Born in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation of Poland, Danuta Zamojska Hutchinsan escaped the horrors of war by leaving central Europe to attend college in America.

But the things she saw there will stay with her for the rest of her life.

Hutchinsan became much more than a wife and mother in America. She eventually became a professor at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake — where she still lives.

Hutchinsan was the guest speaker during the Burlington Public Library’s “Specifically for Seniors” program Friday, April 7, and she stressed the power of empathy. She spoke about the Ukrainian-Russian conflict and encouraged people to be better to each other.

“Out of fear, you have to help others,” she said. “I am anti-war, but at the same time if you don’t go and fight the hydra, it will come and eat you.”

After the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, Danuta started having nightmares of her own experiences during World War II.&nbsp;

She started writing down and drawing those nightmares, and those recollections evolved into her book — “Torn Out Memories.”

The book is comprised of stories of Hutchinsan’s youth, and she writes of the horrors she faced during the Nazi occupation of Poland. Seeing a woman’s dead body being fed upon by cats. A crying child was butted in the head by a rifle stock and killed by a soldier. His mother, screaming, was shot.

Hutchins and her family almost starved to death, and she recalled seeing her mother trying to dig for potatoes in the frozen Polish ground in her desperation to feed her family.

She credited FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and U.S. President Harry Truman (the American government) for taking care of her as a young child and feeding her family with relief packages.&nbsp;

She carries that kindness with her — always.

“I would not be here if not for them,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681743908051.jpeg" alt="Right: Danuta Zamojska Hutchinsan was the guest speaker during the Burlington Public Library’s “Specifically for Seniors” program Friday, April 7, and she stressed the power of empathy. Photo/Anthony Dewitt" />
 <figcaption>Right: Danuta Zamojska Hutchinsan was the guest speaker during the Burlington Public Library’s “Specifically for Seniors” program Friday, April 7, and she stressed the power of empathy. Photo/Anthony Dewitt</figcaption>
 </figure>By Anthony DeWittBorn in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation of Poland, Danuta Zamojska Hutchinsan escaped the horrors of war by leaving central Europe to attend college in America.But the things she saw there will stay with her for the rest of her life.Hutchinsan became much more than a wife and mother in America. She eventually became a professor at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake — where she still lives.Hutchinsan was the guest speaker during the Burlington Public Library’s “Specifically for Seniors” program Friday, April 7, and she stressed the power of empathy. She spoke about the Ukrainian-Russian conflict and encouraged people to be better to each other.“Out of fear, you have to help others,” she said. “I am anti-war, but at the same time if you don’t go and fight the hydra, it will come and eat you.”After the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, Danuta started having nightmares of her own experiences during World War II.&nbsp;She started writing down and drawing those nightmares, and those recollections evolved into her book — “Torn Out Memories.”The book is comprised of stories of Hutchinsan’s youth, and she writes of the horrors she faced during the Nazi occupation of Poland. Seeing a woman’s dead body being fed upon by cats. A crying child was butted in the head by a rifle stock and killed by a soldier. His mother, screaming, was shot.Hutchins and her family almost starved to death, and she recalled seeing her mother trying to dig for potatoes in the frozen Polish ground in her desperation to feed her family.She credited FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and U.S. President Harry Truman (the American government) for taking care of her as a young child and feeding her family with relief packages.&nbsp;She carries that kindness with her — always.“I would not be here if not for them,” she said.

‘Out of fear, you have to help others’

Above: Grace Wirt dances on Tuesday (April 11) during a master class for ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance in Burlington. The master class was taught by members of the New York City-based dance company Ballets with a Twist.  The dance company was in Burlington to perform "Cocktail Hour: The Show" at Burlington Memorial Auditorium as part of the Burlington Civic Music program.

Above: Annabelle Hedges is shown during a master class for ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance.

Above:&nbsp;Ballet students stretch during a master class taught by members of Ballets with a Twist.

Above: Lily Carlson participates in a dancing exercise during the master class.

Above:&nbsp;Jennifer Buonamia, a dancer with the New York City-based dance company Ballets with a Twist works with ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance.

Above:&nbsp;Dorothea Garland, a dancer with the New York City-based. dance company Ballets with a Twist works with ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance.

Photos by John Lovretta<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681670947005.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Grace Wirt dances on Tuesday (April 11) during a master class for ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance in Burlington. The master class was taught by members of the New York City-based dance company Ballets with a Twist. The dance company was in Burlington to perform "Cocktail Hour: The Show" at Burlington Memorial Auditorium as part of the Burlington Civic Music program.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681671067526.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Annabelle Hedges is shown during a master class for ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681671132616.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Ballet students stretch during a master class taught by members of Ballets with a Twist.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681671198038.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Lily Carlson participates in a dancing exercise during the master class.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681671310092.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Jennifer Buonamia, a dancer with the New York City-based dance company Ballets with a Twist works with ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681671371786.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Dorothea Garland, a dancer with the New York City-based. dance company Ballets with a Twist works with ballet students at Cheryl's School of Dance.

Poetry in Motion 

The city of Burlington is beginning a six-month process to acquire the former Klein Center on Madison Avenue from its absentee owner.

Burlington City Manager Chad Bird said developers are interested in retooling the building — but no one is able to contact the owner. He informed the Burlington City Council of the difficulties during a council work session on Monday, April 10.

“We have a local developer who is working on a building in the community who has expressed interest in the building,” Bird said.

Bird said that has been particular interest in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. The owner has not answered the calls of any interested buyers, and tax liens against the building make it a nearly impossible prospect for development.

Bird said that acquiring the building through the 657A acquisition now would mean the city gets the building in October, putting it in line for a potential developer application in April 2024. The owner could contest it in that six months, and a judge will make the final decision.

“The question is, what do we do with it?” Bird said.

Demolition of the building would be a worst-case, last-ditch scenario. The council, who informally gave the go-ahead to start the acquisition process Tuesday night, would prefer to see the building developed. So would Bird.

Eric Tysland, parks and recreation director, said demolishing the building would cost about $1 million. If the city were to raze it, about 20 housing lots could be installed on the land.

The building is a hotspot for vandals.&nbsp;

The city has spent $33,000 on nuisance abatement. Since 2018, there have been 74 nuisance actions for the property, typically requiring multiple trips to the site to verify or follow up on each issue.

“There’s a lot of activity going on there,” Bird said.

The property has been placarded by city staff as abandoned/unsafe per City Code Chapter 160, with no response from the current owner.&nbsp;

The city would be taking on the property and costs associated with maintaining it, which it pretty much does now.

“I don’t want to be Captain Obvious, but whether we have it on paper or not, we own the building. We basically do. We’re taking short-term measures on the abatements now, whereas if we owned it, we could take some long-term measures for security. I do agree that the only way we can do something with this is to acquire the ownership of it,” Burlington Mayor Jon Billups said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681609819337.jpeg" alt="The former Klein Center in Burlington is in disrepair. The city of Burlington is beginning a six-month process to acquire the property. Photo/Rebecca Gall" />
 <figcaption>The former Klein Center in Burlington is in disrepair. The city of Burlington is beginning a six-month process to acquire the property. Photo/Rebecca Gall</figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon StaffThe city of Burlington is beginning a six-month process to acquire the former Klein Center on Madison Avenue from its absentee owner.Burlington City Manager Chad Bird said developers are interested in retooling the building — but no one is able to contact the owner. He informed the Burlington City Council of the difficulties during a council work session on Monday, April 10.“We have a local developer who is working on a building in the community who has expressed interest in the building,” Bird said.Bird said that has been particular interest in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. The owner has not answered the calls of any interested buyers, and tax liens against the building make it a nearly impossible prospect for development.Bird said that acquiring the building through the 657A acquisition now would mean the city gets the building in October, putting it in line for a potential developer application in April 2024. The owner could contest it in that six months, and a judge will make the final decision.“The question is, what do we do with it?” Bird said.Demolition of the building would be a worst-case, last-ditch scenario. The council, who informally gave the go-ahead to start the acquisition process Tuesday night, would prefer to see the building developed. So would Bird.Eric Tysland, parks and recreation director, said demolishing the building would cost about $1 million. If the city were to raze it, about 20 housing lots could be installed on the land.The building is a hotspot for vandals.&nbsp;The city has spent $33,000 on nuisance abatement. Since 2018, there have been 74 nuisance actions for the property, typically requiring multiple trips to the site to verify or follow up on each issue.“There’s a lot of activity going on there,” Bird said.The property has been placarded by city staff as abandoned/unsafe per City Code Chapter 160, with no response from the current owner.&nbsp;The city would be taking on the property and costs associated with maintaining it, which it pretty much does now.“I don’t want to be Captain Obvious, but whether we have it on paper or not, we own the building. We basically do. We’re taking short-term measures on the abatements now, whereas if we owned it, we could take some long-term measures for security. I do agree that the only way we can do something with this is to acquire the ownership of it,” Burlington Mayor Jon Billups said.

