Former Burlington Mayor Shane McCampbell rarely speaks without employing jokes as conjunctions.



But there were only tears and humility in his eyes Tuesday night (Jan. 21).



At a meeting of the Burlington City Council, a proclamation was issued honoring McCampbell as Burlington’s first African-American mayor, in conjunction with recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day from the day before.



That meant McCampbell’s name was on the same official proclamation as King’s, forever immortalized in the city archive.



It was a “heavy” moment for the full-time pastor, and McCampbell’s usual exuberance had been traded for gravitas at Tuesday's council meeting.



“I didn’t realize my name was going to be on the proclamation,” McCampbell said, his voice uncharacteristically soft and choked.



The former mayor’s gregarious nature foisted him into the local spotlight six years ago and kept him there. McCampbell’s term as mayor lasted from 2014 until the end of 2019, when he chose not to seek reelection.



In previous meetings shortly before his departure, McCampbell called for the younger generation to ascend to leadership roles.



“Whenever there’s been a first, that means there’s going to be a second (black mayor),” McCampbell said Tuesday night.

McCampbell Honored As City's First African-American Mayor

Jury selection for the trial of Emmanuel Spann who is accused of first-degree murder in the 2017 death of Burlington resident Demarcus Chew began Wednesday and is still ongoing.



Though the selection process has ceased for the weekend, it will resume next week, leading to what is expected to be a roughly two-week trial.



Chew was shot to death in the backseat of a car outside his mother’s house in Burlington during the early morning hours of Sept. 10, 2017. He had returned from a night on the town in Gulfport, Ill., and was shot shortly before 6 a.m.



The Des Moines County Attorney's office, which is prosecuting the case, accuses Spann of conspiring with four other men in the murder — Andre Harris, Caesar Davison, Derrick Parker, and Antoine Spann. Prosecutors say the murder was $20,000 hit job issued by a Chicago gang.



Like Emmanuel Spann, Davison has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. The other three alleged conspirators, who have already pled guilty to various charges, will testify against Emmanuel Spann in his trial. If convicted of first-degree murder, he would face a mandatory life sentence.

Trial begins For One of Five Men Charged In Shooting Death

Steven Mauck was sentenced to 25 years in prison Tuesday, following a second-degree sexual assault conviction in November.



The 38-year-old Burlington resident was convicted in the rape of Justina Rucinski, who runs an in-home baking business in Burlington.



During the trial, it was revealed Mauck used a fake name to place a large cookie order from Rucinski. He used this excuse to gain entry into her apartment and rape her at gunpoint, prosecutors said.



Mauck still denies the crime, and won’t be eligible for parole until he admits guilt and participates in a sex offender program. Mauck said he will appeal the sentence.

Convicted Rapist Sentenced to 25 Years In Prison

This weekend's winter weather provided the perfect backdrop Saturday for the annual Arctic Challenge.



The area was slammed Friday with snow, freezing rain, and sleet. The weather may have made driving difficult but made the event hosted by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BurlingtonBentRiver/?__tn__=K-R&amp;eid=ARCaae-aN3_wPH4tyIQyHfrmnxkxTZXBsr9FSVlm-nrQKDdVwrlz6tc_bTv-SdvqA3I5gtJ5YNYaAYPg&amp;fref=mentions&amp;__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARA0y9KHBAKjaw4E9cr3EVYyyEnbBKj55zDrL7zlbqerz6UTJEDQHXQ2Z3362UilfP1LKXi-Di7JoEMO5kHG_ZqXlYl-e5_pU1l9ecGog5j6tpPMGIlYgfajW-z9CtGdu2erluIDdf4jOAgl-okx1g4-xf_2uAYQnPSNwQsa6GX5Add08toqVYZygUo0nqfdrJjyZEp7ORllHVbfcYjv677KWpxCasnkvT_C9ZJTS1gFB5Sf15LwH0_8eW6F6FN1UlCf2FKMRVx8i6j_ffJ4jJES2udfKMzdM23nHF2nNClCal7IHeHrErSLfQxDrGYAjWC6MYxUaGnXnA0dVz9E8cWCz1xFCawMHRg">Burlington Bent River Brewing Company</a>&nbsp;a hit with participants.



Saturday's event, which began at 1 p.m., raises funds for local charities. Five-person teams compete against each other in a variety of events, including the beer mug relay, keg roll race, among other winter-themed challenges. For every pint or mug sold to team members or fans, $1 is donated to each team's designated charity, according to organizers.



