For Democrats, caucus night in Des Moines County was about choosing the right candidate to take on a Republican president.



For Republicans, it was more an affirmation of President Donald Trump — obligatory voting proof that the incumbent will indeed be the Republican nominee in the 2020 presidential election.



Hardly any of the 43 registered Republicans from Middletown and the Flint River voting district had even heard of former Mass. Gov. Bill Weld or former Ill. Rep. Joe Walsh, the other two candidates bucking for the Republican nomination.



“I first read about them in the paper today,” a voter whispered after precinct chair A. J. Fesler read the nominees to the packed music room inside West Burlington Elementary School.



To the surprise of no one in the room, the caucus tally for the district revealed 42 votes for President Trump, one vote for Weld and zero votes for Walsh. It was over in less than 30 minutes.



Bill Kreamalmyer of West Burlington spoke on behalf of Trump and was the only person at the caucus location to promote a candidate. A military veteran, Kreamalmyer stressed how President Trump has bolstered the military since assuming office.



“He (Trump) is a patriot, and I’m a patriot,” he said.



The serene, friendly crowd nodded in agreement, a choir that no longer needed preaching to but was still happy to express support. A few wore Donald Trump baseball caps with variations of the President’s motto “Make America Great Again.”



The rest came dressed as they normally would, reveling in the fellowship of like-minded political thinkers. Several joked about how they’ve become practiced at holding their tongue among their mostly liberal friends.



Carter Fesler, 12, wore his support for Trump on his sleeve, or rather his head. Topped by one of Trump’s trademark red caps, Carter was the epitome of professionalism as he helped his father check-in voters at the door of the music room.



He only voiced his political opinion when solicited by The Beacon, and felt no need to look at his father as he answered.



“I support President Trump because he supports gun control,” Carter said.



Carter’s father, precinct chair A.J. Fesler, said having an incumbent as the nominee is a double-edged sword. While the caucus is less heated since there is only one practical candidate to support, the lack of crossfire results in sparser attendance.



“When Trump ran the first time, we were in the (West Burlington Elementary) gym. All the seats were full. And there were probably some people standing, too,” Fesler said. “But it was really contentious.”



Like his son, A.J. Fesler is a Trump supporter, and he didn’t cite liberals or conservatives in his reasoning.



“He (President Trump) does what he promises to do,” Fesler said.



Photo by William Smith



Republican precinct chairman AJ Fesler and his 12-year-old son Carter Fesler check in voters at West Burlington Elementary School minutes before Monday's Iowa caucuses started. The precinct was for Middletown and Flint Creek voters.

A Quiet Caucus Night Of Rural Affirmation For Trump

By William Smith



Every rehab job is replete with “what ifs.”



For Burlington residents interested in a cheaper way to reopen the shuttered Cascade Bridge, the biggest (but far from only) “what if” could be a $2 million paint job.



Julie Bowers, executive director of the nonprofit organization Workin' Bridges, presented a $4.7 million rehabilitation option for Cascade Bridge Thursday night that would allow the city to reopen the 124-year-old historic structure to vehicle traffic.



By Bowers’ estimate, the bridge could be encapsulated in vinyl for as little as $900,000, which would protect it against the elements. A paint job would be optional, she said, which is why she didn’t figure its cost into the estimate.



The paint job could add at least an additional million to that initial $4.7 million cost estimate. Bowers said painting the bridge right away is not necessary, however, and could be delayed 20 years if necessary, depending on funding. The vinyl coating would act as protection.



“I wanted to leave that (whether or not to paint the bridge) up to you,” Bowers said Thursday to a crowd filling one of the rooms at F&amp;M Bank in downtown Burlington.



Workin’ Bridges specializes in buying and leasing historic bridges so communities can work together to rehab the structures at a lower cost.



Bowers noted her estimate is a fraction of the $6 to $9 million rehab cost discussed last week by environmental and planning firm Impact 7G. Adjusted for inflation, the Impact 7G rehab plan comes to $9.89 million — a figure estimated by Impact 7G itself.



A Choice Between Vinyl and Paint



Bowers did get an overall paint quote from Ziegler Industries in Keokuk, which estimated it would cost between $1.9 million to $2.4 million to scaffold, contain, blast and paint the entire bridge.



Bowers said she was able to whittle that price tag down to $900,000 by taking out the paint job and lowering containment costs. The Ziegler estimate put containment costs at between $500,000 and $600,000.



Impact 7G estimated the cost of painting the bridge at $1.94 million.



The firm also estimated $9.89 million would be needed in upfront costs to rehab the bridge overall (including paint), adjusted for inflation. That breaks down to $7.28 million for construction, $1.94 million for painting, and $750,000 for design and inspection.



Bowers said a lot of those construction costs can be lowered, especially by organizing local steelworker unions and volunteers who can work alongside engineers and experts. She encouraged the crowd to leave no avenue of help unsolicited. She noted that Workin’ Bridges already has had an engineer examine the bridge twice.



