By Jeff Abell



It was a bittersweet feeling for retail businesses forced to close their shops to the public on Thursday.



Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all non-essential retail owners throughout Iowa to shutter their doors to in-store foot traffic to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 outbreak sweeping the globe. The order remains in effect until April 7.



In downtown Burlington, some retail stores stayed open later as the 10 p.m. closure deadline loomed large for businesses who will take a financial hit from prolonged closure. Most small business owners expect to remain operational despite storefronts being closed to the public.



B-Town Comics and Games, Burlington By The Book, and Red Screen Door were a few of the downtown stores that stayed open late before the closure order took effect. Red Screen Door owner Doreen Johnson Roy scrambled to get the word out that her business would be open later than normal to accommodate walk-in customers.



"I was having a hard time getting my video to post last night saying that we were going to stay open later. So, we only had one person come in," she said.



Johnson, like most small business owners, has been working hard to offer customers alternative shopping options, such as curbside pickup, delivery, online gift cards, and social media.



"We are running a shipping special until further notice. I will continue to be at the stores as much as possible, however, all my people will be going on unemployment, so I'll be running back and forth," she said.



Not all retail businesses heeded the governor's call to temporarily close, including Family Video in Burlington. Manager Dane Feenstra said he was uncertain if Family Video was required to close. He added the decision to close is not his but rather that of regional managers.



"It was confusing on whether we had to close so we continue to operate. We've been busy today but that may be because other places are closed. At this point, I'm going to obtain all the relevant information and pass it along," Feenstra said, adding: if he is told to close, he will comply.



Burlington Mayor Jon Billups said he has addressed confusion regarding the closure order. He said business owners uncertain of whether to close should seek guidance from the state or the city.



"There are questions about what is essential and what is not," he said.



As for small businesses struggling during this new economic reality, Steve Frevert, executive director of Downtown Partners, reminded area residents to shop locally at this difficult time.



"Our downtown merchants pride themselves on customer service and are working to provide goods to their customers in every way possible. I encourage people to keep supporting them," he said on Friday. "This crisis will pass, and we want our retailers to emerge strong and ready."



Billups praised Burlington residents for adhering to public health guidelines during the pandemic. He added that the city response to the coronavirus, including closing facilities and buildings, has been effective so far.



"Thankfully, Iowans are law-abiding and respectful," he said.



Feenstra echoed the mayor's sentiment, adding, "I've seen a lot of true human kindness and empathy."



Photo by Jeff Abell



 B-Town Comics and Games stayed open Thursday evening before the 10 p.m. state-mandated deadline for the closure of non-essential businesses took effect. The business offers customers curbside delivery, home delivery, online gift cards, and free shipping on most items.

Retail Businesses Cope With Closures

By William Smith



When she’s at school, 11-year-old Grace “Red Death” Copeland hardly makes a squeak, her introverted nature at odds with her bombastic moniker.



Not that she goes by “Red Death” in the classroom.



“They say at school she is very shy,” her mother Tabitha Copeland said.



But every Monday night (which will resume after the coronavirus threat passes) at Kenny’s Roller Ranch in Burlington, Grace embodies a crimson reaper. She roars as a youth member of The Big City Brawlers roller derby team, her long red hair bound by a hard-shelled helmet.



“I enjoy it because I get to hit people,” Grace said, casting her eyes downward after the uncharacteristic admission.



“Hit” is a pretty broad term in roller derby, more accurately described by a hip or shoulder bump. It’s the only legal way to make contact in the sport and by far the safest.



Big River Brawlers coach Carrie Vass demonstrated in early March on fellow team member Dominick Schaefer, who just happens to be her son. With only nine current team members, including three adult coaches, age and gender classifications hardly matter.



“You have to try to get underneath them and go up,” Vass said, nearly knocking Schaefer over as she demonstrated.



Any kind of hitting or striking is strictly forbidden. The biggest hazards are errant elbows flying in close quarters, the danger fairly equivalent to a basketball game. Vass is a certified member of the regional Dark River Derby Coalition, providing her the qualification to run the team safely.



“We stress safety first, but it can get pretty rough. We’ve had some bloody noses,” Vass said.



Just like learning to dribble in basketball, the first, second and third lessons in roller derby cover the basics of skating. It’s an increasingly rare skill in the digital age.



“My very first job was at a skating rink. I was on the speed skating team, and my mom used to watch roller derby all the time,” Vass said.



Back then, roller derby was more akin to pro-wrestling — part sport, part staged entertainment — with ladies duking it out while avoiding alligator pits.



Vass joined the team shortly after it was founded nine years ago, still harboring fond memories of her skating past. Her dry-rotted skates from a decade earlier fell apart on first use, but it didn’t matter. Vass was hooked again.



“It’s so much fun you don’t realize how tired you are until it’s over,” she said with a laugh.



Roller derby is 100 percent legit these days, but don’t confuse it with the hard-hitting action in the movie “Whip It,” either. The Big River Brawlers only participate in the much safer flat-track derby, not the banked courses that look like NASCAR tracks from the movie and old TV broadcasts.



“We play wherever we can find a scrimmage,” Vass said.



In a sport as niche as roller derby, that isn’t always easy. Though the team mostly sticks to Iowa and the tri-state area, they’ve traveled as far as St. Louis for a game. The combined comraderies and adrenaline rush is too addictive to ignore.



“I do a spin class and I do yoga, but that’s not enough,” Tabitha Copeland said, “There’s no challenge.”



While much safer than it used to be, roller derby still maintains the over-the-top spirit of the sport’s heyday. Schaefer goes by the name “Deadpool” on the court. Grace’s personality transforms when she’s wearing skates, opening a spigot of pent-up aggression that defines her moniker of Red Death.



And much to her delight, Grace’s mother has watched her carry that newfound confidence off the court, into everyday life. The sport doesn’t define Grace, but it has made her a more well-rounded person.



And she expects to keep rolling for years to come.



(Editor's Note: During the coronavirus outbreak, roller derby has been put on temporary hiatus. The interview for this story was conducted before mandates were issued.)



Photo by Anthony Dewitt



The Big City Brawlers roller derby team members are shown earlier this month practicing at Kenny's Roller Ranch in Burlington. The flat-track roller derby organization offers co-ed adult and co-ed junior, ages 8 to 17, teams.

The Mean Mugging Brawlers Of Kenny’s Roller Ranch

The first official case of coronavirus was confirmed Wednesday by Des Moines County Public Health.



The person is self-isolating at home. Officials did not say where in Des Moines County the person lives.



“While this is Des Moines County’s first case, it may not be the last, and that’s why we encourage all residents to continue to make prevention a priority,” Des Moines County Public Health Director Christa Poggemiller said.



Also, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been notified of 21 additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19 Wednesday, for a total of 145 positive cases. There have been a total of 2,578 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.