City looks to take possession of the former Klein building

Emily Walker received a heart for Valentine’s Day.&nbsp;

Not a chocolate heart. Nor a heart-shaped card or those little hard candies with words on them. But a living one to replace the ailing 10-year-old heart Walker was born with.

Walker, a Fort Madison youngster who is a fourth-grader at Holy Trinity Catholic, underwent a heart transplant on Feb. 15. She came home two weeks later to begin recovery.

“After eight weeks, I can do whatever I want,” Emily said. “Mom and Dad (Maria and Brad Walker)have already signed me up for softball (in the Denmark League),” Emily said.

“She will be able to do anything and everything she ever wants. This (the transplant) gives her a second chance,” Maria Walker said.

“It’s been stressful to me, not putting her at risk for larger problems. We’re always going to run the risk of rejection.”

She is finishing her school year as a Holy Trinity Catholic student at home — the online version made necessary three years ago during the COVID-19 outbreak.

She will have physical and cardio therapy and doctor’s appointments that will keep her out of school too often. The therapy is because she’s been bedridden since the end of December.

“My teacher said whatever I can’t finish it’s fine,” Emily said.

Maria,&nbsp; a teacher at Holy Trinity, said the problems began well before Dec. 22, when she had to be sent to Iowa City.

“It started last summer,” Maria said. “We noticed she wasn’t as energetic. She was tired a lot. She just didn’t feel well.”

They went to the doctor, and he treated her for acid reflux, but that wasn’t the problem.

The next visit in September resulted in an asthma diagnosis because Emily had difficulty breathing, but that wasn’t the issue either.

The doctor. suggested it was “a socio-emotional situation,” Maria said, and he recommended counseling. “That didn’t seem to do anything.”

In December, Emily and her older brother Jacob got sick and stayed home from school for a week.

But on Dec. 21, Emily was sick again.&nbsp;

A day later, Emily began to get dry heaves and Brad took her to the emergency room.

A snowstorm had hit the area. Blizzard conditions and 60-mile-an-hour winds prevented Emily from being air-lifted to Iowa City. She was instead taken by ambulance and arrived at the Stead Family Children’s Hospital 3 a.m.

Maria thought it was a bad case of the flu, but she found herself talking to a myriad of doctors: “Cardiologists, kidney doctors, liver doctors, the on-staff doctors, the surgeons, everybody was in her room.

“We found out she had influenza A, pneumonia, and she was septic,” Maria said.

The cardiologist, Dr. Gary Beasley, said her heart had taken a big hit with the flu.

“Her heart was squeezing out only 15 percent of the blood,” Maria said, and that affected other parts of her body.

But while her kidney and liver recovered after a week’s rest, her heart condition still hadn’t changed.

Dr. Beasley recommended different medicines for another week.

But, “even at a resting heart rate, it was at 160,” Maria said. “That’s where most people are when they’re exercising. She was getting up over 200 if she was getting agitated.”

Medications given through a pic line didn’t help.

Emily was finally diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, and an enlarged heart and a transplant was deemed necessary.

So the family was presented with a few options for Emily to be able to go home, “To keep her safe and stable.

“The first was a defibrillator,” Maria said. “Any time her heart would get out of control, it would send a shock to her heart.”

Option No. 2 was the placement of a Left Vascular Assist Device, and that’s the road the family went down.

“A motor was placed into her heart and it would pump blood through the rest of her body,” Maria said.

A cord came out of her abdomen and connected to two batteries if she left the home or was hooked up to home power and plugged into the wall.

She had LVAD surgery on Jan. 11, and that put her on top of the list for a transplant.

Emily was sent home on Jan. 30. Two weeks later, the family got the call that a heart was available. It was the day after Valentine’s Day.

Throughout the ordeal, students and teachers at Holy Trinity Catholic put on fundraisers to help with the medical expenses, and not just members of the Holy Family parish but people in Fort Madison and surrounding towns reached out.

“A lot of people called,” Emily said. “Every minute, I’d hear a ding, ding, ding, ding, ding,’ ” as the phone made non-stop notification sounds.

“The first surgery, everybody sent me gifts and cards,” Emily said, “and I felt overwhelmed by the level of the stuff in my room. We didn’t have a really big room.”

“There were a lot of stuffed animals,” Maria said. “It was nice to know that everybody was thinking about (her).”

The hospital staff made a giant heart-shaped cookie that Emily said she couldn’t finish, and the staff also gave her a giant Happy Heart Day poster.

A few days before she left, Emily even received a visit from the University of Iowa women’s basketball standouts Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin; it was a surprise visit.

“I turned my head, and I basically jumped right out of my seat,” Emily said. “I got to take a photo with them. They signed my shirt, my water bottle, and my heart pillow.”

Regardless of what people say about sibling rivalry, Emily also said she missed being around her brothers, Jacob and Nathan.

When asked what she thought about the reality that someone had to die for her to get a heart, Emily said, “I thought somebody else was giving up their healthy heart for me, and then they would get a healthy heart too,” Emily said.

But such is not the case, so will there be a connection made between the Walkers and the family whose loved one gave up their heart?

“We asked how that would work,” Maria said. “At this point our transplant coordinator said, if we would like to write a letter and reach out we can certainly write a letter to them, and they would be able to contact us.” It has to be a mutual agreement, she said.

For now, Maria said, trying to hold back tears, “It’s hard to put into words how to thank them for this gift.”

