For the past 94 years, Burlington Civic Music has been a source of musical culture for locals. An affordable avenue for everyday people without the time or means to catch a fancy musical production in a major metropolis.

Immediate past Burlington Civic Music President and programmer Barbara McRoberts was around 7 or 8 years old when she saw her first Civic Music show. And the experience stayed with her.

“Up through the 1970s, you dressed up to go to a show,” she said. “When you look at the date of 1929 when it (Civic Music) was founded, it was the flapper era — but it was still dressy.”

It was a different time, and Civic Music was at the cutting edge of entertainment. McRoberts does her best to combat modern stereotypes. She hears the whispers about Civic Music being nothing more than a chamber music experience for the elderly.&nbsp;

“That’s not true,” McRoberts said. Indeed, the Civic Music program is a lot broader than it gets credit for. This season alone, the organization will host Scottish bagpipers with a rowdy sense of humor, a Christmas concert, and the Sofia Philharmonic on Feb. 24. No two shows are the same. Or even similar. “There’s something for everyone,” McRoberts said. The founding Memorial Auditorium has served as the home for Civic Music for decades, but the program started out at a church. “It was actually one of the Methodist churches,” McRoberts said. The Civic Service program — a national program that started in the early 1920s — brought high-end musical performances to 130 cities. Burlington joined in, with the booking handled by the national organization. Burlington Civic Music wasn’t born overnight. A local board was elected and a membership drive was held. The campaign goal was simple – put Burlington on the same cultural wavelength as larger cities. More specifically, Burlington Civic Music wanted to “popularize good music in the community.” The idea was to make high-end concerts accessible. “Too many people regard a concert as a mystical performance requiring special knowledge and a trained ear to make it comprehensible. This is a mistake,” the organization said in its listed objectives.&nbsp; No tickets For decades, Civic Music had a strict policy about ticket sales.

“Civic Music didn’t sell tickets,” McRoberts said.

Instead, the organization sold memberships. Being a member was akin to being a season ticket holder. McRoberts was a catalyst for selling single tickets without the responsibility and price of a membership.

“We want people to come to the shows. If we don’t sell tickets, they can’t see it,” McRoberts said.

The first membership drive was held in April of 1929, and Civic Music hosted its first concert that October featuring pianist Claudio Muzio. The concert was held in the basement of First United Methodist Church.

Ironically enough, the concert was held on Oct. 24, 1929 – the same day as “Black Thursday,” which kick-started the Great Depression. The Burlington Hawk Eye reported that it might have been Black Thursday on Wall Street, but it was “a red-letter day in Burlington.”

Two years later, in the fall of 1931, Civic Music moved the musical performances from the church to the auditorium at Oak Street Junior High. 

In May of 1939, the organization claimed 1,600 members — a thousand more than it started with after the first membership drive a decade earlier. It’s the highest membership in the history of the organization.

Under the direction of the late Hazel Witte — who was listed as the president of Civic Music in 1942 and membership chair in 1937 — Civic Music entertained locals for decades.

“We used to sell over 1,000 season tickets. For a town this size, that’s incredible,” McRoberts said.

McRoberts introduced Civic Music to the Iowa Presenters Network after joining the civic music board. Her new role brought even more high-profile acts to Burlington.

So did Witte. McRoberts said Witte worked tirelessly to book the biggest, most national acts imaginable. Witte would fly to Chicago on her own dime to scout talent.

“She should be given a great deal of credit. She is the one who flew to New York,” McRoberts said.

Witte selected a small group of women who met at her home for the secretarial end of the job. Witte kept only hand-written notes (she didn’t type), and about 20 volunteers would gather in a sunroom overlooking the Mississippi River. The meetings were especially important before membership drives. 

As the Hawk Eye reported in 1975, “Seven or eight typewriters in the room were going lickety-split at one time.”

Hazel had more than 100 volunteer captains, and they got free tickets if they could renew 20 Civic Music memberships or sell five new ones. Witte never afforded herself a free ticket, though.

“She was a force,” McRoberts said.

Witte booked Bob Hope for the auditorium in 1975, selling out every seat in the place. She often invited the performers to her home for refreshments, getting up close and personal with Hope and a litany of other celebrities. When she booked Red Skelton, the famous comedian insisted on arriving five days early so he could meet and talk to people in town.

With the likes of Pat Boone and other famous musicians, Witte had no trouble selling out the auditorium for multiple shows. She usually sold more memberships than the venue could hold, because she knew not everyone would show up. Saving Civic Music Witte retired from Civic Music in 1982. Audiences were shrinking and music bookings were becoming more expensive. Witte told “The Hawk Eye” that as far as she was concerned, the organization was finished as well.

“Civic Music was her show for 45 years. The reason that it survived so well is that she did it so well,” the Hawk Eye wrote. The organization had been self-sufficient through membership fees, and there was concern that the program wouldn’t be able to survive without outside help.&nbsp;

A group of like-minded Burlington citizens provided that help. Chuck Siekman, a well-known Burlington business owner, approached then Hawk Eye editor Stuart Awbrey about saving Civic Music. Awbrey agreed to finance the first year of Civic Music under the new direction to see if the program could find its legs.

Late Hawk Eye journalist Bobby Wilson became heavily involved in the booking of Civic Music in the 1980s and found there was still life to be held in organized music. He served as president from 1986 to 1990 and continued to book for the organization well after that.

“Bobby was cantankerous, but we worked together very well,” McRoberts said.

Wilson was a force in his own right — a lone wolf who didn’t care to work through committees or keep scrupulous notes. As the turn of the century arrived, though, Wilson’s ways chafed against some of the other board members.

“He wanted to do his own thing. And I told him, I said, ‘Bobby, you can’t do that anymore,’ ” McRoberts said.

McRoberts recalled visiting Wilson when he was in the hospital, where he expressed his desire to quit the Civic Music board. McRoberts wouldn’t let him.

“Bobby took over in the 80s in terms of doing all the programming for Civic Music,” McRoberts said.

As Wilson approached the end of his life in 2011, McRoberts made a point of sitting Wilson down and absorbing his years of knowledge — even if she had to squeeze it out of him.

“I told him, ‘We don’t know what you do. We don’t have a contract or anything,’” McRoberts said.

Wilson relented, and the two spent a lot of time together before his passing. McRoberts was able to take over the programming. “I knew enough because of this (time spent with Wilson),” McRoberts said. Holding it together It’s the passion for community music that keeps the Civic Music organizers tethered to endless seasons of entertainment. Craig Borchard — who used to work for Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center — still writes the press releases for the group. He moved out of Burlington several years ago.

Current president Kay Conrad has also helped the group survive, as has board member and former vice-president Lori Weiss.

“We had a good board. We still do,” McRoberts said. “It took us some time to get single ticket sales going. It took us some time to get Bobby convinced that he could work with other people. And it took the community a while to realize this is an asset.”

Incorporated as a 501(c)3 in March 1984, Burlington Civic Music hasn’t been self-sufficient in nearly 30 years. But ticket sales — especially season ticket sales — are vital in keeping the organization afloat. The rest of the money comes from grants and donations.

“The community has been very supportive. If they weren’t, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” McRoberts said.

COVID-19 nearly killed the Civic Music program a few years ago. When the lockdowns started, McRobert’s first instinct was to cancel the season entirely. But that would actually be more expensive than limping through a partial season.

McRoberts had practice from the year before when major flooding shut down the auditorium. There was no heat in November, but Civic Music organizers improvised. They held a concert anyway and encouraged attendees to wear their coats.

McRoberts thought the booking disasters were over. But she hadn’t seen anything yet.

“We got it (2019 shows) done. And then as you’re good into 2020, guess what happened? COVID happened,” McRoberts said. “We didn’t cancel, and we did not shut down.”