Photo by Jeff Abell

Storm Provides Perfect Backdrop For Winter Event

Local People, Local News

The West Burlington Police Department has confirmed the identity of the man who engaged police in a 14-hour standoff at his home Monday before setting fire to the house and succumbing to the blaze.



Firefighters discovered the body of Michael Kartel, 62, Monday night in the basement of his home at 414 E. Pennington St. in West Burlington. Kartel had barricaded himself inside the house while threatening police with a firearm believed to be a shotgun, brandishing the weapon when officers arrived. Kartel suffered no gunshot wounds, self-inflicted or otherwise, according to authorities.



In a press release issued Tuesday evening, West Burlington Police Chief Jesse Logan said an autopsy will be performed in Ankeny, and the results won’t be available for several weeks.



West Burlington Fire Chief Shaun Ryan provided additional details about the standoff on Tuesday, saying police advised the fire department to be on standby at 7:30 a.m. on Monday. Firefighters were finally called to the scene after Kartel set fire to his house about 2 p.m. on Monday.



Concerned nearby students would be at risk as they walked home from school, negotiators with the Des Moines County Tactical team gave Kartel a time limit to come out of the house, beginning at about 2 p.m.



Kartel stopped talking to police after that, responding by lighting and then extinguishing several fires inside his home over the next couple of hours. He fired his weapon out the window at least eight times between each small fire. Police did not return fire, and no one was hit by gunfire.



The periodic gunfire made fighting the fire impossible without putting firefighters at risk, and police kept the fire department a block away to ensure their safety as smoke streamed from inside the house.



Kartel set the last fire at 4:30 p.m., and the constant smoke turned to visible flames.



At that point, fire crews moved in to fight the blaze, extinguishing it at about 5:40 p.m. on Tuesday. The West Burlington Fire Department remained on the scene until 11 p.m., according to officials. By then, the house was a smoking pile of rubble. Kartel was the only person inside the home, police said.



The Des Moines County Tactical Team fired tear gas rounds into the residence to coax Kartel out. The non-pyrotechnic rounds are made for indoor use and did not cause the fires. An investigation of the scene revealed that Kartel used fire accelerants to foster the blaze.



Court records show Kartel had previous run-ins with authorities. He was awaiting prosecution on charges of harassment and driving while intoxicated. Police were initially called to Kartel’s house at 2:40 a.m. Monday for a welfare check regarding a woman who had been assaulted.



Kartel also had a nearly decade-long dispute with the city of West Burlington over the condition of his yard, which he claimed was full of sinkholes due to a leaky storm sewer pipe under his property. The city claimed the leakage was caused by the drainage tile installed by the previous owner.



At the time (April 2017), Kartel said he was looking for a way to pay for a lawyer, believing he could prove the city had damaged his property through negligence.



In a Facebook post dated Jan. 5, Kartel said he was having a nervous breakdown, saying he was a danger to himself.



The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation of the incident.



Photo by Joy Mack

Police ID Deceased Gunman

Her arms spread wide to display the impressive wingspan of an American Bald Eagle, eagle expert Lori Carnes spent Wednesday morning citing fascinating tidbits about the nation’s mascot.



The Mediapolis Elementary School teacher is a favorite during the annual bald eagle programs hosted by Des Moines County Conservation and had planned on leading an impromptu class to Lock and Dam 1 for some eagle viewing after her presentation.



Weather conditions prevented the eagle viewing, but Carnes is far from done with her eagle education. Beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 18), she will demonstrate how to build a bald eagle nest at Starr’s Cave Nature Center. A week later (Jan. 25), she will lead an official eagle count at Lock and Dam 18. It begins with a 10 a.m. presentation at The Port of Burlington Welcome Center, and all are welcome.



Carnes has been teaching second-grade students about bald eagles since stumbling upon the Decorah eagle webcam, which documents the life of a bald eagle from birth to adulthood.



For humans, that process takes years. For bald eagles, it takes about six to eight weeks.



“Every year, I’ve learned how better to integrate it into my curriculum,” Carnes said during a previous eagle presentation. “Now I tie it into language arts, I tie it into math, geography. We learn adjectives, nouns, verbs. We do a lot of writing. One of the hardest things to do is to get kids to write.”



She’s been teaching for 40 years and has found a renewed passion for her job by teaching her students about bald eagles.



That is how she learned a bald eagle’s feet are much like that of an octopus. Each toe has the power to squeeze at 400 pounds per square inch, while the average human hand can only squeeze something at 20 pounds per square inch. The father of a baby bald eagle looks over the nest about 30 percent of the time, while the mother is responsible for it the remaining 70 percent.



