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.

Burlington Felon Convicted On Weapon Charge

By William Smith



Burlington said goodbye to a local icon on Wednesday, a man who found success through a myriad of interests, compounding his talents with extraordinary kindness.



The celebration of life for Bob Cook, the late owner of Grandpa’s Ice Cream, was Wednesday evening at Lunning Chapel in Burlington.



Cook was known for his affability and insistence on meeting his customers face-to-face. He was often the first point of contact for new arrivals to Burlington, spinning true stories of a multifaceted life that went far beyond ice cream.



But the ice cream was there first.



“He always made homemade ice cream,” said his daughter, Amy Eggar.



Cook learned how to hand-churn his ice cream at a young age — a family tradition that eventually evolved into a signature Burlington business. But that didn’t happen until the final years of his life.



A Vietnam veteran who specialized in communications and refused to tell his children about the horrors he saw on the Mekong River, Cook was first and foremost a photographer.



“He had these horrible images burned into his head (during the war),” Eggar said.



To counteract that, Cook filled his camera lens with beauty. He was stationed in Hawaii during much of his three-year tour and was offered a civilian job as a photographer at Pearl Harbor when his service was up.



Cook turned it down. He had a young wife, Gwen, who was longing to be around her family in Iowa. Married on a military base in Pensacola, Fla., the couple celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary before Bob’s death.



A gentleman to the end, especially to his family, Cook pulled up stakes and came to Iowa.



“Who turns down a job in Hawaii?” Eggar said with a laugh.



Equally confident and humble in his abilities, Cook became a wedding photographer. He also had a knack for aerial photography and freelanced for the local newspaper.



Then, he became a business owner, taking over PhotoVisions in Burlington so he could sell cameras instead of pictures. He lived for the photo lab, Eggar said.



“Even if you didn’t buy a camera from him, if you brought your camera in, Dad would still show you how to use it. Though he preferred if you bought it from him,” Eggar said, still laughing.



Cook’s family grew along with his business. His children were always at his heels, working at PhotoVisions and his other business ventures. He owned and sold cell phones through U.S. Cellular; he ran a Dish Network store.



In his spare time, Cook became a skilled carpenter, constructing entire additions to existing homes. He was a certified hot air balloon pilot and traveled on a regular basis.



“He was so adventurous,” Eggar said. “He never sat down. He was always busy. He would help anyone, absolutely anyone.”



Through it, all was the ice cream - not as a business, but as a family tradition and a special homemade treat for private family gatherings.



There was never any expectation for Bob’s children to stay in his shadow or follow in his footsteps. A jack-of-all-trades who discovered new interests on a regular basis, Cook couldn’t settle on a singular passion and he certainly didn’t expect his children to.



“He would never push us. There were never any expectations. He encouraged us to try and fail,” Eggar said.



Ever adaptable even into his final years, Cook saw the death of photo labs on the horizon as the digital age loomed over the new millennium. Without the lab, his interest in photography waned.



Perhaps sensing the perfect bookend of his life – or maybe because he just really liked making ice cream – Cook opened Grandpa’s Ice Cream at the end of 2010.



It was a tall order for a town with two Dairy Queens and a plethora of fast-food restaurants sporting milkshakes on the menu. But his children never doubted him. Instead, they joined him. They all learned to make ice cream.



In a world of pre-manufactured everything, the unique, rich taste was certainly a draw. But it was Bob’s personality that lent the shop notoriety.



“He loved to visit with people. He loved talking to elderly people and learning from them,” Eggar said. “Children always gravitated toward his warm nature.”



Bob was content at the end of his life, but far from finished. He died at the age of 71, another lifetime’s worth of adventures unexplored.



“He was up for anything. Absolutely anything. He didn’t want to leave. He had so much he still wanted to do,” Eggar said.



The legacy of Grandpa’s Ice Cream will continue through his son, Jason Cook, who was running the shop as his father’s health failed. He opened the shop back up a few days after his father’s death, just as Bob would have wanted.



Like his dad, Jason is surrounded by nieces, nephews, and Bob’s grandchildren, all trained in the delectable art of transforming milk and cream into a tiny taste of heaven.



A photo submitted by a family member shows a smiling Bob Cook.

Saying Goodbye To Grandpa

By Beacon Staff



A New London teenager has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).



The New London Community School District confirmed the positive case earlier today (July 2) on its Facebook page.



That student, a non-athlete, came into contact with one New London softball player. That player has recently been tested for COVID-19, and the future of the school’s softball season will be determined by those results.



The students, as well as their families, are self-quarantining for 14 days, or until the test comes back negative. If it is positive, the Henry County Health Department will work with the school district to determine the future of the softball season.



As a precaution, the upcoming softball game against West Burlington has been postponed until July 9. The school’s baseball season will remain unaffected.

New London Student Diagnosed With COVID-19: Softball Season Under Review

By Beacon Staff



U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa paid Mediapolis a visit Tuesday afternoon, taking a stroll down Main Street with Mayor Tom Young and other local notables.