The city of Burlington hired Impact 7G for $47,000, partly so the company can verify the city’s plan with the State Historic Preservation Office, whatever the plan may end up being. One of the options is to demolish the bridge, which would cost $250,000. Impact 7G estimated the cost of a new bridge at between $3 and $5 million.



Bowers said working with State Historic Preservation Office isn’t necessary, noting the only consequence would be a cutoff in grant funding.



Nick MacGregor, Assistant Burlington City Manager for Public Works, cited those complications in grant funding as one of the reasons the city hired Impact 7G.



The Long Term Plan



Bowers said if the city doesn’t plan to do anything with the bridge in the next five years, Workin’ Bridges would like to lease the bridge so the community can work on it. But with concerns over the bridge being a falling hazard to the street below, a long wait is unlikely.



Bowers believes she can get the bridge rehabbed within the next five years. If immediate funding were available, it would only take a year, she said.



Workin’ Bridges was hired by the Friends of the Cascade Bridge group, which is dedicated to options that would preserve Cascade Bridge. The group is planning future meetings and discussions, and Bowers encouraged everyone in attendance to voice their opinions at upcoming city council meetings.

Paint, Or Not To Paint: Cascade Bridge Rehab Costs Vary

Messiah Luthern Church in Burlington was packed Monday evening, but not for a Bible study or church service. Inside were gathered Precinct 9 Republicans caucusing for President Donald Trump.



The mood amongst those in attendance was upbeat as the caucus switched back and forth from laughter to a more business-like footing. The consensus of those in attendance was that Trump was doing a good job but four more years are needed to see his policies come to fruition.



A lively discussion ensued ranging from gun rights and ending funding for Planned Parenthood to criminal justice reform, with those in attendance in agreement on the main issues.



Trump, who is an incumbent, has no challengers in his party the Iowa caucuses. As for any potential Democratic challengers, the caucus-goers' viewpoint can be summed up by Precinct 9 Chairman Richard Goughnour.



"Trump will win easily if Republicans come to the polls," he said.



Photo by Jeff Abell



Republicans turned out in force to show their support for President Donald Trump.

Republicans Turn Out For Trump

There won’t Democratic caucus result tonight — not from Des Moines County and not from the rest of Iowa.



Tom Courtney, Des Moines County Democratic co-chairman, said he tried for about an hour to phone in the results of his voting precinct at Burlington High School.



He couldn’t get through to anyone at the state’s central committee. Other Iowa county chairs who were able to get their results to the committee reported being on hold for nearly an hour.



Rather than sit inside an empty cafeteria by himself Monday night, Courtney went home. During a live interview with National Public Radio shortly before 10 p.m., after just arriving home, Courtney said he would call the results into the committee in the morning.



“Iowans aren’t going to stay up too late to see the results,” he said.



Caucus results would have normally been reported well before 10 p.m., but a conflagration of complications, including a glitchy new phone app and a new voting rules system, threw the normally fluid selection process into chaos.



“They told us this (app) would make things work better than ever. Being older, I had my doubts,” Courtney said.



Courtney said he was more astonished by the low voter turnout. The state Democratic party told him to expect about 250 voters at BHS Monday night but only 118 voters showed up.



“I was very disappointed in the turnout,” he said.



Former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign called the Iowa Democratic Party’s caucus voting process flawed in an official letter to the organization Monday night.



By 11 p.m., most of the candidates have publicly addressed their anxious supporters, though none had results to report.

No Democratic Caucus Results In Monday Night Due To Voting App Errors

By Jeff Abell



The school cafeteria at Grimes Elementary School was filled with hopeful smiles Monday evening as Burlington Precinct 6 voters sought to have their voices heard on who the next Democratic presidential nominee should be.



In the center table, supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders mingled across the aisle with backers of businessman Andrew Yang. Farther away, representatives for former Vice President Joe Biden and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg saw their numbers increase as it grew closer to the 7 p.m. cut-off time.



Democrats were hopeful but cautious as they eye a November win against incumbent Republican Donald Trump, with many saying they will back the eventual nominee no matter who it is.



Jerica Vahle of Burlington felt it was important to bring her children, Lilith and Liam, both 8, to the caucus to experience democracy first hand, adding her children attended a mock caucus at their school but it's not the same.



Jerica, who supports Yang, said she likes the candidate's stance on the economy, women's rights, and military veteran's rights.



"Under Trump, we have taken 10 steps back," she said.



Her son added: "I think people should vote for Yang."



At the Buttigieg table, Ike Blythe said he supports his candidate for a variety of reasons but one stands out above the rest — the ex-mayor is a veteran. Buttigieg served a seven-month deployment as an intelligence officer in Afghanistan.



Blythe's wife, Lois, said she is looking for a candidate who can bring people together. She said Buttigieg was that candidate, noting his status as a Washinton outsider.



"Maybe his inexperience in Washington is a good thing," she said.



Gary Wagler, a Sanders supporter, said he believed the self-described socialist democrat is the best person to prevent cuts to Medicare and Social Security.



