By Beacon Staff



The roar of engines could be heard throughout downtown Burlington on Friday evening (July 17) during the Jefferson Street Cruise Night. The monthly event attracts all make and models of vehicles.



Photos by Anthony Dewitt

Cruising Through Downtown Burlington

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By Beacon Staff



Two Burlington projects were among 15 historic preservation projects throughout Iowa receiving nearly $22 million in Iowa Economic Development Authority tax credits.



McConnell Lofts LLC received $3.6 million for its market-rate housing development at Fourth and Valley streets.



Y&amp;J Properties received $7.7 million to renovate the historic Baul grocery warehouse at the corner of Fifth and Valley streets. It, too, is for market-rate housing.



Besides the two Burlington projects, ventures in Brooklyn, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Dubuque, Indianola, Muscatine, Red Oak, Sioux City, Toledo, and Waterloo also received grants.



Officials said they received 23 applications seeking $33 million in tax credits. About $22 million was available in this registration round. According to IEDA, projects are scored based on readiness, financing, local support, and participation.



The Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program provides a state income tax credit to projects for rehabilitation of historic buildings. The program promotes the retention of unique, character-defining buildings and building features that contribute to a community and neighborhood. Rehabilitation must meet the federal Department of Interior standards.

Two Burlington Projects Get State Tax Credits

By Beacon Staff



The Heritage Trust's Garden Tour featured seven properties in Burlington, each a botanical wonder to behold.



The event held Saturday attracted an enthusiastic group who were treated to a variety of unique and colorful gardens. The properties toured included Mike and Joni Bence, 719 Lewis St.; Mack and Nancy McKee, 1121 S. 12th St.; Jim and Penny Sudbeck, 2616 West Ave.; Darlene Troute, 400 North St.; Dustin and Kage Evans, 616 Columbia St.; Susan and Dick Hoisington, 1015 N. Fifth St.; and Kim Mercer, 1024 N. Fourth St.



Photo by William Smith



Penny Sudbeck's dog, Dot, takes stock of his owner's garden on Saturday at 2612 West Ave. in Burlington.

Touring Burlington's Garden Beauty

By Beacon Staff



The Snake Alley Festival of Film, scheduled for July 30 through Aug. 2, has been postponed with no set replacement date. The four-day event showcases the best short films from around the world.



Festival organizer Tadd Good made the announcement during a live stream on the festival’s Facebook page at 8 p.m. Sunday (July 12). He said the festival committee will keep an eye on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) numbers, and the 125-film marathon will take place on a safer weekend. Right now, COVID-19 cases are continually rising across the country.



Good said the same movies that were scheduled for the end of July will still play at the delayed festival, whenever that may be.



“The festival is not canceled,” he said. “Even if it’s early next year, we will have it.”



Though the awards have been crafted and the T-shirts printed for sale, Good said it’s simply not safe to have filmmakers travel cross country right now. He also said some volunteers did not feel comfortable working at the festival.



“We have the best volunteers. They still wanted to help in any they could, but I just couldn’t put that on them,” he said.



Though Good had made modifications to the festival to accommodate for social distancing, including requiring masks, it would be too reckless to put groups of people in a theater, he said. Seating, which is normally around 400 inside the Capitol Theater, would be reduced to 75 with proper social distancing in place.



Good said many of the filmmakers would have to be excluded if the festival was held in three weeks since Iowa is on the COVID-19 hotspot list. Those who live on the East Coast would have to quarantine for two weeks when they returned home from Iowa.



The festival was already delayed once this year because of the virus, and Good said he hates doing it a second time.



“We would be having the festival just to have it and get it over with, and we don’t want to do that,” he said. “We want to give the filmmakers the festival they deserve.”

Snake Alley Festival of Film Delayed Until Further Notice Due To Coronavirus Concerns

By William Smith



A practical farmgirl with a passion for acrylics and charcoal, Mount Pleasant artist Jerilyn Horn has accomplished something many painters spend a lifetime striving to achieve.



