By Beacon Staff



The defunct JCPenney parking lot at Westland Mall in West Burlington teemed with faithful Easter parishioners Sunday morning, and not one of them came within breathing distance of the other.



Members of the Burlington First Assembly of God Worship Team belted out their love for Jesus as they strummed their guitars on a mobile stage at the south end of the parking, their voices filtering through the car radios of those in attendance.



Unable to leave their vehicles without breaking Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ social distance mandate to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the drivers elatedly pounded their car horns after the opening song. Normally a noise of annoyance, the applause substitute did not go unappreciated.



“Lord, you let there be a way. We didn’t think it was going to happen,” First Assembly of God pastor Scott Collier said.



The non-denominational drive-in Easter service was simple and efficient and open to everyone. Parishioners arrived and left as they pleased, some settling into the back pews (the north end of the JCPenney parking lot) shortly after the service started.



Most of the vehicles were separated by a parking space, allowing for social interaction at six feet for those who rolled down their car windows.



Collier reiterated the only rule of the service as he led the radio broadcast prayer.



“Please, do not leave your vehicles,” he said.



Collier didn’t dwell on coronavirus during his sermon, nor did he ignore it. Most churches across Burlington, including First Assembly of God, have been delivering church services online. Collier treated the virus as the constant it is likely to be.



“God, we pray for the essential workers, and we pray your hands to be upon them,” he said.



Upwards of 50 vehicles could be counted at the service, and the only ones wandering around outside were church volunteers taking coffee orders for parishioners. Worshipers who brought their own supplies performed communion within the mobile isolation units that got them there.



“If you can hear me, honk your horns,” Collier said, the air once again filling with a sharp sound. “Be grateful the grave was empty."



Photos by Jeff Abell



Area residents attended a non-denominational drive-in Easter service Sunday at Westland Mall in West Burlington.

Celebrating The Resurrection Of Jesus From A Car Seat

By Beacon Staff



Edwin Shirts, who owns Mr. Wingbone's Calls. and his nephew, Logan, recently practiced their archery skills at the Dankwardt Park in Burlington. Parks in Burlington remain open, however, playground equipment and skate parks remain closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.



Photos by Anthony Dewitt

Taking Aim

By Beacon Staff



It takes more than a global pandemic to stifle the Easter spirit.



First Assembly of God is hosting a non-denominational Easter service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday in the Westland Mall parking lot in West Burlington and no one will have to break quarantine to attend.



All you have to do is drive there and stay in your car. Church volunteers will be directing vehicles into every other parking spot, ensuring a safe distance between each.



“It (the safe distance) will allow you to roll down your windows and maybe even interact with the person parked next to you. The most imperative thing is to stay in your vehicle during the service,” said the Rev. Scott Collier, lead pastor at First Assembly of God.



The service will be broadcast by a low-frequency transmitter to 106.9 F.M, similar to a drive-in theater. Those who wish to partake in the sacrament are encouraged to bring their own, in whatever form they like.



“Bring your own cheese, bring your own juice,” Collier said.



The service will go on rain or shine, and the National Weather Service is predicting a 90 percent chance of rain Sunday.



Collier said the service could only be canceled by a thunderstorm, which is a distinct possibility, NWS said. Updates to the status of the event will be posted immediately on the First Assembly of God's Facebook page and The Burlington Beacon.

Drive-In Easter Service Set For Sunday At Mall

By Beacon Staff



As goes the cancellation of concerts and music festivals in the wake of coronavirus, so goes Burlington Steamboat Days.



The riverfront music festival in Burlington was set to return in early June, with country music star Gretchen Wilson as one of the headliners.



On Friday morning, the Steamboat Days board announced that the event wouldn’t be happening.



“After much discussion about the economic effects this pandemic has and could continue to bring to our area, the BRE (Burlington Riverfront Entertainment) Board and Burlington Steamboat Days organization feel it would be irresponsible as community organizations to continue with the event, especially with the unforeseen future and concern for the health of event attendees,” reads a statement on the event’s Facebook page.



It’s only the second time Steamboat Days has been canceled in its 50-year-plus history — the first time due to the Flood of 2008. The event went on hiatus last year after a financially difficult 2018 iteration plagued by low attendance. A record-breaking heatwave that week was partially to blame.



Steamboat Days is far from done, though, according to event organizers. Planning for the 2021 iteration of the multi-day music festival is underway. Burlington Civic Music also was forced to cancel the remainder of its concerts but also plans on returning for next season.



