Eichelberger Farms has announced plans to construct an Agricultural Science Center for the WACO Ag program and FFA Chapter. The new facility will feature two classrooms, two locker rooms, a kitchen, specialized rooms for rabbits, poultry, and swine, pens for other large animals, as well as a greenhouse. There will also be a conference room to facilitate meetings with community partners who provide valuable real-world experience to the students. This would include guest speakers, land lab partners, and volunteers to train FFA contest teams.

The goal and vision of the facility is to create realistic workprelated opportunities for students that are not present in a typical school setting. The new ag center will allow the program to continue its education of agriculturally related topics with industry standard lab spaces and experiences.

Plans are to start construction in the fall of 2024 or spring of 2025, and the building will be located on the current High School campus in Wayland.

On May 21, 2024 at approximately 1:46 p.m. Burlington Police Officers responded to assist the Burlington Fire Department with a reported forklift accident at Industrial Service Corporation, 1731 N Roosevelt Ave. Upon arrival, the victim was located and initially transported to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center via ambulance. The victim was later transported to the University of Iowa Hospital. The victim, Sam K. DeJanes, age 64, later succumbed to his injuries. The facts and circumstances surrounding this incident remain under investigation by the Burlington Police Department.

Keokuk High School and Fort Madison welding students created artwork that was then installed in the landscape of Heron Bend Conservation through a partnership between Lee County Leadership (LCL) and Lee County Conservation.

“We were so excited that Katie Geltz (KHS instructor) and Ryan Peters (FMHS instructor) were willing to work with us and guide their students on this fun project,” Caroline Sestito, Administrative and Outreach Coordinator for Lee County Conservation, said. “We were blown away by what their students created. They should take pride in their remarkable work.”

The four sculptures were inspired by Iowa’s native fauna and flora and depicted an eagle, deer, beehive and mosquitoes. The conservation department said the sculptures enhanced visitor experience through fostering a deeper connection with nature.

Feinbergs Metal Recycling donated recycled metals to the LCL to enable students to create the pieces.

The conservation department added that this collaborative effort underscores the community’s commitment to environmental stewardship and celebrates the creative talents of local youth while inviting patrons to explore the beauty and tranquility of Heron Bend Conservation Area.

The Burlington Fire Department is benefiting from grant funding awarded from Alliant Energy. Through Alliant’s Community Safety and Engagement grant focus area, their department will purchase much-needed critical equipment used at nearly every emergency scene.

It is through opportunities such as these that our department can continue providing excellent emergency services with new or updated equipment.

This particular funding was used to purchase multiple batteries that power their portable light towers, positive-pressure ventilation fans, multiple power tools, hydrant pumps, and chainsaws.