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W EDNESD A Y , J U NE 4 , 2 0 1 4 N U M B ER 2 3 , 1 5 4 T H Y E A R

Memorial Ride to Remember

TC Alumni Banquet................... Pg. 2 Pekin Track....................................... Pg. 2 Milestones.................................................Pg. 3 Obituaries.................................................... Pg. 4 Calendar of Events......................................... Pg. 5 SHS Band & Choir Concert............................. Pg. 6 Opinions/Editorials........................................ Pg. 8 Classifieds......................................................Pg. 9 Legal Notices..............................................Pg. 10 Baseball/Softball...................................Pg. 12 EV Golf.......................................... Pg. 13 Salute to State Track..............Pg. 14

Harkin’s ‘In the Footsteps of History’ Tour Visits Keokuk County, June 13 Harkin Aide to Visit Keokuk County as Part of ‘In the Footsteps of History’ Tour Will see renovations made possible by Harkin Main Street Grant impact of federal funding on the community Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced his aide, Tamara Milton, is visiting Keokuk County on Friday, June 13, as part of a summer tour highlighting Harkin’s partnership with Iowa communities through the years. Community members are encouraged to attend at 1 p.m. at the Sigourney City Hall, 100 N. Main St., Sigourney. Milton will meet with local officials at Sigourney City Hall to discuss how assistance secured by Harkin

through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is helping the community. Since Fiscal Year 2002, more than $1 million has come to the area in grants that has provided firefighting equipment, training and vehicle acquisition. In 2009, the City of Sigourney was awarded a $69,475 U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)’s Community Oriented Policing Services Secure our Schools Grant to increase school security in the district. Additionally, officials will see Main Street renovations made possible by federal funding. In 2002, the City of Sigourney was awarded a $40,000 Harkin Main Street Grant to rehabilitate two properties into affordable housing apartments and a restaurant.

Keota VFW Memorial Auction In August of 1944 the City of Keota, dedicated a World War II Memorial listing all Keota area men and women who had served or were serving in World War II. By the time the war had ended, close to 500 names graced the Memorial. This Memorial stood on Broadway Avenue (Main Street) in downtown Keota and was said to be one of the finest in the state. Over 2000 area citizens attended the dedication. Through the years, the Memorial shined both day and night, but weather and time took its toll and the Memorial was dismantled in the mid-1960s. The Memorial was replaced by a stone monument in the Wilson Memorial Park, with an inscription “To the lasting memory of the gallant who gave their full measure of devotion and service to our glorious country.” A beautiful framed photo of the original memorial hangs in the Keota V.F.W. When people see this photo for the first time they instinctively ask where it is located. When informed that it use to stand on Main Street, but was torn down, they first ask why and then inquire about rebuilding the Memorial. A few years ago, a new memorial similar to the World

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War II Memorial was discussed. Many ideas were explored and a proposal was presented to area citizens, Veterans and organizations. In November of 2013, a “Veteran’s Tribute” by William (Bill) Hultman was produced; local talent was used and the proceeds were used as the first step in fundraising for a new memorial. A Veteran’s Memorial Committee was formed and it has been meeting for several months. Members include: Dave Hobscheidt (Chairman), Marilyn Sieren, Linda Werger, Pat Hultman, Gina Bennett, Duane Sprouse, Mike McNurlen, Mary Ann Bell, Melinda Eakins, Josh Carr and Larry Gale Sanders. The new memorial will have the individual names of all area men and women who have served; members of the Keota Grand Army of The Republic, The Keota American Legion, the Keota Veterans of Foreign Wars, were listed on one or more of the Keota Honor Rolls, attended school in the Keota area or buried in one of the area cemeteries. To date over 1300 names have been compiled. A site for the new memorial has been tentatively selected on Main Street, but final transaction is still in the process. The total cost of the memorial is approximately $125,000. So far, $32,000 has been raised, which is about 25 percent of the total projected cost. Two big fundraisers are coming up – the first is a Benefit Auction on Saturday, June 14, following the Keota Fun Days Grand Parade and the second is a Keota Unlimited’s Labor Day Weekend Raffle. For more information, see the advertisement in this week’s NewsReview or contact a Veteran’s Memorial Committee member.

