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

Do you love food as much as we do? We would love for you to join our team at The Som! We are hiring full-time cooks. Come fill out an application today! The Som is located at 863 Jefferson St. in Burlington.



(Paid Advertisement)

HELP WANTED

By Beacon Staff



The Mississippi River is set to push into the flood stage, rising to a crest of 15.3 feet by Tuesday (June 30).



Barely above the minor flood stage of 15 feet, the rising river isn’t expected to cause any major problems and will drop below the action stage of 14 feet by July 4.



Sand-filled flood barriers were erected by city workers weeks ago as a precaution, providing protection well beyond 20 feet in conjunction with the flood wall.



But the river projection, updated on an hourly basis, can rapidly change, depending on weather conditions. Heavy rain this past week is causing the river to spike and could delay the fall if the trend continues.



There’s a chance of rain every day for the next week, including Sunday (June 28). According to a “Hazardous Weather Outlook” issued by the National Weather Service, scattered thunderstorms are expected for Sunday. There is a marginal risk for severe storms across the area, the main risks being torrential rainfall and strong wind gusts.



The outlook also calls for periodic storm chances next week, with plenty of hot, dry weather as well.



Photo by William Smith

River Rising To Flood Stage

By Beacon Staff



Tarot card readers, psychics, and vendors of the natural and supernatural crammed into the Port of Burlington building on Saturday (June 27) for the sixth annual Southeast Iowa Metaphysical Fair providing insight that went beyond the naked eye.



Organized by Lydia Gittings, owner of The Broom Closet in Burlington, the fair attracted a hodgepodge of locals and out-of-towners. Some had their fortunes told, while others perused and purchased everything from dreamcatchers to colorful stones and sparkling beads and jewelry.



Photos by William Smith



Photos 1, 2, and 3: Steve Ulrich, a wandering tarot card reader crisscrossing the country in his RV, diagnoses fortunes and possible outcomes during a reading.



Photo 4: A dreamcatcher hangs from a sales rack as locals and out-of-towners peruse vendors at the Southeast Iowa Metaphysical Fair on Saturday (June 27).



Photo 5: Lisa Hobson, owner of The Wicked Mermaid in Burlington, performs a tarot reading at the Southeast Iowa Metaphysical Fair.

Mediums Of The Metaphysical

By Beacon Staff



For the fourth time in the past month, a minor riding a bicycle was hit by a car.



The accident occurred shortly after 7:30 p.m. Thursday night at the intersection near Jet Stop on 900-block of South Street.



Burlington Police Sgt. John Stirn said the 11-year-old girl suffered only mild injuries. Police said no citations were issued. The girl was taken to Great River Medical Center in West Burlington.



“The person (driving the vehicle) managed to slam on the brakes, and just bumped her leg, making her fall over,” Stirn said.



It was the third child bicycling accident in the past month to end without serious injury.



Earlier this month, 14-year-old Spencer Weir of Burlington was severely injured while riding his bicycle on Summer Street. That accident is still under investigation.



“I just want to remind everyone that if you have kids that are riding bikes, make sure they have the appropriate protection and that they look both ways before crossing,” Stirn said.



Assault Reported



In a completely unrelated incident that occurred about the same time Thursday night, a woman reported being assaulted in Burlington. Stirn said the woman reported the incident to a person standing outside of the former Steve’s Place bar, but noted that the assault did not take place there or near there. No further details were available, and the incident is currently under investigation.



Missing Girl Found



Seventeen-year-old Emmie Pinkston, who went missing June 20 while visiting Burlington, has been found.



The Burlington Police Department reported the matter as resolved Friday afternoon, June 26. Pinkston went missing in 2019 as well and was registered as a missing juvenile at the Buffalo County Sheriff’s office in Nebraska.

Child Cyclist Escapes Serious Injury, Burlington Woman Allegedly Assaulted, And Missing Teen Found

By William Smith



Sunday’s Notre Dame graduation ceremony, which took place a month later than originally planned, was unlike any that had come before.



But, so is the class of 2020.



As the Rev. Marty Goetz pointed out, the class of 31 graduates started their lives in the shadow of the 9/11 attack.



“They said the world would never be the same,” Goetz said while addressing the seniors at the ceremony.



Those same seniors have entered an adult world once again upended by a crisis — a worldwide pandemic that nearly nixed the ceremony altogether.



“Once again, they say the world will never be the same,” Goetz said.



It was the first Notre Dame class in the school’s history to graduate outside. It was also the first graduation ceremony to be delayed, ironically transforming into a class reunion rather than a goodbye.



