So she formed a non-profit with the intent of raising an initial $2.5 million to open Heart Song Day Center at 2610 S. Fifth St., the site of the former Burlington Care Center between Crapo and Dankwardt Parks.

She formed a board of directors in 2019, the board bought the building, and they’ve begun a capital campaign to raise money for the center.

“Adult day services will be part of Phase 1,” Hanks said. “That is our priority right now is to get the adult day center up and running.

“The Day Center is a place that people can go that are no longer able to live home alone, or no longer to be alone,” Hanks said. “Now they need a caregiver.”

The center will give seniors “the opportunity to have a program that gives them dignity and a purpose in an interactive environment,” she said.

She said it will be open Monday through Friday, except holidays, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Hanks is a speech pathologist who works for several agencies. Four years ago she switched to part-time to devote more time to her project.

“It really began when I was working on the rehab unit at the hospital, and we were trying to find services for people so that they could be discharged home,” Hanks said.

“A group of therapists and physicians thought it would be a good idea to have a daycare center for people to go to.”

Hanks toured several facilities in Iowa to see what they were doing.

“My mother, Joyce Brockway, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia, and I saw the burden that it placed on my father (Terry), to take care of her,” Hanks said.

“I began researching what it would take to open an adult day center. I contacted the state of Iowa for the rules and regulations. I contacted several non-profit organizations to see if opening (one) would fit into their programming, and none of them could take it under their wing.”

That’s when she started her own non-profit. Attorney Marlis Robberts was put on the board of directors, and she’s the legal advisor.

COVID shut down the presentations, and now she’s resuming her efforts.

“We have to do modifications, and we’ve got to spruce it up,” Hanks said of the former care center.

“We’re going to redo the front of it, the community room (and have) all new flooring. The walls will be redone, and the ceiling will be redone. It needs a new roof, and it needs new windows over 75 percent of the building,” she said.

“The city has verbally stated they will work with us to get bus services there,” said Hanks, or maybe the SEIBUS bus.

Hanks wants the center to be a place for community events as well.

Soon after Phase 1 is completed, she’ll start on Phase 2. “We want to be a one-stop shop for seniors and have resources available for them,” Hanks said. “Also we want a cafe that will be open to the public, a small indoor space, and a large outdoor space.”

She’s hoping to get Milestones Area Agency on Aging at the building as well as have a food pantry.

“Another wing of the building could be used as a therapy clinic,” Hanks said.

She also wants to provide training and support to the caregivers. “We can help train the caregivers and educate them so they can better care for their loved one,” Hanks said.

For more information about the project and how to donate, contact Hanks at 319-214-0509 or email the organization at info@heartsongiowa.org. The website is www.heartsongiowa.org.

By Chris FaulknerDenise Hanks has a heart for seniors.So she formed a non-profit with the intent of raising an initial $2.5 million to open Heart Song Day Center at 2610 S. Fifth St., the site of the former Burlington Care Center between Crapo and Dankwardt Parks.She formed a board of directors in 2019, the board bought the building, and they’ve begun a capital campaign to raise money for the center.“Adult day services will be part of Phase 1,” Hanks said. “That is our priority right now is to get the adult day center up and running.“The Day Center is a place that people can go that are no longer able to live home alone, or no longer to be alone,” Hanks said. “Now they need a caregiver.”The center will give seniors “the opportunity to have a program that gives them dignity and a purpose in an interactive environment,” she said.She said it will be open Monday through Friday, except holidays, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.Hanks is a speech pathologist who works for several agencies. Four years ago she switched to part-time to devote more time to her project.“It really began when I was working on the rehab unit at the hospital, and we were trying to find services for people so that they could be discharged home,” Hanks said.“A group of therapists and physicians thought it would be a good idea to have a daycare center for people to go to.”Hanks toured several facilities in Iowa to see what they were doing.“My mother, Joyce Brockway, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia, and I saw the burden that it placed on my father (Terry), to take care of her,” Hanks said.“I began researching what it would take to open an adult day center. I contacted the state of Iowa for the rules and regulations. I contacted several non-profit organizations to see if opening (one) would fit into their programming, and none of them could take it under their wing.”That’s when she started her own non-profit. Attorney Marlis Robberts was put on the board of directors, and she’s the legal advisor.COVID shut down the presentations, and now she’s resuming her efforts.“We have to do modifications, and we’ve got to spruce it up,” Hanks said of the former care center.“We’re going to redo the front of it, the community room (and have) all new flooring. The walls will be redone, and the ceiling will be redone. It needs a new roof, and it needs new windows over 75 percent of the building,” she said.“The city has verbally stated they will work with us to get bus services there,” said Hanks, or maybe the SEIBUS bus.Hanks wants the center to be a place for community events as well.Soon after Phase 1 is completed, she’ll start on Phase 2. “We want to be a one-stop shop for seniors and have resources available for them,” Hanks said. “Also we want a cafe that will be open to the public, a small indoor space, and a large outdoor space.”She’s hoping to get Milestones Area Agency on Aging at the building as well as have a food pantry.“Another wing of the building could be used as a therapy clinic,” Hanks said.She also wants to provide training and support to the caregivers. “We can help train the caregivers and educate them so they can better care for their loved one,” Hanks said.For more information about the project and how to donate, contact Hanks at 319-214-0509 or email the organization at info@heartsongiowa.org. The website is www.heartsongiowa.org.

Hanks seeks funds to open senior day center near parks

The U.S. Marines are looking for a few good toys. Well, make that thousands of good new toys, and that’s just for Des Moines County alone.

Todd Lange, a local chiropractor, leads the annual Toys for Tots drive for the Hamilton Walters Marine Corps League, and he spoke to the Rotary Club Monday about the Des Moines County drive and the national organization, which is working on its 76th Christmas.

When Lange first started as the Local Community Organizer 27 years ago, the group collected mostly used toys and served about 250 children.

Eventually, it changed to having people just donate new and unwrapped toys, which are placed in drop-off boxes in stores and restaurants around the county, as well as at the library.

There are 50 drop-off boxes in Des Moines County alone, The Hamilton Walters League also runs programs in Henry, Van Buren, and Louisa Counties in Iowa and Henderson County in Illinois.

Last year they served 2,649 children, with more than 1,000 of those living in Des Moines County.

Registration for families to receive toys goes from Nov. 20 to Dec. 1 at the Rock House on 2700 Division St., from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. The age limit is 13, although families that also have a child a year or two older can add them.

Where there used to be an income guideline, Lange said the corporate office is asking its local groups to not have any income restrictions. “We have the toys, we want to give all the kids Christmas,” Lange said.

But he said the group is still strict in other areas. “We double-check for double dippers,” he said. “We check for the kids, make sure that these are the parents of the kids or they have guardianship of the kids.”

Distribution of the toys is Saturday, Dec. 9, at Memorial Auditorium.

“We’ll have close to 900 to 950 families go through there,” Lange said, “and we’ll do that in four, four-and-a-half hours, so that’s 35-40 families every half hour.”

When families register, they get a card that tells how many kids they have, their ages, and their gender. Then they bring that card to the distribution day, and volunteers take them shopping.

“They’ll get a big toy, a small toy, a coloring book and crayons, a game, a book, and a few stocking stuffers,” Lange said.

