William Smith Community Editor Rheinschmidt's Flooring America co-owner Michelle Russell was recently featured in an issue of Floor Covering Weekly – a national trade publication. In the article, Russell recalls that she was working in healthcare when she met her now-business partner Jim Rheinschmidt while caring for his mother. The relationship she built there ended up paving the way for a 29-year (and counting) career in the flooring industry. “It goes to show how building relationships is really what this industry is about,” she said in the Floor Covering Weekly article. “We built a relationship because the company I worked for took care of his mom, he liked me and so he took a chance and said, ‘Come work for me.’ Now, I own 75 percent of the company.” While Russell didn’t come into the industry armed with knowledge about flooring, she learned on the job, took community college courses on graphic engineering and design, and became a design consultant.&nbsp; “I came in and I instantly loved it,” she said. In addition to her experience in healthcare, Russell also worked in restaurants and hospitality for more than a decade. “I knew a lot of people in the community. I knew I loved being around people and working with people,” she said. Jim Rheinschmidt had nothing but praise for Russell when asked why she’s such an asset to the business.&nbsp; He said they share similar thoughts on ways of doing business. “She’s been very valuable to the business because of her honesty and her trustworthiness,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/6/1654101864040.jpeg" alt="Jim Rheinschmidt and Michelle Russell of Rheinschmidt's Flooring America. (Submitted photo)&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Jim Rheinschmidt and Michelle Russell of Rheinschmidt's Flooring America. (Submitted photo)&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>William Smith Community Editor Rheinschmidt's Flooring America co-owner Michelle Russell was recently featured in an issue of Floor Covering Weekly – a national trade publication. In the article, Russell recalls that she was working in healthcare when she met her now-business partner Jim Rheinschmidt while caring for his mother. The relationship she built there ended up paving the way for a 29-year (and counting) career in the flooring industry. “It goes to show how building relationships is really what this industry is about,” she said in the Floor Covering Weekly article. “We built a relationship because the company I worked for took care of his mom, he liked me and so he took a chance and said, ‘Come work for me.’ Now, I own 75 percent of the company.” While Russell didn’t come into the industry armed with knowledge about flooring, she learned on the job, took community college courses on graphic engineering and design, and became a design consultant.&nbsp; “I came in and I instantly loved it,” she said. In addition to her experience in healthcare, Russell also worked in restaurants and hospitality for more than a decade. “I knew a lot of people in the community. I knew I loved being around people and working with people,” she said. Jim Rheinschmidt had nothing but praise for Russell when asked why she’s such an asset to the business.&nbsp; He said they share similar thoughts on ways of doing business. “She’s been very valuable to the business because of her honesty and her trustworthiness,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Michelle Russell of Rheinschmidt's Featured in National Publication

John Bohnenkamp for The Beacon

Andrew Dillman said he was “on the gas” for the last lap and a half of Saturday’s Men’s Category 1-2 Pro Race at the Snake Alley Criterium. Head down, Dillman didn’t want to know what was going on behind him. Finally, heading down N. 4th Street for the final stretch, Dillman peeked back. And kept peeking. He saw nothing but an empty street. “I was like, ‘I think I got it,’” Dillman said. He had it. Dillman was able to coast to victory in the return of one of the nation’s most iconic cycling events. It was the first Criterium since 2019 — the event had been canceled the last two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And even with a different course than usual, the Criterium’s return was welcomed. “I missed it,” said veteran cyclist Charles Townsend, who has been at the Criterium 20 times and won his 11th title on Saturday. “I totally missed it. Things aren’t totally normal. But it’s good to get a race again.” Dillman had been to the Criterium before — he has two wins in the Juniors events and his last appearance, he guessed, was in 2013 before he decided to pursue a mountain-biking career. “Long time ago,” he said. “I tried to race mountain bikes, but it didn’t work. This is a lot better.” Dillman was part of an 8-racer pack for most of the race. He decided to attack with two laps to go when his Texas Roadhouse teammate, Cade Bickmore, led the pack heading into Snake Alley. “We had just seen the two-to-go, and heading into the downhills I saw (Bickmore) go,” Dillman said. “Right before I hit the Snake, I made a move. I knew if I got past him, he would sit up. I went into the Snake full-blast, and I’m pretty sure he was sitting right behind me. I knew a gap opened, and I didn’t look back." “I was a hundred percent committed. I figured if they did catch me, Cade would have a good chance. He won the sprint last night, he had fresh legs, I figured if this didn’t work, he’s going to win. So it was kind of like, win or win.” Dillman then kept his sprint going, worrying that he was eventually going to be caught. “I was thinking they were on my tail, they were going to pass me any second,” Dillman said. “So I was like, don’t look back.” The perfect feeling was seeing nothing behind him. “Oh, dude, yeah,” he said. “I was pretty sure they were coming. I was hurting because I had been full-tilt for about six minutes.” It was a big weekend for the Texas Roadhouse team. Bickmore won the Pro 1-2 race in the Friday Night Fever event and finished second behind Dillman on Saturday. “You guys are elite,” third-place ride Conor White said to the two as they came to the podium.

This year, the Criterium was held on a new course because of street construction in downtown Burlington. This course was 1.56 miles long, instead of the original downtown course which was 9/10 of a mile. Instead of the Sixth Street hill before going up Snake Alley, racers headed down Washington Street and made a right-hand turn onto Snake Alley. Once up to the top of Snake Alley, the racers headed north on Sixth Street, took a right-hand turn, and went one block on High Street to N. 5th Street. A left-hand turn sent the racers up 5th Street with a right-hand turn onto North Street, then another right-hand turn back down 4th Street to the start/finish line. “This course kind of suits the littler dudes like me,” said Daniel Casper, who won three races this weekend — the Masters 50-plus race in the Friday Night Fever event, and then the Masters 40-plus and 50-plus races on Saturday. “Some of the guys I’m racing against, they could smoke me in a sprint. But the Snake kind of gives the little guys a chance." “Last night was deceptively hard because you were climbing going to the north. I thought it would be like that today, but the wind was pushing us up. You still have a significant climb going into the Snake on the old course, so you’re taxed already. With this, you’re shooting into the Snake with more speed.” “The only difference was Snake Alley was maybe a little bit easier,” said Townsend, who won the Masters 60-plus title. “We came in so hard on the switchback, you actually had to scrub off a little speed going into Snake Alley.” Asked which course he liked better, Dillman laughed. “You know, I won,” he said. “Honestly, I liked the old course, because I think we climbed more. For me, that’s better. These two long straightaways made it a long course.” Dillman said the rise heading up 5th Street played to his advantage. “A lot of guys were gassed from coming up Snake Alley,” he said. “You come here to ride the Snake, so I want to ride it. I’d rather do 30 laps, and go up the hill 30 times, versus 15 long laps.” The 1-2 Pro race was only 15 laps, but it was the longest race in Criterium history. “So that’s pretty cool,” Dillman said. Other winners for the weekend: • Riley Troyer won the Category 3 race in the Friday Night Fever event. Morgan Hendricks won the Cat 4 race and Kevin Wohlford won the 60-plus event. • Saturday’s winners included Connell Alford (juniors 15-16 boys), Stella Powell (juniors 15-16 girls), Hunter Post (juniors 17-18 boys), Jim Bethea (Category 5), Braden Reitz (Category 4), and Dillon McNeill (Category 3). • Nick Carter won the Open Division of the Cobble Climb, setting a new record with a climb of 26.62 seconds. Ansel DeJong won the 14-18 age category.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Editor's note: Results from the women's events will be covered in a separate story.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/5/1653866752748.jpeg" alt="Andrew Dillman crosses the finish line in first place at the end of the Men's Category 1-2 Pro Race on Saturday, May 28. (Photo courtesy of Keith Turrill)" />
 <figcaption>Andrew Dillman crosses the finish line in first place at the end of the Men's Category 1-2 Pro Race on Saturday, May 28. (Photo courtesy of Keith Turrill)</figcaption>
 </figure>John Bohnenkamp for The BeaconAndrew Dillman said he was “on the gas” for the last lap and a half of Saturday’s Men’s Category 1-2 Pro Race at the Snake Alley Criterium. Head down, Dillman didn’t want to know what was going on behind him. Finally, heading down N. 4th Street for the final stretch, Dillman peeked back. And kept peeking. He saw nothing but an empty street. “I was like, ‘I think I got it,’” Dillman said. He had it. Dillman was able to coast to victory in the return of one of the nation’s most iconic cycling events. It was the first Criterium since 2019 — the event had been canceled the last two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And even with a different course than usual, the Criterium’s return was welcomed. “I missed it,” said veteran cyclist Charles Townsend, who has been at the Criterium 20 times and won his 11th title on Saturday. “I totally missed it. Things aren’t totally normal. But it’s good to get a race again.” Dillman had been to the Criterium before — he has two wins in the Juniors events and his last appearance, he guessed, was in 2013 before he decided to pursue a mountain-biking career. “Long time ago,” he said. “I tried to race mountain bikes, but it didn’t work. This is a lot better.” Dillman was part of an 8-racer pack for most of the race. He decided to attack with two laps to go when his Texas Roadhouse teammate, Cade Bickmore, led the pack heading into Snake Alley. “We had just seen the two-to-go, and heading into the downhills I saw (Bickmore) go,” Dillman said. “Right before I hit the Snake, I made a move. I knew if I got past him, he would sit up. I went into the Snake full-blast, and I’m pretty sure he was sitting right behind me. I knew a gap opened, and I didn’t look back." “I was a hundred percent committed. I figured if they did catch me, Cade would have a good chance. He won the sprint last night, he had fresh legs, I figured if this didn’t work, he’s going to win. So it was kind of like, win or win.” Dillman then kept his sprint going, worrying that he was eventually going to be caught. “I was thinking they were on my tail, they were going to pass me any second,” Dillman said. “So I was like, don’t look back.” The perfect feeling was seeing nothing behind him. “Oh, dude, yeah,” he said. “I was pretty sure they were coming. I was hurting because I had been full-tilt for about six minutes.” It was a big weekend for the Texas Roadhouse team. Bickmore won the Pro 1-2 race in the Friday Night Fever event and finished second behind Dillman on Saturday. “You guys are elite,” third-place ride Conor White said to the two as they came to the podium.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/5/1653866817936.jpeg" alt="Cade Bickmore-2nd Place (left), Andrew Dillman-1st place (center), and Conor White-3rd Place (right) celebrate their wins atop the podium at the 2022 Snake Alley Criterium. (Photo courtesy of Keith Turrill)" />
 <figcaption>Cade Bickmore-2nd Place (left), Andrew Dillman-1st place (center), and Conor White-3rd Place (right) celebrate their wins atop the podium at the 2022 Snake Alley Criterium. (Photo courtesy of Keith Turrill)</figcaption>
 </figure>This year, the Criterium was held on a new course because of street construction in downtown Burlington. This course was 1.56 miles long, instead of the original downtown course which was 9/10 of a mile. Instead of the Sixth Street hill before going up Snake Alley, racers headed down Washington Street and made a right-hand turn onto Snake Alley. Once up to the top of Snake Alley, the racers headed north on Sixth Street, took a right-hand turn, and went one block on High Street to N. 5th Street. A left-hand turn sent the racers up 5th Street with a right-hand turn onto North Street, then another right-hand turn back down 4th Street to the start/finish line. “This course kind of suits the littler dudes like me,” said Daniel Casper, who won three races this weekend — the Masters 50-plus race in the Friday Night Fever event, and then the Masters 40-plus and 50-plus races on Saturday. “Some of the guys I’m racing against, they could smoke me in a sprint. But the Snake kind of gives the little guys a chance." “Last night was deceptively hard because you were climbing going to the north. I thought it would be like that today, but the wind was pushing us up. You still have a significant climb going into the Snake on the old course, so you’re taxed already. With this, you’re shooting into the Snake with more speed.” “The only difference was Snake Alley was maybe a little bit easier,” said Townsend, who won the Masters 60-plus title. “We came in so hard on the switchback, you actually had to scrub off a little speed going into Snake Alley.” Asked which course he liked better, Dillman laughed. “You know, I won,” he said. “Honestly, I liked the old course, because I think we climbed more. For me, that’s better. These two long straightaways made it a long course.” Dillman said the rise heading up 5th Street played to his advantage. “A lot of guys were gassed from coming up Snake Alley,” he said. “You come here to ride the Snake, so I want to ride it. I’d rather do 30 laps, and go up the hill 30 times, versus 15 long laps.” The 1-2 Pro race was only 15 laps, but it was the longest race in Criterium history. “So that’s pretty cool,” Dillman said. Other winners for the weekend: • Riley Troyer won the Category 3 race in the Friday Night Fever event. Morgan Hendricks won the Cat 4 race and Kevin Wohlford won the 60-plus event. • Saturday’s winners included Connell Alford (juniors 15-16 boys), Stella Powell (juniors 15-16 girls), Hunter Post (juniors 17-18 boys), Jim Bethea (Category 5), Braden Reitz (Category 4), and Dillon McNeill (Category 3). • Nick Carter won the Open Division of the Cobble Climb, setting a new record with a climb of 26.62 seconds. Ansel DeJong won the 14-18 age category.&nbsp;&nbsp;Editor's note: Results from the women's events will be covered in a separate story.

