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.

Praying For Spencer

By Beacon Staff



Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds had some good news Tuesday afternoon (June 23) regarding Iowa’s ongoing battle against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.



She said the state is finally stocked with a 90-day supply of PPE (personal protective equipment) for frontline healthcare workers who need it.



“There were some days where we only had a 14-day supply,” she told The Burlington Beacon. “Now, we’re finally seeing that backlog start to pick up.”



After visiting the COVID-19 testing clinic in West Burlington on Tuesday morning, Reynolds traveled to Fort Madison to assist in the delivery of that equipment. Iowa Army National Guard soldiers, Lee County Emergency Management Coordinator Steve Cirinna and others helped unload the equipment outside of Fort Madison City Hall.



Reynolds learned during her West Burlington visit that 60 people a day utilize the drive-thru testing clinic at the Des Moines County Fairgrounds in. West Burlington. Half of those are through the voluntary Test Iowa program, and the rest are required pre-operation tests for patients undergoing surgery.



As always, Great River Health Systems staff at the clinic were clad in full PPE equipment and face shields as they administered nasal swabs. A few months ago, hospital workers were requesting homemade masks stitched by local volunteers to help make up for the PPE shortage.&nbsp;



More than 30,000 of those masks have been produced by volunteers in Burlington and the surrounding area.



Reynolds said her visit was a way to show appreciation for them, the National Guard, and everyone involved in the fight against COVID-19.



“People stepped up and helped provide the necessary PPE to help our frontline workers,” she said.



National Guard soldiers unloaded boxes of gowns, masks, gloves and other PPE equipment from a semi-truck trailer as Reynolds looked on. She noted that the 90 day supply is being distributed throughout the state.&nbsp;



Many of those orders had been previously hamstrung by multiple delays, she said.



“The national shortage was such an issue when we started with COVID-19,” she said.



Reynolds also noted that statewide positive case numbers continue to rise due to an increase in testing. According to the Iowa Department of Health’s website, 10 percent of those who have tested have come back positive.&nbsp;



Roughly one in 12 Iowans have been tested for coronavirus, which equates to 8.33 percent of the state population. Reynolds is among them, having been tested by nasal swab nine days in a row during the height of the pandemic. It was not a comfortable experience, she said, though a necessary one.



“The active rate is continuing to go down, and so are the number of hospitalizations.,” she said. “Iowans that are the most vulnerable — those that are 65 and older and those with underlying conditions — they still need to be careful. It’s in our communities, but for the bulk of the time, people are asymptomatic or it’s like a case of the mild flu.”



Des Moines County has recorded two coronavirus-related deaths so far, as has Lee County. The most recent Lee County death was reported by the county’s health department this past weekend. That death has yet to be tabulated by the state website, however, which still lists Lee County as having one COVID-19 fatality.



Lee County has reported 43 positive cases so far, 30 of which have recovered. Des Moines County has reported 78 cases, 62 of which have recovered.



Statewide, 26,396 Iowans have tested positive for the virus, and 16,706 of those have recovered. The state death toll stood at 689 Tuesday night.



Photo by Joy Mack



Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds talks with Maj. General Ben Corell of the Iowa National Guard. Reynolds was visiting Fort Madison on Tuesday as the National Guard delivered personal protective equipment.

National Guard Delivers PPE in Fort Madison During Governor's Visit

By Beacon Staff



A Burlington man sought by police has been arrested after allegedly fleeing the scene of a shooting that occurred Monday afternoon.&nbsp;



No one was injured in the shooting, according to Burlington police.



Jody Terrell Fenton Jr., 22, was arrested following a pursuit that began in Burlington and ended in Henderson County, Ill. He was wanted on several Jefferson County, Ohio, warrants for distribution of heroin. He also was wanted on warrants in Des Moines County for possession of a firearm by a felon, carrying weapons, third-degree theft, and failure to appear for a probation violation.&nbsp;



At about 1:33 p.m. on Monday (June 22), Burlington police officers responded to calls of shots fired in the 1500-block of Gnahn Street. Officers were provided a description of a vehicle seen leaving the area.



Officers located a vehicle matching the description after arriving at the scene and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued.&nbsp;



Police chased the vehicle to Henderson County Ill., and officers located several firearms within the vehicle.



Fenton is being held at the Henderson County Correctional Center in Oquawka, Ill., pending a court appearance.