Some performances were postponed or moved. Venues were improvised. But the show went on.

“That (2021) was the year we had our first outdoor show. People didn’t want to go inside because of COVID, so we took them outside,” McRoberts said.

The pandemic has had a lasting impact on attendance, though. Before COVID, McRoberts said they usually filled around 750 seats per show. This past year, it’s been around 400 to 450 people.

“We’re never going to have people in the thousands again. We’ve lost so many people,” McRoberts said.

Civic Music was further hampered by the ongoing TIGER grant-funded redevelopment of downtown. But that’s only been a minor issue compared to what came before. McRoberts said the city was wonderful about providing bus services and extra routes to the shows.&nbsp;

falling post-pandemic numbers aren’t just endemic to Burlington. As part of the Iowa Presenters Network, McRoberts has seen the same scenario play out across the county. A lack of volunteers — also a national problem — isn’t helping. &nbsp;

“Season concert series in communities the size of Burlington are dying. The ones that are in larger cities are sustaining reasonably okay,” McRoberts said.

It’s a classic case of not knowing what you have until it’s gone. There’s nothing in Burlington quite like Civic Music. After 93 years, the organization may seem invincible.

But no organization can survive continued apathy. McRoberts hopes the citizens of Burlington will see the program through its 100th anniversary and beyond.

“If people don’t buy tickets — well, we won’t be here,” McRoberts said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1689013878649.jpeg" alt="Dancers from Tango Argentina entertain the crowd with their captivating choreography at Burlington Memorial Auditorium on Feb. 2.&nbsp;Photo credit: Phil Pool, Omni Photography" />
 <figcaption>Dancers from Tango Argentina entertain the crowd with their captivating choreography at Burlington Memorial Auditorium on Feb. 2.&nbsp;Photo credit: Phil Pool, Omni Photography</figcaption>
 </figure>By William Smith Community Editor For the past 94 years, Burlington Civic Music has been a source of musical culture for locals. An affordable avenue for everyday people without the time or means to catch a fancy musical production in a major metropolis. Immediate past Burlington Civic Music President and programmer Barbara McRoberts was around 7 or 8 years old when she saw her first Civic Music show. And the experience stayed with her. “Up through the 1970s, you dressed up to go to a show,” she said. “When you look at the date of 1929 when it (Civic Music) was founded, it was the flapper era — but it was still dressy.”It was a different time, and Civic Music was at the cutting edge of entertainment. McRoberts does her best to combat modern stereotypes. She hears the whispers about Civic Music being nothing more than a chamber music experience for the elderly.&nbsp; “That’s not true,” McRoberts said. Indeed, the Civic Music program is a lot broader than it gets credit for. This season alone, the organization will host Scottish bagpipers with a rowdy sense of humor, a Christmas concert, and the Sofia Philharmonic on Feb. 24. No two shows are the same. Or even similar. “There’s something for everyone,” McRoberts said. The founding Memorial Auditorium has served as the home for Civic Music for decades, but the program started out at a church. “It was actually one of the Methodist churches,” McRoberts said. The Civic Service program — a national program that started in the early 1920s — brought high-end musical performances to 130 cities. Burlington joined in, with the booking handled by the national organization. Burlington Civic Music wasn’t born overnight. A local board was elected and a membership drive was held. The campaign goal was simple – put Burlington on the same cultural wavelength as larger cities. More specifically, Burlington Civic Music wanted to “popularize good music in the community.” The idea was to make high-end concerts accessible. “Too many people regard a concert as a mystical performance requiring special knowledge and a trained ear to make it comprehensible. This is a mistake,” the organization said in its listed objectives.&nbsp; No tickets For decades, Civic Music had a strict policy about ticket sales. “Civic Music didn’t sell tickets,” McRoberts said. Instead, the organization sold memberships. Being a member was akin to being a season ticket holder. McRoberts was a catalyst for selling single tickets without the responsibility and price of a membership. “We want people to come to the shows. If we don’t sell tickets, they can’t see it,” McRoberts said. The first membership drive was held in April of 1929, and Civic Music hosted its first concert that October featuring pianist Claudio Muzio. The concert was held in the basement of First United Methodist Church. Ironically enough, the concert was held on Oct. 24, 1929 – the same day as “Black Thursday,” which kick-started the Great Depression. The Burlington Hawk Eye reported that it might have been Black Thursday on Wall Street, but it was “a red-letter day in Burlington.” Two years later, in the fall of 1931, Civic Music moved the musical performances from the church to the auditorium at Oak Street Junior High. In May of 1939, the organization claimed 1,600 members — a thousand more than it started with after the first membership drive a decade earlier. It’s the highest membership in the history of the organization. The glory years Under the direction of the late Hazel Witte — who was listed as the president of Civic Music in 1942 and membership chair in 1937 — Civic Music entertained locals for decades. “We used to sell over 1,000 season tickets. For a town this size, that’s incredible,” McRoberts said. McRoberts introduced Civic Music to the Iowa Presenters Network after joining the civic music board. Her new role brought even more high-profile acts to Burlington. So did Witte. McRoberts said Witte worked tirelessly to book the biggest, most national acts imaginable. Witte would fly to Chicago on her own dime to scout talent. “She should be given a great deal of credit. She is the one who flew to New York,” McRoberts said. Witte selected a small group of women who met at her home for the secretarial end of the job. Witte kept only hand-written notes (she didn’t type), and about 20 volunteers would gather in a sunroom overlooking the Mississippi River. The meetings were especially important before membership drives. As the Hawk Eye reported in 1975, “Seven or eight typewriters in the room were going lickety-split at one time.” Hazel had more than 100 volunteer captains, and they got free tickets if they could renew 20 Civic Music memberships or sell five new ones. Witte never afforded herself a free ticket, though. “She was a force,” McRoberts said. Witte booked Bob Hope for the auditorium in 1975, selling out every seat in the place. She often invited the performers to her home for refreshments, getting up close and personal with Hope and a litany of other celebrities. When she booked Red Skelton, the famous comedian insisted on arriving five days early so he could meet and talk to people in town. With the likes of Pat Boone and other famous musicians, Witte had no trouble selling out the auditorium for multiple shows. She usually sold more memberships than the venue could hold, because she knew not everyone would show up. Saving Civic Music Witte retired from Civic Music in 1982. Audiences were shrinking and music bookings were becoming more expensive. Witte told “The Hawk Eye” that as far as she was concerned, the organization was finished as well. “Civic Music was her show for 45 years. The reason that it survived so well is that she did it so well,” the Hawk Eye wrote. The organization had been self-sufficient through membership fees, and there was concern that the program wouldn’t be able to survive without outside help.&nbsp; A group of like-minded Burlington citizens provided that help. Chuck Siekman, a well-known Burlington business owner, approached then Hawk Eye editor Stuart Awbrey about saving Civic Music. Awbrey agreed to finance the first year of Civic Music under the new direction to see if the program could find its legs. Late Hawk Eye journalist Bobby Wilson became heavily involved in the booking of Civic Music in the 1980s and found there was still life to be held in organized music. He served as president from 1986 to 1990 and continued to book for the organization well after that. “Bobby was cantankerous, but we worked together very well,” McRoberts said. Wilson was a force in his own right — a lone wolf who didn’t care to work through committees or keep scrupulous notes. As the turn of the century arrived, though, Wilson’s ways chafed against some of the other board members. “He wanted to do his own thing. And I told him, I said, ‘Bobby, you can’t do that anymore,’ ” McRoberts said. McRoberts recalled visiting Wilson when he was in the hospital, where he expressed his desire to quit the Civic Music board. McRoberts wouldn’t let him. “Bobby took over in the 80s in terms of doing all the programming for Civic Music,” McRoberts said. As Wilson approached the end of his life in 2011, McRoberts made a point of sitting Wilson down and absorbing his years of knowledge — even if she had to squeeze it out of him. “I told him, ‘We don’t know what you do. We don’t have a contract or anything,’” McRoberts said. Wilson relented, and the two spent a lot of time together before his passing. McRoberts was able to take over the programming. “I knew enough because of this (time spent with Wilson),” McRoberts said. Holding it together It’s the passion for community music that keeps the Civic Music organizers tethered to endless seasons of entertainment. Craig Borchard — who used to work for Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center — still writes the press releases for the group. He moved out of Burlington several years ago. Current president Kay Conrad has also helped the group survive, as has board member and former vice-president Lori Weiss. “We had a good board. We still do,” McRoberts said. “It took us some time to get single ticket sales going. It took us some time to get Bobby convinced that he could work with other people. And it took the community a while to realize this is an asset.” Incorporated as a 501(c)3 in March 1984, Burlington Civic Music hasn’t been self-sufficient in nearly 30 years. But ticket sales — especially season ticket sales — are vital in keeping the organization afloat. The rest of the money comes from grants and donations. “The community has been very supportive. If they weren’t, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” McRoberts said. COVID-19 nearly killed the Civic Music program a few years ago. When the lockdowns started, McRobert’s first instinct was to cancel the season entirely. But that would actually be more expensive than limping through a partial season. McRoberts had practice from the year before when major flooding shut down the auditorium. There was no heat in November, but Civic Music organizers improvised. They held a concert anyway and encouraged attendees to wear their coats. McRoberts thought the booking disasters were over. But she hadn’t seen anything yet. “We got it (2019 shows) done. And then as you’re good into 2020, guess what happened? COVID happened,” McRoberts said. “We didn’t cancel, and we did not shut down.” Some performances were postponed or moved. Venues were improvised. But the show went on. “That (2021) was the year we had our first outdoor show. People didn’t want to go inside because of COVID, so we took them outside,” McRoberts said. The pandemic has had a lasting impact on attendance, though. Before COVID, McRoberts said they usually filled around 750 seats per show. This past year, it’s been around 400 to 450 people. “We’re never going to have people in the thousands again. We’ve lost so many people,” McRoberts said. Civic Music was further hampered by the ongoing TIGER grant-funded redevelopment of downtown. But that’s only been a minor issue compared to what came before. McRoberts said the city was wonderful about providing bus services and extra routes to the shows.&nbsp; falling post-pandemic numbers aren’t just endemic to Burlington. As part of the Iowa Presenters Network, McRoberts has seen the same scenario play out across the county. A lack of volunteers — also a national problem — isn’t helping. &nbsp;“Season concert series in communities the size of Burlington are dying. The ones that are in larger cities are sustaining reasonably okay,” McRoberts said. It’s a classic case of not knowing what you have until it’s gone. There’s nothing in Burlington quite like Civic Music. After 93 years, the organization may seem invincible. But no organization can survive continued apathy. McRoberts hopes the citizens of Burlington will see the program through its 100th anniversary and beyond. “If people don’t buy tickets — well, we won’t be here,” McRoberts said.