Dillman Celebrates Victory in Men's Pro Race as Criterium Returns to Burlington

William Smith Community Editor There wasn’t nearly as much room to park at this year’s Kiwanis Pancake Day breakfast this year, due to ongoing construction. But that didn’t seem to hamper attendance one bit, thanks to the perfect weather and city shuttle bus that continually brought in more customers. The line of hungry patrons stretched outside the Port door into the Memorial Auditorium parking lot Saturday morning, moving quickly inside as an assembly line of volunteer Kiwanis cooks poured pancake mix onto flattop grills. Two hours into the four-hour meal, nearly every table inside and outside the port building was filled by locals and out-of-town visitors. Some were sticking around to watch the Snake Alley Criterium, which returned to Burlington for the first time since 2019. Others simply wanted to grab a good breakfast for a good cause. “The pancakes are even better this year than they ever have been,” said Burlington resident Jacquilyn Lane. Lane figures she’s been a regular at the pancake breakfast for the past 22 years, and she never attends it alone. She brought an entourage of roughly 15 people this year – mostly family. “My grandpa started bringing us, then my parents. Now we’re older, and we bring our own family,” she said. Mike Palmer, Middletown, was hand-feeding pancakes to his toddler son Dawson Palmer inside the Port building. Jake seemed to be enjoying the food as much as his father, ready for the next bite within a few seconds. “The pancakes are amazing every year,” Mike Palmer said. Since 1989, the annual Kiwanis Pancake Day fundraiser has fed untold thousands of locals and visitors over Memorial Day weekend. More than 100 Kiwanis volunteers were cooking food, busing tables, and setting up equipment. “We normally feed about 3,000 people. And of course, it’s all you can eat pancakes, sausage, coffee, and orange juice,” said event chairman George Rinker. Rinker doesn’t know how many pancakes are served, but he does keep track of what it takes to make them – roughly 650 pounds of pancake mix and 1,000 pounds of sausage. “It’s our largest fundraiser, and the funds that we raise are all used to support community families,” Rinker said. “We are not sending money hundreds of miles away. Everything we get is spent locally, to improve children’s lives in our community.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/5/1653779959661.jpeg" alt="Jake Moser, 2, digs into a plate of pancakes at the annual Kiwanis Pancake Day breakfast fundraiser Saturday, May 28, at the Port of Burlington. (William Smith/The Burlington Beacon)" />
 <figcaption>Jake Moser, 2, digs into a plate of pancakes at the annual Kiwanis Pancake Day breakfast fundraiser Saturday, May 28, at the Port of Burlington. (William Smith/The Burlington Beacon)</figcaption>
 </figure>William Smith Community Editor There wasn’t nearly as much room to park at this year’s Kiwanis Pancake Day breakfast this year, due to ongoing construction. But that didn’t seem to hamper attendance one bit, thanks to the perfect weather and city shuttle bus that continually brought in more customers. The line of hungry patrons stretched outside the Port door into the Memorial Auditorium parking lot Saturday morning, moving quickly inside as an assembly line of volunteer Kiwanis cooks poured pancake mix onto flattop grills. Two hours into the four-hour meal, nearly every table inside and outside the port building was filled by locals and out-of-town visitors. Some were sticking around to watch the Snake Alley Criterium, which returned to Burlington for the first time since 2019. Others simply wanted to grab a good breakfast for a good cause. “The pancakes are even better this year than they ever have been,” said Burlington resident Jacquilyn Lane. Lane figures she’s been a regular at the pancake breakfast for the past 22 years, and she never attends it alone. She brought an entourage of roughly 15 people this year – mostly family. “My grandpa started bringing us, then my parents. Now we’re older, and we bring our own family,” she said. Mike Palmer, Middletown, was hand-feeding pancakes to his toddler son Dawson Palmer inside the Port building. Jake seemed to be enjoying the food as much as his father, ready for the next bite within a few seconds. “The pancakes are amazing every year,” Mike Palmer said. Since 1989, the annual Kiwanis Pancake Day fundraiser has fed untold thousands of locals and visitors over Memorial Day weekend. More than 100 Kiwanis volunteers were cooking food, busing tables, and setting up equipment. “We normally feed about 3,000 people. And of course, it’s all you can eat pancakes, sausage, coffee, and orange juice,” said event chairman George Rinker. Rinker doesn’t know how many pancakes are served, but he does keep track of what it takes to make them – roughly 650 pounds of pancake mix and 1,000 pounds of sausage. “It’s our largest fundraiser, and the funds that we raise are all used to support community families,” Rinker said. “We are not sending money hundreds of miles away. Everything we get is spent locally, to improve children’s lives in our community.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Perfect Weather for Perfect Pancakes

Two champions from their respective conferences locked horns — and legs — Tuesday in a varsity girls soccer match at Harold Tackleson Field.

Host Notre Dame/West Burlington/Danville took a 2-0 lead into intermission against intracity rival Burlington High School. Then, Julianna Hill put the ball into the back of the net for the Nikes with less than two minutes gone in the second half, and the Nikes held on for a 3-1 victory.

It was the final regular season match for both schools, but it was also the 100th career victory for Notre Dame coach Todd Ackerman.&nbsp;

He has coached eight seasons, not counting the lost 2020 season due to COVID.

The Notre Dame senior and junior players presented Ackerman with a photo banner after the match.

On tonight (Friday, May 20), the Nikes and Grayhounds opened post-season play in the same Class 2A Region 8.

Notre Dame (8-7), which had slipped by Mount Pleasant 4-3 Monday, plays Central DeWitt (4-12) at 6 tonight at home in a Class 2A Region 8 contest.

The winner plays next Tuesday at 5 p.m. at North Scott, which drew a bye.

Burlington (10-5) hosts Clinton (3-9) in the bottom of that break at 6 p.m. Friday, with the winner playing Mount Vernon and Cornell University’s soccer field next Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Notre Dame dominated the first 25 minutes or so of the first half with Burlington not getting the ball into the Nikes’ end of the field often.

Hill then broke the shutout with 10:15 left in the half, booting the ball over the Burlington keeper’s head.

Burlington finally got a chance at a scoring threat at the nine-minute mark, but a Grayhound was offside, nullifying a score.

Hadley Augustine of Notre Dame found the far left side of the net with 5:31 left in the first half and the 2-0 lead held up.

Hill’s shot with 38:11 left in the second half made for a difficult task for Burlington.

Notre Dame goalkeeper Ava Rashid, who finished with five saves on the night, had her biggest one at 35:10. She punched a Burlington player’s shot into the air and behind the net.

With 28 minutes left in the match, Jenna Hentzel finally got BHS on the board. Hunter Pender passed the ball to Hentzel inside the box, and Rashid came out for the stop. But Hentzel had a clear shot to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Grayhounds were unable to score again, and the Nikes won the match.

Notre Dame finished with 13 shots on goal, and Burlington had six.

Notre Dame had been on a four-game losing streak due to three strong out-of-state schools in the Adidas Tournament to the end of April.

“We’ve been playing a little better with each game,” Ackerman said. “We started with a loss to Iowa City Regina,” he said of a 4-1 road defeat.

