By Beacon Staff



Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Monday that some businesses in 77 of Iowa's 99 counties can reopen to the public this Friday with restrictions.



However, Des Moines County is not one of them. Also not on the list is Henry and Louisa counties in southeast Iowa. Restrictions on businesses in these counties (and the other 19 counties not on the governor's list) will not be eased until at least May 15, with current mitigation measures remaining in place.



Also, NOT included in Monday's announcement of eased restrictions are Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Dallas, Dubuque, Fayette, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Linn, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama, Washington, and Woodbury counties.



At Monday's press conference, Reynolds said the move is part of a "targeted approach" loosening restrictions in counties identified as having no coronavirus activity or where cases have been low or are reducing.



Businesses and organizations in the 77 counties who can reopen to the public beginning this Friday include:



• Restaurants, fitness centers, and retail stores can operate at 50 percent of normal operating capacity; • Malls can also open at 50 percent operating capacity, but must keep play areas and other common seating areas, such as food courts, closed; • Social, community, recreational and leisure sporting events can open with limits to 10 people; • Spiritual and religious gatherings that adhere to social distancing guidelines.



Reynolds said these businesses must continue to implement social distancing measures until further notice. She also urged vulnerable Iowans, including those with underlying health conditions and older Iowans, to limit their interactions.



The Iowa Governor’s office reported Des Moines County’s first COVID-19 death on Sunday. The person was between 61 and 80-years-old. Additional details about the patient, including when the person succumbed to the virus, have not been released.

Reynolds Eases Restrictions On Some Closed Businesses In 77 Counties; Des Moines County Not On The List

By Beacon Staff



After 12 years on the job, Steve Frevert has resigned as executive director of Downtown Partners Inc.



Dustin Roth, director of marketing and communications for the Greater Burlington Partnership, confirmed Frevert’s resignation to The Beacon Monday.



Roth said Frevert resigned last week, and for now, the partnership is declining to comment. Frevert also declined to comment about his resignation and gave no public indication he might be leaving.



Mayor Jon Billups had no further information on the resignation, but he fervently praised Frevert’s dedication to revitalizing downtown while maintaining Burlington’s classic architecture.



“Merchants and the downtown saw good growth during Steve Frevert's tenure. Working with the volunteers, we realized a great resurgence in downtown residency and business growth,” Billups said.



Frevert started the job in 2008 and was a driving force behind downtown Burlington’s continual renovation. Two of his ongoing projects include the new Tama building that is under development, and the repair and eventual redevelopment of the old Typewriter Shop at 300 Washington St.



The historic Typewriter Shop has been vacant for over 20 years and has fallen into disrepair, but is eligible for historic rehab tax credits. In 2016, the property was acquired by the city of Burlington, then handed over to Downtown Partners.



The nature of the redevelopment would be up to the buyer, Frevert said in 2016. He thought the old Typewriter Shop could become a mixed-use building with shops on the bottom floor and apartments above. He also envisioned an entirely commercial building or even a boutique hotel.



An exterior wall of the building covered by scaffolding partially collapsed in late March with the bricks falling inward. The collapse did not impact work on the building.



Billups said Frevert’s tireless ambition will be hard to replace.



“Hopefully someone will be found to keep the momentum going, however, the transition may not be easy. Burlington has had quality leaders for the Main Street/ DPI (Downtown Partners Inc.) program so I am hopeful that we are able to continue that success,” Billups said.



Beacon File Photo



Hal Morton, left, and Steve Frevert (black shirt) entertained market-goers with live music last summer at the Jefferson Street Farmers Market. After 12 years on the job, Frevert has resigned as executive director of Downtown Partners Inc.

Steve Frevert No Longer Head of Downtown Partners

By Beacon Staff



A sizable pile of debris and trash litters the drive leading to the historic Dolbee Cemetery.



The trash, which includes part of a sofa chair, is on local law enforcement’s radar. Pictures of the debris pile, which appears to have been dumped, circulated on Facebook over the weekend.



Des Moines Sheriff Mike Johnstone said he was disgusted by what he saw, noting the matter is under investigation.



Founded in 1848, the Dolbee Cemetery was the second cemetery built on the bluff in Huron Township, more than a dozen miles north of Burlington. The roughly one-acre cemetery has an entrance off Mediapolis Road.



The first cemetery signs at the Dolbee Cemetery were erected in the late 1960s.