“That sounds like a lot, but in the whole scheme, it’s only $50-60 per child.”

In addition to the drop-off boxes, Toys for Tots has a Semi of Love program on Dec. 1-2 at Westland Mall.

“We raise around $10-12,000 there, and we’ll have 150-250 boxes of toys,” Lange said.

Lange said he has many volunteers that help go out and buy toys to supplement those donated, but, “It’s hard to find stores that sell toys anymore.”

Lange said Toys for Tots is a Fortune magazine top 100 non-profit company.

“Our claim to fame is that 97 percent of the (cash) donations made to Toys for Tots are used for purchasing toys,” he said. “We have three percent used for fundraising and overhead.”

Toys for Tots has a foundation, and a generous endowment helps the organization run its operations.

Last year’s cash donations by his group totaled $36,000, but Lange said, “When you start buying toys that are $15-$30 a toy, that’s only 1,200-1,500 toys.

“We really appreciate when people bring in the toys,” he said.

Lange said there are 12 organizations that they also support, including toy drives by the Salvation Army, police and sheriff departments, churches, and community centers.

Toys for Tots first began in 1947 when a Marine Reserve Unit commander, Major Bill Hendricks, prompted by his wife, gathered up used toys for the children in their area of Los Angeles.

The next year, a commandment declared that the Marine Corps Reserves would start a nationwide Toys for Tots campaign. Lange said the U.S. Marines themselves take part as well.

By Chris FaulknerThe U.S. Marines are looking for a few good toys. Well, make that thousands of good new toys, and that’s just for Des Moines County alone.Todd Lange, a local chiropractor, leads the annual Toys for Tots drive for the Hamilton Walters Marine Corps League, and he spoke to the Rotary Club Monday about the Des Moines County drive and the national organization, which is working on its 76th Christmas.When Lange first started as the Local Community Organizer 27 years ago, the group collected mostly used toys and served about 250 children.Eventually, it changed to having people just donate new and unwrapped toys, which are placed in drop-off boxes in stores and restaurants around the county, as well as at the library.There are 50 drop-off boxes in Des Moines County alone, The Hamilton Walters League also runs programs in Henry, Van Buren, and Louisa Counties in Iowa and Henderson County in Illinois.Last year they served 2,649 children, with more than 1,000 of those living in Des Moines County.Registration for families to receive toys goes from Nov. 20 to Dec. 1 at the Rock House on 2700 Division St., from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. The age limit is 13, although families that also have a child a year or two older can add them.Where there used to be an income guideline, Lange said the corporate office is asking its local groups to not have any income restrictions. “We have the toys, we want to give all the kids Christmas,” Lange said.But he said the group is still strict in other areas. “We double-check for double dippers,” he said. “We check for the kids, make sure that these are the parents of the kids or they have guardianship of the kids.”Distribution of the toys is Saturday, Dec. 9, at Memorial Auditorium.“We’ll have close to 900 to 950 families go through there,” Lange said, “and we’ll do that in four, four-and-a-half hours, so that’s 35-40 families every half hour.”When families register, they get a card that tells how many kids they have, their ages, and their gender. Then they bring that card to the distribution day, and volunteers take them shopping.“They’ll get a big toy, a small toy, a coloring book and crayons, a game, a book, and a few stocking stuffers,” Lange said.“That sounds like a lot, but in the whole scheme, it’s only $50-60 per child.”In addition to the drop-off boxes, Toys for Tots has a Semi of Love program on Dec. 1-2 at Westland Mall.“We raise around $10-12,000 there, and we’ll have 150-250 boxes of toys,” Lange said.Lange said he has many volunteers that help go out and buy toys to supplement those donated, but, “It’s hard to find stores that sell toys anymore.”Lange said Toys for Tots is a Fortune magazine top 100 non-profit company.“Our claim to fame is that 97 percent of the (cash) donations made to Toys for Tots are used for purchasing toys,” he said. “We have three percent used for fundraising and overhead.”Toys for Tots has a foundation, and a generous endowment helps the organization run its operations.Last year’s cash donations by his group totaled $36,000, but Lange said, “When you start buying toys that are $15-$30 a toy, that’s only 1,200-1,500 toys.“We really appreciate when people bring in the toys,” he said.Lange said there are 12 organizations that they also support, including toy drives by the Salvation Army, police and sheriff departments, churches, and community centers.Toys for Tots first began in 1947 when a Marine Reserve Unit commander, Major Bill Hendricks, prompted by his wife, gathered up used toys for the children in their area of Los Angeles.The next year, a commandment declared that the Marine Corps Reserves would start a nationwide Toys for Tots campaign. Lange said the U.S. Marines themselves take part as well.

Marines looking for a few good toys this holiday season

Michelle Russell sees food differently than most people.

A dietitian and nutrition therapist by trade, Russell sees food for what it is. Sustenance, flavor, culture. A necessary part of life forever intertwined with mental health.

That’s how one of life’s greatest joys can become one of life’s biggest anxieties.

“It’s not cut and dry. You have to eat every day. And part of recovery is eating consistently,” Russell said.

Russell knows that better than anyone. She struggled with an eating disorder herself.

“That is the challenge, you have to kind of do exposure therapy with it day in and day out to get better,” she said.

Russell’s biggest frustration is the lag between new information concerning food and health and traditional medical knowledge. That gulf is represented most in the (Body Mass Index) BMI, which Russell and other dietitians have criticized. BMI is a person’s weight divided by the square of height.&nbsp;

A high BMI is often a poor indicator of health. Body shapes are too diverse to fit into such a narrow standard. A person’s weight doesn’t always directly correlate to health, Russell said. In turn, a person’s weight doesn’t relate to their eating disorder, either, despite popular misconceptions.

“I think it’s actually quite common for people to have a very disordered relationship with food,” Russell said.&nbsp;

Eating disorders usually spring from mental health difficulties rather than the food itself. Russell said how a person thinks about food determines their relationship with it.

Much like depression, an eating disorder can manifest gradually, becoming the new “normal” for the person struggling with it.

“I found myself thinking I was being really healthy and taking care of myself. And it became apparent at some point what I was doing was very destructive. And I was thinking about food all the time, worried about my weight all the time. And that was not a healthy place to be,” she said.

Russell was born and raised in Burlington and then went to Iowa State University. Soon, she would start studying nutrition. She never imagined she would develop an eating disorder, or that it would spur her into a new career.

“What drove me to becoming a dietitian was actually developing an eating disorder myself,” she said. “And so I went through eating disorder recovery while studying to be a dietitian, and knew that I always wanted to support people in recovery.”

First, Russell needed to take time to heal herself, then she started healing others.

“I try to help people understand the early signs of eating disorders. People are paying attention to things (such as calories) to stay healthy, but that takes on a whole different spin,” she said.

Realizing that you have an eating disorder is the first step. Russell said the next steps in treatment are bolstered by a support system – professional and personal.

“I tried to stop what I was doing on my own, and it wasn’t effective,” she said. “I was spending a lot of time and thinking a lot about food rather than engaging in life or relationships.”

As a board-certified food and nutrition expert, Russell was the Burlington Hy-Vee dietitian for a few years.&nbsp;

Now she has her own dietitian business downtown – Food Freedom -- and has found herself in high demand. Russell uses her full range of talents as a certified eating disorder specialist and a certified intuitive eating counselor.

