Special Needs Foundation Executive Director Ricci Neilson and case services coordinator Megan McIntire pose in front of medical equipment.&nbsp; The organization has been helping Burlington residents since 1951. Photo/Andy Schneider

&nbsp;For those in need, finding necessary medical resources can be difficult. That is where Burlington’s Special Needs Foundation comes in.&nbsp;

The organization has been&nbsp; helping Burlington residents since 1951, providing free rentals of vital medical equipment such as walkers and heart rate monitors.&nbsp;

It currently helps between 30,000 to 50,000 residents per year. Its mission is to improve health, welfare rehabilitation, employment, education, recreation facilities, and opportunities for children and adults with disabilities in Des Moines County.&nbsp;

“The need in Des Moines County is always rising,” said executive director Ricci Neilson, who began working at the Special Needs Foundation in 2020.&nbsp;

The foundation exists through the interest accrued from an endowment fund and with monetary, equipment, and supply donations.&nbsp;

“We have everything from Depends, to diabetic supplies, feeding tubes, heart rate monitors — we have a little bit of everything,” Neilson said.&nbsp;

The Special Needs Foundation also supplies medical equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, benches, canes, crutches, toilet seat risers, lift chairs, hospital beds, and more for those in need.&nbsp;

This type of equipment is crucial to residents unable to pay for this equipment.&nbsp;

“We are an amazing place. We do a little bit of everything. If we don’t have it, we can get it for you,” Neilson said.&nbsp;

The foundation offers help with questions about Medicare, Medicaid, and even SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.&nbsp;

Neilson said it is all accomplished with a limited staff consisting of one full-time employee, one part-time employee, and a few volunteers.&nbsp;

“We can’t always say yes, but I hate to say no. I will try to help you find what you need where you are,” Neilson said.&nbsp;

The Special Needs Foundation offers more than equipment and supplies. The organization supports multiple programs, offering scholarships for people with disabilities.&nbsp;

The foundation also sponsors the Special Needs Boy Scouts, the Special Olympics, Hope Haven, Day of the Child, a water exercise, and a camping program.&nbsp;

Neilson stressed the foundation isn’t just for the elderly or people with special needs.&nbsp;

“It’s for anybody in the community,” she said.&nbsp;

The foundation has been providing direct service to children and adults with disabilities and chronic health conditions since its inception.&nbsp;

The foundation was incorporated in 1951 by concerned citizens. Founder Edward B. Gnahn was dedicated to helping those who faced challenges.&nbsp;

In 1958 Gnahn left his estate in trust for the Special Needs Foundation, enabling assistance to continue for future generations.

The Special Needs Foundation is located at 829 Harrison Ave. and can be reached at (319) 752-8222.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1677178241661.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Special Needs Foundation Executive Director Ricci Neilson and case services coordinator Megan McIntire pose in front of medical equipment.&nbsp; The organization has been helping Burlington residents since 1951. Photo/Andy SchneiderBy Andy Schneider&nbsp;For those in need, finding necessary medical resources can be difficult. That is where Burlington’s Special Needs Foundation comes in.&nbsp;The organization has been&nbsp; helping Burlington residents since 1951, providing free rentals of vital medical equipment such as walkers and heart rate monitors.&nbsp;It currently helps between 30,000 to 50,000 residents per year. Its mission is to improve health, welfare rehabilitation, employment, education, recreation facilities, and opportunities for children and adults with disabilities in Des Moines County.&nbsp;“The need in Des Moines County is always rising,” said executive director Ricci Neilson, who began working at the Special Needs Foundation in 2020.&nbsp;The foundation exists through the interest accrued from an endowment fund and with monetary, equipment, and supply donations.&nbsp;“We have everything from Depends, to diabetic supplies, feeding tubes, heart rate monitors — we have a little bit of everything,” Neilson said.&nbsp;The Special Needs Foundation also supplies medical equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, benches, canes, crutches, toilet seat risers, lift chairs, hospital beds, and more for those in need.&nbsp;This type of equipment is crucial to residents unable to pay for this equipment.&nbsp;“We are an amazing place. We do a little bit of everything. If we don’t have it, we can get it for you,” Neilson said.&nbsp;The foundation offers help with questions about Medicare, Medicaid, and even SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.&nbsp;Neilson said it is all accomplished with a limited staff consisting of one full-time employee, one part-time employee, and a few volunteers.&nbsp;“We can’t always say yes, but I hate to say no. I will try to help you find what you need where you are,” Neilson said.&nbsp;The Special Needs Foundation offers more than equipment and supplies. The organization supports multiple programs, offering scholarships for people with disabilities.&nbsp;The foundation also sponsors the Special Needs Boy Scouts, the Special Olympics, Hope Haven, Day of the Child, a water exercise, and a camping program.&nbsp;Neilson stressed the foundation isn’t just for the elderly or people with special needs.&nbsp;“It’s for anybody in the community,” she said.&nbsp;The foundation has been providing direct service to children and adults with disabilities and chronic health conditions since its inception.&nbsp;The foundation was incorporated in 1951 by concerned citizens. Founder Edward B. Gnahn was dedicated to helping those who faced challenges.&nbsp;In 1958 Gnahn left his estate in trust for the Special Needs Foundation, enabling assistance to continue for future generations.The Special Needs Foundation is located at 829 Harrison Ave. and can be reached at (319) 752-8222.

A Special Place in the Community

By William Smith Community Editor

Most people need to hear a friendly voice in the morning.

For the past 15 years,&nbsp;&nbsp;Savanna Evans has loved her job — working on radio. She has been the friendly voice on several local radio stations, including KGRS and 101.7 The Bull. But at the end of the month, Evans will say goodbye, and she will miss her time behind the microphone.

“I think what I’m gonna miss the most is, this is gonna sound so cheesy, is being that happy voice for someone in the morning, who might be struggling and can’t see the positivity,” Evans said.&nbsp;

“Everyone is going through something in their lives, and if I can just be a bright spot to get someone’s morning started, it makes me feel good.”

That positivity is not faked. Listeners can hear it in her voice. Her genuine enthusiasm is tempered by years of voice training, resulting in liquid-smooth delivery that never sounds manufactured.

“I always smile when I do my show,” she said. “Even if I’m sick or going through something or I don’t feel good. I put on a smile because I want to make somebody else feel happy in the morning.”

Evans started working as an on-air-personality at Pritchard Broadcasting at 17 before graduating from West Burlington High School. She wasn’t even sure about the job until she walked into the studio and watched someone else do it.

“It just felt like something clicked,” she said. “I can’t describe it any other way. And it felt like I finally figured it out. Maybe this is it.”

Evans, who began broadcasting under her maiden name Savanna Quam, juggled school, a part-time job at Subway, and a part-time job at Pritchard Broadcasting. She ended up working 10 years for Pritchard and is closing out five years with Titan.

She quickly transitioned into full-time employment at the radio station and moved into her new career without hesitation. It was like going to school and getting paid for it.

“I just wanted to learn everything,” she said. “I wanted to learn how to board op (operating the sound system). And then I wanted to dabble into the news department and see what that was all about. And learn how to do a voice track, learn how to do an on-air shift, and how to be a personality.”

Evans never stopped working. She inherited that work ethic from her mother, who raised Savanna and her sister on a single-family income. Savanna’s mother worked at the record store in Westland Mall before it became FYE, resulting in long nights.

Now that Evans has two daughters, she does not want to let her work life overshadow her family. She arrives at work around 4 a.m. every weekday and never gets to take her daughters to school or stay with them when they are sick.

