So we have been trapping around their homes, or we can have them pick up the strays if they aren’t too feral.” Hoping for the Future Running the organization became increasingly difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Girod has since moved to Des Moines. She has still been working with Street Cat on vet appointments and other organizational details, but only Schneiderman and Walsh are around for trapping. At this point, they’re overwhelmed. But they hope they’ve made a difference. Both Schneiderman and Walsh have several feline additions to their family thanks to the organization.&nbsp; Now they would love to see another group of volunteers make a difference by creating a similar group. “It’s sad when anything comes to an end. We’re not saying it’s the end of trap, neuter, and release in Burlington,” Schneiderman said.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/7/1657046810440.jpeg" alt="A Street Cat With No Desire member Robin Schneiderman works a booth at the Burlington Pride in the Park event Saturday, June 25. (William Smith/The Burlington Beacon)" />
 <figcaption>A Street Cat With No Desire member Robin Schneiderman works a booth at the Burlington Pride in the Park event Saturday, June 25. (William Smith/The Burlington Beacon)</figcaption>
 </figure>

Street Cat With No Desire Dissolves, Leaves Legacy of Helping Felines

By William Smith Community Editor

During the 30-hour search for Rickey Kammerer on June 21 and June 22, Yarmouth Fire Chief John Crouch and Burlington/Yarmouth firefighter Luke Griffis (Crouch’s son-in-law) never left the scene.

Crouch recalls getting about a half-an-hour of sleep in the back of an ambulance. Griffis barely got any more.

Neither was going to stop searching the wreckage of the grain silo collapse at the Agri-Way Grain Elevator in Yarmouth — not until they found Rickey.

“We were going into this with the mindset that we weren’t going to stop until we found him, or until the scene became too unstable to be safe,” Griffis said.

It was a rescue scene unlike any the two veteran firefighters had encountered before. In fact, it was unlike anything any of the firefighters had seen.&nbsp;

The urban search and rescue team of Cedar Rapids, Iowa Task Force 1, was on the scene within an hour of being requested. Griffis said it was a record-breaking response time for the team.

“It usually takes 2 or 3 hours. You have to request them through the emergency management agency after you’ve exhausted all your resources, and they have to go through the governor,” Griffis said.

Due to the precarious nature of the scene&nbsp;&nbsp;— with one collapsed silo threatening to take down the others —&nbsp;&nbsp;Iowa Task Force 1 sought guidance from another rescue team in Wisconsin that had dealt with a similar situation. All they could offer was encouragement.

“They (the task force team out of Wisconsin) said to be careful, that it was a no-win situation,” Griffis said.

Iowa Task Force 1 had never dealt with anything like this accident before, and they specialize in those kinds of rescue&nbsp;operations. Task force members almost always like to stabilize the scene before rescue workers are put at risk, but there was no way to stabilize the tons of concrete and metal.

The wreckage shifted a total of 8 inches during the search effort, closely monitored by a surveying device from the Des Moines County Secondary Roads department and the task force itself.&nbsp;

“We had people like Travis Sours and multiple other people just watching the facility for safety issues,” Crouch said.&nbsp;

Within an hour of the accident, fire departments around the area had responded to the scene or took over fire duties for other departments so they could assist as well.&nbsp;

Griffis estimates about 80 emergency personnel were there. He counts 35 responding agencies, including excavation companies.

But there was no way to count everybody. Local construction companies showed up, ready to lend their equipment.&nbsp;

Volunteers came with armloads of food and bottled water — so much that some of the firefighter’s spouses and families started a makeshift auxiliary group for the scene just to manage it all. Local stores donated supplies as well.&nbsp;

“There were just pallets and pallets of water and drinks, four or five tables full of food, and it was stacked high. There were three cattle troughs they put bottled water and ice in,” Griffis said.

Crouch had no idea the donations had come in so quickly.&nbsp;

He was making plans to have food purchased at a grocery store until he looked inside the fire department. Then he had to kindly ask volunteers to stop bringing supplies.

“It was like, ‘jeepers!’ We sent water home with every fire department,” Crouch said.

Griffis said anything they needed arrived nearly as soon as Des Moines County Emergency Management Coordinator Gina Hardin called for it.&nbsp;

He credited her as the best emergency management coordinator in the state and said she was vital to the effort.

“Gina was able to get us anything. The joke is, if you need a purple elephant, Gina will get it to you,” Griffis said.

The work was slow and deliberate, and vibrations of vehicles and machinery would cause the wreckage to shift.&nbsp;

Crouch said most of the debris was cleared using hand tools that cut through rebar and concrete.&nbsp;

Louisa County Millwright used a crane and workers to attach cables to the top of a grain storage bin, eventually tipping it over so rescuers could access the scene.

The heat index reached 104 degrees that day (June 21), and firefighters rotated in 10-minute shifts. Full turnout gear was discouraged.

“Every department that showed up, we had them take their thermal layers out to help reduce the heat,” Griffis said. “Our only requirement was long pants, steel toes, and eye protection.”&nbsp;

Search dogs found several points of interest during the search, and crews worked outside the scene into the interior, ensuring escape routes if anything were to collapse.

Later that night, as tower lights were put up and the search continued, a thunderstorm with possible 60 mph winds approached.&nbsp;

“The storm dissipated,” Griffis said. “We barely had to stop.”&nbsp;

About a week prior to the accident, a yellow Labrador retriever showed up in town. Neither Crouch nor Griffis had ever seen the pooch before.

Neither of them gave it much thought until the dog showed up again in the wake of the accident. Kammerer’s family was on site for the entire 30-hour operation, spending hours in a grassy area just outside the caution tape.

The dog approached them, then lay beside them, as if he knew he was needed.

“That dog laid with the family and laid with the daughter for hours at a time,” Griffis said.

The dog became kind of a mascot for the rescuers and for Kammerer’s family. Griffis said he was remarkably well trained — shaking hands-on command — and could seemingly sense when someone was troubled. That included the firefighters, who found solace in petting the pooch.

“Animals fix everything,” Griffis said.

Crouch and Griffis figured the dog must have been dumped, and the firefighters weren’t about to leave him behind. After checking the dog for a microchip to make sure the owner couldn’t be found, he was adopted by the Danville fire chief.

The firefighters are still recovering from the operation, especially mentally.&nbsp;

Crouch said he hasn’t had time to process the events, but he will. Counseling sessions were made available during critical debriefings.

As difficult as that 30 hours were, Crouch and Griffis said it would have been much harder without the full-throated support of their fellow firefighters and the community.

Some of the construction companies lost equipment, but they didn’t complain. They didn’t ask for money. They told Crouch that they would be available anytime they were needed.

It’s an attitude the entire town carried. The entire county.&nbsp;

Fire departments from Illinois and across Iowa offered their support. U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks called to offer anything that was needed.&nbsp;

“It wasn’t just southeast Iowa. It was a statewide response,” Griffis said.

Crouch wants to thank everyone, including a few specific people.

“I would just like to thank Gina Hardin, Hanna Siegworth, and my daughter Jamie,” Crouch said.

Griffis has pages of notes he went through to write the report for the accident, and in those notes are the names of all the responding agencies and volunteers. They have all earned the gratitude of a community.

They are Yarmouth Fire, Mediapolis Fire, Mediapolis Community Ambulance, Danville Fire, Burlington Tech Rescue, ALS Ambulance, West Burlington Fire, Mount Union Fire, Olds Fire, Wapello Fire, Wapello Ambulance, Denmark Fire, Des Moines County CERT, Cedar Rapids Iowa Task Force 1, Des Moines County Sheriff, Wayland Fire, Winfield Fire, Mount Pleasant Fire, New London Fire, Crawfordsville Fire, Washington Fire, Ainsworth Fire, Morning Sun Fire, Oakville Fire, Brewer Wrecking Service, Newberry Towing, Des Moines County Emergency Management, DESCOM, Louisa County Millwright, Fye Excavating, Four Seasons Excavating, Des Moines County Secondary Roads MABAS No. 62, New London Utilities, and the National Weather Service.