Burlington Civic Music Celebrates 94 Years

Jeff Abell The Burlington Beacon

June 29, 2023, is a day most people in La Harpe, Ill., won't soon forget. The sky grew black, heavy with rain that came down in torrents. Wind gusts measuring more than 100 miles per hour tore through the town and rural areas, stripping roofs, snapping tree branches, and crushing metal buildings. When the dark clouds lifted and the derecho passed, the light of hope shone brightly, fueled by acts of kindness, big and small. Scenes of neighbor helping neighbor played out numerous times, not just in La Harpe but throughout the area. An army of volunteers cleared yards littered with debris and tree branches. Business owners and citizens donated food items and vital supplies.&nbsp;

On July&nbsp;3, I paid a visit to the nerve center of the local relief effort, the La Harpe Christian Church, where meals were made available to residents, many without power for days. Inside this makeshift relief headquarters, area residents gathered for walking tacos and camaraderie. Volunteers, who had served about 550 for lunch earlier that day, were cheerfully filling plates for hungry and tired residents. Children played on a pallet of water as what should have been a somber tone gave way to lively fellowship. Seated at tables or milling in hallways, town residents discussed storm cleanup. They also chatted about their plans for the Fourth of July. No storm could dampen the patriotism and pride felt by La Harpe residents. Despite the storm's impact on some events, the fireworks show went on without a hitch. Chatting with volunteers, Marvin Gittings, 72, of rural Lomax, Ill., said the storm that hit La Harpe was the worst he had ever seen since moving to the area in 1987. He called it a "mess" and praised the community for coming together.

"There is so much love in this community, but that is how small towns are — community first. These people opened their hearts and their doors to their neighbors. It makes me proud to be from a small town," Gittings said. La Harpe resident and volunteer Monica Crim said everyone has pitched in where there has been a need. City crews and volunteers worked to remove tree branches that filled yards and littered the streets. Volunteers gave rides, served meals, and doled out essential supplies as efficiently as a well-oiled machine. But this wasn't a surprise for Crim, who said the community always comes together in times of need. "This has been a community effort, and it has been amazing to watch," Crim said, crediting La Harpe Christian Church and the "Love La Harpe" Facebook group for helping lead the relief effort. Liz McCarter of La Harpe Christian Church said the outpouring of assistance has been heartening and was quick to praise the support from neighboring communities. And to pay that generosity forward, surplus donated food items will be given to area food pantries and the Food for Thoughts program, which provides weekend food packages for students experiencing food insecurity. As I left the church, a woman exiting behind me said she was thankful for her community, adding, "There is so much love here — my heart is full. Love thy neighbor — God bless this town."

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1688751063920.jpeg" alt="American flags line the streets of La Harpe, Ill. as a truck hauls fallen tree limbs to the city burn pile. (Keith Turrill for The Beacon)" />
 <figcaption>American flags line the streets of La Harpe, Ill. as a truck hauls fallen tree limbs to the city burn pile. (Keith Turrill for The Beacon)</figcaption>
 </figure>Jeff Abell The Burlington BeaconJune 29, 2023, is a day most people in La Harpe, Ill., won't soon forget. The sky grew black, heavy with rain that came down in torrents. Wind gusts measuring more than 100 miles per hour tore through the town and rural areas, stripping roofs, snapping tree branches, and crushing metal buildings. When the dark clouds lifted and the derecho passed, the light of hope shone brightly, fueled by acts of kindness, big and small. Scenes of neighbor helping neighbor played out numerous times, not just in La Harpe but throughout the area. An army of volunteers cleared yards littered with debris and tree branches. Business owners and citizens donated food items and vital supplies.&nbsp; On July&nbsp;3, I paid a visit to the nerve center of the local relief effort, the La Harpe Christian Church, where meals were made available to residents, many without power for days. Inside this makeshift relief headquarters, area residents gathered for walking tacos and camaraderie. Volunteers, who had served about 550 for lunch earlier that day, were cheerfully filling plates for hungry and tired residents. Children played on a pallet of water as what should have been a somber tone gave way to lively fellowship. Seated at tables or milling in hallways, town residents discussed storm cleanup. They also chatted about their plans for the Fourth of July. No storm could dampen the patriotism and pride felt by La Harpe residents. Despite the storm's impact on some events, the fireworks show went on without a hitch. Chatting with volunteers, Marvin Gittings, 72, of rural Lomax, Ill., said the storm that hit La Harpe was the worst he had ever seen since moving to the area in 1987. He called it a "mess" and praised the community for coming together.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1688751967473.png" alt="Marvin Gittings, 72, of rural Lomax, Ill., chats with volunteers on July 3 while picking up a carry-out meal at the La Harpe Christian Church. Meals were provided to area residents, many of whom lost power as the result of a June 29 storm. (Photo by Jeff Abell)" />
 <figcaption>Marvin Gittings, 72, of rural Lomax, Ill., chats with volunteers on July 3 while picking up a carry-out meal at the La Harpe Christian Church. Meals were provided to area residents, many of whom lost power as the result of a June 29 storm. (Photo by Jeff Abell)</figcaption>
 </figure>"There is so much love in this community, but that is how small towns are — community first. These people opened their hearts and their doors to their neighbors. It makes me proud to be from a small town," Gittings said. La Harpe resident and volunteer Monica Crim said everyone has pitched in where there has been a need. City crews and volunteers worked to remove tree branches that filled yards and littered the streets. Volunteers gave rides, served meals, and doled out essential supplies as efficiently as a well-oiled machine. But this wasn't a surprise for Crim, who said the community always comes together in times of need. "This has been a community effort, and it has been amazing to watch," Crim said, crediting La Harpe Christian Church and the "Love La Harpe" Facebook group for helping lead the relief effort. Liz McCarter of La Harpe Christian Church said the outpouring of assistance has been heartening and was quick to praise the support from neighboring communities. And to pay that generosity forward, surplus donated food items will be given to area food pantries and the Food for Thoughts program, which provides weekend food packages for students experiencing food insecurity. As I left the church, a woman exiting behind me said she was thankful for her community, adding, "There is so much love here — my heart is full. Love thy neighbor — God bless this town."