“I text them every morning, asking how everybody is doing. I don’t want to have to ask him (her husband) every morning. I want to be there with them,” she said.

Her husband, Derek Evans, recently purchased Heartland Packaging in West Burlington from his parents. He spends his mornings getting their daughters to school while Savanna is at work.

“They (Savanna’s daughters) are such a fun age right now. They just love life right now. And they’re happy. They like learning, and they like going to school. They still love mom. And I want to just soak it all in as much as I can. Because you only get one shot,” Evans said.

Evans’ recognizable voice is not going to go to waste. For the last three years, she has been freelancing voice work for every kind of media imaginable — audiobooks, video games, and YouTube videos.

It is part of the job she never wants to let go of. When she is on air, her entire presence transforms. Her hands wave excitedly in the air. Her natural exuberance elevates to the same intensity as a stage performance.

And now she has time for the more important things in life, such as taking her daughter to her first Backstreet Boys concert.&nbsp;

“I mean, I’ve seen them (Backstreet Boys) three times, and my 7-year-old now wants to see them. So now I can take her because now she is a Backstreet Boys fan,” Evans said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1676940416752.jpeg" alt="Savanna Evans, the New Mix 107.3 KGRS Mix Mornings Operations Manager at work in the studio, Monday, Feb.13, at the Titan Broadcasting and Digital Group offices in Burlington. Evans who has been with Titan Broadcasting for the last five years and before that with Pritchard Broadcasting for 10 years is leaving at the end of the month. (John Lovretta/The Burlington Beacon)." />
 <figcaption>Savanna Evans, the New Mix 107.3 KGRS Mix Mornings Operations Manager at work in the studio, Monday, Feb.13, at the Titan Broadcasting and Digital Group offices in Burlington. Evans who has been with Titan Broadcasting for the last five years and before that with Pritchard Broadcasting for 10 years is leaving at the end of the month. (John Lovretta/The Burlington Beacon).</figcaption>
 </figure>By William Smith Community EditorMost people need to hear a friendly voice in the morning.For the past 15 years,&nbsp;&nbsp;Savanna Evans has loved her job — working on radio. She has been the friendly voice on several local radio stations, including KGRS and 101.7 The Bull. But at the end of the month, Evans will say goodbye, and she will miss her time behind the microphone.“I think what I’m gonna miss the most is, this is gonna sound so cheesy, is being that happy voice for someone in the morning, who might be struggling and can’t see the positivity,” Evans said.&nbsp;“Everyone is going through something in their lives, and if I can just be a bright spot to get someone’s morning started, it makes me feel good.”That positivity is not faked. Listeners can hear it in her voice. Her genuine enthusiasm is tempered by years of voice training, resulting in liquid-smooth delivery that never sounds manufactured.“I always smile when I do my show,” she said. “Even if I’m sick or going through something or I don’t feel good. I put on a smile because I want to make somebody else feel happy in the morning.”Evans started working as an on-air-personality at Pritchard Broadcasting at 17 before graduating from West Burlington High School. She wasn’t even sure about the job until she walked into the studio and watched someone else do it.“It just felt like something clicked,” she said. “I can’t describe it any other way. And it felt like I finally figured it out. Maybe this is it.”Evans, who began broadcasting under her maiden name Savanna Quam, juggled school, a part-time job at Subway, and a part-time job at Pritchard Broadcasting. She ended up working 10 years for Pritchard and is closing out five years with Titan.She quickly transitioned into full-time employment at the radio station and moved into her new career without hesitation. It was like going to school and getting paid for it.“I just wanted to learn everything,” she said. “I wanted to learn how to board op (operating the sound system). And then I wanted to dabble into the news department and see what that was all about. And learn how to do a voice track, learn how to do an on-air shift, and how to be a personality.”Evans never stopped working. She inherited that work ethic from her mother, who raised Savanna and her sister on a single-family income. Savanna’s mother worked at the record store in Westland Mall before it became FYE, resulting in long nights.Now that Evans has two daughters, she does not want to let her work life overshadow her family. She arrives at work around 4 a.m. every weekday and never gets to take her daughters to school or stay with them when they are sick.“I text them every morning, asking how everybody is doing. I don’t want to have to ask him (her husband) every morning. I want to be there with them,” she said.Her husband, Derek Evans, recently purchased Heartland Packaging in West Burlington from his parents. He spends his mornings getting their daughters to school while Savanna is at work.Now that dynamic will switch.“They (Savanna’s daughters) are such a fun age right now. They just love life right now. And they’re happy. They like learning, and they like going to school. They still love mom. And I want to just soak it all in as much as I can. Because you only get one shot,” Evans said.Evans’ recognizable voice is not going to go to waste. For the last three years, she has been freelancing voice work for every kind of media imaginable — audiobooks, video games, and YouTube videos.It is part of the job she never wants to let go of. When she is on air, her entire presence transforms. Her hands wave excitedly in the air. Her natural exuberance elevates to the same intensity as a stage performance.And now she has time for the more important things in life, such as taking her daughter to her first Backstreet Boys concert.&nbsp;“I mean, I’ve seen them (Backstreet Boys) three times, and my 7-year-old now wants to see them. So now I can take her because now she is a Backstreet Boys fan,” Evans said.

Sunshine in the Morning

Video games have a long history of movie tie-ins.&nbsp; Sometimes games are set in a movie universe without a specific movie tie-in. This allows the developers to play in that sandbox, but not be constrained by a specific plot.&nbsp;

“Spider-Man” on the PlayStation from Insomniac games is widely regarded as one of the best open-world games on the platform.

Spider-Man has an amazing story and a stellar voice cast to carry out that story.&nbsp;

The graphics are great and there are a wide variety of costumes to choose from.&nbsp;

Gameplay-wise you won’t have more fun than web swinging around and beating up bad guys. There are multiple add-ons including the Miles Morales stand-alone game.

“Alien Isolation” on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC is a master class in survival horror.&nbsp;

With the look and feel of the first movie, you set foot on an alien-infested ship, with little to help you stay alive.

It features all of the looks of the 70’s original movie without being hindered by a specific plot line. Hiding in lockers and hearing the slowly building beeping of your proximity detector will give anyone an anxiety attack.

“Mad Max” for the Playstation, Xbox, and PC is how you do a movie universe game without tying into a specific movie.&nbsp;

A giant open world filled with cobbled-together cars and freaky denizens will call to mind Mel Gibson regardless of the movie. Somehow this game slipped under most people’s radar. “Mad Max” is more fun than it has any right to be.

“The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay” is a great stealth-based action game based around the Riddick films. Sneak around the prison and take people out by attacking from the shadows.

Released on the original Xbox, this game was leagues ahead of most due to its fantastic lighting and texture work. By not being tied to a specific movie, the game was free to go its own way and is better for it. Vin Diesel supplied the voice and consulted on the game.

“Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World” for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC is one of the great cartoon beat-em-ups of modern times. The soundtrack alone is worth the price of admission. This one is more closely related to the original graphic novels than the movie. Sprinkle in some pixel characters that look just like their comic book counterparts and you have one of the great movie/ comic book brawlers.

“Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor” for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC had all of the grandeur of Peter Jackson’s films and all of the gameplay of “Assassin’s Creed,” featuring lots of exploration and a good combat system that features stealth elements. Top that off with the Nemesis system where rivals will hunt you down to kill you and you have all of the makings of a great Lord of the Rings game.