“It’s weird, not being able to do things the normal way,” said 18-year-old Kai Jones, her face hidden underneath a mask. “At least we’re getting one (a graduation ceremony).”



All students and staff were required to wear masks inside the school as they crushed into tight quarters to don their robes and graduation caps. Some were handed face-coverings as they arrived. Others came prepared, their faces covered by masks imprinted with logos and name brands.



Devin Steele, 18, wore a mask that read “Class of 2020.” Tiny images of toilet paper rolls decorated his mask, a humorous reference to a scarce commodity during the early days of the pandemic.



“My grandma sent the mask,” he said.



Steele took pride in his unique graduation. It will be a story to tell his kids one day, a consolation cherry topping off a truncated senior year consisting of at-home learning rather than senior trips.



“It (graduation) is the one decent moment out of a pretty bad year,” he said.



Like the rest of his classmates, Steele focused on the positives. He’ll be attending Truman State University to possibly become a video game programmer; his laments over senior moments lost are already fading.



“It felt a lot like college. You have quite a bit of work to do, but you don’t have anyone to tell you to do it,” he said.



Unlike a typical graduation ceremony, there were no hugs and public well wishes to be shared with the audience. The graduation was by invitation only for family and friends, who shared their congratulations later on in private. The audience sat at least 30 feet from the graduates, socially distanced from their offspring, if not each other.



The graduates and staff did get to remove their masks as they walked outside to the soccer field, trading elbow bumps with Rev. Goetz as they received their diplomas.



“We will not be shaking hands,” principal Bill Maupin told the students as they prepared to leave the school building and start the ceremony.



“Can we elbow bump?” one senior asked.



“I’ll ask Father,” Maupin said, grinning.



About half of the graduating class will be attending Southeastern Community College next semester, with quite a few of them harboring plans to transfer to another college.



“A lot of us have been seeing each other anyway through sports,” said Mitchell Brent, wearing a blue mask that matched the color and texture of his robe.



Photo by William Smith



Kayla Marino, 18, smiles during the graduation ceremony Sunday at Notre Dame.

Better Late Than Never: Notre Dame Seniors Graduate Into A New World

By Beacon Staff



Eager volunteers painted three Fort Madison homes this week.



The Fort Madison Paint-A-Thon, which is organized by Fort Madison Partners, is an annual event that benefits the elderly, the disabled, single parents, military veterans, or anyone without the finances and means to paint their own homes.



Volunteers were deployed by local banks, church groups, Fort Madison Community Health Center, and Siemens Energy, which sent in a volunteer crew for an eight-hour shift on Thursday.



This year’s homes were located at 101 22nd St., 1923 Avenue L, and 3207 Avenue I. The home on Avenue I, painted by the Siemen’s crew, is featured in the photos below.



Photo by Joy Mack



Rachel Hellman, an incoming senior at Fort Madison High School, helps scrape away old paint.

Painting Fort Madison Homes To Help Those Who Can’t

By Beacon Staff



The prom must go on, and the Burlington High School Class of 2020 will soon be able to have its special night.



Burlington High School's spring prom was scrapped by school officials due to cancellations caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. That being the case, the parents of this year's graduating senior class decided to organize the event.



The senior-only prom (which is not a school-sponsored event) is from 8 p.m. to 11 pm on Friday (July 24) at Memorial Auditorium in Burlington. Masks are optional but encouraged, and prom attire is not required.



Tickets go on sale Monday (July 13) and cost $10 per person. Tickets may be purchased from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the Memorial Auditorium box office.



To donate to offset the cost of the prom, contact Burlington Riverfront Entertainment at (319) 753-8111.

BHS Prom Set For July 24

By Beacon Staff



A high-speed chase on U.S. 61 that began Thursday afternoon in Fort Madison ended with stop sticks and a crash outside of Burlington.



According to Des Moines County Sheriff Mike Johnstone, no one was seriously injured in the accident.



The chase began when Simarius Jefferson, 22, of Fort Madison allegedly stole a silver Ford car from the Casey’s General Store on Avenue H in Fort Madison. Lee County Sheriff deputies chased the vehicle north of U.S. 61, heading into Burlington.



Lee County deputies contacted the Des Moines County Sheriff’s office as the chase reached speeds of up to 90 mph, allow officers time to deploy stop sticks along the highway. After hitting the stop sticks, two of the tires on the stolen silver car slowly deflated. Johnstone said the sticks were deployed right around the area of the Comfort Suites on U.S. 61.



The vehicle continued on the highway for a bit, before rear-ending another vehicle on the highway outside of Burlington city limits, near Mason Road.



