Month: September 2020

Mount Pleasant, IA—Mount Pleasant Noon Rotary is partnering with the Mount Pleasant Community School District Foundation to help local students. Due to requirements for safety and sanitation surrounding COVID-19, the drinking fountains in the school system are not being used this year. Students are provided their own personal water bottles to drink from instead. To increase their access to refills of drinking water, Noon Rotary and the MPCSD Foundation are asking for help.

The goal is to install an additional water bottle filling station in each of the school buildings. Noon Rotary will match donations made by individuals up to $750. This initial $1500 cash investment will be used to apply for grants and other sources of funding for this project. Overall, the water bottle filling stations are expected to cost a little over $5,000.

If you’d like to participate and help install more water bottle filling stations for Mount Pleasant students please contact any of the following Noon Rotary Board Members: Adam McLaughlin adam.mclaughlin@iw.edu , Kadie Johannson sales@kilj.com (319) 721-2929 or Jennifer Crull jcrull1971@gmail.com. Checks can be made payable to Mount Pleasant Noon Rotary.

At 4:20 PM Thursday September 17 the Burlington Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 11397 Westwood Hills Drive, rural West Burlington, in Flint River Township. Firefighters arrived at 4:33 PM to find heavy smoke and fire showing in the single family home. Firefighters brought the fire under control by 5:20 PM and it was declared extinguished at 5:50 PM. One adult was at home at the time of the fire and received minor injuries. The adult was treated at the scene by fire department paramedics and taken by private vehicle to Great River Medical Center in West Burlington.
The single family home sustained extensive fire damage throughout and is considered a total loss. Damages are still being assessed and the house is insured. One family pet perished in the fire. The Red Cross is assisting with victim assistance.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation and is not considered suspicious.
Eleven Burlington firefighters responded to the call and were assisted at the scene by firefighters from West Burlington, Danville, Mediapolis, and Gladstone Fire Departments. Deputies from the Des Moines County Sheriff’s office and officers with the West Burlington Police Department also assisted. Alliant Energy gas and REC electric were also on scene. Burlington firefighters remained on the scene until 7:08 PM. There were no other injuries.

DONNELLSON, IOWA — The Central Lee Community School District has announced the 2020 inductees to its Academic Hall of Fame.

Five former students and two former staff members are being honored this year. Alumni inductees include Major General Timothy J. Lowenberg (Class of 1964), U.S. Navy Vice Admiral (Ret.) Gerald L. Hoewing (’67), Donald Lloyd Kirchner (’73), Dr. Carrie A. Schinstock (’96) and Amber (Hohl) Conlee (’01).

Former staff member inductees are Deanna Lind Reynolds, who coordinated the district’s Gifted and Talented program for 27 years until her retirement in 2008, and Marge Wilhelm, who served as a teacher, principal and superintendent for the district before retiring in 1992.

The Academic Hall of Fame was created as a means of recognizing, preserving and promoting Central Lee’s rich history and tradition of excellence. The award emphasizes the importance of high-achieving graduates and staff who have contributed toward making the world a better place through their professional, military, public service, leadership and business careers.

“We are incredibly excited to honor these outstanding alumni and former teachers, who serve as role models for our current generation of young people,” said Dr. Andy Crozier, Central Lee Superintendent. “These individuals have made a significant impact on the people around them both during their time in our schools and in their other pursuits throughout their lives. It gives us great pride to honor them in this way.”

Earlier this year, Central Lee CSD launched its new Academic, Athletic and Fine Arts Halls of Fame, which are part of the district’s alumni recognition program. Families, staff, alumni and community members are encouraged to nominate individuals for recognition. A Hall of Fame committee then reviews all nominations and determines each year’s inductees.

For individuals to qualify for a nomination, they must have graduated from Central Lee schools or have been a staff member. They also must be at least five years removed from their time in the district. The nomination form is available at https://bit.ly/CLHOFNomination.

Henry County Road Department will be doing concrete patching on Oasis Avenue, between Hwy 78 and 170th Street beginning Monday, September 21st. Traffic will be one lane only controlled by traffic signals. Please use caution. This work will take approximately one (1) week, depending on weather. If you have questions call the road department office at 319 385-0762.

There is still money available as very few Mount Pleasant businesses that have applied. Please take look at this grant designed to help you during this difficult time.

 ASSISTANCE FOR IOWA SMALL BUSINESSES & NONPROFITS

Governor Reynolds has allocated federal CARES Act funds to assist small businesses and nonprofits economically impacted by COVID-19. The Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Small Business Utility Disruption Prevention Program will provide short-term relief to eligible small businesses and nonprofits that face significant hardship in the payment of utility bills for service provided during the months of disruption to their business.

AVAILABLE UTILITY BILL ASSISTANCE

Electric and natural gas utility bill assistance for four months of electric or natural gas service provided between March 17, 2020 and October 15, 2020, 2020. Request for assistance must be for a minimum of $400 for natural gas and electric service charges combined, but may not exceed $7,500.

Financial assistance can only be applied to an applicant’s utility bills.  The applicant’s utility service provider will receive a payment from IEDA, which will be credited to the applicant’s utility account.

Apply here – https://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/Business/energy-recovery