Rickey Ryan Kammerer, 30, passed away June 21, 2022, in Yarmouth. A Celebration of Life will start at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 9, at 301 South Maple Lot 9, Winfield. The Snyder &amp; Hollenbaugh Funeral and Cremation Services of Morning Sun is caring for the family. A memorial has been established at the funeral home in memory of Rickey. Donations may also be made at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/rickey-kammerer-memorial-fund">https://www.gofundme.com/f/rickey-kammerer-memorial-fund</a>. Online condolences may be left at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.

He was born Dec. 16, 1991, in Muscatine, to Adam Kammerer and Tammy Estabrook Spencer.

Rickey married the love of his life, Megga Brown Kammerer, on Oct. 31, 2020, in Winfield. Rickey was a devoted father to his daughter, Remedy LouAnn Jo Kammerer.

Rickey got his GED in 2013. He worked several jobs to support his wife and daughter. Rickey was a devoted husband and father. Rickey was loved by many and he impacted the lives of those he met.

Rickey loved to spend time with family and friends, camping, fishing, smoking, and loving life. Rickey was a huge St. Louis Cardinals and Oregon Ducks fan. He never missed a game. Rickey collected Coca Cola memorabilia.

Rickey is survived by his wife, Megga Kammerer (Winfield); his daughter, Remedy Kammerer (Winfield); his dad, Tom Jones (Morning Sun); his mom, Tammy Spencer (Morning Sun); bonus parents, Russ and Karol Adamson (Mediapolis); his father-in-law, Jerry Brown (Winfield); his brothers, Travis Jones (Morning Sun), Andrew Estabrook (Ottumwa), Ryan Adamson (Indianola), Riley Kammerer (Morning Sun), Leroy Kammerer (Morning Sun) and Justin; his sisters, Tara Jones (Connor Stratton) (Winfield), Sonya Jones (Morning Sun), Cassie Adamson (Zach Waddell) (Indianola), Jessi Lanfranco (Mt. Pleasant) and Cheyenne Kammerer (Morning Sun); his brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Heather Cupps (Winfield); his grandmother, Debra Watson (Mama) (Mt. Pleasant); grandparents, Gerald (Papi) and Dianne Kammerer (Morning Sun); grandparents, Jim and Judy Strasser (Morning Sun); his fur baby son, Hunter James; his lifelong buddy; special friends, Brendan Stillwell and Carly Hodges (Winfield), Jessica Hoots and Bugg (Burlington), Jontue Wonders (Ft. Dodge), Jessica and Stephen Robertson (Morning Sun), Daryl Bryant (Morning Sun) and Nathan Geise and family; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and many other family and friends.

Rickey was proceeded in death by his son, Bayne Ryan Kammerer; his brother, Christopher; his mother-in-law, Jackie Cupps; grandfather, Roger Estabrook; grandfather, Richard Jones; great-aunt and -uncle, Dretha and Wade Watson; niece, Kiley Bugg-Broadway; and childhood friend, Travis Stewart.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/7/1656806751970.jpeg" alt="Citizens and emergency responders never stopped searching for a man trapped in a grain bin in Yarmouth. (Photo submitted by Barbara Kerr)" />
 <figcaption>Citizens and emergency responders never stopped searching for a man trapped in a grain bin in Yarmouth. (Photo submitted by Barbara Kerr)</figcaption>
 </figure>By William Smith Community EditorDuring the 30-hour search for Rickey Kammerer on June 21 and June 22, Yarmouth Fire Chief John Crouch and Burlington/Yarmouth firefighter Luke Griffis (Crouch’s son-in-law) never left the scene.Crouch recalls getting about a half-an-hour of sleep in the back of an ambulance. Griffis barely got any more.Neither was going to stop searching the wreckage of the grain silo collapse at the Agri-Way Grain Elevator in Yarmouth — not until they found Rickey.“We were going into this with the mindset that we weren’t going to stop until we found him, or until the scene became too unstable to be safe,” Griffis said.It was a rescue scene unlike any the two veteran firefighters had encountered before. In fact, it was unlike anything any of the firefighters had seen.&nbsp;The urban search and rescue team of Cedar Rapids, Iowa Task Force 1, was on the scene within an hour of being requested. Griffis said it was a record-breaking response time for the team.“It usually takes 2 or 3 hours. You have to request them through the emergency management agency after you’ve exhausted all your resources, and they have to go through the governor,” Griffis said.A deliberate searchDue to the precarious nature of the scene&nbsp;&nbsp;— with one collapsed silo threatening to take down the others —&nbsp;&nbsp;Iowa Task Force 1 sought guidance from another rescue team in Wisconsin that had dealt with a similar situation. All they could offer was encouragement.“They (the task force team out of Wisconsin) said to be careful, that it was a no-win situation,” Griffis said.Iowa Task Force 1 had never dealt with anything like this accident before, and they specialize in those kinds of rescue&nbsp;operations. Task force members almost always like to stabilize the scene before rescue workers are put at risk, but there was no way to stabilize the tons of concrete and metal.The wreckage shifted a total of 8 inches during the search effort, closely monitored by a surveying device from the Des Moines County Secondary Roads department and the task force itself.&nbsp;“We had people like Travis Sours and multiple other people just watching the facility for safety issues,” Crouch said.&nbsp;Within an hour of the accident, fire departments around the area had responded to the scene or took over fire duties for other departments so they could assist as well.&nbsp;Griffis estimates about 80 emergency personnel were there. He counts 35 responding agencies, including excavation companies.But there was no way to count everybody. Local construction companies showed up, ready to lend their equipment.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/7/1656807931537.jpeg" alt="Crews worked through the night on the search effort. (Photo submitted by Barbara Kerr)" />
 <figcaption>Crews worked through the night on the search effort. (Photo submitted by Barbara Kerr)</figcaption>
 </figure>Volunteers came with armloads of food and bottled water — so much that some of the firefighter’s spouses and families started a makeshift auxiliary group for the scene just to manage it all. Local stores donated supplies as well.&nbsp;“There were just pallets and pallets of water and drinks, four or five tables full of food, and it was stacked high. There were three cattle troughs they put bottled water and ice in,” Griffis said.Crouch had no idea the donations had come in so quickly.&nbsp;He was making plans to have food purchased at a grocery store until he looked inside the fire department. Then he had to kindly ask volunteers to stop bringing supplies.“It was like, ‘jeepers!’ We sent water home with every fire department,” Crouch said.Griffis said anything they needed arrived nearly as soon as Des Moines County Emergency Management Coordinator Gina Hardin called for it.&nbsp;He credited her as the best emergency management coordinator in the state and said she was vital to the effort.“Gina was able to get us anything. The joke is, if you need a purple elephant, Gina will get it to you,” Griffis said.The work was slow and deliberate, and vibrations of vehicles and machinery would cause the wreckage to shift.&nbsp;Crouch said most of the debris was cleared using hand tools that cut through rebar and concrete.&nbsp;Louisa County Millwright used a crane and workers to attach cables to the top of a grain storage bin, eventually tipping it over so rescuers could access the scene.The heat index reached 104 degrees that day (June 21), and firefighters rotated in 10-minute shifts. Full turnout gear was discouraged.“Every department that showed up, we had them take their thermal layers out to help reduce the heat,” Griffis said. “Our only requirement was long pants, steel toes, and eye protection.”&nbsp;Search dogs found several points of interest during the search, and crews worked outside the scene into the interior, ensuring escape routes if anything were to collapse.Later that night, as tower lights were put up and the search continued, a thunderstorm with possible 60 mph winds approached.&nbsp;“The storm dissipated,” Griffis said. “We barely had to stop.”&nbsp;The mysterious dogAbout a week prior to the accident, a yellow Labrador retriever showed up in town. Neither Crouch nor Griffis had ever seen the pooch before.Neither of them gave it much thought until the dog showed up again in the wake of the accident. Kammerer’s family was on site for the entire 30-hour operation, spending hours in a grassy area just outside the caution tape.The dog approached them, then lay beside them, as if he knew he was needed.“That dog laid with the family and laid with the daughter for hours at a time,” Griffis said.The dog became kind of a mascot for the rescuers and for Kammerer’s family. Griffis said he was remarkably well trained — shaking hands-on command — and could seemingly sense when someone was troubled. That included the firefighters, who found solace in petting the pooch.“Animals fix everything,” Griffis said.Crouch and Griffis figured the dog must have been dumped, and the firefighters weren’t about to leave him behind. After checking the dog for a microchip to make sure the owner couldn’t be found, he was adopted by the Danville fire chief.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/7/1656806947922.jpeg" alt="Yarmouth Community Methodist Church sits in the shadow of the Agri-way grain storage facility, the site of a tragic accident that claimed the life of Rickey Ryan Kammerer. (Photo courtesy of Keith Turrill)" />
 <figcaption>Yarmouth Community Methodist Church sits in the shadow of the Agri-way grain storage facility, the site of a tragic accident that claimed the life of Rickey Ryan Kammerer. (Photo courtesy of Keith Turrill)</figcaption>
 </figure>Expressing gratitudeThe firefighters are still recovering from the operation, especially mentally.&nbsp;Crouch said he hasn’t had time to process the events, but he will. Counseling sessions were made available during critical debriefings.As difficult as that 30 hours were, Crouch and Griffis said it would have been much harder without the full-throated support of their fellow firefighters and the community.Some of the construction companies lost equipment, but they didn’t complain. They didn’t ask for money. They told Crouch that they would be available anytime they were needed.It’s an attitude the entire town carried. The entire county.&nbsp;Fire departments from Illinois and across Iowa offered their support. U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks called to offer anything that was needed.&nbsp;“It wasn’t just southeast Iowa. It was a statewide response,” Griffis said.Crouch wants to thank everyone, including a few specific people.“I would just like to thank Gina Hardin, Hanna Siegworth, and my daughter Jamie,” Crouch said.Griffis has pages of notes he went through to write the report for the accident, and in those notes are the names of all the responding agencies and volunteers. They have all earned the gratitude of a community.They are Yarmouth Fire, Mediapolis Fire, Mediapolis Community Ambulance, Danville Fire, Burlington Tech Rescue, ALS Ambulance, West Burlington Fire, Mount Union Fire, Olds Fire, Wapello Fire, Wapello Ambulance, Denmark Fire, Des Moines County CERT, Cedar Rapids Iowa Task Force 1, Des Moines County Sheriff, Wayland Fire, Winfield Fire, Mount Pleasant Fire, New London Fire, Crawfordsville Fire, Washington Fire, Ainsworth Fire, Morning Sun Fire, Oakville Fire, Brewer Wrecking Service, Newberry Towing, Des Moines County Emergency Management, DESCOM, Louisa County Millwright, Fye Excavating, Four Seasons Excavating, Des Moines County Secondary Roads MABAS No. 62, New London Utilities, and the National Weather Service.Obituary for Rickey Ryan Kammerer<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/7/1656807529107.jpeg" alt="Rickey Ryan Kammerer" />
 <figcaption>Rickey Ryan Kammerer</figcaption>
 </figure>Rickey Ryan Kammerer, 30, passed away June 21, 2022, in Yarmouth. A Celebration of Life will start at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 9, at 301 South Maple Lot 9, Winfield. The Snyder &amp; Hollenbaugh Funeral and Cremation Services of Morning Sun is caring for the family. A memorial has been established at the funeral home in memory of Rickey. Donations may also be made at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/rickey-kammerer-memorial-fund">https://www.gofundme.com/f/rickey-kammerer-memorial-fund</a>. Online condolences may be left at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.He was born Dec. 16, 1991, in Muscatine, to Adam Kammerer and Tammy Estabrook Spencer.Rickey married the love of his life, Megga Brown Kammerer, on Oct. 31, 2020, in Winfield. Rickey was a devoted father to his daughter, Remedy LouAnn Jo Kammerer.Rickey got his GED in 2013. He worked several jobs to support his wife and daughter. Rickey was a devoted husband and father. Rickey was loved by many and he impacted the lives of those he met.Rickey loved to spend time with family and friends, camping, fishing, smoking, and loving life. Rickey was a huge St. Louis Cardinals and Oregon Ducks fan. He never missed a game. Rickey collected Coca Cola memorabilia.Rickey is survived by his wife, Megga Kammerer (Winfield); his daughter, Remedy Kammerer (Winfield); his dad, Tom Jones (Morning Sun); his mom, Tammy Spencer (Morning Sun); bonus parents, Russ and Karol Adamson (Mediapolis); his father-in-law, Jerry Brown (Winfield); his brothers, Travis Jones (Morning Sun), Andrew Estabrook (Ottumwa), Ryan Adamson (Indianola), Riley Kammerer (Morning Sun), Leroy Kammerer (Morning Sun) and Justin; his sisters, Tara Jones (Connor Stratton) (Winfield), Sonya Jones (Morning Sun), Cassie Adamson (Zach Waddell) (Indianola), Jessi Lanfranco (Mt. Pleasant) and Cheyenne Kammerer (Morning Sun); his brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Heather Cupps (Winfield); his grandmother, Debra Watson (Mama) (Mt. Pleasant); grandparents, Gerald (Papi) and Dianne Kammerer (Morning Sun); grandparents, Jim and Judy Strasser (Morning Sun); his fur baby son, Hunter James; his lifelong buddy; special friends, Brendan Stillwell and Carly Hodges (Winfield), Jessica Hoots and Bugg (Burlington), Jontue Wonders (Ft. Dodge), Jessica and Stephen Robertson (Morning Sun), Daryl Bryant (Morning Sun) and Nathan Geise and family; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and many other family and friends.Rickey was proceeded in death by his son, Bayne Ryan Kammerer; his brother, Christopher; his mother-in-law, Jackie Cupps; grandfather, Roger Estabrook; grandfather, Richard Jones; great-aunt and -uncle, Dretha and Wade Watson; niece, Kiley Bugg-Broadway; and childhood friend, Travis Stewart.