This past Monday, Notre Dame played better and led Mount Pleasant 4-1 before settling for a 4-3 victory.

“We kind of let them back in,” Ackerman said.

The girls had a strong regular-season finish.

“I think we dominated the game tonight,” Ackerman said of the Burlington contest.

“We played really well. We’re starting to pick up our stride a little bit.”

Ackerman said he was glad the team didn’t let Burlington back into the contest as it did with the Panthers.

“We had a little better control of the game,” he said. “I was very proud of the girls, coming out on Senior Night ... It was an emotional night.”

Off to the races: Burlington High School’s Sophie Brown (4) and Burlington Notre Dame senior Lexi Mears (3) chase the soccer ball downfield. The two local teams played in a varsity girls match Tuesday, with the Notre Dame/West Burlington/Danville team beating the Grayhounds 3-1.&nbsp;Photo by Chris Faulkner&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/5/1653171473572.jpeg" alt="Burlington Notre Dame/West Burlington/Danville’s Julianna Hill challenges Burlington High School’s Josephine Blazic in a varsity girls soccer match Tuesday night at Notre Dame’s Harold Tackleson Field. Hill scored two goals as the Nikes beat the Grayhounds 3-1." />
 <figcaption>Burlington Notre Dame/West Burlington/Danville’s Julianna Hill challenges Burlington High School’s Josephine Blazic in a varsity girls soccer match Tuesday night at Notre Dame’s Harold Tackleson Field. Hill scored two goals as the Nikes beat the Grayhounds 3-1.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By Chris Faulkner&nbsp;for The BeaconTwo champions from their respective conferences locked horns — and legs — Tuesday in a varsity girls soccer match at Harold Tackleson Field.Host Notre Dame/West Burlington/Danville took a 2-0 lead into intermission against intracity rival Burlington High School. Then, Julianna Hill put the ball into the back of the net for the Nikes with less than two minutes gone in the second half, and the Nikes held on for a 3-1 victory.It was the final regular season match for both schools, but it was also the 100th career victory for Notre Dame coach Todd Ackerman.&nbsp;He has coached eight seasons, not counting the lost 2020 season due to COVID.The Notre Dame senior and junior players presented Ackerman with a photo banner after the match.On tonight (Friday, May 20), the Nikes and Grayhounds opened post-season play in the same Class 2A Region 8.Notre Dame (8-7), which had slipped by Mount Pleasant 4-3 Monday, plays Central DeWitt (4-12) at 6 tonight at home in a Class 2A Region 8 contest.The winner plays next Tuesday at 5 p.m. at North Scott, which drew a bye.Burlington (10-5) hosts Clinton (3-9) in the bottom of that break at 6 p.m. Friday, with the winner playing Mount Vernon and Cornell University’s soccer field next Tuesday at 5 p.m.Nikes dominatematch earlyNotre Dame dominated the first 25 minutes or so of the first half with Burlington not getting the ball into the Nikes’ end of the field often.Hill then broke the shutout with 10:15 left in the half, booting the ball over the Burlington keeper’s head.Burlington finally got a chance at a scoring threat at the nine-minute mark, but a Grayhound was offside, nullifying a score.Hadley Augustine of Notre Dame found the far left side of the net with 5:31 left in the first half and the 2-0 lead held up.Hill’s shot with 38:11 left in the second half made for a difficult task for Burlington.Notre Dame goalkeeper Ava Rashid, who finished with five saves on the night, had her biggest one at 35:10. She punched a Burlington player’s shot into the air and behind the net.With 28 minutes left in the match, Jenna Hentzel finally got BHS on the board. Hunter Pender passed the ball to Hentzel inside the box, and Rashid came out for the stop. But Hentzel had a clear shot to cut the lead to 3-1.The Grayhounds were unable to score again, and the Nikes won the match.Notre Dame finished with 13 shots on goal, and Burlington had six.Notre Dame had been on a four-game losing streak due to three strong out-of-state schools in the Adidas Tournament to the end of April.Then came a nine-day layoff.“We’ve been playing a little better with each game,” Ackerman said. “We started with a loss to Iowa City Regina,” he said of a 4-1 road defeat.This past Monday, Notre Dame played better and led Mount Pleasant 4-1 before settling for a 4-3 victory.“We kind of let them back in,” Ackerman said.The girls had a strong regular-season finish.“I think we dominated the game tonight,” Ackerman said of the Burlington contest.“We played really well. We’re starting to pick up our stride a little bit.”Ackerman said he was glad the team didn’t let Burlington back into the contest as it did with the Panthers.“We had a little better control of the game,” he said. “I was very proud of the girls, coming out on Senior Night ... It was an emotional night.”<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/5/1653171586740.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Off to the races: Burlington High School’s Sophie Brown (4) and Burlington Notre Dame senior Lexi Mears (3) chase the soccer ball downfield. The two local teams played in a varsity girls match Tuesday, with the Notre Dame/West Burlington/Danville team beating the Grayhounds 3-1.&nbsp;Photo by Chris Faulkner&nbsp;

Intracity rivals take it to the net

Erin Dop of Fullenkamp Insurance Agency has received the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation through The Institutes, a professional development organization for property-casualty insurance. The CPCU holders obtain the designation by proving their specialized knowledge of property-casualty insurance, risk management techniques, and insurance underwriting principles. It is widely considered the most distinguished designation offered in the insurance industry.&nbsp;

Erin is a third-generation insurance professional for Fullenkamp Insurance Agency. She joins the current president of the agency, Chris Fullenkamp, and former owners Carol Fullenkamp and the late Ron Fullenkamp in obtaining this esteemed designation. Erin began her career as a commercial underwriter after completing her college education at The University of Iowa in 2015.&nbsp; At United Fire Group, Erin saw value in broadening her insurance knowledge and obtained two other designations during her time there. Upon her return to Lee County in 2018, she quickly became a licensed agent in multiple lines of insurance for the agency and obtained an additional insurance designation.

The agency principals, Chris Fullenkamp and Jill Garmoe, encourage employees to continuously grow their knowledge of the insurance industry so that they will be better able to assist clients in making their coverage decisions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/5/1652758390739.jpeg" alt="Erin Dop of Fullenkamp Insurance Agency" />
 <figcaption>Erin Dop of Fullenkamp Insurance Agency</figcaption>
 </figure>Erin Dop of Fullenkamp Insurance Agency has received the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation through The Institutes, a professional development organization for property-casualty insurance. The CPCU holders obtain the designation by proving their specialized knowledge of property-casualty insurance, risk management techniques, and insurance underwriting principles. It is widely considered the most distinguished designation offered in the insurance industry.&nbsp;Erin is a third-generation insurance professional for Fullenkamp Insurance Agency. She joins the current president of the agency, Chris Fullenkamp, and former owners Carol Fullenkamp and the late Ron Fullenkamp in obtaining this esteemed designation. Erin began her career as a commercial underwriter after completing her college education at The University of Iowa in 2015.&nbsp; At United Fire Group, Erin saw value in broadening her insurance knowledge and obtained two other designations during her time there. Upon her return to Lee County in 2018, she quickly became a licensed agent in multiple lines of insurance for the agency and obtained an additional insurance designation.The agency principals, Chris Fullenkamp and Jill Garmoe, encourage employees to continuously grow their knowledge of the insurance industry so that they will be better able to assist clients in making their coverage decisions.

Dop of Fullenkamp Insurance Receives Designation

By Beacon Staff Former U.S. representative Dave Loebsack and former state senator Tom Courtney were honored with 2021 Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Awards during the annual Des Moines County Democratic Party Hall of Fame Dinner Tuesday, May 10 at the Pzazz Convention and Event Center. Loebsack represented Iowa’s second congressional district from 2007 to 2021, while Courtney represented district 44 from 2003 until 2017. The 2020 winners of the Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Awards –&nbsp; Lyn Stinson, Olive Sullivan, Dick Mellinger, and DiAnne Lerud-Chubb –&nbsp; were also recognized. Former Des Moines County Supervisor Bob Beck was awarded as the Dedicated Elected Official of 2021, and Jacob Nye was awarded the Dune Kline Friend of Labor award.&nbsp; During the event, Courtney offered a remembrance for staunch Democratic supporter Elaine Baxter, who died in March of 2021. Baxter was the first woman to sit on the Burlington City Council. Iowa Rep. Dennis Cohoon was the keynote speaker for the evening. Other speakers included gubernatorial candidate Deirdre DeJear, U.S. Rep. Candidate Christina Bohannan, U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer, Secretary of State candidate Eric Van Lancker, and Secretary of Agriculture candidate John Norwood. Due to COVID-19, the annual event was not held in 2020 or 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;

By Beacon Staff Former U.S. representative Dave Loebsack and former state senator Tom Courtney were honored with 2021 Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Awards during the annual Des Moines County Democratic Party Hall of Fame Dinner Tuesday, May 10 at the Pzazz Convention and Event Center. Loebsack represented Iowa’s second congressional district from 2007 to 2021, while Courtney represented district 44 from 2003 until 2017. The 2020 winners of the Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Awards –&nbsp; Lyn Stinson, Olive Sullivan, Dick Mellinger, and DiAnne Lerud-Chubb –&nbsp; were also recognized. Former Des Moines County Supervisor Bob Beck was awarded as the Dedicated Elected Official of 2021, and Jacob Nye was awarded the Dune Kline Friend of Labor award.&nbsp; During the event, Courtney offered a remembrance for staunch Democratic supporter Elaine Baxter, who died in March of 2021. Baxter was the first woman to sit on the Burlington City Council. Iowa Rep. Dennis Cohoon was the keynote speaker for the evening. Other speakers included gubernatorial candidate Deirdre DeJear, U.S. Rep. Candidate Christina Bohannan, U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer, Secretary of State candidate Eric Van Lancker, and Secretary of Agriculture candidate John Norwood. Due to COVID-19, the annual event was not held in 2020 or 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Loebsack and Courtney Honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards at Democratic Hall of Fame Dinner

