<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/d45c5a2f-b63f-4a4f-b63b-ca8e03d84f03">Mary Ann Lukens</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/0b3e5f54-423a-4d3e-a978-2b9ad8d09b0f">Kenneth Schwab</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/5822bc56-8cad-4bda-b937-b44f22fe42b6">Ralph Cushman</a>

Obituaries have been posted for:<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/d45c5a2f-b63f-4a4f-b63b-ca8e03d84f03">Mary Ann Lukens</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/0b3e5f54-423a-4d3e-a978-2b9ad8d09b0f">Kenneth Schwab</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/5822bc56-8cad-4bda-b937-b44f22fe42b6">Ralph Cushman</a>

Recent Obituaries - Jan. 13, 2022

Jim Green, Burlington native and BHS graduate, is stepping down as NASA’s top scientist.

Green is set to retire in early 2022 after four decades with NASA. Green directed NASA’s Planetary Science Division during the Curiosity landing in 2012. He played a lead role in promoting and explaining the Mars rover to the public.&nbsp;

Green also was a consultant for “The Martian,” a film about an astronaut who ends up marooned on Mars.

“I feel tremendously proud about the activities I’ve done at NASA,” Green said in a statement. “In many ways, NASA is not a job. It’s a way of life. We’re always looking for ways to do the impossible.”

Green started his career at NASA by developing the agency’s equivalent to the internet (the Space Physics Analysis Network) in 1980. He is best known for overseeing some of NASA’s biggest space exploration projects in the past 15 years.

Green will assist with the search for his replacement.

“Jim has touched so many important missions over the course of his illustrious career at NASA, not to mention the inspiration he instills in so many who lead the way in space across the board,” said deputy administrator Pam Melroy.&nbsp;

In retirement, Green plans to continue collaborating with NASA.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/1/1641957362388.jpeg" alt="Jim Green" />
 <figcaption>Jim Green</figcaption>
 </figure>Jim Green, Burlington native and BHS graduate, is stepping down as NASA’s top scientist.Green is set to retire in early 2022 after four decades with NASA. Green directed NASA’s Planetary Science Division during the Curiosity landing in 2012. He played a lead role in promoting and explaining the Mars rover to the public.&nbsp;Green also was a consultant for “The Martian,” a film about an astronaut who ends up marooned on Mars.“I feel tremendously proud about the activities I’ve done at NASA,” Green said in a statement. “In many ways, NASA is not a job. It’s a way of life. We’re always looking for ways to do the impossible.”Green started his career at NASA by developing the agency’s equivalent to the internet (the Space Physics Analysis Network) in 1980. He is best known for overseeing some of NASA’s biggest space exploration projects in the past 15 years.Green will assist with the search for his replacement.“Jim has touched so many important missions over the course of his illustrious career at NASA, not to mention the inspiration he instills in so many who lead the way in space across the board,” said deputy administrator Pam Melroy.&nbsp;In retirement, Green plans to continue collaborating with NASA.&nbsp;

Green retires from post as chief scientist at NASA

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/d1685b6b-09ee-409a-8c1a-bbd36db298bf">Nathan McCullough</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/72234fd6-1420-4d5e-ac49-0654399885e8">Robert "Shannon" Stump</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/732e5c2b-d681-42d2-b6cd-275766eb5ff7">Kurt Kenley</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/32447dfd-17d8-43f4-a6d0-e0076b1781bd">Gerry Fesler</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/6a402a36-22fb-46db-8d48-1e7aeb267d57">Cheryl Levinson</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/12/1638849254343.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Obituaries have been published for:<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/d1685b6b-09ee-409a-8c1a-bbd36db298bf">Nathan McCullough</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/72234fd6-1420-4d5e-ac49-0654399885e8">Robert "Shannon" Stump</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/732e5c2b-d681-42d2-b6cd-275766eb5ff7">Kurt Kenley</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/32447dfd-17d8-43f4-a6d0-e0076b1781bd">Gerry Fesler</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/6a402a36-22fb-46db-8d48-1e7aeb267d57">Cheryl Levinson</a>

Recent Obituaries - Jan. 11, 2022

By Beacon Staff The
 Burlington School Board passed the first reading of a modified version 
of its existing mask policy that could ease the current masking 
restrictions. School
 board president Joel Sieren, Deb Hatteberg (who put forth the motion), 
Darven Kendell, and Scott Mason voted for the measure, while Anika McVay 
and Nancy Hoelzen voted against it. Christi Burghoffer abstained. Before
 the vote, Mason, McVay, and Burghoffer said they were for the idea of 
eliminating masks entirely. Sieren, Hatteberg, Kendell, and Hoelzen 
favored a more cautious approach. Since it was 
the first reading of the policy, the modifications won’t be approved 
until the next school board meeting if the votes remain the same. 
School board member Joel Sieren indicated that could be a special board 
meeting. The new policy is modified from the 
one passed October of last year, which created a tier system using 
county COVID-19 positivity rates to determine when students and staff in
 the Burlington school district should wear masks. The original tier system broke down as follows:&nbsp; Tier One — No masks required if the county positivity rate is between 0 and 5 percent. Tier
 Two — Masks required during regular school hours when students are 
present if the county positivity rate is between 5.1 percent and 12 
percent. Tier Three — Masks required at all times when inside district buildings if the county positivity rate is 12 percent or greater. The
 new tier system uses a higher percentage rate of positivity to 
determine mask usage for students and staff, and would be as follows: Tier One — No masks required if the county positivity rate is between 0 and 12 percent. Tier
 Two — Masks required during regular school hours when students are 
present if the county positivity rate is between 12.1 percent and 20 
percent. Tier Three — Masks required at all times when inside district buildings if the county positivity rate 20.1 percent or over. The numbers were negotiated by the school board after two hours of discussion, using Hatteberg’s motion as a starting point. The
 meeting room was packed by local residents, many who spoke out against 
any kind of mask policy. No one in the crowd spoke in favor of a mask 
policy. During the discussion, Sieren pounded 
his gavel several times after hearing outbursts from the audience. He 
also condemned the hateful tone of some of the emails sent by the public 
to the school board, calling some of them “borderline threats.” “We are all up here trying to do the best we can,” Sieren said.

Superintendent Pat Coen was not available for Monday night's meeting. Though the school board had planned on hearing from the school district's attorney regarding the employment status of the current but inactive Burlington High School Principal David Keane, that agenda item was pushed back to the next regular meeting due to Coen's absence. Monica Meyers is the acting interim principal for Burlington High School.