Anyone who has purchased tickets for this year’s Burlington Steamboat Days event online through Ticketmaster will be notified by email and will receive a refund. Anyone who purchased tickets at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium box office can receive their refund once the city allows the building to be open to the public. Once that happens, the box office will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Steamboat Days Canceled, Set To Return Next Year

By Beacon Staff



Police arrested a Burlington man Friday (April 10) for allegedly producing methamphetamine and maintaining a drug house.



Robert Ian Heffernan, 37, of Burlington is charged with manufacturing methamphetamine over 5 grams. He also is charged with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, maintaining a drug house (methamphetamine), child endangerment, as well as a Lee County warrant for a parole violation.



Police arrested Heffernan after executing a search warrant at 1513 Lincoln St. in Burlington. Agencies involved in the search included the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement, Burlington Police Department and the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office.



Burlington Police Lt. Wayne Thomson said the arrest was just the latest into a multi-agency investigation pertaining to a subject who was manufacturing narcotics in the Burlington area. Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force, the Lee County Narcotics Task Force and the Iowa Department of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE) are heading up the investigation. Another meth resulted from the investigation on March 30.



Heffernan is being held at the Des Moines County Correctional Center in Burlington.

Burlington Man Arrested for Making Meth and Maintaining A Drug House

Photo by Jeff Abell



An empty swing near a sign announcing park playground equipment is closed to the public is shown Tuesday in Crapo Park in Burlington. The city of Burlington made the move to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Empty Swings, Empty Playgrounds

By Jeff Abell



Affixed to windows and doors they can be found, a heart-shaped symbol of hope in a time when the bright side of life has been darkened by fear of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).



Throughout Burlington and the region, hearts are being painted on or cut out of colorful paper. Some are adorned with the names of the children who made them, or Bible verses, or to honor a health care professional on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.



It all started with an idea by Galesburg, Ill., resident Krista Wynes. That idea has become a movement including nearly all 50 states and countries aboard, and a Facebook group with more than 700,000 followers.



Through her Facebook group Heart Hunters, people share photos of hearts they have spotted on windows and doors and ones they have made. Wynes said the goal was to provide children with a fun activity but at the same time encourage social distancing.



“I know with my boys being out of school, I was looking for some things to be able to do with them to get them out of the house and get the wiggles out, and I thought how fun to be able to walk and kind of do a virtual scavenger hunt,” Wynes told the Register-Mail in an interview last month.



That initial goal has been turned into something much bigger — a beacon of hope for many.



A sentiment shared by James Dodson of Des Moines, who was walking Monday in downtown Burlington. Looking around, he remarked about the hearts affixed to windows of downtown businesses.



“It made me smile when I saw them. It makes me believe we will all get through this difficult time as long as we don’t lose hope,” he said.



Photo by Anthony Dewitt



Windows and doors throughout Burlington are adorned with hearts as a way to encourage children to practice social distancing and to give them a fun activity to do while home from school during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Hope In The Shape Of Hearts

By Beacon Staff



A child under the age of 17 has been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Henry County, and two new diagnoses of the virus were confirmed in Des Moines County.



The child in Henry County was one of four new cases confirmed by the Iowa Department of Public Health Tuesday. Another was an adult between the ages of 18 and 40, as well as two middle-aged residents between the ages of 41 and 60. That brings the Henry County total up to 13.



The two new cases in Des Moines County are between the ages of 61 and 80, bringing the county total up to three. Louisa County reported 13 new cases Tuesday, bringing the total up to 20. There is only one confirmed case in Lee County at this time.



Gov. Reynolds reported 102 new cases Tuesday, and one more Iowan has died from the virus.



As of Tuesday morning, that brings the total number of positive cases in Iowa to 1,048. Gov. Reynolds also said there have been 1,017 negative tests reported.



A total of 26 Iowans have now died because of complications of COVID-19. The most recent death was an elderly person from Benton County.



There are 104 currently hospitalized coronavirus patients and 341 patients have recovered.



Eleven percent of the total infections have been identified as long-term care residents or staff and 46 percent of the deaths have been long-term care residents.

Henry County Child Diagnosed With Coronavirus; Two More Cases In Des Moines County

By Beacon Staff



Despite an updated emergency proclamation from the city of Burlington Monday and another proclamation by Des Moines County Tuesday, Burlington Mayor Jon Billups is stressing that nothing has changed.



