BELLE PLAINE – Luke William “Squeak” Heitmann, 34, died Friday, April 10, 2015, at his mother’s residence in Amana following a sudden illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone with Don Drahos officiating. Interment will be held at the Keystone Cemetery. Visitation will be […]
↧
OBITUARY: Luke William “Squeak” Heitmann
↧
Benton supervisors to meet April 14 in Vinton
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING April 14, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. Benton County Board of Supervisors Room 9:00 A.M. Call to Order Approve minutes Terminate Steven Fischer employment per county policy when employee hasn’t worked for a year Sign GASB 45 Engagement Letter with Nyhart Sign/Approve FY14 Cost Allocation Plan Receive Treasurer’s investment report 9:05 a.m. […]
↧
↧
‘Be the Match’ event gives hope to former Grinnell graduate
Sam Coster of St. Louis has Stage IV Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and is in need of a stem cell transplant J.O. PARKER joparker@registermedia.com Family, friends, neighbors and former classmates at Grinnell High School are working the frontlines in the fight against cancer that is raging a battle in Sam Coster’s body. Coster, 25, a 2008 graduate […]
↧
Action tabled on final payment for Hanson Building project
Garling Construction stresses long relationship with Belle Plaine By JIM MAGDEFRAU Star Press Union editor BELLE PLAINE – The work is done. The final payment will come later, as Belle Plaine’s City Council ponders damages for the delay in completion of the Hanson Building project. The Main Street building was rehabilitated to prevent damage to […]
↧
Collaboration and communication
Benton teacher leadership team looks at first year of new program By JIM MAGDEFRAU Star Press Union editor VAN HORNE – It was a program designed to help teachers to help each other. Now schools throughout the state are looking to Benton Community on how to run the Teacher Leadership Compensation program, in which teachers […]
↧
↧
Benton approved budget at 0 percent aid
Staff action also taken by BC board at April 8 meeting By Jim Magdefrau Star Press Union editor VAN HORNE – There were no objections at the public hearing, and the Benton Community Board of Directors went on to approve the proposed budget for the next school year, based on 0 percent growth in supplemental […]
↧
School budget is approved with staff cuts
Belle Plaine board cites enrollment and state aid as reasons for cuts By JIM MAGDEFRAU Star Press Union editor “You are losing money and you need to correct that.” That was the message read by Superintendent Chad Straight from the worksheet for unspent budget authority, as the Belle Plaine Board of Education approved the budget […]
↧
“You guys are doing it right” – Branstad, Reynolds praise Benton TLC program
Governor and Lt. Governor visited Atkins Center as part of teacher leadership listening tour By JIM MAGDEFRAU Star Press Union editor ATKINS – The Teacher Leadership and Compensation System is in its first year in Iowa. It is the centerpiece of education reform approved in 2013. Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds stopped at […]
↧
Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway to host Benton County public meeting
Introducing a new initiative, the creation of a Corridor Management Plan The Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway, Iowa’s longest scenic or historic byway, is hosting a public meeting on Tuesday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Belle Plaine Area Museum, 901 Main Street in Belle Plaine. At this meeting, the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway will […]
↧
↧
Agenda set for Belle Plaine City Council on April 20
Belle Plaine City Council Meeting City Hall – Council Chambers Monday April 20, 2015 @ 6:00 pm Tentative Schedule Call to order Roll Call Pledge of Allegiance Approval of Consent Agenda- Council Minutes of April 6, 2015 & Bills received. Resident Comments Public hearing for Judith Nicely Kesl concerning nuisance problems at 612 6th Avenue, she […]
↧
Benton Supervisors to meet April 21 in Vinton
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING April 21 2015 at 9:00 a.m. Benton County Board of Supervisors Room 9:00 A.M. Call to Order 9:00 a.m. – Jennifer Zahradnik & John Watson re: Agreement for Leachate Hauling Approve minutes Approve claims Set date for public hearing for Construction Permit Application for a confinement feeding operation submitted by Jeff […]
↧
BP COUNCIL: Split vote on final payment
City hopes for compromise on Hanson Building project By JIM MAGDEFRAU Star Press Union editor BELLE PLAINE – On a split vote, the Belle Plaine City Council decided to have Mayor Dave Fish work out a compromise with Garling Construction regarding their contract on rehabilitation of Main Street’s Hanson Building. The final payment of $14,376.90 was […]
↧
Supervisors approve landfill agreement and hog confinement proposal
Two buildings for hogs would be built in Homer Township By JIM MAGDEFRAU Star Press Union editor VINTON – Hog operations and landfill agreements were the main items of business for the Benton County Board of Supervisors’ meeting, Tuesday, April 21, in Vinton. The landfill issue dealt with continuing an agreement between the county and landfill […]
↧
↧
Special BC Board meeting is planned Monday, April 27
BENTON COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL BOARD MEETING Monday, April 27, 2015, 7:30 P.M. Central Administration Office, 304 1st Street, Van Horne, IA 52346 TENTATIVE AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER 7:30 PM 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 7:32 PM DECISION 3. BUSINESS SERVICES – WARRANTS 7:33 PM DECISION 4. PERSONNEL 7:40 PM DECISION A. RESIGNATIONS B. RECOMMENDATIONS/TRANSFER APPROVAL C. […]
↧
Belle Plaine slated to receive grant from IEDA
The City of Belle Plaine received word on Monday, April 21, that it has been awarded a community development block grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). The grant amount is not to exceed $600,000. The city plans to attend a recipient workshop on May 21 in Ankeny. The grant money is contingent on […]
↧
Benton approves resignations, transfers and reductions in force
Staff action taken at special meeting in Van Horne By JIM MAGDEFRAU Star Press Union editor VAN HORNE – The Benton Community Board of Directors took late-year staff action at a special meeting on Monday, April 27, in Van Horne. The following resignations were approved. Levi Montague, fifth grade teacher, Norway. Dana Gallagher, education associate, Norway. […]
↧
OBITUARY: Harold John Duncalf
NEWHALL: Harold John Duncalf, 79, died Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 2, 2015 at St. Paul Catholic Church in Newhall with Father Craig Stiemel officiating. Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery near Van […]
↧
↧
FROM THE DESK OF THE MAYOR
By Dave Fish Belle Plaine Mayor Dear Citizens of Belle Plaine: Planning The Community Meeting on March 30 was well attended and was very successful as ECICOG directs the city in completing our new comprehensive plan. The zoning group, that is in charge of this plan and presenting the draft to the city council, will […]
↧
Planning committee looks at challenges and positives
Belle Plaine works to update its comprehensive plan By JIM MAGDEFRAU Star Press Union editor BELLE PLAINE – At their first meeting, Belle Plaine citizens gave their input on where the town is heading, its positive qualities and challenges. A second planning meeting was held Monday, April 27, at the city hall, led by Chad Sands […]
↧
Agenda posted for May 4 BP Council meeting
Belle Plaine City Council Meeting City Hall – Council Chambers Monday May 4, 2015 @ 6:00 pm Tentative Schedule Call to order Roll Call Pledge of Allegiance Approval of Consent Agenda- Council Minutes of April 20, 2015 & Bills received. Resident Comments Discuss & approve reading #1 of City Ordinance #15-2: an ordinance amendment that […]
↧