"Love thy neighbor" Residents of La Harpe, Ill. band together in aftermath of storm

U.S. Senator Charles Grassley visited the Burlington Kiwanis Club Thursday, speaking about the often unseen bipartisanship that makes Congress work.

Grassley is in the middle of his 99-county tour of Iowa -- an annual tradition for the senator. Several club members pressed Grassley with their concerns about the widening gap between Democrats and Republicans.&nbsp;

Grassley, a Republican, said much of the derision between the two parties is trumped up by the media.

“There is too much partisanship, but there’s not as much as you think,” Grassley said. “Journalists are always talking about controversy and they’re always talking about in-fighting. There’s not a single senator I dislike, and I don’t think there’s a single senator that dislikes me. If there is, I don’t want to know about it, because I have to work with these people.”

Grassley spoke about illegal immigration, saying that solutions to the border crisis are stagnating because President Joe Biden won’t enforce immigration laws.

Tom Broeker and others laugh and applaud while listening to U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley speak to Burlington Kiwanis Club members and their guests, Thursday, July 6, at the Burlington Golf Club. Sen. Grassley was in Burlington as part of his 43rd annual tour of each of Iowa's 99 counties. Following his stop in Burlington the senator was heading to Mount Pleasant for a meeting.

Grassley also took aim at the lack of transparency in the pharmaceutical industry, calling out the PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager) program. A PBM is a third-party administrator contracted by health plans, employers, unions, and government entities to manage prescription drug programs.

The PBM acts as a fiscal intermediary between insurers and pharmacies, and Grassley is working to bring transparency to PBMs. Grassley is sponsoring a bill with a Democratic senator to demand that transparency.

“They are such an opaque operation. The middle people, between the pharmaceutical companies and you, the consumer. We don’t think it should be an opaque operation,” Grassley said. U.S. representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks attended Thursday’s Kiwanis meeting, as did local officials and dignitaries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1688673047196.jpeg" alt="U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley speaks to Burlington Kiwanis Club members and their guests on Thursday, July 6, at the Burlington Golf Club. Sen. Grassley was in Burlington as part of his 43rd annual tour of each of Iowa's 99 counties. Following his stop in Burlington the senator was heading to Mount Pleasant for a meeting. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley speaks to Burlington Kiwanis Club members and their guests on Thursday, July 6, at the Burlington Golf Club. Sen. Grassley was in Burlington as part of his 43rd annual tour of each of Iowa's 99 counties. Following his stop in Burlington the senator was heading to Mount Pleasant for a meeting. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon Staff U.S. Senator Charles Grassley visited the Burlington Kiwanis Club Thursday, speaking about the often unseen bipartisanship that makes Congress work. Grassley is in the middle of his 99-county tour of Iowa -- an annual tradition for the senator. Several club members pressed Grassley with their concerns about the widening gap between Democrats and Republicans.&nbsp; Grassley, a Republican, said much of the derision between the two parties is trumped up by the media. “There is too much partisanship, but there’s not as much as you think,” Grassley said. “Journalists are always talking about controversy and they’re always talking about in-fighting. There’s not a single senator I dislike, and I don’t think there’s a single senator that dislikes me. If there is, I don’t want to know about it, because I have to work with these people.” Grassley spoke about illegal immigration, saying that solutions to the border crisis are stagnating because President Joe Biden won’t enforce immigration laws.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1688672818916.jpeg" alt="Des Moines County Supervisor Tom Broeker and others laugh and applaud while listening to U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley speak to Burlington Kiwanis Club members and their guests. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Des Moines County Supervisor Tom Broeker and others laugh and applaud while listening to U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley speak to Burlington Kiwanis Club members and their guests. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Tom Broeker and others laugh and applaud while listening to U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley speak to Burlington Kiwanis Club members and their guests, Thursday, July 6, at the Burlington Golf Club. Sen. Grassley was in Burlington as part of his 43rd annual tour of each of Iowa's 99 counties. Following his stop in Burlington the senator was heading to Mount Pleasant for a meeting.Grassley also took aim at the lack of transparency in the pharmaceutical industry, calling out the PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager) program. A PBM is a third-party administrator contracted by health plans, employers, unions, and government entities to manage prescription drug programs. The PBM acts as a fiscal intermediary between insurers and pharmacies, and Grassley is working to bring transparency to PBMs. Grassley is sponsoring a bill with a Democratic senator to demand that transparency. “They are such an opaque operation. The middle people, between the pharmaceutical companies and you, the consumer. We don’t think it should be an opaque operation,” Grassley said. U.S. representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks attended Thursday’s Kiwanis meeting, as did local officials and dignitaries.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1688672549340.jpeg" alt="Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>

Grassley Talks Bipartisanship at Burlington Kiwanis Club

Tom and Linda Jones are big fans of “Our Iowa” magazine.

But they never expected to be featured in it.

Tom and Linda live on an acreage north of Burlington off Highway 99 and were honored in the June/July edition of the magazine as having one of the “prettiest farms in Iowa.”

“We just never thought our farm was good enough to be in the magazine,” Tom said.

Friends had been telling them they should nominate themselves, but the Jones’ never did. Instead, “Our Iowa” magazine came to them – by accident.

“It’s the funniest story,” Linda said.

One of the Jones’ neighbors had been nominated, and an employee of the magazine drove out there to check it out. The farm didn’t fit the criteria for the magazine.&nbsp;

When the topic of flowers came up during the assessment, the neighbor told the magazine they should check out the flowers down the road at the Jones farm.

Flowers festoon the Jones’ property – including 200 unique varieties of daylilies created through cross-breeding. Linda is a certified Master Gardener through Iowa State University, and Tom might as well be.

“I’ve registered about 180 (of the unique varieties of daylilies),” Tom said. “There are about 90,000 varieties registered on the database.”

The Jones understand the nature of balance, which is reflected in their farmstead. The flowers are beautiful, but not overpopulated. The grass is natural, full of dandelions. Potatoes and other vegetables grow in raised vegetable beds, which possess a beauty of their own.

Tom, a Cedar Falls native, met Linda while they were attending college at the University of Northern Iowa. He was a business major while she was studying education.