The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Burlington Police Department at (319) 753-8375 or the Burlington Area Crime Stoppers at (319) 753-6835.

Burlington Man Arrested Following Shooting

By Beacon Staff



The Des Moines County Fair is still a go for late July, but it won't have the official participation of the local 4-H.&nbsp;



However, that doesn’t mean 4-H students are barred from participating in the fair. They just won’t do so with 4-H status. The official 4-H livestock shows will be replaced with a youth livestock exhibitor fair.



Any student in fourth to 12th grade, whether they be new to the fair or a previous exhibitor, can compete in the livestock show. Also, first through third graders who present beginner bucket bottle calves can participate.



Since the Iowa State Fair already has been canceled, there was no official avenue for 4-H students to advance beyond the county fair. A decision on static displays at the Des Moines County Fair is still pending.



The Des Moines County Extension Council, which heads up Des Moines County 4-H, made the announcement Monday morning (June 22). A press release from the agency cited “social distancing guidelines, legal considerations and additional precautions taking place to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”



“The Des Moines County Fair Board supports the decision made by the Des Moines County Extension Council to withdraw 4-H from this year’s fair and we are moving forward to provide the best experience possible for participating youth,” Travis Holsteen, president of the Des Moines County Fair board, said in the statement.



According to the news release, Des Moines County 4-H is home to 320 members in fourth through 12th grades and 78 Clover Kids in grades kindergarten through third grade. Each year, more than 300 4-H students compete at the Des Moines County Fair. A smaller contingent of FFA students compete at the fair as well, and some students are in both organizations.



This year’s DMC Fair will be from July 27 to Aug. 1 at the Des Moines County Fairgrounds, located at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington.

4-H Withdraws From DMC Fair; Students Can Still Show Off Their Livestock

By Beacon Staff



Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds arrived in West Burlington an hour earlier than expected Tuesday morning (June 23), using the extra time to check out the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) testing clinic at the Des Moines County Fairground.



Des Moines County Emergency Coordinator Gina Hardin was there to meet her, as was West Burlington Mayor Hans Trousil. Burlington Mayor Jon Billups, who was at work when he was notified of the governor’s early arrival, hurried to Southeastern Community College and met with the governor before she left.



During an exclusive interview with The Beacon, Reynolds touched on the inconsistent reporting of positive coronavirus tests in Des Moines County. Though the numbers have steadied now, for a few weeks, the number of positive cases fluctuated up and down every few days.



Des Moines County Health officials attributed the changing number to a reporting error within the Iowa Department of Public Health, centered around confusion over cases in Des Moines County and cases in the city of Des Moines.



Reynolds could not confirm if that was the case but said she would look into it.



“I don’t know. It might have been. I tend to look at the numbers. So sometimes there are some adjustments when those cases come in,” she said. “I’m not familiar with that, but I can ask and check. That does happen occasionally when they attribute them to the wrong county.”



After her West Burlington visit, Reynolds was on her way to Fort Madison to deliver PPE equipment. Information about that visit will be added later today.



Photo 1 by William Smith&nbsp;



Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds talks with Des Moines County Emergency Coordinator Gina Hardin prior to visiting the COVID-19 testing facility in West Burlington. She wore a mask inside the testing facility.



Photo by Anthony Dewitt



Reynolds speaks to health care workers at the COVID-19 testing facility in West Burlington.

Reynolds Visits Local COVID-19 Testing Clinic

By Beacon Staff



Burlington police are seeking assistance from the public in finding a missing teen.



Emmie Pinkston, 17, came to Burlington for a visit and has not been seen since 11 p.m. on Saturday (June 20), Burlington police said on its Facebook page.



If you have any information on her whereabouts, please contact the Burlington Police Department at 319-671-7001.

Police Seek Info On Missing Teen

By William Smith



Almost 450 black paper squares hung from the ceiling of the large shelter house in Crapo Park Saturday evening, their plainness wrought with symbolism. According to event organizer Ryland McLaughlin, each one represented three Black people killed by police over the past five years.



The purpose of the Juneteenth event was to celebrate racial unity while also recognizing oppression and the after-effects of slavery. Specifically, the holiday celebrates the freeing of the last slaves by Union troops in Galveston, Texas, which came two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.



As McLaughlin noted, tension has been high across the country since the alleged murder of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer.