By Beacon Staff The
 Burlington School Board passed the first reading of a modified version 
of its existing mask policy that could ease the current masking 
restrictions. School
 board president Joel Sieren, Deb Hatteberg (who put forth the motion), 
Darven Kendell, and Scott Mason voted for the measure, while Anika McVay 
and Nancy Hoelzen voted against it. Christi Burghoffer abstained. Before
 the vote, Mason, McVay, and Burghoffer said they were for the idea of 
eliminating masks entirely. Sieren, Hatteberg, Kendell, and Hoelzen 
favored a more cautious approach. Since it was 
the first reading of the policy, the modifications won’t be approved 
until the next school board meeting if the votes remain the same. 
School board member Joel Sieren indicated that could be a special board 
meeting. The new policy is modified from the 
one passed October of last year, which created a tier system using 
county COVID-19 positivity rates to determine when students and staff in
 the Burlington school district should wear masks. The original tier system broke down as follows:&nbsp; Tier One — No masks required if the county positivity rate is between 0 and 5 percent. Tier
 Two — Masks required during regular school hours when students are 
present if the county positivity rate is between 5.1 percent and 12 
percent. Tier Three — Masks required at all times when inside district buildings if the county positivity rate is 12 percent or greater. The
 new tier system uses a higher percentage rate of positivity to 
determine mask usage for students and staff, and would be as follows: Tier One — No masks required if the county positivity rate is between 0 and 12 percent. Tier
 Two — Masks required during regular school hours when students are 
present if the county positivity rate is between 12.1 percent and 20 
percent. Tier Three — Masks required at all times when inside district buildings if the county positivity rate 20.1 percent or over. The numbers were negotiated by the school board after two hours of discussion, using Hatteberg’s motion as a starting point. The
 meeting room was packed by local residents, many who spoke out against 
any kind of mask policy. No one in the crowd spoke in favor of a mask 
policy. During the discussion, Sieren pounded 
his gavel several times after hearing outbursts from the audience. He 
also condemned the hateful tone of some of the emails sent by the public 
to the school board, calling some of them “borderline threats.” “We are all up here trying to do the best we can,” Sieren said.Superintendent Pat Coen was not available for Monday night's meeting. Though the school board had planned on hearing from the school district's attorney regarding the employment status of the current but inactive Burlington High School Principal David Keane, that agenda item was pushed back to the next regular meeting due to Coen's absence. Monica Meyers is the acting interim principal for Burlington High School.

Burlington School Board Passes First Reading of Policy Easing Mask Restrictions

After nearly eight years
as the executive director of the Art Center on Jefferson Street, Tammy McCoy
will be leaving -- but she won't be going far.

Now McCoy has her sights
set on improving the stature of The Capitol Theater. She’s executive director
there as well and will be spending a lot more time in the restored theater now
that she’s stepping back from the Art Center.

“This is a good time to
pass the baton at the Art Center,” she said. “I want to stay through the Snake
Alley Art Fair for the transition.”

The baton will go to
current associate director Elizabeth Pappas, who has spent the past six months under
McCoy’s wing, training for the job to come. Hailing from North Carolina, Pappas
has a passion for the arts and joined the board of directors for the Art Center
as soon as she moved into town in 2019.

When McCoy took the Art
Center job in 2014, her biggest concerns were procuring air-conditioning and
keeping the building open. Since then, she has been the driving force behind a
new roof, layout, new windows, and a new program aimed at turning the Art Center
into a centralized, cultural touchstone for Burlington.

There’s always something
happening, whether inside the gallery or at the connected art store.

“I am being handed
something (The Art Center) that’s strong and stable, and Tammy has set a pretty
high bar,” Pappas said. “I’m happy to maintain that and continue to grow it.”

Changes
Are Coming to the Capitol Theater

When McCoy became
executive director of the Capitol Theater, she contemplated the additional
strain such a position would add to her life. She had to think about it.

Then she said “yes,”
without promise of payment. McCoy was already on the Capitol Theater board and
understood the dire situation.&nbsp;

“How could I not? They (the
Capitol Theater board of directors executive committee) had no one else to
ask,” she said.

She credits the board and
the many volunteers for keeping the theater going.

“The Capitol Theater is
alive today because of people in the community. I really believe that,” she
said.

McCoy's initial mission
was to keep the theater afloat, shedding off debt to the point where only the
mortgage note is owed. Now that her full attention can be focused on the
theater, she has bigger plans.

The additions to the theater
will start with a capital campaign later this month. All the familiar programs,
from cover bands to local festivals such as the Snake Alley Festival of Film,
will continue as always. So will the partnership with Southeastern Community
College.

McCoy’s business plan
calls for broadening the theater’s appeal. That includes new film releases and
transforming the theater annex into a bar/lounge area with a liquor license.

“People who utilize the
Capitol Theater, the audience is pretty narrow right now,” she said. “We want
to broaden that.”

Elizabeth Pappas has a
passion for the arts that manifests in fireball of energy. When her husband
Daniel Pappas landed a teaching job at Southeastern Community College (he is a
music instructor and the music program coordinator at the college), she
immediately hopped online to check out Burlington’s art scene.

Seeing the Art Center
made her forget the move to a chillier climate. For a town of its size, it was
far more than she expected.

“I immediately found this
place and wanted to be a part of it. This is the kind of atmosphere I wanted to
be a part of,” she said. “I joined the board and got to see a lot of
behind-the-scenes.”

Pappas grew up in Utah,
playing the violin. She was good enough to earn a scholarship to the University
of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she met her husband.

“I wouldn’t call myself
an artist. But I am very visual,” she said. “When we travel places, the first
thing I want to do is go to a museum. I love being around people who are
passionate about what they do. There is so much value a person can take from
that.”

Pappas sees her role as a
champion for the arts. She was a visual merchandising manager at Banana
Republic for 10 years before coming to Burlington and is not intimidated by the
vast Art Center schedule.

“I’m excited for 2022,
and I’m really excited about class offerings. We are offering up a lot more
variety for teens. We always have fun events, and we’re always coming up with
new ones,” Pappas said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/1/1641849392746.jpeg" alt="Future Art Center executive director Elizabeth Pappas, left, and current director Tammy McCoy, right, pose for a photo together in the mezzanine of the Art Center. Pappas will be taking over as director of the Art Center later this year, while McCoy will focus on her job as executive director of the Capitol Theater. Photo by William Smith. " />
 <figcaption>Future Art Center executive director Elizabeth Pappas, left, and current director Tammy McCoy, right, pose for a photo together in the mezzanine of the Art Center. Pappas will be taking over as director of the Art Center later this year, while McCoy will focus on her job as executive director of the Capitol Theater. Photo by William Smith. </figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithAfter nearly eight years
as the executive director of the Art Center on Jefferson Street, Tammy McCoy
will be leaving -- but she won't be going far.Now McCoy has her sights
set on improving the stature of The Capitol Theater. She’s executive director
there as well and will be spending a lot more time in the restored theater now
that she’s stepping back from the Art Center.“This is a good time to
pass the baton at the Art Center,” she said. “I want to stay through the Snake
Alley Art Fair for the transition.”The baton will go to
current associate director Elizabeth Pappas, who has spent the past six months under
McCoy’s wing, training for the job to come. Hailing from North Carolina, Pappas
has a passion for the arts and joined the board of directors for the Art Center
as soon as she moved into town in 2019.When McCoy took the Art
Center job in 2014, her biggest concerns were procuring air-conditioning and
keeping the building open. Since then, she has been the driving force behind a
new roof, layout, new windows, and a new program aimed at turning the Art Center
into a centralized, cultural touchstone for Burlington.There’s always something
happening, whether inside the gallery or at the connected art store.“I am being handed
something (The Art Center) that’s strong and stable, and Tammy has set a pretty
high bar,” Pappas said. “I’m happy to maintain that and continue to grow it.”Changes
Are Coming to the Capitol TheaterWhen McCoy became
executive director of the Capitol Theater, she contemplated the additional
strain such a position would add to her life. She had to think about it.Then she said “yes,”
without promise of payment. McCoy was already on the Capitol Theater board and
understood the dire situation.&nbsp;“How could I not? They (the
Capitol Theater board of directors executive committee) had no one else to
ask,” she said.She credits the board and
the many volunteers for keeping the theater going.“The Capitol Theater is
alive today because of people in the community. I really believe that,” she
said.McCoy's initial mission
was to keep the theater afloat, shedding off debt to the point where only the
mortgage note is owed. Now that her full attention can be focused on the
theater, she has bigger plans.The additions to the theater
will start with a capital campaign later this month. All the familiar programs,
from cover bands to local festivals such as the Snake Alley Festival of Film,
will continue as always. So will the partnership with Southeastern Community
College.McCoy’s business plan
calls for broadening the theater’s appeal. That includes new film releases and
transforming the theater annex into a bar/lounge area with a liquor license.“People who utilize the
Capitol Theater, the audience is pretty narrow right now,” she said. “We want
to broaden that.”Taking
the Art Center BatonElizabeth Pappas has a
passion for the arts that manifests in fireball of energy. When her husband
Daniel Pappas landed a teaching job at Southeastern Community College (he is a
music instructor and the music program coordinator at the college), she
immediately hopped online to check out Burlington’s art scene.Seeing the Art Center
made her forget the move to a chillier climate. For a town of its size, it was
far more than she expected.“I immediately found this
place and wanted to be a part of it. This is the kind of atmosphere I wanted to
be a part of,” she said. “I joined the board and got to see a lot of
behind-the-scenes.”Pappas grew up in Utah,
playing the violin. She was good enough to earn a scholarship to the University
of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she met her husband.“I wouldn’t call myself
an artist. But I am very visual,” she said. “When we travel places, the first
thing I want to do is go to a museum. I love being around people who are
passionate about what they do. There is so much value a person can take from
that.”Pappas sees her role as a
champion for the arts. She was a visual merchandising manager at Banana
Republic for 10 years before coming to Burlington and is not intimidated by the
vast Art Center schedule.In fact, she wants to add
it to it.“I’m excited for 2022,
and I’m really excited about class offerings. We are offering up a lot more
variety for teens. We always have fun events, and we’re always coming up with
new ones,” Pappas said.