"The Republicans are trying to cut those programs," he said. "Bernie can stop it from happening."



After all the heads were counted, there were 66 caucus-goers in Burlington Precinct 6 with Sanders (22), Buttigieg (20) and Yang (14) getting one delegate each.



Photos by Anthony Dewitt



First-time caucus-goer Jerica Vahle of Burlington brought her children, Lilith and Liam, both 8, to Grimes Elementary School in Burlington to show her support for Democratic presidential candidate and business Andrew Yang in Monday's Iowa caucuses.

Democrats Hopeful But Cautious As They Caucus

B-Town Comics &amp; Games in Burlington celebrated the release of the film "Birds of Prey" by making Saturday Harley Quinn Day. The event featured sales, activities, a prize drawing, and Shaela Graves of Burlington as Harley Quinn.



Graves is shown with Audrey Howe, 10, and Natalie Howe, 7, of Burlington at Saturday's event.

Harley Quinn Day A Hit At B-Town

After months of campaigning, it all comes to Monday night and the caucuses taking place throughout Iowa. 



Doors open at 6 p.m. and the caucuses begin at 7 p.m. Citizens supporting Democrats seeking to unseat President Donald Trump and supporters of the GOP incumbent and the undecided will caucus at the following Des Moines County locations:



Des Moines County Democrats • Precinct 1T, Sunnyside Elementary School gymnasium, 2040 Sunnyside Ave., Burlington. • Precinct 2, Aldo Leopold Middle School cafeteria, 3075 Sunnyside Ave., Burlington. • Precinct 3, Sunnyside Elementary School cafeteria, 2040 Sunnyside Ave., Burlington. • Precinct 4, Corse Elementary School cafeteria, 709 S. Starr Ave., Burlington. • Precinct 5, Burlington High School cafeteria, 421 Terrace Drive, Burlington. • Precinct 6, Grimes Elementary School cafeteria, 800 South St., Burlington. • Precinct 7, Black Hawk Elementary School cafeteria, 2804 S. 14th St., Burlington. • Precinct 8C, Edward Stone Middle School cafeteria 3000 Mason Road, Burlington. • Precinct 9: James Madison School auditorium 2132 Madison Ave., Burlington. • Danville Community School Jr. High gymnasium, 419 S. Main St., Danville. • Flint River/Middletown: Machinist Union Hall, 16282 U.S. 34, West Burlington. • Benton, Huron, Jackson: Mediapolis High School library, 725 N. Northfield St., Mediapolis. • Mediapolis/Yellow Spring, Franklin: Mediapolis High School cafeteria 725 N. Northfield St., Mediapolis. • Pleasant Grove, Washington: Yarmouth Fire Station, 20454 Eastern Ave., Yarmouth. •Union: Edward Stone Middle School Library, 3000 Mason Road, Burlington. • West Burlington: West Burlington High School auditorium, 408 W. Van Weiss Blvd., West Burlington.



Des Moines County Republicans • Precinct 1: Aldo Leopold Middle School auditorium, 3075 Sunnyside Ave., Burlington. • Precinct 2: Aldo Leopold Middle School, Room 1217, 3075 Sunnyside Ave., Burlington. • Precinct 3: Aldo Leopold Middle School, Room 1213, 3075 Sunnyside Ave., Burlington. • Precinct 4: Aldo Leopold Middle School, Room 1214, 3075 Sunnyside Ave., Burlington. • Precinct 5: Edward Stone Middle School auditorium, 3000 Mason Road, Burlington. • Precinct 6: Heritage Church, 1126 Locust St., Burlington. • Precinct 7: Edward Stone Middle School, Room 1212, 3000 Mason Road, Burlington. • Precinct 8: Heritage Church, 1126 Locust St., Burlington. • Precinct 9: Messiah Hall, 2411 West Ave., Burlington. • Danville: Community Building, 104 W. Shepherd St., Danville. • Flint River/Middletown: West Burlington Elementary School music room, 545 Ramsey St., West Burlington. • Benton, Huron, Jackson: Two Rivers office building, 5601 205th St., Kingston. • Mediapolis/Yellow Spring, Franklin: Mediapolis High School, 725 N. Northfield St., Mediapolis. • Pleasant Grove, Washington: Yarmouth Fire Station, 20454 Eastern Ave., Yarmouth. • Union: Edward Stone Middle School, Room 1218, 3000 Mason Road, Burlington. • West Burlington: West Burlington Elementary School cafeteria, 408 W. Van Weiss Blvd., West Burlington.



Photos by Joy Mack



Southeastern Community College hosted a mock Iowa caucus last week at the West Burlington campus.

Caucus Sites For Des Moines County

As former Vice President Joe Biden campaigned at The Loft On Jefferson Street Friday morning, he envisioned an America far different than President Donald Trump’s America.



The Democratic presidential candidate, who is slightly trailing front runner Bernie Sanders days before the Iowa caucus, spoke of what America would be like with him at the helm.