“I think that with diet culture, there’s still this hierarchy of bodies that we are well aware of in terms of what’s the most desirable body type to have. And so we can’t necessarily escape that. But we can opt out of having to believe that about ourselves or other people,” Russell said. “We can honor that body size, diversity is real, it’s always been there.”

Food is food, and can’t be divorced from everyday life like drugs and alcohol. That is why Russell wants her clients to be comfortable with eating because many disorders hinge on the guilt of overeating, and that is often the most difficult obstacle to overcome.

“Morally, there are no good or bad foods,” Russell said. “We need a mix of different nutrients and food groups. We really can’t outsmart our bodies because our body’s biology is going to push back. So a lot of it’s about getting back in touch with our bodies. Intuitive eating.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/10/1698691353348.jpeg" alt="Michelle Russell, a dietitian/nutrition therapist and founder of Food Freedom is shown with her dog Lucy on Tuesday, Oct. 17 in downtown Burlington. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Michelle Russell, a dietitian/nutrition therapist and founder of Food Freedom is shown with her dog Lucy on Tuesday, Oct. 17 in downtown Burlington. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithMichelle Russell sees food differently than most people.A dietitian and nutrition therapist by trade, Russell sees food for what it is. Sustenance, flavor, culture. A necessary part of life forever intertwined with mental health.That’s how one of life’s greatest joys can become one of life’s biggest anxieties.“It’s not cut and dry. You have to eat every day. And part of recovery is eating consistently,” Russell said.Russell knows that better than anyone. She struggled with an eating disorder herself.“That is the challenge, you have to kind of do exposure therapy with it day in and day out to get better,” she said.Russell’s biggest frustration is the lag between new information concerning food and health and traditional medical knowledge. That gulf is represented most in the (Body Mass Index) BMI, which Russell and other dietitians have criticized. BMI is a person’s weight divided by the square of height.&nbsp;A high BMI is often a poor indicator of health. Body shapes are too diverse to fit into such a narrow standard. A person’s weight doesn’t always directly correlate to health, Russell said. In turn, a person’s weight doesn’t relate to their eating disorder, either, despite popular misconceptions.“I think it’s actually quite common for people to have a very disordered relationship with food,” Russell said.&nbsp;Eating disorders usually spring from mental health difficulties rather than the food itself. Russell said how a person thinks about food determines their relationship with it.Much like depression, an eating disorder can manifest gradually, becoming the new “normal” for the person struggling with it.That’s how it happened to Russell.“I found myself thinking I was being really healthy and taking care of myself. And it became apparent at some point what I was doing was very destructive. And I was thinking about food all the time, worried about my weight all the time. And that was not a healthy place to be,” she said.Russell was born and raised in Burlington and then went to Iowa State University. Soon, she would start studying nutrition. She never imagined she would develop an eating disorder, or that it would spur her into a new career.“What drove me to becoming a dietitian was actually developing an eating disorder myself,” she said. “And so I went through eating disorder recovery while studying to be a dietitian, and knew that I always wanted to support people in recovery.”First, Russell needed to take time to heal herself, then she started healing others.“I try to help people understand the early signs of eating disorders. People are paying attention to things (such as calories) to stay healthy, but that takes on a whole different spin,” she said.Realizing that you have an eating disorder is the first step. Russell said the next steps in treatment are bolstered by a support system – professional and personal.“I tried to stop what I was doing on my own, and it wasn’t effective,” she said. “I was spending a lot of time and thinking a lot about food rather than engaging in life or relationships.”As a board-certified food and nutrition expert, Russell was the Burlington Hy-Vee dietitian for a few years.&nbsp;Now she has her own dietitian business downtown – Food Freedom -- and has found herself in high demand. Russell uses her full range of talents as a certified eating disorder specialist and a certified intuitive eating counselor.“I think that with diet culture, there’s still this hierarchy of bodies that we are well aware of in terms of what’s the most desirable body type to have. And so we can’t necessarily escape that. But we can opt out of having to believe that about ourselves or other people,” Russell said. “We can honor that body size, diversity is real, it’s always been there.”Food is food, and can’t be divorced from everyday life like drugs and alcohol. That is why Russell wants her clients to be comfortable with eating because many disorders hinge on the guilt of overeating, and that is often the most difficult obstacle to overcome.“Morally, there are no good or bad foods,” Russell said. “We need a mix of different nutrients and food groups. We really can’t outsmart our bodies because our body’s biology is going to push back. So a lot of it’s about getting back in touch with our bodies. Intuitive eating.”

52 Faces: Learning to embrace food

Fred Kelly is just the nicest guy you’ll ever meet.

He’s also one of the most helpful. After a career teaching in public education, Kelly now shepherds locals through the SHIIP process at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center.

The Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) helps Medicare beneficiaries better understand their Medicare coverage options and benefits.&nbsp;

“I present information that will help them make choices. We don’t make any choices for them, we just give them the options,” Kelly said. “In 2006, when Medicare came out with their drug plans, that became a big part of the SHIIP program.”

Kelly has been a SHIIP coordinator for a decade, strictly on a volunteer basis. There was a SHIIP office when he started at the hospital, but it wasn’t active. That soon changed.

Kelly’s role at the hospital was small at first and quickly grew. Before he knew it, Kelly had his own office on the bottom floor of the hospital.

“So from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, we spend a lot of time helping people choose drug plans. And they can change them every year,” Kelly said.

Kelly said he has had over 39,000 client contacts since he started, though that includes every repeat visit.

“You’d be surprised at the number of people who leave here with the biggest smile on their face. It’s a big decision because you’re going to be spending some money no matter which way you go. We try to help them find the least expensive way,” Kelly said.

Kelly was born and raised in Burlington. He’s spent his whole life there, though he and his wife Margaret traveled the country for about four years.

Before the travel, though, there was education. Kelly was an elementary school teacher for 32 years. He graduated from Burlington Junior College, and originally wanted to be a math teacher.

“I love math and the process, but I couldn’t afford to go to a four-year college,” he said.

Things have a way of working out. Kelly discovered a passion for elementary education at Burlington Junior College, and it changed the trajectory of his life.

After three years of teaching at smaller schools, Kelly started teaching in the Burlington School District. He stayed there until retirement.

Most of the schools Kelly taught at have been torn down and replaced, but not all of them.

“I was at BlackHawk, Prospect Hill, Perkins, North Hill, and Washington,” he said.

When Kelly reached the point where he could draw full IPERS benefits, he retired from his 32-year career.&nbsp;

“So I retired in my 50s,” he said. “But I didn’t want to just sit around and do nothing.”

To alleviate his boredom, Kelly started cruising the help wanted ads. He came across a job he had never even thought about before — and it sounded intriguing.&nbsp;

Someone was needed to fill vending machines.

“It wasn’t a 40-hour-a-week job, but I loved it,” Kelly said.

That gave way to a job that allowed Kelly and his wife to travel the country on a company dime. They weren’t even sure it was real at first.

“We thought nothing could be that good,” Kelly said.

But it was. The Kellys started working for a hearing test company that was contracted to meet OSHA requirements for large corporations.

