Belle Plaine students compete at district individual contest
Eleven students competed in 18 events at District Individual Speech Contest on Saturday, March 1. The contest was held at Meskwaki Settlement School. Eight of the contestants will be moving to state...
View ArticleSour Grapes, March 12, 2014
It’s with mixed feelings that I click my final winter sports picture of the season. It means basketball and wrestling seasons are done. It also means the next sports picture I take will be outside. I’m...
View ArticleCrystal Ball, March 12, 2014
Once upon a polar vortex . . . The weather is going to warm up and spring will get here eventually. At least that’s the way it has worked for the last 48 years and, in spite of a lot of indications to...
View ArticleBenton County Letters, March 12, 2014
Earned vs. unearned Is it possible that a frequent contributor to this editorial page actually believes that Social Security and Medicare are government assistance programs? Social Security is withheld...
View ArticleSupervisors and grand jury discuss safety concerns
Grand jury makes annual inspection of county facilities on March 11 By JIM MAGDEFRAU Star Press editor VINTON – The Benton County Grand Jury’s annual tour of county facilities brought them to a visit...
View ArticleAudit released on Benton County
Eide Bailly LLP last week released an audit report on Benton County. Eide Bailly LLP reported that the county had local tax revenue of $35,440,563 for the year ended June 30, 2013, which included...
View ArticleEfforts continue to reduce underage drinking in Benton County
Over the past decade many important prevention steps have been taken to reduce alcohol use among Benton County youth and these steps have produced some impressive results. Comparing numbers from the...
View ArticleBelle Plaine track boys open season at Wartburg Indoor
Wartburg College Indoor High School Meet Tuesday, March 11, 2014 Belle Plaine boys’ place-winners 55 finals – 2. Vance Bohlen 6.76; 4. Trenton Young 6.76 200 – 4. Vance Bohlen 24.40; 6. Trenton Young...
View ArticleVan Horne Community Newsletter – March/April 2014
Van Horne Community Newsletter March/April 2014 Per state law we have our fiscal year 2015 budget completed, published, and submitted and, as usual, we don’t have enough extra funds to do all the...
View ArticleNext planning meeting for Chelsea 150th celebration is March 24
The next Chelsea 150th Celebration Planning Meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 24, at 7 p.m. at the Chelsea Fire Station. Attendance at these meetings has declined a bit and we are getting closer...
View ArticleBelle Plaine Library News, March 19, 2014
HOURS Monday through Thursday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. to noon Find our website, at www.belleplaine.lib.ia.us. If you’d like a password to renew materials from...
View ArticleBOBCAT: Prom season arrives in full at Benton
By DERICK HARMAN Spring is back and it is that time of year again. In a little under a month, it will be time for prom. It is the 22nd annual Grand March, Prom Dance, and Post Prom on Saturday, April...
View ArticleAndrews purchase Blairstown Quick Stop
Couple wanted to be part of Main Street in Blairstown By JIM MAGDEFRAU Star Press Union editor They wanted to be a part of a good main street. Damian and Jessica Andrew, purchased the Blairstown Quick...
View ArticleCrystal Ball, March 19, 2014
Spring? Really? Maybe? In spring, a gardener’s fancy turns to baby plants. (My apologies to Alfred Tennyson and his young man whose springtime fancy turned to love.) It’s bad enough after a normal...
View ArticleSour Grapes, March 19, 2014
It tastes like chicken. That’s the term I hear when handed something I’ve never heard of and am expected to try. My answer is usually a question … Did you run over this with your truck? Or, if it is...
View ArticleBenton County Letters, March 19, 2014
ALEC I have met, had conversations with, sent emails, and are on the email list of both my members of state government, Rep Dawn Pettengill and Senator Tim Kapucian. They both seem to want to do what...
View ArticleBELLE PLAINE COUNCIL: Local Option Sales and Services Tax and the library
BELLE PLAINE – Kristi Sorensen, library director, asked about the city’s rule of requiring a $50,000 balance in its Local Option Sales and Services (LOSST) fund. She spoke at the committee of the whole...
View ArticleBELLE PLAINE COUNCIL: Water matters come before the Belle Plaine City Council
Council hears about rural water; and lack of water for three residences By JIM MAGDEFRAU Star Press Union editor BELLE PLAINE – Water. The City of Belle of Plaine is still in a conservation mode due to...
View ArticleOBITUARY: Gregory Paul Behounek
Funeral services for Gregory Paul Behounek, 65, Blairstown, will be held Thursday, March 20, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at Hrabak Funeral Home, Belle Plaine, with Deacon Joe Behounek officiating. Burial is at...
View ArticleRob Arnold hired as AD and assistant principal at Benton
The Benton Community Board of Education has approved Robert Arnold for the position as Activities Director/Assistant Principal at the MS/HS for the 2014-2015 school year. Rob attended the University of...
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