There are plenty of other great movie-related games, but I’ve highlighted some of my readily available recent picks. Sometimes not being tied down by a specific movie can make the best possible game.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1676919724097.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Andy SchneiderVideo games have a long history of movie tie-ins.&nbsp; Sometimes games are set in a movie universe without a specific movie tie-in. This allows the developers to play in that sandbox, but not be constrained by a specific plot.&nbsp;Let’s run down a few of my favorites.“Spider-Man” on the PlayStation from Insomniac games is widely regarded as one of the best open-world games on the platform.Spider-Man has an amazing story and a stellar voice cast to carry out that story.&nbsp;The graphics are great and there are a wide variety of costumes to choose from.&nbsp;Gameplay-wise you won’t have more fun than web swinging around and beating up bad guys. There are multiple add-ons including the Miles Morales stand-alone game.“Alien Isolation” on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC is a master class in survival horror.&nbsp;With the look and feel of the first movie, you set foot on an alien-infested ship, with little to help you stay alive.It features all of the looks of the 70’s original movie without being hindered by a specific plot line. Hiding in lockers and hearing the slowly building beeping of your proximity detector will give anyone an anxiety attack.“Mad Max” for the Playstation, Xbox, and PC is how you do a movie universe game without tying into a specific movie.&nbsp;A giant open world filled with cobbled-together cars and freaky denizens will call to mind Mel Gibson regardless of the movie. Somehow this game slipped under most people’s radar. “Mad Max” is more fun than it has any right to be.“The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay” is a great stealth-based action game based around the Riddick films. Sneak around the prison and take people out by attacking from the shadows.Released on the original Xbox, this game was leagues ahead of most due to its fantastic lighting and texture work. By not being tied to a specific movie, the game was free to go its own way and is better for it. Vin Diesel supplied the voice and consulted on the game.“Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World” for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC is one of the great cartoon beat-em-ups of modern times. The soundtrack alone is worth the price of admission. This one is more closely related to the original graphic novels than the movie. Sprinkle in some pixel characters that look just like their comic book counterparts and you have one of the great movie/ comic book brawlers.“Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor” for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC had all of the grandeur of Peter Jackson’s films and all of the gameplay of “Assassin’s Creed,” featuring lots of exploration and a good combat system that features stealth elements. Top that off with the Nemesis system where rivals will hunt you down to kill you and you have all of the makings of a great Lord of the Rings game.There are plenty of other great movie-related games, but I’ve highlighted some of my readily available recent picks. Sometimes not being tied down by a specific movie can make the best possible game.

Movie Related Video Games That Lack A Movie

Samuel Morehead, president of Burlington High School’s National Honor Society, stands next to fellow senior and club member Melanie Reid. The National Honor Society is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, which will include a reception on March 8 at the high school. Photo by William Smith

The National Honor Society at Burlington High School may just be the most helpful volunteer organization that hardly anyone outside of the school has heard of.

The current club membership — about 25 sophomores, juniors, and seniors — is starting to change that, finally gaining their due recognition.&nbsp;

Last week, the club celebrated its 100th anniversary by hosting the school’s first-ever teddy bear toss at a BHS basketball game. Spectators were encouraged to bring new stuffed animals to the game so they could throw them out on the court during halftime.&nbsp;

It was a resounding success, according to National Honor Society president Samuel Morehead.&nbsp;

“A much better success than I honestly expected. We ended up getting 208 I believe,” he said.

Those stuffed animals will be donated to a children’s hospital.&nbsp; It’s a first-time event for the club and by far its most visible.

It certainly won’t be the last teddy bear toss.

“I think it will just get bigger,” Morehead said.

Most of the time, club members work on the periphery of other worthwhile causes or events. They rake leaves for elderly residents in the fall. They help unload paper for recycling during in the spring during Clean Out Your Files Days and buzz around the annual Oktoberfest (hosted by the Burlington Noon Lions Club) like volunteer bees. In December, they help set up Memorial Auditorium for Toys for Tots.

The Burlington High School is the oldest National Honor Society charter in the state, consisting of generations of hard-working students with strong GPAs (grade point averages) looking to help those around them.

“It’s not just about your grade point average,” said fellow senior club member Melanie Reid. “They look for character.”

Students who apply for the National Honor Society undergo a peer review by an anonymous group of teachers. Aside from the base requirements of having a 3.4 GPA or higher, students are judged by their contributions and volunteer hours, as well as their leadership qualities. Freshmen have to wait for a year if they want a chance to join.

It’s a very proactive, self-sufficient group. Morehead said club members make sure to focus on a new service project every month. There’s still plenty of school year left.

“We will be doing some different things at the hospice house, and we will help out with (BHS) graduation,” Morehead said. “We’re also doing things with the elementary schools, where we will partner with them and help them with their field days. We’ve got a lot of good activities coming up.”

The National Honor Society will celebrate its 100th anniversary in a more formal way during a reception scheduled for 6 p.m. on March 8 at Burlington High School.&nbsp;

“We’re also inviting different people from the community, such as the mayor,” Morehead said. “It won’t be a super-long affair.”

Since they’re both seniors, Reid and Morehead will be passing the club torch to their classmates underneath them.

Both have big plans for college. Morehead wants to study biomedical science and has his colleges narrowed down to a few choices.&nbsp;

Reid will be heading straight to Southeastern Community College to go through the three-year nursing degree offered in partnership with Great River Health.

Both of them are involved in enough extra-curricular activities and clubs to keep their feet in constant motion. Graduation is just around the corner, though, and they will be exchanging one busy life for another.

Until then, Reid and Morehead will be garnering as much publicity about the National Honor Society as they can.

“People think that it’s just a smart kids club, but it’s a very fun group of people,” Reid said. “It’s a lot more than great students.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1676914046643.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Samuel Morehead, president of Burlington High School’s National Honor Society, stands next to fellow senior and club member Melanie Reid. The National Honor Society is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, which will include a reception on March 8 at the high school. Photo by William SmithBy William SmithThe National Honor Society at Burlington High School may just be the most helpful volunteer organization that hardly anyone outside of the school has heard of.The current club membership — about 25 sophomores, juniors, and seniors — is starting to change that, finally gaining their due recognition.&nbsp;Last week, the club celebrated its 100th anniversary by hosting the school’s first-ever teddy bear toss at a BHS basketball game. Spectators were encouraged to bring new stuffed animals to the game so they could throw them out on the court during halftime.&nbsp;It was a resounding success, according to National Honor Society president Samuel Morehead.&nbsp;“A much better success than I honestly expected. We ended up getting 208 I believe,” he said.Those stuffed animals will be donated to a children’s hospital.&nbsp; It’s a first-time event for the club and by far its most visible.It certainly won’t be the last teddy bear toss.“I think it will just get bigger,” Morehead said.Most of the time, club members work on the periphery of other worthwhile causes or events. They rake leaves for elderly residents in the fall. They help unload paper for recycling during in the spring during Clean Out Your Files Days and buzz around the annual Oktoberfest (hosted by the Burlington Noon Lions Club) like volunteer bees. In December, they help set up Memorial Auditorium for Toys for Tots.The Burlington High School is the oldest National Honor Society charter in the state, consisting of generations of hard-working students with strong GPAs (grade point averages) looking to help those around them.“It’s not just about your grade point average,” said fellow senior club member Melanie Reid. “They look for character.”Students who apply for the National Honor Society undergo a peer review by an anonymous group of teachers. Aside from the base requirements of having a 3.4 GPA or higher, students are judged by their contributions and volunteer hours, as well as their leadership qualities. Freshmen have to wait for a year if they want a chance to join.It’s a very proactive, self-sufficient group. Morehead said club members make sure to focus on a new service project every month. There’s still plenty of school year left.“We will be doing some different things at the hospice house, and we will help out with (BHS) graduation,” Morehead said. “We’re also doing things with the elementary schools, where we will partner with them and help them with their field days. We’ve got a lot of good activities coming up.”The National Honor Society will celebrate its 100th anniversary in a more formal way during a reception scheduled for 6 p.m. on March 8 at Burlington High School.&nbsp;“We’re also inviting different people from the community, such as the mayor,” Morehead said. “It won’t be a super-long affair.”Since they’re both seniors, Reid and Morehead will be passing the club torch to their classmates underneath them.Both have big plans for college. Morehead wants to study biomedical science and has his colleges narrowed down to a few choices.&nbsp;Reid will be heading straight to Southeastern Community College to go through the three-year nursing degree offered in partnership with Great River Health.Both of them are involved in enough extra-curricular activities and clubs to keep their feet in constant motion. Graduation is just around the corner, though, and they will be exchanging one busy life for another.Until then, Reid and Morehead will be garnering as much publicity about the National Honor Society as they can.“People think that it’s just a smart kids club, but it’s a very fun group of people,” Reid said. “It’s a lot more than great students.”