Changes In Leadership Designed To Grow Capitol Theater and the Art Center

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/fa09572a-b34b-4dcc-aa41-05e6501acc53">Charles Pitzer</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/637fe5b6-a6ff-43ff-9563-a1c70c9da806">Lucy Olson Gajewski</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/f3614879-0816-4e7a-9abb-74ab9ab238a7">James Helmick</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/12/1638849254343.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Obituaries have been published for:<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/fa09572a-b34b-4dcc-aa41-05e6501acc53">Charles Pitzer</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/637fe5b6-a6ff-43ff-9563-a1c70c9da806">Lucy Olson Gajewski</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/f3614879-0816-4e7a-9abb-74ab9ab238a7">James Helmick</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/4944eb04-408a-4def-a22a-a5ad7dbd9e77">Lela Tull</a>

Recent Obituaries - Jan. 10, 2022

By Beacon Staff Burlington
 firefighters responded to two fires within 20 minutes of each other 
Friday morning, Jan. 7, and neither blaze resulted in injuries. The
 first fire was called in at 8 a.m. at 1428 Cleveland Ave. Burlington 
firefighters arrived six minutes later to find a smoldering fire in the 
upper story of the house. Residents had made attempts to extinguish the 
fire using a garden hose. The single-family home, owned and 
occupied by Curtis Heath, sustained an estimated $1,000 in damage to the
 structure and $500 in damages to contents. The fire started in 
the upstairs of the residence when embers from a coal burning fireplace 
ignited nearby objects. The homeowner was not present when the fire 
department arrived. Two other occupants of the home were able to escape 
without injury and have been assisted by the American Red Cross. Twelve
 Burlington firefighters responded to the initial call. West Burlington 
firefighters were responding on automatic aid but were canceled en 
route. Burlington Police assisted displaced residents at the scene. Firefighters cleared the scene at 9 a.m. The Second House Fire Nineteen
 minutes later, at 8:19 a.m., Burlington firefighters responded to a 
report of smoke coming from the roof of a home at 1705 Olive St. The 
firefighters, some who were responding from the previous fire scene that
 was still active, arrived at 8:21&nbsp; a.m. to find a small fire in the 
attic of the single-family rental home. One woman had been inside the house and not aware of the fire until alerted by neighbors. She was able to safely escape. The
 rental home is owned by Betty Weinreich of Lomax, Ill., and is occupied
 by Dawn Bennick. Damage is estimated at $5,000 to the structure and 
$1,000 to contents; the house is insured. There were no working smoke 
detectors in the house. The fire was caused by overloaded electrical wiring due to the use of a space heater and is considered accidental. Six
 Burlington firefighters initially responded to the call, with West 
Burlington firefighters responding on automatic aid. Additional 
firefighters responded as they became available from the previous fire 
scene. Burlington Police and Alliant Energy assisted at the scene.&nbsp; Firefighters cleared the scene at 9:36 a.m.

By Beacon Staff Burlington
 firefighters responded to two fires within 20 minutes of each other 
Friday morning, Jan. 7, and neither blaze resulted in injuries. The
 first fire was called in at 8 a.m. at 1428 Cleveland Ave. Burlington 
firefighters arrived six minutes later to find a smoldering fire in the 
upper story of the house. Residents had made attempts to extinguish the 
fire using a garden hose. The single-family home, owned and 
occupied by Curtis Heath, sustained an estimated $1,000 in damage to the
 structure and $500 in damages to contents. The fire started in 
the upstairs of the residence when embers from a coal burning fireplace 
ignited nearby objects. The homeowner was not present when the fire 
department arrived. Two other occupants of the home were able to escape 
without injury and have been assisted by the American Red Cross. Twelve
 Burlington firefighters responded to the initial call. West Burlington 
firefighters were responding on automatic aid but were canceled en 
route. Burlington Police assisted displaced residents at the scene. Firefighters cleared the scene at 9 a.m. The Second House Fire Nineteen
 minutes later, at 8:19 a.m., Burlington firefighters responded to a 
report of smoke coming from the roof of a home at 1705 Olive St. The 
firefighters, some who were responding from the previous fire scene that
 was still active, arrived at 8:21&nbsp; a.m. to find a small fire in the 
attic of the single-family rental home. One woman had been inside the house and not aware of the fire until alerted by neighbors. She was able to safely escape. The
 rental home is owned by Betty Weinreich of Lomax, Ill., and is occupied
 by Dawn Bennick. Damage is estimated at $5,000 to the structure and 
$1,000 to contents; the house is insured. There were no working smoke 
detectors in the house. The fire was caused by overloaded electrical wiring due to the use of a space heater and is considered accidental. Six
 Burlington firefighters initially responded to the call, with West 
Burlington firefighters responding on automatic aid. Additional 
firefighters responded as they became available from the previous fire 
scene. Burlington Police and Alliant Energy assisted at the scene.&nbsp; Firefighters cleared the scene at 9:36 a.m.