“And so for four years, we traveled all over the country. We were only home two weeks a year. We saw places that we never would have seen otherwise,” Kelly said.

As Kelly gets older, he doesn’t volunteer as many hours at the hospital as he used to. Those 40-hour volunteer work weeks have been cut down to about 10 hours.

Kelly is living his best life right now. He and Margaret are celebrating 58 years of marriage this month, and he never tires of spinning the tale of their whirlwind courtship.

“We met while we were working on our master’s degrees. We had a date, and at the end of the first date, I proposed to her. And she accepted,” Kelly said with a grin.&nbsp;

“We were engaged in July and married in October.”

There aren’t many people as happy with the choices they made in life as Fred Kelly. He has a robust family full of healthy children and grandchildren. And he’s married to the love of his life.&nbsp;

“People said we would never last. So I must have made a good choice,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/10/1697932230535.jpeg" alt="Fred Kelly, who has helped people navigate drug plans for Medicare through his volunteer efforts with the state Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), is shown on Oct. 3 in his office at the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington. Fred who has been recognized numerous times for his volunteer work is especially proud of being a 2017 Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame inductee. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Fred Kelly, who has helped people navigate drug plans for Medicare through his volunteer efforts with the state Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), is shown on Oct. 3 in his office at the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington. Fred who has been recognized numerous times for his volunteer work is especially proud of being a 2017 Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame inductee. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithFred Kelly is just the nicest guy you’ll ever meet.He’s also one of the most helpful. After a career teaching in public education, Kelly now shepherds locals through the SHIIP process at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center.The Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) helps Medicare beneficiaries better understand their Medicare coverage options and benefits.&nbsp;“I present information that will help them make choices. We don’t make any choices for them, we just give them the options,” Kelly said. “In 2006, when Medicare came out with their drug plans, that became a big part of the SHIIP program.”Kelly has been a SHIIP coordinator for a decade, strictly on a volunteer basis. There was a SHIIP office when he started at the hospital, but it wasn’t active. That soon changed.Kelly’s role at the hospital was small at first and quickly grew. Before he knew it, Kelly had his own office on the bottom floor of the hospital.“So from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, we spend a lot of time helping people choose drug plans. And they can change them every year,” Kelly said.Kelly said he has had over 39,000 client contacts since he started, though that includes every repeat visit.“You’d be surprised at the number of people who leave here with the biggest smile on their face. It’s a big decision because you’re going to be spending some money no matter which way you go. We try to help them find the least expensive way,” Kelly said.A Career in EducationKelly was born and raised in Burlington. He’s spent his whole life there, though he and his wife Margaret traveled the country for about four years.Before the travel, though, there was education. Kelly was an elementary school teacher for 32 years. He graduated from Burlington Junior College, and originally wanted to be a math teacher.“I love math and the process, but I couldn’t afford to go to a four-year college,” he said.Things have a way of working out. Kelly discovered a passion for elementary education at Burlington Junior College, and it changed the trajectory of his life.After three years of teaching at smaller schools, Kelly started teaching in the Burlington School District. He stayed there until retirement.Most of the schools Kelly taught at have been torn down and replaced, but not all of them.“I was at BlackHawk, Prospect Hill, Perkins, North Hill, and Washington,” he said.When Kelly reached the point where he could draw full IPERS benefits, he retired from his 32-year career.&nbsp;“So I retired in my 50s,” he said. “But I didn’t want to just sit around and do nothing.”Traveling the CountryTo alleviate his boredom, Kelly started cruising the help wanted ads. He came across a job he had never even thought about before — and it sounded intriguing.&nbsp;Someone was needed to fill vending machines.“It wasn’t a 40-hour-a-week job, but I loved it,” Kelly said.That gave way to a job that allowed Kelly and his wife to travel the country on a company dime. They weren’t even sure it was real at first.“We thought nothing could be that good,” Kelly said.But it was. The Kellys started working for a hearing test company that was contracted to meet OSHA requirements for large corporations.“And so for four years, we traveled all over the country. We were only home two weeks a year. We saw places that we never would have seen otherwise,” Kelly said.Love of His LifeAs Kelly gets older, he doesn’t volunteer as many hours at the hospital as he used to. Those 40-hour volunteer work weeks have been cut down to about 10 hours.Kelly is living his best life right now. He and Margaret are celebrating 58 years of marriage this month, and he never tires of spinning the tale of their whirlwind courtship.“We met while we were working on our master’s degrees. We had a date, and at the end of the first date, I proposed to her. And she accepted,” Kelly said with a grin.&nbsp;“We were engaged in July and married in October.”There aren’t many people as happy with the choices they made in life as Fred Kelly. He has a robust family full of healthy children and grandchildren. And he’s married to the love of his life.&nbsp;“People said we would never last. So I must have made a good choice,” he said.

52 Faces: Fred Kelly Is Always Willing to Help

Burlington-based music label rides digital success.

In an industry continually up-ended by advances in technology, James Rhodes started his music label FiXT just as the lid was starting to lift on digital downloads.

“When we first started, it was very much still the CD era,” Rhodes said. “We were moving lots of physical CDs, and mp3 downloads were a thing. But that was secondary to CDs.”

That quickly changed. The digital iTunes era became the established music model, and Rhodes was primed to ride the wave. He still worked a full-time job at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center. However, as his business grew, those hospital hours decreased.&nbsp;

Rhodes was eventually earning a full-time income, and expanded by opening a small office and hiring staff.

“So we rode that (digital downloads), for quite a while,” Rhodes said.

The popularity of streaming music started surging a few years later, and1music labels had a choice – evolve with the newest distribution model, or wither away with the old one.

Rhodes said he saw too many companies cling to the old digital model, the same way their extinct predecessors refused to give up physical media.

“We quickly realized our music needs to be where the consumers are — you got to fish where the fish are. And consumer behavior is this is the most convenient, customer-friendly way to listen to music. A streaming subscription,” Rhodes said.

Making money on streaming takes patience and time, considering half of customers don’t pay a subscription fee.

It’s a long-term investment with endless growth potential, and the revenue is literally paid out in thousandths-of-a-cent. The revenue is divided between so many middlemen, Rhodes said, that the gross per song is infinitesimal.

FiXT has about 25 artists signed and recently moved into much larger offices at 1340 Mount Pleasant Street. One of the rooms in the winding corridors of wooden doors houses a small studio that will soon be used for a podcast.&nbsp;

It’s not the only sound studio in the building. Music vibrates from some of the rooms — 90s grunge is a favorite.

“We sign a lot of artists on the smaller side, and we’ve had a lot of success, taking artists from a few hundred listeners per month to about 100,000 to 300,000 monthly listeners. We’ve got a few artists that are in the 500,000 to 800,000 monthly listener range,” Rhodes said.

Ironically enough, that steaming success has looped back around to physical media. Many of the artists under contract release LPs pre-sold before they’re pressed. Records have become a hip niche again over the past decade.

The new counter-culture trend FiXT has recently started producing is cassette tapes. It’s a tiny market compared to LPs, considering there aren’t many active tape decks around. That’s what makes it cool.

Rhodes can relate. He grew up in the era of cassettes transitioning to CDs.

“My parent were always listening to music on road trips. My dad liked barbershop quartet and southern gospel,” Rhodes said. “But when I was a teenager, I discovered Metallica. And then I got into Michael Jackson, and then alternative and grunge and all these influences.”