By Beacon Staff Non-certified staff in the Burlington School District will now receive bonuses if they stay at the school through October. The Burlington School Board voted 5-1 during the May 9 school board to pay the non-certified staff the bonuses, which will be equivalent to an average of three days' pay for that particular job. The staff must have started at the district by Oct. 1 of last year to qualify. The move by the school board comes after Gov. Kim Reynolds approved a plan to pay retention bonuses to teachers earlier this year. On March 28, the school board voted to provide a $1,000 retention bonus to 40 certified school district staff members who weren’t covered by the $1,000 bonuses offered by Reynolds. Just over 250 teachers received bonuses, including the 40 who weren't covered by the governor's plan. Those teacher bonuses, which have already been awarded, cost the school district roughly $43,000, with the money coming from the school’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. The bonuses for non-certified staff will cost the district about $135,000 and will be paid using Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds. All non-certified district employees who meet the requirement will receive the bonuses, except for substitute teachers.&nbsp;&nbsp; About 345 non-certified staff will receive the bonuses.&nbsp;&nbsp;

By Beacon Staff Non-certified staff in the Burlington School District will now receive bonuses if they stay at the school through October. The Burlington School Board voted 5-1 during the May 9 school board to pay the non-certified staff the bonuses, which will be equivalent to an average of three days' pay for that particular job. The staff must have started at the district by Oct. 1 of last year to qualify. The move by the school board comes after Gov. Kim Reynolds approved a plan to pay retention bonuses to teachers earlier this year. On March 28, the school board voted to provide a $1,000 retention bonus to 40 certified school district staff members who weren’t covered by the $1,000 bonuses offered by Reynolds. Just over 250 teachers received bonuses, including the 40 who weren't covered by the governor's plan. Those teacher bonuses, which have already been awarded, cost the school district roughly $43,000, with the money coming from the school’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. The bonuses for non-certified staff will cost the district about $135,000 and will be paid using Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds. All non-certified district employees who meet the requirement will receive the bonuses, except for substitute teachers.&nbsp;&nbsp; About 345 non-certified staff will receive the bonuses.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bonuses Approved for Non-Certified Staff at Burlington Schools

By Beacon Staff Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center lost primary power for about three hours and 40 minutes Wednesday (May 11), but the outage did not impact patient care. John Mercer, director of facilities at Great River Health, said the backup generator immediately kicked on, providing power to the most critical parts of the hospital involving patient care. “We have many areas of the hospital that we have to have on backup power,” he said. Mercer said the cause was an equipment malfunction. “We had an issue inside of our main switchgear, which is where the main power comes into the facility,” he said. “We had a wire that came into contact with the switching mechanism.” By 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night, power had been fully restored. Mercer said power outages do occur on occasion, though it’s usually an issue outside of the hospital. “This happened to be right where the internal met the external, in the switchgear.&nbsp; It’s not very common, but it does happen,” he said. Mercer said there have been no lingering problems from the outage. “We tested all of our systems to make sure everything is operating properly. And everything is,” Mercer said. “There were no adverse patient events. No one was harmed. And that is always our goal.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

By Beacon Staff Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center lost primary power for about three hours and 40 minutes Wednesday (May 11), but the outage did not impact patient care. John Mercer, director of facilities at Great River Health, said the backup generator immediately kicked on, providing power to the most critical parts of the hospital involving patient care. “We have many areas of the hospital that we have to have on backup power,” he said. Mercer said the cause was an equipment malfunction. “We had an issue inside of our main switchgear, which is where the main power comes into the facility,” he said. “We had a wire that came into contact with the switching mechanism.” By 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night, power had been fully restored. Mercer said power outages do occur on occasion, though it’s usually an issue outside of the hospital. “This happened to be right where the internal met the external, in the switchgear.&nbsp; It’s not very common, but it does happen,” he said. Mercer said there have been no lingering problems from the outage. “We tested all of our systems to make sure everything is operating properly. And everything is,” Mercer said. “There were no adverse patient events. No one was harmed. And that is always our goal.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

No Complications From Power Outage at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center Wednesday

City Wide Yard Sales will be held June 10, 11, and 12 in the city of Burlington. The cost to have a yard sale listing published in The Beacon is only $10. This listing will include address, dates, and times and will appear in both the June 3 and June 10 issues. A handy map will be included in the June 10 issue. 

A form to clip out and mail is available in all issues of The Beacon published in May. For those wishing to pay online, ad information and payment may also be submitted at the following link: <a href="https://form.jotform.com/221075343143042">City Wide Yard Sales</a>.

The deadline to submit ads and payment is Friday, May 27 at 4 p.m.

City Wide Yard Sales will be held June 10, 11, and 12 in the city of Burlington. The cost to have a yard sale listing published in The Beacon is only $10. This listing will include address, dates, and times and will appear in both the June 3 and June 10 issues. A handy map will be included in the June 10 issue. A form to clip out and mail is available in all issues of The Beacon published in May. For those wishing to pay online, ad information and payment may also be submitted at the following link: <a href="https://form.jotform.com/221075343143042">City Wide Yard Sales</a>.The deadline to submit ads and payment is Friday, May 27 at 4 p.m.

Burlington City Wide Yard Sales

William Smith Community Editor

Finding homes for the homeless in Burlington is a monumental task, and Craig Fenton, Transitions DMC director, is ready to take it head-on.

But as he acknowledged during a recent meeting with Burlington and Des Moines County representatives in the Burlington City Council chambers, he’s going to need some help.&nbsp;

Fenton, the president and founder of the recently opened Transitions DMC homeless shelter on Main Street, summed up Burlington’s homeless situation with a presentation on April 28 that focused not only on the number of homeless but the everyday challenges they face. Under HUD guidelines, Fenton said roughly 100 people qualify for Transitions’ 13 beds.&nbsp;

“There are 20 to 25 people that are considered homeless every night, unable to be served by our facility or any other facility in town. These are the people who are on the park benches, underneath the bridges. They are in camps around town and in various drug houses that are not meant for habitation,” Fenton said.

There are roughly 200 children in the Burlington School District who are considered homeless, according to the guideline of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

“Under that act, the definition of homelessness is, they can be sleeping on couches, they can be living in houses or buildings not meant for habitation, they can be sleeping under bridges, they can be just about any place,” Fenton said. “In general, those children are in a location where they do not have a custodial adult likely present. Or if there is a custodial adult, that adult is homeless, also.”&nbsp;

The solution, he said, lies in housing. Exactly what kind of housing could be determined by a commission that was just starting to form as the meeting ended. The possibility of a tiny house village was brought up by Fenton, and Mayor Jon Billups said it might be more cost-effective to buy a Burlington motel and transform it into apartments for the needy. Other buildings across town could be possible for renovation into apartments, as well.

Fenton said all ideas are on the table at this point. The goal is to use housing vouchers like Section 8 housing, VA homeless vouchers, and other funding to keep housing costs below 30 percent of a person’s or family’s income.&nbsp;

He noted that people are already trying to help the homeless on their own time, though the results aren’t always positive.

“There are at least a dozen Facebook groups alone that are following the movements of these people around town. Sometimes, they get it right, and they use the right name,” Fenton said. “A lot of times they are getting it wrong, and they are making that person look bad because they happen to be doing similar activities.”

Fenton said improving the rent-assisted housing is just the first step, though. Without supportive services, many don’t have the financial literacy or capacity to hang on to that living space. Many homeless suffer from mental illness, including military veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder.

That results in police, fire, and the hospital being overused by homeless citizens, who often have nowhere else to turn. Police regularly drop them off at the Transitions DMC homeless shelter, and caseworkers there attempt to help them form a long-term plan. That includes using the shelter as a mailing address, so they can receive some government assistance.

“Homeless shelters are for emergency purposes and have a limited number of days. We’re not going to be able to help everybody unless we keep people moving through the shelter,” Fenton said.

Fenton explained how the process at the shelter works and said there is no shortage of people using it.

“Our main goal right now is to get someone off the street, help them get their ID, help them get their food stamps, their Title 19 card, whatever they are missing,” he said. “If they are employable, we give them to the temp services or go out for interviews. Once they secure that job, then the goal is to find housing for them.”&nbsp;

To combat homelessness beyond the shelter, Fenton suggested a multi-disciplinary team of agencies that can work toward tiny homes or rehab projects turned into housing. That includes community and development planners, grant writers, social services agencies, the housing authority, homeless shelters, legal services, and charitable groups.

If tiny homes are the way to go, Fenton is hoping to build on donated land with donated materials and labor. He said those units are generally managed by not-for-profit groups since the people they are helping often can’t get subsidized housing due to background issues. Transitions DMC could provide maintenance, support services, and rent collection.

He said the selection of tenants should be done through a committee of stakeholders, with input from police and jail diversion.

“There could be two tracks on the tiny home thing,” city manager Chad Bird said. “It could be a year or less (stay) through transitional, or it could be a tiny home campus where that’s just where (the formerly homeless) are. Maybe it’s one to two or three years, where they are in a little larger tiny home that is self-contained.”