Photo by Joy Mack

Dolbee Cemetery Drive Trashed

By Beacon Staff



A few years ago, tennis enthusiast Brian Japsen took on a Herculean fundraising task — making up a shortfall of $76,000.



With that money, the Burlington Tennis Association could help the city offset the cost of repaving the Dankwardt Park tennis courts. The city received a $106,000 Starker Foundation grant, but resurfacing the Dankwardt Park tennis courts costs about $182,000.



According to Burlington Mayor Jon Billups, the city has been trying to fund the project for several years, hoping to match the grant money without using city funds. Funding that $76,000 shortfall proved to be the biggest barrier.



Japsen has drummed up more than $74,000 in pledges from a variety of donors, including a donation from the Judy and John Arledge Charitable Foundation, as well as another local foundation. Marcia Carman and Cindy Heater also helped with the local fundraising activities.



“We have had very generous donations from tennis players in our area,” Japsen said.



The Burlington Tennis Association presented the Burlington City Council with the first installment of $11,500 last week.



Billups said the fundraising campaign and initial contribution has enabled the city to accept bids on the project.



“The city thanks Brian and Renee (Brian Japsen’s wife), plus all those who pledged donations. Your efforts will benefit the parks and all,” he said.



Japsen, a 1978 BHS graduate who has been playing tennis since middle school, gets the satisfaction of helping his city and the firm footing of a springy new tennis court.



“If you take a look around we have the RecPlex, the brand new sports bubble, and two awesome golf courses. Why not great tennis courts?” Japsen said.



Donations are still being accepted for the project. Monetary donations can be mailed to Burlington Tennis Association: 1925 Osborn Street, Burlington, Iowa 52601.



(Editor's Note: Everyday Heroes is an ongoing series featuring people who make a difference in our community. If you want to nominate someone for a story, contact us at burlingtonbeacon@gmail.com or message us on Facebook.)



Photo by Joy Mack



The tennis courts at Dankwardt Park in Burlington are in need of resurfacing. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of tennis enthusiast Brian Japsen, the repaving project is moving forward.

Tennis Enthusiast Helps Paving Project Move Forward

By Beacon Staff



Country music legend and rodeo favorite Trace Adkins will be taking the stage at the 73rd annual Tri-State Rodeo in Fort Madison this September, and he’s not coming alone.



Country music stars Mark Chesnutt and David Lee Murphy also will perform during the four-day rodeo event. The rodeo committee made the announcement Friday. Chesnutt and Murphy will play the Friday of the rodeo, and Adkins will play Saturday.



The Joe Stamm Band and Stumptown will perform Friday and Saturday nights as well, and there will be more live music at the after-rodeo party pavilion Wednesday and Thursday nights during the rodeo.



Tickets for the Tri-State Rodeo are on sale now and available at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tristarerodeo.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0xK8XfVYibLPLg_LSLb-c92kD0gOVOB1QWndOaJIAqKKYLqsafnfy7EE4&amp;h=AT2I90wuwT9NSee3zvru6lhXqSsjBtf6fQtiNdGxaPq1VQjHtCwv1aXuIXzwj5ATtNsDQVtxOZ_byhyJTIAc40zld6_mQLmL1B81dBgtvgIOkuPMZZT9M4g4wV-rp3JOHukX9iisCA3Tu4IPKzDr6BcVHXho1Qymb02G1x1xK5lHLiCUEknjnvzmMY9AEaLZMOJ4qo-wEaikAo7Z8ftg10Mb6JNZ3E1mKaDv-1OUHxBSw0wjofDIZWHFM7UMofAKjGbISQ56WvwsEUP1QdYg1pDcODJzhcQu6QS-5IXPJHkPn-Z5aneWlX-vQxvr6iW5cGwm0vnfqd3CdD9XTlqrkuVfen0saaGCaYLX1FSm86Bm5NakenqQNCRvad8xvX1RP1c0EZx0jncg5yccX7-tLvpFImvUpcOU3dF1mbOsF8h88CyuBy9l4KFS7XH5T7JN3vqlMtw3H07ehY2_Sevt7OgwgqFdA3hsxMssMpyK_kpv_N6469Ci3-IDLtUlgjUKYPgzi82T5rqhZnPNYultgpYRXGwyeSGbmQvBN60i6sbfu2At6ok-RwvnMDafqJ7ea3LC8-JoLatHAOnOyxGF4QIbmIUFZEEyyONwuKbhnKupUkH0-6KJghYULc2i-wxpbfTRvLQDbpKyOsVlt_xzS30" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.tristarerodeo.org.</a>&nbsp;Tickets will be available at the Tri-State Rodeo box office once it is reopened.