Burlington Firefighters Fight Two House Fires Friday Morning

By Beacon Staff Burlington Police had to close down Roosevelt Avenue and divert southbound and northbound traffic for a couple of hours the morning of Thursday, Jan. 6 after a semi-truck and an SUV collided at the intersection with Division Street. No one was seriously injured in the accident, but the semi was positioned crossways across the road, forcing the traffic diversion. The accident occurred just after 11 a.m. According to the Burlington Police Department, Song Yuk Richardson, 67, of Sperry, had been traveling south on U.S. 61 and was waiting in the left turn lane on Roosevelt Avenue to turn east onto Division Street. Richardson said she had the blinking yellow arrow at the traffic light and was struck by a semi-truck headed north on U.S. 61 as&nbsp; she was turning. The semi-truck, driven by Terry Gene Mulvaney, 59, of Lasalle, Ill., was approaching Division Street and Mulvaney saw that he had a green light. Mulvaney, who said he was traveling 38 miles per hour, saw Richardson turning in front of him but did not have time to brake. Officers concluded that Richardson was at fault for the accident and she was issued a citation for failure to yield upon a left turn.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/1/1641517460174.jpeg" alt="A collision between a semi-truck and an SUV temporarily shut down Roosevelt Avenue on Thursday morning. Photo submitted. " />
 <figcaption>A collision between a semi-truck and an SUV temporarily shut down Roosevelt Avenue on Thursday morning. Photo submitted. </figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon Staff Burlington Police had to close down Roosevelt Avenue and divert southbound and northbound traffic for a couple of hours the morning of Thursday, Jan. 6 after a semi-truck and an SUV collided at the intersection with Division Street. No one was seriously injured in the accident, but the semi was positioned crossways across the road, forcing the traffic diversion. The accident occurred just after 11 a.m. According to the Burlington Police Department, Song Yuk Richardson, 67, of Sperry, had been traveling south on U.S. 61 and was waiting in the left turn lane on Roosevelt Avenue to turn east onto Division Street. Richardson said she had the blinking yellow arrow at the traffic light and was struck by a semi-truck headed north on U.S. 61 as&nbsp; she was turning. The semi-truck, driven by Terry Gene Mulvaney, 59, of Lasalle, Ill., was approaching Division Street and Mulvaney saw that he had a green light. Mulvaney, who said he was traveling 38 miles per hour, saw Richardson turning in front of him but did not have time to brake. Officers concluded that Richardson was at fault for the accident and she was issued a citation for failure to yield upon a left turn.

Collision Blocks Roosevelt Avenue; No Injuries Reported

One person is dead after mobile home fire at Timberline Estates in West Burlington early Thursday morning.

The person has yet to be identified by police.

Burlington firefighters were called to the fire at 14876 Washington Road, lot 193, at 2:37 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 6,  to find a mobile home fully engulfed in flames.

Firefighters and deputies worked to determine if anyone was inside the mobile home while bringing the fire under control. The fire was brought under control by 3:18 am. Firefighters cleared the scene at 8:35 a.m.

The damage caused by the fire was extensive. During a search of the mobile home a body was located. The body was removed and taken to the Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny for identification.

The mobile home is owned by Homes in Iowa and is managed by Timberline Estates. Damage estimates are still being assessed.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Burlington Fire Department, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Ten Burlington firefighters responded to the initial call and were assisted by firefighters from Danville, Gladstone, Mediapolis, and West Burlington, who provided manpower and water tenders. 

Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office and the Secondary Roads Department, Alliant Energy, and REC also assisted at the scene. There were no other injuries aside from the fatality.

By Beacon StaffOne person is dead after mobile home fire at Timberline Estates in West Burlington early Thursday morning.The person has yet to be identified by police.Burlington firefighters were called to the fire at 14876 Washington Road, lot 193, at 2:37 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, to find a mobile home fully engulfed in flames.Firefighters and deputies worked to determine if anyone was inside the mobile home while bringing the fire under control. The fire was brought under control by 3:18 am. Firefighters cleared the scene at 8:35 a.m.The damage caused by the fire was extensive. During a search of the mobile home a body was located. The body was removed and taken to the Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny for identification.The mobile home is owned by Homes in Iowa and is managed by Timberline Estates. Damage estimates are still being assessed.The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Burlington Fire Department, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office.Ten Burlington firefighters responded to the initial call and were assisted by firefighters from Danville, Gladstone, Mediapolis, and West Burlington, who provided manpower and water tenders. Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office and the Secondary Roads Department, Alliant Energy, and REC also assisted at the scene. There were no other injuries aside from the fatality.

One Dead In Timberline Estates Fire Thursday Morning

By Beacon Staff The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors approved a mask policy for unvaccinated county employees Tuesday morning (Dec. 4) during their regular meeting. The policy will go into effect Monday (Jan. 10) if the Supreme Court upholds the federal vaccine mandate Friday, and will be required of employers who have more than 100 employees. The county employs over 200 people. Supervisors Jim Cary and Tom Broeker said they don’t agree with the mandate, but pointed out the county has no choice but to go along with federal law. Resisting could result in a loss of federal funding, Cary said. The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in challenges to two federal vaccine requirements Friday. Cary and Broeker voted for the mandate, while fellow DMC Supervisor Shane McCampbell voted against it. The policy calls for employees who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 to wear a mask while working indoors. Those who work outside or alone are not required to wear a mask. Those who don’t comply will be given warnings, a suspension, and will eventually be terminated for non-compliance. On Feb. 9, the testing portion of the policy will go into effect, requiring employees who have not been vaccinated to be tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis. The requirement would cover two-thirds of the nation’s private workforce. Large businesses that refuse to comply with the mandate face penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation. The Supreme Court will also hear arguments Friday in a challenge to the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for healthcare workers who are employed at facilities that accept federal funding, such as through Medicare. The Biden administration has estimated that this separate requirement will affect roughly 10 million workers.

By Beacon Staff The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors approved a mask policy for unvaccinated county employees Tuesday morning (Dec. 4) during their regular meeting. The policy will go into effect Monday (Jan. 10) if the Supreme Court upholds the federal vaccine mandate Friday, and will be required of employers who have more than 100 employees. The county employs over 200 people. Supervisors Jim Cary and Tom Broeker said they don’t agree with the mandate, but pointed out the county has no choice but to go along with federal law. Resisting could result in a loss of federal funding, Cary said. The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in challenges to two federal vaccine requirements Friday. Cary and Broeker voted for the mandate, while fellow DMC Supervisor Shane McCampbell voted against it. The policy calls for employees who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 to wear a mask while working indoors. Those who work outside or alone are not required to wear a mask. Those who don’t comply will be given warnings, a suspension, and will eventually be terminated for non-compliance. On Feb. 9, the testing portion of the policy will go into effect, requiring employees who have not been vaccinated to be tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis. The requirement would cover two-thirds of the nation’s private workforce. Large businesses that refuse to comply with the mandate face penalties of nearly $14,000 per violation. The Supreme Court will also hear arguments Friday in a challenge to the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for healthcare workers who are employed at facilities that accept federal funding, such as through Medicare. The Biden administration has estimated that this separate requirement will affect roughly 10 million workers.

Mask Mandate For County Employees Could Go Into Effect Monday

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/901b6a57-b1ea-4ffa-ac73-816b2d0b25f1">Samuel Kurrle</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/52f8dd00-c198-455c-bab4-c5cf5845a079">Mary Lee Crowe</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/12/1638849254343.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Obituaries have been published for:<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/901b6a57-b1ea-4ffa-ac73-816b2d0b25f1">Samuel Kurrle</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/52f8dd00-c198-455c-bab4-c5cf5845a079">Mary Lee Crowe</a>

Recent Obituaries - Jan. 5, 2022

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/d3fe006d-b5f0-47bc-b028-2932cc7de9ff">John Duttweiler</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/c993cd91-c5b5-47f3-9c79-909a21c4eb78">Larry Johnson</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/12/1638849254343.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Obituaries have been published for:<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/d3fe006d-b5f0-47bc-b028-2932cc7de9ff">John Duttweiler</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/c993cd91-c5b5-47f3-9c79-909a21c4eb78">Larry Johnson</a>