Of her daughter, she said, “She’s a miracle.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681399336476.jpeg" alt="Emily Walker, a fourth-grader at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Fort Madison, received a heart transplant the day after Valentine’s Day. Photo/Chris Faulkner" />
 <figcaption>Emily Walker, a fourth-grader at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Fort Madison, received a heart transplant the day after Valentine’s Day. Photo/Chris Faulkner</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerEmily Walker received a heart for Valentine’s Day.&nbsp;Not a chocolate heart. Nor a heart-shaped card or those little hard candies with words on them. But a living one to replace the ailing 10-year-old heart Walker was born with.Walker, a Fort Madison youngster who is a fourth-grader at Holy Trinity Catholic, underwent a heart transplant on Feb. 15. She came home two weeks later to begin recovery.“After eight weeks, I can do whatever I want,” Emily said. “Mom and Dad (Maria and Brad Walker)have already signed me up for softball (in the Denmark League),” Emily said.“She will be able to do anything and everything she ever wants. This (the transplant) gives her a second chance,” Maria Walker said.“It’s been stressful to me, not putting her at risk for larger problems. We’re always going to run the risk of rejection.”She is finishing her school year as a Holy Trinity Catholic student at home — the online version made necessary three years ago during the COVID-19 outbreak.She will have physical and cardio therapy and doctor’s appointments that will keep her out of school too often. The therapy is because she’s been bedridden since the end of December.“My teacher said whatever I can’t finish it’s fine,” Emily said.Unknown ailmentMaria,&nbsp; a teacher at Holy Trinity, said the problems began well before Dec. 22, when she had to be sent to Iowa City.“It started last summer,” Maria said. “We noticed she wasn’t as energetic. She was tired a lot. She just didn’t feel well.”They went to the doctor, and he treated her for acid reflux, but that wasn’t the problem.The next visit in September resulted in an asthma diagnosis because Emily had difficulty breathing, but that wasn’t the issue either.The doctor. suggested it was “a socio-emotional situation,” Maria said, and he recommended counseling. “That didn’t seem to do anything.”In December, Emily and her older brother Jacob got sick and stayed home from school for a week.But on Dec. 21, Emily was sick again.&nbsp;A day later, Emily began to get dry heaves and Brad took her to the emergency room.A snowstorm had hit the area. Blizzard conditions and 60-mile-an-hour winds prevented Emily from being air-lifted to Iowa City. She was instead taken by ambulance and arrived at the Stead Family Children’s Hospital 3 a.m.Maria thought it was a bad case of the flu, but she found herself talking to a myriad of doctors: “Cardiologists, kidney doctors, liver doctors, the on-staff doctors, the surgeons, everybody was in her room.“We found out she had influenza A, pneumonia, and she was septic,” Maria said.The cardiologist, Dr. Gary Beasley, said her heart had taken a big hit with the flu.“Her heart was squeezing out only 15 percent of the blood,” Maria said, and that affected other parts of her body.But while her kidney and liver recovered after a week’s rest, her heart condition still hadn’t changed.Dr. Beasley recommended different medicines for another week.But, “even at a resting heart rate, it was at 160,” Maria said. “That’s where most people are when they’re exercising. She was getting up over 200 if she was getting agitated.”Medications given through a pic line didn’t help.Emily was finally diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, and an enlarged heart and a transplant was deemed necessary.So the family was presented with a few options for Emily to be able to go home, “To keep her safe and stable.“The first was a defibrillator,” Maria said. “Any time her heart would get out of control, it would send a shock to her heart.”Option No. 2 was the placement of a Left Vascular Assist Device, and that’s the road the family went down.“A motor was placed into her heart and it would pump blood through the rest of her body,” Maria said.A cord came out of her abdomen and connected to two batteries if she left the home or was hooked up to home power and plugged into the wall.She had LVAD surgery on Jan. 11, and that put her on top of the list for a transplant.Emily was sent home on Jan. 30. Two weeks later, the family got the call that a heart was available. It was the day after Valentine’s Day.Large support groupThroughout the ordeal, students and teachers at Holy Trinity Catholic put on fundraisers to help with the medical expenses, and not just members of the Holy Family parish but people in Fort Madison and surrounding towns reached out.“A lot of people called,” Emily said. “Every minute, I’d hear a ding, ding, ding, ding, ding,’ ” as the phone made non-stop notification sounds.“The first surgery, everybody sent me gifts and cards,” Emily said, “and I felt overwhelmed by the level of the stuff in my room. We didn’t have a really big room.”“There were a lot of stuffed animals,” Maria said. “It was nice to know that everybody was thinking about (her).”The hospital staff made a giant heart-shaped cookie that Emily said she couldn’t finish, and the staff also gave her a giant Happy Heart Day poster.A few days before she left, Emily even received a visit from the University of Iowa women’s basketball standouts Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin; it was a surprise visit.“I turned my head, and I basically jumped right out of my seat,” Emily said. “I got to take a photo with them. They signed my shirt, my water bottle, and my heart pillow.”Regardless of what people say about sibling rivalry, Emily also said she missed being around her brothers, Jacob and Nathan.When asked what she thought about the reality that someone had to die for her to get a heart, Emily said, “I thought somebody else was giving up their healthy heart for me, and then they would get a healthy heart too,” Emily said.But such is not the case, so will there be a connection made between the Walkers and the family whose loved one gave up their heart?“We asked how that would work,” Maria said. “At this point our transplant coordinator said, if we would like to write a letter and reach out we can certainly write a letter to them, and they would be able to contact us.” It has to be a mutual agreement, she said.For now, Maria said, trying to hold back tears, “It’s hard to put into words how to thank them for this gift.”Of her daughter, she said, “She’s a miracle.”

Girl gets the gift of life thanks to heart transplant

TRIO SSS boss is The Beacon’s Education Professional of the Month for March.

Sibyl McIntire became an advocate for education shortly after graduating from the University of Iowa in 2003 when she discovered a passion for helping students through one of the most stressful periods of their life.

“After college, I went into working in higher education, in admissions,” she said. “I enjoyed it, but when I got in the role of advising and working with students, I realized they needed people to speak up for them. Someone saying, ‘Why can’t this group of students have access to x,y, and z?’ ”

As the project director for TRIO Student Support Services for the Southeastern Community College campuses in West Burlington and Keokuk, McIntire and her staff specialize in assisting students realize their full potential. TRIO SSS is celebrating its 25th anniversary later this month, and McIntire has been the director for the past nine years.

“I get the great pleasure of working with students on a day-to-day basis,” McIntire said.&nbsp;

McIntire was selected as the winner of the Burlington Beacon’s second Teacher/Staff of the Month award and was flattered by the recognition. But she wants the focus of the publicity to be on the TRIO program and staff.

“We serve 225 students a year,” she said. “We are a federally-funded program, so it’s no cost to the college.”

The TRIO programs offer a supportive environment to empower underrepresented students to take on education beyond high school. TRIO federal programs include eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to go through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.

TRIO SSS, which falls under the TRIO umbrella, accepts 225 first-generation students every year who want to complete their degree at SCC and continue to a four-year college to earn their bachelor’s degree. That includes those who have a documented physical or learning disability and those who meet federal income guidelines.

“We have a spot on campus, the TRIO Center, where the students can meet with their academic advisors. It’s a safe place for the students,” McIntire said.

It’s certainly not where McIntire thought she would end up as she entered college. She was a political science and communications major, and spent a summer in Washington D.C. She was fascinated by the political process and still is.

But her heart lay in advocacy for others. That’s why she is the current Iowa TRIO Association president, coordinating with other TRIO organizations across the state.&nbsp;

“I think it’s really important to give back, and that blends in with what I do at work,” she said.&nbsp;

It’s a rewarding career, capping off a quiet life that includes a husband, two teenage boys, three pets, and a love for gardening. And a never-ending belief in her students.

“The students are just so sweet. I am just so proud of the hard work they continue to do,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681398472486.jpeg" alt="Sibyl McIntire was named The Burlington Beacon’s Education Professional of the Month for March. As the project director for TRIO Student Support Services for the Southeastern Community College, McIntire helps first-generation and low-income students.&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Sibyl McIntire was named The Burlington Beacon’s Education Professional of the Month for March. As the project director for TRIO Student Support Services for the Southeastern Community College, McIntire helps first-generation and low-income students.&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>TRIO SSS boss is The Beacon’s Education Professional of the Month for March.By William SmithSibyl McIntire became an advocate for education shortly after graduating from the University of Iowa in 2003 when she discovered a passion for helping students through one of the most stressful periods of their life.“After college, I went into working in higher education, in admissions,” she said. “I enjoyed it, but when I got in the role of advising and working with students, I realized they needed people to speak up for them. Someone saying, ‘Why can’t this group of students have access to x,y, and z?’ ”As the project director for TRIO Student Support Services for the Southeastern Community College campuses in West Burlington and Keokuk, McIntire and her staff specialize in assisting students realize their full potential. TRIO SSS is celebrating its 25th anniversary later this month, and McIntire has been the director for the past nine years.“I get the great pleasure of working with students on a day-to-day basis,” McIntire said.&nbsp;McIntire was selected as the winner of the Burlington Beacon’s second Teacher/Staff of the Month award and was flattered by the recognition. But she wants the focus of the publicity to be on the TRIO program and staff.“We serve 225 students a year,” she said. “We are a federally-funded program, so it’s no cost to the college.”The TRIO programs offer a supportive environment to empower underrepresented students to take on education beyond high school. TRIO federal programs include eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to go through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.TRIO SSS, which falls under the TRIO umbrella, accepts 225 first-generation students every year who want to complete their degree at SCC and continue to a four-year college to earn their bachelor’s degree. That includes those who have a documented physical or learning disability and those who meet federal income guidelines.“We have a spot on campus, the TRIO Center, where the students can meet with their academic advisors. It’s a safe place for the students,” McIntire said.It’s certainly not where McIntire thought she would end up as she entered college. She was a political science and communications major, and spent a summer in Washington D.C. She was fascinated by the political process and still is.But her heart lay in advocacy for others. That’s why she is the current Iowa TRIO Association president, coordinating with other TRIO organizations across the state.&nbsp;“I think it’s really important to give back, and that blends in with what I do at work,” she said.&nbsp;It’s a rewarding career, capping off a quiet life that includes a husband, two teenage boys, three pets, and a love for gardening. And a never-ending belief in her students.“The students are just so sweet. I am just so proud of the hard work they continue to do,” she said.

