By Michael Anderson&nbsp;for The Beacon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bernie Sanders Speaks Out For UAW Workers On Strike

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Young Cast Brings Magic of Aladdin JR to PW Stage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Two Rivers to acquire Lee County Bank

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

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

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

Dr. Morrow’s presentation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Attendees are advised to use the Columbia Street entrance (with the blue awning). The event is free and open to the public; seating is limited and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

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

Presentation will reveal mysteries of Iowa’s earliest inhabitants

Authorities have made an arrest as a result of an investigation into reports of
methamphetamine trafficking in central Burlington. According to a press release issued by the Burlington Police Department, detectives from the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force purchased methamphetamine on two occasions from a suspect who had been
identified during the course of the investigation.&nbsp;
These purchases led to the execution of a search warrant in the 1400
block of Market, which resulted in the seizure of more than 10 grams of methamphetamine and packaging materials.&nbsp; 

At the conclusion of today’s search warrant, detectives
arrested Dayshawn Dejuan Simmons, 27, of Burlington. Simmons was charged with two counts of delivery of methamphetamine, a Class B felony, as well as two counts of failure to affix a drug tax stamp, a Class D felony. He&nbsp;is being
held in the Des Moines County Jail, without bond, pending a court appearance.&nbsp; This investigation was jointly conducted
by the Burlington Police Department, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, The
Henry County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The
counter-drug efforts conducted by the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force
(SEINT) are partially funded through the use of JAG/BYRNE grants administered
through the Office of Drug Control Policy of Iowa and local law enforcement
agencies. This investigation is
ongoing and all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court
of law.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/6/1655494583632.jpeg" alt="Dayshawn Dejuan Simmons, 27, of Burlington, was arrested today and charged with two counts of delivery of methamphetamine." />
 <figcaption>Dayshawn Dejuan Simmons, 27, of Burlington, was arrested today and charged with two counts of delivery of methamphetamine.</figcaption>
 </figure>Authorities have made an arrest as a result of an investigation into reports of
methamphetamine trafficking in central Burlington. According to a press release issued by the Burlington Police Department, detectives from the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force purchased methamphetamine on two occasions from a suspect who had been
identified during the course of the investigation.&nbsp;
These purchases led to the execution of a search warrant in the 1400
block of Market, which resulted in the seizure of more than 10 grams of methamphetamine and packaging materials.&nbsp; At the conclusion of today’s search warrant, detectives
arrested Dayshawn Dejuan Simmons, 27, of Burlington. Simmons was charged with two counts of delivery of methamphetamine, a Class B felony, as well as two counts of failure to affix a drug tax stamp, a Class D felony. He&nbsp;is being
held in the Des Moines County Jail, without bond, pending a court appearance.&nbsp; This investigation was jointly conducted
by the Burlington Police Department, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, The
Henry County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The
counter-drug efforts conducted by the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force
(SEINT) are partially funded through the use of JAG/BYRNE grants administered
through the Office of Drug Control Policy of Iowa and local law enforcement
agencies. This investigation is
ongoing and all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court
of law.

Investigation Into Drug Trafficking Yields Arrest

Above: Ken Tibbits of Hannibal, Mo., holds up a complete crinoid fossil inside the Des Moines County Heritage Museum that he donated to the museum in April.&nbsp;Below: Tibbits holds a handful of blastoid fossils.

In his younger years, Ken Tibbits was known as a “powder monkey.”

Tibbits, who makes his home in Hannibal, Mo., started working for the Atlas Cement Quarry, which is three miles south of Hannibal, in 1965. It was his job to blow away rock by drilling holes and filling them with explosives.

Tibbits never imagined the curiosities that lay under the rock would make him one of the largest contributors to the Des Moines County Heritage Museum. Fossils of 300-million-year-old marine animals, which he later discovered to be crinoids and blastoids, were seemingly endless within the quarry.

“All of my life I have been in cement quarries,” he said, “I started looking around, and that’s where I found most of my crinoids and blastoids.”&nbsp;

Crinoids, which could best be described as a deconstructed starfish on a stick, exist as both a current marine animal and an extinct one. There are about 270 species of crinoids living today, and another 6,000 extinct species that lived alongside the dinosaurs.