Iowa had its first coronavirus death Tuesday, March 24, in Dubuque County.



According to IDPH, the locations and the age range of the 21 individuals (not including the person from Des Moines County includes:



• Allamakee County 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years) • Benton County, 2 middle-aged adults (41-60 years) • Hancock County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years) • Johnson County, 4 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years) • Linn County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years) • Muscatine County, 1 adult (18-40 years) • Polk County, 3 older adults (61-80 years) • Poweshiek County, 2 older adults (61-80 years) • Scott County, 2 middle-aged (41-60 years) • Washington County, 2 adults (18-40 years)

Coronavirus Now In Des Moines County

By Elizabeth Meyer of Iowa Starting Line For The Beacon



Last week, the Lee County Board of Supervisors authorized an emergency $36,000 payment to Lee County EMS so it could meet payroll obligations for March.



Discussions between the county, cities, and ambulance service are happening at a time when Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has advised no more than 10 people gather together at one time due to the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 outbreak, further complicating the negotiations and forcing much of the local government’s business to be conducted over the phone.



A financially endangered ambulance service, serving a countywide population of 34,785, is troubling under any circumstances, let alone during a pandemic.



“It’s the reality that there is a crisis in EMS reimbursement right now,” said Bill Young, executive director of Lee County EMS, according to the Pen City Current. “We’re not being reimbursed at the cost of services we provide on a daily basis.”



On March 16, the day before Iowa lawmakers voted to suspend the legislative session, House File 2602 was set for debate in the House Ways and Means Committee.



State Rep. Jeff Kurtz, D-Fort Madison, a member of the committee, was wary of leaving the Capitol for 30 days (at least), knowing this piece of legislation, among others, was critical for his constituents in District 83.



Committee meetings were canceled for the day as lawmakers grappled with whether to continue working in close quarters as the number of COVID-19 cases in the state and country grew. On March 17, the 2020 session officially was suspended.



The intent of HF 2602 is not headline-grabbing, though its importance is being felt now more than ever.



The bill, led by Rep. Stan Gustafson, R-Cumming, allows counties to designate emergency medical services (EMS), such as ambulance services, as an “essential county service.” In doing so, local governments could levy a separate tax to collect EMS-designated revenue. Currently, counties primarily use dollars from their general fund to keep EMS operational.



In Lee County, and in other rural communities across the state, funding ambulance services has become increasingly difficult since the state privatized Medicaid in 2016. Like hospital systems, health clinics and mental health providers, ambulance services have suffered from low reimbursement rates, or non-payment, from the managed care companies that now run Iowa’s Medicaid system.



In 2019, according to Iowa Department of Human Services Data, about 25 percent of Lee County residents received monthly Medicaid benefits.



“Especially the way this virus hits, it hits people my age and older the hardest,” said Rep. Kurtz, whose House district covers a majority of Lee County.



“Especially my House district, it has a lot of older people in it, so that’s why this is so serious right now. I think people are just starting to understand we haven’t seen the worst of this yet. God only knows what’s going to happen when that happens. I think the unknown holds a lot more fear than what we know.”



As of Tuesday morning, Iowa has confirmed 124 positive cases of COVID-19 in 30 counties.



Kurtz and state Sen. Rich Taylor, D-Mount Pleasant, are in touch with local, state and federal officials to try and reach a short-term solution for Lee County EMS. Because the Legislature is out of session and Congress is consumed with the coronavirus response, it is unclear what can be done legislatively.



The release of an IRS lien on its bank account, Taylor said, will free up some funds for the locally-owned ambulance service, but only enough to cover immediate expenses.



Lee County has a hospital in Fort Madison and one in Keokuk. Between the two medical centers, the county has a total of 10 intensive care unit beds, according to a national analysis of ICU bed availability by Kaiser Health News.



Of the county’s roughly 34,000 residents, 26 percent are over 60 years old, leaving one ICU bed per 912 residents over 60.



The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers people 65 and older among “those at high-risk for severe illness” from COVID-19, in addition to people with certain pre-existing health conditions and those who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility.



Neighboring Des Moines County, home to Burlington and Great River Medical Center, has 12 ICU beds.



If Lee County arrived at a point where an influx of patients required ICU beds, some likely would be taken to Iowa City, which has a hospital system already housing some of the state’s most medically vulnerable patients and is experiencing a shortage of personnel protective equipment for its employees as they try to treat and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.



If Lee County EMS is unable to operate or has to dramatically reduce its fleet of ambulances, officials have discussed scenarios under which coronavirus patients would need to be transported to a hospital with more ICU beds.



“That’s something we’ve looked at,” Sen. Taylor said, “and Henry County has said that they will try to help, but Henry County I believe only has four ambulances for the entire county, so they’ve barely got enough. If they barely have enough for Henry County, I don’t know how they’d be able to help Lee County.”



Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, and member of the Ways and Means Committee, also is an advocate of the legislation to allow counties to designate EMS as an essential service under Iowa Code.



"This is an extremely important bill,” Kaufmann said, in a video message before the session was suspended, “and I’ll repeat the motto that I think defines the bill best: where you live should not depend on whether someone shows up to save your life.”



Taylor noted that while Lee County EMS and other businesses like it were struggling before the coronavirus outbreak, the urgent public health crisis “exacerbates the entire situation” and increases the stress on local officials.



“Hopefully this coronavirus will go through quickly,” Taylor said. “Doesn’t really look like that’s going to happen, but I guess all we can do is sit back and hope people that can isolate themselves do and bring the curve down.”



(Note: Elizabeth Meyer is a reporter for Iowa Starting Line, and the original version of the story can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fiowastartingline.com%2F2020%2F03%2F24%2Famid-pandemic-lee-county-struggles-to-fund-ambulance-service%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3Uoiaxfua3VgVzKpapZV307W5Gj7jW2bxOX1tgC3OC2URA7A0jJ0dvxOQ&amp;h=AT1Wm5fBR-hZ9KfFYPGAjITzToyCGVXac_GhSIe9Vjwi03MjQ4CIxcH170hHAi6pnYBB7OpRtLdxm3mWB4DjhQMYLDzYFrvFJ7no2veMxp2MjR_9fmDVW5dvRrSW_VoPOAnLqDFU03_hTkbFzCY8W6wwlRO1aFZQ0Xd4SNIlxIvt8lSxeIrBSzwl57bf3pDuDVKJEv6_yY55oT9TFeBFLMmrikz96lZtUriMSnnLeui5A__ILpk__fLt4G-pcgfSa3rS6t_Pw6Tzga73RyooP8mPc7CVLKpojv6UsV5k6kRcTc0sBCjCaCNYQYniS7vJ0GfLyIKVWnyc19m_ra0uQNC2DlTy9WKRMUk9VEb7YhGz_xqGnBYQVgQxNANb_BDkAFnGMImywvugORcG53_1QfIQdXQ_oSpIu4lHQZ2SaeuNc_GKabaiF5j8pKT2EGekCDAV8CmMEHShMN9akBimsJSAeYSN8o9tQnZZpE--OLLIvneszclwqOq3mnCZnBoBuqEB5GydwYMSZbZjPJ2ThpwcUeokzccJmrPgTUlW_V2W3aQ_aCXQs4C-baCkYrKN7Prj6RK9BoObvH4ZIEhtazzWXlpGsOM6h6iSA8uN82RyG52Kw1egmVq5rufeJfxt9xrZQ4c" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://iowastartingline.com/…/amid-pandemic-lee-county-s…/…</a>