She’s a full-time artist. No nine-to-five job pushing her passion to the periphery. No monthly stipend to support her during the slow months.



Just paintbrushes, time, and a long list of clients who adore her earthy, artistic take on Midwest life.



“People want paintings of their kids, their pets. I get really busy around Christmas time,” she said.



But Horn is more than an artist for hire. That was evident in the pieces hanging on the gallery walls Sunday afternoon at The Art Center on Jefferson Street.



“A lot of these are childhood memories for me,” she said, pointing to a painting of an old chicken coop framed by a patch of rhubarb in the foreground. “My grandma made great rhubarb pie.”



Horn’s grandfather bred and raised quarter horses on that farm. Looking through that self-created portrait of memory in her first solo art exhibit was equal parts real and surreal.



“This finally feels real,” she said, her family perusing the walls of the gallery.



One of her paintings, "Chores,” recalls another familiar site for farm kids —an old water pump emerging from the ground and a gate to hold the horses behind it. For Horn, the painting carries emotional heft.



“My grandpa used to get up at the crack of dawn and feed and water the horses,” she said, recalling a rather horrific incident while speaking during Sunday’s artist reception.



One day while he was weaning a colt, the mother horse panicked and ran, trampling Horn’s grandfather in the process.



“It actually crushed his kneecap,” she said. “He had to get surgery and get his knee replaced.”



Horn’s grandfather could barely bend his knee after that and had to get a specially designed shoe with a taller sole to make up for a leg that shortened in surgery. He walked with a pronounced limp.



Yet he still went back to the farm when he recovered, never afraid, never soured on his life’s work and passion. That was one lesson Horn took from her grandparents.



Many of the rest came from her grandmother, the late Barbara Garrels. A gifted artist who served as Horn’s inspiration, Barbara worked primarily in the medium of oil paintings. She taught adult painting and drawing classes at both Southeastern Community College in West Burlington and the Burlington Art Center.



Horn never took formal lessons. She just watched her grandma, developing her own painting style without the pressure of repudiation.



“I was just naturally able to draw when I was a kid,” she said.



Until a year ago, Horn made a living as an interior designer, her art in the background as a lifelong hobby. Then she suddenly declared it her new career in July of 2019, casting away the stability of an hourly wage.



“I was a little scared,” she said. “But I have a 3-year-old and 7-year-old, so I could spend more time with them.”



Horn has sold roughly 90 pieces since she started a year ago (30 of those non-commissioned), yet she still finds time to paint for herself during the slow months.



It’s a practical confluence of artistic talent, shared interests by her clients, and overlapping nostalgia. Horn, who grew up in Mount Pleasant, paints what she sees, and what she remembers seeing as a child.



Those unfamiliar with the Midwest might dismiss it as kitsch. Those who grew up here recognize its nostalgic importance.



“My niche is Midwest art,” Horn said.



Horn’s show will be at the Art Center Gallery until the end of July.



Photo by William Smith



Jerilyn Horn of Mount Pleasant shows off her paintings in a solo exhibit Sunday afternoon at The Art Center on Jefferson Street.

Artist For Hire Captures Midwest Beauty At Art Center

By Beacon Staff



The days of shopping without a mask are seemingly coming to an end.



Walmart announced today that customers in all 9,000 of its U.S. stores will be required to wear a mask starting Monday, July 20. The measure is being put into effect to stem the spread of novel coronavirus.



Locally, Menards in West Burlington started requiring customers to wear masks this past Monday (July, 13). Panera Bread in Burlington, which is open for dine-in, started requiring masks of customers July 15.



Kohl’s policy will go into effect on Monday (July 13). Target announced July 16 that it will require masks starting Aug. 1



On Friday (July 17), Lowe's announced in a press release it would require all customers to wear masks or face coverings. The new policy will go into effect on July 20, and Lowe's will also offer free masks to customers who need them.



Starting on July 27, ALDI will begin mandating that all customers will require face coverings in order to enter its stores.