Courage in the Face of Tragedy

Stacey Abell The Burlington Beacon Continuing their long-standing support of military members and families, the Burlington Bees will hold a Military Appreciation Night at Community Field on Saturday, July 2. AMVETS Post 29 is sponsoring this event and will have a table inside the gate. The game against the Clinton LumberKings will begin at 6:30 p.m. with gates opening at 5:30 p.m.

Currently serving military members, their spouses, and their children will receive free admission with military I.D. at the entry gate. Veterans and deployed families will receive free admission to the honor system.

“We feel it is extremely important to honor our military and veterans through a night focused on their commitment and sacrifice protecting our country,” said Jill Mason, assistant general manager.

The fun continues on July 3 with a patriotic celebration of America’s independence. The Bees face the LumberKings again at 6:30 p.m. S.O.F.T. (Supporting Our Families &amp; Troops) will have a table set up inside the gate to visit with military families and fans. The Bees have partnered with S.O.F.T. for many years to raise awareness of the needs of military families. A post-game fireworks show will close out the evening.

“Saturday’s Military Appreciation Night is our way of showing our gratitude to all of the men and women in uniform, veterans for their service, and all the families that support their loved ones serving,” said Jill Mason, assistant general manager. “Our hope is that those in the military feel supported by our community and are able to relax and enjoy an evening watching America’s favorite pastime.”

If anyone has a loved one deployed, please let S.O.F.T. know (319-752-4201) if you’d like a care package sent to them.

Stacey Abell The Burlington Beacon Continuing their long-standing support of military members and families, the Burlington Bees will hold a Military Appreciation Night at Community Field on Saturday, July 2. AMVETS Post 29 is sponsoring this event and will have a table inside the gate. The game against the Clinton LumberKings will begin at 6:30 p.m. with gates opening at 5:30 p.m.Currently serving military members, their spouses, and their children will receive free admission with military I.D. at the entry gate. Veterans and deployed families will receive free admission to the honor system.“We feel it is extremely important to honor our military and veterans through a night focused on their commitment and sacrifice protecting our country,” said Jill Mason, assistant general manager.The fun continues on July 3 with a patriotic celebration of America’s independence. The Bees face the LumberKings again at 6:30 p.m. S.O.F.T. (Supporting Our Families &amp; Troops) will have a table set up inside the gate to visit with military families and fans. The Bees have partnered with S.O.F.T. for many years to raise awareness of the needs of military families. A post-game fireworks show will close out the evening.“Saturday’s Military Appreciation Night is our way of showing our gratitude to all of the men and women in uniform, veterans for their service, and all the families that support their loved ones serving,” said Jill Mason, assistant general manager. “Our hope is that those in the military feel supported by our community and are able to relax and enjoy an evening watching America’s favorite pastime.”If anyone has a loved one deployed, please let S.O.F.T. know (319-752-4201) if you’d like a care package sent to them.