They married in 1974 and decided to return to Linda’s family farm on the outskirts of Burlington. That’s the farm they live on today.

“Our home sits on the land that was purchased in 1947 when my dad, Wayne Kester, came home from the service and married my mother, Pauline,” Linda said in the “Our Iowa” article. “The 80-acre farm had a three-room house with no plumbing and a few outbuildings.”

Linda attended a one-room schoolhouse. As her family grew, her parents purchased another farm about a mile away.

“My grandparents’ farm, which lies across the road from us, was homesteaded by my family in 1848. It was one of the first-century farms to be recognized by the state of Iowa in 1977,” Linda said.

Tom and Linda have carved out about four acres of that for their home.&nbsp;

All the farms Linda mentioned are held in a family trust and farmed by her brother Gary.

The family farm didn’t have plumbing when Linda lived there as a child, and it still didn’t when she returned with her husband.

Starting in 1978, the couple began the monumental task of making the farm their new home.&nbsp;

Tom found a good job at Case (now CNH), which he retired from after 31 years. Linda became a teacher in the Burlington School District, mostly teaching ninth-grade math.

When they weren’t working, they were still working. Tom built their house — made entirely of red cedar — from the ground up.&nbsp;

They lived in the furnished basement as Tom built the house above them, sealing the unfinished structure in the winter. The outhouses were replaced with modern plumbing.

Tom was into green energy before green energy was popular. He had solar panels on the roof in the late 1970s.

“It was a lot of work,” he said.&nbsp;

In the summer, Tom and Linda limit their gardening hours to the morning. Their alarm is set for 5:30 a.m. every day, which gives them time to exercise at the YMCA before getting in the dirt.

But when spring rolls around, both are in the garden from sun-up to sundown.

“There’s a lot to do in the spring,” Tom said.

Linda likes to follow the Master Gardener motto of trying something new in the garden every season, which leads to a lot of trial-and-error innovations. Ways to kill the gnats and white flies on fruit without harming the helpful pollinator insects (yellow plastic drink cups covered in Vaseline).&nbsp;

Buckets of molasses in apple trees kill more harmful insects. But Mother Nature can be a feisty, random foe.

“The raccoons ate all the grapes last year,” Tom said.

Linda is coming up with new ways to foil the local wildlife. But she hasn’t always accounted for the risk imposed by loyal domestic beasts.

“We found out our dogs love tomatoes,” Linda said with a laugh.

Farm Is nothing&nbsp;&nbsp;without family

Tom and Linda will be the first to tell you that they don’t like to sit still for long.

Until they do, of course, sitting on one of the benches Tom hand-carved and guarded by the shade of the pine trees they planted together.

They also long for the not-so-quiet moments when their two adult children return home with their three grandchildren. The laughter when a grandchild picks up one of the tamer barn cats for unexpected pets.

Tom isn’t shy about showing their hard work to friends and strangers. Their two dogs — Adelaide and Sydney — are used to visitors but never tire of greeting them.

“We like to have open houses, where we invite friends and other people over. If you’re going to go to all this work…” he said.

The real highlight of their year, aside from the blooming flowers, arrives in the summer.

“A highlight of each summer is when our three grandchildren stay together at our home,” Linda said.

Their 50th wedding anniversary will be the highlight of 2024. And they won’t be anywhere near the family farm.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1688658698340.jpeg" alt="Tom and Linda Jones are shown in a daylily garden featuring over 217 different varieties on Tuesday, June 27 at their rural Des Moines County home. The couple was recently featured in “Our Iowa” magazine for having one of the prettiest farms in Iowa. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Tom and Linda Jones are shown in a daylily garden featuring over 217 different varieties on Tuesday, June 27 at their rural Des Moines County home. The couple was recently featured in “Our Iowa” magazine for having one of the prettiest farms in Iowa. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithTom and Linda Jones are big fans of “Our Iowa” magazine.But they never expected to be featured in it.Tom and Linda live on an acreage north of Burlington off Highway 99 and were honored in the June/July edition of the magazine as having one of the “prettiest farms in Iowa.”“We just never thought our farm was good enough to be in the magazine,” Tom said.Friends had been telling them they should nominate themselves, but the Jones’ never did. Instead, “Our Iowa” magazine came to them – by accident.“It’s the funniest story,” Linda said.One of the Jones’ neighbors had been nominated, and an employee of the magazine drove out there to check it out. The farm didn’t fit the criteria for the magazine.&nbsp;When the topic of flowers came up during the assessment, the neighbor told the magazine they should check out the flowers down the road at the Jones farm.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1688658805813.jpeg" alt="A butterfly feeds on a zinnia in a garden. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>A butterfly feeds on a zinnia in a garden. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Flowers festoon the Jones’ property – including 200 unique varieties of daylilies created through cross-breeding. Linda is a certified Master Gardener through Iowa State University, and Tom might as well be.“I’ve registered about 180 (of the unique varieties of daylilies),” Tom said. “There are about 90,000 varieties registered on the database.”The Jones understand the nature of balance, which is reflected in their farmstead. The flowers are beautiful, but not overpopulated. The grass is natural, full of dandelions. Potatoes and other vegetables grow in raised vegetable beds, which possess a beauty of their own.Family legacyTom, a Cedar Falls native, met Linda while they were attending college at the University of Northern Iowa. He was a business major while she was studying education.They married in 1974 and decided to return to Linda’s family farm on the outskirts of Burlington. That’s the farm they live on today.“Our home sits on the land that was purchased in 1947 when my dad, Wayne Kester, came home from the service and married my mother, Pauline,” Linda said in the “Our Iowa” article. “The 80-acre farm had a three-room house with no plumbing and a few outbuildings.”Linda attended a one-room schoolhouse. As her family grew, her parents purchased another farm about a mile away.“My grandparents’ farm, which lies across the road from us, was homesteaded by my family in 1848. It was one of the first-century farms to be recognized by the state of Iowa in 1977,” Linda said.Tom and Linda have carved out about four acres of that for their home.&nbsp;All the farms Linda mentioned are held in a family trust and farmed by her brother Gary.Updating the farm&nbsp;The family farm didn’t have plumbing when Linda lived there as a child, and it still didn’t when she returned with her husband.Starting in 1978, the couple began the monumental task of making the farm their new home.&nbsp;Tom found a good job at Case (now CNH), which he retired from after 31 years. Linda became a teacher in the Burlington School District, mostly teaching ninth-grade math.When they weren’t working, they were still working. Tom built their house — made entirely of red cedar — from the ground up.&nbsp;They lived in the furnished basement as Tom built the house above them, sealing the unfinished structure in the winter. The outhouses were replaced with modern plumbing.Tom was into green energy before green energy was popular. He had solar panels on the roof in the late 1970s.“It was a lot of work,” he said.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1688659095446.jpeg" alt="Linda Jones checks on some grapes that she and her husband Tom grow in their garden. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Linda Jones checks on some grapes that she and her husband Tom grow in their garden. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Care is the keyIn the summer, Tom and Linda limit their gardening hours to the morning. Their alarm is set for 5:30 a.m. every day, which gives them time to exercise at the YMCA before getting in the dirt.But when spring rolls around, both are in the garden from sun-up to sundown.“There’s a lot to do in the spring,” Tom said.Linda likes to follow the Master Gardener motto of trying something new in the garden every season, which leads to a lot of trial-and-error innovations. Ways to kill the gnats and white flies on fruit without harming the helpful pollinator insects (yellow plastic drink cups covered in Vaseline).&nbsp;Buckets of molasses in apple trees kill more harmful insects. But Mother Nature can be a feisty, random foe.“The raccoons ate all the grapes last year,” Tom said.Linda is coming up with new ways to foil the local wildlife. But she hasn’t always accounted for the risk imposed by loyal domestic beasts.“We found out our dogs love tomatoes,” Linda said with a laugh.Farm Is nothing&nbsp;&nbsp;without familyTom and Linda will be the first to tell you that they don’t like to sit still for long.Until they do, of course, sitting on one of the benches Tom hand-carved and guarded by the shade of the pine trees they planted together.They also long for the not-so-quiet moments when their two adult children return home with their three grandchildren. The laughter when a grandchild picks up one of the tamer barn cats for unexpected pets.Tom isn’t shy about showing their hard work to friends and strangers. Their two dogs — Adelaide and Sydney — are used to visitors but never tire of greeting them.“We like to have open houses, where we invite friends and other people over. If you’re going to go to all this work…” he said.The real highlight of their year, aside from the blooming flowers, arrives in the summer.“A highlight of each summer is when our three grandchildren stay together at our home,” Linda said.Their 50th wedding anniversary will be the highlight of 2024. And they won’t be anywhere near the family farm.&nbsp;They’ll be in Jamaica for two weeks.“Just the two of us,” Linda said.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1688658922515.jpeg" alt="Above: Tom and Linda Jones are shown in a daylily garden on Tuesday, June 27 at their rural Des Moines County home." />
 <figcaption>Above: Tom and Linda Jones are shown in a daylily garden on Tuesday, June 27 at their rural Des Moines County home.</figcaption>
 </figure>