And the noble species of the bird nearly went extinct in the 1970s due to the pesticide DDT, which weakened eagle eggs to the point where they would break before hatching.



Carnes will lead another program from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday (Jan. 20) at Starr’s Cave Nature Center titled, “Eagle Cycle Life.” This program will explore the life of an eagle from every angle, and another eagle watching opportunity with Carnes at Lock and Dam 18 will follow.



The series of eagle events will end with an annual bald eagle count at 10 a.m. next Saturday (Jan 25), beginning with one last presentation by Carnes at The Welcome Center.



Participants will caravan to Lock and Dam 18 in Illinois and are expected to arrange their own transportation. Birdwatchers will be given instruction in eagle identification and counting methods used for the survey, and binoculars will be available for loan.



There is no fee or registration required for any of the programs, and participants can come and go as they please. For more information, contact Starr’s Cave Nature Center at (319) 753-5808.



Photo by Joy Mack

All About Eagles

A complex winter storm is headed for Burlington bringing with it the possibility of sleet, snow, and ice.



The National Weather Service’s worst-case scenario calls for 3 to 6 inches of snow and three-tenths of an inch of ice from freezing rain, beginning as early as 11 a.m. Friday (Jan. 17.) Under this scenario, snow would accumulate fast, pushed around by high winds that could lead to drifting, white-out conditions and subzero wind chills. The combination of ice and wind could lead to downed power lines and sporadic power outages.



For now, the National Weather Service has only issued a Winter Weather Advisory for southeast Iowa, which is less severe than a Winter Storm Warning, or even a Winter Storm Watch.



But those warnings could elevate as quickly as the weather conditions deteriorate. For now, the Winter Weather Advisory for southeast Iowa begins at 9 a.m. Friday (Jan. 17), and continues through 6 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 18).



Winds of 30 to 45 mph winds could lead to severely reduced visibility and more drifting snow on Saturday. The temperatures will drop Saturday as the winds increase, resulting in wind chills of 15-degrees below zero.



A More Detailed Winter Weather Breakdown



The National Weather Service also has a more moderate, narrow forecast focused on Des Moines, Van Buren and Lee counties (as well as surrounding counties in Illinois and Missouri), and that one is calling for 2 to 4 inches.



A more detailed, hourly forecast provided by the National Weather Service reads as follows:



Friday



Snow, mainly after 11am. The snow could be heavy at times. Patchy blowing snow after 3 p.m. High near 29. Breezy, with a southeast wind 10 to 20 mph. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.



Friday Night Into Early Saturday Morning



Snow, freezing rain, and sleet before 1 a.m., with patchy blowing snow Friday evening, then freezing rain between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. Saturday. More freezing rain, possibly mixed with snow and sleet, will start after 5 a.m. Ice accumulation of 0.1 to 0.3 of an inch possible. New sleet and snow accumulations of less than an inch possible.



Saturday



A chance of rain before 7 a.m., then a chance of snow between 7 a.m. and noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. Wind chill values as low as zero. Breezy, with a southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Snow Way: Another Winter Storm Threat Looms Large

The first public political forum of the 2020 legislative session is set for Saturday morning (Jan. 18), giving area residents a chance to talk to their representatives face-to-face.



State Sen. Tom Greene, R-Burlington, state Rep. Dennis Cohoon, D-Burlington, and state Rep. David Kerr, R-Morning Sun will answer questions from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Burlington Public Library. Most of the discussion will revolve around the 2020 legislative session, which began this week.

A Chance To Talk to Three Local Lawmakers

Though the forecast snow has begun to fall, there won’t be as much on the ground tonight (Jan. 11) as forecasters initially predicted.



Though the National Weather Service still has Burlington under a winter storm warning until midnight tonight, the most extreme snowfall prediction tops out at 2 inches.



The local forecast for Burlington, also provided by the National Weather Service, is calling for a little less — another inch today, and possibly another half-inch later tonight. That would bring the storm’s total snowfall to 2 inches.



The freezing rain early this morning proved to be more burdensome, leaving behind at least a tenth-of-an-inch of ice. It resulted in predictably slipperier conditions, but most treated roads were improving by Saturday afternoon. A rollover accident was reported on US 34 near Danville Road Saturday morning, but no injuries have been reported.



Burlington Mayor Jon Billups took a drive through town at about 2 p.m. and reported the roads were decent. He said the main roads were in good condition, and Roosevelt Avenue was reported to be in good condition around the same time.



No more ice accumulation is expected tonight or Sunday.

Winter Storm Loses Its Bite

Sure, you could stay inside the entire month and avoid the cold.