Recent Obituaries - Jan. 3, 2022

By Beacon Staff Jon Billups will continue to serve as mayor of Burlington for the next two years. Billups was unanimously voted into the position for another two-year term by his fellow council members during Monday night’s regular city council meeting. While Billups was one of three council members to retain their council positions during last October’s election, it is up to the council to vote for mayor every two years at the beginning of a new year. “Jon has the pulse of the people,” said returning city council member and mayor pro tem Lynda Graham-Murray. Fellow council member Robert Maupin agreed. “I think Jon has done a good job so far,” he affirmed. Billups thanked the council for voting him in, noting how special it is to receive the approval of your peers. “Still, this is a group effort. Everyone needs to understand that,” he said. Graham-Murray was voted in unanimously as mayor pro tem for another two years while Katie Music was voted in unanimously as city clerk, replacing Kathleen Salisbury who retired at the end of 2021 after 42 years of service. In other business, assistant city manager Nick MacGregor said snow had been cleared from most city streets by Monday night. He said those efforts came in spite of a staff shortage related to the New Year’s Day holiday. “Hats off to you and your crew and city staff,” Billups said to MacGregor. In other news, the council gave the green light to a resolution approving a municipal lease agreement for the purchase of a $900,000 records management and maintenance system for the police department. Burlington Police Major Jeff Klein explained the records systems and the need to update them while asking for the budget request during last week’s city council work session. For the last eight months, he said, the incidents log on the Burlington Police Department website has been blank, even as the arrest log is updated on a daily basis. Since April of 2021, the department has had to keep those particular records by hand. “In April (of 2021), DESCOM (Des Moines County Communications) went to a new system that would not speak to our current system. So, our records clerks went from everything being dumped from DESCOM’s computer system to them having to handwrite everything,” Klein explained last week. “We can no longer publish to the media, as we used to.” The department last purchased a records management system in 1998, and the incompatibility with DESCOM has hastened the search for a new system. According to Klein, the cost will be split between Burlington, Des Moines County, and West Burlington, with Burlington and the county each paying 45 percent and West Burlington contributing 10 percent. The E911 board will pick up the cost of the CAD system. While the county and West Burlington will pay their portion up front, the Burlington Police Department will utilize the capital improvement program, paying $64,000 a year for the next five years.&nbsp; The first payment won’t be due until January of 2023, and the department is paying $30,000 up front from the money it has already saved. Klein said the system will not only restore record keeping but will also restore key information relayed to the computers placed in police officers’ vehicles. The information was not as robust as it was before the transition to a new DESCOM system in April, as councilman Matt Rinker discovered during a ride-a-long with the BPD. “This will be an all-in-one fix, where we will not only get what we used to get before, but we will get it tenfold,” Klein said. Changing the system won’t be quick, either. Klein said it will take 12 to 14 months to fully implement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/1/1641261501285.jpeg" alt="Jon Billups was unanimously reelected to another two-year term as mayor of Burlington by his fellow council members during Monday night’s regular city council meeting. Photo by William Smith." />
 <figcaption>Jon Billups was unanimously reelected to another two-year term as mayor of Burlington by his fellow council members during Monday night’s regular city council meeting. Photo by William Smith.</figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon Staff Jon Billups will continue to serve as mayor of Burlington for the next two years. Billups was unanimously voted into the position for another two-year term by his fellow council members during Monday night’s regular city council meeting. While Billups was one of three council members to retain their council positions during last October’s election, it is up to the council to vote for mayor every two years at the beginning of a new year. “Jon has the pulse of the people,” said returning city council member and mayor pro tem Lynda Graham-Murray. Fellow council member Robert Maupin agreed. “I think Jon has done a good job so far,” he affirmed. Billups thanked the council for voting him in, noting how special it is to receive the approval of your peers. “Still, this is a group effort. Everyone needs to understand that,” he said. Graham-Murray was voted in unanimously as mayor pro tem for another two years while Katie Music was voted in unanimously as city clerk, replacing Kathleen Salisbury who retired at the end of 2021 after 42 years of service. In other business, assistant city manager Nick MacGregor said snow had been cleared from most city streets by Monday night. He said those efforts came in spite of a staff shortage related to the New Year’s Day holiday. “Hats off to you and your crew and city staff,” Billups said to MacGregor. In other news, the council gave the green light to a resolution approving a municipal lease agreement for the purchase of a $900,000 records management and maintenance system for the police department. Burlington Police Major Jeff Klein explained the records systems and the need to update them while asking for the budget request during last week’s city council work session. For the last eight months, he said, the incidents log on the Burlington Police Department website has been blank, even as the arrest log is updated on a daily basis. Since April of 2021, the department has had to keep those particular records by hand. “In April (of 2021), DESCOM (Des Moines County Communications) went to a new system that would not speak to our current system. So, our records clerks went from everything being dumped from DESCOM’s computer system to them having to handwrite everything,” Klein explained last week. “We can no longer publish to the media, as we used to.” The department last purchased a records management system in 1998, and the incompatibility with DESCOM has hastened the search for a new system. According to Klein, the cost will be split between Burlington, Des Moines County, and West Burlington, with Burlington and the county each paying 45 percent and West Burlington contributing 10 percent. The E911 board will pick up the cost of the CAD system. While the county and West Burlington will pay their portion up front, the Burlington Police Department will utilize the capital improvement program, paying $64,000 a year for the next five years.&nbsp; The first payment won’t be due until January of 2023, and the department is paying $30,000 up front from the money it has already saved. Klein said the system will not only restore record keeping but will also restore key information relayed to the computers placed in police officers’ vehicles. The information was not as robust as it was before the transition to a new DESCOM system in April, as councilman Matt Rinker discovered during a ride-a-long with the BPD. “This will be an all-in-one fix, where we will not only get what we used to get before, but we will get it tenfold,” Klein said. Changing the system won’t be quick, either. Klein said it will take 12 to 14 months to fully implement.

Billups Elected As Mayor; $900,000 Record Management System for BPD Approved

By Beacon Staff A Burlington man was arrested Thursday afternoon after eluding police on several warrants pertaining to a person who was held against their will within the Burlington area. Damond Bass, 45, Burlington, was charged on Des Moines County warrants for assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, assault causing bodily injury, false imprisonment, first degree harassment, aggravated eluding (of police), and no valid driver’s license. He is being held at the Des Moines County Correctional Center on no bond pending a court appearance. According to a press release issued by the Burlington Police Department, the department’s Criminal Investigation Division had been following up on a complaint pertaining to a subject who was held against their will at a residence in the greater Burlington area.&nbsp; During the investigation, detectives secured arrest warrants for Damond Bass.&nbsp; On Thursday, Burlington Police officers observed Bass driving and attempted to serve the arrest warrants on him. Bass eluded officers attempts and a vehicle pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, officers lost sight of the vehicle Bass was operating after he crossed Cascade Bridge. His vehicle allegedly squeezed between the barriers blocking Cascade Bridge, knocking the mirrors off the vehicle. Police later located the vehicle, which was unoccupied, near Sacred Heart Cemetery. While searching the area, officers located Bass hiding nearby. Bass was placed under arrest and transported to the Des Moines County Correctional Center.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2022/1/1641260146819.jpeg" alt="Damond Bass" />
 <figcaption>Damond Bass</figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon Staff A Burlington man was arrested Thursday afternoon after eluding police on several warrants pertaining to a person who was held against their will within the Burlington area. Damond Bass, 45, Burlington, was charged on Des Moines County warrants for assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, assault causing bodily injury, false imprisonment, first degree harassment, aggravated eluding (of police), and no valid driver’s license. He is being held at the Des Moines County Correctional Center on no bond pending a court appearance. According to a press release issued by the Burlington Police Department, the department’s Criminal Investigation Division had been following up on a complaint pertaining to a subject who was held against their will at a residence in the greater Burlington area.&nbsp; During the investigation, detectives secured arrest warrants for Damond Bass.&nbsp; On Thursday, Burlington Police officers observed Bass driving and attempted to serve the arrest warrants on him. Bass eluded officers attempts and a vehicle pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, officers lost sight of the vehicle Bass was operating after he crossed Cascade Bridge. His vehicle allegedly squeezed between the barriers blocking Cascade Bridge, knocking the mirrors off the vehicle. Police later located the vehicle, which was unoccupied, near Sacred Heart Cemetery. While searching the area, officers located Bass hiding nearby. Bass was placed under arrest and transported to the Des Moines County Correctional Center.&nbsp;