Forever a Helper

Firefighters responded to a blaze that engulfed a garage Saturday afternoon in Burlington. Photo/Jeff Abell

Fire officials said a Burlington man was cited for an alleged illegal burn that sparked a garage fire.

At 4:18 p.m. on Saturday (April 8), Burlington firefighters responded to a report of a garage fire at 1128 Kroeger St. At the scene, firefighters found a garage with a walkout basement fully engulfed in flames.

The fire also engulfed a boat, with the heat from the blaze causing damage to the house, a tractor, and a camper. 

The property owner, Edward Smith. was given a citation for illegal burning. 

"The fire started as a result of illegally burning a hillside off," fire officials said in a press release. 

Nine Burlington firefighters responded and were assisted by the Burlington Police Department and West Burlington Fire Department. There were no injuries reported. The garage was uninsured. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1681165870057.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Firefighters responded to a blaze that engulfed a garage Saturday afternoon in Burlington. Photo/Jeff AbellBy Beacon StaffFire officials said a Burlington man was cited for an alleged illegal burn that sparked a garage fire.At 4:18 p.m. on Saturday (April 8), Burlington firefighters responded to a report of a garage fire at 1128 Kroeger St. At the scene, firefighters found a garage with a walkout basement fully engulfed in flames.The fire also engulfed a boat, with the heat from the blaze causing damage to the house, a tractor, and a camper. The property owner, Edward Smith. was given a citation for illegal burning. "The fire started as a result of illegally burning a hillside off," fire officials said in a press release. Nine Burlington firefighters responded and were assisted by the Burlington Police Department and West Burlington Fire Department. There were no injuries reported. The garage was uninsured.

Officials: Garage Fire Caused by Alleged Illegal Burning

Photos by John Lovretta&nbsp; (See the April 7 print edition for more photos)

Above:&nbsp;A memorial service was held for Burlington firefighter Ky Duttlinger, Saturday, April 1, at Burlington High School. Duttlinger passed away from job-related cancer on March 23, 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;Firefighters pay their respects.

Above: Firefighters salute and pay their respect as pallbearers including Jake Ruth, carrying Burlington firefighter Ky Duttlinger's helmet depart Burlington High School, following a memorial service.

Above: A fire engine carrying the casket of Burlington firefighter Ky Duttlinger departs the Central Fire Station for a procession to Burlington High School.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1680535335514.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Photos by John Lovretta&nbsp; (See the April 7 print edition for more photos)Above:&nbsp;A memorial service was held for Burlington firefighter Ky Duttlinger, Saturday, April 1, at Burlington High School. Duttlinger passed away from job-related cancer on March 23, 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;Firefighters pay their respects.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1680535500167.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Firefighters salute and pay their respect as pallbearers including Jake Ruth, carrying Burlington firefighter Ky Duttlinger's helmet depart Burlington High School, following a memorial service.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1680535592786.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: A fire engine carrying the casket of Burlington firefighter Ky Duttlinger departs the Central Fire Station for a procession to Burlington High School.

Saying Goodbye to a Friend

Above: High winds on Friday damaged a mobile home, among other buildings, in Mediapolis. Photo/Danny Davis/Mediapolis News

High winds tore the roof of a Mediapolis mobile home and damaged several other homes and businesses in town Friday night, March 31.

No injuries were reported in the aftermath of the storm, and the National Weather Service has not confirmed a tornado in Des Moines County. 

The high winds caused severe damage to several mobile homes in a Mediapolis mobile home court, tipping over a nearby semi-trailer that almost blew into the park itself. The roof to the gazebo in Cartwright Park was ripped off and demolished, and some trees were split down the middle by the high winds, one of them toppling onto a mobile home.

Above: Alliant Energy works to restore power on Prairie Street in Mediapolis.&nbsp;Photo/Danny Davis/Mediapolis News

Des Moines County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Gina Hardin sent a request for assistance to Gov. Kim Reynolds on behalf of Mediapolis and the surrounding community. In response, the governor has freed up to $5,000 for households with an income of up to 200 percent of the poverty line affected by the storm.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website or by contacting the disaster team at Community Action of Southeast Iowa at 319-753-0193. Potential applicants have 45 days from the disaster declaration to submit a claim. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Applicants should note that original receipts are required for reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery.

The city of Mediapolis issued a statement Saturday. “We are thankful no injuries were reported during the storm last night. We want to thank the Mediapolis Fire Department, Yarmouth, Burlington, West Burlington, and Danville Departments, Des Moines County Emergency Management, CERT, Des Moines County Sheriff, Alliant Energy, and MTC for the quick and capable response to our community,” the statement read.

The city is assisting in the clean-up, according to the statement.

“It has been wonderful seeing the community coming together to clean up and help family and friends get things back to functional. The city will be providing roll-off dumpsters for building debris only. They will be placed on Maple Drive, Lofgren Street, and Prairie Street. Please continue to take trees, limbs, and branches to the Mediapolis City Dump,” the statement reads.

Most of Des Moines County seemingly avoided the worst of Friday’s storms, though power outages, tree damage, and hail were reported across Burlington and West Burlington as well. Power outages were also reported across the county.

According to the National Weather Service, at least nine possible tornadoes were spotted across Iowa Friday as storms with hail and heavy winds battered the eastern portion of the state. Des Moines County is not one of those areas as of yet. Possible tornadoes were spotted in Wapello County, Keokuk County, Poweshiek County, Keokuk County, and Washington County.

Friday night’s storm system pulled unseasonably warm and moist conditions into the Midwest, coupled with a very favorable wind profile that created a volatile environment perfect for severe thunderstorms.&nbsp; The tornado outbreak that followed was one of the largest Iowa has seen in years.

The National Weather Service has confirmed at least five Iowa tornadoes based on preliminary data: an EF3 near Keota, another EF3 near Hedrick in Keokuk County, two EF2 tornadoes – one each in Johnson and Clinton counties, and an EF1 over Bellevue. Coralville and Hills in Johnson County were among the towns that saw extensive damage.