Rhodes worked his way into the music industry through his fandom of one artist, in particular, the Circle of Dust industrial music project created by Klayton, who later became known as Celldweller. His fandom was accidental, and it turned into a job opportunity.

Eventually, Rhodes co-founded FiXT together. Rhodes serves as vice president.

“I found a cassette (of Circle of Dust) in a bargain bin at the record store in the mall. I thought the artwork looked cool, grabbed it. And it was this kind of industrial metal thing. And I loved it,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes met Klayton in person and was given a marketing job with Slack. He took up that slack and delivered far more. Part-time became full-time.

“Then his manager offered me a job to move to L.A., which is why I moved to L.A.,” Rhodes said.

L.A. was fun, but Iowa was home. Rhodes grew up in Burlington and graduated from Burlington High School in 2000. In 2006, James and his wife Rebecca moved back to Iowa to be closer to family and start their own.

During the transition back to the Midwest, James and Klayton launched FiXT as a label vehicle. The goal is to support other artists and provide a fair-label deal in an industry known for lopsided agreements.&nbsp;

FiXT is celebrating 18 years of operations as a record label, music publisher, and merchandise company this year. Rhodes isn’t arrogant enough to know what the next shift in the industry will be.

“Odds are, you’ve probably heard our music somewhere, in a movie or a video game, and you just didn’t know it,” Rhodes said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/10/1697424900707.jpeg" alt="James Rhodes, vice president and co-founder of FiXT, a multi-genre, independent artist-owned record label, in the record label’s podcast booth in the record label’s offices at 2850 Mount Pleasant St., Suite 104. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>James Rhodes, vice president and co-founder of FiXT, a multi-genre, independent artist-owned record label, in the record label’s podcast booth in the record label’s offices at 2850 Mount Pleasant St., Suite 104. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Burlington-based music label rides digital success.By William SmithIn an industry continually up-ended by advances in technology, James Rhodes started his music label FiXT just as the lid was starting to lift on digital downloads.“When we first started, it was very much still the CD era,” Rhodes said. “We were moving lots of physical CDs, and mp3 downloads were a thing. But that was secondary to CDs.”That quickly changed. The digital iTunes era became the established music model, and Rhodes was primed to ride the wave. He still worked a full-time job at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center. However, as his business grew, those hospital hours decreased.&nbsp;Rhodes was eventually earning a full-time income, and expanded by opening a small office and hiring staff.“So we rode that (digital downloads), for quite a while,” Rhodes said.The popularity of streaming music started surging a few years later, and1music labels had a choice – evolve with the newest distribution model, or wither away with the old one.Rhodes said he saw too many companies cling to the old digital model, the same way their extinct predecessors refused to give up physical media.“We quickly realized our music needs to be where the consumers are — you got to fish where the fish are. And consumer behavior is this is the most convenient, customer-friendly way to listen to music. A streaming subscription,” Rhodes said.Making money on streaming takes patience and time, considering half of customers don’t pay a subscription fee.It’s a long-term investment with endless growth potential, and the revenue is literally paid out in thousandths-of-a-cent. The revenue is divided between so many middlemen, Rhodes said, that the gross per song is infinitesimal.“But that adds up,” Rhodes said.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/10/1697424925763.jpeg" alt="James Rhodes, vice president and co-founder of FIXT, a multi-genre, independent artist-owned record label, checks out one of his artist’s vinyl albums at the record label’s offices at 2850 Mount Pleasant St., Suite 104.&nbsp; Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>James Rhodes, vice president and co-founder of FIXT, a multi-genre, independent artist-owned record label, checks out one of his artist’s vinyl albums at the record label’s offices at 2850 Mount Pleasant St., Suite 104.&nbsp; Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>FiXT has about 25 artists signed and recently moved into much larger offices at 1340 Mount Pleasant Street. One of the rooms in the winding corridors of wooden doors houses a small studio that will soon be used for a podcast.&nbsp;It’s not the only sound studio in the building. Music vibrates from some of the rooms — 90s grunge is a favorite.“We sign a lot of artists on the smaller side, and we’ve had a lot of success, taking artists from a few hundred listeners per month to about 100,000 to 300,000 monthly listeners. We’ve got a few artists that are in the 500,000 to 800,000 monthly listener range,” Rhodes said.Ironically enough, that steaming success has looped back around to physical media. Many of the artists under contract release LPs pre-sold before they’re pressed. Records have become a hip niche again over the past decade.The new counter-culture trend FiXT has recently started producing is cassette tapes. It’s a tiny market compared to LPs, considering there aren’t many active tape decks around. That’s what makes it cool.Rhodes can relate. He grew up in the era of cassettes transitioning to CDs.“My parent were always listening to music on road trips. My dad liked barbershop quartet and southern gospel,” Rhodes said. “But when I was a teenager, I discovered Metallica. And then I got into Michael Jackson, and then alternative and grunge and all these influences.”Rhodes worked his way into the music industry through his fandom of one artist, in particular, the Circle of Dust industrial music project created by Klayton, who later became known as Celldweller. His fandom was accidental, and it turned into a job opportunity.Eventually, Rhodes co-founded FiXT together. Rhodes serves as vice president.“I found a cassette (of Circle of Dust) in a bargain bin at the record store in the mall. I thought the artwork looked cool, grabbed it. And it was this kind of industrial metal thing. And I loved it,” Rhodes said.Rhodes met Klayton in person and was given a marketing job with Slack. He took up that slack and delivered far more. Part-time became full-time.“Then his manager offered me a job to move to L.A., which is why I moved to L.A.,” Rhodes said.L.A. was fun, but Iowa was home. Rhodes grew up in Burlington and graduated from Burlington High School in 2000. In 2006, James and his wife Rebecca moved back to Iowa to be closer to family and start their own.During the transition back to the Midwest, James and Klayton launched FiXT as a label vehicle. The goal is to support other artists and provide a fair-label deal in an industry known for lopsided agreements.&nbsp;FiXT is celebrating 18 years of operations as a record label, music publisher, and merchandise company this year. Rhodes isn’t arrogant enough to know what the next shift in the industry will be.He wants to be ready when it happens.“Odds are, you’ve probably heard our music somewhere, in a movie or a video game, and you just didn’t know it,” Rhodes said.

52 Faces: Mr. Music 

Nine candidates are running for seats on the Burlington city council, with the primary set for Tuesday.&nbsp;

Incumbents Robert Critser and Bill Maupin will be challenged by Travis Inghram, Kay Weiss, Tim Scott, and Jennifer Klever-Kirkman.&nbsp;

Christopher Roepke, Antonio Bailey, and Terry Schnack are looking to win the seat currently held by Annie Wilson. Wilson, who is not running for reelection, stepped into the vacancy created when council member Matt Rinker was elected to the state legislature.

The Beacon asked each candidate to submit a profile and answer a few questions, giving voters a preview of the ballot box.

Retired librarian Kay Weiss was the Burlington Public Library director for 20 years and worked in four other libraries before that. She has lived in the Burlington community for 35 years.