 A Tradition of Helping

Above:&nbsp;A photograph from 1982 shows Wayne Easley next to his new wife, Sandra Easley, minutes after they were married in Mosquito Park that same year.

Sometimes, love and fate overlap, defying star-crossed random chance.

When Wayne Easley rescued his wife Sandy from the raging Skunk River in 1982, he had no romantic intent in mind. Neither did she.

“We loved each other very much,” Wayne said.

No amount of intervening circumstances could keep them apart. Wayne lost Sandy to cancer in August 2021 and has thought about her every day since. She was his world.

“I took care of Sandy for that seven, eight years doing her cancer therapy and treatments, all that kind of stuff,” Wayne said, wiping tears from his eyes.

A native of Memphis, Tenn., who eventually ended up in Burlington and worked at General Electric, Wayne had known Sandy and her sisters since they were young. He and his first wife were friends with Sandy’s oldest sister.

Wayne and his first wife were long divorced by the time Wayne reconnected with Sandy and her family in 1982.

Sandy, her boyfriend-at-the-time, her sister, and her sister’s husband were canoeing down the Skunk River by Oakland Mills to celebrate 1982’s Fourth of July holiday.

Easley and his friends were camping downriver, and he was eagerly awaiting the canoe trip to reach their campsite.

“I sat on the bank for about four-and-a-half hours waiting for them,” he said. “I could see the bridge crossing over the Skunk River. They were on the far side of the river, and I started waving.”

Upon seeing Wayne on the river bank, the canoe riders started paddling toward shore. But the river was up, the current was swift, and the canoe tipped over.

Wayne immediately went into a controlled panic.

“‘Oh my God!’ I yelled at my friends. The canoe tipped over,’ ” Easley said, reliving the incident. “I went running from one spot to another. I went over to this campsite and there were some people camping around there. And I asked if they had a rope.”

One of the campers handed Wayne a tangled, nylon ski rope.

“I threw the rope and pulled Carlotta (Sandy’s sister) to the shore,” he said. “I don’t know how many people were behind me, but there were a lot of people. I pulled, and people helped me.”

Carlotta told Wayne she wasn’t a strong swimmer and pleaded with him to rescue the others. The stiff current would be a threat to anyone who entered the water.

“I took the rope and went straight out for her (Sandy). I don’t know how I did it. To this day, I don’t know how I did it, but I swam out to her. And when I got to her, I got her feet from underneath the branches and I tied the rope on her. They pulled her to shore,” he said.

Wayne and Rusty Maddox, who was 18 at the time (Wayne was 34), managed to rescue everyone. They were later recognized by the Des Moines County Conservation Board for their life-saving efforts, and each of them received a letter from the executive director, Jeff Bergman.

“Many times a person will not endanger their own lives to save someone else who is in danger,” the letter reads.&nbsp;

“Fortunately, you were concerned about the other person and acted with an unselfish impulse.”

Easley wasn’t thinking of accolades while clinging to a tree in the middle of the Skunk River. He just wanted to get pulled back to shore without injury.

“I said, ‘Man, something’s going to hit me in the back of the head and I’m going to drown,’” Easley said.

By the time Easley made it to shore, everyone involved was exhausted and brimming with adrenaline. On the spur of the moment, Easley kissed Sandy, right in front of her then-boyfriend.

“He left.&nbsp; That was his mistake,” Easley said.

Sandy hung out with Easley and his friends that night, but she had a life in Dubuque to get back to. She eventually married the man she was canoeing with, though they divorced roughly six years later.

Sandy still lived in Dubuque, and Wayne lived in southeast Iowa. After her marriage ended, Sandy and Wayne became close friends – then something more. He still remembers the first time he knocked on her door.

“Oh my gosh. When Sandy came to the door, she was so happy to see me. So happy,” he said.

As their relationship blossomed, Wayne kept threatening to go get her and bring her back as his wife. Eventually, he did just that.

“I helped her pack everything. We moved to Burlington pulling this boat behind my car,” he said.

The two would regularly eat breakfast at the Hy-Vee on Angular Street, staring at a photograph of Mosquito Park that hung on the wall.

“We thought it would be a nice place to get married. So we got married there,” Wayne said.&nbsp;

“We got married the same day Burt Reynolds and Lonnie Anderson got married — April 29, 1988.”

It was the happiest day of Easley’s life. He openly wept as he described carrying his new wife across the threshold of their home.

Sandy went on to become the structural supervisor for Hope Haven and loved collecting angel figurines. She had an entire “angel room” dedicated to her passion.

But there was only one living angel in the Easley household. And Wayne misses her terribly.

“She was a very special lady,” he said.