Bees to Honor Military Past & Present This Weekend

By Beacon Staff There’s no doubt about it – the annual Fourth of July Celebration on Broadway Street in West Burlington is going to be explosive Monday. West Burlington city councilman and event organizer Andy Crowner compared the event to a John Mellencamp music video. “It’s just a good time, celebrating our country. Good food and fun,” he said. As usual, the celebration will last the entire day, filling Broadway Street with vendor booths, games, inflatables, live music, a dunk tank, water fights, and a worship service among other things. As is the tradition, the celebration will end with a fireworks display starting at 10:01 p.m. Crowner said the closer you are to the fireworks, the better. “I don’t know how many people have watched the fireworks from Broadway Street, but if you haven’t, you should. It’s pretty cool,” he said. New to this year’s celebration is “The Little Squirts Waterfights” from noon to 3 p.m. “The fire department is going to have some small hoses,” he said.&nbsp; The celebration will kick off with a pancake breakfast from 6 to 10 a.m. at the West Burlington Fire Department. The Relay for Life Craft and Vendor Show will start at 7 a.m., and bicycle races will begin at 9 a.m. at Westland Mall. Registration begins at 8 a.m. There will be a praise service from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. As the praise service ends, the inflatables, dunk tank, and kids games will begin at 11:30 a.m. The Cruise Day Display (featuring classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles) will start at 10 a.m. and bingo will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside West Burlington City Hall. The River City Baggers Bag Tournament will start at noon, and the Kid’s Parade is set for 3:45 pm., traveling from Huston Street from Ramsey Street to Broadway Street. The annual Fourth of July Parade starts at 4 p.m. and will travel down Huston Street from Westland Mall. The Broadway Bullfrog Race will start at 7 p.m. (followed by a bullfrog sale), and the raffle drawing will be at 8 p.m.&nbsp; The Music There will be live music throughout the day from the Deery Brothers Stage, starting at 11:30 a.m. with Sean Kistler. The It’s Electric Entertainment Kids Talent Show starts at 1:30 p.m.&nbsp; More live music will return in the evening, with Jarrod Hogan and South 55 taking the stage at 5 p.m.&nbsp;Chicago’s hottest dance party band, First Dance, will headline the night of entertainment at 8:30 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/7/1656696846099.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon Staff There’s no doubt about it – the annual Fourth of July Celebration on Broadway Street in West Burlington is going to be explosive Monday. West Burlington city councilman and event organizer Andy Crowner compared the event to a John Mellencamp music video. “It’s just a good time, celebrating our country. Good food and fun,” he said. As usual, the celebration will last the entire day, filling Broadway Street with vendor booths, games, inflatables, live music, a dunk tank, water fights, and a worship service among other things. As is the tradition, the celebration will end with a fireworks display starting at 10:01 p.m. Crowner said the closer you are to the fireworks, the better. “I don’t know how many people have watched the fireworks from Broadway Street, but if you haven’t, you should. It’s pretty cool,” he said. New to this year’s celebration is “The Little Squirts Waterfights” from noon to 3 p.m. “The fire department is going to have some small hoses,” he said.&nbsp; The celebration will kick off with a pancake breakfast from 6 to 10 a.m. at the West Burlington Fire Department. The Relay for Life Craft and Vendor Show will start at 7 a.m., and bicycle races will begin at 9 a.m. at Westland Mall. Registration begins at 8 a.m. There will be a praise service from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. As the praise service ends, the inflatables, dunk tank, and kids games will begin at 11:30 a.m. The Cruise Day Display (featuring classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles) will start at 10 a.m. and bingo will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside West Burlington City Hall. The River City Baggers Bag Tournament will start at noon, and the Kid’s Parade is set for 3:45 pm., traveling from Huston Street from Ramsey Street to Broadway Street. The annual Fourth of July Parade starts at 4 p.m. and will travel down Huston Street from Westland Mall. The Broadway Bullfrog Race will start at 7 p.m. (followed by a bullfrog sale), and the raffle drawing will be at 8 p.m.&nbsp; The Music There will be live music throughout the day from the Deery Brothers Stage, starting at 11:30 a.m. with Sean Kistler. The It’s Electric Entertainment Kids Talent Show starts at 1:30 p.m.&nbsp; More live music will return in the evening, with Jarrod Hogan and South 55 taking the stage at 5 p.m.&nbsp;Chicago’s hottest dance party band, First Dance, will headline the night of entertainment at 8:30 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;

West Burlington Fourth of July Will Be a Blast

Chris Faulkner for The Beacon The late auto racer Brent Slocum had a lot of children, even if only one was biological.

That's because Slocum, who drove&nbsp;Late Models,&nbsp;had an infectious personality.

“He loved the fans, especially kids,” said friend Brad Lange,&nbsp;who serves as vice president of the Brent&nbsp;Slocum Foundation. Jennifer Bailey, Slocum's sister, is president.

“After every race, there'd be a line of kids to talk to Brent," Lange said.

But Slocum, who had been racing for 11 years, died in a freak accident June 11, 2005, while working in the pits at 34 Raceway. He left behind a wife and three-month-old daughter.

In his memory, 34 Raceway holds the annual Slocum 50, usually in April, but it was postponed this year until Saturday, July 2, because of inclement weather.

The only year the race didn't run was 2020, when large group events were shut down that April because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A scholarship fund was set up the first year after Slocum's death, and in 2011, the Brent Slocum Foundation was organized.

“It took us a couple of years to get our feet under us,” Lange said.

The foundation and 34 Raceway pay out $10,555 to the Late Model feature winner. Classes set to run are Super Late Model – Lucas Oil MLRA, 305 winged sprint and stock cars.

Pits open for the 14th&nbsp;annual event at 3 p.m., the grandstands open at 4 p.m., and hot laps start at 6:15 p.m., with racing to follow. Grandstand prices are $25 for adults, $23 for students or seniors, and free for children 10 and younger with a paid adult admission.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/6/1656634156928.jpeg" alt="The annual Slocum 50 will be held on Saturday, July 2. (Brett Slocum Foundation Facebook photo)" />
 <figcaption>The annual Slocum 50 will be held on Saturday, July 2. (Brett Slocum Foundation Facebook photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>Chris Faulkner for The Beacon The late auto racer Brent Slocum had a lot of children, even if only one was biological.That's because Slocum, who drove&nbsp;Late Models,&nbsp;had an infectious personality.“He loved the fans, especially kids,” said friend Brad Lange,&nbsp;who serves as vice president of the Brent&nbsp;Slocum Foundation. Jennifer Bailey, Slocum's sister, is president.“After every race, there'd be a line of kids to talk to Brent," Lange said.But Slocum, who had been racing for 11 years, died in a freak accident June 11, 2005, while working in the pits at 34 Raceway. He left behind a wife and three-month-old daughter.In his memory, 34 Raceway holds the annual Slocum 50, usually in April, but it was postponed this year until Saturday, July 2, because of inclement weather.The only year the race didn't run was 2020, when large group events were shut down that April because of the COVID-19 pandemic.A scholarship fund was set up the first year after Slocum's death, and in 2011, the Brent Slocum Foundation was organized.“It took us a couple of years to get our feet under us,” Lange said.The foundation and 34 Raceway pay out $10,555 to the Late Model feature winner. Classes set to run are Super Late Model – Lucas Oil MLRA, 305 winged sprint and stock cars.Pits open for the 14th&nbsp;annual event at 3 p.m., the grandstands open at 4 p.m., and hot laps start at 6:15 p.m., with racing to follow. Grandstand prices are $25 for adults, $23 for students or seniors, and free for children 10 and younger with a paid adult admission.

Slocum's Legacy Lives On

Twelve years ago, the Burlington Lightscape Project — a board of community volunteers who want to highlight Burlington’s architecture by literally shining light on it — lit up the St. John’s Catholic Church steeple to make it stand out against the starry sky.