The proclamations are simply a show of local solidarity with Gov. Kim Reynold’s existing measures regarding coronavirus. It also is a strong recommendation for locals to keep following state guidelines in place to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).



With early spring feeling a lot more like early summer, Billups and local leaders felt it necessary to issue an official decree outlining what is allowed. Going outside is not off-limits, as long as social distancing guidelines are followed.



Fresh air is encouraged.



“It was decided by the mayors of Des Moines County and the Des Moines County Supervisors to issue a proclamation supporting her (Gov. Kim Reynolds’) request to act as if there was a shelter order in place,” Billups said in a statement Tuesday morning, which can be viewed in its entirety on his Facebook page.



That means restaurants and businesses that currently offer delivery or curbside service will continue as usual.



Fully aware of the economic impact the virus is having locally, Billups encouraged those who feel comfortable to continue shopping locally, as long as they do so responsibly and by state guidelines.



The updated emergency proclamation for Burlington consisted of several other salient points and updates, including:



• The skate park in Dankwardt Park is closed to public use. • Gatherings of 10 or more people are strongly discouraged until further notice. • Individuals are recommended to not leave their home or place of residence, except to conduct essential activities. The definition of essential has been outlined by the state. Retail stores that sell food still offer the non-food items that have always been available. • Solid waste crews will continue picking up an additional 33-gallon container (up to 40 lbs.) of household waste through May 1 without the use of an additional tag.

Mayor Billups: New Local Coronavirus Proclamations Do Not Add New Restrictions or Closures

By Beacon Staff



The Burlington Fire Department responded to a garage fire Sunday afternoon that quickly spread to a neighboring garage, and department officials are considering the blaze suspicious.



The initial garage fire at 1105 S. 10th St. was called in at 3:50 p.m. Sunday. As fire trucks made their way to the blaze, a second caller reported the fire had spread to a second garage at 1001 S. 10th St.



A dozen Burlington firefighters responded alongside West Burlington firefighters on auto-aid, bringing the fire under control in minutes and completely extinguishing it by 4:30 p.m. Firefighters remained on scene until 6 p.m. Sunday.



The fire started on the exterior of the two-car detached garage located behind 1005 S. 10th Street, owned by DKE Properties. The garage was insured, and a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix owned by Chelci Adams, who lives at the address, was damaged by the fire.



Tyler Underwood, who owns the neighboring property at 1001 S. 10th St., was not insured. Aside from the damage to his garage, heat radiating from the fire also melted the siding on the back of his home.



Burlington Fire Marshall Mark Crooks did not elaborate as to why the fire is considered suspicious, simply saying the incident is under investigation by the Burlington Police Department and the Burlington Fire Department.



No injuries were reported.

Suspicious Fire Damages Two Burlington Garages Sunday

By Beacon Staff



Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced more business closures to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), stopping short of implementing a shelter in place order for the state.&nbsp;



On Monday, Reynolds added to the list of business closures through April 30. However, most of the businesses on Monday's list have already been closed due to fears about the spread of COVID-19.



“I know that I've asked a lot of Iowans over the course of the last month,” she said during the 11 a.m. Monday press conference. “And today, I'm asking more.”



New closures include:&nbsp;



• Malls • Social and fraternal clubs • Bingo halls •.Bowling alleys • Pool halls • Zoos • Arcades • Amusement parks • Libraries • Skating rinks and skate parks • Outdoor/indoor playgrounds and children's play centers • Race tracks • Tobacco and vaping stores • Toy, music, gaming, instrument and movie stores • Campgrounds



Anyone not following the guidelines, specifically those not limiting social gatherings to fewer than 10 people, will be cited with a simple misdemeanor.



At Monday's press conference, Reynolds announced 78 additional cases of COVID-19 in Iowa, totaling 946 positive cases to date.



Another three people with COVID-19 have died, bringing the total in the state to 25 people as of Monday. Two of the people who died were from Tama County. The third person lived in Linn County.&nbsp;



Last week, the Iowa Board of Medicine unanimously voted to request that Reynolds issue a statewide shelter in place order, sending a letter to the governor.



Reynolds has said that implementing a shelter in place order is not required right now based on the data the state is using to evaluate the next steps for mitigation efforts.