Country Music Stars Trace Adkins and Mark Chesnutt To Play Tri-State Rodeo In September

By Beacon Staff



The Iowa Governor’s office reported Des Moines County’s first COVID-19 death on Sunday.



The person was between 61 and 80-years-old. Additional details about the patient, including when the person succumbed to the virus, were not released Sunday afternoon.



Des Moines County currently has 16 diagnosed cases of COVID-19, and five of them have recovered. So far, 233 people living in Des Moines County have been tested for coronavirus.



The number of local COVID-19 cases currently sits at five in Lee County, eight in Van Buren County, 266 in Louisa County (including two deaths), and 31 in Henry in County (including one death).



Iowa reported its highest single-day total of COVID-19 cases Saturday as the state increases testing and targets workers at meatpacking plants and nursing homes that have been hit hard by the new coronavirus. Shearer’s Foods in West Burlington and Doran &amp; Ward Packaging in Burlington have each reported one confirmed case of coronavirus so far.



There were 648 positive tests in a 24-hour reporting period that ended at 10 a.m. Saturday, the Iowa Department of Public Health said in a statement/ That news came one day after 521 new cases were reported and pushed the total in Iowa to over 5,000.



As of 11 a.m. Sunday, April 26, Iowa had recorded 5,476 cases of COVID-19, including 118 deaths. Exactly 286 people have been hospitalized from the virus, and 1,900 have recovered so far. A total of 36,090 Iowans have been tested.

Des Moines County Suffers First Coronavirus Death

By Beacon Staff



A resident of the SunnyBrook Assisted Living Center tested positive for COVID-19 on April 10 and currently is recovering at Great River Medical Center in West Burlington without the assistance of a ventilator.



Kathy Swann, vice president of sales and marketing for Frontier Management, LLC., said it is the only confirmed case at the assisted living center. Frontier Management, based in Oregon, manages nursing homes across the country, including SunnyBrook in Burlington.

One Coronavirus Cased Reported at SunnyBrook in Burlington

By Beacon Staff



State health officials announced on Sunday that nine more Iowans have died from COVID-19 and 528 new cases have been confirmed in the state.



The new numbers mean the state has now surpassed 9,000 confirmed positive cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), with the latest tally at 9,169. There are 378 people currently hospitalized, and 3,325 Iowans have recovered, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.



Sunday's numbers bring the state's total COVID-19 related deaths to 184. The nine deaths were reported in the following counties:



Black Hawk County, 2 elderly adults (81+) Bremer County, 1 elderly adult (81+) Dallas County, 1 older adult (61-80 years) Dubuque, 1 older adult (61-80 years) Polk County, 2 older adults (61-80 years) Poweshiek County, 2 elderly adults (81+)



According to IDPH, 77 percent of the new cases announced Sunday are in the 22 counties where restrictions remain in place. Businesses in the 22 counties, including Des Moines County, remain on restrictions until at least May 15.



There have been an additional 2,932 negative tests for a total of 44,017 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.

Nine More COVID-19 Deaths In Iowa; Positive Cases Pass 9K Mark

By Beacon Staff



Shearer’s Foods has officially confirmed a case of COVID-19 at its West Burlington plant.



In a press release sent Tuesday night, Shearer’s Food officials said the employee who was diagnosed with COVID-19 was asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.



“The team member did not come in contact with the product and there is no food safety risk. People who have been asked by the company to stay at home in quarantine, under an abundance of caution, will continue to receive pay and benefits during their quarantine period,” said Kimberly Davenport, corporate director of Shearer’s Snacks corporate office in Massilon, Ohio.



Davenport did not say when the employee was tested or when they became ill. Employees who spoke to The Burlington Beacon on the promise of anonymity said a second case was confirmed Monday night. Company officials have not responded to those reports yet.



Tuesday night’s press release confirms a Friday, April 17, story by The Burlington Beacon, in which anonymous plant workers said an employee/management meeting was held that same day to inform employees of the confirmed coronavirus diagnosis.