Walmart, Kohls, ALDI, Lowe's, Target and Other Chain Stores Will Require Customers Wear Masks

By Beacon Staff



The old ADM grain elevator along the Burlington riverfront, which has been empty since it was torn in half more 33 years ago, is being demolished.



Burlington Community Development and Parks Director Eric Tysland said Burlington River Termincal Inc./Merschman Fertilizer received a demolition permit for removal of the old grain elevator on July 10.



He said the owner has not indicated what the company plans to do with the site, if anything, as of yet. A company spokesman with Merschman Fertilizer confirmed the planned demolition but told The Beacon that no further information would be provided.



An orange fence surrounds the structure, and demolition equipment employed by Keokuk Contractors has been active for the past few days. No timeline was provided as to when the grain silo will be brought down, and Keokuk Contractors did not reply with a comment.



A Short, Traumatic History Of The Historic Grain Elevator



The grain elevator explosion more than three decades ago shattered nearly every window within 25 blocks. Glass rained from the sky, and debris from the wooden elevator still was falling five minutes after the blast. Gaping window holes left by the shock wave had to be filled, starting a mad rush for plywood.



No one was killed when the 127-year-old wooden elevator and the attached concrete silos exploded at 10:43 a.m. April 3, 1987. However, five were injured — one seriously.



The heat could be felt on Main Street, and downtown Burlington was temporarily evacuated.



The fire burned for five days.



The explosion blew the tops out of six, 10-story silos in the 12-silo complex. The 12-story elevator itself was half gone, nearby train cars caught fire, a barge was sunk and a thick cloud of smoke created by the fire and explosion was detected on National Weather Service radar 75 miles northeast in Moline, Ill.



The fire report indicated 2-inch-thick grain dust had caked onto pillars inside the facility. In the unfilled areas of the silos, dust floated in the air. The explosion was triggered by a bearing that overheated and caught fire. Grain dust is one of the most volatile particles once suspended in the air.



The fire traveled along a conveyor belt and up the last silo. When it reached dust in the top half of the southern-most silo, the place blew.



Photos by Anthony Dewitt



The demolition of the old ADM grain elevator has begun along Burlington's riverfront.

Old ADM Elevator, Which Exploded 33 Years Ago, Is Finally Being Demolished

By Beacon Staff



Their purple robes popping against the bright green field of Bracewell Stadium, nearly 200 graduating Burlington High School seniors took their final walk out of childhood Saturday night (July 18).



Like most high schools across America, the BHS graduation was severely delayed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Some seniors had left for basic training and couldn’t be there, while others had a variety of reasons for not attending.



“It’s kind of different, but I’m glad they’re having it. They just could have easily not had it,” said Spencer Brown, 18.



His neck draped with colorful cords designating everything from his Eagle Scout accomplishments to his executive status in the National Honor Society, Brown already has the next decade of life mapped out. Two years at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, a civil engineering degree at Iowa State University, and career putting that degree to good use.



“It (civil engineering) is just something I’ve always been interested in,” he said.



A heat advisory was in effect, but with back-to-back graduation ceremonies (the students were divided alphabetically to ensure social distancing), the brevity of each commencement was appreciated.



Burlington School District Superintendent Pat Coen joked during his address that it was likely the shortest speech he has ever made.



“No matter where you are, the challenges that you face, you will overcome them as long as you show up, you work hard, and you’re respectful,” he said.



A hand sanitizing station was mounted on the graduation stage, the empty diploma case in the center cleaned after each student held it.



Many graduates wore mass while all the school staff and board members did, save for when they spoke at the podium. Social distancing was a reality on the field, though not beforehand as classmates greeted each other and posed for pictures.



“Just be smart about it,” said graduating senior Dru Farran, his face covered by a mask as he pined about his plans to become a chemical engineer.



About six months into the pandemic, none of the new measures seemed that unusual to the graduates. Reminders of the unprecedented were woven into the fabric of everyday life.



“Don’t let COVID undermine your accomplishments,” valedictorian Katie Kannan said during an abbreviated version of her commencement speech.



Kannan had already read her full 10-minute speech during the BHS virtual commencement that aired May 31. So had salutatorian Peighton Davis, who was unable to make it to Saturday’s live graduation.