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 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1676395848043.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;A photograph from 1982 shows Wayne Easley next to his new wife, Sandra Easley, minutes after they were married in Mosquito Park that same year.By&nbsp; William SmithSometimes, love and fate overlap, defying star-crossed random chance.When Wayne Easley rescued his wife Sandy from the raging Skunk River in 1982, he had no romantic intent in mind. Neither did she.“We loved each other very much,” Wayne said.No amount of intervening circumstances could keep them apart. Wayne lost Sandy to cancer in August 2021 and has thought about her every day since. She was his world.“I took care of Sandy for that seven, eight years doing her cancer therapy and treatments, all that kind of stuff,” Wayne said, wiping tears from his eyes.A native of Memphis, Tenn., who eventually ended up in Burlington and worked at General Electric, Wayne had known Sandy and her sisters since they were young. He and his first wife were friends with Sandy’s oldest sister.Wayne and his first wife were long divorced by the time Wayne reconnected with Sandy and her family in 1982.Then disaster struck.Sandy, her boyfriend-at-the-time, her sister, and her sister’s husband were canoeing down the Skunk River by Oakland Mills to celebrate 1982’s Fourth of July holiday.Easley and his friends were camping downriver, and he was eagerly awaiting the canoe trip to reach their campsite.“I sat on the bank for about four-and-a-half hours waiting for them,” he said. “I could see the bridge crossing over the Skunk River. They were on the far side of the river, and I started waving.”Upon seeing Wayne on the river bank, the canoe riders started paddling toward shore. But the river was up, the current was swift, and the canoe tipped over.Wayne immediately went into a controlled panic.“‘Oh my God!’ I yelled at my friends. The canoe tipped over,’ ” Easley said, reliving the incident. “I went running from one spot to another. I went over to this campsite and there were some people camping around there. And I asked if they had a rope.”One of the campers handed Wayne a tangled, nylon ski rope.“I threw the rope and pulled Carlotta (Sandy’s sister) to the shore,” he said. “I don’t know how many people were behind me, but there were a lot of people. I pulled, and people helped me.”Carlotta told Wayne she wasn’t a strong swimmer and pleaded with him to rescue the others. The stiff current would be a threat to anyone who entered the water.So Wayne jumped in.“I took the rope and went straight out for her (Sandy). I don’t know how I did it. To this day, I don’t know how I did it, but I swam out to her. And when I got to her, I got her feet from underneath the branches and I tied the rope on her. They pulled her to shore,” he said.Wayne and Rusty Maddox, who was 18 at the time (Wayne was 34), managed to rescue everyone. They were later recognized by the Des Moines County Conservation Board for their life-saving efforts, and each of them received a letter from the executive director, Jeff Bergman.“Many times a person will not endanger their own lives to save someone else who is in danger,” the letter reads.&nbsp;“Fortunately, you were concerned about the other person and acted with an unselfish impulse.”Easley wasn’t thinking of accolades while clinging to a tree in the middle of the Skunk River. He just wanted to get pulled back to shore without injury.“I said, ‘Man, something’s going to hit me in the back of the head and I’m going to drown,’” Easley said.By the time Easley made it to shore, everyone involved was exhausted and brimming with adrenaline. On the spur of the moment, Easley kissed Sandy, right in front of her then-boyfriend.“He left.&nbsp; That was his mistake,” Easley said.Sandy hung out with Easley and his friends that night, but she had a life in Dubuque to get back to. She eventually married the man she was canoeing with, though they divorced roughly six years later.Sandy still lived in Dubuque, and Wayne lived in southeast Iowa. After her marriage ended, Sandy and Wayne became close friends – then something more. He still remembers the first time he knocked on her door.“Oh my gosh. When Sandy came to the door, she was so happy to see me. So happy,” he said.As their relationship blossomed, Wayne kept threatening to go get her and bring her back as his wife. Eventually, he did just that.“I helped her pack everything. We moved to Burlington pulling this boat behind my car,” he said.The two would regularly eat breakfast at the Hy-Vee on Angular Street, staring at a photograph of Mosquito Park that hung on the wall.“We thought it would be a nice place to get married. So we got married there,” Wayne said.&nbsp;“We got married the same day Burt Reynolds and Lonnie Anderson got married — April 29, 1988.”It was the happiest day of Easley’s life. He openly wept as he described carrying his new wife across the threshold of their home.Sandy went on to become the structural supervisor for Hope Haven and loved collecting angel figurines. She had an entire “angel room” dedicated to her passion.But there was only one living angel in the Easley household. And Wayne misses her terribly.“She was a very special lady,” he said.

A love that waited — a love that lasted

A new agreement announced today will provide Southeastern Community College students with the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree through Western Governors University’s affordable, online programs; WGU will also offer scholarships. Under the terms of the agreement, students graduating with their SCC associate degree will be able to seamlessly transfer their credits to WGU. The agreement expands higher education opportunities for SCC graduates in the hopes of building a future-ready workforce in Iowa. “This is an excellent option for residents from across the region who pursue their degree online after SCC,” said Dr. Derreck Calkins, Director of&nbsp;Assessment, Curriculum, and Learning Resources. “Not all online programs are equal. WGU has a history of providing a quality education across a wide variety of programs.” SCC graduates who enroll in any of WGU’s programs will&nbsp;be able to apply for the&nbsp;Community College Partner Scholarship, which is valued at up to $2,500 each and will be applied to WGU’s already low, flat-rate tuition of about $3,800 per six-month term. SCC students transitioning to WGU will be also able to take advantage of the university’s online competency-based education model, which will allow them to use prior education and work-based experience to move through courses at their own pace and graduate more quickly. Students study, complete coursework, and take tests on schedules that fit their lives, advancing as soon as they demonstrate they have mastered the subject matter. Like all students at WGU, Southeastern Community College graduates who enroll will also be paired with a program mentor who has expertise in their chosen degree program and supports students in learning and navigating their educational journeys from enrollment through graduation. “We are thrilled to provide continuing education options to graduating students and staff of Southeastern Community College,” said Dr. Terrance Hopson, Regional Vice President of Western Governors University. “WGU values the important role community colleges play in upskilling the workforce and is pleased to offer an affordable and flexible pathway for thousands of Iowans who need postsecondary education and training to advance their careers and, in turn, improve their lives.” For more information on the partnership between WGU and Southeastern Community College, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MN2wsYF9Y3egNBgyf44dXRUp_bf-YmfllLVDlUy8UsG4w9YuC6i5SPzXQ4Dw5K90ptaHcn2YU0aSHKue9bmTn85y6DHO1ittHeWAqOmeOf9ueVi_AmId8Rjdyc1WCLUEcJsWJcvcKLarT6rFJyhdpCOsUpyL4bT0IsVpE-MKK2p5KvrV-t_fzxjMw1e1jH1VyVxRQcqYi5SvYrqdg6q2pENJCG4hXiLW&amp;c=ZsqzASeNmihvyjVP-z165Wwo2sEWg5VWI_rZ7Ec9d11q6dxyCB_XxA==&amp;ch=fi7bSHBYNeNypQc5Y_mDzx7SM7_N6xHNoBWGx49iIWSC_GCoZ076NA==" target="_blank">wgu.edu/iacc</a>.

A new agreement announced today will provide Southeastern Community College students with the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree through Western Governors University’s affordable, online programs; WGU will also offer scholarships. Under the terms of the agreement, students graduating with their SCC associate degree will be able to seamlessly transfer their credits to WGU. The agreement expands higher education opportunities for SCC graduates in the hopes of building a future-ready workforce in Iowa. “This is an excellent option for residents from across the region who pursue their degree online after SCC,” said Dr. Derreck Calkins, Director of&nbsp;Assessment, Curriculum, and Learning Resources. “Not all online programs are equal. WGU has a history of providing a quality education across a wide variety of programs.” SCC graduates who enroll in any of WGU’s programs will&nbsp;be able to apply for the&nbsp;Community College Partner Scholarship, which is valued at up to $2,500 each and will be applied to WGU’s already low, flat-rate tuition of about $3,800 per six-month term. SCC students transitioning to WGU will be also able to take advantage of the university’s online competency-based education model, which will allow them to use prior education and work-based experience to move through courses at their own pace and graduate more quickly. Students study, complete coursework, and take tests on schedules that fit their lives, advancing as soon as they demonstrate they have mastered the subject matter. Like all students at WGU, Southeastern Community College graduates who enroll will also be paired with a program mentor who has expertise in their chosen degree program and supports students in learning and navigating their educational journeys from enrollment through graduation. “We are thrilled to provide continuing education options to graduating students and staff of Southeastern Community College,” said Dr. Terrance Hopson, Regional Vice President of Western Governors University. “WGU values the important role community colleges play in upskilling the workforce and is pleased to offer an affordable and flexible pathway for thousands of Iowans who need postsecondary education and training to advance their careers and, in turn, improve their lives.” For more information on the partnership between WGU and Southeastern Community College, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001MN2wsYF9Y3egNBgyf44dXRUp_bf-YmfllLVDlUy8UsG4w9YuC6i5SPzXQ4Dw5K90ptaHcn2YU0aSHKue9bmTn85y6DHO1ittHeWAqOmeOf9ueVi_AmId8Rjdyc1WCLUEcJsWJcvcKLarT6rFJyhdpCOsUpyL4bT0IsVpE-MKK2p5KvrV-t_fzxjMw1e1jH1VyVxRQcqYi5SvYrqdg6q2pENJCG4hXiLW&amp;c=ZsqzASeNmihvyjVP-z165Wwo2sEWg5VWI_rZ7Ec9d11q6dxyCB_XxA==&amp;ch=fi7bSHBYNeNypQc5Y_mDzx7SM7_N6xHNoBWGx49iIWSC_GCoZ076NA==" target="_blank">wgu.edu/iacc</a>.