52 Faces: Praise grows for local farm couple

Two years ago, the state of Iowa made it impossible for cities and counties to ban the sale of fireworks.

The new law has proven to be a headache not only for Burlington Fire Chief Matt Trexel, but the city at large. You can freely buy them at several tents around town, but it’s still illegal to shoot fireworks in Burlington.

“The first offense (for shooting fireworks) is up to a $750 fine,” Burlington Police Chief Marc Denney said.

The fireworks tents are open now and have undergone inspections by the Burlington Fire Department. Trexel addressed the process during the Burlington City Council meeting Monday night.

“The fire marshal (Mark Crooks) goes over as soon as they’re open. He’s going to try to get them to put up a sign that says ‘Consumer fireworks use is not legal in Burlington,” Trexel said.

Trexel said the state highly regulates fireworks stands, meaning the city cannot attach additional ordinances. When fireworks were legalized in Iowa in 2017, local governments initially retained control over fireworks sales.

“The only thing we get to do are the inspections because we volunteer to do them. If we don’t do them, the state will do them. But there are so many tents,” Trexel said.&nbsp;

“You can’t keep them from opening. You have to allow them to open, and then we choose to do the inspection.”

The law allowing fireworks stands went into effect right before the Fourth of July holiday in 2021, and fireworks calls exploded.

“I mean, over the last two years in a row, it’s really been a mess. We had to shut down Circle K on Maple and shut down their pumps,” said Sgt. Chad Zahn, public information officer for the Burlington Police Department.

The increased use of fireworks resulted in a garage fire on Highland Avenue as the clock ticked to midnight on July 5, 2021.

“Before it was done, nine other properties were damaged,” Crooks said. “It resulted in $200,000 of losses to the insurance companies.”

The next year, in 2022, the Burlington Fire Department responded to two house fires caused by fireworks.

“From May 1 to July 31, we had two structure fires, two property damage calls, three brush fires, and a dumpster fire, all caused by fireworks,” Crooks said.

That wasn’t the only damage done. Zahn said. A man severely injured at least one of his hands last year while setting off an explosive firework.

“An officer responded and applied a tourniquet to his hand. It just ruined his hand,” Zahn said.

Zahn said the Burlington Police Department received 209 fireworks calls during the Fourth of July period (roughly a month) in 2021. That dropped to 126 last year, which he said is still an unmanageable number.

“When you figure the number of officers working at a time, and the other calls they’re trying to handle – it’s impossible to respond to 126 calls,” Zahn said.

The $750 ticket is stiff but can be tricky to enforce.

“We have to see them ignite it, or have evidence that they ignited it,” Zahn said.&nbsp;

“A fireworks call isn’t a priority call necessarily, so if we’re on another call, it may be 15 or 20 minutes before we get to that fireworks call.”

Trexel said the best way to curb illegal firework usage is through education. He doesn’t expect the general populace to keep track of Iowa’s changing laws.

That’s why he’s making a concentrated effort to get the word out through any media available. He also likes to remind the public that fireworks can be downright terrifying for pets and those suffering from PTSD — especially war veterans.

“I think there’s a certain amount of the population that doesn’t realize that they can go to Hy-Vee and buy fireworks in the tent, but you can’t use them (in the city),” Trexel said.

The expression “fireworks or gunshots?” has become an axiom for social media.&nbsp;

Gunshots and fireworks can be hard to differentiate, leading citizens to ask in Facebook posts if they just heard a gunshot or a loud explosive.

Trexel said it’s a problem not only for the police department but for the fire department as well.&nbsp;

Trying to find a fire in a bank of firework fog isn’t easy. Even though fireworks fires have only resulted in property damage so far, it could be worse.

“It’s harder for everybody to direct their resources properly,” Trexel said.

City manager Chad Bird is urging anyone with the desire to see fireworks on the Fourth of July to attend one of the local, professional displays.&nbsp;

He pointed to the West Burlington Fourth of July celebration as a great way to do that. The fireworks display, always set for 10:01 p.m. the night of July Fourth, is an example of cooperation between Burlington and West Burlington.