Lee County EMS Services Saved By $36K Emergency Payment

Column by Robert Critser



This is a story from St. Patrick’s Day:



I just happened to be in the office when the phone rang. I glanced down at the caller ID and I recognized the name, so I answered it. I still would have answered the phone, regardless, but the call would not have been quite the same.



“Good morning and thank you for calling the Walmart Supercenter. This is Assistant Robert speaking. How can I help you today, Randy? How you doing?”



I said the last part like Joey, from the TV show, Friends. The caller chuckled.



“Well, good morning, Robert. Hey, listen, I was wondering what you have left on the shelves...”



He had heard stories about people panic-buying in the midst of this coronavirus pandemic and wondered if it was true.



“Oh, it’s true.”



I ran through a shortlist of things we had sold out of toilet paper, water, ramen noodles, milk, eggs, bread ... I told him he should see the cereal aisle, I had never witnessed anything like it.



He told me he could use a few other things, but what he was really looking for was toilet paper, specifically.



I jokingly explained that this was the Walmart Apocalypse and the piranhas had picked apart the last pallet of toilet paper before it even made it all the way to the floor — we didn’t even put a price on it.



I didn’t know when the next pallet of paper would come in, but I told him we get a truck every day, and I would call him when and if I saw it.



I was stocking water when the truck showed up. True to my word, I called him the moment it came in.



“Randy, I have some TP for your bunghole if you’re anywhere close to getting here.”



“Well, to be honest, I’m still at home and I’m back in my pajamas and I don’t know that I feel like going anywhere,” he replied, like a man who was set in his ways, a man who knew that being seventy years old offered certain privileges.



Since his mind was made up, I told him I would see if there was anything left when my shift was over. If he was lucky, I would be able to bring a package to him after work.



“Will it be Charmin? Or something else?” I heard just a wee bit of skepticism in his voice.



I told him I didn’t know what we had or what would be left. He understood that beggars can’t be choosers, but he told me he could do without single-ply, if possible.



We joked about “John Wayne” toilet paper but told them there might not be a lot of options.



Anyway, there was some two-ply toilet paper left when I was finished working and I was able to buy some TP that was as soft as angels on my way out.



A coworker asked about the toilet paper as I was heading out the door.



“Well, an older gentleman called the store and he needed some toilet paper, but he can’t make it out, so I’m making a delivery,” I continued, lowering my voice to conspiratorial levels, “He’s my first — I’ve never bought toilet paper for an old man before.”



Despite what my wife says, sometimes I can be funny.



When I delivered the goods, I shared the conversation with Randy. He loved it. We exchanged banter for a few minutes and then he asked what he owed me.



“For toilet paper? Don’t worry about it.” I waved the thought away.



“How much was it?” He stared at me, one hand on his wallet on the table.



“I don’t know, I didn’t look. I just paid for it.”



“You just paid for it, huh? You really don’t know?” He continued to interrogate me.



“Well, I also bought a soda.”



He stared at me some more.



“Well, if I did you a favor, you owe me one, Randy.”



He rolled his eyes. “Well, I can see where this is heading. It’s getting deep in here.”



“I know, that’s why I bought you toilet paper,” I laughed, and I headed out the door.



I wanted to share this story as a reminder to be considerate and kind during this difficult time.



There is no need to hoard toilet paper or to be selfish with staples like milk, bread, and eggs. There’s no shortage of these things, except when the consumer exhausts a store’s daily supply. We’re going to get more tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that — it’s what we do.



Please, let other people have a chance to purchase the things they need. A 70-year-old man shouldn’t have to call me at 6 a.m. to see if he can purchase toilet paper. Don’t get me wrong, we both enjoyed our visit. But, as a community, I think we’re better than that.

The Luck of the Irish

The swollen Mississippi River is about to level out.



Just don’t expect it to drop below the moderate flood stage any time soon.



The river, which was sitting at 16.41 feet at 8 p.m. Monday night, March 23, is expected to slowly rise to a crest of 17 feet Friday, March 27.



Barring heavy rain, the river will rise incrementally until March 27. Burlington city workers sprang into action this past Friday (March 20), quickly erecting a wall of sand-filled Hesco barrier that extended the partially complete flood wall.



The river will begin to drop just as slowly as it rose the evening of March 27, dropping to 16.6 feet a week from today, which is about where the river sits now.



The National Weather Service’s flood projection does not extend beyond 7 days.



Photo by Joy Mack



Hesco flood barriers have been erected along Burlington's riverfront as the Mississippi River rises to a crest 17 feet this Friday.

Rising Mississippi River About To Steady At 17 Feet

West Burlington Walmart employees work Tuesday to restock shelves made bare by shoppers stocking up amid concerns regarding the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19.



The job of stocking shelves has seemed like a mission impossible due to high customer demand for items such as ramen noodles, canned goods, and toilet paper. Due to the high demand for toilet paper, employees bring out one pallet at a time to reduce panic buying.



Employees shop after 8:30 p.m. or on breaks due to an increase in customer volume. The West Burlington store has reduced its hours of operation to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.



Photo by Anthony Dewitt

Mission Impossible

Throughout the day, 30-year-old Sarah Hall of Burlington sews.



She typically sews wedding gowns, prom dresses, and similar attire, making alterations between all-out creations.



Then, novel coronavirus or COVID-19 happened, and business dropped off.



Now Hall spends eight hours a day sewing surgical masks, which she donates to local hospitals and other health care workers in need. Some of her masks have been used at the Great River Hospice House in West Burlington.



“Right now, I have a big order for the Keokuk Fire Department,” Hall said.



Hall is a seamstress by trade, born and raised in Burlington, and owner of her own business — Sarah Hall Unique Designs. Due to the virus outbreak, no one is ordering dresses right now, not even prom dresses.



“Everything has stopped,” she said.



Hall has the sewing bug, and her Christian upbringing compels her to use her talents in helping others.



“I sew all day anyway,” she said Monday evening, having just finished 100 masks in an hours-long sewing marathon.



“There’s so much demand (for masks),” she added. “God is pretty much telling me I should be doing this right now.”