A committee to address the problem will meet on a monthly basis, and the city will have representation and input on that committee. Others attending the meeting in addition to Bird and Billups included: Transitions CEO Sara Dittner; Melissa Mace, Justice Involved services coordinator for Des Moines County and Louisa County jails; Paige Pennington, Resilient Community liaison for the Burlington Community School District; Sara Hecox, Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission representative; Christa Poggemiller, director of Des Moines County Public Health; and Burlington building inspectors Larry Caston and Adam Nelson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/5/1652477985863.jpeg" alt="Craig Fenton (right), founder of the Transitions DMC Homeless Shelter, speaks to city, county and school officials about possible housing solutions for the homeless. Mayor Jon Billups (left) and city manager Chad Bird (middle) discuss those ideas with Fenton. (William Smith/The Beacon)" />
 <figcaption>Craig Fenton (right), founder of the Transitions DMC Homeless Shelter, speaks to city, county and school officials about possible housing solutions for the homeless. Mayor Jon Billups (left) and city manager Chad Bird (middle) discuss those ideas with Fenton. (William Smith/The Beacon)</figcaption>
 </figure>William Smith Community EditorFinding homes for the homeless in Burlington is a monumental task, and Craig Fenton, Transitions DMC director, is ready to take it head-on.But as he acknowledged during a recent meeting with Burlington and Des Moines County representatives in the Burlington City Council chambers, he’s going to need some help.&nbsp;Fenton, the president and founder of the recently opened Transitions DMC homeless shelter on Main Street, summed up Burlington’s homeless situation with a presentation on April 28 that focused not only on the number of homeless but the everyday challenges they face. Under HUD guidelines, Fenton said roughly 100 people qualify for Transitions’ 13 beds.&nbsp;“There are 20 to 25 people that are considered homeless every night, unable to be served by our facility or any other facility in town. These are the people who are on the park benches, underneath the bridges. They are in camps around town and in various drug houses that are not meant for habitation,” Fenton said.There are roughly 200 children in the Burlington School District who are considered homeless, according to the guideline of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.“Under that act, the definition of homelessness is, they can be sleeping on couches, they can be living in houses or buildings not meant for habitation, they can be sleeping under bridges, they can be just about any place,” Fenton said. “In general, those children are in a location where they do not have a custodial adult likely present. Or if there is a custodial adult, that adult is homeless, also.”&nbsp;The solution, he said, lies in housing. Exactly what kind of housing could be determined by a commission that was just starting to form as the meeting ended. The possibility of a tiny house village was brought up by Fenton, and Mayor Jon Billups said it might be more cost-effective to buy a Burlington motel and transform it into apartments for the needy. Other buildings across town could be possible for renovation into apartments, as well.Fenton said all ideas are on the table at this point. The goal is to use housing vouchers like Section 8 housing, VA homeless vouchers, and other funding to keep housing costs below 30 percent of a person’s or family’s income.&nbsp;He noted that people are already trying to help the homeless on their own time, though the results aren’t always positive.“There are at least a dozen Facebook groups alone that are following the movements of these people around town. Sometimes, they get it right, and they use the right name,” Fenton said. “A lot of times they are getting it wrong, and they are making that person look bad because they happen to be doing similar activities.”Fenton said improving the rent-assisted housing is just the first step, though. Without supportive services, many don’t have the financial literacy or capacity to hang on to that living space. Many homeless suffer from mental illness, including military veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder.That results in police, fire, and the hospital being overused by homeless citizens, who often have nowhere else to turn. Police regularly drop them off at the Transitions DMC homeless shelter, and caseworkers there attempt to help them form a long-term plan. That includes using the shelter as a mailing address, so they can receive some government assistance.But there are only 13 beds.“Homeless shelters are for emergency purposes and have a limited number of days. We’re not going to be able to help everybody unless we keep people moving through the shelter,” Fenton said.Fenton explained how the process at the shelter works and said there is no shortage of people using it.“Our main goal right now is to get someone off the street, help them get their ID, help them get their food stamps, their Title 19 card, whatever they are missing,” he said. “If they are employable, we give them to the temp services or go out for interviews. Once they secure that job, then the goal is to find housing for them.”&nbsp;To combat homelessness beyond the shelter, Fenton suggested a multi-disciplinary team of agencies that can work toward tiny homes or rehab projects turned into housing. That includes community and development planners, grant writers, social services agencies, the housing authority, homeless shelters, legal services, and charitable groups.If tiny homes are the way to go, Fenton is hoping to build on donated land with donated materials and labor. He said those units are generally managed by not-for-profit groups since the people they are helping often can’t get subsidized housing due to background issues. Transitions DMC could provide maintenance, support services, and rent collection.He said the selection of tenants should be done through a committee of stakeholders, with input from police and jail diversion.“There could be two tracks on the tiny home thing,” city manager Chad Bird said. “It could be a year or less (stay) through transitional, or it could be a tiny home campus where that’s just where (the formerly homeless) are. Maybe it’s one to two or three years, where they are in a little larger tiny home that is self-contained.”A committee to address the problem will meet on a monthly basis, and the city will have representation and input on that committee. Others attending the meeting in addition to Bird and Billups included: Transitions CEO Sara Dittner; Melissa Mace, Justice Involved services coordinator for Des Moines County and Louisa County jails; Paige Pennington, Resilient Community liaison for the Burlington Community School District; Sara Hecox, Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission representative; Christa Poggemiller, director of Des Moines County Public Health; and Burlington building inspectors Larry Caston and Adam Nelson.

Transitions DMC founder presents homeless housing ideas

For Serena Stevens, Southeastern Community College wasn’t just the first couple of rungs on the college ladder.

The Fort Madison native, who gave the commencement speech at the Southeastern Community College West Burlington campus 2022 graduation Thursday night (May 12) at Memorial Auditorium, was featured as the distinguished alumnus. She graduated from SCC in 2008 and 2011. 

Coming out of her high school graduation, Stevens thought she wanted to get into the medical field. But taking classes at SCC pointed Stevens toward her true passion – creating art, typically through large scale paintings.

“Now I’m a full time artist. I’m living the dream,” she said.

Stevens is still close to her former SCC art instructor, John Bybee. His guidance was crucial to developing her artistic skills, and taking them beyond SCC. 

“By the time I transferred to Western (Illinois University), I had a transfer degree so I could focus fully on art,” she said.

Since then, Steven has gotten a bachelor of fine arts degree, and recently finished her master of fine arts degree at the University of Iowa, where she also taught. Since then, her artwork has been reviewed in “The New York Times” and “The New Yorker.”

“It’s great. I’m returning to Burlington, and will have a studio,” she said. 

Due to the ongoing TIGER grant funded redevelopment construction around Memorial Auditorium, many of the graduates arrived early to snag the limited parking spaces. The rest rode shuttle buses from four downtown locations, or parked on surrounding streets.

“I don’t think it (graduation) has hit me yet. I’m really excited, but I don’t if the emotions have hit me yet. But I’m excited,” said graduating SCC student Danielle Rhinehart.

Like Stevens, Rhinehart didn’t have her future locked in place when she arrived at SCC. She originally tried the nursing program, only to discover a greater interest in agricultural science. Rhinehart grew up on a farm in Henderson County, Ill., and will be working for a local seed company now that she has her diploma.

Her friend Ella Defenbaugh, from Kirkwood, Ill., started the ag science program before Rhinehart did. 

“I came in the next spring, and I was a little nervous when I started, because I came in later. But I was like, ‘Okay, I have Ella.’ It kind of helped me a little bit. I wasn’t so terrified,” Rhinehart said.

Ella will be staying on the farm as well, and will also be veterinarian – a dream job she has wanted since grade school. She already oversees 200 head of cattle.

“I’ve always wanted to be a vet,” she said.

Graduating SCC basketball teammates Bruce Carpenter, Kennedy Milton and Jesiah West posed for graduation pictures taken by family members before the ceremony started, framed by the Great River Bridge in the background.

All of them expressed relief at graduating to the next chapter of their lives, and all have similar plans –  a four year school, more basketball, and more studying.

“It’s been a long, hard two years of work, but it paid off,” Carpenter said.

West plans on going even further with his education, and will be pursuing a master’s degree in athletic training.

“I’m the first out of my mom’s boys to graduate, so it was a big stepping stone for me,” he said.

Photo caption: Graduating SCC basketball teammates (from left to right) Jesiah West, Bruce Carpenter, Kennedy Milton poses for pictures in front of the Great River Bridges as their families take pictures.

By William SmithFor Serena Stevens, Southeastern Community College wasn’t just the first couple of rungs on the college ladder.It’s where she found her true self. The Fort Madison native, who gave the commencement speech at the Southeastern Community College West Burlington campus 2022 graduation Thursday night (May 12) at Memorial Auditorium, was featured as the distinguished alumnus. She graduated from SCC in 2008 and 2011. Coming out of her high school graduation, Stevens thought she wanted to get into the medical field. But taking classes at SCC pointed Stevens toward her true passion – creating art, typically through large scale paintings.“Now I’m a full time artist. I’m living the dream,” she said.Stevens is still close to her former SCC art instructor, John Bybee. His guidance was crucial to developing her artistic skills, and taking them beyond SCC. “By the time I transferred to Western (Illinois University), I had a transfer degree so I could focus fully on art,” she said.Since then, Steven has gotten a bachelor of fine arts degree, and recently finished her master of fine arts degree at the University of Iowa, where she also taught. Since then, her artwork has been reviewed in “The New York Times” and “The New Yorker.”“It’s great. I’m returning to Burlington, and will have a studio,” she said. Due to the ongoing TIGER grant funded redevelopment construction around Memorial Auditorium, many of the graduates arrived early to snag the limited parking spaces. The rest rode shuttle buses from four downtown locations, or parked on surrounding streets.“I don’t think it (graduation) has hit me yet. I’m really excited, but I don’t if the emotions have hit me yet. But I’m excited,” said graduating SCC student Danielle Rhinehart.Like Stevens, Rhinehart didn’t have her future locked in place when she arrived at SCC. She originally tried the nursing program, only to discover a greater interest in agricultural science. Rhinehart grew up on a farm in Henderson County, Ill., and will be working for a local seed company now that she has her diploma.Her friend Ella Defenbaugh, from Kirkwood, Ill., started the ag science program before Rhinehart did. “I came in the next spring, and I was a little nervous when I started, because I came in later. But I was like, ‘Okay, I have Ella.’ It kind of helped me a little bit. I wasn’t so terrified,” Rhinehart said.Ella will be staying on the farm as well, and will also be veterinarian – a dream job she has wanted since grade school. She already oversees 200 head of cattle.“I’ve always wanted to be a vet,” she said.Graduating SCC basketball teammates Bruce Carpenter, Kennedy Milton and Jesiah West posed for graduation pictures taken by family members before the ceremony started, framed by the Great River Bridge in the background.All of them expressed relief at graduating to the next chapter of their lives, and all have similar plans – a four year school, more basketball, and more studying.“It’s been a long, hard two years of work, but it paid off,” Carpenter said.West plans on going even further with his education, and will be pursuing a master’s degree in athletic training.“I’m the first out of my mom’s boys to graduate, so it was a big stepping stone for me,” he said.Photo caption: Graduating SCC basketball teammates (from left to right) Jesiah West, Bruce Carpenter, Kennedy Milton poses for pictures in front of the Great River Bridges as their families take pictures.

Reaching For The Next Step

By Chris Faulkner For the Beacon

Amelia Schwenker didn't have to flip a coin to choose which sport she would play in college.

The harder decision was for which college she would play soccer – instead of track, at which she also excels.

“A couple of months ago I was going back and forth between SCC and Mount Mercy,” Schwenker said of Southeastern Community College and the four-year private school in Cedar Rapids.