Blastoids, which are the extinct cousins of crinoids, are little round echinoderms that look like pale acorn shells.

“I thought they were little hickory nuts, so I started checking into them. We got boxes of them,” Tibbits said.

Hannibal is about a two-hour drive from Burlington, but the limestone that runs beneath the two doesn’t adhere to state lines. It’s the largest source of crinoid and blastoid fossils in the world, usually referred to as “the Burlington Limestone.”

“These rocks are in southeast Iowa and Missouri and Illinois and suggest to us that there used to be a tremendous ocean in this particular area,” said Forest Gahn, Burlington native and crinoid expert.

That’s how Burlington became known as “the Crinoid Capital of the World.” The city even had its own crinoid museum at 111 Marietta St. from the late 1800s until 1911.&nbsp;

Gahn, who is now a geology professor at Brigham Young University-Idaho, started searching for crinoid and blastoid fossils when he was in high school. He cites former Burlington High School teacher Sherman Lundy as his inspiration.

Gahn never stopped searching for crinoids, and that’s how he formed a friendship with Tibbits decades ago. They spent a lot of time in the Atlas Cement Quarry together.

“Burlington doesn’t really have very good exposures of Burlington limestone anymore,” Gahn said. “You have to find other places, and some of the best places are active quarries like the quarries in Hannibal, Monmouth, Morning Sun, Columbia, Mo. There are good quarries scattered all over in the same rock. But Hannibal was always one of the best.”

&nbsp;During his years of collecting, Tibbits amassed over 3,000 crinoids and blastoids (including 150 complete crinoid fossils). The crinoid collection is the third-largest public collection of that type of fossil in the world. The Smithsonian Institute has the largest collection, but most of it isn’t available for public viewing.

“They’ve been around for about 480 million years, they’ve survived all the major mass extinction events, and they’re still alive today. So, we can study them and how they’ve changed over time,” Gahn said.&nbsp;

That’s why Tibbits took a trip to Burlington last month. He donated his entire collection to the Des Moines County Heritage Museum. The collection will be on display in a large exhibit at the museum in 2024 or 2025. A smaller, more temporary exhibit featuring a few of the fossils is already up in the museum.

“These are going to be accessible to the public. They’re not going to be hidden away in drawers. We’re going to be able to see them and enjoy them,” Gahn said.

Loosely constructed marine animal&nbsp;

There is a rarity to the fossils that have been dictated by a unique combination of geology, time, and the loose genetic makeup of the creature itself. Much like a starfish, crinoids can endlessly replicate and create new limbs.

“Crinoids often take that single-arm, and they will divide it numerous times, in multiples of five. It might have 10 arms or 15 arms or 20 arms. All of those arms gather plankton out of the oceans, and then that food travels to a central mouth,” Gahn said.

And when they die, they tend to crumble apart into thousands of pieces. Finding the pieces isn’t that difficult. If you’ve ever found something like a thumb-sized spring coil that looks like it came from a machine, it’s more likely a piece of a crinoid. The partial specimens are buried all over Des Moines County.

“A single crinoid can have over 100,000 individual pieces that make up its body. And if they aren’t buried pretty quickly by a storm or hurricane or something like that, they completely fall apart into little, tiny pieces,” Gahn said.

Some of the best sources for crinoids are rock quarries and areas of mountains that have been tunneled out with explosives to make room for roads. That put Tibbits in a unique position, among a group of co-workers who didn’t understand why he insisted on collecting the fossils. He would use a can of spray paint to circle the specimens he wanted to keep, then would come back after work to collect them.

“(My coworkers) didn’t care for me too well,” Tibbits said with a laugh. “A couple of them turned me in, saying ‘Kenny isn’t doing his job.’ The plant manager called me into his office one time and said, ‘I don’t care what you’re doing or when you’re doing it, as long as the rock tanks are full.’ ”&nbsp;

Julie Martineau, Des Moines County Heritage Center collections coordinator, is ecstatic over the collection and is already in the planning stages for what eventually will be called “The Hall of Crinoids.”