WGU and SCC announce articulation agreement

Above:&nbsp;Des Moines County Board of Supervisor Tom Broeker, right, talks to county supervisor Shane McCampbell during a board meeting last month. Beacon File Photo/John Lovretta

City and county governments are anxiously awaiting the Iowa Legislature to vote on a tax reform bill so they can adjust their annual budgets.

As of Wednesday, Feb. 8, Iowa lawmakers were attempting to advance a proposal to fix a state error that could save taxpayers money but could leave local governments short millions in expected revenue.

“It looks like they will almost certainly do this, and it will reduce our tax base,” Des Moines County Supervisor Tom Broeker said. “We (the county) have a bat, and the legislature pitches, and whatever comes across the plate, you’re going to swing on it or not.”

The supervisors had planned on voting for a resolution that would have set a public hearing for the total amount of tax dollar levy during Tuesday’s meeting.&nbsp;

Broeker pulled the resolution from the agenda and hopes to put it back on within the next few weeks.&nbsp;

The planned date for the public hearing was Feb. 21, but the legislature will also be voting on allowing extra time for municipalities to set their budget in the wake of the changes.

“The resolution, setting the date for the maximum tax dollars, we can’t do that, because we don’t know what the tax base will show. Hopefully, we will find out shortly,” Broeker said.

It’s not just the county. The city of Burlington could lose $140,000 in projected revenue due to the mistake in the calculation of property rollback taxes at the state level.

Representatives for Iowa’s cities, counties, school districts, and community colleges have been urging lawmakers to delay changing the property tax rollback rate for residential properties to fix an oversight from a previously passed property tax reform package.

City manager Chad Bird didn’t sound hopeful during the city council work session on Monday, Jan. 31.

“I think that (plea) fell on deaf ears,” Bird said.

The city council did approve a resolution to set a public hearing date (Feb. 21) for the maximum amount of tax dollars, though everything in the budget is tentative.

“We’re moving forward with the process because we don’t know when those changes are happening,” Stephanie Stuecker, director of administrative services, said during the Monday night council meeting.

The unexpected relief for taxpayers would mean less money for local governments, which could be forced to recoup that funding by cutting services from the next budget.

Representatives for Iowans for Tax Relief and the Iowa Taxpayers Association said a delay would equate to higher property tax bills for Iowa homeowners.

Victoria Sinclair with Iowans for Tax Relief noted the bill does not preclude local governments from raising property tax rates or using cash reserves to account for a revenue shortfall.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1676225573556.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Des Moines County Board of Supervisor Tom Broeker, right, talks to county supervisor Shane McCampbell during a board meeting last month. Beacon File Photo/John LovrettaBy Beacon StaffCity and county governments are anxiously awaiting the Iowa Legislature to vote on a tax reform bill so they can adjust their annual budgets.As of Wednesday, Feb. 8, Iowa lawmakers were attempting to advance a proposal to fix a state error that could save taxpayers money but could leave local governments short millions in expected revenue.“It looks like they will almost certainly do this, and it will reduce our tax base,” Des Moines County Supervisor Tom Broeker said. “We (the county) have a bat, and the legislature pitches, and whatever comes across the plate, you’re going to swing on it or not.”The supervisors had planned on voting for a resolution that would have set a public hearing for the total amount of tax dollar levy during Tuesday’s meeting.&nbsp;Broeker pulled the resolution from the agenda and hopes to put it back on within the next few weeks.&nbsp;The planned date for the public hearing was Feb. 21, but the legislature will also be voting on allowing extra time for municipalities to set their budget in the wake of the changes.“The resolution, setting the date for the maximum tax dollars, we can’t do that, because we don’t know what the tax base will show. Hopefully, we will find out shortly,” Broeker said.It’s not just the county. The city of Burlington could lose $140,000 in projected revenue due to the mistake in the calculation of property rollback taxes at the state level.Representatives for Iowa’s cities, counties, school districts, and community colleges have been urging lawmakers to delay changing the property tax rollback rate for residential properties to fix an oversight from a previously passed property tax reform package.City manager Chad Bird didn’t sound hopeful during the city council work session on Monday, Jan. 31.“I think that (plea) fell on deaf ears,” Bird said.The city council did approve a resolution to set a public hearing date (Feb. 21) for the maximum amount of tax dollars, though everything in the budget is tentative.“We’re moving forward with the process because we don’t know when those changes are happening,” Stephanie Stuecker, director of administrative services, said during the Monday night council meeting.The unexpected relief for taxpayers would mean less money for local governments, which could be forced to recoup that funding by cutting services from the next budget.Representatives for Iowans for Tax Relief and the Iowa Taxpayers Association said a delay would equate to higher property tax bills for Iowa homeowners.Victoria Sinclair with Iowans for Tax Relief noted the bill does not preclude local governments from raising property tax rates or using cash reserves to account for a revenue shortfall.

Supes Delay Tax Levy Hearing

Above: Brylye Manes, a Southeastern Community College cheerleader, and Lillian Abbott push a chocolate lovers cake around Loren Walker Arena on Wednesday (Feb. 8) during a cake auction at the&nbsp; Pack the Gym in Pink event at Southeastern Community College. Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice partnered with the SCC Blackhawk Men's Basketball program for the annual fundraiser for the hospice program.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Above:&nbsp;Hospice volunteer Sharyn Miller, smiles while selling pink t-shirts during a Pack the Gym in Pink event.&nbsp;The event featured the sale of pink t-shirts and rally towels, a silent auction, and a cake auction during the halftime of SCC's game against Mineral Area College.

Above:&nbsp;Deb Marlin, a registered nurse with the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice, waves a rally towel during a Pack the Gym in Pink event.&nbsp;

Above:&nbsp;Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice staff and volunteers gather on the court during a Pack the Gym in Pink event at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington. SCC defeated Mineral Area College, 65-59. &nbsp;

Photos by John Lovretta<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1675915969373.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Brylye Manes, a Southeastern Community College cheerleader, and Lillian Abbott push a chocolate lovers cake around Loren Walker Arena on Wednesday (Feb. 8) during a cake auction at the&nbsp; Pack the Gym in Pink event at Southeastern Community College. Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice partnered with the SCC Blackhawk Men's Basketball program for the annual fundraiser for the hospice program.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1675916067223.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Hospice volunteer Sharyn Miller, smiles while selling pink t-shirts during a Pack the Gym in Pink event.&nbsp;The event featured the sale of pink t-shirts and rally towels, a silent auction, and a cake auction during the halftime of SCC's game against Mineral Area College.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1675916172200.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Deb Marlin, a registered nurse with the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice, waves a rally towel during a Pack the Gym in Pink event.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1675916306323.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice staff and volunteers gather on the court during a Pack the Gym in Pink event at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington. SCC defeated Mineral Area College, 65-59. &nbsp;

Wearing Pink For A Good Cause

Kay Weiss doesn’t take Burlington for granted. She lived in 10 different places in 10 years after marrying her late husband, always fascinated by the buildings surrounding her.