“In Joe Biden’s America, we choose science over fiction. We choose truth over lies,” he said, referring to President Trump.



That phrase – “In Joe Biden’s America” – became a common refrain throughout his speech.



“In Joe Biden’s America, no one, not even the president of the United States, is above the law,” Biden said in an elevated tone, just short of a shout.



The crowd inside The Loft erupted into cheers and applause.



Biden painted the president as frightened of him. So frightened, Biden said, that Trump has already paid for Iowa attack ads in advance of the caucus.



“He’s so concerned,” he said.



Biden couldn’t help unfurl some sharper barbs for President Trump, mocking his cozy relationships with Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin.



“He (President Trump) sends what he says are love letters,” Biden said.



In Joe Biden’s America, he said, foreign dictators won’t claim an intimate friendship with the president of the United States.



“I don’t believe that we’re a nation that will bow down to Vladimir Putin,” he said, to more cheers from the crowd.



Biden is crisscrossing Iowa in advance of the Feb. 3 caucuses, as are all the candidates – save for senators stuck in Washington D.C. for President Trump’s impeachment trial. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders were forced to cancel campaign appearances Friday to attend the trial.



Biden, who no longer serves in the Senate, is free of such restrictions.



Earlier Friday morning, Biden sought to distinguish comments he made assailing partisanship during the 1999 impeachment of former President Bill Clinton earlier.



“It’s not a partisan impeachment,” Biden said on ABC’s Good Morning America program Friday. “He violated the Constitution, period.”



Biden said his comments in 1999 against party-line votes to remove a president were different because the Clinton case didn’t involve a constitutional violation.



“A party-line vote on something that doesn’t relate to a constitutional violation is a different thing,” Biden said.



Biden said a vote against impeaching Trump reflects poorly on “those who know, in fact, in their heart and head that, in fact, it’s a violation of the Constitution to do what he did.”



Though much of his stump speech in Burlington was about Trump, Biden also brought up climate change as pressing issues facing not just the country, but the world.



“In Joe Biden’s America, we believe in science, not fiction,” he said.

Biden Brings His America To Burlington

The sixth annual Chocoholic Frolic is set for 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday in downtown Burlington. Chocolate lovers can sample a wide variety of chocolate treats at 13 shops.



Advance tickets are $10 at Weird Harold’s at 411 Jefferson St. through Friday, or they may be purchased online at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greaterburlington.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1z0mwK1G2_-7f2VBVHY7z9bLPQItR0qAyvp_am9OG2eTgNlom3AW7hlEI&amp;h=AT3zLH822nwSGy8vKsgvLj66MFBbU311PIZ-LoOrBH9sf38zSZv8HDj9XgXfeQYEWWHIP1rLrQC5tB1mZjewHk_ezu6VN19UX_Wn4U9yKa9U5cz1wLvjzZPELBk95_boDtZ5MdPK1UZhplPah_IsmNSCe4rl34Q4qkQOlfbmvtMr6_r0bo2E__LgWH1gBaSubwAmDjyPmz6g77n4RBUgJDAduy6qvoCNlwGeLnq60zWjMQQWOGUxIA39NsE7adGiZHylGNCoPRN0B4EaCSUrhYYJdAzM3bT3MkxNYSaX6usOzQGXmFxI0Bg7ahmjtw4NPK0MUKMG9VU4b8if-0LdzHEchbvxz46v_MsoWKjIA60JPCAuj8VMo_QwEhOcxmfG-UtAwn-N0f-Yj8-AX3qBxZIarw8X2PLq5EPyv5DWfrSXp2lT0Q2fslUNm0YTkuvhQFq7w_Q4hqlZiT8nQJEfKhVS-x76DXpKp7jpXf34eNNkvfcQUAVPQ4NNIEUXvv5i9B4Uvgbdr-j56KSt7jQk1d7RHTVUc7Nt6HHovoPoOVUl7BsyhiITavZaervs-BAH-KdbRAiJ0nwmBwmzo23mhS2UGPBJ5WQefvanxg6xFoIg0t1j0Xyzv5RaJU_y1gNTB5kY42E" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.greaterburlington.com.</a>&nbsp;Tickets are $12 the day of and during the event.



The Chocoholic Frolic is sponsored by Kodiak Cakes. For more information, call Downtown Partners at 319-208-0056 or visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.greaterburlington.com/?fbclid=IwAR2-Q2ZKmr21qHALnattIoCzjxvaKlh9ExhZfgi7Fbavsd0d0j5UiWSKBcA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.greaterburlington.com.</a>

Chocoholic Frolic Set For Saturday

Burlington police have identified the missing man who was discovered dead Saturday, Jan. 25.



German Quinnonas Madrigal, 58, of Burlington was found dead inside his vehicle in the parking lot of the Midtown Gardens apartment complex. He was not a resident there.



Police do not suspect foul play and did not say how long Madrigal had been missing before he was discovered.