In her televised speech, Davis paid tribute to the late Jackson Gipe, who would have graduated with the class of 2020. Gipe died of cancer at the age of 12, and the senior class has continued to honor his memory.



“He was my best friend,” she said.



Photo 1 by Joy Mack



The 2020 Burlington High School graduating seniors walk onto the field at Bracewell Stadium on Saturday for their delayed commencement ceremony.



Photo by William Smith



Valedictorian Katie Kannan delivers her speech Saturday during the 2020 Burlington High School commencement ceremony.

Delayed But Not Forgotten: BHS Graduates Get Their Day

By Beacon Staff



The days of shopping without a mask are seemingly coming to an end.



Walmart announced today that customers in all 9,000 of its U.S. stores will be required to wear a mask starting Monday, July 20. The measure is being put into effect to stem the spread of novel coronavirus.



Locally, Menards in West Burlington started requiring customers to wear masks this past Monday, July, 13. Panera Bread in West Burlington, which is open for dine-in, started requiring masks of customers starting today, July 15. Kohl’s policy will go into effect on Monday,

Walmart and Other Chain Stores Will Require Customers Wear Masks

By Beacon Staff



Sometimes, good things do happen to good people.



Although they would never talk about it, Burlington residents Matt and Betty Burns had a history of giving rides to local people with no reliable transportation of their own.



Until they were without a vehicle themselves.



That’s why Mona Ash, program director for Building Bridges, encouraged the couple to apply for the Recycled Rides program hosted by the National Auto Body Council.



On Tuesday, Matt and Betty drove away from Deery Collision Center in a repaired 2011 Chevy Malibu, free of charge. Deery Collision manager Justin Club officially gifted the vehicle during a short presentation, and Deery Brothers owner Brad Deery stopped by to congratulate the couple.



The total loss vehicle, which had suffered front end damage before being given away, was provided by State Farm Insurance. Deery Collision workers repaired it ahead of the giveaway and even fitted the car with a giant bow on top.



“You only see that (a car with a bow on it) on TV,” an excited Betty Burns said.



Photo by William Smith

An Unexpected, Much Needed Gift

By Beacon Staff



Despite a 25-year history of helping new and expecting mothers with everything from diapers to child care lessons, state funding for The Nest of Des Moines County has continually traveled one direction — downward.



As The Nest’s program coordinator Karen Erickson acknowledged, that’s the unfortunate funding trend for most non-profit organizations.



Erickson celebrated her 20th anniversary at The Nest and has spent much of that time drumming-up community donations to replace lost grant dollars. She hesitated to name all the local entities that donate, fearful she would leave one out.



“We have some amazing churches,” she said.



The latest cut, which was the elimination of a $40,000 Early Childhood Iowa Grant, won’t be deep enough to shutter The Nest. However, it will force the board of directors to readjust its programs.



“This is not our first time making adjustments,” Erickson said. “We’ll see what they can come up with this time.”



The Nest, which offers weekly classes for new and expecting parents in its Burlington office, taught classes in Danville and Mediapolis. Extension learning was cut three years ago due to the loss of a $15,000 grant.



“We’re doing more fundraisers. A lot more fundraisers,” Erickson said.



This past fiscal year, The Nest provided aid to 126 local mothers. They were either referred to the program, court-ordered to be there or simply found out about it on their own. Parents and expecting mothers can attend weekly classes until their child is in kindergarten, earning points to purchase essentials such as diapers and baby food.



“Diapers are not cheap,” said expecting mother Sarah Herrington, who recently moved back to Burlington from Michigan.



Through The Nest and her family, Herrington has found the kind of support she simply didn’t get in Michigan. Giving birth during a pandemic is daunting enough, but doing so without support is a nightmare.



“I grew up here. I really like it here,” she said.



Several years ago, Herrington would have had access to free child care through The Nest. That service is gone too — another casualty of funding cuts.



