Volume 40 - Number 40 E-mail: starandtjeditor@butler-bremer.com Telephone: 319-267-2731 Website: www.butlercountytribune.com
Thursday, October 3, 2013
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P.O. Box 8 Allison, IA 50602 319-267-2731
Thorne wins Week 4 Football Contest Two entries had perfect games on this week’s football contest - David Thorne and Ryan Mittelstadt, both of Allison. Determined by the tie-breaker, David was declared the Week 4 winner with Ryan 2nd. Thorne will receive the $35 in football bucks and Ryan $15 in football bucks which can be spent like cash at any of the locations listed on the football contest pages. There were several entries missing only 2 or 3 games this week. Three games were eliminated from the contest due to an error on our online subscriptions. Check inside for this week’s featured games and submit your picks for a chance to win!
North Butler Booster Club to meet The North Butler Bearcat Booster Club will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, October 9, at 5:30 p.m. at the North Butler High School. All members are encouraged to attend.
Clarksville After Prom Color Run/Walk
The Clarksville After Prom committee and CHS juniors are sponsoring a Color Run/Walk on Saturday, October 19, beginning at 9:00 a.m. It will be a 5K run/walk in which you will be doused with colored powder at several stations throughout the run, and will be held in Heery Woods State Park, Clarksville. The run will begin at the 2nd shelter house. Entry forms are available on the Clarksville school website www. clarksville.k12.ia.us, with an entry fee of $20 (includes t-shirt if you pre-register by October 9). For more information, contact Julie Becker at 319-278-4695. Registration forms may be mailed to Julie at 411 E. Poisal Street, Clarksville, IA 50619.
Clarksville AMVETS Fish Fry Saturday Donations accepted for Washington DC trip
The Clarksville AMVETS will be holding their annual fish fry on Saturday, October 5, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the Community Center, Main Street, Clarksville. The all you can eat fish is served with baked potato, baked beans, coleslaw and drinks. Adults are $8.00, children $4.00 and kids under 5 eat free. At the Fish Fry the Amvets will have a place to make donations for the Clarksville students going to Washington D.C. next summer. That educational trip of visiting historical and cultural landmarks is one these students will long remember. The Clarksville Amvets will match dollar for dollar the total donations put in the container up to $500.00. Lets support Mr. Arians, our history//government teacher and his students.
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Sewer rates to increase 45% for lagoon By Pat Racette An ordinance increasing sewer rates by 45 percent of water usage fee was adopted at the last City Council meeting (Sept. 16). Currently, the sewer rates were boosted from 55 to 100 percent; along with implementing a 1 percent increase in water, sewer and storm sewer each year thereafter. It marks the first time since 1984 that the water usage fee has changed, and is mainly due to the Environmental Protection Agency’s new federal rules and regulations that has filtered down to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “We’re not going to comply [with the new rules], so to try and get grant money [for it], we are raising the sewer rates,” said Councilperson Tim Junker. The City is working with INRCOG’s Brian Schoon in efforts to receive a Community Development Block Grant for the lagoon project, which could save the community as much as $500,000. To conform with new water standards, the City will have to pay upwards of $1,000,000. “We may have to create an additional lagoon, we just don’t know how it’s going to shake out,” Junker said. “We’re not sure yet how we’re going to meet new standards, but to get help, we have to start doing this to get the INRCOG grant.” The first step in getting the grant was to find out if they even qualified for it. Last winter the City had to send out surveys to every household in town to find out whether they had 51 percent or more in the low and moderate-income range. This summer, they found out they qualified for the grant, with 67 percent of those registering under the national income range. Moving forward in attempts to get the grant, the City recently chose Ryken Engineering as the firm to manage the project, with 35 firms notified. According to Junker, cost wasn’t a factor in the decision, as costs will be the same if the grant is awarded. • The City approved applying for a CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Grant presented by INRCOG’s Jim Rodemeyer. The purpose of the grant is to insure housing is maintained to a minimal standard. It would help
Homecoming royalty for 2013
up to six or eight homes, with the City matching funds anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000 per dwelling. Junker estimated around 12 houses that could possibly qualify, as they wait to hear about guidelines on what the grant encompasses. “It just depends on how much interest we get,” he said.