Volunteering became Weiss’s occupation after retirement, and she has been secretary of the Burlington Historic Preservation Commission for the past six years. She volunteers with Downtown Partners, the Heritage Trust, the Des Moines County Historical Society, the Burlington Educational Foundation, the Community Thanksgiving Dinner committee, the Burlington Rotary Club, and her church.

Weiss said her main issue will be protecting the Burlington Public Library. This past spring, the Iowa legislature passed a bill that negates Iowa voters’ ability to tax themselves and their communities with special levies for libraries, museums, symphonies, bands, and civic centers.&nbsp;

The bill folded these former levies into the general revenue tax which is capped, by law, at $8.10 for each $1,000 of taxable valuation. Burlington, which currently collects $15.34 including the special levies, will be denied nearly 40 percent of its current tax income.

Weiss said she supports constructing a new Cascade Bridge, as well as a third Burlington fire station.

Terry Schnack, who owned and operated the CARS (Christian Automotive Repair Service) before his retirement, has lived in the community for over 16 years.

A Davenport native, Schnack grew up on a family farm by Stockton and is an avid classic car owner and enthusiast.

Schnack said he supports lower taxes and believes public safety is the number one priority. That’s why he’s supporting a third fire station if voters approve it in November. He said he supports the library in the face of possible reduced funding.

Aside from public safety, Schnack said his top priorities are creating good-paying jobs and the mental health and homelessness problem. He said he was heartened to see the city establish a task force on homelessness.

Schnack said he would love to see some of Burlington’s oldest buildings, such as Apollo High School, rehabbed and developed for current use. He would also like to see a new Cascade Bridge, saying it is beyond rehab. But he is worried that the $7 to $10 million would be too cost-prohibitive to build.

City council incumbent Robert Critser has lived in Burlington for 30 years and grew up in Burlington. He served in the Iowa Army National Guard for six years. He worked for Walmart Stores for over twenty years before retiring in 2020.&nbsp;

Critser spent about ten years serving on the Henry County Relay for Life Committee and serving on the committee for Burlington Riverfront Entertainment. He is also a volunteer as a member of the Grimes Elementary PTO.

Critser said he supports a third fire station, though the decision will be up to voters in November.

When it comes to funding for the library in the face of levy consolidation, Critser said he would prefer a franchise fee over hacking into the budget. He said libraries are vital for democracy.

Critser is not in favor of higher taxes, which the state does not allow right now anyhow.&nbsp;

He’s happy with the TIGER grant redevelopment of Jefferson and Main Streets and is in favor of building a new Cascade Bridge.&nbsp;

Recent Notre Dame principal and current Notre Dame history teacher Bill Maupin is an incumbent looking to hold onto his council seat.

Maupin has lived in Burlington his entire life – 58 years. He has been an educator for 37 of those years.&nbsp; He’s also a cowboy and raises horses, cattle, and pets with his family.

Maupin believes the current property tax rate is too high, and said the city has to look at the current services and decide if they should be cut or funded in an alternative way.

He said a third fire station will be up to the voters. He said this budget season, the city needs to look at ways to keep the level of services with decreased revenue. He said he will commit to not raising taxes.

Maupin said his three primary issues for the city are the budget, economic development, and increasing revenue. He would like to see Burlington’s old buildings redeveloped and believes the new TIGER grant construction is a benefit of downtown.

He would also like to find more grant funding for a new Cascade Bridge.

A Burlington native-born who grew up in Henderson County, Ill., Travis Inghram is an attorney and a childhood cancer survivor. His family has owned several local businesses over the decades, which he has added to as the owner of Inghram Law, PLLC.&nbsp;

Inghram said he has always been an advocate of citizen rights over government overreach. He said he will not be a rubber stamp council member, and said that taxation, in itself, is a form of government-sanctioned theft. A theft he agrees is necessary for our society but which is not discussed in the appropriate terms.&nbsp;

While Inghram believes in the idea of a third fire station, he believes there are better ways to handle it than a bond referendum —&nbsp; including voluntary fundraising.

Inghram said he would reject wasteful spending, and create a comparison chart of agencies that provide the most overall benefit to the community. That benefit would determine funding.

Inghram said his top three issues of concern in Burlington are methamphetamine, wasteful spending, and leadership that doesn’t understand their constituents. He believes the city should use tax credits and other incentives to encourage developers to redevelop Burlington’s older buildings.

Inghram said he also supports Cascade Bridge, and would rather see it repaired than replaced. He is disappointed in recent redevelopment work in downtown Burlington.

Former Burlington mayor and city council member Tim Scott is looking to return to the council.

Born and raised in Burlington, Scott has spent eight years in the military and used to work at Montgomery Ward.&nbsp;

Scott currently works as a delivery driver for FedEx Ground, an Expedite driver for RM Shuttle Express, is the owner of Tim’s Wood products, and a landlord. He served on the Burlington School Board in his 20s and was a reserve Burlington police officer for eight years.&nbsp;

Scott said he is in favor of a third fire station, noting that an ambulance response location on the north side of town would be helpful.

Scott said one of his main issues is Burlington’s deteriorating neighborhoods, and he is not happy with the TIGER grant redevelopment of Jefferson Street and Main Street.

He said he finds it ridiculous that the city continues to turn to the federal and state governments to fund improvements. He is in favor of building a new Cascade Bridge.

Jennifer&nbsp;&nbsp;Klever-Kirkman

Jennifer Klever-Kirkman has lived in Burlington for 19 years, growing up in northeastern Iowa on a small family farm. Klever Kirkman is an attorney and has been practicing in Burlington since 2005. In 2010, she became a partner in Robberts and Kirkman LLLP.

She has served on a number of area organizations in the past, including the Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra Board, Burlington Library Board of Trustees, Fine Arts League, Burlington Area Arts Council, Business and Professional Women’s League, and the Notre Dame Foundation Board.

She is in support of a third fire station and believes the library is an invaluable resource. She said protecting it is a top priority. She said public perception, fire and safety, and infrastructure are the three biggest issues that face the city. She would like to see the buildings developed if they can’t be torn down.

Klever-Kirkman said she is in favor of a new Cascade Bridge and is not happy with the results of the TIGER grant redevelopment of Jefferson and Main Streets.

Chris Roepke, a pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church in Burlington and Our Savior Lutheran Church in Fort Madison, has lived in Burlington for 30 years.

Roepke grew up in Des Plaines, Ill., where his father was a police officer. He currently serves on the city’s economic development board.

Roepke said he believes the property tax is too high, and is leaning strongly against a third fire station. He said Burlington’s population has decreased in the past 20 years, making a third station unnecessary.

Roepke said his number one priority when it comes to funding is police and fire. After that, his priorities rank in descending order — streets, parks, and the library. He said no budget cuts are acceptable for police and fire.

Roepke said his top priority is neighborhoods neglected by the city. He is against the practice of incentivizing developers with money that taxpayers are on the hook for. He would like to see projects developed without it, which could mean changing building codes.

He said he is opposed to a utility franchise and would be in favor of civil actions to remove or rehabilitate the old buildings around Burlington. He is not happy with the loss of parking on Jefferson after the downtown redevelopment and said the splash pad is a drain on city finances. On the subject of Cascade Bridge, he is in favor of a pedestrian and bicycle bridge.