“The fireworks are actually shot off in Burlington because we issue the permit for that here, but it’s shot off by West Burlington and is for the city of West Burlington,” Bird said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1688394085986.jpeg" alt="Colby Peukert, with Castle Fireworks, of Macon, Mo., makes sure that display tables are properly distanced on Tuesday, June 20 in a fireworks sales tent in Burlington. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Colby Peukert, with Castle Fireworks, of Macon, Mo., makes sure that display tables are properly distanced on Tuesday, June 20 in a fireworks sales tent in Burlington. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithTwo years ago, the state of Iowa made it impossible for cities and counties to ban the sale of fireworks.The new law has proven to be a headache not only for Burlington Fire Chief Matt Trexel, but the city at large. You can freely buy them at several tents around town, but it’s still illegal to shoot fireworks in Burlington.“The first offense (for shooting fireworks) is up to a $750 fine,” Burlington Police Chief Marc Denney said.The fireworks tents are open now and have undergone inspections by the Burlington Fire Department. Trexel addressed the process during the Burlington City Council meeting Monday night.“The fire marshal (Mark Crooks) goes over as soon as they’re open. He’s going to try to get them to put up a sign that says ‘Consumer fireworks use is not legal in Burlington,” Trexel said.Trexel said the state highly regulates fireworks stands, meaning the city cannot attach additional ordinances. When fireworks were legalized in Iowa in 2017, local governments initially retained control over fireworks sales.“The only thing we get to do are the inspections because we volunteer to do them. If we don’t do them, the state will do them. But there are so many tents,” Trexel said.&nbsp;“You can’t keep them from opening. You have to allow them to open, and then we choose to do the inspection.”More fireworksThe law allowing fireworks stands went into effect right before the Fourth of July holiday in 2021, and fireworks calls exploded.“I mean, over the last two years in a row, it’s really been a mess. We had to shut down Circle K on Maple and shut down their pumps,” said Sgt. Chad Zahn, public information officer for the Burlington Police Department.The increased use of fireworks resulted in a garage fire on Highland Avenue as the clock ticked to midnight on July 5, 2021.“Before it was done, nine other properties were damaged,” Crooks said. “It resulted in $200,000 of losses to the insurance companies.”The next year, in 2022, the Burlington Fire Department responded to two house fires caused by fireworks.“From May 1 to July 31, we had two structure fires, two property damage calls, three brush fires, and a dumpster fire, all caused by fireworks,” Crooks said.That wasn’t the only damage done. Zahn said. A man severely injured at least one of his hands last year while setting off an explosive firework.“An officer responded and applied a tourniquet to his hand. It just ruined his hand,” Zahn said.Zahn said the Burlington Police Department received 209 fireworks calls during the Fourth of July period (roughly a month) in 2021. That dropped to 126 last year, which he said is still an unmanageable number.“When you figure the number of officers working at a time, and the other calls they’re trying to handle – it’s impossible to respond to 126 calls,” Zahn said.The $750 ticket is stiff but can be tricky to enforce.“We have to see them ignite it, or have evidence that they ignited it,” Zahn said.&nbsp;“A fireworks call isn’t a priority call necessarily, so if we’re on another call, it may be 15 or 20 minutes before we get to that fireworks call.”Enforcement&nbsp;Trexel said the best way to curb illegal firework usage is through education. He doesn’t expect the general populace to keep track of Iowa’s changing laws.That’s why he’s making a concentrated effort to get the word out through any media available. He also likes to remind the public that fireworks can be downright terrifying for pets and those suffering from PTSD — especially war veterans.“I think there’s a certain amount of the population that doesn’t realize that they can go to Hy-Vee and buy fireworks in the tent, but you can’t use them (in the city),” Trexel said.Fireworks or gunshots?The expression “fireworks or gunshots?” has become an axiom for social media.&nbsp;Gunshots and fireworks can be hard to differentiate, leading citizens to ask in Facebook posts if they just heard a gunshot or a loud explosive.Trexel said it’s a problem not only for the police department but for the fire department as well.&nbsp;Trying to find a fire in a bank of firework fog isn’t easy. Even though fireworks fires have only resulted in property damage so far, it could be worse.“It’s harder for everybody to direct their resources properly,” Trexel said.City manager Chad Bird is urging anyone with the desire to see fireworks on the Fourth of July to attend one of the local, professional displays.&nbsp;He pointed to the West Burlington Fourth of July celebration as a great way to do that. The fireworks display, always set for 10:01 p.m. the night of July Fourth, is an example of cooperation between Burlington and West Burlington.“The fireworks are actually shot off in Burlington because we issue the permit for that here, but it’s shot off by West Burlington and is for the city of West Burlington,” Bird said.

Officials brace for fireworks use, urge safety

Mediapolis native Autumn Fjeld was just a hair’s breadth away from becoming Miss Iowa.

The 24-year-old lives in Burlington and works as a care manager for the Title 1 youth program, which provides financial assistance to local schools with a high number of children from low-income families.

Fjeld just started competing in pageants a couple of years ago, and there’s a lot more to it than she thought.

“I didn’t grow up in the pageant system. I had this misconception that it’s all physical looks and appearance,” she said.

That’s part of it, of course. But the pageant scene revolves around self-confidence, which translates to real life. When you carry yourself as a prospective queen, it’s easier to be more comfortable in tense situations.

“Fake it until you make it. I had to get rid of that barrier where I thought I had to sound like someone else. I got over that fear, and that’s when I started showing my best on stage,” she said.

To enter the Miss Iowa Pageant, prospective queens have to be the queen of a local pageant. Fjeld went to Miss Iowa as Miss Clinton County, where she splits her community service work with Burlington.

Fjeld competed in Miss Iowa last year, as well, and took home an award for her violin playing. Every contestant has a featured talent, and Fjeld has worked on her talent for the past 18 years.

Her rendition of “Devil Went Down to Georgia” impressed the judges this year, which helped put Fjeld in the top three.

“It was a really incredible feeling,” she said.

This year’s Miss Iowa contest was held last month in Davenport over three days, and Fjeld came away from the competition with new friends and a second runner-up trophy.

Fjeld graduated from Mediapolis High School in 2017 and was active in everything from cross country to soccer. She hasn’t had much time for hobbies.&nbsp;

“I embody everything that I am and put it on stage,” she said.

Fjeld isn’t done yet. Though she won’t be competing in the Miss Burlington competition this August, she does hope to snag a title at some local pageant in Iowa and compete again next year.&nbsp;

That’s up to the judges. Their tastes are never uniform and usually impossible to predict.

“Pageants are like candy. One judge may want Skittles, and another judge may want M&amp;Ms. That’s the mindset you go in to win,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1688351061126.jpeg" alt="Mediapolis native and Burlington resident Autumn Fjeld, 24, receives the overall talent award at Miss Iowa for the second year in a row. The three-day event was held in Davenport on June 24, and Fjeld placed second runner-up overall." />
 <figcaption>Mediapolis native and Burlington resident Autumn Fjeld, 24, receives the overall talent award at Miss Iowa for the second year in a row. The three-day event was held in Davenport on June 24, and Fjeld placed second runner-up overall.</figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon StaffMediapolis native Autumn Fjeld was just a hair’s breadth away from becoming Miss Iowa.The 24-year-old lives in Burlington and works as a care manager for the Title 1 youth program, which provides financial assistance to local schools with a high number of children from low-income families.Fjeld just started competing in pageants a couple of years ago, and there’s a lot more to it than she thought.“I didn’t grow up in the pageant system. I had this misconception that it’s all physical looks and appearance,” she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1688351085310.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>That’s part of it, of course. But the pageant scene revolves around self-confidence, which translates to real life. When you carry yourself as a prospective queen, it’s easier to be more comfortable in tense situations.“Fake it until you make it. I had to get rid of that barrier where I thought I had to sound like someone else. I got over that fear, and that’s when I started showing my best on stage,” she said.To enter the Miss Iowa Pageant, prospective queens have to be the queen of a local pageant. Fjeld went to Miss Iowa as Miss Clinton County, where she splits her community service work with Burlington.Fjeld competed in Miss Iowa last year, as well, and took home an award for her violin playing. Every contestant has a featured talent, and Fjeld has worked on her talent for the past 18 years.Her rendition of “Devil Went Down to Georgia” impressed the judges this year, which helped put Fjeld in the top three.“It was a really incredible feeling,” she said.This year’s Miss Iowa contest was held last month in Davenport over three days, and Fjeld came away from the competition with new friends and a second runner-up trophy.Fjeld graduated from Mediapolis High School in 2017 and was active in everything from cross country to soccer. She hasn’t had much time for hobbies.&nbsp;Fjeld wouldn’t have it any other way.“I embody everything that I am and put it on stage,” she said.Fjeld isn’t done yet. Though she won’t be competing in the Miss Burlington competition this August, she does hope to snag a title at some local pageant in Iowa and compete again next year.&nbsp;That’s up to the judges. Their tastes are never uniform and usually impossible to predict.“Pageants are like candy. One judge may want Skittles, and another judge may want M&amp;Ms. That’s the mindset you go in to win,” she said.

Mediapolis native nearly became Miss Iowa – and she’s not done yet

When she began her wig shop, Today’s Modern Hair Option, there was no other shop like it in Burlington — there still isn’t.

Cline also helped found the annual Des Moines County Relay for Life 20 years ago. She lost a sister to cancer a few years before that and lost an aunt shortly before she began volunteering.&nbsp;

“I was one of the original people planning it. We used to have it at Bracewell Stadium,” Cline said.

Despite her connection to cancer and the help she has provided countless patients going through chemotherapy, that’s not what initially drew Kline to the wig business.

It was her passion for styling hair. Just not the kind of hair she first imagined.&nbsp;

“I wasn’t planning on doing this for the rest of my life,” Cline said.

But what started as a job became a career. She can’t imagine doing anything else.

“I really enjoy what I do,” Cline said.