“We have taken all necessary steps to identify and notify individuals who worked closely with the team member diagnosed with COVID-19 and have asked them to self-quarantine at home for a period of 14 days,” Davenport said.



Davenport did not identify the nature of the employee, though several line workers told The Beacon the diagnosed case is a maintenance worker.

Coronavirus At Shearer’s Food Confirmed By Company Executive; Employees Say A Second Case Has Already Been Confirmed

By Beacon Staff



A now-retired Des Moines County Sheriff’s chief deputy made thousands of dollars in improper purchases, according to a report released Tuesday by the Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand.



The report alleges Jeff White, who retired in 2018, made more than $7,400 in purchases that were not necessary for the operation of the sheriff’s office.



White returned about $3,100 in items to the sheriff’s office. Items valued at more than $4,200 were not returned or could not be located in the sheriff’s office, the report said. Some of the items that remain unaccounted for include an Apple computer and ammunition.



KWQC reported the state auditor’s office was contacted to conduct a special investigation because of concerns regarding the items purchased by White. The auditor’s report has been forwarded to the Des Moines County Attorney’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.



“We’ve been working at this (investigation) for 18 months,” Des Moines County Sheriff Mike Johnstone said. “We made sure to do a thorough investigation. We wanted to make sure we did the right thing, to make sure the public still has confidence in the department."



Des Moines County Attorney Lisa Schaefer said she has referred the case to the attorney general’s office because of White's former employment in law enforcement, according to KWQC.



During the investigation, Sand identified improper purchases made between Jan. 1, 2016 and Dec. 31, 2018. The purchases included items that were personal in nature or not related to the operations of the sheriff’s office. The purchases also were not approved by someone other than White and were not included in budgeted expenditures.



Of the improper purchases identified, items costing $99 and $79 were returned to the vendor and refunded. While the items returned are reasonable for use in the sheriff’s office, they weren't planned purchases and weren't approved by anyone other than White. Some of the items were not returned until after White’s last day of according to Sand’s report.



Lynn Hicks, a spokeswoman for the attorney general's office, said a charging decision has not yet been made.



The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Audit Finds Improper Purchases By Des Moines County Deputy

Photo courtesy of Jon Billups



A beautiful sunrise over the Mississippi River could be seen Monday morning along Burlington's riverfront.

Sunrise Over The Mississippi

By Beacon Staff



The woman found unconscious by Burlington firefighters during a Friday house fire on Grove Street has died.



Patricia Gray, 65, 1527 Grove St., died of smoke inhalation Saturday, April 18, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She was initially treated at the scene and at Great River Medical Center in West Burlington before being transferred to Iowa City.



Three dogs also perished in the blaze.



Fire investigators have determined an area of origin for the fire but have not yet determined the cause. The fire is not considered suspicious.



The house did have working smoke alarms and suffered an estimated $30,000 in damage to the structure and $15,000 in contents. The home was insured. The American Red Cross has been called to assist the family.



The Burlington police and fire departments along with agents with the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office conducted the investigation.

Burlington Woman Dies From Smoke Inhalation

By Beacon Staff



A week-and-a-half ago, Transitions DMC board member Richard McEntyre made a public plea through local media outlets for more funding.



Couched as “Cause For Hope,” the newest campaign by Transitions has allowed the non-profit to house homeless people in local motels during the coronavirus crisis.



The Cause for Hope Campaign is geared toward securing a clean and safe environment for those who need the services. Some need support finding their footing after devastating loss; some simply require a place to lay their head at night to recharge and regroup.



But the money is running out, and going in further in debt could cost the organization the chance to finish its nearly completed homeless shelter on Main Street.



Enter Burlington resident and Community Foundation of Des Moines County board member Dennis Wilson. Moved by McEntyre’s letter, Wilson donated $23,124 of his family endowment, which is part of the Community Foundation that donates money to a variety of local causes and organizations.



The money will be divided between the Burlington Area Homeless Shelter, the Salvation Army COVID-19 relief fund and Transitions DMC.



“I’ve supported the Homeless Shelter, Salvation Army, and Transitions DMC for some time because I can still remember when I was a child my mother would have me be very quiet and hide when the bill collectors were knocking on our door. And I recall later as an adult thinking how she must have felt so abandoned without the help of agencies like these,” Wilson said.



The Transitions DMC board is meeting this weekend to discuss options.