More Businesses Ordered to Close, No Shelter In Place Order For Iowa

By Beacon Staff



The Tyson Foods’ pork processing plant in Columbus Junction has suspended operations for at least the next week due to more than two dozen cases of COVID-19 confirmed at the facility.



“In an effort to minimize the impact on our overall production, we’re diverting the livestock supply originally scheduled for delivery to Columbus Junction to some of our other pork plants in the region,” Tyson CEO Noel White said in a statement Monday.



Meat and poultry plants are experiencing varying levels of production impact throughout the country, due to the planned implementation of additional worker safety precautions and worker absenteeism, White said.



Local producers are concerned about the impact this closure will have on their ability to sell hogs.



In addition to taking the temperature of workers at all of Tyson’s locations before they enter company facilities, White said they’ve stepped up deep cleaning and sanitizing of their facilities, especially in employee breakrooms, locker rooms, and other areas to protect team members.&nbsp;



“We’re working to secure an adequate supply of protective face coverings for production workers and have implemented interim protocols for temporary protective coverings while observing food safety,” White said.



Tyson continues to explore and implement additional ways to promote more social distancing in the plants. According to Tyson’s statement, this includes erecting dividers between workstations or increasing the space between workers on the production floor, which can involve slowing production lines.



The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Tyson Foods In Columbus Junction Hit With Over Two Dozen COVID-19 Cases; Plant Shutting Down Until Next Week

By William Smith



A multi-tasker with an eternal head (and heart) for business, Ken Schwenker often worked with a phone cradled beneath each ear.



Sometimes, when business at Standard of Beaverdale was really booming, he would attempt a third simultaneous conversation with the customer in front of him. As a prank, Ken’s younger brother Greg once handed him a third phone, even though there was no one on the other end.



“He just busted out laughing,” Greg said, sharing a favorite memory of his older brother.



Ken Schwenker was smart enough to get the joke, genial enough to chuckle, and ambitious enough to get right back to work.



" 'No’ was not in his vocabulary, whatever you asked of him,” Greg said. “And I’ve asked a lot.”



Ken Schwenker died unexpectedly of heart failure Wednesday at Great River Medical Center in West Burlington. His family business continues to chug on, manned by relatives working through their grief, just like Ken would have.



“Ken just reveled in being here,” said his sister, Brenda Carson, who works at the store. “This is where he was his best.”



By that measure, Ken Schwenker was at his best most hours of the day. Just like his four siblings, Ken was born into the hardware business his father started.



Ken was the oldest sibling and showed the greatest aptitude for the business. Family members that didn’t move elsewhere usually ended up working alongside him.



“He was the leader. He had to be the role model,” his sister, Sharon Schwenker, said.



Ken has two children; when they were old enough, they too went to work for him.



“We all had an official job until we were 16,” Ken’s daughter, Kathy Schwenker, said.



Schwenker was one of the first in the industry to implement a computerized inventory management system and helped young business owners find their feet in the industry. He took joy in donating to area organizations and projects, often underwriting promotional advertising for community events.



“If people want to see their area improve, then they need to do something because it won’t just happen by itself,” Schwenker said in 2015 when he was honored as a Southeastern Community College Distinguished Alumnus.



Humble to his Iowa core, Schwenker didn’t put on airs. He smoked a pipe and always carried a red handkerchief in his pocket, even when the pocket was on the breast of a suit jacket.



“Not a conceited bone in his body,” Sharon Schwenker said.



When he wasn’t talking business, Schwenker spoke about his travels and his family. Vacations were usually a combination of all three.



“We had a lot of family vacations centered around Ace Hardware conventions, but then we would take another week off,” Kathy Schwenker said.



Unbeknownst to most people, Ken was also a skilled baker. In fact, Ken baked more delectable sweets than his trim figure suggested and consumed far more of his creations than seems possible. Sherry still can’t believe how much he could eat without gaining weight.



“I was jealous. He always stayed skinny,” Sherry said, her voice choked with mirth.



About a month before Ken died, Kathy came back to work for her father. She didn’t take the job to keep an eye on him, though. At age 66, Ken seemed to be in fine health.



“We didn’t see it coming at all. It was a shock to everyone. I thought I was going to have another couple of decades with him,” Kathy said.



She got a handful of weeks instead, blessedly unaware of how it would end. Kathy got to know her father a little better in those weeks.



“I had a desk right behind his, and usually I would stay a couple of minutes after everyone left,” she said.



But it’s her childhood memories of Ken that have crystallized in her heart.