Burlington Police Arrest Man Who Crossed Cascade Bridge in High Speed Chase

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/3a3c495d-1988-4914-8fa1-8ed9e8bba57b">Kimberly Kephart-Maxam</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/2e54ea9d-c000-41e6-88f6-0f1ea61af2f0">Virginia Davis</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/e46fdd26-a407-411a-a9b6-dae3097efa01">Chad Caldwell</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/df095220-df09-4c8f-b11c-27b48a8337e1">Georgia Thompson</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/f638b75b-ce25-44b4-aaf3-d7148e20a122">Brian Johnson</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/12/1638849254343.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Obituaries have been published for:<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/3a3c495d-1988-4914-8fa1-8ed9e8bba57b">Kimberly Kephart-Maxam</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/2e54ea9d-c000-41e6-88f6-0f1ea61af2f0">Virginia Davis</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/e46fdd26-a407-411a-a9b6-dae3097efa01">Chad Caldwell</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/df095220-df09-4c8f-b11c-27b48a8337e1">Georgia Thompson</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/f638b75b-ce25-44b4-aaf3-d7148e20a122">Brian Johnson</a>

Recent Obituaries - Dec. 31, 2021

A Burlington home caught fire Thursday evening, and firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the first floor of the house.

According to a press release issued by fire officials, the Burlington Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 1413 Gnahn St at 4:34 p.m. The battalion chief arrived at 4:38 p.m. and a box alarm was struck, resulting in a call for off-duty Burlington firefighters with West Burlington responding on automatic aid. Initial engine company arrived at 4:39 p.m.

The firefighters gained access to the interior of the house through a walk-out basement door, and contained the fire to the first floor. Twelve on-duty and five off-duty Burlington firefighters were involved in the response, along with nine West Burlington firefighters.

The house is owned and occupied by Angel Magnuson, and is insured. Damage is estimated at $25,000 to the structure and $20,000 to contents. The residence had multiple working smoke detectors. No one was home at the time of the incident, and no injuries were reported.

The cause of fire remains under investigation by the Burlington Police and Fire Departments. Firefighters cleared the scene at 7:35 p.m. Superior Ambulance, Alliant Energy and Gas, 1-800-Board-Up, and the American Red Cross also assisted at the scene.

A Burlington home caught fire Thursday evening, and firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the first floor of the house.According to a press release issued by fire officials, the Burlington Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 1413 Gnahn St at 4:34 p.m. The battalion chief arrived at 4:38 p.m. and a box alarm was struck, resulting in a call for off-duty Burlington firefighters with West Burlington responding on automatic aid. Initial engine company arrived at 4:39 p.m.The firefighters gained access to the interior of the house through a walk-out basement door, and contained the fire to the first floor. Twelve on-duty and five off-duty Burlington firefighters were involved in the response, along with nine West Burlington firefighters. The house is owned and occupied by Angel Magnuson, and is insured. Damage is estimated at $25,000 to the structure and $20,000 to contents. The residence had multiple working smoke detectors. No one was home at the time of the incident, and no injuries were reported.The cause of fire remains under investigation by the Burlington Police and Fire Departments. Firefighters cleared the scene at 7:35 p.m. Superior Ambulance, Alliant Energy and Gas, 1-800-Board-Up, and the American Red Cross also assisted at the scene.

No Injuries in Thursday House Fire on Gnahn St.

By Beacon Staff Burlington didn’t have anything close to a white Christmas this year. But New Year’s Day is looking to make up for it. Forecasters with the National Weather
 Service are calling for 8 to 10 inches of snow Saturday, Jan. 1 specifically for Burlington, with a slightly lower estimate of 4 to 7 
inches for the surrounding counties. A Winter 
Storm Watch will be in effect from 6 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 1 until 12 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 2 for most of southeast Iowa, including Burlington, Wapello, 
Fairfield, Mount Pleasant, Keosauqua, Fort Madison, and Oquawka, Ill.&nbsp; 
The entire area affected includes portions of northeast Missouri, east 
central and southeast Iowa and north central, northwest and west central
 Illinois. For now, the watch is calling for heavy snow for that broad area, accumulating anywhere from 4 to 7 inches. The
 more detailed, local forecast for Burlington is a bit nastier, calling 
for 5 to 10 inches of snow. Shortly after revelers ring in the new year,
 there will be a forty percent chance of snow and freezing rain after 
midnight. There’s an eighty percent chance the snow
 and freezing rain will continue into the daylight hours of Saturday, 
turning to all heavy snow after 8 a.m. The high temperature won’t get 
above 24 degrees, and conditions will be blustery. By nightfall, there 
may be 4 to 8 inches of snow on the ground. There’s a 50 percent chance another inch or two of snow will fall after midnight, bringing an end to the winter storm. The
 sun will be out by Sunday morning, and the high will have dropped to 12
 degrees, with a low around zero. No further precipitation is expected for 
daytime Sunday or the rest of the week. Temperatures will climb back 
into the 20s and 30s on Monday, and will stay in that range for the 
remainder of the week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/12/1640904115977.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon Staff Burlington didn’t have anything close to a white Christmas this year. But New Year’s Day is looking to make up for it. Forecasters with the National Weather
 Service are calling for 8 to 10 inches of snow Saturday, Jan. 1 specifically for Burlington, with a slightly lower estimate of 4 to 7 
inches for the surrounding counties. A Winter 
Storm Watch will be in effect from 6 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 1 until 12 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 2 for most of southeast Iowa, including Burlington, Wapello, 
Fairfield, Mount Pleasant, Keosauqua, Fort Madison, and Oquawka, Ill.&nbsp; 
The entire area affected includes portions of northeast Missouri, east 
central and southeast Iowa and north central, northwest and west central
 Illinois. For now, the watch is calling for heavy snow for that broad area, accumulating anywhere from 4 to 7 inches. The
 more detailed, local forecast for Burlington is a bit nastier, calling 
for 5 to 10 inches of snow. Shortly after revelers ring in the new year,
 there will be a forty percent chance of snow and freezing rain after 
midnight. There’s an eighty percent chance the snow
 and freezing rain will continue into the daylight hours of Saturday, 
turning to all heavy snow after 8 a.m. The high temperature won’t get 
above 24 degrees, and conditions will be blustery. By nightfall, there 
may be 4 to 8 inches of snow on the ground. There’s a 50 percent chance another inch or two of snow will fall after midnight, bringing an end to the winter storm. The
 sun will be out by Sunday morning, and the high will have dropped to 12
 degrees, with a low around zero. No further precipitation is expected for 
daytime Sunday or the rest of the week. Temperatures will climb back 
into the 20s and 30s on Monday, and will stay in that range for the 
remainder of the week.