Deputies arrested Jefferson on the spot, aided by Burlington and West Burlington police. The front bumper of the car he allegedly stole detached during the accident and was lodged in the rear bumper of the car he crashed into.



Jefferson was arrested and hit with multiple charges related to the car theft and ensuing chase.



It was not Jefferson’s first arrest this year. In April, Jefferson was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear, first-degree theft and being a fugitive from justice. He was arrested again earlier this month for a probation violation.



Johnstone was unsure if anyone was taken to the hospital, but said no one was seriously injured in the accident.

Cross County Chase In Stolen Vehicle Ends Abruptly

By Beacon Staff



A Burlington legend passed away on Wednesday night (June 24).



Bob Cook wasn’t a household name because of his success, though he had plenty of it. Everyone around town is familiar with Grandpa’s Ice Cream. Enjoying a scoop or two of homemade ice cream at his shop on Roosevelt Avenue is an authentic Burlington experience.



Cook’s loyal following was built not just on his business acumen but also on his kindness and geniality. The tasty ice cream was often just an excuse to visit Grandpa’s Ice Cream — chatting with Bob was the real draw. Some folks just referred to him as "Dad". The younger ones called him "Grandpa".



A Vietnam Navy veteran who began his career at Witte Drug, Cook later owned and operated Photovisions, U.S. Cellular, Satellite TV, and finally, Grandpa’s Ice Cream.



Grandpa’s Ice Cream has been decorated by balloons and tribute posters saying goodbye. The Burlington Beacon will add its tribute by providing an in-depth profile of Bob’s life soon.



The following is Mr. Cook’s obituary courtesy of Lunning Chapel.



Mr. Robert “Bob” J. Cook, 71 of Burlington, died at 10:03 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2020, at Great River Hospice House, West Burlington, Iowa.



Born June 7, 1949, in Keokuk, he was the son of Jack Christy and Mary Jane (Gray) Cook.



Bob graduated in 1967 from Revere High School in Revere, Mo. In 1968 he joined the United States Navy, serving during the Vietnam War. He married Gwen Elizabeth Stancil May 29, 1969, in Pensacola, Fla.



His many hobbies included hot air ballooning, carpentry, photography, and reading. He loved Mt. Dew, traveling, telling stories, and taking his whole family to the ocean.



He was a member of First Christian Church-Disciples of Christ.



Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Gwen of Burlington; three children, Robbie (Becky) Cook of Burlington; Amy (Jeff) Eggar of Iowa Falls, IA, and Jason Cook of Burlington; nine grandchildren, Elizabeth, Kelly, Abby, Allison, Karly, Aidan, Jack, Sage, and Kale; and two sisters, Linda Heinze and Leta Cary.



He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Roger and Rick.



The celebration of life for Mr. Cook will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 1st at Lunning Chapel. Mr. Jared McAfee will officiate. Inurnment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery at a later date.



Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, at Lunning Chapel, where the family will receive friends. Military rites will be conducted by the Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard.



Cremation has been entrusted to Lunning Chapel. A memorial has been established for Hope Lodge at Mayo Clinic.

Grandpa’s Ice Cream Owner Leaves Sweet Legacy

By Beacon Staff



The Heritage Trust of Burlington is sponsoring a garden tour at seven properties in Burlington.



The event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, (July 11). Tickets will be available at each of the homes on the tour.



This fundraiser takes the place of the annual fall Tour of Homes, which has been canceled this year due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Social distancing will be expected, but masks will be optional for the garden tour.



The homes on the tour include 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.



The event will be held rain or shine unless dangerous storms are forecast.

Heritage Trust Garden Tour Set For July 11

By William Smith



The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed everything, even childhood reading.



In any other year, the Burlington Rotary Club would have visited elementary schools for its biannual reading program. However, the school year ended early courtesy of COVID-19.



“I would usually go into the schools and read to the kiddos, and then we would give them books,” Rotary Club Dominique Cornick said.



Each year, the Rotary Club and Burlington Education Foundation purchase books for each of the district’s pre-kindergarten through second-grade students. Every child 8 years old and younger receives at least two books that are initially read to them by a Rotarian. They then pick out an additional book.



Headstart and pre-headstart students get four books, and more books are provided to children in the WIC (Woman, Infants, and Children) program for low-income families. Hundreds of books are also given away at community events, such as the South Hill Easter Egg Hunt.



This year, the Rotary Club needed to get the books to students no longer in school. Since the Burlington School District has been providing free lunches for students, it was the perfect opportunity — free lunch with a side of literacy.



The take-home meals are distributed at three sites, including Burlington High School, North Hill Elementary, and Grimes Elementary School. At each location on Wednesday, two books per school lunch were handed off to surprised and grateful parents.