Antonio Bailey is an associate and coach at Burlington Community School District and has lived in Burlington for 48 years. He co-founded&nbsp; Burlington’s only semi-pro football team.

A native of Crystal Springs, Miss., Bailey currently serves on the low-rent housing board and operates a car detailing business.

Bailey said he is in favor of a third fire station and believes the tax rate is where it should be.

Bailey said he is a big supporter of the library but is aware there have been state changes regarding funding. He said he wants to improve the infrastructure of the city.&nbsp;

He said his top three issues are the homeless situation, affordable housing, and marketing the city to create more business opportunities and jobs.

Bailey said the investment in the TIGER grant-funded redevelopment of downtown was money well spent. He’s also a big supporter of a new Cascade Bridge, saying it has a significant place in Burlington’s history.

Bailey would like to see increased incentives to bring in more industry, increased police patrols, and more officers.&nbsp;

Expanded hours for the Burlington Area Homeless shelter — all the way to 24 hours if possible — is another of his goals.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/10/1696875519187.jpeg" alt="Burlington voters were out in force on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at the Burlington Public Library for a candidate meet and greet sponsored by The Burlington Beacon and the League of Women Voters of Southeast Iowa. The event gave voters the chance to learn more about seven of the nine candidates vying for a seat on the Burlington City Council. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Burlington voters were out in force on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at the Burlington Public Library for a candidate meet and greet sponsored by The Burlington Beacon and the League of Women Voters of Southeast Iowa. The event gave voters the chance to learn more about seven of the nine candidates vying for a seat on the Burlington City Council. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Beacon StaffNine candidates are running for seats on the Burlington city council, with the primary set for Tuesday.&nbsp;Incumbents Robert Critser and Bill Maupin will be challenged by Travis Inghram, Kay Weiss, Tim Scott, and Jennifer Klever-Kirkman.&nbsp;Christopher Roepke, Antonio Bailey, and Terry Schnack are looking to win the seat currently held by Annie Wilson. Wilson, who is not running for reelection, stepped into the vacancy created when council member Matt Rinker was elected to the state legislature.The Beacon asked each candidate to submit a profile and answer a few questions, giving voters a preview of the ballot box.Kay WeissRetired librarian Kay Weiss was the Burlington Public Library director for 20 years and worked in four other libraries before that. She has lived in the Burlington community for 35 years.Volunteering became Weiss’s occupation after retirement, and she has been secretary of the Burlington Historic Preservation Commission for the past six years. She volunteers with Downtown Partners, the Heritage Trust, the Des Moines County Historical Society, the Burlington Educational Foundation, the Community Thanksgiving Dinner committee, the Burlington Rotary Club, and her church.Weiss said her main issue will be protecting the Burlington Public Library. This past spring, the Iowa legislature passed a bill that negates Iowa voters’ ability to tax themselves and their communities with special levies for libraries, museums, symphonies, bands, and civic centers.&nbsp;The bill folded these former levies into the general revenue tax which is capped, by law, at $8.10 for each $1,000 of taxable valuation. Burlington, which currently collects $15.34 including the special levies, will be denied nearly 40 percent of its current tax income.Weiss said she supports constructing a new Cascade Bridge, as well as a third Burlington fire station.Terry SchnackTerry Schnack, who owned and operated the CARS (Christian Automotive Repair Service) before his retirement, has lived in the community for over 16 years.A Davenport native, Schnack grew up on a family farm by Stockton and is an avid classic car owner and enthusiast.Schnack said he supports lower taxes and believes public safety is the number one priority. That’s why he’s supporting a third fire station if voters approve it in November. He said he supports the library in the face of possible reduced funding.Aside from public safety, Schnack said his top priorities are creating good-paying jobs and the mental health and homelessness problem. He said he was heartened to see the city establish a task force on homelessness.Schnack said he would love to see some of Burlington’s oldest buildings, such as Apollo High School, rehabbed and developed for current use. He would also like to see a new Cascade Bridge, saying it is beyond rehab. But he is worried that the $7 to $10 million would be too cost-prohibitive to build.Robert CritserCity council incumbent Robert Critser has lived in Burlington for 30 years and grew up in Burlington. He served in the Iowa Army National Guard for six years. He worked for Walmart Stores for over twenty years before retiring in 2020.&nbsp;Critser spent about ten years serving on the Henry County Relay for Life Committee and serving on the committee for Burlington Riverfront Entertainment. He is also a volunteer as a member of the Grimes Elementary PTO.Critser said he supports a third fire station, though the decision will be up to voters in November.When it comes to funding for the library in the face of levy consolidation, Critser said he would prefer a franchise fee over hacking into the budget. He said libraries are vital for democracy.Critser is not in favor of higher taxes, which the state does not allow right now anyhow.&nbsp;He’s happy with the TIGER grant redevelopment of Jefferson and Main Streets and is in favor of building a new Cascade Bridge.&nbsp;Bill MaupinRecent Notre Dame principal and current Notre Dame history teacher Bill Maupin is an incumbent looking to hold onto his council seat.Maupin has lived in Burlington his entire life – 58 years. He has been an educator for 37 of those years.&nbsp; He’s also a cowboy and raises horses, cattle, and pets with his family.Maupin believes the current property tax rate is too high, and said the city has to look at the current services and decide if they should be cut or funded in an alternative way.He said a third fire station will be up to the voters. He said this budget season, the city needs to look at ways to keep the level of services with decreased revenue. He said he will commit to not raising taxes.Maupin said his three primary issues for the city are the budget, economic development, and increasing revenue. He would like to see Burlington’s old buildings redeveloped and believes the new TIGER grant construction is a benefit of downtown.He would also like to find more grant funding for a new Cascade Bridge.Travis InghramA Burlington native-born who grew up in Henderson County, Ill., Travis Inghram is an attorney and a childhood cancer survivor. His family has owned several local businesses over the decades, which he has added to as the owner of Inghram Law, PLLC.&nbsp;Inghram said he has always been an advocate of citizen rights over government overreach. He said he will not be a rubber stamp council member, and said that taxation, in itself, is a form of government-sanctioned theft. A theft he agrees is necessary for our society but which is not discussed in the appropriate terms.&nbsp;While Inghram believes in the idea of a third fire station, he believes there are better ways to handle it than a bond referendum —&nbsp; including voluntary fundraising.Inghram said he would reject wasteful spending, and create a comparison chart of agencies that provide the most overall benefit to the community. That benefit would determine funding.Inghram said his top three issues of concern in Burlington are methamphetamine, wasteful spending, and leadership that doesn’t understand their constituents. He believes the city should use tax credits and other incentives to encourage developers to redevelop Burlington’s older buildings.Inghram said he also supports Cascade Bridge, and would rather see it repaired than replaced. He is disappointed in recent redevelopment work in downtown Burlington.Tim ScottFormer Burlington mayor and city council member Tim Scott is looking to return to the council.Born and raised in Burlington, Scott has spent eight years in the military and used to work at Montgomery Ward.&nbsp;Scott currently works as a delivery driver for FedEx Ground, an Expedite driver for RM Shuttle Express, is the owner of Tim’s Wood products, and a landlord. He served on the Burlington School Board in his 20s and was a reserve Burlington police officer for eight years.&nbsp;Scott said he is in favor of a third fire station, noting that an ambulance response location on the north side of town would be helpful.Scott said one of his main issues is Burlington’s deteriorating neighborhoods, and he is not happy with the TIGER grant redevelopment of Jefferson Street and Main Street.He said he finds it ridiculous that the city continues to turn to the federal and state governments to fund improvements. He is in favor of building a new Cascade Bridge.Jennifer&nbsp;&nbsp;Klever-KirkmanJennifer Klever-Kirkman has lived in Burlington for 19 years, growing up in northeastern Iowa on a small family farm. Klever Kirkman is an attorney and has been practicing in Burlington since 2005. In 2010, she became a partner in Robberts and Kirkman LLLP.She has served on a number of area organizations in the past, including the Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra Board, Burlington Library Board of Trustees, Fine Arts League, Burlington Area Arts Council, Business and Professional Women’s League, and the Notre Dame Foundation Board.She is in support of a third fire station and believes the library is an invaluable resource. She said protecting it is a top priority. She said public perception, fire and safety, and infrastructure are the three biggest issues that face the city. She would like to see the buildings developed if they can’t be torn down.Klever-Kirkman said she is in favor of a new Cascade Bridge and is not happy with the results of the TIGER grant redevelopment of Jefferson and Main Streets.Chris RoepkeChris Roepke, a pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church in Burlington and Our Savior Lutheran Church in Fort Madison, has lived in Burlington for 30 years.Roepke grew up in Des Plaines, Ill., where his father was a police officer. He currently serves on the city’s economic development board.Roepke said he believes the property tax is too high, and is leaning strongly against a third fire station. He said Burlington’s population has decreased in the past 20 years, making a third station unnecessary.Roepke said his number one priority when it comes to funding is police and fire. After that, his priorities rank in descending order — streets, parks, and the library. He said no budget cuts are acceptable for police and fire.Roepke said his top priority is neighborhoods neglected by the city. He is against the practice of incentivizing developers with money that taxpayers are on the hook for. He would like to see projects developed without it, which could mean changing building codes.He said he is opposed to a utility franchise and would be in favor of civil actions to remove or rehabilitate the old buildings around Burlington. He is not happy with the loss of parking on Jefferson after the downtown redevelopment and said the splash pad is a drain on city finances. On the subject of Cascade Bridge, he is in favor of a pedestrian and bicycle bridge.Antonio BaileyAntonio Bailey is an associate and coach at Burlington Community School District and has lived in Burlington for 48 years. He co-founded&nbsp; Burlington’s only semi-pro football team.A native of Crystal Springs, Miss., Bailey currently serves on the low-rent housing board and operates a car detailing business.Bailey said he is in favor of a third fire station and believes the tax rate is where it should be.Bailey said he is a big supporter of the library but is aware there have been state changes regarding funding. He said he wants to improve the infrastructure of the city.&nbsp;He said his top three issues are the homeless situation, affordable housing, and marketing the city to create more business opportunities and jobs.Bailey said the investment in the TIGER grant-funded redevelopment of downtown was money well spent. He’s also a big supporter of a new Cascade Bridge, saying it has a significant place in Burlington’s history.Bailey would like to see increased incentives to bring in more industry, increased police patrols, and more officers.&nbsp;Expanded hours for the Burlington Area Homeless shelter — all the way to 24 hours if possible — is another of his goals.