Aside from grants and community donations, The Nest survives entirely on annual funding from The United Way and The Community Foundation of Des Moines County. Even during the beginning of the pandemic, The Nest continued to serve.



“We never shut down,” Erickson said.



Without The Nest, Burlington resident Nina Kelley might not have been able to save her child’s life. Her son was about a year old at the time, choking on a McDonald’s french fry. No one in the restaurant offered help, she said.



Kelley’s motherly instinct kicked in, and she immediately moved to help him. Thanks to her CPR training, she knew exactly what to do, using the baby Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the french fry.



Kelley is grateful to her doctor for recommending The Nest.



“He (Kelley’s son) was able to breathe after that. He didn’t even cry. Then he turned around and ate the fry anyways,” she said with a laugh.



The parents who attend the program are like family to staff members. Kelley was in tears during her interview because she had just graduated from the program. She didn’t get a ceremony due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, but she did get a certificate.



“I’m going to miss everyone so much,” she said.



The babies often come to class with their mothers. And Erickson is now seeing some of those babies come back 20 years later with babies of their own.



“It’s amazing,” she said.



For more information on how to donate or how to enroll in the program, visit The Nest of Des Moines County at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdmcnest.weebly.com%2Findex.html%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR29bbzDj3qy_JDWfEZOwARs5kDwiAez9dd2r7RsT2-0vGbaU0LZ4ABJvH8&amp;h=AT0r2v4lpJR6RFB4gKSyFwlD6xdv-jG-zmPqmgmA4zVU9fFs-JIebULyVLlSLxnd_tEa80Mtam8LPMGHF3xX9MR6xwh96upaPdRsFDaSCc1w7fhQFBlsMX0hxMS-A2nY-UZClyjU0h4EeW_VaYwuBQfAXTITAPMYIhySFKzRxo17o_QAiMoklGt6IJxBMKhX5xBdQLxRnZ8yGGsXJpsxQeJC4l8Z-o1BcJA69hY_n0pu16dR9McJCHm8oeXqCYvSuGORM0Ci_XRi0gOcQnc138TL2sY3ZF3Q5wgfxcnlNpsfIcQCCYLbwNf9CHu10S2czwi1tx-jhmrPC6J0A1THXqhUQdnNCjpMSQ7vpOpiXfR2KcZa-VZUhimL0JGTDejgKS3M6oIHxEz5Dpv55M69uqCeCJ2P5k_kPsGjJ_U85KyoJAkPHu3mADLg14kVhoAumDQrGaFytQGNEdSYDFFA5HWVgczawyoLWBlLaVVVeCM0K9ect3P_LRQD3XVndkltQZlJVBNsFuvwmw7pdt7gAczklQ8MVNF0oWodRtiI_mErCVcHryv6BXwWpMT6QmvCndK1h_TsV3GrNCPKjaOJqc7_SWQ_qhDTOvJKkKl78Ut6SMvC2LmRXQc_uZ3aE4lC4s9hBv0WFxzl9qi1ftxl-U8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://dmcnest.weebly.com/index.html</a>.



You can also call The Nest at (319) 753-3150 or visit at 214 N. Fourth St. Suite 3C in Burlington.



Photo by Joy Mack



Nellie Ancelet of Burlington holds up her daughter Millie during a recent parenting class at The Nest of Des Moines County. The agency is dedicated to helping new and expecting mothers.

Despite Funding Cuts, The Nest of Des Moines County Perseveres

By Beacon Staff



New footage was released on Monday (July 6) in the police shooting of Marquis Jones on Monday, July 6.



The shooting occurred on Oct. 1, 2017. The video was released by Dave O’Brien Law on YouTube. The law firm is representing Jones’ children and his mother Altovese Williams in a wrongful death civil lawsuit against the city and police. That trial is set for March 2021.



The Burlington Police Department released the new footage Monday in response to an order from the chief U.S. magistrate judge overseeing the case.



The video is extremely graphic, showing the shooting and the final moments of Jones’ life after he was shot by Burlington police officer Chris Chiprez during a foot chase. The video is age-restricted on YouTube by request from the law office representing Jones’ family, which means you must sign in to a Google account to view it.