“We’re not sure yet how we’re going to meet new standards, but to get help, we have to start doing this to get the INRCOG grant.” • Trick or Treat date was set for Thursday, Oct. 31, from 5 to 7 p.m. • A $250 payment was approved to the Youth Sports Foundation as a donation to the North Butler fifth and sixth grade football league. • Zach Winkowitsch was approved to receive $15,000 in TIF funds by the Council, pending the County Assessor’s evaluation that the building will increase the tax base enough to cover the funds for the duration of the TIF district. • Ron Davis addressed the Council on sidewalk issues. After long discussion, the item was tabled, with the Council needing to do more investigation. • A 1.7 percent increase in Jendro Sanitation garbage rates was approved, already going into effect on Sept. 1. • The City decided to get legal description on the property they own south of the middle school and adjacent to the football field in order to figure out the cost. “The Park Board had got a ton of trees to replace others [at Wilder],” Junker said. “These trees then grew up, and the park plants took off, with the replacements not needed. Now we have more trees, and it has become a mess.” • The City gave Jim Barber’s Shop and Lil’ Ricky’s Steakhouse courtesy notices of having issues with their sidewalks. • Next Council meeting was set for Monday, Oct. 7, at 5:15 p.m. in City Hall.
The North Butler 2013 homecoming court includes, front row: Reid Lammers, Alicia Speckman, Chloe Jensen, Noah Heathcott, Madison Kreimeyer, Helena Holanova and Jerod Ballhagen. Back row: Colton Card, Emily Dolan, Trent Merfeld, Lisa Feldman, Cody Nelson, Dusti Nicol, Dillon Rademaker, Kenzie Siemens, Clay Schurtz and Marisa Speedy. (Pat Racette Photo) see more photos on page 8
Ammunition plant ready to open Steel Ridge Ammunition plans to have three shifts running by sixth week By Pat Racette Steel Ridge Ammunition, the latest addition to the Industrial Park in Allison, is slated to open its doors Monday, Oct. 14. The 6,000 square-foot facility, about one-fifth the size of a football field, began construction in June,
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Nightmare on Elm Street
In appreciation to the many campers who camped at Wilder Park this season, the Allison Park Board is sponsoring free camping at Wilder Park on Friday and Saturday, October 4 and 5. Existing reservations will be honored. No further reservations will be taken. Remaining camp sites will be on a “first come--first serve” bases. The Park Board and Wilder Days Committee are sponsoring a Harvest Moon Festival on Saturday, October 5 which will include a Lions Omelet Breakfast from 7:00-10:00 a.m. and games for children from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Harvest Moon Festival set for Saturday
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but not enough supply. “The problem is you can’t buy in big enough quantities to get on the front of the list, unlike Scheels, Cabela’s, Dick’s [and the big chain entities],” he said.
Steel Ridge Ammunition, the latest business to join Allison’s Industrial Park, is slated to open Monday, Oct. 14. (Pat Racette Photo)
Free Camping At Wilder Park October 4 & 5
Harvest Moon Festival will be held at Wilder Park on Saturday, October 5, sponsored by Allison Park Board and Wilder Days Committee. Festivities will begin at 7 am with a Fall Market and a Lions Omelet Breakfast. At 10 am, the Park Board will have a ribbon cutting ceremony for ‘Lesters Loop’ and the children’s activities will run from 10 am to 12 p.m. The first 100 children, ages 10 and under will receive a pumpkin. In case of rain the children’s activities will be held in the west shelter by the mini golf course.
before adding the cement padded flooring last week. Electricians and plumbers are working this week to finish the interior, while equipment is to be installed next week. Troy Collins of Waverly, the overseer of the project, envisioned the ammunition-manufacturing plant about five years ago. The idea stemmed when market conditions showed a huge demand for ammo,
(Above) Besides just tombstones and flowers, the Elm Street Cemetery has a collection of gargoyles, including gargoyles with masks on, and a Frankenstein. (Right) With most people decorating houses for Christmas, Rick and Janice Wehrhan focus more outdoor and indoor adornment for the holiday of Halloween. Located on the 200th block of Elm Street, they’ve created an Elm Street Cemetery, along with other scenes. (Pat Racette Photos) more pictures on page 7