But you’ll be missing the bald eagles.



It’s the best time of year to watch the majestic national mascot, even if the Mississippi River isn’t as frozen as it often is in January. Eagles tend to congregate near dams when the air temperature drops low enough to freeze portions of the Mississippi River, forcing them to grab fish from the unfrozen pools of river water.



Des Moines County Conservation will lead several bald eagle educational programs for the next couple of weeks, culminating with the annual volunteer bald eagle count Jan. 25 at Lock and Dam 18. The eagle count will be preceded by a short eagle informational session at 10 a.m. at the Port of Burlington Welcome Center, and all are welcome.



Eagle enthusiast and retired teacher Lori Carnes will lead the programs for the rest of the month, and those too are also free and open to the public. Carnes works with the Raptor Research Project, educating children about the animal’s importance, lifestyle, and history.



From 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Jan. 15, Carnes will be on hand at the Port of Burlington Welcome Center to answer eagle questions and will present an hour-long program at 10:30 a.m. Participants are then welcome to join Carnes at Lock and Dam 18 in Gladstone, Ill., for some eagle watching at about noon. Binoculars will be available for loan.



Carnes will return to for an interactive program from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday (Jan. 18), helping participants build a life-sized eagle nest at Starr’s Cave Nature Center. Participants will measure out the size of the nests, explore the different nest shapes, and take a short hike to build our own. All ages are welcome, but everyone should dress for the weather.



Carnes will lead another program from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday (Jan. 20) at Starr’s Cave Nature Center titled “Eagle Cycle Life.” This program will explore the life of an eagle from every angle, and another eagle watching opportunity with Carnes at Lock and Dam 18 will follow.



The series of eagle events will end with an annual bald eagle count at 10 a.m. next Saturday (Jan 25), staring with one last presentation by Carnes at The Welcome Center. Participants will caravan to Lock and Dam 18 in Illinois and are expected to arrange their own transportation. Birdwatchers will be given instruction in eagle identification and counting methods used for the survey, and binoculars will be available for loan.



There is no fee or registration required for any of the programs, and participants can come and go as they please. For more information, contact Starr’s Cave Nature Center at (319) 753-5808.

A Chance to Watch Bald Eagles Soar

Column by Stacey Abell



The mint julep and the mojito are classic cocktails that rely on mint for both garnish and flavor. However, I would like to turn your attention to a lesser-known but equally deserving libation — the South Side.



The history of the South Side is as murky as the pond water this drink is said to resemble. One story has this cocktail originating on the south side of Chicago during Prohibition, where the mint and citrus flavors were relied upon to disguise the inferior quality of bathtub gin.



An article in the Wall Street Journal claims the beverage first was served at the South Side Sportsman’s Club on Long Island in the 1880s. Regardless of its provenance, the cocktail became forever linked to the city of Baltimore. Mount Gay rum, preferred by sailors and yachtsmen, replaced the gin and it soon became a staple drink of the country club set.



I was first introduced to this cocktail a few years ago during a weekend trip to Chicago. I spent the majority of a mid-July day sweating through the city streets and had sought respite in the nearest Starbucks for some air conditioning and a cool drink.



As I leafed through the Chicago Tribune at my table, I happened upon a recipe for a vintage cocktail that sounded like the perfect antidote to the oppressive heat. After some research and experimentation, I would like to present my “south side of Burlington” version of this East Coast classic.



The South Side



(The following recipe was adapted from Leah Eskin’s article in the Chicago Tribune, as well as a recipe provided to the Baltimore Sun by bartender Andy Ervin, who started mixing the South Side at Baltimore’s Elkridge Club in 1961.)



Makes 4 12-ounce cocktails 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup sugar



Zest of 1 lemon 3 oz. fresh-squeezed lemon juice 4 oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice 2 cups (not packed) mint, including stems Ice



Club soda Combine water, sugar and lemon zest in a small saucepan and bring to a low boil. Cover and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat; cool and strain out zest. Once the simple syrup is cool, add lemon and lime juices and chill until cold.



Add the mint to the chilled mixture. Pour into a blender or food processor and run on high until mint is chopped about 30-60 seconds. At this point, it’s going to look a little like a green smoothie, but don’t be alarmed! Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large glass.



For each drink, fill a 12-ounce highball glass with ice. Add 3 ounces of the mint mixture and 2 ounces of your liquor of choice. Mount Gay Eclipse Gold rum can be purchased locally at Hy-Vee, but I prefer a clear liquor in this drink. Gin, white rum, or vodka are all acceptable substitutes.