She still can’t believe how many crinoids are in the museum now.

“Holy crow,” she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/6/1655076206256.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Story and photos by William SmithAbove: Ken Tibbits of Hannibal, Mo., holds up a complete crinoid fossil inside the Des Moines County Heritage Museum that he donated to the museum in April.&nbsp;Below: Tibbits holds a handful of blastoid fossils.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/6/1655076449959.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In his younger years, Ken Tibbits was known as a “powder monkey.”Tibbits, who makes his home in Hannibal, Mo., started working for the Atlas Cement Quarry, which is three miles south of Hannibal, in 1965. It was his job to blow away rock by drilling holes and filling them with explosives.Tibbits never imagined the curiosities that lay under the rock would make him one of the largest contributors to the Des Moines County Heritage Museum. Fossils of 300-million-year-old marine animals, which he later discovered to be crinoids and blastoids, were seemingly endless within the quarry.“All of my life I have been in cement quarries,” he said, “I started looking around, and that’s where I found most of my crinoids and blastoids.”&nbsp;Crinoids, which could best be described as a deconstructed starfish on a stick, exist as both a current marine animal and an extinct one. There are about 270 species of crinoids living today, and another 6,000 extinct species that lived alongside the dinosaurs.Blastoids, which are the extinct cousins of crinoids, are little round echinoderms that look like pale acorn shells.“I thought they were little hickory nuts, so I started checking into them. We got boxes of them,” Tibbits said.From Burlington&nbsp;to HannibalHannibal is about a two-hour drive from Burlington, but the limestone that runs beneath the two doesn’t adhere to state lines. It’s the largest source of crinoid and blastoid fossils in the world, usually referred to as “the Burlington Limestone.”“These rocks are in southeast Iowa and Missouri and Illinois and suggest to us that there used to be a tremendous ocean in this particular area,” said Forest Gahn, Burlington native and crinoid expert.That’s how Burlington became known as “the Crinoid Capital of the World.” The city even had its own crinoid museum at 111 Marietta St. from the late 1800s until 1911.&nbsp;Gahn, who is now a geology professor at Brigham Young University-Idaho, started searching for crinoid and blastoid fossils when he was in high school. He cites former Burlington High School teacher Sherman Lundy as his inspiration.Gahn never stopped searching for crinoids, and that’s how he formed a friendship with Tibbits decades ago. They spent a lot of time in the Atlas Cement Quarry together.“Burlington doesn’t really have very good exposures of Burlington limestone anymore,” Gahn said. “You have to find other places, and some of the best places are active quarries like the quarries in Hannibal, Monmouth, Morning Sun, Columbia, Mo. There are good quarries scattered all over in the same rock. But Hannibal was always one of the best.”A new exhibit&nbsp;During his years of collecting, Tibbits amassed over 3,000 crinoids and blastoids (including 150 complete crinoid fossils). The crinoid collection is the third-largest public collection of that type of fossil in the world. The Smithsonian Institute has the largest collection, but most of it isn’t available for public viewing.“They’ve been around for about 480 million years, they’ve survived all the major mass extinction events, and they’re still alive today. So, we can study them and how they’ve changed over time,” Gahn said.&nbsp;That’s why Tibbits took a trip to Burlington last month. He donated his entire collection to the Des Moines County Heritage Museum. The collection will be on display in a large exhibit at the museum in 2024 or 2025. A smaller, more temporary exhibit featuring a few of the fossils is already up in the museum.“These are going to be accessible to the public. They’re not going to be hidden away in drawers. We’re going to be able to see them and enjoy them,” Gahn said.Loosely constructed marine animal&nbsp;There is a rarity to the fossils that have been dictated by a unique combination of geology, time, and the loose genetic makeup of the creature itself. Much like a starfish, crinoids can endlessly replicate and create new limbs.“Crinoids often take that single-arm, and they will divide it numerous times, in multiples of five. It might have 10 arms or 15 arms or 20 arms. All of those arms gather plankton out of the oceans, and then that food travels to a central mouth,” Gahn said.And when they die, they tend to crumble apart into thousands of pieces. Finding the pieces isn’t that difficult. If you’ve ever found something like a thumb-sized spring coil that looks like it came from a machine, it’s more likely a piece of a crinoid. The partial specimens are buried all over Des Moines County.“A single crinoid can have over 100,000 individual pieces that make up its body. And if they aren’t buried pretty quickly by a storm or hurricane or something like that, they completely fall apart into little, tiny pieces,” Gahn said.Some of the best sources for crinoids are rock quarries and areas of mountains that have been tunneled out with explosives to make room for roads. That put Tibbits in a unique position, among a group of co-workers who didn’t understand why he insisted on collecting the fossils. He would use a can of spray paint to circle the specimens he wanted to keep, then would come back after work to collect them.“(My coworkers) didn’t care for me too well,” Tibbits said with a laugh. “A couple of them turned me in, saying ‘Kenny isn’t doing his job.’ The plant manager called me into his office one time and said, ‘I don’t care what you’re doing or when you’re doing it, as long as the rock tanks are full.’ ”&nbsp;Julie Martineau, Des Moines County Heritage Center collections coordinator, is ecstatic over the collection and is already in the planning stages for what eventually will be called “The Hall of Crinoids.”She still can’t believe how many crinoids are in the museum now.“Holy crow,” she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Over 3,000 fossils donated to museum