It was the beginning of a much larger project.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2016, the Lightscape Project helped light nine other Burlington structures: Christ Episcopal Church, United Church of Christ, Majestic Estates (formerly St. Paul’s German Methodist Episcopal Church), First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, First Congregational Church, the Des Moines County Heritage Center Museum, St. Paul’s Catholic Church and the Burlington Northern Locomotive on Main Street.

Since its inception, board members have talked about lighting up the Great River Bridge. By this fall, that should happen.&nbsp;

Energyficient — a Burlington-based lighting distributor that specializes in large-scale lighting projects —&nbsp;&nbsp;has awarded the installation contract for the Great River Bridge to Frank Millard and Co.&nbsp;

Materials are expected to arrive at the end of the summer.

“The construction plans are done at this stage,” said board member Chad Palmer, who is Energyficient president and CEO.&nbsp;

“The light fixtures should show up in early August, and installation will depend on the weather. That’s where it gets fuzzy. If everything goes our way, we should be putting the fixtures in late August.”

Palmer has been the driving force for the project since the start of the Lightscape Project.&nbsp;

His father, who was the city electrician, made it a pet project to light up the bridge before he retired.

He said most of the lights&nbsp;aimed at the bridge tower haven’t been operational in roughly five years.

“It (the new lighting) will be very uniform, and it will be much brighter. It will be about twice as bright, which will be hard for folks to remember because it hasn’t been that bright in well over 10 years,”&nbsp;&nbsp;he said, noting that the cables of the bridge will be illuminated as well.

In addition to lighting up the Great River Bridge, the Lightscape Project also plans to light up Snake Alley around roughly the same time.

It’s a tricky process, but Palmer knows exactly how he’s going to do it. Once the project is past the design phase, it too will be bid out later in the year.&nbsp;&nbsp;It will be illuminated from dusk to dawn.

“I’m going to illuminate those trees. They will be interesting all year long, whether they have leaves, or snow, or no leaves,” Palmer said. “The spotlights on the alley will be accentuating the alley itself.”&nbsp;

Currently, the alley has no lighting to speak of. Six poles will be equipped with LED spotlights shining down, but at eye level, those poles will have antique lanterns hanging from them. Palmer said that should match the historic nature of the landmark.

Palmer said he got the idea for how to light the alley after he used his expertise to highlight the waterfall at Bracewell Stadium with light.

“It will look very periodic. It should fit,” he said.&nbsp;

As can be observed in the bridge diagram, which Palmer based on specifications he obtained from the city, the lights will be placed along the base of the bridge, shining upward at a specific angle to light every inch of the center tower.

Palmer said it will be brighter than even he expected.

“Everything will be brighter than I anticipated because they painted the tower white. We didn’t know they were going to do that. They did that a couple of years ago,” Palmer said.

There will be nine types of LED lights of varying size and intensity, depending on their placement on the bridge. If he had started the project 10 years ago, his lighting options would have been much more limited. LED technology has advanced significantly since then.

“The new design takes into consideration how greatly the tower will be lit, how uniformly it will be lit, and how much spill light there is,” Palmer said. “A lot of people would like to see the night sky stay dark. So we didn’t want to add to the light pollution in the sky any more than we had to.”

The lights will be wirelessly connected to each other, and will automatically dim to 10 percent of power at 10 p.m. during the week, and at 11 p.m. on the weekends. The city will also have manual control of the lights.

The two projects are being funded through a $500,000 fund that has been raised by the Lightscape Project board of directors over the last decade.

But they’re still going to need more money to maintain the lighting system, which is expected to last at least 30 years.

“After we are all gone, these lights will be maintained,” said board member Gretchen Miller.

Right now, the board has roughly $40,000 in an endowment fund established by the Community Foundation of Des Moines County in 2016.

That money will be used to maintain the lighting on all the church temples as well as the Great River Bridge and Snake Alley.&nbsp;

“Our endowment fund currently has $40,000, and needs to grow to $200,000 to produce funds for all future maintenance costs,” Miller said. “It will ensure the illumination of the lightscape of Burlington for many years to come.”

The Burlington Lightscape Project board of directors is currently raising money to grow that endowment fund, and donations are tax-deductible.

To donate, make your check payable to the Burlington/West Burlington Area Development Foundation, designated for Burlington Lightscape, 610 N. Fourth St., Suite 200, Burlington, Iowa.

By William SmithTwelve years ago, the Burlington Lightscape Project — a board of community volunteers who want to highlight Burlington’s architecture by literally shining light on it — lit up the St. John’s Catholic Church steeple to make it stand out against the starry sky.It was the beginning of a much larger project.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2016, the Lightscape Project helped light nine other Burlington structures: Christ Episcopal Church, United Church of Christ, Majestic Estates (formerly St. Paul’s German Methodist Episcopal Church), First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, First Congregational Church, the Des Moines County Heritage Center Museum, St. Paul’s Catholic Church and the Burlington Northern Locomotive on Main Street.Since its inception, board members have talked about lighting up the Great River Bridge. By this fall, that should happen.&nbsp;Energyficient — a Burlington-based lighting distributor that specializes in large-scale lighting projects —&nbsp;&nbsp;has awarded the installation contract for the Great River Bridge to Frank Millard and Co.&nbsp;Materials are expected to arrive at the end of the summer.“The construction plans are done at this stage,” said board member Chad Palmer, who is Energyficient president and CEO.&nbsp;“The light fixtures should show up in early August, and installation will depend on the weather. That’s where it gets fuzzy. If everything goes our way, we should be putting the fixtures in late August.”Palmer has been the driving force for the project since the start of the Lightscape Project.&nbsp;His father, who was the city electrician, made it a pet project to light up the bridge before he retired.He said most of the lights&nbsp;aimed at the bridge tower haven’t been operational in roughly five years.“It (the new lighting) will be very uniform, and it will be much brighter. It will be about twice as bright, which will be hard for folks to remember because it hasn’t been that bright in well over 10 years,”&nbsp;&nbsp;he said, noting that the cables of the bridge will be illuminated as well.Snake AlleyIn addition to lighting up the Great River Bridge, the Lightscape Project also plans to light up Snake Alley around roughly the same time.It’s a tricky process, but Palmer knows exactly how he’s going to do it. Once the project is past the design phase, it too will be bid out later in the year.&nbsp;&nbsp;It will be illuminated from dusk to dawn.“I’m going to illuminate those trees. They will be interesting all year long, whether they have leaves, or snow, or no leaves,” Palmer said. “The spotlights on the alley will be accentuating the alley itself.”&nbsp;Currently, the alley has no lighting to speak of. Six poles will be equipped with LED spotlights shining down, but at eye level, those poles will have antique lanterns hanging from them. Palmer said that should match the historic nature of the landmark.Palmer said he got the idea for how to light the alley after he used his expertise to highlight the waterfall at Bracewell Stadium with light.“It will look very periodic. It should fit,” he said.&nbsp;The Lights&nbsp;As can be observed in the bridge diagram, which Palmer based on specifications he obtained from the city, the lights will be placed along the base of the bridge, shining upward at a specific angle to light every inch of the center tower.Palmer said it will be brighter than even he expected.“Everything will be brighter than I anticipated because they painted the tower white. We didn’t know they were going to do that. They did that a couple of years ago,” Palmer said.There will be nine types of LED lights of varying size and intensity, depending on their placement on the bridge. If he had started the project 10 years ago, his lighting options would have been much more limited. LED technology has advanced significantly since then.“The new design takes into consideration how greatly the tower will be lit, how uniformly it will be lit, and how much spill light there is,” Palmer said. “A lot of people would like to see the night sky stay dark. So we didn’t want to add to the light pollution in the sky any more than we had to.”The lights will be wirelessly connected to each other, and will automatically dim to 10 percent of power at 10 p.m. during the week, and at 11 p.m. on the weekends. The city will also have manual control of the lights.FundraisingThe two projects are being funded through a $500,000 fund that has been raised by the Lightscape Project board of directors over the last decade.But they’re still going to need more money to maintain the lighting system, which is expected to last at least 30 years.“After we are all gone, these lights will be maintained,” said board member Gretchen Miller.Right now, the board has roughly $40,000 in an endowment fund established by the Community Foundation of Des Moines County in 2016.That money will be used to maintain the lighting on all the church temples as well as the Great River Bridge and Snake Alley.&nbsp;“Our endowment fund currently has $40,000, and needs to grow to $200,000 to produce funds for all future maintenance costs,” Miller said. “It will ensure the illumination of the lightscape of Burlington for many years to come.”The Burlington Lightscape Project board of directors is currently raising money to grow that endowment fund, and donations are tax-deductible.To donate, make your check payable to the Burlington/West Burlington Area Development Foundation, designated for Burlington Lightscape, 610 N. Fourth St., Suite 200, Burlington, Iowa.