An autopsy on Madrigal was performed Tuesday by the Iowa Office of State Medical Examiner in Ankeny. Police will release an official cause of death after receiving the toxicology report from the autopsy.

Man Found Dead In Midtown Gardens Identified; No Foul Play Suspected

Opening arguments and witness testimony began Thursday in the trial of Emmanuel Spann, who is accused of first-degree murder in the 2017 death of Burlington resident Demarcus Chew.



The trial could take up to two weeks, and jury selection took a little more than a week. 



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 said the murder was $20,000 hit job issued by a Chicago gang.



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



The prosecution and defense agree that Emmanuel Spann concealed the murder weapon after the shooting. However, the defense argued that Mason is not charged with accessory after the fact, so hiding the murder weapon is not relevant to the murder case.



The trial will resume at 9 a.m. Friday at The Des Moines County Courthouse in Burlington.

Murder Trial In the Death of Demarcus Chew Now Underway

Lacking enough tenants for a previously proposed hotel, Des Moines based development firm CBRE Hubbell now wants to take over Memorial Auditorium and double the building’s seating capacity.



The possibility of a hotel is still on, according to the developer, but it's on hold for a few years so the redeveloped auditorium can bring in heavier traffic.



CBRE Hubbell representative Ryan Jensen told the Burlington City Council Monday that the auditorium expansion, as well potential new management, would increase Burlington foot traffic exponentially — anywhere from 200 to 500 people downtown, 250 days a year.



That increased traffic, which could be attained in as little as four years, Jensen said, would provide the tenants for the previously proposed hotel on the riverfront.



CBRE Hubbell has a one-year agreement with the city to exclusively develop riverfront plans, but that agreement expires next month.



Jensen said he would need 60 to 90 days to develop a cost estimate for the firm’s plan, which would require the city to renew the agreement with CBRE Hubbell for another year.



“I’m asking to have time to create that (estimate),” Jensen said.



During the extended contract, Jensen would then ask the city for money to redevelop the auditorium and possibly hire a new manager. That would increase revenue coming into Burlington, counting additional business for retailers, to around $8 million, he said.



“We think that can happen just by recreating new energy, bringing in the right team of operators. Again, that could be a team that encompasses the current folks,” he said.



Jensen cited three concert and venue promoters CBRE Hubbell is working with, including ASM Global, which he cited as the largest venue operator in the country. The firm also is working Live Nation and Burlington Riverfront Entertainment, which currently manages the auditorium.



He envisions BRE working with national venue managers.



“Live Nation is the second-largest (event organizer). We met with them in person once, and had two different conference calls with that group,” Jensen said.

Potential Riverfront Hotel Developer First Wants To Redevelop Memorial Auditorium

By Beacon Staff



A cascade of local summer events is being canceled in the wake of President Donald Trump’s call for another month of social distancing.



One of the most prominent is the annual Memorial Day weekend Snake Alley Criterium bicycle race which was officially canceled Monday. Trump said the social distancing timeline could be extended, which made organizing an event reliant on business sponsorships nearly impossible, according to criterium organizers.



The Slocum 50, one of the biggest races of the year for 34 Raceway, has been postponed from its original date of April 18 to July 3. Raceway officials made the announcement Tuesday, adding that all upcoming April races, including the Sprint Invaders opener scheduled for this weekend, have been postponed or canceled.



The next scheduled race for 34 Raceway is slotted for the weekend of April 25, but that is dependent on state and federal guidelines, track officials said.



Life has stopped for many in Burlington, even as health care workers, service workers, and factory employees report to their shifts as requested. Case New Holland has halted production for the next two weeks and will return in staggered shifts. CNH is designated an essential business.



Though state and city parks remain open, playgrounds and playground equipment within the parks are now off-limits to the public — a mandate encouraged by Gov. Kim Reynolds.



During a Monday (March 30) night work session, the Burlington City Council also discussed the likelihood of the annual spring cleanup being delayed. The contagious nature of coronavirus, combined with the transferal of household items, would likely increase the chance of infection in Burlington during the peak of the virus.



None of the council members want to give up the program entirely and spoke of possibly pushing it back to the fall, depending on virus restrictions.



Burlington City Manager Jim Ferneau did have some good news. Traffic in Iowa has been reduced 50 percent, he said, which means a lot of people are staying home as the governor asked.



Not everyone will listen, of course, which Burlington Mayor Jon Billups attested to during the meeting.



“Leave your kids at home,” he said.



Billups said he saw families crowded into narrow store aisles at a local Hy-Vee, as though the country weren’t on partial lockdown.



“I was very disappointed,” he said.



Ferneau said he expects the city to take at least a $700,000 revenue hit due to the virus, and is advocating for cessation on most new capital projects.



Even existing services, ranging from the Burlington Regional RecPlex and Flint Hills Golf Course to the Greater Burlington Partnership itself, will demand reevaluation by the council. While many Burlington shops and restaurants are offering curbside and delivery service, Ferneau said business is still a fraction of what it was. And he doesn’t expect a swift bounce-back when the time to reopen does come.