By Saturday night, the death toll nationally had risen to 21.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1680403429385.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: High winds on Friday damaged a mobile home, among other buildings, in Mediapolis. Photo/Danny Davis/Mediapolis News By Beacon Staff High winds tore the roof of a Mediapolis mobile home and damaged several other homes and businesses in town Friday night, March 31. No injuries were reported in the aftermath of the storm, and the National Weather Service has not confirmed a tornado in Des Moines County. The high winds caused severe damage to several mobile homes in a Mediapolis mobile home court, tipping over a nearby semi-trailer that almost blew into the park itself. The roof to the gazebo in Cartwright Park was ripped off and demolished, and some trees were split down the middle by the high winds, one of them toppling onto a mobile home.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/4/1680403584861.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Alliant Energy works to restore power on Prairie Street in Mediapolis.&nbsp;Photo/Danny Davis/Mediapolis NewsStorm Cleanup Des Moines County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Gina Hardin sent a request for assistance to Gov. Kim Reynolds on behalf of Mediapolis and the surrounding community. In response, the governor has freed up to $5,000 for households with an income of up to 200 percent of the poverty line affected by the storm.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website or by contacting the disaster team at Community Action of Southeast Iowa at 319-753-0193. Potential applicants have 45 days from the disaster declaration to submit a claim. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Applicants should note that original receipts are required for reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The city of Mediapolis issued a statement Saturday. “We are thankful no injuries were reported during the storm last night. We want to thank the Mediapolis Fire Department, Yarmouth, Burlington, West Burlington, and Danville Departments, Des Moines County Emergency Management, CERT, Des Moines County Sheriff, Alliant Energy, and MTC for the quick and capable response to our community,” the statement read. The city is assisting in the clean-up, according to the statement. “It has been wonderful seeing the community coming together to clean up and help family and friends get things back to functional. The city will be providing roll-off dumpsters for building debris only. They will be placed on Maple Drive, Lofgren Street, and Prairie Street. Please continue to take trees, limbs, and branches to the Mediapolis City Dump,” the statement reads. Most of Des Moines County Spared Most of Des Moines County seemingly avoided the worst of Friday’s storms, though power outages, tree damage, and hail were reported across Burlington and West Burlington as well. Power outages were also reported across the county. According to the National Weather Service, at least nine possible tornadoes were spotted across Iowa Friday as storms with hail and heavy winds battered the eastern portion of the state. Des Moines County is not one of those areas as of yet. Possible tornadoes were spotted in Wapello County, Keokuk County, Poweshiek County, Keokuk County, and Washington County. Friday night’s storm system pulled unseasonably warm and moist conditions into the Midwest, coupled with a very favorable wind profile that created a volatile environment perfect for severe thunderstorms.&nbsp; The tornado outbreak that followed was one of the largest Iowa has seen in years. Five Tornadoes in Iowa The National Weather Service has confirmed at least five Iowa tornadoes based on preliminary data: an EF3 near Keota, another EF3 near Hedrick in Keokuk County, two EF2 tornadoes – one each in Johnson and Clinton counties, and an EF1 over Bellevue. Coralville and Hills in Johnson County were among the towns that saw extensive damage. By Saturday night, the death toll nationally had risen to 21.

Friday Night Storms Trigger State Disaster Assistance for Mediapolis Damage

Above:&nbsp;Tim Hutchins, a member of the Hawkeye Wood Carvers group, stands in front of a tree he carved into a figure of Buddha, using a chainsaw.

Tim Hutchins has been carving things out of wood most of his life.&nbsp;

A military man for 23 years, Hutchins put his time in at Murray Iron Works and the Army Reserve, which were noisy jobs.&nbsp;

So, Hutchins was seeking a quiet, relaxing way to escape the noise of his everyday life. He found peace and quiet when he joined the Hawkeye Wood Carvers group in 1973.

The group was 50 members strong then and full of projects for anyone interested.&nbsp;

The sense of community and unity that the group provided was the icing on the cake for Hutchins. The challenge of the carving and the sense of togetherness the carvers share is what has kept the group going all these years.

The ability to look at a piece of wood and see the object trapped inside was a skill Hutchins has learned to develop over time.&nbsp;

That same skill is what Hutchins would like to pass down to the next generation of wood carvers.

“Everyone is so busy tapping away on their phones,” Hutchins said.

Hutchins has carved different kinds of wood.

Everything from walnut, oak, and willow, to tree stumps using a chainsaw, have been carved by Hutchins. Each type of wood has its own unique properties that the carver has to adjust his skills to create his work.

“Some woods are much easier to work with,” he said.

Hutchins even carved a sign for the Icarian Living History Museum, which was unfortunately stolen from the camp after the land owner sold the property. Hutchins has worked on projects of every kind imaginable.&nbsp;

Hutchins has repaired 100-year-old wooden dolls, carved a guitar body out of wood, and even repaired antique furniture for the Des Moines County Historical Society.

One of the pieces that Hutchins is most proud of is a jewelry box that he made for a doctor in Iowa City. The box consists of 23 different types of wood and has no metal parts. On the lid of the jewelry box is an inset relief of the doctor’s wife.

“His wife looked at it and said ‘That’s me,’” Hutchins said.

This year will mark his 30th consecutive year displaying at the Des Moines County Fair. Hutchins has displayed his works at the Iowa State Fair and has received multiple blue ribbons for his displays there. In addition, Hutchins took part in a carousel horse reconstruction that was displayed at the Iowa State Fair.

The Hawkeye Wood Carvers meet the first Tuesday of every month at the Burlington Public Library. The Carvers meet 10 months of the year, taking June and July off. Hutchins is hoping to renew their interest in the group and add some new members. COVID closed down most public gatherings and it has been challenging to get people to come back to public gatherings.

“I’d like to see 10, or 110 people at our next meeting,” Hutchins said.

There are a lot of ways to spend your time relaxing. Carving may be a newfound way of expressing yourself. Finding the object trapped in a piece of wood with your knife could be something that a younger generation had never considered before. Hutchins enjoys teaching others and looks forward to seeing new faces in the group.

“We had a grandmother bring her grandson in one time. I helped them figure out carving a little. I guess it was on a piece of tree bark,” Hutchins said.

That kind of togetherness and family activity is exactly why Hutchins joined the Hawkeye Carvers. The items the club has created are beautiful works of art, but the bonds formed are just as important. While COVID has stymied the club for a while, Hutchins aims to whittle out a future for the group.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/3/1679616035831.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Tim Hutchins, a member of the Hawkeye Wood Carvers group, stands in front of a tree he carved into a figure of Buddha, using a chainsaw.By Andy SchneiderTim Hutchins has been carving things out of wood most of his life.&nbsp;A military man for 23 years, Hutchins put his time in at Murray Iron Works and the Army Reserve, which were noisy jobs.&nbsp;So, Hutchins was seeking a quiet, relaxing way to escape the noise of his everyday life. He found peace and quiet when he joined the Hawkeye Wood Carvers group in 1973.The group was 50 members strong then and full of projects for anyone interested.&nbsp;The sense of community and unity that the group provided was the icing on the cake for Hutchins. The challenge of the carving and the sense of togetherness the carvers share is what has kept the group going all these years.The ability to look at a piece of wood and see the object trapped inside was a skill Hutchins has learned to develop over time.&nbsp;That same skill is what Hutchins would like to pass down to the next generation of wood carvers.“Everyone is so busy tapping away on their phones,” Hutchins said.Hutchins has carved different kinds of wood.Everything from walnut, oak, and willow, to tree stumps using a chainsaw, have been carved by Hutchins. Each type of wood has its own unique properties that the carver has to adjust his skills to create his work.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/3/1679615281955.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“Some woods are much easier to work with,” he said.Hutchins even carved a sign for the Icarian Living History Museum, which was unfortunately stolen from the camp after the land owner sold the property. Hutchins has worked on projects of every kind imaginable.&nbsp;Hutchins has repaired 100-year-old wooden dolls, carved a guitar body out of wood, and even repaired antique furniture for the Des Moines County Historical Society.One of the pieces that Hutchins is most proud of is a jewelry box that he made for a doctor in Iowa City. The box consists of 23 different types of wood and has no metal parts. On the lid of the jewelry box is an inset relief of the doctor’s wife.“His wife looked at it and said ‘That’s me,’” Hutchins said.This year will mark his 30th consecutive year displaying at the Des Moines County Fair. Hutchins has displayed his works at the Iowa State Fair and has received multiple blue ribbons for his displays there. In addition, Hutchins took part in a carousel horse reconstruction that was displayed at the Iowa State Fair.The Hawkeye Wood Carvers meet the first Tuesday of every month at the Burlington Public Library. The Carvers meet 10 months of the year, taking June and July off. Hutchins is hoping to renew their interest in the group and add some new members. COVID closed down most public gatherings and it has been challenging to get people to come back to public gatherings.“I’d like to see 10, or 110 people at our next meeting,” Hutchins said.There are a lot of ways to spend your time relaxing. Carving may be a newfound way of expressing yourself. Finding the object trapped in a piece of wood with your knife could be something that a younger generation had never considered before. Hutchins enjoys teaching others and looks forward to seeing new faces in the group.“We had a grandmother bring her grandson in one time. I helped them figure out carving a little. I guess it was on a piece of tree bark,” Hutchins said.That kind of togetherness and family activity is exactly why Hutchins joined the Hawkeye Carvers. The items the club has created are beautiful works of art, but the bonds formed are just as important. While COVID has stymied the club for a while, Hutchins aims to whittle out a future for the group.