But Weiss has never seen a town as architecturally magnificent as Burlington — not until she moved here in 1987. Her outsider perspective isn’t uncommon.

“I had not lived here too long, maybe a year or two. And I was walking along the river one day, and there was a group of people, and it turned out they were from an architecture class at the University of Minnesota. They were extremely impressed with the buildings,” she said.

Weiss earned the Downtown Distinction award Friday night, Jan. 27, during the Greater Burlington Partnership award dinner – and for good reason. She has been a part of the chamber of commerce in Burlington since 1987, back when it was called Main Street Iowa.

Before that, Weiss was involved in Chamber of Commerce organizations in practically every city she lived in.

“I think it goes back to the way I was raised. It’s a matter of stewardship of the resources that we’ve been given,” Weiss said. “You just have to look around and see as a nation, we have a lot more resources than the majority of people in the world. We need to make good use of those resources.”

An Illinois native who eventually ended up in Minnesota, before landing in Burlington, Weiss grew up as an assertive volunteer. Her father was a volunteer. Her mother was a volunteer. 

Volunteers don’t typically seek recognition, and Weiss would just as gladly avoid it. She didn’t even know she was up for consideration for an award until hearing her name.

“I was very surprised. It was very humbling,” she said.

Aside from her volunteerism, Weiss is best known as the former director of the Burlington Public Library — a position she held from 1987 to 2007. She moved to Burlington to take the job and promptly slipped on ice on her first day of work.

Weiss laughs about her awkward introduction to her new staff every time she tells the story. There was no hiding her condition when she walked into the library. 

“One of the first things I said when I came in was, ‘I think I broke my arm,’” she said, still grinning. “So I spent my first day on the job in the emergency room.”

Weiss loved that old library building. It was transformed into the Des Moines County Heritage Center after a new library was built in 2006, and she returned to the building as interim director of the Des Moines County Historical Society from 2011 to 2013.

Weiss was instrumental in moving the library into the new building at 210 Court Street. Advocating for the need for a new facility was nearly as monumental a task as building it, and she credits the library’s board of directors for raising the money to make it happen.

“It was a very emotional event for the community. And there were many people who were opposed to building a new library,” she said.

Her argument against naysayers was simple and passionate. A new library would act as a community center for the residents of Burlington and the surrounding area. 

A place with free Internet, access to community resources and history, and endless programs for children and the general public.

Her argument against keeping the library in the cramped corners of a building constructed in 1898 was just as simple.

“The old library was built with gas lights. It just couldn’t accommodate modern technology very well,” she said. 

Considering about 90 percent of the library’s construction was funded by private donations, most of the community agreed with her.

Weiss is a dedicated genealogist and a voracious reader and spends much of her free time conducting research in the library. She’s also quite involved with her church — Trinity Lutheran Evangelical. 

Parishioners recently said goodbye to their church building, which will be demolished later this year due to damage from an internal explosion. Weiss joined the church just after arriving in Burlington in 1987 and was heartbroken that it had to be condemned. There was no safe way to save it.

“Here I am, a preservationist,” she said, briefly lowering her head into her hands. “But the building is compromised. It makes me sad.”

Watching downtown Burlington blossom with new businesses, apartment complexes, and historic building renovations has filled Weiss’ heart with joy. 

Weiss will never stop advocating for downtown — or for Burlington in general. As always, she will lead a kindness and empathy she would never admit to. 

“We can promote the fact that people here cared enough to build unique and special buildings, and we should try to keep as many of those as we can,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1675726477642.jpeg" alt="Kay Weiss was director of the Burlington Public Library from 1987 to 2007, ushering in a new era when the current library building was opened in 2006. (William Smith/The Burlington Beacon)" />
 <figcaption>Kay Weiss was director of the Burlington Public Library from 1987 to 2007, ushering in a new era when the current library building was opened in 2006. (William Smith/The Burlington Beacon)</figcaption>
 </figure>By William Smith Community EditorKay Weiss doesn’t take Burlington for granted. She lived in 10 different places in 10 years after marrying her late husband, always fascinated by the buildings surrounding her.But Weiss has never seen a town as architecturally magnificent as Burlington — not until she moved here in 1987. Her outsider perspective isn’t uncommon.“I had not lived here too long, maybe a year or two. And I was walking along the river one day, and there was a group of people, and it turned out they were from an architecture class at the University of Minnesota. They were extremely impressed with the buildings,” she said.Weiss earned the Downtown Distinction award Friday night, Jan. 27, during the Greater Burlington Partnership award dinner – and for good reason. She has been a part of the chamber of commerce in Burlington since 1987, back when it was called Main Street Iowa.Before that, Weiss was involved in Chamber of Commerce organizations in practically every city she lived in.“I think it goes back to the way I was raised. It’s a matter of stewardship of the resources that we’ve been given,” Weiss said. “You just have to look around and see as a nation, we have a lot more resources than the majority of people in the world. We need to make good use of those resources.”An Illinois native who eventually ended up in Minnesota, before landing in Burlington, Weiss grew up as an assertive volunteer. Her father was a volunteer. Her mother was a volunteer. Volunteers don’t typically seek recognition, and Weiss would just as gladly avoid it. She didn’t even know she was up for consideration for an award until hearing her name.“I was very surprised. It was very humbling,” she said.Aside from her volunteerism, Weiss is best known as the former director of the Burlington Public Library — a position she held from 1987 to 2007. She moved to Burlington to take the job and promptly slipped on ice on her first day of work.Weiss laughs about her awkward introduction to her new staff every time she tells the story. There was no hiding her condition when she walked into the library. “One of the first things I said when I came in was, ‘I think I broke my arm,’” she said, still grinning. “So I spent my first day on the job in the emergency room.”Weiss loved that old library building. It was transformed into the Des Moines County Heritage Center after a new library was built in 2006, and she returned to the building as interim director of the Des Moines County Historical Society from 2011 to 2013.Weiss was instrumental in moving the library into the new building at 210 Court Street. Advocating for the need for a new facility was nearly as monumental a task as building it, and she credits the library’s board of directors for raising the money to make it happen.“It was a very emotional event for the community. And there were many people who were opposed to building a new library,” she said.Her argument against naysayers was simple and passionate. A new library would act as a community center for the residents of Burlington and the surrounding area. A place with free Internet, access to community resources and history, and endless programs for children and the general public.Her argument against keeping the library in the cramped corners of a building constructed in 1898 was just as simple.“The old library was built with gas lights. It just couldn’t accommodate modern technology very well,” she said. Considering about 90 percent of the library’s construction was funded by private donations, most of the community agreed with her.Weiss is a dedicated genealogist and a voracious reader and spends much of her free time conducting research in the library. She’s also quite involved with her church — Trinity Lutheran Evangelical. Parishioners recently said goodbye to their church building, which will be demolished later this year due to damage from an internal explosion. Weiss joined the church just after arriving in Burlington in 1987 and was heartbroken that it had to be condemned. There was no safe way to save it.“Here I am, a preservationist,” she said, briefly lowering her head into her hands. “But the building is compromised. It makes me sad.”Watching downtown Burlington blossom with new businesses, apartment complexes, and historic building renovations has filled Weiss’ heart with joy. Weiss will never stop advocating for downtown — or for Burlington in general. As always, she will lead a kindness and empathy she would never admit to. “We can promote the fact that people here cared enough to build unique and special buildings, and we should try to keep as many of those as we can,” she said.

Weiss has a heart that beats for Burlington

The Des Moines County Supervisors approved salary hikes for county officials Tuesday, Feb. 1, during the Board of Supervisors meeting.