Council candidates talk issues; Primary Election is this Tuesday

The Murphys turn a love of books&nbsp;into a passion for&nbsp;volunteering.

Tom and Cindy Murphy are happiest when surrounded by books.

Most days, you can find them inside the Burlington Public Library. If they are not reading, you can find them volunteering.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/10/1696692099553.jpeg" alt="Tom and Cindy Murphy of the Friends of the Library take a break from preparing for the group’s book sale last week to pose for a photo at the Burlington Public Library. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Tom and Cindy Murphy of the Friends of the Library take a break from preparing for the group’s book sale last week to pose for a photo at the Burlington Public Library. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>The Murphys turn a love of books&nbsp;into a passion for&nbsp;volunteering.By William SmithTom and Cindy Murphy are happiest when surrounded by books.Most days, you can find them inside the Burlington Public Library. If they are not reading, you can find them volunteering.“I love sci-fi. I’m not much of a nonfiction reader, but it is rare that I don’t have a book I’m reading,” Cindy Murphy said.For the past decade, Tom and Cindy have headed up the “Friends of the Library” Book Sale. Each quarterly book sale brings in about $3,000, which is used to help fund programs and services.The weekend-long event ends with a bag sale where everything you can stuff in a bag is $1. Murphy said it is a win-win for the library. They not only make money off used books but likely increase readership.“Someone will come over to me during the sale, and they’ll have five bags. And they will ask, ‘Is that too many?” I’ll say, ‘Go get more,’” Cindy said.The Murphys took over the book sales from the late Peggy Ell about seven years ago. They work closely with the library’s bookstore — Footnotes. The store offers slightly more expensive used books in better condition, and the annual Black Friday sale at the library focuses entirely on those books.Given the wide selection of genres at the book sale, many customers think the Murphys craft the event according to book type. In actuality, the sale revolves around the available books.&nbsp;All the used books sold are public donations.“We sell what we get,” Cindy said. “We try to bring up all the boxes of books for every sale. We’re just lucky that our public has a wide variety of books they donate.”Preparing for each book sale is a days-long process. The first step is to haul all the used books upstairs for sorting. The day before the book sale, library employees and other volunteers pitch in to help set up inside the library’s meeting room. About 50 to 60 percent of the books, DVDs, magazines, and other items on the shelves are sold by the time the event is done.“I think the sale before this we had over 30 boxes of mystery novels. In the last sale, we had 12. We have up to 300 boxes of books in the basement and bring up about 200 of them for sale. It takes a while to work through,” Cindy said.Tom and Cindy have been members of Friends of the Library for nine years. They worked closely with former library director Rhonda Frevert and have fostered a trusting relationship with current library director Brittany Jacobs.“Brittany is very supportive. She will just come in and visit with us once in a while. I know some other libraries where it’s not so cordial,” Cindy said.So does Jacobs. She’s worked in several libraries across the country and said the relationship between the library and friends group at some of them was contentious at best.“This is the best relationship I’ve seen between a library and a friends group,” Jacobs said.The Murphys take pride in that, as do the other Friends of the Library members. Many of them, like the Murphys, are retired.&nbsp;Tom grew up in Burlington, Cindy grew up in New London, and both of them retired young. Tom worked at Two Rivers Bank and Trust for 41 years, and Cindy worked at Southeastern Community College for 32 years.“We both retired in 2014. We were young babies when we retired, and we knew we needed something to do,” Cindy said.Tom and Cindy are gaining more fulfillment from their toil than ever, and they don’t make a dime. Entry into a wonderland of books is more than payment enough.Cindy recalled when late book sale organizer Peggy Ell joked about how the sale used to stay open until 6 p.m. Friday nights to accommodate one particular couple who recently retired.&nbsp;Cindy and Tom were already helping with the book sale by then, and Cindy’s face turned red at the realization.“They were staying open late just for us,” Cindy said. “And we made it worth their time. I’m a voracious reader.”The Murphys have gladly been paying back that kindness ever since.“It’s the most fun you can have. And it’s a lot of work,” Cindy said.