Burlington Man Donates $23,000 to Burlington’s Homeless Shelters and The Salvation Army

By Beacon Staff



Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the continued closure of Iowa schools during a press conference Friday morning, (April 17).



Schools will remain closed through the end of the academic year to curb the spread of coronavirus.



School districts will continue to offer distance learning opportunities, both online and through paper packets distributed to students, for the remainder of the school year. In a reversal of an earlier policy Reynolds put in place, students will not be required to make up the time missed during the shutdown.



The Burlington School District responded to the closure of the school’s official Facebook account.



“We are committed to continue providing learning opportunities and services for our students during this challenging time. We continue to update our plans and will share information and updates as they are available. Please continue to check our school website,&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bcsds.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3ky8t4FTKte-CkxMKqfn12PDAkrCtYp-ItIbwBnmlpJwyCNbeq4IRnaBU&amp;h=AT26j0UkxUY27_a2ywGpoyyzeWlTSt1KFCZ2JIAlV7WWCkNOCbEBqnDZyyjwk-NkpcLN7uLerdYAznt5scZdv4gGaA_I82oN8X0RhLPVjA9GLC77wPV0II5PsYBUhi5H33X1qlq-M30JNZ8Emw_ecu3gb_nMzjBlVRqONbNftB6r9ec31BPiWUjcBu4699BY37ipTKaNfDDuNL7F3lXAgylJgKpmlUDh-mMovIoxYKuT7yNgI2jcFnoffOA80-w7BQAoQCZDgcdMYBCNa3n1EKn0sKk8Og2ifbbM1qH4pq7X9Q1-7cD-KmsN7inMpiTLiZ_dJcOmVuD5GZpu40hw_ZJAgjbbaty8K1cnOWWEAnwg9Mfq7sXif3CLiVf1KxU9bNQmNZlT2XJTTLTjMvetpOOGNeZWWy1_wVLZzrv2RlRNyZ0Z-JuDNAxOJVZFMcGZEGDhrVom1xGFSJoBO0C7YY59JQpeLIDi-plQevibvlgGxU_V290Cs7A5w2ZNz7qnQ59E6Ms2XFgy-hcqfcZS60nrFQsFjUrd2rwggYJ-PV92PN8jbAFfA8TlNEkQQuCDmQpBMnIPNzc_9E6R2VfmGLsaf8EJnoT5n06pFRhvuNb0wuaJGMlX70HJouGf7nVdmHy9kxo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.bcsds.org</a>&nbsp;for regular updates or call our school closure hotline, (319) 753-9698, for assistance,” the statement reads.



Burlington Notre Dame responded in much the same way on its Facebook page.



“The school is working on contingencies regarding this. We will have something out to you next week,” the statement reads.



The West Burlington School District had a materials pick-up event Wednesday that will allow students the chance to learn at home. The district has not officially responded to the governor’s new declaration.



All high school spring sports are canceled as well. The cancellation covers boys' and girls' track and field, soccer, golf, and tennis. There will be a decision made on summer sports (baseball and softball) by June 1. For now, those sports are suspended until that decision is made.



The governor also announced Friday that she will waive the late-August start date requirement, which could allow school districts to start the 2020-2021 academic year earlier than Aug. 23.



"Maybe there's a possibility for schools to start three weeks early and start some of that remediation so that we can start to see where the kids are at and help provide them the instruction they need to get them there to where they should be," Reynolds said.



Schools are required to submit a "return to learn" plan to the Iowa Department of Education by July 1 that could include things like summer school classes, enrichment activities or other programs designed to address disruptions to learning.



The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Schools In Iowa Will Remain Closed For The Rest Of This Academic Year

By Beacon Staff



Despite a spike in positive novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases at meat processing facilities, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said on Monday that plants will remain open.



Reynolds said shuttering meat processing plants isn't an option and warned it would be devastating for farmers who are raising hogs and for the overall food supply. According to the Iowa Starting Line, the Tyson Foods plant in Columbus Junction is slated to reopen after being closed due to workers testing positive for COVID-19.



"If we aren't able to move them through the process, at some point we are going to be having to talk about euthanizing hogs. And we are not that far from it. And it will be devastating, not only for the food supply but also for the cost of food going forward," Reynolds said.



A total of 34 of 2,400 workers tested positive for COVID-19 at the JBS pork processing plant in Marshalltown, a city official said on Monday.