Submitted upon request, written by Rabbi of What Cheer The Vietnam Veterans memorial was finished and dedicated in 1984. I was living in Des Moines at the time so it became an almost daily routine to stop and commune with the Iowa veterans who fell during the Vietnam War. In 1989 I traveled to Washington D.C. to perform a song I had written titled ‘My Brothers Missing’ at the Lincoln Memorial on Memorial Day week end. During that time the national Rolling Thunder motorcycle tribute to Vietnam veterans was taking place. On returning to Iowa, plans were conceived and put in place to have a state Vietnam veterans memorial motorcycle parade. At the time, Vietnam veterans were still not being treated with the respect they deserved so we took it upon ourselves to honor those who had served in Southeast Asia. Several years into the event, due to the support of the public, mostly the biker community we dropped the Vietnam veterans motorcycle parade and just became ‘Iowa Thunder’ a motorcycle tribute to all veterans. The interim let us discard the stigma of social outcast that we had suffered since the war ended. In the new mission to honor all veterans, our mission statement became to insure the families of all veterans, that the service and sacrifice of their sons and daughters would not be forgotten by those who understand the price of the freedoms we enjoy. One of the core elements of the honor ceremony at the memorial garden in Des Moines has become the ‘Spirit Bell’ For each casualty of our current conflict for the preceding 12 month period, the bell is rang as the fallen names are called out. The first ride was just that, a ride, about 650 loosely organized motorcycles, a poorly planned route and no thought to a ceremony or speaker at the memorial. Routes were rethought and the current Southridge Mall staging area came about in year four. We have tried adding some prestige with the presence of various Color Guards, Rifle squads

and buglers. but our success seems to lie in the lack of fanfare. Somewhere along the way we picked up a public address system, then came the cordless mike which allows me to move through the crowd during the spirit bell ceremony. The two most significant changes would be the faces of the riders, there are a lot of ‘gray beards’. While we have gotten older in the event, so have the riders who return each year. Not so surprisingly there is a strong mix of veteran and non veteran riders. Each year seems to draw a number of younger riders. I think the connection to the families of those we honor is key to that but also there are some younger folk searching for answers and wanting to be a part of support for our warriors. Our intent is keep focus on the families for those who have fallen and staying abreast of current involvements in conflicts. Our core, is emotion. In the beginning, we were besieged with comments of, ‘let it die’, Vietnam is history’, ‘stuff like this just reminds the families of their loss’. The new generation of Gold Star families are having none of that. They are not going to put memories in a box, on a shelf in the closet. They want their children remembered. One comment I hear from our current warriors is, ‘we feel bad being treated the way we are, the honor and respect, the homecoming crowds and flag lines at the airports, its not fair to the Vietnam vets after the way you were treated. Nothing will change the way we were treated. What has changed is the way the world views those who answer the call to service. The way the veterans from Iraq and Afghan are being treated is just, you have earned it, it is the Welcome Home we never got.

Relay Returns to Sigourney Square The 2014 Keokuk County Relay for Life is retur ning to the Sigourney square on Saturday, June 7. A new planning committee has released the following schedule for the 2014 event: • 6 p.m.: Boy Scouts to present the flags • 6-6:30: Opening/Survivor Ceremony • 6:30-7: Studio E dancing • 7-7:30: Tae Kwon Do performance • 7:30-8:30: Band “Breaking Adam” to perform • 8:45: Civil Servant Lap • 9 p.m.: Lighting of Luminary (names will be read by Keokuk County Sherif f Casey Hinnah and Sigourney Mayor Terry Hollingsworth)

• 9:35: Announce the winner of Silent Auction • 10 p.m.: Closing Ceremony Special features at the 2014 Keokuk County Relay for Life include: ~ Kathy Glandon-making balloon animals ~ Police Auxiliary-Relay tattoos ~ Jump Ropes for kids and adults to play with ~ Silent Auction Baskets designed by each team to be displayed until 9:30 with the winners announced at 9:35. Baskets are due to Anna Clark by June 4 and may be dropped off at Keokuk County Health Center during day time or at 603 Ringgold St., Sigourney in the evenings.

Keokuk County 4-H Program Honors Senior 4-H Members Tiana Slaney

She is the daughter of Bill and Sue Slaney and sister to Thomas. S h e attends Pekin High School and is a member of the Patriotic Panthers 4-H Club. Her 4-H projects include Photography, Home Improvement, Sewing and Needle Arts as well as Communications. She is involved with this 4-H activities: Ag Olympics. Jessica’s special 4-H memory or highlight was “working the exhibit with Jenna Swanson at the State Fair.” Her other activities include: Volleyball, Basketball, Track, Softball, National Honor Society, TAG, Spanish Club, Ruritan Rising Seniors, Quiz Bowl, Speech, Drama, FOF Youth Group. Upon graduation, Tiana plans to major in Business Pre-Law at Southern Illinois University.

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