WMU Jazz Band competed at the Coe College Jazz Summit on Thursday, February 24th in Cedar Rapids. WMU ended up placing second at the three day long event among other 1A Bands. Griffin Humphreys was named the outstanding 1A Musician for the event. The group will compete again on Saturday, March 5th, at the SEIBA Jazz Festival at Clear Creek Amana High School, where they hope to secure another invitation to the Iowa Jazz Championships later this spring. Jazz Band Members include: Saxophones Gabe Hemsworth, Gavin Prior, and Beatrice Anderson. Trumpets Cameron Giese and Kinsley Gunnison. Trombones Griffin Humphreys and Brynn Pogmore. Rhythm Section: Isabel Kann, Maggie Hutton, Isabella Martinez, and Ella Kann.  WMU Jazz Band is directed by Lindsey Pogmore.

WMU’s speech team participated in district level competition on Saturday, February 26th at Tri-County School in Thornburg. Six WMU Students prepared eleven events for contest, with ten of those advancing on to State Competition, which will be held at Grinnell High School in mid-March. Students advancing to State Competition include: Chloe Fisher (Poetry, Literary Program), Isabel Kann (Prose, Literary Program), Griffin Humphreys (Radio News Announcing, Storytelling), Brayden Nordyke (Storytelling, Improvisation), and Alli Humphreys (Expository Address, Radio News Announcing).  Dakota Silva also competed at District Level (Prose). WMU Speech Team is coached by Lindsey Pogmore.

Spring is just around the corner, and that means many things.  One of those things is that it’s almost time for WMU’s annual collaboration with the Minnesota-based Prairie Fire Children’s Theater.  After a couple years of pandemic-related hiatus, this year’s production promises to be lots of fun for all involved.Auditions for interested students in 2nd thru 12th grades will be held on Monday, March 7th after school in the small gym, and should finish up by 5:30.  Rehearsals will be from 3:30 until 7:30 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with an opening night performance on Friday at 7:00 PM (March 11th) and at 2:00 PM on Saturday (March 12th) in the small gym.There are over 70 parts available for students to participate in this exciting show! Auditions are open to any students in 2nd thru 12th grades.  Tickets for these performances will be $10 for adults, and $7 for seniors/students, and available for purchase at the door.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Pogmore, at 257-7700 extension 128 or by email at lindsey.pogmore@wmucsd.org.

The Winfield Fine Arts Departments are gearing up for their annual Cafe Concert. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, March 19th at 7:00 PM in the big gym. The theme for this year’s concert is “Decades”, and will feature music from different decades of the 20th century. There should be some familiar tunes for everyone! There will be performances by 6th thru 12th grade Choir members, 7th thru 12th grade band members, jazz band, speech team members, and works on display by WMU art students. Additionally, there will be a bake sale and art sale in the lobby. Tickets for this fun event are $10 for table seating with dessert for adults, $7 for table seating for students, and $5 for bleacher seating for all ages.  If you have questions or would like to purchase tickets, please contact Mrs. Pogmore at 257-7700 extension 128 or Mrs. Eichelberger at 257-7700 extension 127. We hope to see you there!

$10,000 Grant Will Help the Library Recover from the Coronavirus Pandemic

Mount Pleasant, IA – February 28, 2022 — J. Raymond Chadwick Library at Iowa Wesleyan University has been selected as one of 200 libraries nationwide for the American Library Association’s American Rescue Plan: Humanities Grants for Libraries opportunity, an emergency relief program to assist libraries that have been adversely affected by the pandemic.

With funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Chadwick Library will use funds to anchor itself in the community as a strong humanities institution. The competitive award comes with a $10,000 grant to help the library deliver excellent programs and services related to culture, history, literature, and other humanities subjects.

More than 370 libraries applied for the grant, according to ALA. View the complete list of selected libraries.

The participating libraries, selected through a competitive, peer-reviewed application process, include public libraries, academic/college libraries, K-12 libraries, and tribal, special, and prison libraries. The recipients represent 45 states and Puerto Rico and serve communities ranging in size from 642 residents in Weir, Kansas, to Los Angeles, California. Libraries were chosen with an emphasis on reaching historically underserved and/or rural communities.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Iowa Wesleyan,” said Library Director Paula Wiley. “This grant will allow Chadwick Library to provide students with the digital resources they need to use now so that they can hone skills which will be vital in their future careers.”

Chadwick Library will use the grant funds to create a digital Humanities Lab, which will have cameras, sound equipment, computers, and software to help create digital blogs, vlogs, videos, podcasts, and other forms of media. This Humanities Lab will support students in the updated Humanities major and minor, the recently launched Honors Program, Digital Media Design, and many other programs across the IW campus.

“Libraries have faced significant hardships throughout the pandemic —from budget cuts to staff furloughs to building closures — especially in our communities of the greatest need,” said ALA President Patty Wong. “This crucial support from NEH will enable our beloved institutions and the dedicated people who run them to rebuild and emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever.”

American Rescue Plan: Humanities Grants for Libraries is an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Iowa Wesleyan University: As Southeast Iowa’s regional comprehensive University, Iowa Wesleyan University is a transformational learning community whose passion is to educate, empower and inspire students to lead meaningful lives and careers.

AGENDA

March 1, 2022

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

9:00 Jake Hotchkiss, Engineer Weekly Update

Motion setting dates for dust control program

Resolution approving bids for HMA projects FM(89 & 90)

on Hwy 78 north to Washington County line

and W55 Trenton north to Hwy 78

Resolution approving bids for twin box culvert project FM(91)

on 220^th Street east of Mt. Pleasant

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

At 3:46 PM Saturday February 26, 2022 the Burlington Fire Department responded to a reported
house fire at 2601 Sunrise Lane in Burlington. Firefighters arrived 4 minutes later to find smoke
and flames in the back of the single-family home. The fire started outside near a screen porch
and traveled into the attic of the home. Six people were in the home at the time of the fire and all
escaped without injury.
The house is owned and occupied by Ryan Oleson and is insured. The home sustained
significant fire, smoke and water damage and damage estimates are still being assessed. The
Red Cross is assisting with victim assistance.
The fire is considered accidental and caused by a hot ember or ash from discarded smoking
material.
Fourteen Burlington firefighters responded to the call and were assisted by nine West Burlington
firefighters responding on automatic aid. Burlington Police and Alliant Energy also assisted.
Firefighters cleared the scene at 6:25 PM. There were no injuries