“This is the next best thing to going and reading to them,” Cornick said. “We’ve had some kids coming up on their bikes and picking out their books, which is awesome.”



The Rotary Club had 1,000 books they distributed on Wednesday, with about half of those provided by the Burlington Public Library.



The Burlington Rotary Club shifted its fundraising efforts from playgrounds to childhood literature about eight years ago, unleashing a flood of 50,000 books into the area.



Books aren’t immortal, but compared to the ephemeral nature of digital entertainment, they’re pretty darn close. The longevity is in the printed pages, no hardware required.



“We have enough playgrounds,” Sieren said, speaking about the club’s shift to literacy.



After building several playgrounds for $40,000 to $50,000 each, club members started questioning the point of over-saturation. Children have other needs, and the annual Rotary Club Chicken Dinner is the club’s primary method of meeting those needs.



“In an above-average income household, the ratio is about 30 age-appropriate books per child,” Sieren said. “For financially struggling families, its 30 kids for every book.”



Photo by William Smith



Burlington Rotary Club member Dominique Cornick picks out children’s books to hand to parents Wednesday at Grimes Elementary School during the Burlington School District’s ongoing free lunch program. The Rotary Club has given more than 50,000 books to children over the past eight years and had over 1,000 to give away on Wednesday. Half of those books were provided by the Burlington Public Library.

Rotary Club Serves Up A Side of Literacy With Free School Meals

By William Smith



Like any active teenager, 14-year-old Spencer Weir has a lot of excess energy. That energy flows into a pair of productive hands and equally nimble feet.&nbsp;



Before the June 9 accident on Summer Street that hospitalized him, Spencer spent most weekends at Kenny’s Roller Ranch in Burlington. He had started working at Fareway grocery store in Burlington with his brother, Tommy Weir, to buy streamlined new wheels for his roller skates.



“He had to get these $150 wheels,” said his grandmother Julie Reusch, grinning at the necessary excess of youth.



Spencer was riding his bicycle when he was hit by a car, and would likely be dead if he hadn’t been so close to the Summer Street Fire Station. Reusch credits the quick work of first responders for saving his life.



“He came out of ICU today. That’s a good thing,” she said. “He’s kind of in a coma, but he does open his eyes. He doesn’t follow commands, but he does look at the TV when it’s on.”



For days, Spencer fought to survive — first to get off the ventilator and then to get out of the ICU. Now his family is waiting for him to wake up. Only then will they know the extent of the damage to his brain.



Meanwhile, the greater Burlington community has offered endless prayers and thousands of dollars toward his recovery. Hundreds gathered at Kenny’s Roller Ranch Sunday evening, raising more than $6,000 through admission and silent auction bids.



The venue was packed to the point of bursting, leaving little room to walk, while the rink itself was just as busy.



“I can’t wait until Spencer wakes up so I can share all of this with him. He won’t believe it. I’m going to make a scrapbook for him,” Reusch said Sunday as skaters glided around her.



A recently retired nurse, Reusch guided two daughters into the nursing field, including Carrie Reusch, Spencer’s mother.&nbsp;



Reusch discussed Spencer’s injuries with painstaking detail, her nursing experience on full display. Spencer’s skull was fractured when he hit the vehicle, forcing doctors to put a bolt in his head to relieve the pressure. Two ongoing brain bleeds are Reusch’s biggest concern.



The rest of the injuries will require years of physical recovery. That includes several cracked vertebrae, a broken jaw, four missing front teeth, multiple mouth lacerations, a broken nose, a broken shoulder blade, broken wrist, broken right kneecap, and a broken right foot.



A muscle on his left leg was torn in half, which had to be surgically repaired at his bedside because putting him in an operating room was too risky.



Spencer’s a charmer, a dirtbike mechanic who loves to ride and an old soul enamored with classic rock.&nbsp;



“People just love him. He’s a good kid. His brother is more of a church boy. Spencer is more of the rebel,” Reusch said.



Spencer's jovial nature and a quick wit make the girls at school laugh. He makes his grandma laugh. Before the accident, he was working toward the Eagle Scout distinction and had helped his grandmother build a fire pit.



“He’s so witty,” Reusch said.



Spencer is also the best friend of his younger autistic sister. She knows Spencer can’t come home yet, even if she doesn’t understand why.



After the skate benefit, Tommy Weir led a candlelight vigil with his church worship band at the Crapo Park bandshell, praying to God for his brother’s recovery as he sang.



Burlington is praying with him.



Photograph of Spencer Weir provided by his family.

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