The video, which is just over 12 minutes long, is an extension of Chiprez’s bodycam footage that was released by the BPD over two years ago. The original bodycam video released by police was about one minute in length and stops after Chiprez’s final shot, which hits Jones in the chest.



The incident began when Chiprez and officer Joshua Riffell pulled Marquis Jones over for loud music on October 1, 2017.



In the bodycam footage, the other officer, Joshua Riffel, yells when he sees Jones with a gun saying, “He’s got a gun Chip!” Jones can be seen running ahead while Chiprez yells at him to drop his weapon.



The Iowa Attorney General, who has access to the full footage, ruled the shooting was justified.



"The city does not comment on pending litigation, however, it is the city’s policy to follow the law, including court orders, concerning which records it releases to the public,” the Burlington Police Department said in a statement.

Full Bodycam Footage of Marquis Jones Police Shooting Released

By Beacon Staff



Officials have canceled in-person summer school at North Hill Elementary School in Burlington due to potential safety concerns regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).



The decision was made after eight students were confirmed to have temperatures of 100 degrees or higher, according to school officials. Students are checked daily for COVID-19 symptoms and each student's temperature is checked upon arrival.



School officials said the suspension of in-person classes was precautionary and, thus far, none of the students have tested positive for the virus. About 60 students were signed up to attend in-person summer school at North Hill. Classes will be transitioned to online instruction.

North Hill Suspends In-Person Summer School

By Beacon Staff



A Wever man was killed on Sunday (July 5) in a fiery crash in Des Moines.



Zach McBride, 22, of Wever was one of four people who died in the accident.



Ross Jacob Welsher, 22, of Des Moines; Jordan Van Gundy, 22, of Des Moines; and Jacob Lee Van Gundy, 24, of Des Moines also died in the accident, according to Des Moines police.



Police say the vehicle hit a tree and caught on fire. The accident occurred at about 2:55 a.m. on Sunday in the 4200-block of George Flagg Parkway in Des Moines. All four men were pronounced dead at the scene.



A fifth person, a 22-year-old woman, was hospitalized and released, according to Monday's press release.

Wever Man Killed In Traffic Accident

By Beacon Staff



Burlington Police Chief Dennis Kramer is retiring on Oct. 1.



Kramer made the announcement during the Burlington City Council meeting Monday night (July 6), noting that he had spoken to the council privately ahead of the announcement.



Kramer, who was sworn in as chief in April of 2018, turns 55 next month. The council has roughly 90 days to find a replacement before Kramer leaves the department.



Mayor Jon Billups said he wasn’t looking forward to losing the chief, but congratulated Kramer on his retirement.



“You’ve earned it, sir,” Billups said.



Kramer said he’s been looking forward to retirement for some time now.



“I’m going to take some opportunities to spend some time with my family that I’ve missed over the years,” Kramer said.



Kramer began his career with Burlington Police Department on Jan. 1, 1988, as a communications operator. He has served various roles since, with his promotion to major occurring in 2012.

Burlington Police Chief Announces Retirement

By Beacon Staff



It was short. It was sweet.



It was downright adorable.



Dozens of children, their adult guardians in tow, took to Avenue G Saturday morning to celebrate America’s independence.



The 108th Charlie Korschgen Fourth of July Kiddie Parade in Fort Madison is a tradition that goes back further than any living person can recount. Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it was a bit smaller this year, too. Many of the activities that surround the parade had to be truncated.



America has never been lacking in personality or tenacity, and those traits were on full display by its youngest citizens. As in past years, the parade was a hit with young and old alike.



Photo by Joy Mack

The Tiniest, Most Patriotic Parade In Iowa

By Beacon Staff



Burlington police discovered a man’s body floating in the Mississippi River Saturday night (July 4).



Lt. Joel Larkins said Burlington police were called to the marina at 8:31 p.m. on Saturday. The caller said there appeared to be a body floating in the river.



“We confirmed there was a deceased subject,” Larkins said.