“He loved us. He was a great dad. He would take us out to Bees games and picnics in the park. He tried to teach us to fish, and we couldn’t find bait so he used hot dogs. I remember finding that pretty funny,” she said.



Obituary for Kenneth “Kenny” Lee Schwenker (As posted by Lunning Chapel)



Kenneth “Kenny” Lee Schwenker, 66, of West Burlington died suddenly of heart failure Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at the Great River Medical Center Emergency Department in West Burlington.



Ken was a graduate of Burlington High School 1971 and attended SCC and was later honored as a distinguished alumnus. He then backpacked through Europe before returning to the family business.



Ken was the current president and owner of Standard of Beaverdale, his family business and worked there for his entire lifetime.



He was a member of St. Luke United Church of Christ.



Kenny enjoyed spending time with family, baking and eating sweets and woodworking. He had a very positive attitude for his community and was very involved in and supported many community events.



He loved SCC basketball and fireworks.



Survivors include his wife Diane of Burlington; two children, Katherine A. Schwenker of Burlington and David R. (Barbara Becker) Schwenker of Clive, Iowa; step-children Ben (Diana) Dobson of West Burlington, Sarah Krabill of Ozark, MO, Kyle (Nicole) Dobson of Burlington, Rachel (Matt) Vandervoort of Ozark, MO and Mallory (Justin) Jennings of Burlington; eight grandchildren; two brothers, Dan (Debra) Schwenker of Burlington, Greg (Brenda Smith) Schwenker; two sisters, Brenda Carson and Sharon (Tony) Ashby of West Burlington and by a large extended family.



He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth, his parents and one grandson.



The private graveside committal service for Ken will be Tuesday, April 7, 2020.



Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the family will not be having a public memorial at this time. A celebration of life will be at a later date.



A memorial has been established for the Hospice House and Greater Burlington Sports Foundation for the Future Gymnasium Project. Online condolences may be sent by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lunningfuneralchapel.com/?fbclid=IwAR3Suv0gc6cLJAMKM4tyML25cSr5dZ3V2-T3bYStc3CgcJEVhrM-Uhqy2Ew" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.lunningfuneralchapel.com/</a>

Always Working, Always Smiling: Schwenker Left A Lasting Legacy

By Beacon Staff



School in Iowa is out until May, but students have to continue learning at home or make up the lost instruction later.



Gov. Kim Reynolds mandated a public school closure until April 30 during a Thursday (April 2) press conference, saying at-home learning through school districts can continue in a variety of ways. That includes enrichment courses and paperwork packets delivered to students.



"Making a sudden shift to virtual learning isn't always easy, especially during the crisis that we face now, but we can't let perfect be the enemy of good," Reynolds said.



During a Thursday afternoon press conference, the governor outlined new steps that school districts must take to ensure they are reaching Iowa students during the shutdown.



The Burlington School District is working with Winegard Co. to turn school buses into wifi hotspots, and Chromebook laptops already have been distributed to students.



The school district responded to the governor’s mandate on its Facebook page Thursday afternoon.



“We will continue to provide continuous learning opportunities and meals for our students,” the district said in the post.



Reynolds already has waived four weeks of instruction time lost during the initial school closure, and districts have until April 10 to inform the Iowa Department of Education of continuous learning measures they are putting in place.



According to Reynolds, this can include voluntary enrichment programs or required classes that count toward credit. Programs can include online lessons as well as paper packets delivered to students, and districts can choose a mixture of voluntary and required programs for students at different grade levels.



"School districts that chose not to provide continuous learning (whether voluntary or required) will be required to make up the instructional time lost beyond what has been waived by the Legislature," Reynolds said.



Ann Lebo, director of the Iowa Department of Education, said the state has developed an expedited application process for any school that wants to implement a required continuous learning program.



The application will be available to districts in a few days and will allow the state to approve applications within 24 hours, she said.



Statewide, 614 people have tested positive for COVID-19. Eleven people have died from the illness, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.



The first case in Louisa County was confirmed Thursday morning (April 2), and Des Moines County still has only one confirmed case.



With Jefferson County also reporting a confirmed coronavirus case, Lee County is the only southeast Iowa county without a confirmed case.



Des Moines County still has only one confirmed case, according to state officials.



Two more deaths related to the novel coronavirus in Iowa were confirmed Thursday by state public health officials as well.



The new deaths were both in Linn County and were older patients, between the ages of 61 and 80.