Hall has sewed more than 500 masks in the past week, starting with a request for St. Louis Cardinals-themed surgical masks for healthcare workers in Fort Madison.



Since then, Hall’s masks have come in every design, color and pattern imaginable. The visual diversity is for Hall’s sanity (no one wants to sew the same pattern all day), representing positivity in the face of a long-term crisis. She’s a constant at JoAnn Fabrics and asks only for donations to cover the costs of materials.



Hall has a 5-year-old daughter and an 11-month-old son at home and is more worried about her daughter’s lack of socialization than her own. It’s her kindergarten year, and she’s already made plenty of friends.



“She misses them,” Hall said.



Like many of her classmates, Hall’s daughter Genesis understands the situation more fully than many might believe. She knows there’s a sickness going around, and she knows has to stay home to stay healthy. She’s been rewarded with more TV time than usual, which isn’t much.



“We don’t watch a lot of TV in my house,” Hall said.



Hall doubts her daughter will be going back to school this year, given the increasing number of COVID-19 infections breaking out throughout the country. And, despite the arrival of warm weather, the playgrounds in Burlington were officially closed because of coronavirus.



Fresh air, however, is still unrestricted.



“It’s been getting nice, so I’ve been taking the sewing machine outside, so she (Genesis) can play,” Hall said.



Photo by Mack



Sarah Hall of Burlington, a seamstress, spends eight hours a day sewing surgical masks, which she donates to local hospitals and other health care works.

Beautiful Life-Saving Masks

So basically, while there is no single universal, one-fits-them-all recipe or a guideline set for picking a hair, there are many nuances in your complexion which after a thorough analysis will help you in sorting out a perfect hairstyle which will look good on you.



Maecenas et laoreet neque. Aenean tempus feugiat eros, eu convallis ligula tincidunt a. Nam facilisis enim at augue viverra ultrices. Etiam nec mollis est, non pulvinar arcu. Cras adipiscing nisi leo, non faucibus est commodo in. Integer nec erat convallis, cursus magna et, egestas odio. Donec nec quam nibh. Nam ante ipsum, sollicitudin sed augue sit amet, accumsan accumsan felis. Vivamus laoreet ligula mi.



Nunc ornare, justo eget volutpat porttitor, massa felis rhoncus dui, eu convallis enim lectus vel velit. Nam ac aliquam ligula, ultrices blandit leo. Suspendisse sed semper libero. Integer bibendum orci non mauris pharetra scelerisque. Nunc vitae tempor augue, in condimentum mi. In eu velit hendrerit, tempor tortor at, hendrerit erat. Donec feugiat tristique turpis non sagittis. Donec pharetra hendrerit vulputate.



Phasellus facilisis tincidunt velit, ac tincidunt diam fermentum consectetur. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Sed vel facilisis lorem. Vivamus non feugiat mauris, et rhoncus est. Curabitur aliquam ac lacus ac facilisis. Sed sodales ut nibh eget lacinia. Morbi malesuada semper elit eu interdum. Ut et tellus non enim tristique lacinia. Duis neque sem, vehicula id augue quis, porttitor consectetur tellus. Sed risus massa, tristique vitae tempus vitae, bibendum sit amet metus. Vestibulum in fermentum neque.

Playing Tennis Takes a Lot of Work

Burlington School food service employees distribute meals to area children Monday afternoon at Burlington High School. Meals will be provided between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., every weekday (through Friday) via curbside delivery at North Hill Elementary School and main office driveway off Terrace Drive at Burlington High School.



People will not need to enter the building to pick up their meals. Staff will bring them out. Those walking to pick up meals will be asked to wait for their meal in designated spots separate from workers.



No identification or proof of school enrollment is required, but the child must be present for meals to be provided. The program is open to all children 18 and under.



Those who plan to participate in the meal program are asked to complete a form before the first day of service so the district has an idea of how many meals to prepare. The form is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://tinyurl.com/mealprogram2020?fbclid=IwAR1XWTczkDojuLq4vXWzOWizV5YbtKGzI2jgw_7SCKH2g4FJr2m6ucUrNHk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://tinyurl.com/mealprogram2020</a>.



Photo by Joy Mack

Free Meals Offered To Area Children

A Henry County man has been identified as one of 23 newly identified positive cases of COVID-19 in Iowa, according to a press release today from the Iowa Department of Public Health.



There have now been a total of 68 positive cases in Iowa. To date, there have been 1,049 negative tests conducted at the State Hygienic Lab.



According to IDPH, the locations and age ranges of the 23 individuals include:



• Allamakee County, 1 middle age adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years) • Black Hawk County, 1 middle age adult (41-60 years), 1 elderly (81 years or older) • Dubuque County, 1 older adult (61-80 years) • Fayette County, 1 adult (18-40 years) • Henry County, 1 adult (18-40 years) • Johnson County, 3 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle age adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years) • Linn County, 2 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle age adult (41-60 years) • Muscatine County, 1 middle age adult (41-60 years) • Polk County, 2 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years) • Pottawattamie County, 1 middle age adult (41-60 years) • Story County, 1 adult (18-40 years) • Washington County, 1 middle age adult (41-60 years)



A status report of monitoring and testing of COVID19 in Iowa is provided by IDPH and can be found here:&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fidph.iowa.gov%2Femerging-health-issues%2Fnovel-coronavirus%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2j-WBb1n4vxCRC8ZWCotD0uupM55UTRa9p7kz0Ax2tDaunTgKFMJBQQzY&amp;h=AT11IyOu6AH7sUJo16NK2djbmJJIEig4_phOkSaOId_91S_OOC4UVTghWK0M2enh8S4aSUcSJyqoiPSNngezkGqVFl8h5XgndAlY21zMwY1pK-2zEh6httpWxxsDjX_qN9rR4T8t6vPgRXfKETG-mneYMlmX1Q-l61VNiKTfDy3QpwIrrKc3oQeanY91jnuuRpUAgvlXH-xtb50cQSlvEZTHcEee0LgGiOvrnOGdNVz_lWkjY11aKPFUE3HQJ6b76fBwJIKz_eLxxmnYypXHHNP-3aSUf6PDEOv_7SxzWZ9kbUMhc1WDDLRabFuR9TMd449sOid-imeaBGAQoDD43RziCIXqBlEDFocl48xDTgvP1VfJHquWWMk6NO2dSVi-dIziJ92f7BSVkYYADCMj4ITB5_TeD25rYQ-ltome7wTJ7qrlwTTIm_Kho0V6Q9tKp-3g5aKN8TseO-xEnESlZnIW3Am6nz7xbtZpEhkYOh_VozMRU4ffSYDSOK7Jgqk2FlqaqQuiws0ZtXk_NEdZ4DJiW-mXMqilXyzLdJ4l5R_xOS0SW2duKuFGSRyyvDDjTZc9xG2gccM85Gz2HFN16oVSBOSuqLyWmKi6mM_NwgKtwIH_rSJNnPZZfwFY0NnyNCv3hSc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://idph.iowa.gov/emerging-health-iss…/novel-coronavirus</a>.