“The chamber will be asking for money soon,” Ferneau said during the council work session.



The next day (March 31), phones screeched with a warning notice usually reserved for severe storms. Illinois, specifically Chicago, is in desperate need of health care personnel.



Meanwhile, Ferneau and city staff are trying to figure out how to hold remote, online meetings so outside groups can make presentations to the council. The council chambers were closed Monday night, the council members spread in six-foot intervals across the room.



It will be a learning process.



“I don’t know what to expect from this,” Ferneau said.



Photo by Jeff Abell



Participants in the Snake Alley Criterium are shown on May 25, 2019, in downtown Burlington.

Coronavirus Cancels Snake Alley Criterium, Slocum 50, and Possibly $700,000 Of Expected City Revenue

Former Vice President Joe Biden will be in Burlington on Saturday morning, campaigning his way across the state in advance of the Feb. 3 caucus.



The Democratic presidential candidate will be at The Loft On Jefferson St. (416 Jefferson St.) at 10:15 a.m. Friday. From there, Biden will speak at 2 p.m. at the Quality Inn and Suites in Fort Madison.

Biden Coming Back To Burlington

Burlington’s Steamboat Senior Center won’t be moving to the Burlington Depot after all.



Despite council plans to move the senior gathering spot to the vacant restaurant located inside the depot, senior center members voted 22-0 to keep the organization where it is. 



Mayor Jon Billups reported the results of the vote to the council Monday night (Jan. 27) during the city council work session.



None of the council members expressed interest in moving ahead after Billups’ brief, conclusive report, indicating they will vote down the measure officially next Monday (Feb. 2). Votes cannot be taken during a work session.



The move would have resulted in $35,000 of renovation work in the depot’s vacant restaurant space to convert it into a senior center. The council cited better parking and a sturdier building as reasons for the move, noting it would cheaper than the $78,000 in roof repairs required at the center’s current location.



The proposed move put a divide between the council and Friends of The Depot nonprofit group, which disbanded in protest. The group is using the remainder of its funds to install new awnings on the depot. 



Since the $35,000 won’t be used for the depot, it likely will be used to help fund repairs for the Steamboat Senior Center’s leaky roof, which is what the money was originally budgeted for.



The city’s final budget meeting is Thursday.



For a brief history of the proposed move check out the full story at www.burlingtonbeacon.com.



A Brief History of The Proposed Move



The Burlington City Council voted 3-to-1 on Dec. 2, 2019 (council member Annie Wilson was not present) on a resolution that would move the Steamboat Senior Center from its current location at 501 Jefferson St. to the former Grier’s diner space at the Burlington Depot. 



The recently renovated diner space was never filled, despite a $150,000 white boxing process by the city to allow for a restaurant. 



Councilwoman Lynda Graham-Murray’s husband, Matt Murray, announced he was putting a restaurant in the space before the white boxing began. He later pulled out of the deal, but the city finished the process in hopes of attracting another restaurant. 



The lone dissenting vote on Dec. 2 came from Councilman Matt Rinker, who was not comfortable changing the function of a public space that was initially designed to be a restaurant. He said moving the senior center to the depot would only be a short term solution, and regretted the council not spending time looking at more options.



“I think we could have come up with something better,” he said.



Former Councilman Shane McCampbell (mayor at the time) disagreed with Rinker’s point about the depot’s purpose, saying the idea was always to get something in the building to help the revitalization process. For a while, McCampbell said, it looked like the answer was going to be a restaurant. 



The resolution the council plans to vote down Monday includes concrete work to raise the lower floor of the depot to the same height as the rest of the room, as well as new counter walls, a new paint job, a new sink, and various other improvements.



“You guy aren’t going to want to leave,” McCampbell said to members of senior center during the December council meeting.

Senior Center Members Vote Down Depot Move, City Council To Do The Same

A Burlington woman and her husband were arrested in Arizona on Friday (Jan. 24) for transporting $4.1 million of methamphetamine — the largest meth bust in the state’s history.



Julie Jeannie Mason, 52, of Burlington and her husband, Marius Montez Mason, 38, of Peoria, Ill., were charged with possession of a dangerous drug and transportation of a dangerous drug.



Julie Mason, the driver of the vehicle, was pulled over by an Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper on Interstate 15, south of Littlefield. The trooper subsequently discovered 362 pounds of methamphetamine inside the vehicle.



Authorities confirmed it is the largest, single meth seizure in the history of the department.



(Editor's Note: The seized meth is shown next to a police K-9 drug-sniffing dog.)

Arizona Police Arrest Burlington Woman with $4.1M Worth of Meth

Police arrested a Burlington man Saturday morning for allegedly sexually assaulting a child during a three-year period.



Jacob Lee Brosman, 29, has been charged with second-degree sexual abuse and faces up to 25 years in prison. He turned himself into Burlington police Saturday.