Light It Up: Great River Bridge and Snake Alley Will Be Illuminated as Part of Project

By Michael Anderson&nbsp;for The Beacon

Bernie Sanders stood in solidarity with United Auto Worker union members on strike during an appearance in Crapo Park on Friday, June 17.

“You are showing this country you have the courage, you have the guts, to stand up to ugly corporate greed,” the Democratic Senator from Vermont said in his opening remarks.

Chants of “UAW” and “party on the picket line” rang out over the Mississippi River from a crowd of about 250 people outside the band shell as they waited to hear Sanders speak. Many carried signs and wore red T-shirts emblazoned with UAW Local 807 and the image of a fist raised in solidarity on their backs.

Before Sanders’ arrival, UAW Local 807 President Nick Guernsey was joined on stage by workers from John Deere who had traveled from Des Moines to stand in solidarity with their union brothers and sisters.

“These bastards are suffering from an addiction called greed,” Sanders said. “Nobody here minds if somebody makes money, not a big deal. But the truth of the matter is: how much damn money do you need?”

During his speech, he highlighted how the immense wealth gap in the United States has been widened further in recent years by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“What this struggle is about is a decent contract, but ultimately it is about human decency,” Sanders said.

The senator from Vermont went on to call out the Agnelli family, which owns CNH along with the Fiat motor company in Italy, underscoring how Case reported a $1.76 billion profit, a 21 percent improvement over its pre-pandemic performance in 2019.&nbsp;

“If CNH can afford to spend over $100 million on stock buybacks over six months to enrich their wealthy shareholders,” Sanders said, “it can afford to treat all of its employees with the dignity and the respect that they deserve.”

Sanders also criticized CNH for hiring replacement workers before the UAW strike fully kicked off.

“I know here in Iowa you have another word for that called ‘scabs’,” Sanders said, drawing cheers and laughter from the crowd.

Sanders’ appearance came during the sixth week that workers from the local Case New Holland plant have been on strike. Their demands:&nbsp; higher pay, a path to retirement, and better vacation policies.&nbsp;

The third round of negotiations fell through this past Tuesday, June 14, but the workers are undeterred, according to Guernsey.

“This is not the time to make a concessionary agreement,” the president of UAW Local 807 said. “We’re in a unique time here in the United States. Labor is on the rise.”

Before they went on strike at noon on May 1, the union workers at CNH were routinely forced to work 10 to 12-hour days. Many got used to working through their 10-minute breaks in the hopes of shaving some time off of their shifts so they could get home to see their families.&nbsp;

Brandon Kanouse, 31, is the father of two little boys, a five-year-old and a three-year-old who he barely had time to see while he was still at work as the factory’s sole forklift operator.

“The most I’ve ever seen them has been during this strike,” Kanouse said from the picket line on Friday.

Kanouse was joined for his strike shift by Todd Ackermann. The two union men stood in the punishing heat outside the gate of their workplace in the hours before Sanders’ speech, waving their UAW signs over their heads whenever a passing driver honked their horn in support. The community support has been incredible, they said. Donations of food, water, and other essentials roll in every day, and solidarity between workers has remained strong.

&nbsp;“You mess with one person in the union, you mess with us all,” Kanouse said.&nbsp;

According to Guernsey, the UAW has agreed to cover major medical costs and pay every striking CNH employee $400 a week — a recent increase from $275 — in exchange for four hours on the picket line each week.&nbsp;

For many, it’s barely enough to get by.

“I can hardly afford the gas to get out here,” said Ackerman, 57, who lives 15 miles away in Biggsville, IL.

Record-breaking inflation has only made things harder.&nbsp;

But even when they were still showing up to work, the wages weren’t enough. &nbsp;

Currently, the average starting wages of unionized CNH workers in Burlington is $19.26 per hour, which is $5.50 lower than those of the company’s non-unionized workers in other locations, according to Guernsey.

Ackermann has worked at CNH for 10 years installing stabilizer legs on backhoes.&nbsp;

It’s hard work, he said, and it’s only gotten harder. When he started the job, he was on a team of two people tasked with producing 18 units a day. Now it’s just him and his quota has gone up to 26 units per day.

He and Kanouse agreed that things started to get worse at the plant when Fiat purchased CNH in 2013.

“It used to be I couldn’t wait to come into work,” Ackerman said. “It was fun, it was challenging. People cared about you, even your supervisors. Now I’m ashamed to admit I work here.”

Having Sen. Sanders show up to support them and the union meant a lot, Ackermann and Kanouse agreed.

“I am a diehard Republican and I will be there (at Sanders’ speech),” Ackermann said. “That’s how much this means to me…I don’t care what he is. His political views might be different from mine but that doesn’t matter right now.”

After the event, Sanders praised the men and women of the UAW in Burlington when asked why he thought it was important to show up in person.

“These people have taken on an enormously powerful and wealthy corporation that’s taken away their healthcare and is offering them an insulting contract,” Sanders said.

&nbsp;“I respect people that have the courage to stand up and fight for their families, and for decency, and that’s why I’m here.”’