Top with chilled club soda, garnish with mint and a lime wedge and serve. This mixture can also be combined with club soda for an alcohol-free beverage.

Welcome To The South Side

City councilman Jon Billups is now the mayor of Burlington.



Billups was elected by a unanimous vote of his council peers during Monday night's (Jan. 6) council meeting.



Councilman Bill Maupin, who was sworn in last week, nominated Billups. No other candidates were nominated, though a formal ballot was still held.



“I’m humbled,” Billups said immediately after the motion became official. “I’m going to do my best. Unified, the five of us (city council members), even we have different opinions on different things, will work for the city.”



In Burlington, which has a manager-council system of governing, council members choose among their ranks who is the mayor and the mayor pro-tem rather than having those positions elected by a vote of the public. Under this system, the mayor is a voting member of the council but does not have the more extensive authority or responsibilities of a traditionally elected mayor.



Lynda Graham-Murray was elected as mayor pro-tem, winning a 3-2 vote over Matt Rinker. No other candidates were nominated for the position.



Billups, in his first action as mayor, nominated Graham-Murray for the position. He remarked on Graham-Murray’s meticulous eye for detail, saying that he often relies on her complete meeting notes.



“She writes everything down,” Billups said.



Critser nominated Rinker for pro-tem, but the two were outvoted by Maupin, Billups, and Graham-Murray, who voted for herself. Rinker also voted for himself, as did Billups.



Murray exchanged handshakes and hugs with her fellow council members after the vote, then spoke of her desire to do the best she can for the city.



Graham-Murray indicated she is contemplating a run at becoming the city's mayor and figured pro-tem would be a way to try out the role.



“I’m tickled pink. No, I’m just really excited,” Murray said.



Billups noted that all the council members have equal standing and voting power. Aside from a small pay bump for the mayor, the title is largely ceremonial.



“I just run the meetings,” Billups said.

Billups Is Burlington's New Mayor

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2020/01/Yangwash-1024x812.jpg" alt="Presidential candidate Andrew Yang speaks at The Washington" class="wp-image-684"/><figcaption>Andrew Yang addresses supporters at The Washington in Burlington, Iowa. Photo by Joy Mack</figcaption></figure>



Ten minutes after appearing on stage Saturday evening at The Washington in downtown Burlington, an upbeat Andrew Yang promptly left the stage to serve some beer.



After the task was completed, the Democratic presidential candidate retreated with his wife, Evelyn, for a night of rest. The kids weren’t on this campaign trip, he explained, and it was date night -- a welcome reprieve on a long campaign trail.



Though Yang’s speech at The Washington was short, he spoke at length earlier in the evening at the opening of his new campaign office in Burlington. It was the last stop on a whirlwind campaign trip across Iowa for Yang and his wife.



Yang was welcomed by a packed house at The Washington, about 160 people, by Yang’s estimate. He did note that some people had just wandered in for a beer, via an informal poll.



“I’m going to make the Trumpian (President Donald Trump) estimate and say about 800,” he said, garnering some chuckles from the crowd.



Yang couldn’t help crack a few more jokes on the stage designed for musicians and comedians rather than politicians, but his voice grew serious when he asked the crowd how much Amazon paid in taxes last year.



“Zero,” a few chimed in.



Though Yang has a variety of platforms, including a plan to revitalize the journalism industry and provide health care for all, his main selling point of a universal income was the focus of his Burlington speech.



The "Freedom Dividend" would give every American adult $1,000 month no questions asked, no strings attached. He believes the policy is the correct response to the loss of jobs associated with increased automation.



The idea of a basic universal income isn’t unheard of, which Yang pointed out.



“It’s not my idea,” he said. “Thomas Paine called it a ‘Citizen Dividend.’ ”



Yang said Alaska already has adopted a form of universal income. Alaska’s permanent fund dividend, which holds investments initially seeded by the state's revenue from mineral resources, works much the same way. In 2005, every eligible Alaskan resident (including children) received a check for $845.76.



“My friends in California say they are 98 percent of the way to self-driving trucks. What is that going to mean for the 3.5 million truck drivers here in Iowa and other parts of the country?” he said.



“This is the coolest campaign office in Iowa,” he added.

Yang Opens Campaign Office, Stumps in Burlington

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.



Saturday, Jan. 4



• Burlington Depot: A History will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Burlington Public Library. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. • Lunchtime Chamber Music — a special concert featuring violinist Vidya Mullangi and Leigh Pirtle performing works by Bach, Max Bruch, and Debussy — will be at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. Free and open to the public. • Southeastern Community College Kids Night will be at 7 p.m. inside the SCC gymnasium. Children in grades kindergarten through fifth grade get free admission to the SCC Blackhawks basketball game, and the players will be on hand for autographs. • Wake N' Bake Day Drunk Drag Brunch at Wake N Bake Breakfast Company. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 and include your meal and a drink.