Hawkeye Wood Carvers are a cut above the rest

It took a fair amount of persuading, but my Egyptian friends, Nasser and Heba, finally convinced me last fall to visit their beautiful, historic country.

I met them in Burlington in 2017, and we talked a lot about this trip. As an American, I had some trepidation about traveling to the Middle East. And it didn’t help matters when the U.S. State Department issued this travel advisory less than three weeks before my scheduled departure:

“Reconsider travel to Egypt due to terrorism. Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Egypt. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning and have targeted diplomatic facilities, tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, western businesses, restaurants, resorts, and local government facilities. Terrorists have conducted attacks in urban areas, including in Cairo, despite the heavy security presence.”

Agreeing with Eleanor Roosevelt that courage is more exhilarating than fear and confident that traveling with native Egyptians would enhance my safety, I decided to go ahead with the trip. So, I packed my bags and caught a ride to the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport. Twenty-four hours later, I arrived at Cairo International Airport on Oct. 25., 2022.

After getting through Customs, I was relieved to find Heba and her husband, Nasser. Our half-hour trip to their apartment was my introduction to Cairo’s ridiculously hectic traffic. There are few painted lane markers, so cars converged, closely and dangerously, from every possible angle. I was freaked out, but of course, didn’t say anything.

Their apartment is on the seventh floor in a crowded neighborhood — with “crowded” being the operative word. Most of the buildings are nondescript sandstone and reminded me of the ones I saw during my trip to Russia in 1998.

Heba’s mom, sister, and nephew were at the apartment when we arrived. We enjoyed a great dinner: fancy, deep-dish mac and cheese, breaded and fried chicken breasts, and soup made with tiny pasta colloquially known as “bird tongues.”

The next day, Heba and I spent three hours at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. How amazing it was to witness firsthand the very origins of human civilization; some artifacts were 7,000 years or older. Comparatively, Americans will celebrate our country’s 247th anniversary this July 4.

Again, the traffic was utterly crazy. In particularly congested areas, cars weaved in and out of the “lanes” perilously close to each other. It seemed hugely dangerous by my small-town standards. Heba said it works because everyone anticipates what the other guy will do.

I did witness a horrible scene en route to the museum. A guy on a motorcycle, who was probably going 40-50 mph, flew by us on the right. Seconds later, he hit one of two young women standing in the street near the curb. Worse yet, he just kept on going! Sadly, that’s a mental image I’ll never be able to erase.

Both Heba and her sister, Hoda, are excellent cooks. From ful (pronounced “fool”), a fava bean stew, to my personal favorite, koshari, consisting of macaroni, lentils, rice, chickpeas, fried onions, and a spicy-hot tomato sauce, each dish was a culinary masterpiece. A variety of homemade breads, lots of wonderful cheese, and way too many sweet treats complimented our meals.

Each new day was a blend of Egyptian culture, great weather, and fascinating tourist attractions. Our itinerary included a two-hour dinner cruise on the Nile River; breakfast served on the rooftop of our hotel in Alexandria, which provided a great view of the Mediterranean Sea; the Pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza; riding a camel named Mickey Mouse; the Citadel of Cairo; Karnak and Luxor Temples; the 614-foot Cairo Tower, Egypt’s tallest structure (and a challenge for this acrophobe!); and two days of R &amp; R at my friends’ chalet on the Red Sea.

I learned a few basic Arabic words and phrases. The easiest one to memorize was “yeah,” which ironically is pronounced, “EYE-wuh.” I got used to it after a while. But, at first, it was so weird hearing it everywhere in public. “Whoa, how did they know I was from Iowa?”

On a personal note, it was great to feel so welcomed by Nasser and Heba’s family and friends. Even random people I met were friendly.&nbsp;

For example, during a tour of Alexandria atop a double-decker bus, I saw a seaside building that had “Casino” in its name and asked Heba if gambling is popular in Egypt. The woman sitting in front of us turned around and, in very good English, explained that in this instance, “Casino” meant “Café.” Quickly activating my Irish blarney, I enjoyed a lovely 10-minute chat with her before she got off the bus.&nbsp;

And it was heartwarming when Heba and I were approached by three boys, maybe 8 or 9 years old, who asked if they could take a photo with me. I felt like a celebrity.

During my 16-day visit, I never feared that being an American compromised my safety. However, there were a few times when my surroundings were a stark reminder that, as a white guy from the U.S., I was in the minority.

For example, my friends’ chalet is on the Sinai Peninsula, and getting there required taking a tunnel beneath the Suez Canal. Just on the other side, in the middle of an otherwise vast, empty desert, was a formidable — and clearly no-nonsense — military checkpoint.

“Have your passport ready,” Heba instructed, “but don’t present it unless I tell you that the guard is asking for it.” I took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.

Heba pulled up to a large contraption that she said would perform a complete scan of the car in search of weapons, explosives, and contraband. After we passed that initial inspection, she drove the short distance to a gate and adjacent guard house. It was at this point that I started to feel vulnerable.

A stone-faced, uniformed guard with a rifle slung over his shoulder approached the car and began interrogating Heba. Of course, all of their conversations were in Arabic, so it was only after the fact that she told me what information he was seeking:

“What is your destination, and how long are you staying?”

Luckily, Heba’s brother, who co-owns a travel agency, had advised her to bring the paperwork that confirmed ownership of property on the peninsula. And she told the guard that we’d only be staying two nights.

Heba replied that her passengers were her mother, sister, and “our friend,” thus concealing my nationality.

The guard never did ask to see my ID, apparently convinced that this 66-year-old geezer sitting in the back seat didn’t pose a security risk. Instead, after asking Heba a few more questions, he methodically raised the gate, and we were on our way. Whew!