Winter Storm to Bring in the New Year

In a special session requested by Director Anika McVay, the Burlington Community School
District Board of Directors met on Wednesday, Dec. 29 and approved the
appointment of Monica Myers as the Interim Principal of Burlington High School.

The school board voted unanimously to approve Myers as principal. Board member Darven Kendell was not available for the special meeting.

The same appointment was up for a vote last week during another special board meeting, but failed in a tie 3-3 vote. McVay, who voted against the measure last week, said she felt more informed this week to make a decision.

“I did vote ‘no' last time because I was not given enough information. This was in no way a reflection on the person, but a reflection on the process," she said.

Myers is a lifelong resident of the Burlington area and has served BCSD for over 30 years as a teacher and in various teacher leadership positions. For the past
six years, she has served in a district-wide leadership role as the Teacher
Leadership and Mentoring Coordinator.

Myers will assume her new interim duties when the
District returns from Winter Break on January 3, 2022.

The school district attorney will be on hand at the next regular school board meeting on Jan. 10 to field questions regarding the current BHS principal, David Keane. The school district has not given an update on his employment status, citing workplace confidentiality. He was still listed as principal on the Burlington High School website as of Wednesday, Dec. 29.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/12/1640803866394.jpeg" alt="Monica Myers" />
 <figcaption>Monica Myers</figcaption>
 </figure>In a special session requested by Director Anika McVay, the Burlington Community School
District Board of Directors met on Wednesday, Dec. 29 and approved the
appointment of Monica Myers as the Interim Principal of Burlington High School.The school board voted unanimously to approve Myers as principal. Board member Darven Kendell was not available for the special meeting.The same appointment was up for a vote last week during another special board meeting, but failed in a tie 3-3 vote. McVay, who voted against the measure last week, said she felt more informed this week to make a decision.“I did vote ‘no' last time because I was not given enough information. This was in no way a reflection on the person, but a reflection on the process," she said.Myers is a lifelong resident of the Burlington area and has served BCSD for over 30 years as a teacher and in various teacher leadership positions. For the past
six years, she has served in a district-wide leadership role as the Teacher
Leadership and Mentoring Coordinator. Myers will assume her new interim duties when the
District returns from Winter Break on January 3, 2022.The school district attorney will be on hand at the next regular school board meeting on Jan. 10 to field questions regarding the current BHS principal, David Keane. The school district has not given an update on his employment status, citing workplace confidentiality. He was still listed as principal on the Burlington High School website as of Wednesday, Dec. 29.

BCSD Approves Interim Principal of BHS

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/6fa9e253-4ba8-4b4a-a2f3-03f3ebd76eea">Jeffrey Grimes</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/2005eb23-66a9-456e-8eb0-6f0539441b62">Dorothy Shanstrom</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/29e714bd-4be9-4309-999f-8367d2051881">Jimmy Moyner</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/a0c638ea-42e1-4a47-82ee-5f1dc7ba8585">David Cummings</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/6c7b691e-ef89-45dc-a58c-844566dbe9fc">James Orth</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/12/1638849254343.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Obituaries have been published for:<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/6fa9e253-4ba8-4b4a-a2f3-03f3ebd76eea">Jeffrey Grimes</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/2005eb23-66a9-456e-8eb0-6f0539441b62">Dorothy Shanstrom</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/29e714bd-4be9-4309-999f-8367d2051881">Jimmy Moyner</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/a0c638ea-42e1-4a47-82ee-5f1dc7ba8585">David Cummings</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/6c7b691e-ef89-45dc-a58c-844566dbe9fc">James Orth</a>

Recent Obituaries - Dec. 28, 2021

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/b8948c08-e89d-4d4c-9f8c-672c2a9d0dfc">Richard Gaddis</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/2bd3ed22-9018-4300-b1f9-f8ec080e26cc">Marilyn Lloyd</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/09953bbc-63fe-417e-88d8-08d6c7f39e61">Edward Blythe</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/12/1638849254343.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Obituaries have been published for:<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/b8948c08-e89d-4d4c-9f8c-672c2a9d0dfc">Richard Gaddis</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/2bd3ed22-9018-4300-b1f9-f8ec080e26cc">Marilyn Lloyd</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/09953bbc-63fe-417e-88d8-08d6c7f39e61">Edward Blythe</a>

Recent Obituaries - Dec. 27, 2021

&nbsp;With donations of $100,000 each to the Margaret Hansen Community Impact Fund, Keith Schulz, Jerry Parks, and Dennis Wilson have founded the&nbsp;Century&nbsp;Landmark Society&nbsp;for the Community Foundation of Des Moines County. These funds will increase the Foundation’s ability to assist with important projects throughout Des Moines County. 

The Margaret Hansen Community Impact Fund is an endowment that provides an efficient way to do permanent good in Des Moines County.&nbsp; As an endowment, donations to this fund are eligible for the 25-percent Endow Iowa Tax Credit in addition to the federal charitable deduction, which together can reduce the cost of a donation by as much as 50 percent. 

The mission of the Des Moines County Community Foundation is to enhance the quality of life in Des Moines County by providing means for permanent charitable giving to meet the needs of all donors for today and tomorrow. As members of the Foundation board of directors, the trio hopes that their donations will be an example for others who are able to do the same and become part of the&nbsp;Century&nbsp;Landmark Society.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/12/1640637611122.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon Staff &nbsp;With donations of $100,000 each to the Margaret Hansen Community Impact Fund, Keith Schulz, Jerry Parks, and Dennis Wilson have founded the&nbsp;Century&nbsp;Landmark Society&nbsp;for the Community Foundation of Des Moines County. These funds will increase the Foundation’s ability to assist with important projects throughout Des Moines County. The Margaret Hansen Community Impact Fund is an endowment that provides an efficient way to do permanent good in Des Moines County.&nbsp; As an endowment, donations to this fund are eligible for the 25-percent Endow Iowa Tax Credit in addition to the federal charitable deduction, which together can reduce the cost of a donation by as much as 50 percent. The mission of the Des Moines County Community Foundation is to enhance the quality of life in Des Moines County by providing means for permanent charitable giving to meet the needs of all donors for today and tomorrow. As members of the Foundation board of directors, the trio hopes that their donations will be an example for others who are able to do the same and become part of the&nbsp;Century&nbsp;Landmark Society.

Three Donors Establish Century Landmark Society 

Obituaries and death notices have been published for:

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/a02aab51-0a79-4316-8891-d09d18cd179e">Velma (Robinson) Smith</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/59a7d70a-c9cd-4b20-bac2-05b357a70b38">Jessie Butler</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/800f2135-2642-440b-9796-33c3cc51cbf6">Nathan McCullough</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/66da3344-bbf8-40e7-9179-c5bbea350b0a">Norma Niemann</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/4bc5d045-c0b7-40a4-993c-8dfaaf03095f">Rosemary Hobbs</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/c721601b-16b1-4e17-aa4c-6fac0a65da4d">Phyllis Dunn</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/83a08eeb-148b-4ade-a4cf-c52714e7cf3c">Mary Ann Goetz</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/12/1638849254343.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Obituaries and death notices have been published for:<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/a02aab51-0a79-4316-8891-d09d18cd179e">Velma (Robinson) Smith</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/59a7d70a-c9cd-4b20-bac2-05b357a70b38">Jessie Butler</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/800f2135-2642-440b-9796-33c3cc51cbf6">Nathan McCullough</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/66da3344-bbf8-40e7-9179-c5bbea350b0a">Norma Niemann</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/4bc5d045-c0b7-40a4-993c-8dfaaf03095f">Rosemary Hobbs</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/c721601b-16b1-4e17-aa4c-6fac0a65da4d">Phyllis Dunn</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/83a08eeb-148b-4ade-a4cf-c52714e7cf3c">Mary Ann Goetz</a>

Recent Obituaries - Dec. 24, 2021

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/2fd18461-4057-4f24-9d4b-78fb6882825f">Patricia Shannon</a>

<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/6339bbbd-8915-4cb2-bd5c-be593a0e8c9b">Amy Ferris</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2021/12/1638849254343.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Obituaries have been published for<a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/2fd18461-4057-4f24-9d4b-78fb6882825f">Patricia Shannon</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/6339bbbd-8915-4cb2-bd5c-be593a0e8c9b">Amy Ferris</a><a href="https://burlingtonbeacon.com/posts/edd912dc-e9a5-449a-ace6-8935a4ecdcc2">Mary Lomo</a>

Recent Obituaries - Dec. 21, 2021

The Burlington School Board was divided on Tuesday afternoon (Dec. 21) on a measure appointing Monica Myers as the interim principal of Burlington High School.