Like all art, a cross-stitch makes an easy metaphor for life.

That is one reason 92-year-old Burlington resident Mary Marsh enjoys it so much. Every cross stitch pattern she takes on starts out as a blank slate.&nbsp;

Hours later, when she pulls back from the fabric in front of her, a pattern forms — the “X” shaped stitches take shape.

“You lay it down and come back and go, ‘Ooh,’ ” Marsh said. “As you’re working, you don’t see the whole thing. You just see a little piece.”

The inside of her house is decorated with framed cross-stitch displays that adorn the walls like paintings.&nbsp;

But her real passion — which turned into a family tradition more than 30 years ago — is making Christmas stockings for the family.

She has enough children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to keep her busy. She has cross-stitched 71 stockings so far.

One of her creations consists of over 17,600 stitches.&nbsp;

Her late husband counted them once, and that is the only time they bothered counting the nearly microscopic threads.

“If one of them (grandkids) calls and says they’re going to have a baby, I’m like, ‘I’ve got to make a stocking,’ ” Marsh said.

Seven years ago, Marsh underwent open-heart surgery. When she came out of surgery, she could barely move her fingers. Her favorite hobby was temporarily lost to her.

But Marsh did not give up that easily. Her daughter, Cheryl Dirth, recalls how hard her mother worked at rebuilding the dexterity in her fingers.

“She kept working at it, and now her fingers are as nimble as they were before the surgery. She went half a year or nine months without being able to cross-stitch,” Dirth said.

Like her mother, many of Dirth’s family memories are forever woven into Marsh’s cross-stitch patterns. She harbors fond memories of cross-stitched snowman pillows, and of course, the Christmas stockings.

Those memories take Marsh untold hours to create — sometimes 10 minutes at a time while riding in the car, or an hour or two while watching television.

“I’ve had people who want to buy them, but I wouldn’t even know how much to charge. I only make them for my family,” Marsh said.

Born in the former Burlington Medical Center, Marsh attended the defunct Prospect Hill Elementary, then went on to Horace Mann Middle School before graduating from Burlington High School and the College of Commerce. She worked at Murray Iron Works for 30 years, got married in 1952, and has been a constant volunteer around Burlington.

Those memories are retained in her works of art crafted with needle and thread.

“You’re supposed to keep your mind active, and cross-stitching does keep your mind active. It passes the time,” she said.

About two years ago, Marsh contracted COVID-19. She survived, but still has no sense of taste or smell.