The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Gov. Reynolds Closes Public Schools Until April 30; Coronavirus Confirmed in Louisa County

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



Burlington firefighters battled a blaze Friday evening that injured a woman and claimed the lives of three dogs.



Firefighters responded at 6:22 p.m. Friday (April 17) to a report of a house fire at 1527 Grove St. in Burlington. At the scene, firefighters observed smoke coming from the rear of the small one-story house.



The fire was located in the kitchen with heavy smoke throughout the structure. During a search of the house, firefighters found three dogs who died as a result of the fire and an unconscious woman. The woman was transported to Great River Medical Center in West Burlington where she received treatment.



Firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the kitchen and it was fully extinguished by 7:05 p.m., according to fire officials. Damage estimates still are being assessed and the home is insured. The cause of the fire remains under investigation but it is not considered suspicious.



Nine on-duty Burlington firefighters responded to the fire and were assisted by six West Burlington firefighters. Superior Ambulance and Alliant Energy also assisted at the scene. Firefighters remained on the scene until 11:18 p.m. Friday.

Woman Injured, Three Dogs Perish In House Fire

Photos by William SmithWorkers with Clive Restoration of Coon Valley, Wis., hang off the St. John Temple on Division Street in Burlington on Tuesday morning (Oct. 6). The contracted workers have been repairing the steeple for the past few weeks.The Rev. Marty Goetz is asking parishioners to use the northwest door when entering the building. Though Roman Catholic mass has been reopened to the public on a limited basis, the church mass is also available to watch online every Sunday.

On High

Photo by Jeff Abell



Wearing gloves and a protective mask, an employee at Lindo Mexico hands over a curbside order free of charge to Emmit Brown of Burlington.



The downtown Burlington restaurant was providing free lunch specials on Thursday as a way to give back to the community as residents continue to cope with restrictions imposed to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus/COVID-19. The restaurant, along with all others in the state of Iowa, was shuttered to walk-in foot traffic until at least April 7.

Lindo Mexico Gives The Gift Of Food

Photo by Jeff Abell



The Port of Burlington building is shown inundated with floodwater after a section of HESCO barriers failed on June 1 2019, allowing a surging Mississippi River to stretch beyond its banks.

Beacon Flashback: Flooded Port of Burlington Building

Column by Jeff Abell



Over the years, Burlington has produced more than its fair share of the famous and infamous. When scanning the list of notable people, several prominent names stand out, while others more obscure but equally important remain only a footnote.



In the annals of rock ‘n’ roll history, few people outside of Iowa know the name of O.W. Appleton. The music pioneer was inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for inventing the earliest known solid-body electric guitar. 



Appleton had a love of music from an early age. In his teens, he traveled the country as a musician before settling down in Burlington in 1936.



Soon after, he opened a music store and began tinkering with musical instruments to improve their sound, including his favorite instrument, the guitar.



With the hands of an artist and the mind of an engineer, Appleton spent his free hours working on a new design, a closely guarded secret he believed would take the guitar to a new level.



In 1941, he carved the body of the now-conventional guitar, attaching a stock neck. The new design soon became the guitar of choice for rock musicians.



Appleton was never fully credited for his creation due to a chain of events that resulted in guitar maker Leo Fender building on his design, and later marketing it, according to an Iowa music historian.



Then there’s the rise and fall of chemist Wallace Hume Carothers.



On an April evening in 1937, Philadelphia police were called to the hotel room of a man who was unresponsive to staff. Breaking down the door, officers observed a man lying lifeless on a bed.



Police observed no signs of a struggle but did discover an empty bottle and a squeezed lemon near the body. The man was 41-year-old Carothers, who is credited with inventing nylon.



Despite early reservations, the Burlington native began work on creating synthetic rubber or neoprene after being hired by DuPont Chemical.



In the summer of 1934, Carothers became severely depressed and suddenly disappeared. He was later found at a psychiatric clinic. Upon his release, Carothers began the work that led to his greatest discovery — the creation of the synthetic polymer known as nylon.



Then, tragedy struck.



In January 1937, his sister died of pneumonia. The loss led Carothers to Philadelphia to see his psychiatrist.



Two months later, he checked into a hotel room, and using the cyanide capsule he carried attached to a watch chain, Carothers dissolved the poison in lemon juice to speed up its effect.



Thus concluded his final chemical experiment.