Traveling to Egypt forced me to step outside my comfort zone. Ultimately, it provided what professional traveler Rick Steves calls the best possible souvenir: a broader perspective. Contrary to all the bigotry and prejudice circulating on social media, I discovered that not everyone in the Middle East hates Americans. People are people, and we’re more alike than we are different.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/3/1678146884427.jpeg" alt="Above: Dennis Fitzgibbon of Burlington is shown exploring one of the many tourist sites in Egypt. Photo submitted" />
 <figcaption>Above: Dennis Fitzgibbon of Burlington is shown exploring one of the many tourist sites in Egypt. Photo submitted</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dennis Fitzgibbon&nbsp;It took a fair amount of persuading, but my Egyptian friends, Nasser and Heba, finally convinced me last fall to visit their beautiful, historic country.I met them in Burlington in 2017, and we talked a lot about this trip. As an American, I had some trepidation about traveling to the Middle East. And it didn’t help matters when the U.S. State Department issued this travel advisory less than three weeks before my scheduled departure:“Reconsider travel to Egypt due to terrorism. Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Egypt. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning and have targeted diplomatic facilities, tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, western businesses, restaurants, resorts, and local government facilities. Terrorists have conducted attacks in urban areas, including in Cairo, despite the heavy security presence.”Yikes!Agreeing with Eleanor Roosevelt that courage is more exhilarating than fear and confident that traveling with native Egyptians would enhance my safety, I decided to go ahead with the trip. So, I packed my bags and caught a ride to the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport. Twenty-four hours later, I arrived at Cairo International Airport on Oct. 25., 2022.After getting through Customs, I was relieved to find Heba and her husband, Nasser. Our half-hour trip to their apartment was my introduction to Cairo’s ridiculously hectic traffic. There are few painted lane markers, so cars converged, closely and dangerously, from every possible angle. I was freaked out, but of course, didn’t say anything.Their apartment is on the seventh floor in a crowded neighborhood — with “crowded” being the operative word. Most of the buildings are nondescript sandstone and reminded me of the ones I saw during my trip to Russia in 1998.Heba’s mom, sister, and nephew were at the apartment when we arrived. We enjoyed a great dinner: fancy, deep-dish mac and cheese, breaded and fried chicken breasts, and soup made with tiny pasta colloquially known as “bird tongues.”The next day, Heba and I spent three hours at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. How amazing it was to witness firsthand the very origins of human civilization; some artifacts were 7,000 years or older. Comparatively, Americans will celebrate our country’s 247th anniversary this July 4.Again, the traffic was utterly crazy. In particularly congested areas, cars weaved in and out of the “lanes” perilously close to each other. It seemed hugely dangerous by my small-town standards. Heba said it works because everyone anticipates what the other guy will do.I did witness a horrible scene en route to the museum. A guy on a motorcycle, who was probably going 40-50 mph, flew by us on the right. Seconds later, he hit one of two young women standing in the street near the curb. Worse yet, he just kept on going! Sadly, that’s a mental image I’ll never be able to erase.Both Heba and her sister, Hoda, are excellent cooks. From ful (pronounced “fool”), a fava bean stew, to my personal favorite, koshari, consisting of macaroni, lentils, rice, chickpeas, fried onions, and a spicy-hot tomato sauce, each dish was a culinary masterpiece. A variety of homemade breads, lots of wonderful cheese, and way too many sweet treats complimented our meals.Each new day was a blend of Egyptian culture, great weather, and fascinating tourist attractions. Our itinerary included a two-hour dinner cruise on the Nile River; breakfast served on the rooftop of our hotel in Alexandria, which provided a great view of the Mediterranean Sea; the Pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza; riding a camel named Mickey Mouse; the Citadel of Cairo; Karnak and Luxor Temples; the 614-foot Cairo Tower, Egypt’s tallest structure (and a challenge for this acrophobe!); and two days of R &amp; R at my friends’ chalet on the Red Sea.I learned a few basic Arabic words and phrases. The easiest one to memorize was “yeah,” which ironically is pronounced, “EYE-wuh.” I got used to it after a while. But, at first, it was so weird hearing it everywhere in public. “Whoa, how did they know I was from Iowa?”On a personal note, it was great to feel so welcomed by Nasser and Heba’s family and friends. Even random people I met were friendly.&nbsp;For example, during a tour of Alexandria atop a double-decker bus, I saw a seaside building that had “Casino” in its name and asked Heba if gambling is popular in Egypt. The woman sitting in front of us turned around and, in very good English, explained that in this instance, “Casino” meant “Café.” Quickly activating my Irish blarney, I enjoyed a lovely 10-minute chat with her before she got off the bus.&nbsp;And it was heartwarming when Heba and I were approached by three boys, maybe 8 or 9 years old, who asked if they could take a photo with me. I felt like a celebrity.During my 16-day visit, I never feared that being an American compromised my safety. However, there were a few times when my surroundings were a stark reminder that, as a white guy from the U.S., I was in the minority.For example, my friends’ chalet is on the Sinai Peninsula, and getting there required taking a tunnel beneath the Suez Canal. Just on the other side, in the middle of an otherwise vast, empty desert, was a formidable — and clearly no-nonsense — military checkpoint.“Have your passport ready,” Heba instructed, “but don’t present it unless I tell you that the guard is asking for it.” I took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.Heba pulled up to a large contraption that she said would perform a complete scan of the car in search of weapons, explosives, and contraband. After we passed that initial inspection, she drove the short distance to a gate and adjacent guard house. It was at this point that I started to feel vulnerable.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/3/1678147517605.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A stone-faced, uniformed guard with a rifle slung over his shoulder approached the car and began interrogating Heba. Of course, all of their conversations were in Arabic, so it was only after the fact that she told me what information he was seeking:“What is your destination, and how long are you staying?”Luckily, Heba’s brother, who co-owns a travel agency, had advised her to bring the paperwork that confirmed ownership of property on the peninsula. And she told the guard that we’d only be staying two nights.“Who are you traveling with?”Heba replied that her passengers were her mother, sister, and “our friend,” thus concealing my nationality.The guard never did ask to see my ID, apparently convinced that this 66-year-old geezer sitting in the back seat didn’t pose a security risk. Instead, after asking Heba a few more questions, he methodically raised the gate, and we were on our way. Whew!Traveling to Egypt forced me to step outside my comfort zone. Ultimately, it provided what professional traveler Rick Steves calls the best possible souvenir: a broader perspective. Contrary to all the bigotry and prejudice circulating on social media, I discovered that not everyone in the Middle East hates Americans. People are people, and we’re more alike than we are different.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/3/1678147037172.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;The Great Sphinx of Giza is shown. Photo submitted" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;The Great Sphinx of Giza is shown. Photo submitted</figcaption>
 </figure>