The Des Moines Register reported Marshalltown Mayor Joel T.S. Greer said he learned of the positive tests from management at the facility.

Reynolds Nixes Closing Meat Processing Plants

By Pat Rynard Iowa Starting Line



The Tyson meatpacking plant in Columbus Junction, where a major outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) turned Louisa County into one of the biggest per-capita hot spots in the country, is restarting some of its operations today (Tuesday, April 21).



The plant closed on April 6 after over two dozen of its employees tested positive for the coronavirus. After the state sent hundreds of testing kits to the southeast Iowa town to conduct surveillance tests of the employees, 166 workers were confirmed to have contracted the virus. Two have since died.



On Monday, multiple sources confirmed to Starting Line that workers were being called back into the plant for work Tuesday. One provided a screenshot of a text message that read, “Team Members of the Kill Floor &amp; Rendo are working tomorrow 4/21/20 at regular start time except those who are sick or tested positive.”



The sources said the “hot room” of the plant, which they say has between 200 and 250 workers, would be restarting.



The company then confirmed on Monday that the Columbus Junction plant would resume limited production Tuesday morning and then slowly ramp up capacity.



It has now been two weeks since the plant shuttered, and Tyson has said they have taken significant steps to clean their facilities and provide for social distancing between employees in places like the break room.



Multiple workers told Starting Line last week that earlier steps at several meatpacking plants in Iowa did not line up with various companies’ statements.



“In an effort to promote social distancing, many company facilities have installed workstation dividers and are providing more breakroom space,” a Tyson press release stated this evening.



As the outbreaks have spread throughout Midwestern meatpacking facilities, states have provided the kind of widespread testing at targeted locations that many argue are necessary to detect who all are infected and get them isolated.



Tyson now has the benefit of knowing who had the virus in previous weeks when testing was conducted, allowing them to keep those employees from reentering the workplace. However, it’s not clear how many of the workers who tested negative may have spent the past week around family members or others living in their homes and communities who might have had the virus and transmitted it further.



Louisa County currently has 215 cases. That’s the equivalent of over 1,900 cases per 100,000 population. Only a small handful of places in the entire country have higher per capita rates than that. Louisa County’s rate has now surpassed New York City’s and New Orleans’. Surrounding Iowa counties like Muscatine, where many plant workers live, has also seen soaring case numbers.

Tyson's Columbus Junction Plant Is Restarting

By Jeff Abell



"A book is a dream you hold in your hands." — Neil Gaiman, author



Olivia Keller, a Burlington native, is a living testament to Gaiman's sentiment. She is a woman on a mission — to spread literacy awareness. In doing so, she hopes to foster the hopes, aspirations, and dreams of others through greater access to books.



For Keller, 23, promoting literacy has always been a cause that has been dear to her heart. Keller believes in the power of reading to unlock a person's potential — to educate, enlighten, and enrich lives.



"Literacy affects everything we do in life," Keller said.



Keller cites troubling statistics, saying America has a literacy crisis. She said at least 14 percent of our population does not know how to read or write at a proficient level. About 65 percent of fourth-graders are not at a proficient level which makes them four times more likely to drop out of high school.



Although reading has been a long-held passion for Keller, her literacy initiative became a reality this year during her participation in the Miss Iowa Scholarship Program. Keller, who was a runner up for Miss Burlington, chose literacy as her social impact initiative.



"The social impact initiative is a platform cause that is something we care about, have experience with, and want to work to promote," she said. "I chose to do literary awareness and named my social impact initiative Read to Succeed. Learning to read and write is so important."



On the local level, Keller has put Read to Succeed in action. It hasn't been an easy task during this time of social distancing due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, Keller rose to the challenge and utilized social media to get the word out.



Through the hashtag&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/read2succeed?source=feed_text&amp;epa=HASHTAG&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBSKiLTZ52oUASxV6vk2Jl_rCl7i1Ryaj7gkRVxZz5NzgS18jWr_s6f6xmWsJVoXG6XukLZHr_gH0OlAF1ifgZWQWbG2JecgQHVIUps4zQQQ5s1dctdyBcmW58b-Rws_tFhHGwzS9djubRk8Gy-yGqRnGzJCxbUhVuSM22SB5BMi58-vDWeYamMRvquRU_BnYB1k0vtTQXK9scBlUfXvJWRRV5tfmkar5PO8ApR6onqdvU56e3RstGlbYKEpFbN_GjjtAJIicefp7PC6UjiNrx8nV6s_whmEux-S1Dy-vmdaoOcIfHnCfe9oFNCttU18Wiln2DAPQMkpSwnOmwy9gw&amp;__tn__=%2ANK-R">#Read2Succeed</a>, Keller put out a call to those with books to donate. The goal is to get books in the hands of people who can't afford or don't have access to reading materials. Also, Keller said it provides a fun activity during this time of self-isolation, like a literary scavenger hunt.