During the dark days of the Vietnam War, Jimmie Howard was a shining example of bravery. Howard, a Marine gunnery sergeant, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for valor for his leadership of a platoon before and after he was wounded severely by a Viet Cong grenade on June 1966.



Then there is space shuttle astronaut Jim Kelly with missions under his belt that include NASA’s return to space flight after being grounded due to the 2003 Columbia accident that claimed the life of its crew.



Others include:



• Mary "May" Naudain, an actress and singer who gained fame on the stage during the vaudeville era, was born in 1881 in Burlington. She was raised in Omaha, Neb., before traveling to New York City to appear on stage, including Broadway where she was a sensation.



During World War I, Naudain gave benefit concerts and raised money for war bonds. She died suddenly at the age of 41 from a heart condition.



• William Frawley, famous for playing Fred Mertz in "I Love Lucy," was born Feb. 26, 1887 in Burlington. In a 1955 interview with the Des Moines Register, Frawley fondly recalled growing up in the North Hill neighborhood, which he saw for the last time in the 1920s. Frawley grew up at the house at 1203 N. Sixth St.



In 1960, Frawley landed the role of "Bub O’Casey" on "My Three Sons," which he starred in for six seasons before becoming too ill to work. His final on-camera performance was in 1965 on "The Lucy Show."



• German-born paleontologist Charles Wachsmuth’s study of fossilized crinoids in Burlington Limestone offered a significant contribution to the field in the 19th Century.



• Inventor and entrepreneur John Winegard’s antenna company had a hand in the growth of broadcast television and a role in the nation’s space program. He died in 2002.



• Helen Elswyth Thane, a writer of romance novels and historical fiction, was born in Burlington in 1900. She began her career in the 1920s as a freelance writer for newspapers. During her lifetime, she had seven novels published.



• Former director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Edward Stone worked on the Voyager I and II deep space exploration missions. He was the recipient of the 1999 Carl Sagan Memorial Award and a middle school in Burlington bears his name.



And the list goes on.



Burlington residents, native or transplant, have contributed to the success of the country in science, entertainment, and innovation. Their lives tell the story of Burlington. But, more importantly, their story is the story of America.

Tales of the Famous and Not-So Famous

Review by Jeff Abell



In 1987, two modern retellings of the vampire legend went head-to-head at the movie box office.



"The Lost Boys" was a glossy thrill ride that embraced the music and styles of the decade. The other was a gritty, more down-to-earth horror movie that cared less about visual style and more about substance.



The latter is the horror movie cult classic "Near Dark," which had less box office bite than its rival "The Lost Boys." Despite that fact. I'd argue (and have for years) that "Near Dark" is the superior movie.



Directed by Kathyrn Bigelow, this cult classic elevates the tired traditional vampire tale into a bloody good time. Under Bigelow's direction, the story of star-crossed love is both edgy and melancholy. It highlights the isolation of rural life that spurs the need to make a meaningful, deep connection.



The vampires (a term not used in the movie) are town-hopping road warriors who thrive on our mobile society. They hide in the shadows, becoming just another face in the crowd before they strike, giving in to the blood lust that fuels them.



A small-town farmboy named Caleb (Adrian Pasdar) meets Mae (Jenny Wright) while out on the town for the evening. Mae has drifted into town and is instantly attracted to Caleb.



While losing track of time in his truck, Mae bites Caleb and runs off as the sun begins to rise. As the sun shines on him, Caleb feels his skin burning. He panics and starts walking through a cornfield toward his home, where he lives with his father and little sister.



Before he makes it home, he is grabbed and taken away in an RV. Inside he meets the nomadic tribe of vampires Mae calls family.



Severen (Bill Paxton) wants to kill Caleb, but the vampires soon realize Mae has bitten him. Jesse Hooker (Lance Henriksen), the head vampire, gives Caleb a week to learn the ropes. As the vampire road trip begins, his father frantically searches for him, setting up the primary metaphor of the story: vampirism is akin to drug addiction.



This movie has one of my all-time favorite scenes. Set in a honkey-tonk tavern, actor Bill Paxton shines as he and the other vampires revel in over-the-top violence spurred by a sense of humor and blood lust. This scene alone beats anything "The Lost Boys" could muster.



"Near Dark" is a near-perfect horror movie that deserves a watch for Halloween.&nbsp;

31 DAYS OF HORROR MOVIES: Near Dark (1987)

By Beacon Staff



Though there is no Safe Trick-or-Treat or Downtown Trick-or-Treat this Halloween, Beggar’s Night is still on in Burlington, fully endorsed by the city.