In his closing remarks, the senator called on CNH to return to the negotiating table “and offer your employees a contract that is fair and is just.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/6/1656359097265.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Michael Anderson&nbsp;for The BeaconBernie Sanders stood in solidarity with United Auto Worker union members on strike during an appearance in Crapo Park on Friday, June 17.“You are showing this country you have the courage, you have the guts, to stand up to ugly corporate greed,” the Democratic Senator from Vermont said in his opening remarks.Chants of “UAW” and “party on the picket line” rang out over the Mississippi River from a crowd of about 250 people outside the band shell as they waited to hear Sanders speak. Many carried signs and wore red T-shirts emblazoned with UAW Local 807 and the image of a fist raised in solidarity on their backs.Before Sanders’ arrival, UAW Local 807 President Nick Guernsey was joined on stage by workers from John Deere who had traveled from Des Moines to stand in solidarity with their union brothers and sisters.“These bastards are suffering from an addiction called greed,” Sanders said. “Nobody here minds if somebody makes money, not a big deal. But the truth of the matter is: how much damn money do you need?”During his speech, he highlighted how the immense wealth gap in the United States has been widened further in recent years by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.“What this struggle is about is a decent contract, but ultimately it is about human decency,” Sanders said.The senator from Vermont went on to call out the Agnelli family, which owns CNH along with the Fiat motor company in Italy, underscoring how Case reported a $1.76 billion profit, a 21 percent improvement over its pre-pandemic performance in 2019.&nbsp;“If CNH can afford to spend over $100 million on stock buybacks over six months to enrich their wealthy shareholders,” Sanders said, “it can afford to treat all of its employees with the dignity and the respect that they deserve.”Sanders also criticized CNH for hiring replacement workers before the UAW strike fully kicked off.“I know here in Iowa you have another word for that called ‘scabs’,” Sanders said, drawing cheers and laughter from the crowd.Sanders’ appearance came during the sixth week that workers from the local Case New Holland plant have been on strike. Their demands:&nbsp; higher pay, a path to retirement, and better vacation policies.&nbsp;The third round of negotiations fell through this past Tuesday, June 14, but the workers are undeterred, according to Guernsey.“This is not the time to make a concessionary agreement,” the president of UAW Local 807 said. “We’re in a unique time here in the United States. Labor is on the rise.”Before they went on strike at noon on May 1, the union workers at CNH were routinely forced to work 10 to 12-hour days. Many got used to working through their 10-minute breaks in the hopes of shaving some time off of their shifts so they could get home to see their families.&nbsp;Brandon Kanouse, 31, is the father of two little boys, a five-year-old and a three-year-old who he barely had time to see while he was still at work as the factory’s sole forklift operator.“The most I’ve ever seen them has been during this strike,” Kanouse said from the picket line on Friday.Kanouse was joined for his strike shift by Todd Ackermann. The two union men stood in the punishing heat outside the gate of their workplace in the hours before Sanders’ speech, waving their UAW signs over their heads whenever a passing driver honked their horn in support. The community support has been incredible, they said. Donations of food, water, and other essentials roll in every day, and solidarity between workers has remained strong.&nbsp;“You mess with one person in the union, you mess with us all,” Kanouse said.&nbsp;According to Guernsey, the UAW has agreed to cover major medical costs and pay every striking CNH employee $400 a week — a recent increase from $275 — in exchange for four hours on the picket line each week.&nbsp;For many, it’s barely enough to get by.“I can hardly afford the gas to get out here,” said Ackerman, 57, who lives 15 miles away in Biggsville, IL.Record-breaking inflation has only made things harder.&nbsp;But even when they were still showing up to work, the wages weren’t enough. &nbsp;Currently, the average starting wages of unionized CNH workers in Burlington is $19.26 per hour, which is $5.50 lower than those of the company’s non-unionized workers in other locations, according to Guernsey.Ackermann has worked at CNH for 10 years installing stabilizer legs on backhoes.&nbsp;It’s hard work, he said, and it’s only gotten harder. When he started the job, he was on a team of two people tasked with producing 18 units a day. Now it’s just him and his quota has gone up to 26 units per day.He and Kanouse agreed that things started to get worse at the plant when Fiat purchased CNH in 2013.“It used to be I couldn’t wait to come into work,” Ackerman said. “It was fun, it was challenging. People cared about you, even your supervisors. Now I’m ashamed to admit I work here.”Having Sen. Sanders show up to support them and the union meant a lot, Ackermann and Kanouse agreed.“I am a diehard Republican and I will be there (at Sanders’ speech),” Ackermann said. “That’s how much this means to me…I don’t care what he is. His political views might be different from mine but that doesn’t matter right now.”After the event, Sanders praised the men and women of the UAW in Burlington when asked why he thought it was important to show up in person.“These people have taken on an enormously powerful and wealthy corporation that’s taken away their healthcare and is offering them an insulting contract,” Sanders said.&nbsp;“I respect people that have the courage to stand up and fight for their families, and for decency, and that’s why I’m here.”’In his closing remarks, the senator called on CNH to return to the negotiating table “and offer your employees a contract that is fair and is just.”

Bernie Sanders Speaks Out For UAW Workers On Strike

Stacey Abell The Burlington Beacon There’s a certain electricity to live theatre that’s hard to describe, and this energy is only magnified by the exuberance of a cast of young actors. As the players and production staff gathered at the theater on Grove Street for a rehearsal on Tuesday evening, costume adjustments and a change to a special effects element were still being ironed out.

Despite having only two months to rehearse, the cast of almost 20 students has pulled off an impressive feat. Under the guidance of director Carol Hinkle and music director/choreographer Scott Teater, students from Burlington, West Burlington, and Mediapolis will bring “Aladdin JR” to life on the Players Workshop stage the weekend of June 24-26.

At a running time of approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes with no intermission, the production is an abbreviated version of the live-action Broadway hit. Songs like “Arabian Nights,” “Friend Like Me,” and “A Whole New World” from the animated Disney film are blended with additional songs from the Broadway version, such as “Proud of Your Boy” and “These Palace Walls”; these familiar tunes and the enthusiasm with which they are performed will have the audience struggling to not sing along.

Addison Anderson, who portrays the independent and spirited Princess Jasmine, already has some acting experience under her belt. An incoming sophomore at West Burlington High School, Anderson has previously appeared as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and Brooke Windham in Legally Blonde. The role of Jasmine gives her a chance to showcase her singing talent as well as her acting chops. Involvement in live theatre, especially the audition process, has taught her the value of persistence. “You have to try,” Anderson said. “And then try again because it’s always worth it.”

For Brayden Bowers, a student at Notre Dame, the title role of Aladdin marks his second appearance on the PW stage. Despite being a first-time lead with no vocal performance experience to date, Bowers seems at ease on the stage. His energy sets the tone for many of the musical numbers, and his Aladdin is both mischievous and wistful. “Live theatre is an experience like no other,” Bowers said. He enjoys the unique aspect of having a single production that brings together actors from several different schools, providing the opportunity to observe and learn from a variety of acting styles.

Although “Aladdin” is the title of the show, anyone familiar with either the stage or movie version will know that the Genie often steals the scene. As Al’s sidekick and confidant, Carley Petersen shines in her first PW production. Petersen noted that the role of Genie allowed her to show off the comedic side of her personality, which the somewhat shy Mediapolis student admits might not become apparent until someone gets to know her. For Petersen, the stage can be an escape from the everyday worries and stresses of life. “It can be scary,” she said. “But once you’re on stage, you can just be your character.”

Aladdin will run at Players Workshop, 1431 Grove St., on June 24 and 25 at 7 p.m. with a Sunday matinee on June 26 at 2 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth. Tickets are available at the door or at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.playersworkshoptheater.com/" target="_blank">www.playersworkshoptheater.com</a>; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The box office opens at 5:30 p.m. for evening performances and at 12:30 p.m. for the matinee.

Why should you buy a ticket? “It’s fun!” Bowers said. “It’s always moving. It goes from 0-to-100 and doesn’t stop.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/6/1656022017165.jpeg" alt="The cast of the Players Workshop production of Aladdin JR sings out during one of the show's many musical numbers. Pictured are Kendal Sawyer, Addison Anderson, Brayden Bowers, Carley Petersen, Lauren Allen, Sydney McElhinney, Christianna Ziegler, and Kyle Conne. (Stacey Abell/The Burlington Beacon) " />
 <figcaption>The cast of the Players Workshop production of Aladdin JR sings out during one of the show's many musical numbers. Pictured are Kendal Sawyer, Addison Anderson, Brayden Bowers, Carley Petersen, Lauren Allen, Sydney McElhinney, Christianna Ziegler, and Kyle Conne. (Stacey Abell/The Burlington Beacon) </figcaption>
 </figure>Stacey Abell The Burlington Beacon There’s a certain electricity to live theatre that’s hard to describe, and this energy is only magnified by the exuberance of a cast of young actors. As the players and production staff gathered at the theater on Grove Street for a rehearsal on Tuesday evening, costume adjustments and a change to a special effects element were still being ironed out.Despite having only two months to rehearse, the cast of almost 20 students has pulled off an impressive feat. Under the guidance of director Carol Hinkle and music director/choreographer Scott Teater, students from Burlington, West Burlington, and Mediapolis will bring “Aladdin JR” to life on the Players Workshop stage the weekend of June 24-26.At a running time of approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes with no intermission, the production is an abbreviated version of the live-action Broadway hit. Songs like “Arabian Nights,” “Friend Like Me,” and “A Whole New World” from the animated Disney film are blended with additional songs from the Broadway version, such as “Proud of Your Boy” and “These Palace Walls”; these familiar tunes and the enthusiasm with which they are performed will have the audience struggling to not sing along.Addison Anderson, who portrays the independent and spirited Princess Jasmine, already has some acting experience under her belt. An incoming sophomore at West Burlington High School, Anderson has previously appeared as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and Brooke Windham in Legally Blonde. The role of Jasmine gives her a chance to showcase her singing talent as well as her acting chops. Involvement in live theatre, especially the audition process, has taught her the value of persistence. “You have to try,” Anderson said. “And then try again because it’s always worth it.”For Brayden Bowers, a student at Notre Dame, the title role of Aladdin marks his second appearance on the PW stage. Despite being a first-time lead with no vocal performance experience to date, Bowers seems at ease on the stage. His energy sets the tone for many of the musical numbers, and his Aladdin is both mischievous and wistful. “Live theatre is an experience like no other,” Bowers said. He enjoys the unique aspect of having a single production that brings together actors from several different schools, providing the opportunity to observe and learn from a variety of acting styles.Although “Aladdin” is the title of the show, anyone familiar with either the stage or movie version will know that the Genie often steals the scene. As Al’s sidekick and confidant, Carley Petersen shines in her first PW production. Petersen noted that the role of Genie allowed her to show off the comedic side of her personality, which the somewhat shy Mediapolis student admits might not become apparent until someone gets to know her. For Petersen, the stage can be an escape from the everyday worries and stresses of life. “It can be scary,” she said. “But once you’re on stage, you can just be your character.”Aladdin will run at Players Workshop, 1431 Grove St., on June 24 and 25 at 7 p.m. with a Sunday matinee on June 26 at 2 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth. Tickets are available at the door or at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.playersworkshoptheater.com/" target="_blank">www.playersworkshoptheater.com</a>; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The box office opens at 5:30 p.m. for evening performances and at 12:30 p.m. for the matinee.Why should you buy a ticket? “It’s fun!” Bowers said. “It’s always moving. It goes from 0-to-100 and doesn’t stop.”&nbsp;

Young Cast Brings Magic of Aladdin JR to PW Stage

Frank Delaney, board chair of Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc., announced an expansion in banking operations into Lee County as they have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Lee County Bank with locations in Fort Madison and West Point from Lee Capital Corp.