Participating is simple: select books to donate, put them in a box or basket, place them on the front porch, and use the hashtag&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/readtosucceed?source=feed_text&amp;epa=HASHTAG&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBSKiLTZ52oUASxV6vk2Jl_rCl7i1Ryaj7gkRVxZz5NzgS18jWr_s6f6xmWsJVoXG6XukLZHr_gH0OlAF1ifgZWQWbG2JecgQHVIUps4zQQQ5s1dctdyBcmW58b-Rws_tFhHGwzS9djubRk8Gy-yGqRnGzJCxbUhVuSM22SB5BMi58-vDWeYamMRvquRU_BnYB1k0vtTQXK9scBlUfXvJWRRV5tfmkar5PO8ApR6onqdvU56e3RstGlbYKEpFbN_GjjtAJIicefp7PC6UjiNrx8nV6s_whmEux-S1Dy-vmdaoOcIfHnCfe9oFNCttU18Wiln2DAPQMkpSwnOmwy9gw&amp;__tn__=%2ANK-R">#ReadToSucceed</a>&nbsp;to post your participation information on social media. Keller said it is important to follow all COVID-19 mitigation guidelines.



"My goal with Read to Succeed is to provide those in need (mostly our youth) with books and reading materials so that they may be able to learn and gain confidence with literacy at home," Keller said. "The response has been positive. As word gets out, I think it will grow."



As Keller gears up for the Miss Iowa Scholarship pageant this summer, she has an eye on expanding her local literacy program. Keller is looking at broadening her social media presence and reaching out to news outlets. She also would like to conduct lectures and presentations on the topic of literacy.



"There is so much more I want to do with this. I also work to inform parents and caregivers on the importance of reading to their children and helping them with English homework at home," she said.



For Keller, if one child learns to love reading or improves their writing skills through the initiative, then Read to Succeed is already a success.



"I love to read and I want to help others to love to read," she said.



(Editor's Note: Everyday Heroes is an ongoing series featuring people who make a difference in our community. If you want to nominate someone for a story, contact us at burlingtonbeacon@gmail.com or message us on Facebook.)



Photo by Joy Mack



Olivia Keller of Burlington started the Read to Succeed initiative to promote literacy. She is shown with books to be donated near the Great River Bridge in Burlington.

Keller Advocates For Literacy Through Initiative

By Beacon Staff



A Burlington man was arrested Saturday (April 18) in connection with a shooting earlier that morning.



Burlington Police Lt. Wayne Thomson said the person who was shot was taken to Great River Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries. The person was not identified.



Jilvone Sherlon Lee Watts, 21, of Burlington was arrested after police responded to the area of Flint Hills Drive and Argyle Court regarding multiple reports of shots fired shortly before noon. He has been charged with willful injury, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon and going armed with intent.



Upon arrival, officers located two subjects matching the description of individuals seen in the area at the time of the shooting. Officers made contact with the individuals and discovered one of them had sustained a gunshot wound.



Watts is being held without bond at the Des Moines County Correctional Center in Burlington pending a court appearance.



Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Burlington Police Department at (319) 753-8366 or the Burlington Area Crime Stoppers at (319) 753-6835.

Burlington Man Arrested in Saturday Shooting

By Beacon Staff



A record-breaking snowfall swept across Burlington Thursday night, leaving 7 inches of rapidly melting snow.



Much of that 7 inches has evaporated, but not before setting the 2019-20 snowfall record for Burlington. The highest measured snowfall before that was roughly 4 inches at the end of October 2019.



Locally higher amounts were observed, but Burlington’s seven inches was the second-highest in the state, according to the National Weather Service.



The tiny town of Beaconsfield (population of 15) in Ringgold County recorded the most snow at 9 inches.



Photo by Anthony Dewitt



A storm that swept over the area dumped 7 inches of wet snow on Burlington.