Trick-or-treat hours in Burlington will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. The cancelation of Safe Trick-or-Treat at Memorial Auditorium has no impact on door-to-door trick-or-treating, city officials said.



Several holiday events, including the Holiday Lighted Parade, were canceled due to the spread of the pandemic. Those events are not organized or controlled by the city.

House-To-House Trick-or-Treating Still A Go

By Beacon Staff



The Burlington City Council unanimously approved a contract to keep former city manager Jim Ferneau on an interim basis.



The contract was approved during a special city council meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 6). He will be paid $90 an hour, without benefits or insurance. His annual salary as city manager was $157,000, not including benefits.



Ferneau’s last day as city manager was Oct. 2, coming after his resignation. Ferneau will be starting a new FedEx business in northwest Iowa.



Ferneau nor the city can end the contract on a two-week notice, and the contract will automatically terminate if a new city manager is hired.



Finding and hiring a new city manager is a four- to six-month process, involving a search firm to suss out candidates. For the first month or so, Ferneau will likely be working his usual 40-hours-a-week, but then those hours will taper down as he phases himself out.



Nick MacGregor, assistant city manager for public works, will take over Ferneau’s position on an interim basis in the coming months. 



“I just don’t want to put union contract negotiations and budget on him, too,” Ferneau said. “You’re not going to have anyone here to replace me until after the budget season is over, realistically.”



Ferneau is also assisting the city with hiring a new police chief to replace Dennis Kramer, who retired from the department on Oct. 1. Final interviews for that job will likely start in the first week of December, Ferneau said. A search firm is assisting the city in the process.



“This (contract) is long enough to get through the things I would like to get through, if that’s what you please,” Ferneau said at the Sept. 28 meeting.



Burlington Mayor Jon Billups, a former business owner himself, noted how busy Ferneau will be in starting his new operation. For Ferneau, it will be like working two full-time jobs.“I think it’s commendable you’re willing to do that,” Billups said.

Ferneau Contracted To Get Burlington Through City Manager Search

By Beacon Staff



A body was found in the same general neighborhood as a house fire Saturday night, but Burlington police said the two incidents aren’t related. Police have yet to identify the person, pending proper notification of the family.



The house fire, which was called in (with smoke visible) at 10:18 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 10) at 1428 Cleveland Ave, did not result in any known injuries, according to police. There was no estimate yet on damages.

Saturday Night House Fire, Deceased Person Are Unrelated, Police Say

By William Smith



When Steve Schleif opened Steve’s Place 33 years ago, it wasn’t called a gay bar.



“It was a lot more closeted back then. It was called a friendly bar,” said Chaz Myhre, who purchased the bar with his partner Steve Stoll in July of last year. 



Things have changed since then.



The Washington Street bar, which opened three weeks ago, proudly touts its LGBTQ representation. Myhre and Stoll seek to provide a safe space that is fun, friendly, and welcoming. 



The inside of The Oh Zone features a new dance floor, stage, dressing area, and outdoor patio. It looks like a Chicago club that just rolled off the assembly line — a year’s worth of renovation for Stoll and Myhre.“We took this place down to the studs,” Myhre said.



While Steve’s Place was known mostly for its drag queen shows, The Oh Zone will feature a broader lineup of entertainment. Myhre said it’s a nightclub for everyone."



Due to the restrictions placed on bars by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Stoll and Myhre didn’t have a big grand opening. They kept it small, and they kept it safe. But with the Quad City area currently lacking a robust gay bar scene, the new owners still met a lot of patrons who traveled more than an hour to be there. 



Many of Steve’s Place regulars couldn’t make it due to COVID-19 concerns but still sent messages of support.



As longtime patrons of Steve’s Place themselves, that support meant a lot to Stoll and Myhre. Opening a new bar or dining establishment during a pandemic is extremely difficult, but the duo refuses to back down. Myhre already owns the Regal on the Hill event center, and Stoll has his own construction company. The pair know how to keep a business running. 



But the Oh Zone looks to become more than another business. The hope is that it becomes a beacon of inclusivity for southeast Iowa.“Everyone should have a safe place,” Myhre said.



Photo by William Smith



Steve Stoll and Chaz Myhre, owners of The Oh Zone, pose for a photo outside their recently opened Burlington nightclub.