“With nearly 252 combined years of service and a shared commitment to community banking, Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc. and Lee County Bank are two organizations sharing the same customer-centric banking focus and compatible cultures," said Delaney. He continued, “Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc. is pleased to expand our footprint to serve neighboring communities and customers."

Lee County Bank will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc. with Shane Zimmerman serving as Lee County Bank CEO and Michael Culbertson as Lee County Bank President. “Customers of Lee County Bank will continue to be served by the same banking professionals they have grown accustomed to," said Delaney.

“With a community bank headquartered in Burlington, Iowa, the addition of Lee County Bank is a natural fit for Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc. Two Rivers has a great deal of respect for the Lee County Bank team and the banking relationships they have built. Lee County Bank’s tradition of providing outstanding customer service is one we plan to continue,” said Cristy Schmidt, Board Chair of Two Rivers Bank &amp; Trust.

“We have a strong interest in southeast Iowa and a strong commitment to continue providing the same trusted services Lee County Bank customers expect. I look forward to working with the Lee County Bank team and learning more about their operations and providing support and additional services through Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc.,” said Zimmerman.

“We believe that our customers will be well served with Lee County Bank under the umbrella of Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc.’s organization,” said Kevin Koellner, Board Chair of Lee Capital Corp. Henry Merschman, Board Chair of Lee County Bank, said, “We believe that this transaction is a good fit for the customers, team members, communities, and shareholders of Lee Capital Corp.”

“It has been a pleasure working with Lee County Bank directors Henry Merschman and Kevin Koellner. Both have the utmost respect for the Lee County Bank team and their professionalism. We look forward to welcoming Lee County Bank into Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc.’s organization,” said Delaney.

The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions and is expected to be completed at the end of the third quarter of 2022.

Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc. is headquartered in Burlington, Iowa, and is a financial holding company servicing clients throughout Iowa and surrounding states. Two Rivers Bank &amp; Trust, a state-chartered bank and wholly-owned subsidiary of Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc., commenced operations in 1904 and currently has banking centers located in Ankeny, Burlington, Coralville, Des Moines, Iowa City, Keokuk, Mt. Pleasant, Mediapolis, West Burlington, and West Des Moines, as well as a loan production office in Bettendorf. Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc. shares trade on OTCQX® under ticker symbol “TRVR.”

Frank Delaney, board chair of Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc., announced an expansion in banking operations into Lee County as they have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Lee County Bank with locations in Fort Madison and West Point from Lee Capital Corp.“With nearly 252 combined years of service and a shared commitment to community banking, Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc. and Lee County Bank are two organizations sharing the same customer-centric banking focus and compatible cultures," said Delaney. He continued, “Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc. is pleased to expand our footprint to serve neighboring communities and customers."Lee County Bank will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc. with Shane Zimmerman serving as Lee County Bank CEO and Michael Culbertson as Lee County Bank President. “Customers of Lee County Bank will continue to be served by the same banking professionals they have grown accustomed to," said Delaney.“With a community bank headquartered in Burlington, Iowa, the addition of Lee County Bank is a natural fit for Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc. Two Rivers has a great deal of respect for the Lee County Bank team and the banking relationships they have built. Lee County Bank’s tradition of providing outstanding customer service is one we plan to continue,” said Cristy Schmidt, Board Chair of Two Rivers Bank &amp; Trust.“We have a strong interest in southeast Iowa and a strong commitment to continue providing the same trusted services Lee County Bank customers expect. I look forward to working with the Lee County Bank team and learning more about their operations and providing support and additional services through Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc.,” said Zimmerman.“We believe that our customers will be well served with Lee County Bank under the umbrella of Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc.’s organization,” said Kevin Koellner, Board Chair of Lee Capital Corp. Henry Merschman, Board Chair of Lee County Bank, said, “We believe that this transaction is a good fit for the customers, team members, communities, and shareholders of Lee Capital Corp.”“It has been a pleasure working with Lee County Bank directors Henry Merschman and Kevin Koellner. Both have the utmost respect for the Lee County Bank team and their professionalism. We look forward to welcoming Lee County Bank into Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc.’s organization,” said Delaney.The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions and is expected to be completed at the end of the third quarter of 2022.Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc. is headquartered in Burlington, Iowa, and is a financial holding company servicing clients throughout Iowa and surrounding states. Two Rivers Bank &amp; Trust, a state-chartered bank and wholly-owned subsidiary of Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc., commenced operations in 1904 and currently has banking centers located in Ankeny, Burlington, Coralville, Des Moines, Iowa City, Keokuk, Mt. Pleasant, Mediapolis, West Burlington, and West Des Moines, as well as a loan production office in Bettendorf. Two Rivers Financial Group, Inc. shares trade on OTCQX® under ticker symbol “TRVR.”

Two Rivers to acquire Lee County Bank

On Saturday, June 25, the Burlington Heritage Museum will be the site of an exciting presentation about the early Paleo people in Iowa. Dr. Julie Morrow, Ph.D., will describe the most mysterious and fascinating journey ever taken in the history of humankind.

About 14,000 years ago, an Ice Age hunting culture and their canine companions began exploring the Icy Corridor and mountains of western North America. By 12,900 BCE, they had made it to the tip of South America. Rare campsites and a few dozen mammoth kills are all that remain to reconstruct their lifeway. This is the story of the origins and lifeways of the Clovis people who successfully colonized the New World.

Dr. Julie Morrow, Ph.D., is an adjunct professor for the Arkansas Archeological Survey and The University of Arkansas System, as well as an acclaimed archeologist and expert on Clovis and Paleo indigenous peoples. She has worked extensively at sites in Iowa and across the country.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/6/1655880762039.jpeg" alt="Dr. Julie Morrow, an expert on Clovis and Paleo indigenous people, will present at the Burlington Heritage Museum on June 25. (Photo courtesy of https://archeology.uark.edu/)" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Julie Morrow, an expert on Clovis and Paleo indigenous people, will present at the Burlington Heritage Museum on June 25. (Photo courtesy of https://archeology.uark.edu/)</figcaption>
 </figure>On Saturday, June 25, the Burlington Heritage Museum will be the site of an exciting presentation about the early Paleo people in Iowa. Dr. Julie Morrow, Ph.D., will describe the most mysterious and fascinating journey ever taken in the history of humankind.About 14,000 years ago, an Ice Age hunting culture and their canine companions began exploring the Icy Corridor and mountains of western North America. By 12,900 BCE, they had made it to the tip of South America. Rare campsites and a few dozen mammoth kills are all that remain to reconstruct their lifeway. This is the story of the origins and lifeways of the Clovis people who successfully colonized the New World.Dr. Julie Morrow, Ph.D., is an adjunct professor for the Arkansas Archeological Survey and The University of Arkansas System, as well as an acclaimed archeologist and expert on Clovis and Paleo indigenous peoples. She has worked extensively at sites in Iowa and across the country.&nbsp;Dr. Morrow’s presentation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Attendees are advised to use the Columbia Street entrance (with the blue awning). The event is free and open to the public; seating is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.