The arrest stems from a report issued by the Department of Human Services on Nov. 19, 2019. The agency received a complaint that Brosman sexually assaulted a child, according to an arrest affidavit. Brosman has denied the allegation.



According to Lt. Wayne Thomson of the Burlington Police Department, Brosman is being held at the Des Moines County Correctional Center in Burlington pending a court appearance.

Police: Burlington Man Arrested For Sexual Abuse

The Iowa caucuses are just around the corner, and two more presidential candidates will be in town this week to woo the last vestiges of undecided Democratic voters.



Andrew Yang and Tom Steyer have campaigned in Burlington before. Yang, who was just in Burlington last Friday for a campaign rally, will be making his third trip to Burlington within the past month.



Yang is up first, scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday (door opening time) at the Barn on Ridge, 14133 Irish Ridge Road.



Then comes Steyer, who will speak at 8 a.m. Thursday (door opening time) at The Beancounter Coffee House, 212 Jefferson St. in downtown Burlington.



RSVPs are encouraged, but not required, at both events.



Yang is best known for proposing what he calls a Freedom Dividend — a universal basic income in the form of $1,000 monthly for every American adult. He believes the policy is the correct response to the loss of jobs associated with increased automation.



Yang’s platform also calls for "Medicare for All" and "Human-Centered Capitalism." He has clarified that his version of Medicare for All allows private insurance to remain an option.



Steyer is a 62-year-old billionaire from San Francisco who has funded Need to Impeach and NextGen America.



Steyer has focused much of his campaign on addressing climate change and breaking corporate influence. He also has called for term limits in Congress, decriminalizing illegal border crossings and expanding the U.S. Supreme Court.

Presidential candidates Steyer, Yang Headed To Burlington

Burlington police are investigating the death of a missing person they discovered in the Midtown Gardens apartment complex Saturday.



The person, whom police have yet to identify by name or gender, was discovered shortly before 8 p.m. by Burlington police. The officers discovered the body while responding to a missing person complaint.



According to Lt. Wayne Thompson, the death currently is under investigation by the Burlington Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Iowa DCI Criminalistics Laboratory Team.



Thompson promised more information would be released by the department as it becomes available

Missing Person Found Dead in Midtown Gardens

If not for the three Burlington Police officers patrolling Fleming Court on Jan. 9, the man trapped by a house fire on that same block would surely be dead.



“Sometimes they (police officers) are in the right place at the right time,” Burlington Police Chief Dennis Kramer said Monday evening during a presentation to the Burlington City Council.



To recognize their bravery and ingenuity, Kramer and the council honored the officers — Tyler Henning, Jacob Jenkins, and Kegan Jacobson — with the Medal of Merit Monday night. It’s the second-highest honor in the department.



The fortunate timing provided the officers a window of opportunity to save the man from his burning home at 113 Fleming Court, but as Kramer pointed it, that is just the beginning of the story.



The man, whose name Kramer didn’t reveal, was already frail and dependent on oxygen, and initially thought someone was trying to break into his house when the heard the pounding at the front door. There were no working smoke detectors in the house.



The officers burst in through the entrance after alerting the resident to the fire, only to be pushed back by the heavy smoke. By then, the man was calling for help.



Two of the three officers had to be treated for smoke inhalation after the fire, and both were released in good condition.



Hearing the man’s cries as they attempted to enter, the officer improvised, borrowing a step ladder from a neighbor so they could access the third-floor bedroom window that sat seven feet above the ground.



The officers pulled the semi-conscious man through the window, all of them tumbling to the ground outside.



By then medical personal had arrived and immediately administered CPR. The man was rushed to Great River Medical Center in West Burlington, then transferred to Iowa City. A few days later, he got to hear the story for himself.



“They did a fantastic job that night, and I expect nothing less from them in the future,” Kramer said.



Kramer had one more award to give out — Officer of the Year — which is voted on by fellow Burlington police officers. The peer award was instituted in 2000.



Henning, who had just accepted the Medal of Merit moments earlier, took home that distinction, as well, and it wasn’t just for his Fleming Court rescue.



“The information he has collected on gang activity in the city of Burlington has elevated the department's ability to address violent acts wreaking havoc in the community,” said Burlington Councilman Bill Maupin, reading from the official declaration.



Maupin continued to read the proclamation, going into more detail.



“This officer has provided valuable intel which has assisted in the apprehending and imprisonment of many career criminals while also working diligently to take guns off our streets. He has shown his willingness to work countless hours gathering information to slow the narcotic and gun violence hindering our city,” Maupin read.



Henning himself was notably less verbose in accepting his award, giving credit to the other officers nominated for the award.



“I am very humbled. I am not much for words, but I just want to say thank you,” he said.



Photo courtesy of Burlington 411 Facebook group



 Burlington police officers Jacob Jenkins, Kegan Jacobson and Tyler Henning (left to right) accept the Medal of Merit Award Monday evening from the Burlington City Council. Council members pictured (left to right) are Bill Maupin, mayor Jon Billups, Matt Rinker, and Robert Critser.