Larkins said more information likely won’t be released until Monday.

Man Found Dead in Mississippi River Near Bluff Harbor Marina

By Beacon Staff



Fourth of July fireworks lit up the night sky on Saturday evening in West Burlington and Fort Madison.



Photo by Jeff Abell: In West Burlington, fireworks sent dazzling colors skyward at the Des Moines County Fairgrounds on the Southeastern Community College campus.

Cities Put On Colorful Displays

Lee County Man Found Dead In Mississippi River Saturday Night



By Beacon Staff



A 24-year-old Donnellson man was discovered in the Mississippi River Saturday night (July 4) — the same night a Burlington man was found in the water near Bluff Harbor Marina.



According to a report from Lee County Sheriff Stacy Weber, Devyn Broeker, 24 of Donnellson was recovered by emergency divers in the area of Sandusky. He was last seen by witnesses riding a pull-behind flotation device at 5:45 p.m. on the Mississippi River near the Sandusky sand bar in the area of 3400 River Road.



The Burlington man, who also was found dead in the river Saturday night, has been identified by immediate family on social media as Harold Ware. However, police haven't officially released the person's name as of Sunday afternoon.



Police discovered his body Saturday after a bystander called at about 8:30 p.m. that same evening.

Lee County Man Found Dead In Mississippi River Saturday Night

By Beacon Staff



The music emanating from Burlington's riverfront could only mean one thing — Friday Fest is back.



Music lovers flocked to the riverfront to hear live music courtesy of Bluzillion. This free community event is a staple each summer in Burlington.



 Ted Brooks, bassist and vocalist for the Burlington-based band Bluzillion, performs at Friday Fest.

Friday Fest Returns To Riverfront

By Beacon Staff



Burlington High School is planning for an in-person graduation ceremony on July 18 at Bracewell Stadium.



The school district presented several graduation options for seniors to vote on, then tabulated and released those results on its Facebook page.



Burlington High School already held a virtual commencement for seniors that aired on YouTube at the end of May, the same day graduation was originally planned to take place. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic delayed that in-person graduation, as it did for schools across the country.



Given the probability of oppressive heat in the middle of July, the seniors decided on an evening ceremony. Each student will be allowed eight guests, and the graduating class will be divided into two, back-to-back ceremonies to comply with social distancing guidelines.



The first ceremony, scheduled for 6 p.m. at Bracewell Stadium, is for seniors whose last name begins with the letters A through K. The second ceremony, scheduled for 7 p.m. that same night (July 18), is for students who the last name begins with the letters L through Z.



Guests of the first group will be asked to leave promptly to allow the second ceremony to begin on time.

BHS Graduation Will Happen July 18

By William Smith



When Pookie’s Thai Cuisine opens for business this Wednesday, it will be a welcome addition to downtown Burlington's eateries.



Burlington has been buzzing about the opening for weeks — a hive of goodwill curated by restaurant owner Wilailuk "Pookie" Keomanivong. She’s been serving Thai food at Digger’s Rest coffeehouse a few days a week for the past few years, building a loyal customer base.



“People keep asking, when is it going to happen? When is it going to happen?” she said.



Although the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic delayed the restaurant's opening by a few weeks, Keomanivong never considered backing out. Pookie’s Thai Cuisine is her American dream.



“She’s got a lot of guts, opening a restaurant with COVID going on,” said her landlord, Joe Dejesus.



Keomanivong purchased Digger’s Rest about five years ago from a friend who moved back to Thailand.



Digger’s Rest had a loyal following of caffeinated early birds, but as Keomanivong began adding lunch specials, that following grew. Her Thai food quickly became a favorite at the Jefferson Street Farmers Market, often selling out before the market closed.



Seemingly oblivious to her own charm, Keomanivong credits her customers for her success.



“The customers are like family to me. They are really nice to me. Everyone loves me, and everybody is helping me a lot,” she said.



As a young girl growing up in Thailand, Keomanivong was impatient to explore the world. It only made sense that she would end up in the United States. She has been here for 20 years now, happily living in her adopted hometown of Mount Pleasant.