A public hotline has also been established for Iowans with questions about COVID-19. The line is available 24/7 by calling 2-1-1 or 1-800-244-7431. The state of Iowa will begin to share the number of negative tests conducted at outside labs.



Additionally, the most recent press release from the Governor's office suggests that Iowans who have recently traveled out of state should strongly consider self-isolating for 14 days.



Gov. Reynolds will hold a press conference on Sun., March 22 at 2:30 p.m. The press conference will be live-streamed and posted in full on Governor Reynolds’ Facebook Page.

Coronavirus in Henry County; Governor & IDPH Recommend Self-Isolation for Those Who Have Traveled Out of State

Chase Gibb, owner of the Buffalo Tavern and Coal Haus 337 in Burlington and Buffalo 61 Bar and Grille in Fort Madison, said he saw this coming. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker closed Illinois bars and restaurants this week to restrict the spread of coronavirus, and he believed Iowa would follow suit.



‘I’ve had a plan in place for the last three days,” Gibb said in an interview with The Burlington Beacon on Tuesday morning.



However, he still didn’t expect to close the dine-in portions of his three restaurants on a two-hour notice today (Tuesday, March 17). The state closure order applies to a variety of businesses and institutions, including Catfish Bend Casino, the Burlington Public Library and Steamboat Senior Center.



Retail businesses and gas stations, among others, are not yet affected by mandated closures. Jeff Abell, the owner of B-Town Comics and Games, said his business was busy with customers looking for a distraction.



"We've been extremely busy today. People are looking for something to read or a new game to play. We plan on staying open and it's business as usual," Abell said. "These closures have all small businesses worried because we can't absorb a prolonged financial hit like the big box stores."



Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the closure mandate at about 10 a.m. today (March 17), ordering businesses to close by noon. Some still had customers inside who were forced to leave.



“She (Reynolds) lost my vote,” Gibb said.



Gibb understands the safety precaution — he just wishes the decision had been made the night before. He purchased 600 pounds corn beef for tonight’s canceled St. Patrick’s Day celebration.



Since the mandate still allows for food pick-up and delivery, all of Gibb’s restaurants will stay partially open. He’s even offering $10 discounts on orders $50 or more, orders of $75 or more will be delivered within a 10-mile radius of the dine-in locations.



Regardless of deliveries and pick-ups, business will be greatly reduced, and Gibb had to lay off 80 percent of his staff to compensate. Despite having recently purchased the old Sarducci’s buildings to turn into Coal Hause 337, Gibb said he should be able to weather the financial storm.



But a lot of restaurants — especially new ones or those already facing financial hardship — won’t be as fortunate. Gibb said many restaurants survive week-to-week, some barely staying afloat.



“You will see places going under because of this,” Gibb said.



Like most Americans, Gibb can’t quite wrap his head around the financial devastation the coronavirus will leave in its path.



He’s too busy coming up with creative ways to serve his customers — without breaking social distancing rules, of course.



“I have a portable woodfire oven, and it can cook a pizza in 60 seconds, and we are planning on setting up in the parking lot (of Coal Haus 337) in a few days so people can order pizza from us and go on their way,” he said.



Still Popping



Westland Theatre in West Burlington is closed due to the mandate, but Big River Popcorn located inside Westland Mall is still. Unless there is a state mandate, owners Greg and Cody Flietner said it will stay that way.



“We wanted to let you know that Big River Popcorn (thankfully) does not fall under this restriction. We will still resume normal business hours until further notice,” the Flietners said via Facebook.



The Flietners also called on locals to do everything they can to patronize local restaurants, suggesting remote dining and generous tips for service employees.



“We will get through this together and only together we will see the other side of this. Peace and love be with you all!” the Flietners said in the post.



Photos by Anthony Dewitt



 A sign at Orange Ember in downtown Burlington. notifies customers of its closure to comply with a state-mandated two-week shutdown of some businesses and institutions, including Catfish Bend Casino, the Burlington Public Library and Steamboat Senior Center.

Last-Minute Notice Causes Headaches For State-Mandated Business Closures

Photos by Jeff Abell



Treyton Miller, 2, accompanied by his father, Thomas, of Burlington, navigate downtown Burlington in a remote control car perfect for a toddler. The father and son were getting some fresh air on a sunny Tuesday afternoon.

Big Wheels Keep On Turning

As life in Iowa and the nation grinds to a pandemic halt, the Burlington City Council followed President Donald Trump’s lead Monday night by prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people on city property.



The ban due to the coronavirus will stretch until at least into the middle of next month. Also, meetings with groups of 10 people or more in a single room on the city-owned property have been prohibited for the next two weeks.



Mayor Jon Billups said city offices will stay open for the public, and stressed the bans are only for city-owned properties.



But if you can, stay home, Billups said.



“We are trying to encourage electronic or telephone interaction with the city for city business. We remain open,” Billups told The Burlington Beacon after the meeting.



Trump issued a recommendation Monday afternoon against 10-person or more gatherings in response to the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. and throughout the world. The president’s press conference aired shortly before Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds held her own press conference explaining her recommendation to close the state’s schools for the next month.



“We are in the middle of a public health crisis,” Burlington City Manager Jim Ferneau said during Monday night’s council meeting.



Ferneau, who has a family of 11, wryly wondered if he could go back home without violating the president’s recommendation. His unexpected joke elicited surprised laughter from the council, breaking the tension of an increasingly somber meeting.



It was the last council meeting the public will be able to attend for some time. Weekly council meetings are already broadcast online and via local public access, and that will be the only way to watch starting next week. Council members can also participate in meetings remotely.



Trump called for the social distancing of up to six feet, and Ferneau was serious about that recommendation, as well.



“As you can see, we’re not following that here,” Ferneau said from the crowded council meeting table. “That’s why we’re doing this (passing the resolution).”



The city passed three emergency resolutions Monday night. One limits public gatherings (on city property) for the next 14 days, though that could be extended.



The second resolution ensured council meetings and other city meetings would be conducted remotely.



The final resolution, an emergency declaration, gave Billups the power to take swift emergency action as relates to public closures and transit. Billups said the situation could change daily, and he will be following state and national guidelines.



Trump said Monday afternoon that Americans should prepare to stay hunkered down into July or August. There is no timeline on when the rising pandemic will subside.



Burlington Public Library Director Rhonda Frevert said that library programs in and out of the library have been canceled, though the library is still open to the public for check-out. A slew of activities in Burlington and the surrounding area have been canceled already, with more to follow.