“I was in the hospital for 10 days, and it wasn’t fun,” she said.&nbsp;

“It’s hard to tell anyone what it’s like because you’re out of it half the time. It’s hard to tell what’s going on. The first five days, I don’t know what went on.”

COVID-19 did not stop Marsh from cross-stitching — nothing ever has. And for as long as she’s alive, Marsh figures nothing ever will.

“I’m like the Energizer bunny,” she said with a grin.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/6/1655075953416.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithLike all art, a cross-stitch makes an easy metaphor for life.That is one reason 92-year-old Burlington resident Mary Marsh enjoys it so much. Every cross stitch pattern she takes on starts out as a blank slate.&nbsp;Hours later, when she pulls back from the fabric in front of her, a pattern forms — the “X” shaped stitches take shape.“You lay it down and come back and go, ‘Ooh,’ ” Marsh said. “As you’re working, you don’t see the whole thing. You just see a little piece.”The inside of her house is decorated with framed cross-stitch displays that adorn the walls like paintings.&nbsp;But her real passion — which turned into a family tradition more than 30 years ago — is making Christmas stockings for the family.She has enough children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to keep her busy. She has cross-stitched 71 stockings so far.One of her creations consists of over 17,600 stitches.&nbsp;Her late husband counted them once, and that is the only time they bothered counting the nearly microscopic threads.“If one of them (grandkids) calls and says they’re going to have a baby, I’m like, ‘I’ve got to make a stocking,’ ” Marsh said.Seven years ago, Marsh underwent open-heart surgery. When she came out of surgery, she could barely move her fingers. Her favorite hobby was temporarily lost to her.But Marsh did not give up that easily. Her daughter, Cheryl Dirth, recalls how hard her mother worked at rebuilding the dexterity in her fingers.“She kept working at it, and now her fingers are as nimble as they were before the surgery. She went half a year or nine months without being able to cross-stitch,” Dirth said.Like her mother, many of Dirth’s family memories are forever woven into Marsh’s cross-stitch patterns. She harbors fond memories of cross-stitched snowman pillows, and of course, the Christmas stockings.Those memories take Marsh untold hours to create — sometimes 10 minutes at a time while riding in the car, or an hour or two while watching television.“I’ve had people who want to buy them, but I wouldn’t even know how much to charge. I only make them for my family,” Marsh said.Born in the former Burlington Medical Center, Marsh attended the defunct Prospect Hill Elementary, then went on to Horace Mann Middle School before graduating from Burlington High School and the College of Commerce. She worked at Murray Iron Works for 30 years, got married in 1952, and has been a constant volunteer around Burlington.Those memories are retained in her works of art crafted with needle and thread.“You’re supposed to keep your mind active, and cross-stitching does keep your mind active. It passes the time,” she said.About two years ago, Marsh contracted COVID-19. She survived, but still has no sense of taste or smell.“I was in the hospital for 10 days, and it wasn’t fun,” she said.&nbsp;“It’s hard to tell anyone what it’s like because you’re out of it half the time. It’s hard to tell what’s going on. The first five days, I don’t know what went on.”COVID-19 did not stop Marsh from cross-stitching — nothing ever has. And for as long as she’s alive, Marsh figures nothing ever will.“I’m like the Energizer bunny,” she said with a grin.

Staying active ... a stitch at a time

Several individuals from the Des Moines County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and SKYWARN received a Governor’s Volunteer Award from Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg during a special recognition ceremony held in Ottumwa on June 8. The Governor's Volunteer Award recognizes those dedicated individuals and groups who volunteer their time and talent to help an agency or organization to deliver on its mission.

Volunteers from the CERT team who were presented with 5-year length of service awards were: Deborah Adams, Karl Daves, and Melissa Mixer. Dan Wischmeier received recognition for 5 years of service to the SKYWARN team. Tara Boecker, Kela Lehman, Dan Moeller, and Robert Wilson were honored with 10-year length of service awards for CERT, while Barney Paytes was presented a 15-year length of service award for volunteering with CERT. As a bonus, the Des Moines County CERT team (as a whole) was granted an award for being active for 15-years running. These individuals exemplify what it means to be there for others and give unselfishly of their time and talents.