“We thought about moving to Philadelphia or Alabama, but it wasn’t safe there for my kids,” she said. “Mount Pleasant is safe.”



As confident as she is, Keomanivong never imagined owning two businesses. Both businesses are staffed largely by her family. Her husband, Lorm Keomanivong, is the head chef. Her daughter, Nikkie Conwell, is the manager.



“We want to show our culture,” Pookie said, noting that her children also know how to cook. “We love home cooking, not restaurant cooking.”



Located in the former Hobby Craft Shop at 803 Jefferson St., the interior of Pookie’s Thai Cuisine has authentic touches, such as hanging lights taken from a local church that complement the high ceiling. The wooden floor has been replaced with wood-like ceramic tile.



Dejesus said he did his best to keep the original wood floor, but it was just too damaged to save. The entire renovation took a little over six months.



“This is a total gut job,” he said.



Keomanivong hosted a private party for her most loyal customers on Monday. For Keomanivong, fondness for her customers and love of heritage fuel her passion for business.



“I put my heart into it,” she said.



The soft opening of the restaurant is July 1 through July 3, with a limited menu. After closing down July 4 through July 6, it will be open with a full menu starting July 7. Regular hours will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m., and the restaurant will be closed Mondays.



Photo by William Smith



 A customer at Pookie's Thai Cuisine holds up rice noodles from a bowl of Pho during a private party on Monday at the newly opened downtown Burlington restaurant.

An American Dream Born in Thailand

By Beacon Staff



The Burlington Bees will not play this year.



Minor League Baseball officially canceled its 2020 season Tuesday (June 30). Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)pandemic, a game had yet to be played in Burlington or anywhere else.



The move came after Major League Baseball (MLB) informed Minor League Baseball (MiLB) that it would not be supplying players for affiliated teams this year.



We are heartbroken. Baseball is our life, our staff loves baseball and our presence here in Burlington and surrounding communities. We know that the fans, players and all of our loyal supporters are hurting as well," Bees general manager Kim Parker said in a statement to The Beacon. "We had hoped for even a shortened season but here we are with no baseball this summer."



The Bees board of directors and staff are working on options for the 2021 season and beyond, Parker said.



The cancellation leaves thousands of minor leaguers without a team to play for in 2020. Most of the top prospects for each franchise have been placed on the 60-man taxi squad rosters, which could accelerate their path to the big leagues. Thousands of other players will have nowhere else to go.



If not for the pandemic, the baseball season would have begun about three months ago.



"These are unprecedented times for our country and our organization as this is the first time in history that we've had a summer without Minor League Baseball played," MiLB president and CEO Pat O'Conner said in a statement posted on Twitter. "While this is a sad day for many, this announcement removes the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season and allows our teams to begin planning for an exciting 2021 season of affordable family entertainment."



The move wipes out play for 160 teams, from Triple-A at the top tier to the Rookie-level at the bottom, scrapping a central event of summer life in small towns and big cities.



MLB had already cut down its season from 162 to 60 games, with play scheduled to start on July 30.



It is unclear how deeply the Tuesday announcement will affect the minors moving forward. The last Burlington High School home game at Community Field will be a doubleheader Thursday (July 2). Game time is 5 p.m., and there will be concessions.



The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Minor League Baseball Season Canceled; No Baseball This Year For Burlington Bees

By Beacon Staff



A Burlington man was sentenced to 80 months in prison on Monday (roughly six-and-a-half years) on a weapons charge.



A Chicago native, Johnathan Keith Sneed, was sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Following his prison term, Sneed will be subject to three years of supervised release and will have to pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.



Sneed pleaded guilty on February 18, 2020, and previously admitted that he possessed a loaded .380 caliber Hi-Point pistol. Prior to possessing the weapon, Sneed had been convicted of a felony, unnamed in a press release issued by United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum, and was prohibited from possessing a gun.



Monday’s weapon conviction is part of the Project Guardian and Project Safe Neighborhoods and was investigated by the Burlington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.