The vote came during a special school board meeting.

The status of the current principal, David Keane, is unclear. 

School officials nor board members say they can comment on his employment due to workplace confidentiality. Keane was still listed as a principal on the high school website as of Tuesday afternoon.

“As I mentioned in my board report weeks ago and then at the last meeting’s board report, we are prepared, underneath guidance from our attorney, to name an interim (principal) at the high school,” Coen said.

Coen said the school district's attorney would answer questions about Keane’s employment status at the next board meeting in January.

School board members Joel Sieren, Darven Kendell, and Nancy Hoelzen voted to approve the human resources report appointing Myers as interim principal. Board members Anika McVay, Scott Mason, and Christi Burghoffer voted against it.

With a tied vote, the motion failed. School board member Deb Hatteberg wasn’t available for the special meeting. 

After the vote, Sieren, school board president, indicated that Keane no longer performs his functions as principal at the school. 

“So we will continue without leadership at the high school for another few weeks,” Sieren said just before the meeting ended.

Several board members voiced their displeasure regarding the lack of information on the agenda for the special meeting and the hiring of an interim principal. 

Kendell said it felt like a slap in the face to the school board and staff, who were not notified for the past two months about the status of Keane’s employment.

Mason was equally frustrated with the meeting and how Myers was chosen without prior consultation with the board. Burghoffer shared the same concerns.

“We’ve had staff, for the lack of a better term, twisting in the wind at the high school," Mason said. "Now, we’re going to make this change?”

Mason said staff at the school are scared to voice their displeasure at the lack of information. But they do have strong opinions on the matter, based on emails, he added.

“The teachers don’t have a voice,” he said.

Coen said he delayed informing the board and the public about the replacement for two weeks longer than expected due to the death of Monica Myer's husband, Notre Dame basketball coach Jim Myers.

Monica Myers has 30 years of experience in the Burlington School District as a teacher and in various teacher leadership positions. For the past six years, she has served in a district-wide leadership role as the teacher leadership and mentoring coordinator.

“We looked at Monica Myers' strengths, abilities, experience, and we thought she is the individual to lead this (Burlington High School) in this dire situation,” Coen said. “However, we could not do that when her husband had just passed away. So we bit the bullet and let people kick us around like dogs for two weeks in the best interest of the school district.”

“I’m going to try to put the best person in there, even if I have to get kicked around for two weeks,” Coen said.

By Beacon StaffThe Burlington School Board was divided on Tuesday afternoon (Dec. 21) on a measure appointing Monica Myers as the interim principal of Burlington High School.The vote came during a special school board meeting.The status of the current principal, David Keane, is unclear. School officials nor board members say they can comment on his employment due to workplace confidentiality. Keane was still listed as a principal on the high school website as of Tuesday afternoon.“As I mentioned in my board report weeks ago and then at the last meeting’s board report, we are prepared, underneath guidance from our attorney, to name an interim (principal) at the high school,” Coen said.Coen said the school district's attorney would answer questions about Keane’s employment status at the next board meeting in January.School board members Joel Sieren, Darven Kendell, and Nancy Hoelzen voted to approve the human resources report appointing Myers as interim principal. Board members Anika McVay, Scott Mason, and Christi Burghoffer voted against it.With a tied vote, the motion failed. School board member Deb Hatteberg wasn’t available for the special meeting. After the vote, Sieren, school board president, indicated that Keane no longer performs his functions as principal at the school. “So we will continue without leadership at the high school for another few weeks,” Sieren said just before the meeting ended.Several board members voiced their displeasure regarding the lack of information on the agenda for the special meeting and the hiring of an interim principal. Kendell said it felt like a slap in the face to the school board and staff, who were not notified for the past two months about the status of Keane’s employment.Mason was equally frustrated with the meeting and how Myers was chosen without prior consultation with the board. Burghoffer shared the same concerns.“We’ve had staff, for the lack of a better term, twisting in the wind at the high school," Mason said. "Now, we’re going to make this change?”Mason said staff at the school are scared to voice their displeasure at the lack of information. But they do have strong opinions on the matter, based on emails, he added.“The teachers don’t have a voice,” he said.Coen said he delayed informing the board and the public about the replacement for two weeks longer than expected due to the death of Monica Myer's husband, Notre Dame basketball coach Jim Myers.Monica Myers has 30 years of experience in the Burlington School District as a teacher and in various teacher leadership positions. For the past six years, she has served in a district-wide leadership role as the teacher leadership and mentoring coordinator.“We looked at Monica Myers' strengths, abilities, experience, and we thought she is the individual to lead this (Burlington High School) in this dire situation,” Coen said. “However, we could not do that when her husband had just passed away. So we bit the bullet and let people kick us around like dogs for two weeks in the best interest of the school district.”“I’m going to try to put the best person in there, even if I have to get kicked around for two weeks,” Coen said.

Burlington School Board Split On Interim Appointment To BHS Principal Position; Status of Current Principal Unclear

A Burlington man was arrested on Sunday after an
investigation into an allegation of sexual abuse.

On Dec. 12, 2021, Burlington police arrested Harry Tilala,
80, of Burlington for sexual abuse in the third degree. The investigation
resulted from a complaint made on July 27, 2021. 

According to police records, at approximately 3 a.m. on July
27, officers were dispatched to the Howard Johnson hotel, 2759 Mount Pleasant
St., in reference to a sexual assault. Officers arrived on scene and spoke
with a woman and her minor daughter; the woman stated her daughter had been sexually
assaulted by Tilala, the owner of the hotel. Detectives interviewed Tilala and executed
a search warrant at his apartment, which is located on the hotel premises.

Cash bond in the amount of $10,000 was posted on Dec. 14,
2021.

By Beacon Staff A Burlington man was arrested on Sunday after an
investigation into an allegation of sexual abuse.On Dec. 12, 2021, Burlington police arrested Harry Tilala,
80, of Burlington for sexual abuse in the third degree. The investigation
resulted from a complaint made on July 27, 2021. According to police records, at approximately 3 a.m. on July
27, officers were dispatched to the Howard Johnson hotel, 2759 Mount Pleasant
St., in reference to a sexual assault. Officers arrived on scene and spoke
with a woman and her minor daughter; the woman stated her daughter had been sexually
assaulted by Tilala, the owner of the hotel. Detectives interviewed Tilala and executed
a search warrant at his apartment, which is located on the hotel premises.Cash bond in the amount of $10,000 was posted on Dec. 14,
2021.

Local