Monday, Jan. 6



• A screening of the movie “The Lemon Tree” followed by a discussion of Israel and Palestine from noon to 2 p.m at the Burlington Public Library. The discussion will be led by Dr. Joy Lapp, professor of religion at Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant.



Wednesday, Jan. 8



• Civic Music presents Fandango! at 7:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theater. Based in Chicago and featuring musicians from Bosnia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Fandango! has been hailed as “the most exciting new group on Chicago’s musical scene.” More information can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.burlcivicmusic.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1W8R8Ch76vbN65QsbSNyBIsSfaTgGdDy6gwyZA731aT4Y-WPvRxqqvV6Q&amp;h=AT18vLeMsW5YTeuKU74K2U-DUNvb4U2lck8xFWztUJl5zje1EjdqBnJXX_FdH99jQeY6A-drCwKWjbEo5Du7pAzHBVkT44w3J_zkkXFSK5e7u5B_uNhwHatut36DJl1rHfp7wA" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">www.burlcivicmusic.com.</a>



Thursday, Jan. 9



• Lunch at First United Church of Christ. Homemade meatball stroganoff or chicken bacon ranch sandwich, plus two sides, dessert and a beverage for $7. Enjoy fellowship in the social hall or call 319-754-4807 for carryout orders.



Friday, Jan. 10



• Friends of the Library Trivia Night will be at 6:30 p.m. at Burlington Public Library. Up to eight people per team. The cost is $12.50 per person, and there will be a bonus prize for the best table decoration. Register your team by calling (319) 753-1647. • Full Moon Hike at 6:30 p.m. at Starr’s Cave Nature Center. Plan for a 3-mile hike and dress for the weather. • Jerad and Nathan from Stumptown will play at 7 p.m. at Wake n' Bake Breakfast Company.

Faces and Places

<div class="wp-block-media-text alignwide is-vertically-aligned-top"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2020/01/81130225_473894309982432_3156926126496940032_n.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-611"/></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">


The multi-jurisdictional drug busts that culminated in an FBI press conference last year are continuing into 2020.



Burlington police busted another alleged methamphetamine operation Friday (Jan.3) afternoon, stating in a press release the bust is part of the ongoing investigation into drug distribution.



Burlington police, with the help of the Davenport Police Department, located and arrested Lavelle Cortez Harris, 35, of Burlington at about 1:30 p.m. Friday in connection to the bust. He is charged on a federal warrant for conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine and is being held on no bond pending a court appearance.



Des Moines County Attorney Lisa Schaefer issued a stark warning to area drug dealers during the November press conference, warning the busts would continue for the foreseeable future. 


</div></div>



 The multi-jurisdictional drug busts that culminated in an FBI press conference last year are continuing into 2020. Burlington police busted another alleged methamphetamine operation Friday (Jan.3) afternoon, stating in a press release the bust is part of the ongoing investigation into drug distribution. Burlington police, with the help of the Davenport Police Department, located and arrested Lavelle Cortez Harris, 35, of Burlington at about 1:30 p.m. Friday in connection to the bust. He is charged on a federal warrant for conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine and is being held on no bond pending a court appearance. Des Moines County Attorney Lisa Schaefer issued a stark warning to area drug dealers during the November press conference, warning the busts would continue for the foreseeable future.

Burlington Police Take Down Another Meth Operation, Resulting in Federal Charges

As people gathered to say goodbye to 2019 and welcome in a new decade, patrons dressed in vintage clothes and gathered at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoodBurlington/?eid=ARD5iCHXDW6ILgWW8L3FK8BuS4yioVsAV4FNkb1uosfU-R5PtEASzIPdX2WtnIsfWx8pa9tIrbTD26eR&amp;fref=tag">Good Restaurant + Lounge</a>&nbsp;in Burlington for a 1920s-theme party. The Roaring 20s was alive at the Gatsby-esque party that featured food, drinks, and fun activities.



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https://www.facebook.com/burlingtonbeacon/videos/485786415407147/
</div></figure>



Video by Joy Mack

The 20s Roar Again On New Year's Eve

The community had a chance to chime in about the fate of the Cascade Bridge Wednesday night, but every option they were presented with was inordinately expensive, save one — complete demolition.