Though Illinois has closed down the dine-in portions of restaurants and bars by mandate, Gov. Reynolds has only gone as far as to recommend school closures for the next four weeks. Nearly every school in the state followed suit.



Several fast-food restaurants in Burlington are doing drive-thru only, including Arby’s, McDonald’s and Taco Bell. The list continued to grow Monday night.



The Burlington School District currently is on spring break and has not officially canceled classes beyond that break. The district is expected to make a decision by Thursday, however.



A long list of European nations that have enacted severe country-wide lockdowns, including France, Spain, Denmark, Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland. Italy, the worst affected European country, has recorded more than 1,800 coronavirus-related deaths so far and expects some 90,000 infections by the end of April, according to NBC news.



The U.S. death toll climbed to at least 81, with 25 of those deaths associated with the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington.

No More Than 50 People Allowed On City Property For Public Events; Burlington City Council Meetings To Be Televised Only

Burlington City Councilman Matt Rinker is making a run for the Iowa Senate.



Rinker announced his candidacy via Facebook Friday and will be running for Iowa State District 44 Senate as a Republican. 



State Sen. Tom Greene, a Republican from Burlington, will not seek a second term in the Iowa Legislature, leaving open a swing seat that is considered a must-win for Democrats desperate to gain more leverage in a chamber where they are greatly outnumbered.



Greene, elected to represent Senate District 44 in 2016, ousted Democrat Tom Courtney in a surprise upset, riding a Republican wave that swept through the Statehouse and across the country.



District 44 includes all of Des Moines and Louisa counties and part of Muscatine County in southeast Iowa.



Rinker joins an increasingly crowded Senate race.



Tom Courtney, who represented District 44 from 2003-2017, announced in August he was running to retake the seat. 



Rex Troute, a retired journalist and author from Burlington, and Kevin Warth, a farmer from Des Moines County, also are running in the Democratic primary.



Tim Goodwin, a Republican, also filed papers to run for Greene's seat. Goodwin began his career with a community relations position in the NBA. He returned to Iowa to become a teacher and high school administrator. He is now self-employed.



Rinker was elected to the Burlington City Council three years ago and said he will bank on that experience if he’s elected.



“I believe that my experiences as a veteran, small business owner, community leader, and father, have prepared me for this great opportunity to serve our district,” he said in a press release.



Former Mayor Shane McCampbell, who just finished up an 8-year stint on the council, recently announced that he will be running for Des Moines County Board of Supervisors.



Iowa Starting Line Reporter Elizabeth Meyer contributed to this report.

Candidates Line Up To Run For Iowa Senate

The bulls were angry, the cowboys were daring, and the crowd of rodeo-loving fans thrilled as SnowBull took over Memorial Auditorium in Burlington.



The three-day-long, indoor rodeo began Thursday (March 12) and concluded Saturday (March 14). Dozens of the top bull riders from throughout the country took their turns riding 2,000-pound bulls to claim bragging rights and cash prizes.



Photo by Joy Mack

SnowBull Packs Auditorium

It was a wet, snowy, and cold day for a 5K color run in Crapo Park in Burlington.



Yet, they came — more than 300 walkers and runners — sporting relieved grins, green tutus, and big goofy glasses.



The Kiwanis Shamrock Shuffle 5K hasn’t missed a year yet. Saturday’s iteration played host to a massive crowd, even though it was less than half the usual attendance.



Burlington Kiwanis Club president Cassie Gerst wasn’t surprised by the determined locals who showed up. She was grateful, though.



“There are so many diehards who do this year after year,” she said, looking around the Crapo Park Shelter House admiringly.



More than 700 people registered for the color run, their registration fees going to area children. Those who weren’t able to make it contributed as much as the ones who did. Bad weather doesn’t erode good causes.



“We help so many kids with Coats for Kids in the winter months, Christmas shopping with kids at Target, the library’s summer reading program,” Gerst said, noting the club also provides dictionaries and thesauruses to elementary children.



Diehards comprised the core of the Shamrock Shuffle crowd but were peppered by a surprising number of first-timers. Many of the participants said they viewed the run/walk as a final opportunity to enjoy a public event.



“I work at home, and I’m stuck in the house all the time, so this is invigorating,” said Burlington resident Jacque Worden.



The snow was a first for the event, but hardly a deterrent. More like dissolving decorations, clinging stubbornly to wet grass.



“It isn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be,” she said.



Worden started walking 5Ks on doctor’s orders, adopting a South Beach diet to address her cardiac problems. Saturday was her first Shamrock Shuffle, but it won’t be her last.



“I used to run in them when I was younger. Now I walk,” she said with a laugh.



Photos by Joy Mack



Photos 1 and 2: A runner is showered with colored powder during the Kiwanis Shamrock Shuffle 5K.



Photo 3: Runners are shown lined up at the start of the Shamrock Shuffle.



Photos 4 and 5: Participants are shown decked out in green for St. Patrick's Day.

The Shuffle Must Go On: 5K Attracts Over 300 Participants

A weekly source for things to do and see in and around Burlington. Only events for the upcoming week will be listed, and submissions for upcoming events will be accepted at burlingtonbeacon@gmail.com.



(Note: Due to the evolving Coronavirus pandemic, all events are subject to change.)



Saturday, March 14



• Downtown Burlington St. Patrick’s Day Celebration will continue until 10 p.m. There will be live music, pop-up shops, giveaways, sales, book signings, food and drink specials and more. Find the event “Downtown Burlington’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration” on Facebook for all the details. • Celtic Night will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Bart Howard Lounge inside the Des Moines County Heritage Center Museum. There will be Irish cuisine and traditional Celtic music from Iowa. City’s Blame Not the Bard. Tickets are $40 and available at the Heritage Center Museum in Burlington. • Closet Witch and Manhattan Blockade will begin playing at 6 p.m. at Wake n' Bake Breakfast Company in downtown Burlington. • Dueling Pianos will be at 8 p.m. at Corked 101 in downtown Burlington, featuring Aaron Lotzow and Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alum Mick Staebell. Tickets are $15.



Sunday, March 15



• Morning Sun St. Patrick’s Day dinner is 11:30 a.m. at the Community Center, serving corned beef and cabbage and more for a freewill donation with all proceeds going to Sunshine Gardens community betterment project. The parade starts at 1:30 p.m. at Division Street. To learn more, call (563) 260-3904. • Mount Pleasant High School Band Concert is 2 p.m. at the school. Admission is free. • Jonas Woodstock and California Jeff will play at 2 p.m. at Washington in downtown Burlington. Bluzillion plays at 6 p.m., and doors open at noon.



Tuesday, March 17



• Eric Pettit Lion will play at 2 p.m. at The Som in downtown Burlington.



Wednesday, March 18



• Burlington Lunchtime Chamber Music will be at 12:15 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. The concerts are free and open to the public. This month features The La Moines Brass Quintet.