Des Moines County compensation board member Dan Cahill presented a plan prepared by fellow board member Charlie Walsh during the meeting, asking for a 20 percent raise for Des Moines County Sheriff Kevin Glending and a 10 percent raise for Des Moines County Attorney Lisa Schaefer.&nbsp;

The board also recommended 10 percent raises for the Des Moines County auditor, Des Moines County Recorder, and Des Moines County Treasurer, as well as a 3 percent raise for the supervisors themselves.

Cahill said the raises would make the salaries commiserate to that of Iowa counties with similar-sized populations, and the “Back the Blue” law passed in 2021 specifies that the sheriff’s salary is comparable to command-level salaries at the Iowa State Patrol and city police chiefs.

The Des Moines County supervisors adopted the compensation board’s recommendations by cutting the salary hikes by 30 percent during Tuesday’s meeting.&nbsp;

They then voted unanimously to approve the salary hikes at the reduced percentage.

The Des Moines County Sheriff will receive a 14 percent pay increase, raising his salary from $108,372 to $123,544.

The Des Moines County Attorney will get a seven percent pay increase, raising her salary from $122,011 to $130,551.

The Des Moines County auditor, county recorder, and county treasurer will all receive seven percent pay raises.&nbsp;

The auditor’s salary will increase from $76,066 to $81,390, the county recorder’s salary will increase from $76,066 to $81,390, and the county treasurer’s salary will be raised from $75,359 to $80, 643.

The Des Moines County Supervisors — Shane McCampbell, Jim Cary, and Tom Broeker — will each receive a 2.1 percent raise, raising their salaries from $40,506 to 41,356.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1675388095323.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon StaffThe Des Moines County Supervisors approved salary hikes for county officials Tuesday, Feb. 1, during the Board of Supervisors meeting.Des Moines County compensation board member Dan Cahill presented a plan prepared by fellow board member Charlie Walsh during the meeting, asking for a 20 percent raise for Des Moines County Sheriff Kevin Glending and a 10 percent raise for Des Moines County Attorney Lisa Schaefer.&nbsp;The board also recommended 10 percent raises for the Des Moines County auditor, Des Moines County Recorder, and Des Moines County Treasurer, as well as a 3 percent raise for the supervisors themselves.Cahill said the raises would make the salaries commiserate to that of Iowa counties with similar-sized populations, and the “Back the Blue” law passed in 2021 specifies that the sheriff’s salary is comparable to command-level salaries at the Iowa State Patrol and city police chiefs.The Des Moines County supervisors adopted the compensation board’s recommendations by cutting the salary hikes by 30 percent during Tuesday’s meeting.&nbsp;They then voted unanimously to approve the salary hikes at the reduced percentage.The Des Moines County Sheriff will receive a 14 percent pay increase, raising his salary from $108,372 to $123,544.The Des Moines County Attorney will get a seven percent pay increase, raising her salary from $122,011 to $130,551.The Des Moines County auditor, county recorder, and county treasurer will all receive seven percent pay raises.&nbsp;The auditor’s salary will increase from $76,066 to $81,390, the county recorder’s salary will increase from $76,066 to $81,390, and the county treasurer’s salary will be raised from $75,359 to $80, 643.The Des Moines County Supervisors — Shane McCampbell, Jim Cary, and Tom Broeker — will each receive a 2.1 percent raise, raising their salaries from $40,506 to 41,356.

 Board OKs County Salary Hikes

Above: Nate Pace, manager of both the Blaul and Churchill Lofts, talks about commercial space in the Churchill Lofts building at 116 N. Fifth St. in downtown Burlington. The downtown Burlington apartment complex is open for business.&nbsp;Photo/John Lovretta

The Churchill Loft’s 48-unit apartment complex at 100 N. Fourth St. (the corner of Fourth and Valley Street) is finally open for business — and the market-rate apartments are going fast.

The building houses 15 one-bedroom units varying in size from 674 to 1,140 square feet. Price-wise, the apartments range from $850 to $1,100 per month.

There are 30 two-bedrooms ranging from 867 to 1,685 square feet and priced from $1,160 to $1,550 per month. There are three, 1,560-square-foot three-bedrooms for $1,625 per month.

Each unit has a spacious bathroom, some with double sinks, and an open floor concept with high ceilings.

<figure>
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 </figure>Above: Nate Pace, manager of both the Blaul and Churchill Lofts, talks about commercial space in the Churchill Lofts building at 116 N. Fifth St. in downtown Burlington. The downtown Burlington apartment complex is open for business.&nbsp;Photo/John LovrettaBy William SmithThe Churchill Loft’s 48-unit apartment complex at 100 N. Fourth St. (the corner of Fourth and Valley Street) is finally open for business — and the market-rate apartments are going fast.The building houses 15 one-bedroom units varying in size from 674 to 1,140 square feet. Price-wise, the apartments range from $850 to $1,100 per month.There are 30 two-bedrooms ranging from 867 to 1,685 square feet and priced from $1,160 to $1,550 per month. There are three, 1,560-square-foot three-bedrooms for $1,625 per month.Each unit has a spacious bathroom, some with double sinks, and an open floor concept with high ceilings.The Churchill Lofts also sports a first-floor commercial space consisting of four units, including the space formerly occupied by Mr. Moto’s Public House, which is nearly finished.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1675180499745.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>Above: The kitchen of an apartment in Churchill Lofts is shown. Photo/John LovrettaThe first floor is equipped with a recreation area, giving tenants access to the fitness center at Blaul Lofts at 425 Valley St. Y &amp; J Properties recently finished converting the building into 38 apartment units, with a ground-floor commercial space currently occupied by Lynne’s Food Cravings and Parties Unlimited.The Churchill building was constructed in 1907 and housed a factory before serving as the home of Churchill Drug Co. until 1928. Kevin Bangert, who owned Moto’s, sold the building to Y&amp;J in 2018.The Ebert building was constructed in 1900 as a wagon factory and blacksmith shop by John H. Ebert &amp; Sons, which changed its name to Ebert Supply Co. in 1950. Ewinger Supply Co. purchased the building in 1957, and the building was used as storage until Ewinger sold it to Burlington Trading Co.The developers have worked to restore or keep as many of the building’s original components as possible. That includes retaining the large wood columns and rafters, as well as 277 windows that were restored.The units themselves include stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, an in-unit washer/dryer, historic windows, natural sunlight, hardwood floors, large bedrooms with closet space, a private parking lot, and open floor plans made for hosting friends and family,Pets AllowedOne of the big selling points of the apartments is the pet-friendly rules. The grassy area between the Ebert and Churchill buildings will be transformed into a community green space where families can bring their pets, and those pets are allowed in the apartments as well.Property manager Nate Pace said Churchill Lofts is equipped with security cameras accessible via key fobs. It was one of the most requested features – that and the pets.“This is a big town for pets,” Pace said.Fit on FifthIn addition to the Churchill Lofts, Pace has also opened a new gym – Fit on Fifth. The boutique gym is free to tenants of the loft, and gym memberships for the general public are $28 per month. First responders, as well as members of the police, fire department, and corrections can get a membership for $30 every three months. Military veterans and those currently serving can use the gym for free.The gym sports a unique look that consists of exposed brick and old wooden beams and includes free weights, a personal trainer, Matrix exercise machines, a Smith machine, two cable crossover machines, Muay Thai instruction, and heavy bags. The gym is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily and is located at 104 N. Fifth St.<figure>
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 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Fit on Fifth, a gym located in the Blaul Loft building, in downtown Burlington. Photo/John Lovretta

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