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ALL-STATE:
• VFW Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament
The VFW Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament is planned Saturday at Osceola Eagles Lodge. Sign in is at noon. Start of play is at 1:30 p.m.
CD’s Linhart, I-35’s Griglione earn all-state honors page 7 www.osceolaiowa.com
154 YEARS • NO. 10
OSCEOLA, IOWA 50213
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015
SINGLE COPY PRICE: 75¢
Old to new CROSS Ministries finds success with repurposing furniture OST photos by AMY HANSEN
Left, an old table and hutch is being made unique and new again through CROSS Ministries repurposing project. Below, this is an up-close view of 1940s newspapers that have been covered on a repurposed table at CROSS Ministries. Bottom, pictured is an old suitcase that has been updated and decorated with an old army photo through CROSS Ministries repurposing project.
OST photo by AMY HANSEN
Clarke Superintendent Steve Seid, center, hosts a student lunch with high school students in Clarke’s high school green room Feb. 27.
Seid sits down with students to discuss concerns of school district By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor • ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
If you want to know firsthand what’s going on in the Clarke Community School District, the best way is to get in the trenches and find out. Clarke Superintendent Steve Seid is using this approach and scheduling student lunches every month to find out the positives and negatives students have with their school district. At the end of February, Seid sat down with high school students Sydnee Redman, Vanessa Bakley, Gabe Crawford, Timber Kent, Morgan Kline and Brian Rosales. During previous lunches, Seid has hosted middle and elementary school students. Teachers First, Seid asked the students what staff member has had the most positive impact on them and for
By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor • ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
When it comes to the newly-repurposed items at CROSS Ministries, it’s like finding a diamond in the rough. Repurpose means to change something so that it can be used for a different purpose. CROSS Ministries is using this tool to take old furniture and other materials and make them unique and new again. “Some people think that, you know, when they bring something out, that it’s garbage or whatever,” said Cherrie Burk with CROSS Ministries. “This just shows what we can do with people’s donations. We wouldn’t be here without people’s donations. That’s what it’s all about. That’s what this place is. That’s what we live on.” What to look for One example is an old hutch and table that has been fixed up and covered with newspapers dating back to the 1940s. Another example is an old suitcase that has been updated and detailed with an old picture of a military regiment. The items are flying off the shelves at CROSS Ministries. “We can’t keep them … SINGLE COPY PRICE: 75¢
Copyright 2014
what reason. A few of the answers were Matt Bell and Ron Pendegraft. Redman and Kent both said their band teacher Brad Lampe. “He’s our band instructor, but at the same time, I almost see him as a father, kind of,” Kent said. “Like the other day, I asked him how to write a letter of recommendation, so he helped me with that. … He’s kind of, like, a life-lesson person, too, along with his teachings,” Redman added. Crawford said he had two people — his coaches Aaron O’Tool and Brian Cole. “With him and Coach Cole, I could like, text them or call them any time of day if I needed anything, and they’d be there for me,” Crawford said. “They’re kind of, like, not Please see STUDENT LUNCH, Page 4
By the numbers: Council approves FY16 budget people are buying it faster than I can get it in here,” Burk said. “It’s really taken off and it’s just another way for the mission to make money and to make people happy.” One goal of repurposing the materials is to still have them at affordable prices when a project is finished. ‘Oddball’ to coveted items Burk mostly works with solid wood items. She said she likes to take “oddball” items that people wouldn’t want to buy and work with them to make them better. It gives the items a chance for a second look. The items and materials have all been donated, as well as the art supplies,
brushes and paints. It’s not just the big furniture that’s needed at CROSS Ministries, it’s all of the types of supplies. Burk said CROSS Ministries appreciates all of the donations, and people are welcome to help with any aspects of the repurposing. Materials are gathered from different counties across the state of Iowa, but the average shopper would never know it. This is recycling at its finest — taking one man’s trash and making it another man’s treasure. When it comes to giving back to the community, repurposed items have also been donated to local auctions and benefits to raise funds for a cause.
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“That was my main point, it’s that how much we appreciate the community’s donations and their support,” Burk said. Second chance The next time a person is making a decision about trashing an item that still has some life left to it, remember CROSS Ministries and give it a second look. “I think what I like is thinking about is that being in somebody’s house. That’s going to make them so happy,” Burk said. “It’s going to take the right person to want to buy it. But, you know, it’s like probably something that will be handed down for years to years when it could’ve been in the garbage.”
Weather Your Local Weather Thu
3/12
69/43
A few clouds. Highs in
Fri
3/13
68/43
Partly cloudy. Highs in
By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor • ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
Osceola City Council approved the city’s fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget during a March 3 council meeting. “The highlight, in which we’ll draw the most attention, is that we will again be tax-revenue neutral,” said Ty Wheeler, city administrator/clerk. “ T h i s will be the third b u d g e t Wheeler year in a row which we have been able to do that.” Budget information was
published in the Feb. 19 edition of the Osceola Sentinel-Tribune. City officials hadn’t received any written public comments for the public hearing that was held. By the numbers In the new budget, the total tax collection for FY16 is $2,364,240. This is of a total budget of $13,572,991. The estimated total tax levy rate per $1,000 valuation on regular property will go to $14.70. This is up only 2 cents from $14.68 in the current fiscal year. For capital projects, the city has included allocations for the airport terminal Please see CITY BUDGET, Page 4
Don’t Forget
Sat
3/14
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More sun than clouds.
A fish fry is being served 5:30-7 p.m. Friday at St. Bernard Parish Hall, 226 E. Pearl St. People may register for door prizes.
the upper 60s and lows the upper 60s and lows Highs in the low 60s and CHECK OUT OSCEOLAIOWA.COM FOR DAILY UPDATED NEWS, DEATH in the low 40s. in the low 40s. lows in the mid 30s. NOTICES AND SPORTS.