Thursday, March 19



• The Almas and Living Lucid will play at 7 p.m. at The Washington. An evening of hard rock, funk rock and “Gypsy Hippie Hillbilly Roadside Revival.”



Friday, March 20



• ReCaptured: A Tribute to Journey will start at 7:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theater in downtown Burlington. Full concessions, including wine and beer.

Faces and Places

Southeastern Community College President Michael Ash announced Friday morning (March 13) that in-person class instruction at the West Burlington campus is suspended through April 5 as a preventative measure, beginning at 5 p.m. today.



The campus will stay open, however, and classes will resume online after an extended spring break that will now stretch through March 24.



Ash said the suspension is a precautionary measure against the evolving coronavirus COIVD-19 outbreak nationwide, and could possibly extend beyond April 5. He said the college is constantly monitoring the situation and will continue to update the public.



“It is the consensus of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state and local public health officials that the next month will be critical to containing the spread of the virus,” Ash said.



Classes won’t be canceled, though, just delayed and delivered remotely online. The faculty will report to the college on March 23 and 24 for online training. Classes that already were online will not see a schedule change, and will not get an extended break.



Other Important Points About SCC’s Response to Coronavirus



• Computer labs, library resources, testing centers, and study rooms will be open and available. Hours will be posted to Hawknet and Canvas announcements.



• College large group events and meetings of 50 or more people, both on-site and off-site, are canceled through April 5. Some student activities, clubs, and meetings may still occur. Student activity plans will be communicated from a student club advisor.



• Residence halls will remain open and food service will continue on a modified schedule.



• Adjusted plans for the Great Tastes Event will be released as soon as possible.



• The college will continue to provide free public Wi-Fi, student computer labs, and space for study.



If you have questions, please contact your instructor or the Academic Affairs office (319) 208-5287.

Southeastern Community College Transitioning to On-Line Instruction Beginning March 25

Two months after the Friends of the Depot group officially disbanded, final evidence of their volunteer efforts adorn the top of the historic Burlington Depot building.



Brand new awnings, installed at the end of February for about $20,000, represent every penny the group had left in its coffers — and then some.



“We wanted that to be our last hurrah,” said Tony Dixon, the final president of the Friends group.



Sherwood Company of West Burlington, which installed the awnings at the end of February, donated $700 to make up the shortfall. A fitting gesture toward a group that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through volunteer hours.



“They didn’t have to do that,” Dixon said, expressing his gratitude toward Sherwood Company.



Friends of the Depot was working to raise $42,000 for floor and wall restoration in the depot’s great room last year, but those plans quickly changed.



After a few years of simmering tensions with the city, the group’s mounting frustrations finally led them to disband.



Dixon said the final straw was the city’s now-defunct plant to move the Steamboat Senior Center into the depot building. Dixon and his fellow volunteers learned about the decision unexpectedly during a council meeting.



The city council reversed that decision weeks later and voted the measure down after seniors at the center rejected the plan with their own unanimous vote.



The Friends of the Depot group already had disbanded by then, though, and neither Dixon nor the remaining members have expressed a desire to bring it back. Given how often the depot floods, Dixon understands why the building isn’t always the city’s highest priority, but his heart still lives there.



“I would like to see someone else bring it back,” Dixon said.



Finding that someone else is the problem. At 67-years-old, Dixon, who joined the depot group four years ago, was one of its youngest members. And though he is no longer interested in being a member himself, he is willing to help someone who wants to restart the group.



“We need young blood,” he said.



The Friends of the Depot group has disbanded before, though, only to come back stronger. Read more about the historic Burlington Depot and the Friends of the Depot organization this Sunday only on The Burlington Beacon’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.burligntonbeacon.com/?fbclid=IwAR0FwiM_L7rONsBZRJ47jwdOM2ExAdfyOZ4aSu7bCr5k4PVE_nz7jTY8tpo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.burligntonbeacon.com.</a>&nbsp;No paywalls, just local news.



Photo by Jeff Abell



New awnings were installed recently at the Burlington Depot by Sherwood Company of West Burlington. Funds for the installation was the result of efforts by the now-disbanded Friends of the Depot.

New Depot Awnings Serve As Final Hurrah For Friends Group

The bulls are coming back to Burlington, and they’re bringing their much-heralded attitude problems with them.



The annual three-day-long, indoor SnowBull rodeo event returned for its 28th year on Thursday. The rodeo continues Friday, and Saturday at Memorial Auditorium in Burlington.



As advertised, there will be plenty of cowboys looking to grab fame atop thousand-pound beasts anxious to stomp and gore them.



Doors open at 6 p.m. each night with the show beginning at 7 p.m., according to organizers.



Riders will vary each night of the competition, though some will compete multiple nights to get a higher average score. The best cowboys will leave with large trophy belt buckles and slightly larger paychecks.



The SnowBull party won’t stop just because the bulls stop buckin’.



The Friday and Saturday iterations of SnowBull will conclude with an after-party, complete with food and alcohol. The parties will start at about 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, inside the auditorium but after the rodeo action, with each night to feature a musical artist.



Friday night will feature Devin Clemons Band, and StumpTown will play Saturday night.



Of course, you can’t have a rodeo without some mutton bustin’.



The annual sheep-riding event for children ages 3-to-6 will be Saturday at Memorial Auditorium, and the riding begins after registration at 10 a.m. There is only room for so many children, and registration is first-come, first-served.



The sheep riding is part of Saturday Kids Day, which also begins at 11 a.m. and includes goat-tying and face painting.



Tickets vary in price by day and are available at the Memorial Auditorium Box Office. Tickets can also be purchased at the Port of Burlington Welcome Center, Casebine CCU (Burlington and Fort Madison), Pep Stop in Mount Pleasant, Sinclair Fuel in Denmark, and Menn’s Firestone in Carthage, Ill.