Local won out over long distance. Burlington Notre Dame's Schwenker signed a national letter of intent April 27 to play soccer for the fledgling Blackhawks' program,&nbsp;which just started last fall.

She is a forward for the program shared with West Burlington and Danville.

Schwenker is talented enough in track and soccer that she was offered the opportunity by both schools to play in both sports.

But Schwenker, who is already a Certified Nurse's Assistant at a local assisted living center, plans to enter the nursing program and couldn't see making all three work.

Of her college choice, “It's the smarter decision, and I won't have to pay a ton,” said Schwenker, who is getting a full ride. “The big thing is I wanted to make sure I wasn't in debt for many years. I can live at home.”

As a past state and Drake Relays qualifier, Schwenker could add to either track program.

She holds three school records for the West Burlington/Notre Dame girls track team, all set last year: the 4x100 relay with McKenna Marlow, Amiya Davis, and Sydney Marlow (:49.51), the 4x200 with Josie Bentz, Davis, and Sydney Marlow (1:44.62) and the sprint medley relay with the Marlow sisters and Davis (1:51.99). Schwenker ran the second 100 leg in that event.

She was also part of the state-record-breaking 4x100 team in eighth grade (:52.52).

But Schwenker has been playing soccer since she was barely bigger than the ball.

She competed at the Burlington YMCA and then at about 7 or 8, she said she began playing in the Southeast Soccer Academy and finally “graduated” out of that last fall.

“I have more fun playing soccer,” Schwenker said.

She was a natural fit for the forward spot, and this year so far she has nine goals.

“I can sprint down the field, that's what the coach likes,” said Schwenker and her high school coach has been Todd Ackerman.

“He's a great coach,” she said. “He really has pushed me to be better and be an all-around soccer player.

He has high expectations for the team, which is good because we can all push each other to compete at a higher level.”

In addition to honing her soccer skills at Notre Dame, she has also honed skills at her job for her future career.

“I have gained a tremendous amount of skill in the healthcare field that I believe will help me in nursing school.”

She also chose SCC for a couple of other reasons.

“They have some really nice equipment,” she said of the nursing department, which was given a new building just a few years ago.

Also, SCC started a partnership with Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant, and her SCC scholarships will transfer, and IWU offers incentives for SCC grads to come over.

“I'll get my RN at SCC and get my bachelor's at Iowa Wesleyan,” Schwenker said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/5/1652373043719.jpeg" alt="Burlington Notre Dame senior Amelia Schwenker signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer for Southeastern Community College. She was joined at the signing by her parents, Melissa and Michael Schwenker. In the back, from left, are assistant Notre Dame/West Burlington/Danville coach Taylor Ackerman, former Southeast Soccer Academy coaches for Schwenker, Baret Ertzinger and John Wagner and her high school coach, Todd Ackerman. (Submitted photo)" />
 <figcaption>Burlington Notre Dame senior Amelia Schwenker signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer for Southeastern Community College. She was joined at the signing by her parents, Melissa and Michael Schwenker. In the back, from left, are assistant Notre Dame/West Burlington/Danville coach Taylor Ackerman, former Southeast Soccer Academy coaches for Schwenker, Baret Ertzinger and John Wagner and her high school coach, Todd Ackerman. (Submitted photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris Faulkner For the BeaconAmelia Schwenker didn't have to flip a coin to choose which sport she would play in college.The harder decision was for which college she would play soccer – instead of track, at which she also excels.“A couple of months ago I was going back and forth between SCC and Mount Mercy,” Schwenker said of Southeastern Community College and the four-year private school in Cedar Rapids.Local won out over long distance. Burlington Notre Dame's Schwenker signed a national letter of intent April 27 to play soccer for the fledgling Blackhawks' program,&nbsp;which just started last fall.She is a forward for the program shared with West Burlington and Danville.Schwenker is talented enough in track and soccer that she was offered the opportunity by both schools to play in both sports.But Schwenker, who is already a Certified Nurse's Assistant at a local assisted living center, plans to enter the nursing program and couldn't see making all three work.Of her college choice, “It's the smarter decision, and I won't have to pay a ton,” said Schwenker, who is getting a full ride. “The big thing is I wanted to make sure I wasn't in debt for many years. I can live at home.”As a past state and Drake Relays qualifier, Schwenker could add to either track program.She holds three school records for the West Burlington/Notre Dame girls track team, all set last year: the 4x100 relay with McKenna Marlow, Amiya Davis, and Sydney Marlow (:49.51), the 4x200 with Josie Bentz, Davis, and Sydney Marlow (1:44.62) and the sprint medley relay with the Marlow sisters and Davis (1:51.99). Schwenker ran the second 100 leg in that event.She was also part of the state-record-breaking 4x100 team in eighth grade (:52.52).But Schwenker has been playing soccer since she was barely bigger than the ball.She competed at the Burlington YMCA and then at about 7 or 8, she said she began playing in the Southeast Soccer Academy and finally “graduated” out of that last fall.“I have more fun playing soccer,” Schwenker said.She was a natural fit for the forward spot, and this year so far she has nine goals.“I can sprint down the field, that's what the coach likes,” said Schwenker and her high school coach has been Todd Ackerman.“He's a great coach,” she said. “He really has pushed me to be better and be an all-around soccer player.He has high expectations for the team, which is good because we can all push each other to compete at a higher level.”In addition to honing her soccer skills at Notre Dame, she has also honed skills at her job for her future career.“I have gained a tremendous amount of skill in the healthcare field that I believe will help me in nursing school.”She also chose SCC for a couple of other reasons.“They have some really nice equipment,” she said of the nursing department, which was given a new building just a few years ago.Also, SCC started a partnership with Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant, and her SCC scholarships will transfer, and IWU offers incentives for SCC grads to come over.“I'll get my RN at SCC and get my bachelor's at Iowa Wesleyan,” Schwenker said.

Schwenker signs to play for SCC

On May 14, as they deliver mail, the nation's 200,000 letter carriers will collect the donations of non-perishable that residents have left near their mailboxes. People are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing items such as canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meats and fish, pasta, rice, or cereal next to their mailbox before the regular mail delivery on Saturday. Letter carriers will collect these food donations on that day as they deliver mail along their postal routes, and distribute them to local food banks, pantries, shelters, and churches. The food donations stay in each community, going to help local residents.

The need is as great as ever, given the pandemic-caused economic dislocations of the past two years. The traditional food drive is returning this year after a two-year hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic. In 2020 and 2021, it was replaced by NALC's donor drive, in which those wishing to help made online donations to local food pantries.

"Letter carriers are a part of every neighborhood in the nation," NALC President&nbsp;Fredric Rolando&nbsp;said, "and we see the growing need for food assistance in our communities. On&nbsp;Saturday, May 14, NALC invites everyone to participate in the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Together, we can help stamp out hunger in America."

People who have questions about the drive in their area should ask their letter carrier, contact their local post office, or go to&nbsp;<a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=3513598-1&amp;h=1203890674&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nalc.org%2Fcommunity-service%2Ffood-drive&amp;a=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nalc.org%2Fcommunity-service%2Ffood-drive" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=3513598-1&amp;h=3426033081&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FStampOutHunger&amp;a=facebook.com%2FStampOutHunger" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">facebook.com/StampOutHunger</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=3513598-1&amp;h=1245585466&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitter.com%2FStampOutHunger&amp;a=twitter.com%2FStampOutHunger" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">twitter.com/StampOutHunger</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/5/1652246178139.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On May 14, as they deliver mail, the nation's 200,000 letter carriers will collect the donations of non-perishable that residents have left near their mailboxes. People are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing items such as canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meats and fish, pasta, rice, or cereal next to their mailbox before the regular mail delivery on Saturday. Letter carriers will collect these food donations on that day as they deliver mail along their postal routes, and distribute them to local food banks, pantries, shelters, and churches. The food donations stay in each community, going to help local residents.The need is as great as ever, given the pandemic-caused economic dislocations of the past two years. The traditional food drive is returning this year after a two-year hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic. In 2020 and 2021, it was replaced by NALC's donor drive, in which those wishing to help made online donations to local food pantries."Letter carriers are a part of every neighborhood in the nation," NALC President&nbsp;Fredric Rolando&nbsp;said, "and we see the growing need for food assistance in our communities. On&nbsp;Saturday, May 14, NALC invites everyone to participate in the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Together, we can help stamp out hunger in America."People who have questions about the drive in their area should ask their letter carrier, contact their local post office, or go to&nbsp;<a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=3513598-1&amp;h=1203890674&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nalc.org%2Fcommunity-service%2Ffood-drive&amp;a=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nalc.org%2Fcommunity-service%2Ffood-drive" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=3513598-1&amp;h=3426033081&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FStampOutHunger&amp;a=facebook.com%2FStampOutHunger" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">facebook.com/StampOutHunger</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=3513598-1&amp;h=1245585466&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitter.com%2FStampOutHunger&amp;a=twitter.com%2FStampOutHunger" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">twitter.com/StampOutHunger</a>.

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Coming May 14

The Des Moines County Auditor's Office has issued important information about absentee voting for the 2022 Primary Election. Absentee voting is set to begin Wednesday, May 18, 2022. To absentee vote by mail, the last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed is Monday, May 23 at 5 p.m. A completed and signed absentee ballot request (ABR) form is required before a ballot can be mailed. More information, including access to a printable ABR form, can be found at <a href="https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/absenteemail.html">https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/absenteemail.html</a>. Return the completed ABR form to Des Moines County Auditor, P.O. Box 784, Burlington IA 52601. The ABR form can be submitted now; there is no need to wait until May 18.

Ballots will begin to be mailed on May 18 and for the following five days; during that time, ballots will be mailed within 24 hours of receiving a request. Any requests received after the May 23 deadline cannot be processed. After returning your request form, you may check the status by visiting <a href="https://sos.iowa.gov/">https://sos.iowa.gov/</a> (click on the Elections tab, Voters, then Track Your Absentee Ballot). In-person absentee voting at the courthouse will begin May 18 and end June 6 at 5 p.m. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Auditor's Office will also be open for absentee voting on Saturday, June 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Photo identification is required to vote. In addition, party affiliation is required. On the absentee ballot request form the voter must mark which party ballot they would like to receive. If they do not, the voter will be sent the ballot for the party with which they are currently registered (if listed). If no party is chosen and they are registered as “No Party”, they will receive a phone call from the Auditor’s Office. At the polls, the voter will be asked which party ballot they choose to vote. Independent ballots are not an option - only Democrat or Republican ballots will be available. For any questions, call the Des Moines County Auditor's Office at 319-753-8232 (press 5).