“People feel like America is at arms right now because of one event. Or two events. But the reality has been almost 400 years of violence and oppression,” McLaughlin said.



To prove her point, she pointed to a row of white squares hanging from the opposite side of the shelter. The squares were filled with the names and accomplishments of Black Americans, as well as the oppression they suffered.



The white information boards stretched nearly the length of the shelter house and still only grazed the depth of Black history.



Shortly before the event started, more than a dozen bikers with the Burlington chapter of the 219 Riderz motorcycle club pulled up in a display of support.



“Black lives matter. Any kind of lives matter. We wanted to come out and show support. There’s too much going on in the world not to show support. We’re all brothers,” said club member Jonathan Harrell of Burlington. “We’re one big family. That’s what our motto is.”



But, Harrell said he understands many people make racial distinctions in hateful ways, pointing out that racism has always been with us. Harrell hopes the solution will be love, even if that means loving those who don’t love you back and avoiding those who would do you harm.



“It hurts that you have stupidity here and there in the world. All people aren’t like that (the police offer who killed Floyd). I just hate that it had to come to this. This should have been stopped a long, long time ago,” he said.



Photo by Anthony Dewitt



Ryland McLaughlin (right), one of the organizers of Saturday's This Is Us Juneteenth event in Crapo Park in Burlington, strikes up a conversation with an event attendee.

Juneteenth: A Frank Discussion About Race

By Beacon Staff



The Lee County Health Department reported the county’s second novel coronavirus (COVID-19) death on Saturday, as well as a newly diagnosed case of the illness.



“LCHD (Lee County Health Department) extends their deepest sympathy to this individual’s family and would like to encourage the public to remain respectful to this family’s privacy during this difficult time. Due to Iowa Code Chapter 22 no other information or details will be released,” reads a statement issued by the health department.



The death had yet to be counted on the state’s coronavirus website as of 10:30 p.m. Saturday, which still lists only one death for Lee County. The health department press release was issued Saturday afternoon.



According to the state website, a middle-aged adult is anyone between 41 and 60 years old. The new Lee County case diagnosed over the weekend, an older adult between 61 and 80 years old, is currently in isolation.



“This makes 42 confirmed cases in Lee County to date, with 30 reported cases as recovered,” the Lee County Health Department said in the release.



Meanwhile, Des Moines County saw a minor spike in coronavirus cases over the weekend, bringing the total up to 74. Exactly 62 of those have recovered, and the death toll for the county still stands at two.



Henry County has reported three coronavirus-related deaths out of 68 cases while Louisa County has reported 13 deaths out of 287 cases.



As of Saturday night, the state death toll stood at 682 out of 25,496 individuals who have tested positive. Of that number, 16,018 have recovered.

Middle-Aged Lee County Resident Succumbs to Coronavirus

By Beacon Staff



In recognition of June being Pride Month, an event celebrating the LGBTQ community was held Saturday in Crapo Park in Burlington.



Unlike previous years and due to concerns about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), this year’s Pride event was scaled back. Despite that fact, Saturday’s event provided an opportunity for fun and fellowship.



Photo by William Smith



Veronica McConnell and Crystal Johnson shop for Pride clothing at the unofficial Pride event in Crapo Park Saturday. The event celebrates the LGBTQ community.

Event Celebrates Pride Month

By Beacon Staff



Thick black smoke rolled upward from Gear Avenue in West Burlington on Friday afternoon, creating confusion among the local populace.



The fire burned for at least a few hours, leading many to believe it was a legal burn — they were half-right.



“A legal burn permit was issued to the property owner. However, the amount of smoke and inquisitive drivers caused police to investigate,” the West Burlington Fire Department said in a press release on Friday.



Upon examination, the fire turned out to be a lot less legal.



“It was determined that creosote timber was being burned; a violation of burning regulations. Fire responded and additional units were dispatched shortly after 2 p.m. on Friday. The timbers were extinguished,” continues the press release.



The West Burlington Police Department and Four Seasons Construction aided the West Burlington Fire Department at the scene. Officials did not name the property owner, nor did they state if any citations were issued.



Wood-tar creosote is a greasy liquid used to treat lumber and produces a sooty flame when burned. Pressure-treated wood can release harmful or toxic chemicals and contains wood preservatives such as pesticides.



The chemicals help in reducing wood-eating insects, rot, and weathering.



Photo by Joy Mack