For more information, visit the SnowBull Facebook page or the website at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.burlingtonsnowbull.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR140qhtETycpIukByg4maTcXZawNbgLr-PsIjRntw8eyIFPcgUVXibM8mA&amp;h=AT3KCQQgNg2SEaou-g316ZVsdwkQQGKudqITL3ofEORWnw0KKERxah5i_RETlYXfFpNqvHC1BeacZ8w1L1L1F_vKNyV64dSm5QVnPEiBOVQPRMN3yOI0qNj6aj-QD9LZ_zKWjpyx6b0xU8CirPbAtc9D21JBJPYkVeYJQyxILo5N3zRWCAWTtBp3YMmfKWRltJVMvGu66SrMKgtvrY82aWADjMJjwWTLvqmY4VbtZy739sBEP2GWCWwfZx2e5faKZxme9dm_0qTtg07ANU8xrIwg3-XZtCDtaCHQNq42aVDjykIvQ8Uo27mlv-0iQV_HF1zy2FM5V28kQzwbzHc2b5NozcucqpuSvq80z46fEniELsqNoJG-8-40_Pxp6V8Ki2xUzQO-WT7F47y0p5E1SU4LsxZevMNaRlfAMX3mRefNUhPVCt0VFe6LaPg1M6Yhsx9HZcGrUJ6K7VLgKNe6TE41QQ3W9cb_CQ0smfMGylO8SATWNKccvDdcarBfa2iWUxsQs58PQ6I2j7NynUFBCdpFST0YEE4a6DKH6r-iyMjQpk0keU76y2PVfKoqmWj8aSgaJ19hl36PEQrctXDvcKaaDPb9GiWlEs6EUf6X-WGzaUVMTLRc0zu6wHFj-B_ufgV-q6I" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.burlingtonsnowbull.com</a>

SnowBull Is Back, And Better Than Ever

Down to just China House and the locally-owned Big River Popcorn, Westland Mall’s food court became rather sparse after Maid-Rite vacated the mall in December of last year.



Last Friday, a new restaurant — BASH (Burger and SteakHouse) — opened up in the former Diamond Dave’s location in Westland Mall in West Burlington. There was little planned fanfare aside from social media updates, and the soft opening proved successful.



Owner Pietro Alfano hasn’t had much chance to leave the restaurant since then, doing his best to keep up with increasingly large crowds.



“We’ve been really busy ever since we opened,” he said.



It’s been nine years since Diamond Dave’s closed its doors, leaving only semi-fast food restaurants as mall dining options.



“It took us four months to revamp it. The old Diamond Dave’s was pretty old,” Alfano said.



BASH brings back the casual “dining out” vibe Diamond Dave’s once fostered, enriching it with higher quality burgers. Price-wise, it’s more in line with Applebee’s Bar and Grill. The cheapest burger on the menu, the classic burger with fries, is $9.99.



The most expensive item on the menu is the signature BASH Burger, which costs $18.99 with fries. Instead of standard hamburger meat, however, the patty consists of ground elk, bison, wagyu beef and wild boar, topped with sauteed onions, bacon jam, and the customer’s choice of cheese.



“You want quality, you get a quality burger here. We’re not McDonald’s. We’re not Burger King. This is BASH, it’s something different,” Alfano said.



In keeping with that spirit of commerce-minded defiance, BASH also features signature mac and cheese bowls. There is sirloin topped mac and cheese. Bacon and chicken mac and cheese, or you can build your own from the menu.



“This will bring people back to the mall again. I think we’ll do pretty well,” Alfano said.



Alfano said he’s been doing “pretty well” since he moved to Burlington 10 years ago and opened The Italian at 300 S. Leebrick St. The Italian moved into the former Sarducci’s building (now Coal Haus 337) for a short stint that proved unfeasible, but business has always been good in Burlington.



“I took a chance on Roosevelt, but it was so expensive, I just couldn’t stay in there,” Alfano said.



This is a different kind of chance. Pizza places weren’t as prominent in Burlington when Alfano opened The Italian a decade ago. Facing over-saturation in the market, he knew it was time to pivot, while still maintaining his customer base at The Italian.



“We wanted to do something different. Not pizza. We already have a pizza place,” he said.



Westland Mall offered what Alfano described as “a good deal,” and he got to work immediately. Breezy six-hour workdays, six days a week, turned into 15-hour workdays, seven days a week.



Just like the old days.



Alfano was born into the restaurant business and doesn’t mind the workaholic lifestyle starting new business demands. He just got married a year ago, and his infant daughter has doubled his ambition.



“I have to make that milk and diaper money. I’ve got another mouth to feed,” he said.



For now, BASH is just a restaurant. Starting in about a week or so, it will also be a bar. That will allow the flexibility to stay open for a drink after a late show at the Westland Theatre, or a pre-movie meal. Hours likely will extend to 1 or 2 a.m. on weekends.



BASH already has opened up early for mall walkers interested in a healthy salad, and Alfano hopes to expand those options and possibly engage in a “dinner and a movie” partnership with Westland Theatre.



The Italian, which has been closed as Alfano prepared and opened BASH, will reopen in a week or two, he said.



Photo by Anthony Dewitt

BASH (Burger and SteakHouse) Now Open In Former Diamond Dave’s

By Beacon Staff



It was a beautiful sunny day throughout the area with spring-like temperatures and clear skies. Burlington's riverfront reflected the sunny weather, with views of the Great River Bridge and the BNSF railroad bridge.



Photos by Joy Mack

Sunny View

Two Des Moines County restaurants closed their doors this past week, though one of them will open again under new owners.



The take-home pizza joint Papa Murphy’s, located in the same building as the Fast Break gas station on Gear Avenue in Burlington, closed Tuesday, Feb. 18.



The restaurant Coconuts Cabana, which opened in Mediapolis roughly two years ago, also closed down. The location is expected to reopen under new owners.



The Papa Murphy’s closure came without warning, and several Papa Murphy’s employees said they found out about the closure when they arrived at work that morning.



It was the second Burlington location for Papa Murphy’s, which was originally located in Walmart.



Coconuts Cabana also closed without warning. The management team announced the immediate closure on Friday on Facebook.



“We are in the process of working with some new owners and hoped to stay open during the transition period. However, due to staffing issues, we will not be able to do this. Thank you for all of your support over the last 2 years!” the post reads.

Two Fewer Places To Eat In Des Moines County

Former World Wrestling Entertainment champion Chris Jericho is coming to Fort Madison this August, and he’s leaving his wrestling boots at home.



Jericho’s rock band Fozzy, which he founded in 1999, will be one of three national rock acts headlining the second night of RiverFest on Aug. 6. The four-day concert is held annually in Fort Madison’s Riverview Park, and two more national rock acts for Aug. 6 will be announced soon. The festival begins Wednesday, Aug. 5, and concludes Sunday, Aug. 8.



Jericho, still an active wrestler, just lost the AEW (All Elite Wrestling) world title last week. He currently stars in the weekly TNT wrestling program, “AEW Dynamite,” and was only two years into his WWE career when he founded the band.



Aside from touring the country, Jericho also hosts an annual cruise that features pro wrestling and rock music, including performances by Fozzy. The group’s most popular song, “Judas,” currently serves as Jericho’s ring entrance, and the lyrics are often sung aloud by the audience.



More national acts for the RiverFest stage will be announced soon, and tickets for the four-day festival will go on sale shortly.



Tickets for all four days of the festival, which includes 10 national rock acts and 20 bands in total, are $39 for GA and $67 for VIP. These prices are good until April 18th, at which time they increase to $42 for GA and $72 for VIP.



For more announcements and future ticket info, visit the RiverFest page on Facebook.

Local