Local interest in the historic bridge is as keen as ever as Wednesday's meeting attracted about 70 people who packed into the Burlington Public Library meeting room. The group's earnest opinions were as varied as the options put before them.



The Burlington City Council hired environmental and planning firm Impact 7G to study the bridge and determine cost estimates for either rehabbing the bridge, demolishing the bridge or tearing it down.



According to a presentation by Impact 7G, the difference between rehabbing the bridge and building a new one is negligible. A new bridge for vehicles and pedestrians would cost between $3 to $5 million and will last 100 years, while a rehabbed bridge would run between $6 and $9 million and would stand about 50 years.



The cost of tearing down Cascade Bridge without a replacement would be about $250,000 — not counting the $47,000 already paid to Impact 7G for the study.



The city will have to spend some money regardless, as the bridge is a safety concern. Cascade Bridge, constructed in 1896, was closed to vehicle traffic in 2008 due to structural concerns and closed to foot traffic last year as the condition of the bridge worsened.



Impact 7G is holding meetings with stakeholders and the community, gathering input to present to the council. The agency also works with the State Historical Preservation Society, which must approve any major changes to the bridge.



If the city decides to keep the bridge or build a new one, locals will likely have to pay for it through higher taxes. Impact 7G indicated Burlington would likely only be able to secure about $1 million worth of federal funding for the bridge, considering the $17 million downtown redevelopment project funded by a federal TIGER grant.



The firm also pointed out that among the nearly 50 cities in Iowa with a population of 25,000 or over, Burlington already has the sixth-highest tax rate. Mayor Jon Billups has expressed repeatedly in prior meetings that he does not want to raise taxes.



As the meeting ended, the crowd was encouraged to fill out a survey packed with questions such as “How likely are you to support a tax increase for the purpose of preservation or reuse of the Cascade Bridge?”



Burlington resident Terry Arellano, president of the Friends of the Cascade Bridge group, said their engineer has a rehab cost estimate for the bridge that’s a fraction of 7G’s estimate. Arellano said an engineer was in Burlington earlier that day (Jan. 29) examining the bridge.



Though she did not have a rough estimate at the meeting, Arellano encouraged everyone to attend The Friends of the Cascade presentation set for 6 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 6) at F&amp;M Bank and Trust. The group is dedicated to finding solutions to rehabbing and preserving the bridge, which is listed on the Register of Historic Places.`



Photos by Joy Mack

What To Do With Cascade Bridge? Residents Sound Off On Options At Input Meeting

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As far as he knows, Smoking Joe’s manager Rick Janes can continue selling tobacco and vape products to 18-to-21-year-olds for the next few weeks.



That is what the U.S House of Representatives website indicates, and that’s what Janes said Friday morning during a phone interview with the Beacon.



The Federal and Drug Administration’s website is a little less clear on the matter, implying the new federal law is active right now. Last Friday (Dec. 20), President Donald Trump signed a federal spending bill that prohibits the sale of tobacco and vape products to those 21-years-old and younger.



National news outlets began reporting the confusingly timed enforcement news this morning (Friday, Dec. 27), offering no context beyond the initial announcement.



In Iowa, the legal smoking age had been 18, though 20 states had already raised the legal age to 21.



Janes said the news would be pretty easy to miss if you don’t closely follow such legislation. News of the bill restricting the sales is a week old, but there had been no word of enforcement.



National news outlets such as The New York Post seemed caught off-guard by the confusing announcement, considering the FDA had six months to put the law into effect and another 90 days to start enforcing it. The Post story repeats the Dec. 27 announcement but offers no additional information.



The FDA itself admitted that its policies are being clarified in the announcement, which reads as follows.



“On December 20, 2019, the President signed legislation to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and raise the federal minimum age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years. It is now illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product, including cigarettes, cigars, and e-cigarettes, to anyone under 21. FDA will provide additional details on this issue as they become available.”

Selling Tobacco Products To Anyone Under 21 Is Now Illegal

Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Burlington plans on celebrating the iconic civil rights leader with two events.



First, a 30-minute concert will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at Southeastern Community College’s Harry and Virginia Murray Art Gallery at 1500 W. Agency Road in West Burlington.



Southeastern Community College music instructor and advisor Daniel Pappas will host the concert honoring Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and everyone is invited — not just students.



Pappas is honoring MLK Jr. with pieces inspired by the civil rights movement, including John Coltrane’s “Alabama,” based on the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Ala.; Duke Ellington’s “Come Sunday” from his groundbreaking composition Black, Brown, and Beige; “Strange Fruit,” performed most famously by Billie Holiday about the lynchings in the South; and Oscar Peterson’s “Hymn to Freedom,” an anthem for world peace.