Saving A Life, And The Honors That Follow

Burlington police are investigating an incident Friday evening that resulted in a 21-year-old being shot in the leg.



At 9:22 p.m. Friday, police officers responded to a report of multiple shots fired in the area of 235 S. Ninth St. in Burlington, according to a press release received at 3:37 a.m. Saturday. Upon arrival, officers discovered an individual involved in the incident left the scene in a vehicle.



Police said the vehicle was located a short time later and inside was a 21-year-old male who had been shot in the leg. The individual was transported by ambulance to Great River Medical Center in West Burlington for treatment.



At South Ninth and Aetna streets officers located multiple shell casings and bullet holes in a residence. Burlington police detectives were called in to process the scene. Detectives collected shell casings and spoke to several people concerning the shooting.



The investigation is ongoing, and police urge anyone with information to contact the Burlington Police Department at 319-753-8366 or crime stoppers at 319-753-6835.

Police Investigating Friday Evening Shooting

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

For the second time in three days, Burlington firefighters responded to a blaze inside a home that lacked smoke detectors.



Despite the lack of fire alarm warning, the residents of the two-story, wood-frame house at 2304 Gordon St. in Burlington were able to escape the fire without injury early Wednesday morning (Jan. 22).



The structure itself also was spared major damage, and firefighters were able to limit damage to about $10,000 to the house and $5,000 to the contents. The house, owned and occupied by Allen Lock and occupied by three other people, is insured. The American Red Cross has offered aid to the occupants.



Firefighters were called to the scene at 2:09 a.m. Wednesday, and quickly discovered the fire near a light fixture above the ceiling of the kitchen before extinguishing it.



The fire remains under investigation by the Burlington Fire Department but is not considered suspicious. Eleven Burlington firefighters responded to the call, assisted by five West Burlington firefighters responding on automatic aid.

Burlington Home Catches Fire, No Injuries Reported

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.



Today (Jan. 25)



• Midwinter Eagle Count begins at 10 a.m. at the Port of Burlington Welcome Center for an educational program, then will move to Lock and Dam 18 in Illinois to count eagles. All are welcome, but transportation will not be provided.



Sunday (Jan. 26)



• Donation Yoga will be at 9:30 a.m. Homestead 1839, 701 E. Agency Road. 
 • Bridal Fair and Event Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pzazz! Convention and Event Center. Brides, wedding and event planners will be on hand, offering their services. 
 • Winter Celebration, the first event in the Toolesboro Touchstone series, is 1 to 3 p.m. at Toolesboro Mounds and Museum, National Historic Landmark, 6568 Toolesboro Ave., Wapello. The gathering will feature seasonal prehistoric activities, such as making stick or antler snow snakes, tasting of maple syrup snow candy and winter games. The cost is $2 per family. Registration is requested but not required. To sign up, email Lana at lmccomb@lccb.org or call (319) 523-8381.



Monday (Jan. 27)



• Homemade Hummus will be from 11 a.m. to noon at the Burlington Public Library. Spend your lunch hour learning to make this nutrition-packed snack that dates to ancient Egypt. This class is free and open to the public; please call the library or register online to ensure sufficient materials for all participants. 
 • Glow Pound Fitness will be from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. at the Burlington YMCA. Enjoy a jam session that turns a drum session into a fitness session. Free for Y members; open to the public with the purchase of a day pass.



Wednesday (Jan. 29)



• Liquid Flow Yoga from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Bent River Brewing Company. The alcohol friendly yoga class is $10, which pays for the class and a beer, or other beverage, and you’re welcome to bring your own water. Please bring a mat and anything you need for yoga. www.burlingtonbentriver.com



Friday (Jan. 31)



• Chicago’s premier event band, The 9s, will play at 10 p.m. at Boogaloo Sports Bar and Grill. The event is for those 21-years-old and over, and there is no cover charge.

Faces and Places

Though he has only been on the job for a few weeks, new Burlington Councilman Bill Maupin has been losing sleep over whether to approve a pay raise for the city council.



He said as much before voting on the matter Tuesday night.



“I’ve been back and forth on this, and after talking to people in the community, I don’t know how I’m going to vote,” Maupin said before voting.



The second reading of the much-discussed resolution passed by a vote of 3-2 Tuesday night, with Maupin and Lynda-Graham Murray voting against it. Mayor Jon Billups said a third and final reading will be voted on in the near future, so the decision is not yet final.



Burlington resident Chris Roepke, who lost to Maupin and Critser in last year’s city election, was the only member of the public to voice disapproval over the pay raise.



“It is a service position,” Roepke argued, though he said he would be fine with a smaller raise.



The pay raise would bring compensation more in line with other cities the size of Burlington. That means increasing the mayor’s salary from $6,600 a year to $10,000 a year. The salary of the council members would increase from $6,000 to $9,000 annually.



If the final reading is approved, the raise wouldn’t take effect until 2022, so not all the current council members may benefit.