Before braving the heat under the cover of an orange Mediapolis Bulldogs baseball cap, Grassley took questions inside the air-conditioned city hall. Later, during his Main Street tour, the senator visited Jilly’s Coffee and Cakes.



The senator stayed in town for more than an hour, answering a variety of questions.



On Monday, Grassley, 86, announced he wouldn’t be attending the Republican convention for the first time in more than 30 years due to concerns over the coronavirus.



“My wife is going to miss it more than I am,” he said with a grin.



Grassley arrived at the city hall building with a mask covering his face. When he saw hardly anyone else in the room was wearing one, he quickly took it off, noting there were six feet of distance between him and the audience.



He put the mask back on while touring Main Street.



“When you get to be 80, you have to be a little cautious. We are considered by epidemiologists to be in that dangerous area. I don’t feel dangerous, but you have to take precautions.”



Young, who got the ball rolling on Grassley’s visit by remarking to one of the senators aides that it would be nice to see him sometime, asked several questions.



Young was curious about the $600 bonus going to the unemployed during the pandemic, asking why his son, who works at McDonald’s, didn’t get a bonus for going back to work during the pandemic.



Grassley said that money was essential to opening the country back up since millions of people had been put out of work by the nationwide shutdown.



“There were 40 million people who weren’t working because of what we did. They already had jobs. The best employment in 50 years,” he said.



Grassley said it would have made more sense to give workers in larger states like New York, where the cost of living is higher, more money, than in states like Iowa. In the end, he said, a flat rate was more feasible.



“If we did that state-by-state, the money never would have gone out. You know why? Because the computer system in the 50 states goes back to the ice age. They just couldn’t accommodate it,” he said.



Photo by William Smith



 U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, sporting a Mediapolis Bulldogs baseball cap, is shown Tuesday. The senator was visiting the city to talk to constituents.

Grassley Tours Mediapolis

By William Smith



Ron Bennett lived for his job.



He spent most of his 33-year career at Deery Brothers as the parts and service director.



“He was the first one here, opening the place in the morning. It didn’t matter if there were 14 inches of snow on the ground,” said Brad Deery owner and president of Derry Brothers, his voice thick with grief. “He was always the last one to go home. I would have to scold him and say, ‘You can’t stay here all the time.’ ”



Bennett, 63, of Carthage, Ill., died at Deery Brothers in West Burlington early Monday morning, suffering a heart attack while moving a file cabinet. A company driver attempted to save his life through CPR.



Julie Daniels, customer relations manager for Deery Brothers, said Bennett’s death has shaken the very soul of the staff. He was a father figure to the younger employees and a brother to more experienced staff, a friend to everyone who knew him even if they had just met.



“He was always willing to listen to you talk about anything, whether it was work-related or personal,” said Daniels, who has worked at Deery for 20 years.



Bennett started working at the Deery Brothers location in West Burlington three years before Brad Deery took it over in 1990, making him the longest-tenured employee. He joined the staff back when the business was known as Arledge Auto Plaza.



Though he didn’t sport the Deery name, for many customers and local garages, Bennett was Deery Brothers with his perpetually smiling face partially hidden by a bushy mustache.



“He expected everyone to be as busy as him, which was almost impossible,” Daniels said with a laugh. “I hardly ever saw him eat. He didn’t take lunch breaks.”



Born in La Harpe, Ill., Bennett grew up in Terre Haute, Ill., graduated from La Harpe High School in 1975, then went into the workforce. He got his first job at age 14, helping to build grain bins.



Bennett signed up for an auto mechanics class in his sophomore year of high school so he could tear down his first car, a 1969 Plymouth Fury, then rebuild it. Since the car didn’t have an engine, he had to build that, too.



Around that same time, Bennett got a job at Fred Gibb Chevrolet in La Harpe and graduated high school while working there. He stayed on for another 10 years after that, finally opening his own garage.



Though the cost of ever-advancing automotive technology eventually made owning a business unfeasible, Bennett kept up with the technology. A car guy to the end, he couldn’t help himself. He had to know how it all worked.



“He was always the first one who wanted to know about the new technology and was very good with it,” Deery said, dispelling the myth of old car mechanics who refuse to change with the times.



Bennett’s tastes were straightforward, and well known around the office. He loved to hunt, listened primarily to southern rock music, and adored NASCAR. Deery attended some of those NASCAR races with him.



“He was a huge Dale Earnhardt fan. When Earnhardt died, it really bothered him,” Deery said.



Like most humble workaholics, Bennett would have abhorred the idea of a tribute article, Daniels said.



“But we’re going to do it anyway,” she said, her voice filling with mirth.



Ronald Bennett’s family will receive friends during a visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 9, at the LaHarpe Christian Church.



The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 10, at the LaHarpe Christian Church, with Jeff Walters officiating. Burial will follow in the Terre Haute Cemetery.



To view Ron’s obituary online, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.banksandbeals.com/obituary/ronald-bennett?fbclid=IwAR0HrIPy9z1mSPoHhXcdeLp2lHKv_rKO9rPwAHsjvs6nENecSWU2ozly1H4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.banksandbeals.com/obituary/ronald-bennett</a>

A Career Of Unrelenting Professionalism

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