A Burlington Tradition



Hope Community Church at 314 N. Third St. will host Burlington’s 32nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. event at 5 p.m. Monday, which is open to the public.



The event, organized by parishioners of Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, is about unity and understanding.



Orville Jones, pastor for First Baptist Church in Quincy, Ill., will be the keynote speaker. Former Burlington Mayor Shane McCampbell and city and school officials also will deliver remarks.



The evening will include music from Burlington area churches, as well as a light meal. Everyone is encouraged to bring a covered dish, salad or dessert to share.



The event is sponsored by the Burlington Area Council of Churches, Burlington Human Rights Commission, and the Burlington branch of the NAACP.



SCC Students to Engage in Unity Walk



To further honor Martin Luther King Jr., students at the SCC campuses in West Burlington and Keokuk students will present King’s most memorable speeches in the cafeteria. That will be followed by a Unity Walk around the campuses for students, faculty, and staff to show their support for racial equality.



Celebrating MLK Jr. In Keokuk



The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. also will be honored at 6 p.m. Monday at New Bethel Church, 1217 Morgan Street in Keokuk.



The annual event is sponsored by the Keokuk Association for Rights and Equality (KARE).



This year’s speaker is Rev. Abraham Funchess, pastor of Jubilee United Methodist Church in Waterloo and Human Rights Director of the city of Waterloo.



Rev. Funchess will speak about the life of King, who worked tirelessly as the leader of civil rights in the 1950′s and 1960′s and inspired generations of people to continue the work.



A dinner will follow the program, and the event is open to the public.

MLK Day Events Honor Slain Civil Rights Leader

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Movie Review by William Smith



It’s nice to be an Adam Sandler fan again.



I haven’t said that since seeing “Punch Drunk Love” at an Iowa City theater 17 years ago. I was in college, taking advantage of an indie movie scene unavailable in Burlington at the time.



Sandler’s latest drama is “Uncut Gems” (2019), which played Wednesday evening and again tonight at the Westland Mall Theater, and it’s as good as everyone says it is.



Halfway through the film, I wasn’t so confident. The first hour or so is an impressive take on Martin Scorsese’s “Mean Streets” with a fascinating Jewish twist. If that’s all “Uncut Gems” was going to be, I was plenty satisfied if not exactly overwhelmed.



But then directors Josh and Benny Safdie subvert those expectations for the finale, transforming a dour portrait of selfish loser into an uplifting character study of a talented hustler who’s only enjoying life when he’s on the grift.



Howard Ratner (Sandler) embodies both, ruled entirely by a lifelong gambling addiction. He runs a jewelry store in New York’s Diamond District and has a reputation for gambling the money he owes instead of paying it back. When he does win, the money goes right back into another basketball bet.



“I’m exhausted,” Ratner says to his girlfriend early in the film. He also has a wife and two kids that keep him busy.



Ratner’s exhaustion comes across not only in Sandler’s much-praised performance but in the cinematography. The camera, always moving, seemingly hovers just a few feet from Sandler’s face most of the time, invoking claustrophobia while maintaining a frantic forward momentum.



There’s always someone in Ratner’s face getting ready to punch him, and it’s easy to see why. Nearly every word he utters is a lie, peppered with enough selective truth to keep everyone off tilt. Most everyone knows he’s full of it and he knows that they know.



Where “Uncut Gems” really breaks from the genre is in the inverse portrayal of Ratner. He’s impossible to get a read on in the first half of the film, slipping through conversations with distractions and falsehoods that distort his personality into a haze. I didn’t know who he was, or if he was even worth knowing.



That ambiguity provides a slow burn into the second half of the film — particularly the last half hour — where Ratner finally feels like a con artist capable of conning someone. I found myself rooting for a guy I didn’t care for just an hour earlier, elated to finally see passion return to his eyes.



It’s a hell of a payoff. Suddenly, “Uncut Gems” became my favorite film of 2019.

"Uncut Gems” is a Gem Of A Movie

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By Beacon Staff



Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., will make a campaign stop in Fort Madison on Sunday.



Buttigieg is hosting a town hall at 7 p.m. at YMCA Gym at 220 26th St. in Fort Madison. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., according to event organizers.



The first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses are Feb. 3. In a recent poll conducted by Iowa State University, 24 percent said they would vote for Buttigieg. In that same poll, 21 percent said they would vote for Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, 18 percent said they would vote for Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, 15 percent said they would vote for former Vice President Joe Biden, and 4 percent said they would vote for Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.