Local gardening enthusiasts are invited to a Seed Swap and DIY Greenhouse event on Saturday, March 8th, from 1 to 3 PM at the park.

Hosted by Henry County Conservation, the event offers a chance to exchange seeds, share gardening tips, and build a miniature greenhouse using a milk jug.

Both experienced and beginner gardeners are welcome. Preregistration is appreciated but not required.

Don’t miss this opportunity to prepare for spring planting and connect with fellow gardeners.

Visit Henry county conservation’s Facebook page for more information.

ImOn Communications, a leading provider of high-speed Internet services across Iowa and beyond, is excited to announce the expansion of its 100-percent-fiber-optic network to five communities in southeast Iowa: Burlington, West Burlington, Keokuk, Fort Madison, and Mount Pleasant. Construction will begin this spring in Burlington and West Burlington. The three other communities will follow.

“We are thrilled to be adding Burlington, West Burlington, Keokuk, Fort Madison, and Mount Pleasant to our fiber family in 2025,” said ImOn President and CEO, Patrice Carroll. “This expansion will provide Iowa home and business owners with access to the fastest, most reliable type of Internet technology available today to help them thrive in this digital age. And it’s all backed by a local team that’s committed to high-quality customer service and to the community. It’s Internet by Iowans, for Iowans.”

ImOn has already begun preliminary work on network design in these cities, collaborating with city officials during the early planning phases. The ImOn team will continue to communicate with the appropriate city officials, as well as the broader community, to keep them informed of all construction plans.
Once construction is complete and service is live in each community, homes will have access to Internet speeds up to 1 Gigabit per second, and businesses will have access to Internet speeds up to 10 Gigabits per second. Both residential and business services will be powered by ImOn’s extremely reliable network.

Founded in Cedar Rapids in 2007, ImOn’s service area has grown rapidly over the last decade to include the Cedar Rapids metro, Iowa City metro, Dubuque metro, Sioux City metro, Marshalltown, and Clinton and Camanche. Burlington and West Burlington will mark ImOn’s seventh metro area with fiber Internet service.
For more information about ImOn Communications and its services, please visit www.imon.net.

About ImOn Communications:

Headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, ImOn Communications is a leading broadband provider delivering ultra-high-speed, reliable Internet, TV, and phone services to residential and business customers. ImOn’s growth over the past decade is thanks to its commitment in offering the latest in high-speed broadband technology and delivering the highest level of customer service while making an impact in the communities it serves one connection at a time. For more information regarding ImOn Communications, visit www.ImOn.net.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is set to offer continuing instruction courses for commercial pesticide applicators this spring. The courses will be held at the Henry County Extension Office and are designed to provide essential training for professionals in agricultural pest control, seed treatment, ornamental and turf pest control, and certified handling.

The training schedule is as follows:

• February 12th – Ag Pest Control (1A, 1B, & 1C) – 9:00 AM | $45
• February 19th – Ag Pest Control & Seed Treatment (1A, 1B, 1C & 4) – 9:00 AM | $45
• March 5th – Ornamental and Turf Pest Control (3O, 3T, & 3OT) – 9:00 AM | $45
• March 12th – Certified Handlers (Category H) – 9:00 AM | $45

Pre-registration is required, and interested participants can register by calling 319-385-8126. More details on the courses can be found at extension.iastate.edu/psep.

These courses provide valuable instruction for commercial pesticide applicators, ensuring they remain up to date with industry regulations and best practices.

Registration is now open for the 2025 Big Hollow Boat Battle, set for Saturday, June 8, 2025, at Big Hollow Beach in Sperry, IA. This fun-filled event challenges teams to build and race cardboard boats while raising funds to support community programs.

With a $25,000 fundraising goal, teams will compete for top honors, including the Captain’s Award for most dollars raised and the People’s Choice Award for most individual donors. Will your boat sail to victory or sink in style?

Registration closes on June 1st.

Sign up HERE and join the battle

In last night’s school board meeting, members approved key projects, including a contract with Winger Companies for a $312,275 facility upgrade to the Howe HVAC systems, set to begin March 3rd. The 2025-26 school calendar was also finalized, with classes starting August 25th.

The board gave the green light to move forward with a three-year iPad lease for students in grades K-12, aiming to enhance classroom technology. Meanwhile, the FY26 budget discussion confirmed a slight tax rate reduction, with public hearings set for March and April.

Finally, an update on district technology from Brandon Ridinger, on improvements, completed the meeting.

Facility Upgrade Contract Approved

The board reviewed and approved a contract with Winger Companies for the replacement of the Howe rooftop units. Following a competitive bid process, six contractors submitted proposals, with Winger Companies offering the lowest bid at $312,275, significantly below the engineer’s estimate. Winger has successfully completed past projects, including the high school chiller addition. The board approved the contract and a notice to proceed, with work set to begin March 3, 2025, and substantial completion expected by June 23, 2025.

2025-26 School Calendar Finalized

The board finalized the 2025-26 academic calendar, incorporating minor adjustments based on recommendations from the calendar committee. The school year will start on Monday, August 25, 2025, with professional development scheduled for the preceding days. The calendar ensures compliance with the state-mandated 1,098 instructional hours, providing 18 additional hours of flexibility. The last scheduled day for students will be May 29, 2026.

Approval to Move Forward with Apple iPad Lease

The board discussed plans for a three-year lease for student iPads, covering grades K-12. While the lease itself is not yet finalized, the board approved moving forward with the initiative. The discussion highlighted the iPads’ role in enhancing Canvas-based learning, assessment security, and classroom technology integration. Board members also considered the needs of special education students and staff training on the new devices.

Correction to January Board Minutes

A minor correction was made to the January 13th school board meeting minutes regarding a previously approved modified allowable growth request. The original amount was misstated, and the correction ensures accurate records for submission.

Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Discussion

The board reviewed the proposed FY26 budget, which includes a projected total levy rate of $11.97 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, a slight reduction from the current $12.23 rate. Notably, no cash reserve levy was required, reflecting a stable financial position. Key funding allocations include:

• Instructional support levy: Just over $1 million, with a mix of property tax and income surtax.
• Management levy: $1 million, covering property, casualty, workers’ compensation, and early retirement costs.
• Physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL): $1.34 per $1,000, generating approximately $924,000 for facility maintenance and upgrades.

Public hearings on the budget are scheduled for March 24 and April.

Technology Program Updates

The board received an update on the district’s technology program from Brandon Ridinger, covering infrastructure, device management, and software integration. Board members attending remotely received presentation materials via Google Meet.