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/5/1652241742656.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Des Moines County Auditor's Office has issued important information about absentee voting for the 2022 Primary Election. Absentee voting is set to begin Wednesday, May 18, 2022. To absentee vote by mail, the last day to request an absentee ballot to be mailed is Monday, May 23 at 5 p.m. A completed and signed absentee ballot request (ABR) form is required before a ballot can be mailed. More information, including access to a printable ABR form, can be found at <a href="https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/absenteemail.html">https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/absenteemail.html</a>. Return the completed ABR form to Des Moines County Auditor, P.O. Box 784, Burlington IA 52601. The ABR form can be submitted now; there is no need to wait until May 18.Ballots will begin to be mailed on May 18 and for the following five days; during that time, ballots will be mailed within 24 hours of receiving a request. Any requests received after the May 23 deadline cannot be processed. After returning your request form, you may check the status by visiting <a href="https://sos.iowa.gov/">https://sos.iowa.gov/</a> (click on the Elections tab, Voters, then Track Your Absentee Ballot). In-person absentee voting at the courthouse will begin May 18 and end June 6 at 5 p.m. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Auditor's Office will also be open for absentee voting on Saturday, June 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Photo identification is required to vote. In addition, party affiliation is required. On the absentee ballot request form the voter must mark which party ballot they would like to receive. If they do not, the voter will be sent the ballot for the party with which they are currently registered (if listed). If no party is chosen and they are registered as “No Party”, they will receive a phone call from the Auditor’s Office. At the polls, the voter will be asked which party ballot they choose to vote. Independent ballots are not an option - only Democrat or Republican ballots will be available. For any questions, call the Des Moines County Auditor's Office at 319-753-8232 (press 5).

Absentee Voting Information for 2022 Primary Election

The Collective Food Hub has been recognized by the Greater Burlington Partnership as the 2022 Small Business of the Year. Since purchasing the business in 2021, Alex and Sarah Beames doubled their weekly sales by the end of the year with new customers coming in every week.

Their shop on Jefferson Street is filled with completely homemade delectables, farm-fresh produce, and locally-sourced meat and eggs. They have also added take-and-bake meals and just recently started dabbling with small venue catering. The shared-use kitchen is available to rent for the general public or for people who want to bake goods and sell them on the attached retail floor.

Giving back to the community is a core value of The Collective Food Hub. All left-over product is donated to Saint Vincent DePaul Food Pantry at the end of each week. The commercial kitchen and retail space have been made available to Vocational Rehabilitation clients. They also regularly donate to local benefits and have been very generous with sponsorships for community events.&nbsp;

The Collective Food Hub is located at 805 Jefferson St. in downtown Burlington. Their hours of operation are Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/5/1651941662869.jpeg" alt="Alex and Sarah Beames, owners of The Collective Food Hub, have had their business recognized as the 2022 Small Business of the Year by the Greater Burlington Partnership. Photo courtesy of GBP." />
 <figcaption>Alex and Sarah Beames, owners of The Collective Food Hub, have had their business recognized as the 2022 Small Business of the Year by the Greater Burlington Partnership. Photo courtesy of GBP.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Collective Food Hub has been recognized by the Greater Burlington Partnership as the 2022 Small Business of the Year. Since purchasing the business in 2021, Alex and Sarah Beames doubled their weekly sales by the end of the year with new customers coming in every week.Their shop on Jefferson Street is filled with completely homemade delectables, farm-fresh produce, and locally-sourced meat and eggs. They have also added take-and-bake meals and just recently started dabbling with small venue catering. The shared-use kitchen is available to rent for the general public or for people who want to bake goods and sell them on the attached retail floor.Giving back to the community is a core value of The Collective Food Hub. All left-over product is donated to Saint Vincent DePaul Food Pantry at the end of each week. The commercial kitchen and retail space have been made available to Vocational Rehabilitation clients. They also regularly donate to local benefits and have been very generous with sponsorships for community events.&nbsp;The Collective Food Hub is located at 805 Jefferson St. in downtown Burlington. Their hours of operation are Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Collective Food Hub Recognized as Small Business of the Year

It was a record breaking day for the Southeast Iowa Jobs Fair at Westland Mall, Thursday, May 5.

Roughly 100 employers attended the show, according to Carolyn Farley, operations manager for IowaWORKS. The IowaWorks Burlington office hosted Thursday’s event, and Farley said it was the organization’s first major job fair since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived.

“I would say this is the biggest turnout of businesses we’ve ever had at a job fair,” she said.

There was a healthy mix of private and public employers, including the Burlington Fire Department, Burlington Police Department and Henry County Sheriff’s Office on the public side.

“Nearly all of them are businesses that are hiring. There are a few service agencies sprinkled throughout. We have opportunities in health care, manufacturing, retail. Basically, anything that anybody want is here,” Farley said. 

Brianda Giovanazzi, who works in bilingual human resources for TriOak Foods, said she had already seen plenty of traffic at her table by 10:30 a.m. The job fair had started just half an-hour earlier, and ended at 1 p.m.

“I think, like every other employer here, we are really short on staff. More specifically, agricultural positions. Those are very hard to staff currently,” she said.

TriOak Foods is a pork producer, feed manufacturer and grain marketer serving Iowa, Illinois, Colorado and Oklahoma. Current operations include corporate offices in Oakville and Ames, three feed mills, four grain elevators and sow operations in Iowa, Illinois, Colorado and Oklahoma. TriOak also has partnerships with more than 300 local farmers who grow pigs to market-size. 

“I feel like a lot of people don’t know what business we are in, because we’re in a small town. We’re just trying to get our name out there. We are actually a lot bigger than what most people think,” Giovanazzi said. 

Ruben Renteria Sr., who recently retired from Burlington School District after serving 26 years as a custodian, walked out of Thursday’s job fair with bag full of job applications. Despite being retired, he’s not done working.

“I’m looking for a job to keep here to keep me busy. Keep me occupied,” he said.

With a bit of luck, he feels like that’s exactly what he found.

“They have some really great people here. There’s all kinds of jobs,” he said.

IowaWORKS was joined by several partners, including Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Greater Burlington Partnership, Lee County Economic Development, Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance, Louisa County Economic Development Group, and Iowa National Guard.

By Beacon StaffIt was a record breaking day for the Southeast Iowa Jobs Fair at Westland Mall, Thursday, May 5.Roughly 100 employers attended the show, according to Carolyn Farley, operations manager for IowaWORKS. The IowaWorks Burlington office hosted Thursday’s event, and Farley said it was the organization’s first major job fair since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived.“I would say this is the biggest turnout of businesses we’ve ever had at a job fair,” she said.There was a healthy mix of private and public employers, including the Burlington Fire Department, Burlington Police Department and Henry County Sheriff’s Office on the public side.“Nearly all of them are businesses that are hiring. There are a few service agencies sprinkled throughout. We have opportunities in health care, manufacturing, retail. Basically, anything that anybody want is here,” Farley said. Brianda Giovanazzi, who works in bilingual human resources for TriOak Foods, said she had already seen plenty of traffic at her table by 10:30 a.m. The job fair had started just half an-hour earlier, and ended at 1 p.m.“I think, like every other employer here, we are really short on staff. More specifically, agricultural positions. Those are very hard to staff currently,” she said.TriOak Foods is a pork producer, feed manufacturer and grain marketer serving Iowa, Illinois, Colorado and Oklahoma. Current operations include corporate offices in Oakville and Ames, three feed mills, four grain elevators and sow operations in Iowa, Illinois, Colorado and Oklahoma. TriOak also has partnerships with more than 300 local farmers who grow pigs to market-size. “I feel like a lot of people don’t know what business we are in, because we’re in a small town. We’re just trying to get our name out there. We are actually a lot bigger than what most people think,” Giovanazzi said. Ruben Renteria Sr., who recently retired from Burlington School District after serving 26 years as a custodian, walked out of Thursday’s job fair with bag full of job applications. Despite being retired, he’s not done working.“I’m looking for a job to keep here to keep me busy. Keep me occupied,” he said.With a bit of luck, he feels like that’s exactly what he found.“They have some really great people here. There’s all kinds of jobs,” he said.IowaWORKS was joined by several partners, including Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Greater Burlington Partnership, Lee County Economic Development, Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance, Louisa County Economic Development Group, and Iowa National Guard.

Jobs For Everyone

A vacant, two-story, wood frame house at 243 S. Seventh St. is considered a total loss after a fire spread through the interior Wednesday afternoon (May 4), and the cause of the fire is under investigation by police.

The Burlington Fire Department responded to the report of the fire at 2:03 p.m., with additional firefighters who were in training responding as well.

According to a press release issued by Burlington Fire Marshall Mark Crooks, Burlington police officers arrived at the scene at 2:05 p.m. to find smoke coming from the house. They then discovered flames inside the house.

Firefighters arrived at 2:08 p.m., and discovered the fire had spread into the wall up to the attic. They were able to contain the fire to that area, and had completely extinguished the fire by 4:24 p.m..

Eleven Burlington firefighters responded to the call along with six West Burlington firefighters responding on automatic aid. A box alarm was struck bringing Danville and Mediapolis firefighters closer to assist with other emergency calls. Burlington Police, Superior Ambulance, and Alliant Energy also responded to the scene.

Firefighters cleared the scene at 5:44 p.m. without injury. Due to the combination of water and fire damage, the house is considered a total loss, but is still standing.

Nobody was at the property at the time of the fire. Property information and damage estimates are still being gathered for the vacant home. 

The cause of the fire is considered suspicious, and is under investigation by the Burlington Police and Fire Departments. Anyone with information regarding the fire should call Burlington Area Crime Stoppers&nbsp; 319-753-6835.