The Treasures of Egypt

By Beacon Staff The Burlington Fire Department battled three fires this past weekend, including two on Sunday. No one was injured in any of the incidents, though some of the properties suffered major damage. House and Camper on Wightman Street Destroyed By Fire Sunday Night The Burlington and West Burlington fire departments responded to a reported structure fire at 7:03 p.m. Sunday, March 19 at 727 Wightman St. Burlington Police officers arrived first and assisted with locating and evacuating the occupant of the home. Firefighters arrived five minutes later to find a single-family home and travel trailer fully engulfed in flames.&nbsp; Off-duty firefighters from Burlington, Danville, and Mediapolis were called in for assistance, and the fire was extinguished by 8:24 p.m. The property is owned and occupied by Joseph Zippe and is insured. Damage estimates are still being assessed, but both the travel trailer and house are a total loss. The Red Cross was called for victim assistance. One pet (a dog) escaped the house and was later recovered without injury. The fire damaged one automobile, as well as the house at 723 Wightman St., which sustained heat damage to two windows. The cause of the fire was due to open burning outside the residence. The fire spread to the travel trailer and then to the house. Zippe was issued a citation for violating the city’s open burning ordinance. Firefighters cleared the scene at 9:55 p.m. Lincolnville Motel Evacuated After Room Catches Fire Early Sunday Morning Firefighters from Burlington and West Burlington responded to the report of a structure fire at the Lincolnville Motel at 1:53 a.m. March 19, and arrived five minutes later to find flames and smoke showing from a room on the east side. Police officers had already started to evacuate the building of guests by then. Off-duty Burlington firefighters and firefighters from Danville and Mediapolis were called for assistance. Firefighters were able to contain the fire damage to one motel room and the attic area, but other rooms sustained smoke and water damage. The property is owned by Dilip Gandhi and is insured. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and is not considered suspicious. Firefighters cleared the scene at 3:43 a.m. Sunday. Kitchen Fire Causes $70,000 Worth of Damage to Burlington Home Saturday Burlington and West Burlington firefighters responded to a reported house fire at 412 S. Marshall Street at 5:34 p.m. on March 18. Firefighters arrived four minutes later to find heavy smoke coming from the back of the two-story house. Off-duty Burlington firefighters, as well as firefighters from Danville and Mediapolis, were called in for assistance. Firefighters located and extinguished a fire in the kitchen. The surrounding rooms suffered heat and water damage, with smoke damage throughout the house. The house, owned and occupied by John Harris, is insured. Damage is estimated at $70,000 to the house and contents. There were no working smoke detectors. The Red Cross has been called for victim assistance. The cause of the fire is considered accidental and was due to combustible items stored too close to the stovetop. It is believed that a pet jumped onto the stove and inadvertently turned on a burner. Firefighters cleared the scene at 8:22 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/3/1679349410214.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon Staff The Burlington Fire Department battled three fires this past weekend, including two on Sunday. No one was injured in any of the incidents, though some of the properties suffered major damage. House and Camper on Wightman Street Destroyed By Fire Sunday Night The Burlington and West Burlington fire departments responded to a reported structure fire at 7:03 p.m. Sunday, March 19 at 727 Wightman St. Burlington Police officers arrived first and assisted with locating and evacuating the occupant of the home. Firefighters arrived five minutes later to find a single-family home and travel trailer fully engulfed in flames.&nbsp; Off-duty firefighters from Burlington, Danville, and Mediapolis were called in for assistance, and the fire was extinguished by 8:24 p.m. The property is owned and occupied by Joseph Zippe and is insured. Damage estimates are still being assessed, but both the travel trailer and house are a total loss. The Red Cross was called for victim assistance. One pet (a dog) escaped the house and was later recovered without injury. The fire damaged one automobile, as well as the house at 723 Wightman St., which sustained heat damage to two windows. The cause of the fire was due to open burning outside the residence. The fire spread to the travel trailer and then to the house. Zippe was issued a citation for violating the city’s open burning ordinance. Firefighters cleared the scene at 9:55 p.m. Lincolnville Motel Evacuated After Room Catches Fire Early Sunday Morning Firefighters from Burlington and West Burlington responded to the report of a structure fire at the Lincolnville Motel at 1:53 a.m. March 19, and arrived five minutes later to find flames and smoke showing from a room on the east side. Police officers had already started to evacuate the building of guests by then. Off-duty Burlington firefighters and firefighters from Danville and Mediapolis were called for assistance. Firefighters were able to contain the fire damage to one motel room and the attic area, but other rooms sustained smoke and water damage. The property is owned by Dilip Gandhi and is insured. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and is not considered suspicious. Firefighters cleared the scene at 3:43 a.m. Sunday. Kitchen Fire Causes $70,000 Worth of Damage to Burlington Home Saturday Burlington and West Burlington firefighters responded to a reported house fire at 412 S. Marshall Street at 5:34 p.m. on March 18. Firefighters arrived four minutes later to find heavy smoke coming from the back of the two-story house. Off-duty Burlington firefighters, as well as firefighters from Danville and Mediapolis, were called in for assistance. Firefighters located and extinguished a fire in the kitchen. The surrounding rooms suffered heat and water damage, with smoke damage throughout the house. The house, owned and occupied by John Harris, is insured. Damage is estimated at $70,000 to the house and contents. There were no working smoke detectors. The Red Cross has been called for victim assistance. The cause of the fire is considered accidental and was due to combustible items stored too close to the stovetop. It is believed that a pet jumped onto the stove and inadvertently turned on a burner. Firefighters cleared the scene at 8:22 p.m.

Local Firefighters Battle Two Fires on Sunday and One on Saturday

Ty Buras was in real trouble. Buras was an Army veteran who had done tours in active war zones.&nbsp;

The extreme stress and horrors of war left Buras with crippling PTSD, and his battle with severe PTSD was a fight he was losing.&nbsp;

He was in desperate need of a lifeline. That’s when Wrigley, his service dog, entered his life. Wrigley was supplied to Buras at absolutely no cost to him from Retrieving Freedom Incorporated.&nbsp;

Buras explained how important Wrigley is in his life now. “Life before her was a whole lot of isolating,” Buras said.&nbsp;

“My wife says I’m a whole different person after I received her.”&nbsp;

Retrieving Freedom or RFI is using man’s best friend in the best possible way. RFI trains and places dogs with veterans and children with autism to help them in their daily lives.&nbsp;

They have placed 142 dogs in 19 states. They have placed 51 dogs with autistic people and 70 dogs with veterans. Nine dogs were placed prior to the current established target clients.&nbsp;

“You have to train for 100 hours with other dogs so that you know how to handle your dog,” Buras said.

On average a dog costs $30,000 to place, train, and care for a service dog. All dogs are provided at no cost, by RFI Ambassadors.

In 2011 Co-Founder Scott Dewey, a seasoned field trial dog trainer decided to retire to be at home with his children more.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/3/1679327818050.jpeg" alt="Ty Buras and his dog&nbsp;Wrigley.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Ty Buras and his dog&nbsp;Wrigley.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By Andy SchneiderTy Buras was in real trouble. Buras was an Army veteran who had done tours in active war zones.&nbsp;The extreme stress and horrors of war left Buras with crippling PTSD, and his battle with severe PTSD was a fight he was losing.&nbsp;He was in desperate need of a lifeline. That’s when Wrigley, his service dog, entered his life. Wrigley was supplied to Buras at absolutely no cost to him from Retrieving Freedom Incorporated.&nbsp;Buras explained how important Wrigley is in his life now. “Life before her was a whole lot of isolating,” Buras said.&nbsp;“My wife says I’m a whole different person after I received her.”&nbsp;Retrieving Freedom or RFI is using man’s best friend in the best possible way. RFI trains and places dogs with veterans and children with autism to help them in their daily lives.&nbsp;They have placed 142 dogs in 19 states. They have placed 51 dogs with autistic people and 70 dogs with veterans. Nine dogs were placed prior to the current established target clients.&nbsp;“You have to train for 100 hours with other dogs so that you know how to handle your dog,” Buras said.On average a dog costs $30,000 to place, train, and care for a service dog. All dogs are provided at no cost, by RFI Ambassadors.In 2011 Co-Founder Scott Dewey, a seasoned field trial dog trainer decided to retire to be at home with his children more.Still, Dewey wanted to use his abilities to help individuals with disabilities. Thus, Retrieving Freedom Incorporated was founded/incorporated in 2012.&nbsp;The first service dog was placed in 2013. RFI exists on donations and grants. The important work that they do is dependent on the kindness of others, and every dollar that they receive is so important. Laura Erganian Fund Development Coordinator for RFI has been an important part of placing dogs with those in need.&nbsp;Erganian stressed that the need for service dogs was great and that Covid-19 has made that process that much more difficult.&nbsp;For the last couple of years, RFI has not been able to have the in-person contact that makes the program work so well.&nbsp;“We are actually at an expansion point in our program, we are looking to double our number of dogs,” Erganian said.&nbsp;The process takes about two years from start to finish. During that process, the clients are constantly working with the dogs and forming a bond with the dogs. “The dog picks you, you don’t pick the dog,” Burras said.“It’s a unique process. What are the needs? What are their characteristics? What makes a dog pair to each client? Are they able to grow a relationship?” Erganian said. Dogs that are not successful in the program are placed in other lines of work or placed into foster care.&nbsp;One dog has been placed with the Sedalia, Missouri police department. Right now, Retrieving Freedom is focused on the ambassador program and Ty Buras is one of only 10 ambassadors, whose job it is to spread the word of RFI in their communities.&nbsp;“Individuals like Ty, come back and ask, ‘how can we help,’” Erganian said. Initially, Buras didn’t feel that he was worthy of a service dog. Buras felt like there were people in greater need than himself. Now that he has Wrigley, he understands how great his need truly was and how much of a difference Wrigley has made in his life.That’s why Buras is telling his story so that others don’t feel alone and can get the help that they need. Buras knows that there are others out there like him. Those who don’t feel like they deserve a service dog. Buras’ advice to them “would be, to give it a try,”.&nbsp;Retrieving Freedom is placing service dogs with those in need, and it’s difficult work but rewarding. The recipients of those dogs find that the dogs they receive truly are man’s best friend.&nbsp;If you would like to donate to Retrieving Freedom you may do so at www.retrievingfreedom.org