Burlington Records Highest Snowfall Total Of The Season

By Beacon Staff



Burlington firefighters quickly extinguished a furnace fire Wednesday evening after neighbors reported a loud “boom” on Gunnison Street at 4:47 p.m. Wednesday, April 15.



A dozen Burlington firefighters responded to the reported furnace explosion within three minutes and saw smoke issuing from the two-story wood-frame house as they arrived. Once on scene, firefighters discovered a fire above the furnace, and immediately extinguished it. They stayed on the scene until 7:10 p.m. while the source of the blaze was investigated.



Burlington Fire Marshall Mark Crooks said the cause of the fire was accidental, a mechanical malfunction within the furnace.



The single-family home, owned by Brian and Elizabeth Mosher, sustained about $20,000 in damage to the structure, furnace, and electrical system. There were two occupants in the house at the time of the incident, and both were able to escape without injury.



The house is insured and was equipped with working smoke detectors.



Six West Burlington firefighters responded to a call for mutual aid. The Burlington Police Department. Superior Ambulance and Alliant Energy also assisted at the scene.

Firefighters Snuff Out Furnace Explosion

By Beacon Staff



Two Tyson Foods employees died due to a novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) outbreak that has swept through the workforce at the Columbus Junction plant.



The deaths of the Tyson workers are the first known to be linked to an outbreak at a meatpacking plant in Iowa. The company said that it was "deeply saddened by the loss of two team members" and that their families were in its thoughts and prayers.



The plant has been shut down since April 6, when Tyson announced that more than two dozen workers were infected. Since then, 148 people total have tested positive in connection to the outbreak.



The company said Monday that it would continue the plant's suspension this week after more workers tested positive.



— The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Two Tyson Employees Die Of COVID-19

By Beacon Staff



An unseasonably late winter/spring storm is expected to hit Burlington Thursday afternoon, possibly leaving more than half-a-foot of wet, slushy snow on the ground.



Forecasters with the National Weather Service sounded the snow alarm Wednesday afternoon, warning of 4 to 6 inches of snow between 4 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. Friday for Southeast Iowa and the surrounding area.



The concentrated, local forecast issued by the NWS has a 90 percent chance for 4 to 8 inches in Burlington. The wet, heavy snow will likely start falling by Thursday afternoon or early evening, bringing with it wind gusts of up to 25 mph.



Drifting won’t be a problem with such heavy snow, NWS says, but the clumpy precipitation could down tree limbs and possibly even power lines.



Friday’s high is expected to reach 44 degrees, and the high will climb to 56 degrees Saturday. No further precipitation is forecast for the weekend.

Spring Snowstorm Could Blanket Burlington

By Beacon Staff



In what has become a familiar scene, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds stood at a podium to give her daily televised COVID-19 status report to Iowans. Today, as she did yesterday, she had the grim duty of announcing more deaths related to the novel coronavirus.



At Wednesday's press conference, Reynolds announced four more COVID-19-related deaths and 96 new confirmed cases in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Health has not released the ages and locations of the four people who died. Nor have they yet released information regarding those who most-recently tested positive for COVID-19.



Wednesday's announcement brings the state's total number of deaths to 53 with 1,995 confirmed positive cases. In Des Moines County, there are seven confirmed cases of COVID-19.



Reynolds said there are 407 negative tests for a total of 17,847 total negative tests in the state. There currently are 3,048 tests available, and 908 Iowans have recovered for a 46 percent recovery rate, she added.



State health officials confirmed the seventh outbreak at a long-term care facility in Iowa. Wilton Retirement Community in Wilton reported an outbreak this week, the IDPH said. A total of 171 Iowans are hospitalized with COVID-19, with 20 admitted in the past 24 hours. Of those hospitalized, 78 are listed in intensive care and 43 are on ventilators.



There are 7,930 hospital beds available in Iowa, with 533 ICU beds available and 718 ventilators available, according to state health officials.

Four More Deaths Reported; Des Moines County has Seven Confirmed COVID-19 Cases

Photo by Anthony Dewitt



"The park is coming alive," said Janet Allgood of Burlington who was taking photos of magnolias last week in Crapo Park in Burlington.

Nature In Bloom

Photo by Anthony Dewitt



With a flick of the wrist, Elijah Kane of Burlington plays a round of disc golf Easter Sunday in Crapo Park in Burlington.