Sour Grapes, Dec. 18, 2013
Sometimes too much information is a bad thing. Yes, during the week our temperature here was colder than most of Alaska. It was colder than the North Pole. That had to give Santa a good chuckle. So I...
View ArticleCrystal Ball, Dec. 18, 2013
Pick your battles Apparently, I need to spend more time looking at the back of my head. There are things going on back there that I was not aware of. This was pointed out to me by my ever-patient...
View ArticleBP Board to meet Friday afternoon
BELLE PLAINE BOARD OF EDUCATION – SPECIAL MEETING Belle Plaine Community School District Meeting date/time/location: Friday, December 20, 2013 at 5:00 p.m., Longfellow Elementary School, 707-7th...
View ArticleBenton Community football faces tough road ahead with Xavier, Wahlert,...
By BRIAN RATHJEN In Kal Goodchild’s eyes, the thought of Cedar Rapids Xavier dropping down to Iowa Class 3A in football, after years of success as a Class 4A powerhouse is “almost laughable.” “In the...
View ArticleSpecial education program helps 124 students at Benton Community
Program is explained at BC board meeting in Keystone By JIM MAGDEFRAU Star Press Union editor KEYSTONE – An overview of Benton Community’s special education program was given at the Wednesday, Dec. 18,...
View ArticleIntern agreement approved for Beck
Grinnell student and Belle Plaine employee will job shadow with clerk’s office and city administrator By JIM MAGDEFRAU Star Press Union editor BELLE PLAINE – Stephen Beck will be interning and...
View ArticleArlene Silhanek
BELLE PLAINE – Arlene L. Silhanek, 92, Belle Plaine, Iowa died on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013, at the Belle Plaine Nursing and Rehab Center. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, at the...
View ArticleCity Council Roundup: Atkins, Dec. 16, 2013
Atkins City Council December 16, 2013 Atkins, Iowa Council met in regular session. Members present were: Diane Herman, Connie Drahos, Tim Harbach and Kevin Korsmo. Absent: Mike Albert. Mayor...
View ArticleBelle Plaine to choose superintendent Monday
After one week of meetings with superintendent candidates, the Belle Plaine Board of Education has narrowed the field down to two candidates. In an email from Marie Stratford, board president, she...
View ArticleBobcats wrestle at Waukee Duals
Waukee Duals Saturday, December 21 Benton 39, Ballard 34 145 Jeremy Cassill, BECO, pinned Kenton Brekke, BALL, 4:55 152 Mark Goldberg, BALL, dec. Wyatt Streets, BECO, 6-0 160 Sam Maresh, BECO, pinned...
View ArticleBelle Plaine competes at North Linn; Schwenn is second
North Linn Lynx Varsity Invitational Troy Mills, IA Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013 Team standings Wilton 214.5 North Fayette Valley 192.5 Williamsburg 178.0 Center Point-Urbana 153.0 Beckman 141.0 Mid-Prairie...
View ArticleBlowing snow continues to make travel difficult across most of Iowa
AMES, Iowa – Dec. 22, 2013 – Snowfall has ended through most of the state, however wind gusts of up to 30 mph into the evening will continue to make travel difficult through Monday morning. The Iowa...
View ArticleBelle Plaine woman uncovers 10 words, wins $50,000 lottery prize
Kandace Fee claims top prize in ‘Holiday Super Crossword’ scratch game DES MOINES, Iowa – A Belle Plaine woman said she scratched off the letters on her “Holiday Super Crossword” scratch ticket and...
View ArticleNew superintendent offered contract at BP
Belle Plaine’s Board of Education Monday, Dec. 23, voted to offer a contract Chad Straight as the school’s new superintendent. Straight was one of four candidates interviewed for the position last...
View ArticleOBITUARY: Michael Dean Duncalf
Funeral services for Michael Dean Duncalf, 51, of Belle Plaine, were Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, at Hrabak Funeral Home, Belle Plaine, with Deacon Joe Behounek officiating. Mike died Monday, Dec. 9, 2013,...
View ArticleLegion Auxiliary met in Blairstown; plans made for January fish fry
The Blairstown Legion Auxiliary met recently. The meeting started discussing some of the accounts in the treasury. They will have the finance committee meet in January. It was decided that the January...
View ArticleCrystal Ball, Dec. 25, 2013
You can’t have just one cat When I adopted three kittens over the summer, I did so because we didn’t have any cats on the place. Now we have six. I realize I am abysmally bad at math but three and six...
View ArticleSour Grapes, Dec. 25, 2013
We are getting to the end of the season for Christmas music. The most memorable quote I heard at the Atkins Elementary Program. Fourth graders are the oldest class there, which puts them in charge of...
View ArticleBenton County Letters, Dec. 25, 2013
Faith Catholic schools have been consistently victorious and records have been broken this year in Iowa’s football season. Hard work and dedication and expectations of success are a part of the spirit...
View ArticleChad Straight is chosen for new Belle Plaine Superintendent
By JIM MAGDEFRAU Star Press Union editor Belle Plaine’s Board of Education on Monday, Dec. 23, voted to offer a contract to Chad Straight as the school’s new superintendent. Straight was one of four...
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