According to Gina Hardin, Des Moines County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator, “These individuals, plus other members of these teams, put in hundreds of hours in a year to help the community, whether it be providing weather reports to the National Weather Service, assisting first responders in their missions, or supporting other local groups with traffic and crowd control at events and parades held through-out our community.”

Hardin is always looking for new volunteers and training opportunities are available. More information on CERT and SKYWARN can be found at dmcounty.com/ema or by calling 319-753-8206.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/6/1654891146623.jpeg" alt="Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks at the ceremony honoring the recipients of the Governor's Volunteer Award on June 8 in Ottumwa. (Photo courtesy of www.volunteeriowa.org)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks at the ceremony honoring the recipients of the Governor's Volunteer Award on June 8 in Ottumwa. (Photo courtesy of www.volunteeriowa.org)</figcaption>
 </figure>Several individuals from the Des Moines County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and SKYWARN received a Governor’s Volunteer Award from Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg during a special recognition ceremony held in Ottumwa on June 8. The Governor's Volunteer Award recognizes those dedicated individuals and groups who volunteer their time and talent to help an agency or organization to deliver on its mission.Volunteers from the CERT team who were presented with 5-year length of service awards were: Deborah Adams, Karl Daves, and Melissa Mixer. Dan Wischmeier received recognition for 5 years of service to the SKYWARN team. Tara Boecker, Kela Lehman, Dan Moeller, and Robert Wilson were honored with 10-year length of service awards for CERT, while Barney Paytes was presented a 15-year length of service award for volunteering with CERT. As a bonus, the Des Moines County CERT team (as a whole) was granted an award for being active for 15-years running. These individuals exemplify what it means to be there for others and give unselfishly of their time and talents.According to Gina Hardin, Des Moines County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator, “These individuals, plus other members of these teams, put in hundreds of hours in a year to help the community, whether it be providing weather reports to the National Weather Service, assisting first responders in their missions, or supporting other local groups with traffic and crowd control at events and parades held through-out our community.”Hardin is always looking for new volunteers and training opportunities are available. More information on CERT and SKYWARN can be found at dmcounty.com/ema or by calling 319-753-8206.

CERT and SKYWARN Volunteers Honored by Governor

William Smith Community Editor

With no other contested local races on the ballot for the June 7 primary, Burlington residents Matt Rinker and TJ Widbin took center stage at a political forum hosted by the Greater Burlington Partnership Tuesday morning, May 31.

Rinker and Widbin are vying for the Republican nomination for the 99th district in the Iowa House of Representatives, which was recently redistricted and is now represented by Democrat Dennis Cohoon. The winner of the primary will take on Cohoon in the regular election.

Rinker has been on the Burlington City Council for the past five years and ran for state senate in 2020. He touted his experience in local politics as a distinct advantage.

“I am a husband, a father, a business owner, a veteran. I’m a city councilman, and I have an extensive history of volunteering in this community,” he said.&nbsp;

“This area really has one voice in Des Moines. It is extremely important that voice have the knowledge, experience, and be powerful in a caucus.”

Though Widbin has no political experience, he does have extensive business experience. That experience started when he opened Lost Bear Coffee locations in 2016 and 2017, and more recently, Good Restaurant + Lounge.

“I think I have the tools” he said. “I think I have the personality.”

Tim Lundgren acted as the moderator at the forum, asking each candidate the same question in a series of queries. His first question centered around growing the workforce in the Burlington area. He asked Widbin to respond first.

“We have an aged workforce base,” Widbin said. “We need to bring in more youth, and in order to do that, I think we have to make Iowa an attractive place for families. I think you have to make Iowa an attractive place for businesses and entrepreneuring.”

The way to do that, Widbin said, is to the lower income tax. He said the current Republican led legislation already has a good start on that.

“I think what you’re going to see over the next three to five years are tech companies that are looking to get out of high cost areas,” Widbin said.&nbsp;

Rinker put the onus for job growth on two things — creating more affordable housing through incentives, and increasing education funding.&nbsp;

“Over the last 10 years, and most of that has come in the last five years since I’ve been on city council, we’ve seen $125 million in investments in residential housing downtown,” Rinker said.