By Beacon StaffA vacant, two-story, wood frame house at 243 S. Seventh St. is considered a total loss after a fire spread through the interior Wednesday afternoon (May 4), and the cause of the fire is under investigation by police.The Burlington Fire Department responded to the report of the fire at 2:03 p.m., with additional firefighters who were in training responding as well.According to a press release issued by Burlington Fire Marshall Mark Crooks, Burlington police officers arrived at the scene at 2:05 p.m. to find smoke coming from the house. They then discovered flames inside the house.Firefighters arrived at 2:08 p.m., and discovered the fire had spread into the wall up to the attic. They were able to contain the fire to that area, and had completely extinguished the fire by 4:24 p.m..Eleven Burlington firefighters responded to the call along with six West Burlington firefighters responding on automatic aid. A box alarm was struck bringing Danville and Mediapolis firefighters closer to assist with other emergency calls. Burlington Police, Superior Ambulance, and Alliant Energy also responded to the scene.Firefighters cleared the scene at 5:44 p.m. without injury. Due to the combination of water and fire damage, the house is considered a total loss, but is still standing.Nobody was at the property at the time of the fire. Property information and damage estimates are still being gathered for the vacant home. The cause of the fire is considered suspicious, and is under investigation by the Burlington Police and Fire Departments. Anyone with information regarding the fire should call Burlington Area Crime Stoppers&nbsp; 319-753-6835.

Vacant Burlington House Fire Under Investigation

Tickets for the Great River Christian School Spring (GRCS) Hog Roast are on sale and may be purchased for $10 from GRCS students, faculty, or in the GRCS office at 426 Harrison Ave., Burlington.&nbsp; 

The Spring Hog Roast will be held at GRCS on Friday, May 6 and will be a drive-thru only event this year.&nbsp;The meal includes a smoked pulled pork sandwich with BBQ sauce on the side, baked beans, Gretel’s famous homemade cole slaw, Sterzings chips, and a dessert.&nbsp; Distribution of meals will be in a drive-thru line on the south side of Sweeney Street.&nbsp; Due to construction on Harrison Avenue, everyone should enter off of Madison Avenue onto Sweeney or take Main Street to Barret to Sixth and make a left onto Sweeney. Ticket takers will be on the west side of the building at Sixth and Sweeney.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Each dinner will include a list of online auction items. The online auction is available for bidding through the GRCS Facebook page with multiple stop times for the online auction.&nbsp; All auction items will be available for pickup, with payment, from May 9 through May 11.&nbsp;

This event is made possible because of the generous support of the following sponsors and donors:&nbsp;Title Sponsor - Jim Baier, Inc., Additional sponsors -&nbsp;Two Rivers Bank, Big River Resources, First Congregational Church, Menke &amp; Company, Bank of Stronghurst, Great River Health Systems, Klingner &amp; Associates, Farmers &amp; Merchants Bank, Connection Bank, KFC, Wendy’s, Arby’s, and Shearers.

Tickets for the Great River Christian School Spring (GRCS) Hog Roast are on sale and may be purchased for $10 from GRCS students, faculty, or in the GRCS office at 426 Harrison Ave., Burlington.&nbsp; The Spring Hog Roast will be held at GRCS on Friday, May 6 and will be a drive-thru only event this year.&nbsp;The meal includes a smoked pulled pork sandwich with BBQ sauce on the side, baked beans, Gretel’s famous homemade cole slaw, Sterzings chips, and a dessert.&nbsp; Distribution of meals will be in a drive-thru line on the south side of Sweeney Street.&nbsp; Due to construction on Harrison Avenue, everyone should enter off of Madison Avenue onto Sweeney or take Main Street to Barret to Sixth and make a left onto Sweeney. Ticket takers will be on the west side of the building at Sixth and Sweeney.&nbsp;&nbsp;Each dinner will include a list of online auction items. The online auction is available for bidding through the GRCS Facebook page with multiple stop times for the online auction.&nbsp; All auction items will be available for pickup, with payment, from May 9 through May 11.&nbsp;This event is made possible because of the generous support of the following sponsors and donors:&nbsp;Title Sponsor - Jim Baier, Inc., Additional sponsors -&nbsp;Two Rivers Bank, Big River Resources, First Congregational Church, Menke &amp; Company, Bank of Stronghurst, Great River Health Systems, Klingner &amp; Associates, Farmers &amp; Merchants Bank, Connection Bank, KFC, Wendy’s, Arby’s, and Shearers.

GRCS Spring Hog Roast Tickets On Sale

Tracey Lamm for The Beacon

Cheryl Plank believes the one thing that is preventing Hope Haven from growing as an organization is a lack of individuals to fill the many open positions available at the direct care provider of services to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Plank, who became Executive Director of Hope Haven following the retirement of Bob Bartles in January, thinks the thing that inspired her to devote her professional career to this particular field, might be the answer for Hope Haven. 

“My older sister worked in a nursing home when I was a teenager and I used to go to work with her and read to the residents. I really think that is probably what got me hooked,” Plank said.&nbsp;

Plank comes to Hope Haven after 36 years in the direct care services field. 

“I have known Bob (Bartles) for many years. We served on the IACP Foundation board (Iowa Association of Community Providers). What big shoes to come in and fill,” Plank said. 

She began her career in Muscatine and has held various positions over the years, most recently back in Muscatine assisting several community non-profit organizations with sustainability. 

“I really thought I was at my final position there,” Plank said. However, during a meeting with Bartles he revealed he would be retiring, and it sparked her interest in taking over at Hope Haven. “I love it here. Burlington has been so welcoming,” Plank said.&nbsp;

Hope Haven is respected across Iowa and is known nationally as a premier organization. 

“I want to maintain and sustain what Bob started here. We could grow, but we can’t find staff to fill the positions we currently have open,” Plank added.

Recruiting and maintaining current staff is a priority for Plank. She is seeking an individual to hire as a recruiter that will be in charge of hiring and training Hope Haven staff. 

“That is unheard of for an agency like ours,” Plank said. 

But, she feels that it is necessary in order to maintain current staff and to acquire the most appropriate individuals for current open positions with Hope Haven.

Paying competitive wages will also help as Hope Haven works to fill open positions. Additional funding from COVID-19 recovery money has helped Hope Haven increase wages. 

“But we have to work to maintain that once those funds are no longer available,” Plank said.&nbsp;

Hope Haven staff provides care and training to individuals with developmental disabilities who live in a group home setting with some independence. Job training services are also a premiere Hope Haven service. 

Many local companies and businesses have Hope Haven trained staff filling positions on site. Hope Haven also operates an aluminum can redemption center. 

Plank said it is unusual for service providers like Hope Haven to provide this type of service because of the costs to operate and the inability of those types of businesses to operate without losing money.

And while Hope Haven is a business that must maintain facilities and provide payroll, its largest asset is human capital. Plank said not just anyone can do the jobs available at Hope Haven. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/5/1651621964412.jpeg" alt="Cheryl Plank became executive director of Hope Haven following the retirement of Bob Bartles in January. (Tracey Lamm/for The Beacon)" />
 <figcaption>Cheryl Plank became executive director of Hope Haven following the retirement of Bob Bartles in January. (Tracey Lamm/for The Beacon)</figcaption>
 </figure>Tracey Lamm for The BeaconCheryl Plank believes the one thing that is preventing Hope Haven from growing as an organization is a lack of individuals to fill the many open positions available at the direct care provider of services to individuals with developmental disabilities.Plank, who became Executive Director of Hope Haven following the retirement of Bob Bartles in January, thinks the thing that inspired her to devote her professional career to this particular field, might be the answer for Hope Haven. “My older sister worked in a nursing home when I was a teenager and I used to go to work with her and read to the residents. I really think that is probably what got me hooked,” Plank said.&nbsp;Plank comes to Hope Haven after 36 years in the direct care services field. “I have known Bob (Bartles) for many years. We served on the IACP Foundation board (Iowa Association of Community Providers). What big shoes to come in and fill,” Plank said. She began her career in Muscatine and has held various positions over the years, most recently back in Muscatine assisting several community non-profit organizations with sustainability. “I really thought I was at my final position there,” Plank said. However, during a meeting with Bartles he revealed he would be retiring, and it sparked her interest in taking over at Hope Haven. “I love it here. Burlington has been so welcoming,” Plank said.&nbsp;Hope Haven is respected across Iowa and is known nationally as a premier organization. “I want to maintain and sustain what Bob started here. We could grow, but we can’t find staff to fill the positions we currently have open,” Plank added.Recruiting and maintaining current staff is a priority for Plank. She is seeking an individual to hire as a recruiter that will be in charge of hiring and training Hope Haven staff. “That is unheard of for an agency like ours,” Plank said. But, she feels that it is necessary in order to maintain current staff and to acquire the most appropriate individuals for current open positions with Hope Haven.Paying competitive wages will also help as Hope Haven works to fill open positions. Additional funding from COVID-19 recovery money has helped Hope Haven increase wages. “But we have to work to maintain that once those funds are no longer available,” Plank said.&nbsp;Hope Haven staff provides care and training to individuals with developmental disabilities who live in a group home setting with some independence. Job training services are also a premiere Hope Haven service. Many local companies and businesses have Hope Haven trained staff filling positions on site. Hope Haven also operates an aluminum can redemption center. Plank said it is unusual for service providers like Hope Haven to provide this type of service because of the costs to operate and the inability of those types of businesses to operate without losing money.And while Hope Haven is a business that must maintain facilities and provide payroll, its largest asset is human capital. Plank said not just anyone can do the jobs available at Hope Haven. “We are dealing with people and it takes a certain kind of person to fill these roles,” Plank said. That is why early exposure to Hope Haven and the clients who receive services there is an important part of job recruiting for the future.In the meantime, Plank said she plans to find areas of current operations where efficiencies can be realized and where current employees can be used differently to continue to serve clients adequately. “We may need to house more people in one home and job coaching may be a coach for three to four clients instead of one on one,” Plank said.“I love my work. It is part of who I am,” Plank said. “My personal mission statement is to use my abilities to serve, support, and peace and understanding through compassionate action. Everything I do needs to fit my mission,” Plank added.When not working, Plank and her husband bicycle, hike, and walk. Her two sons and eight grandchildren live in Iowa, and they all spend a lot of time together on 18 acres near Eddyville.