A native of the Gladstone, Ill., area, Cline worked for a factory after high school. But she had a knack for designing clothes and styling hair.

After a few years of factory work, Cline moved to California and attended beauty school. She only needed 1,600 hours to qualify for the test to become a licensed cosmetologist in California, and she would have needed 2,100 hours in Iowa.

But the tests were only administered twice a year, and Cline had to wait five months after finishing her hours.&nbsp;

She was living by herself and needed to work. So she applied to a beauty supply company.

Wigs were part of the company’s beauty supply line, and they were all made of human hair back then.&nbsp;

She had purchased a wig before applying for the job, to practice on. She had waist-length hair, and the short wig (they were all short back then) allowed Cline to practice cutting bangs.

Cline got the job and started holding wig parties to sell the product. Wigs were ubiquitous then — so common that you could buy them with your groceries at Hy-Vee for $5, Cline said.

Synthetic wigs changed the game, extending the variety and styles available. Wigs made of real hair quickly became an outdated niche.

Cline opened her wig shop in 1970 — the same year her second son was born. She moved to several downtown locations over the years, and her children helped in the shop in their younger years.

Cline eventually expanded and hired her own employees.

“They (Cline’s children) didn’t want to be in the wig shop working for Mom,” Cline said with a laugh.&nbsp;

Cline expanded her business into turbans, which were becoming a popular alternative for cancer patients who didn’t want to wear wigs all the time. Cline’s hand-sewn turbans were far sturdier than many of the options on the market. She grew up with a sewing machine in the house.

“We were used to hand-me-downs and clothing people gave us,” Cline said.

Cline said her family endured two fires as she was growing up, which accounted for much of the donated clothing. She grew up with 10 siblings — seven more girls and three boys.

“I would take those clothes apart and make other clothes,” Cline said. “What I really wanted to do was be a designer.”

The turbans were a hit. It was just a matter of finding the customers.

“We didn’t have an oncology doctor here when I first started, but we had a doctor in Iowa City. He would come down here because there were no turbans available at the time,” she said.

Cline connected to her sales rep at Eva Gabor (which still supplies Cline with wigs today) and took the turban idea nationwide.

“He had the whole eastern US, like New Jersey, all the way the way across to Minnesota and across that territory,” Cline said. “I probably had six girls working for me sewing wigs or sewing the turbans.”

That sales rep ended up with another wig company in Florida, but he kept selling Cline’s turbans.

“He got canned because he was selling my turbans while he was supposed to be selling their product,” Cline said.

For many of Cline’s customers, the need for a wig can be very personal and private.&nbsp;

“I keep card files on everybody and ship them their wig,” she said.

Most of those customers are women (Cline has about 10 male clients), and the first fitting session can last up to three hours.

“I want them to be able to put it on correctly, by themselves, before they leave here,” she said.

It’s not as easy as it sounds. Modern wigs, ranging in price from $50 to over $350, have a simulated scalp.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/6/1687995242004.jpeg" alt="Kathi Cline, the owner of Today’s Modern Hair Option, is shown Wednesday, June 21 at her downtown Burlington business. Cline has been in business for 53 years offering wigs, turbans, head wraps, halo hair, and extensions for men, women, and children. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Kathi Cline, the owner of Today’s Modern Hair Option, is shown Wednesday, June 21 at her downtown Burlington business. Cline has been in business for 53 years offering wigs, turbans, head wraps, halo hair, and extensions for men, women, and children. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithKathi Cline is an original.When she began her wig shop, Today’s Modern Hair Option, there was no other shop like it in Burlington — there still isn’t.Cline also helped found the annual Des Moines County Relay for Life 20 years ago. She lost a sister to cancer a few years before that and lost an aunt shortly before she began volunteering.&nbsp;“I was one of the original people planning it. We used to have it at Bracewell Stadium,” Cline said.Despite her connection to cancer and the help she has provided countless patients going through chemotherapy, that’s not what initially drew Kline to the wig business.It was her passion for styling hair. Just not the kind of hair she first imagined.&nbsp;“I wasn’t planning on doing this for the rest of my life,” Cline said.But what started as a job became a career. She can’t imagine doing anything else.“I really enjoy what I do,” Cline said.Quest to be a stylistA native of the Gladstone, Ill., area, Cline worked for a factory after high school. But she had a knack for designing clothes and styling hair.After a few years of factory work, Cline moved to California and attended beauty school. She only needed 1,600 hours to qualify for the test to become a licensed cosmetologist in California, and she would have needed 2,100 hours in Iowa.But the tests were only administered twice a year, and Cline had to wait five months after finishing her hours.&nbsp;She was living by herself and needed to work. So she applied to a beauty supply company.Wigs were part of the company’s beauty supply line, and they were all made of human hair back then.&nbsp;She had purchased a wig before applying for the job, to practice on. She had waist-length hair, and the short wig (they were all short back then) allowed Cline to practice cutting bangs.Cline got the job and started holding wig parties to sell the product. Wigs were ubiquitous then — so common that you could buy them with your groceries at Hy-Vee for $5, Cline said.Synthetic wigs changed the game, extending the variety and styles available. Wigs made of real hair quickly became an outdated niche.Sewing turbansCline opened her wig shop in 1970 — the same year her second son was born. She moved to several downtown locations over the years, and her children helped in the shop in their younger years.Cline eventually expanded and hired her own employees.“They (Cline’s children) didn’t want to be in the wig shop working for Mom,” Cline said with a laugh.&nbsp;Cline expanded her business into turbans, which were becoming a popular alternative for cancer patients who didn’t want to wear wigs all the time. Cline’s hand-sewn turbans were far sturdier than many of the options on the market. She grew up with a sewing machine in the house.“We were used to hand-me-downs and clothing people gave us,” Cline said.Cline said her family endured two fires as she was growing up, which accounted for much of the donated clothing. She grew up with 10 siblings — seven more girls and three boys.“I would take those clothes apart and make other clothes,” Cline said. “What I really wanted to do was be a designer.”The turbans were a hit. It was just a matter of finding the customers.“We didn’t have an oncology doctor here when I first started, but we had a doctor in Iowa City. He would come down here because there were no turbans available at the time,” she said.Traveling turbansCline connected to her sales rep at Eva Gabor (which still supplies Cline with wigs today) and took the turban idea nationwide.“He had the whole eastern US, like New Jersey, all the way the way across to Minnesota and across that territory,” Cline said. “I probably had six girls working for me sewing wigs or sewing the turbans.”That sales rep ended up with another wig company in Florida, but he kept selling Cline’s turbans.“He got canned because he was selling my turbans while he was supposed to be selling their product,” Cline said.Hair optionsAlopecia. Cancer. Male pattern baldness.For many of Cline’s customers, the need for a wig can be very personal and private.&nbsp;“I keep card files on everybody and ship them their wig,” she said.Most of those customers are women (Cline has about 10 male clients), and the first fitting session can last up to three hours.“I want them to be able to put it on correctly, by themselves, before they leave here,” she said.It’s not as easy as it sounds. Modern wigs, ranging in price from $50 to over $350, have a simulated scalp.&nbsp;There is mesh netting underneath, though the higher-quality wigs tend to be much lighter.Then there are the ear tabs, which pull down the wig. Tucking them back under the wig can be a real pain if you don’t know how to do it correctly.Cline has off-the-rack options as well, good for a night on the town, or a change of style. Many women with thinning hair are starting to favor hair clip-style wigs that thicken the appearance of their natural hair.“A lot of women have female pattern baldness. So it’s just a variety of everything,” Cline said.Between her work with Relay for Life and her job helping others feel good about themselves, Cline is a vital asset to many local lives. She doesn’t take the responsibility lightly.“I would like to retire. But I don’t want to leave my customers because they come from all over,” Cline said.

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