Widbin also wants to focus on downtown and would like to move residents from renters to homeowners.

“I think there need to be state programs that can help people transition from rental to home ownership. Whether that is a first-time tax credit for buying a home, or a capital improvement, or some kind of tax breaks for people making improvements on their home,” Widbin said.

Rinker and Widbin said one of the major disagreements they have with their own party is how underfunded education in Iowa is.

“Right now, we spend $2,238 per person in Iowa on education. We spent $2,093 per person on welfare programs. Education needs to be much more than that,” Rinker said.

Widbin said he is also not a fan of Gov. Kim Reynold’s school voucher proposal, which died last week due to lack of support. The proposal would have diverted $55 million from state public school funding for 10,000 private school scholarships.

“In theory, there could be some benefits there. But as it is in its current form, it’s something I’m not for, and I think could hurt schools in general,” Widbin said.

The candidates also disagree with the restructuring of mental health services seven years ago under former Gov. Terry Branstad. That restructuring centered around closing two mental health institutes in Iowa.

“You are saving money at the state level, but you’re passing the responsibilities on to a local level. You’re not saving money.&nbsp;&nbsp;You’re also passing on the costs,” Rinker said. “You’re just spreading out the pressures.”

While answering a question from The Burlington Beacon about how to address those who slip through the cracks and end up homeless with no mental health treatment, Rinker and Widbin also agreed that a mental health counselor should be stationed in every school.

“When I made the (Facebook) post that I was running for this office, I had mental health in mind, mostly due to struggles that I had that I had never experienced before that gave me a whole new perspective,” Widbin said.&nbsp;

“I think mental health has been massively underfunded, and we are seeing the effects of that now.”

Widbin believes increasing funding and making homes more affordable will impact not only homelessness but also mental health.

“In a perfect world, of course, we would have funding for a great big homeless shelter, but that’s probably a three-to-five-year plan down the road,” Widbin said. “But I think if we get proactive on the mental health side of schools, we’ll start to see the benefit of that trickle down.”

Both candidates would like to grow tourism in the area and agree that the riverfront is an economic driver for Burlington and the surrounding area. Rinker said he and his fellow council members have already made strides in improving tourism, citing the six Burlington dockings for Viking Cruises.&nbsp;

“In the last five years on city council, I’ve promoted more than $25 million in initiatives to support tourism. A lot of it is on the riverfront today. I think that riverfront is the most valuable property we have in Burlington,” Rinker said.

Widbin said downtown Burlington attracts tourism.

“The more we can drive businesses to downtown, it’s only going to bring in and incentivize more people to come down here. The growth that we’ve seen in the last few years makes people want to come downtown,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/6/1654531473452.jpeg" alt="Matt Rinker, left, and TJ Widbin, right, both of Burlington, shake hands before a forum hosted by the Greater Burlington Partnership. Rinker and Widbin are vying for the Republican nomination for the 99th district in the Iowa House of Representatives. (William Smith/The Burlington Beacon)" />
 <figcaption>Matt Rinker, left, and TJ Widbin, right, both of Burlington, shake hands before a forum hosted by the Greater Burlington Partnership. Rinker and Widbin are vying for the Republican nomination for the 99th district in the Iowa House of Representatives. (William Smith/The Burlington Beacon)</figcaption>
 </figure>William Smith Community EditorWith no other contested local races on the ballot for the June 7 primary, Burlington residents Matt Rinker and TJ Widbin took center stage at a political forum hosted by the Greater Burlington Partnership Tuesday morning, May 31.Rinker and Widbin are vying for the Republican nomination for the 99th district in the Iowa House of Representatives, which was recently redistricted and is now represented by Democrat Dennis Cohoon. The winner of the primary will take on Cohoon in the regular election.Rinker has been on the Burlington City Council for the past five years and ran for state senate in 2020. He touted his experience in local politics as a distinct advantage.“I am a husband, a father, a business owner, a veteran. I’m a city councilman, and I have an extensive history of volunteering in this community,” he said.&nbsp;“This area really has one voice in Des Moines. It is extremely important that voice have the knowledge, experience, and be powerful in a caucus.”Though Widbin has no political experience, he does have extensive business experience. That experience started when he opened Lost Bear Coffee locations in 2016 and 2017, and more recently, Good Restaurant + Lounge.“I think I have the tools” he said. “I think I have the personality.”Tim Lundgren acted as the moderator at the forum, asking each candidate the same question in a series of queries. His first question centered around growing the workforce in the Burlington area. He asked Widbin to respond first.“We have an aged workforce base,” Widbin said. “We need to bring in more youth, and in order to do that, I think we have to make Iowa an attractive place for families. I think you have to make Iowa an attractive place for businesses and entrepreneuring.”The way to do that, Widbin said, is to the lower income tax. He said the current Republican led legislation already has a good start on that.“I think what you’re going to see over the next three to five years are tech companies that are looking to get out of high cost areas,” Widbin said.&nbsp;Rinker put the onus for job growth on two things — creating more affordable housing through incentives, and increasing education funding.&nbsp;“Over the last 10 years, and most of that has come in the last five years since I’ve been on city council, we’ve seen $125 million in investments in residential housing downtown,” Rinker said.Widbin also wants to focus on downtown and would like to move residents from renters to homeowners.“I think there need to be state programs that can help people transition from rental to home ownership. Whether that is a first-time tax credit for buying a home, or a capital improvement, or some kind of tax breaks for people making improvements on their home,” Widbin said.Rinker and Widbin said one of the major disagreements they have with their own party is how underfunded education in Iowa is.“Right now, we spend $2,238 per person in Iowa on education. We spent $2,093 per person on welfare programs. Education needs to be much more than that,” Rinker said.Widbin said he is also not a fan of Gov. Kim Reynold’s school voucher proposal, which died last week due to lack of support. The proposal would have diverted $55 million from state public school funding for 10,000 private school scholarships.“In theory, there could be some benefits there. But as it is in its current form, it’s something I’m not for, and I think could hurt schools in general,” Widbin said.The candidates also disagree with the restructuring of mental health services seven years ago under former Gov. Terry Branstad. That restructuring centered around closing two mental health institutes in Iowa.“You are saving money at the state level, but you’re passing the responsibilities on to a local level. You’re not saving money.&nbsp;&nbsp;You’re also passing on the costs,” Rinker said. “You’re just spreading out the pressures.”While answering a question from The Burlington Beacon about how to address those who slip through the cracks and end up homeless with no mental health treatment, Rinker and Widbin also agreed that a mental health counselor should be stationed in every school.“When I made the (Facebook) post that I was running for this office, I had mental health in mind, mostly due to struggles that I had that I had never experienced before that gave me a whole new perspective,” Widbin said.&nbsp;“I think mental health has been massively underfunded, and we are seeing the effects of that now.”Widbin believes increasing funding and making homes more affordable will impact not only homelessness but also mental health.“In a perfect world, of course, we would have funding for a great big homeless shelter, but that’s probably a three-to-five-year plan down the road,” Widbin said. “But I think if we get proactive on the mental health side of schools, we’ll start to see the benefit of that trickle down.”Both candidates would like to grow tourism in the area and agree that the riverfront is an economic driver for Burlington and the surrounding area. Rinker said he and his fellow council members have already made strides in improving tourism, citing the six Burlington dockings for Viking Cruises.&nbsp;“In the last five years on city council, I’ve promoted more than $25 million in initiatives to support tourism. A lot of it is on the riverfront today. I think that riverfront is the most valuable property we have in Burlington,” Rinker said.Widbin said downtown Burlington attracts tourism.“The more we can drive businesses to downtown, it’s only going to bring in and incentivize more people to come down here. The growth that we’ve seen in the last few years makes people want to come downtown,” he said.

Rinker and Widbin Square Off at Forum

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.”

<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;