The Keota Eagle “THE OLDEST BUSINESS SERVING KEOTA AND COMMUNITY FIRST - SINCE 1875”
VOL. 140 NO. 35
WEDNESDAY Sept. 2, 2015 ONE DOLLAR
Keota School Board Candidate Forum
There will be a forum held at Keota Elementary on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Keota Elementary featuring Q&A with candidates running for school board. All six candidates will be available to meet with small groups and answer questions/ share their visions for the school district from 7 – 8:30 p.m. The public may participate.
Keokuk County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
On Thursday, Sept. 3, the Keokuk County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting will take place at the Expo Fairgrounds. The event is set to start at 6:30 p.m. and will feature Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill as speaker. For reservations, call 641-622-2310.
Free Blood Pressure checks
Friday, Sept. 4 is Blood Pressure checks at the Fremont Community Center. Manor House staff arrives at 9 a.m. for this free service.
Rubio Music Jam
Saturday, Sept. 5 will be the Rubio Music Jam. There will be food and music. Eating starts at 5 p.m. and music starts at 6 p.m. Free will offering and handicapped accessible.
Wilson Memorial closed Labor Day
Wilson Memorial Library will be CLOSED on Saturday, Sept. 5 and Monday, Sept. 7 for Labor Day weekend.
Regular School Board Elections
Regular School Board Elections will be held Sept. 8. Registration may be done at the official precinct on Election Day. Registrants must bring a photo ID with an expiration date stating a current address. If the photo ID does not have a current address, contact the Auditor’s Office at 641-622-2320 for additional requirements.
Scott Flynn
Lisa White
Bill Kindred
Larry Hultman
Open House for Lancaster School
Sunday, Sept. 13 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. will be the Open House for Lancaster School at the Lancaster School House Grounds. Refreshments will be shared, but guests must bring their own seating. More on page 2.
In This Issue
Classifieds Gone Cold Local News Public Notices Sports
4 6 2 3, 4 7, 8
Marcus Galindo
Keota School Board elections Sept. 8 Candidate Forum scheduled prior to elections
By Hailey Brown Three seats are up for election on the Keota Community School Board on Sept. 8. Votes may be cast at the County Auditor’s office in Sigourney and Libertyville Savings Bank in Keota will also allow votes to be cast on site the day of elections. Prior to the election date, there will be a Keota School Board Candidate Forum held Thursday, Sept. 3. from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at Keota Elementary. All six candidates running will be available to meet with small groups to answer questions and share their
visions pertaining to the school district. Typically, the purpose of the school board is to set district policies and oversee how policies are implemented. The board is also responsible for the mission and vision of the district. In Keota, school board meetings are held once a month, with an occasional special meeting to handle specific topics. Scott Flynn and Lisa White are two candidates on the ballot that are up for re-election. Bill Kindred, running as a “write-in” candidate, is also up
for re-election. Three newcomers are running for school board, too. Larry Hultman will appear on the ballot with Jim Tinnes and Marcus Galindo running as two “write-ins”. Tinnes, Galindo and Kindred announced their intent to run along with their views in a Letter to the Editor published in the Aug. 26 issue of the Keota Eagle. The Sept. 8 election has the potential to change the current direction of the school board due to the views held by two distinctive perspectives
Keota police truck receives tech upgrade
By Hailey Brown The Keota Police Department recently expanded ticketing technology with a new “ticketless” system installed to the inside of the Keota Police Department truck. The technology, made possible due to a grant from both the Washington County Riverboat Foundation and Keokuk County Community Endowment Foundation, is a welcome modernization to the city. While the new system will eventually come in handy and cut paperwork time down, its presence does not wipe out the old ticketing meth-
ods entirely, and it may take some time before the system becomes entirely effective. “Although it is already installed, it isn’t quite up and going yet,” says Officer Doug Conrad. “Once it gets going, it will make life easier for everyone.” Conrad says he is still feeling the new system out. “Like many other stations in the area already have, I will need a good data plan. When that is in place, I’ll be able to do things like accident reports at the scene, instead of later on,” he says. He has been actively
researching different data plans and comparing options to other stations in the region. “Once we qualify for all of the appropriate systems needed to operate the ticketless system, there is also a system that will be able to show where the truck is at all times,” says Conrad. When everything is in place and Keota qualifies for the system upgrades, other law enforcement will be able to pinpoint Keota law enforcement positions, enabling county cops and troopers to easily track the Keota police truck and assist with calls.
St. James plans Fall Festival
St. James Catholic Church in Washington will host its annual fall festival Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a country store from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., kids games from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and an auction beginning at noon.
Jim Tinnes
Keota Firefighters receive new engine. Front: (Left to right) Fred Heisdorffer, John Henderson, Darren Luers, Kevin Wallerich, Les Osborne, Caleb Morgan, Josh Myers. Back: (Left to right) Jared Streigel, Aaron Clubb, Michael Carl, Kevin Minard, Lucas Snedigar, Ryan Sieren, Chris Heisdorffer, Aaron Lyle, Mike Detweiler. Not pictured: Ron Wright, Craig Berg, Jeremy Sieren, Cody Branstad, Adam Sieren, Jerry Brinning. Photo by Hailey Brown
KFD welcomes new engine
By Hailey Brown On August 16, 1884, Keota’s first fire engine arrived and the town had an official fire company. Now, in 2015, the Keota Fire Department covers 123 square miles of territory with an average of 4050 calls per year. Incurring a lot of equipment and truck usage in the modern age, the 22 volunteer firefighters of Keota are glad to officially unveil their new engine, added to the lineup in July, replacing an engine dating back to 1995. The newest truck can hold up
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to 1,000 gallons of water and can pump up to 1,300 gallons of water per minute and will be housed in the combination fire station and Keota City Hall, with other equipment and supplies. “I think everyone is very excited about this,” says Fire Chief and Fire Board President Ryan Sieren. “It’s not very often we get a new truck.” The new truck was made possible due in large part to a $25,000 grant from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation in the spring. The rest of the total came from stan-
dard taxes that the firefighters have the opportunity to utilize. It is not uncommon to see the Keota firefighters in other places across Keokuk and Washington County. As part of an incorporated fire station, the Keota Fire Department reaches out to more than just the town of Keota. The volunteer team often works to help seven townships and two towns. For more information about the Keota Fire Department, visit http:// www.keotafire.org/.
that have emerged this election, but according to Superintendent Mark Schneider, no one person can control the outcome on the school board. “Individual school board members have no authority to act independently and cannot commit or bind the board by their individual actions,” says Schneider. “Powers and duties of the board must be exercised by the board as a whole.” Absentee ballots can be obtained at the Auditor’s Office at the courthouse in Sigourney or by going to www.keokukcountyia.com and downloading
the Absentee Ballot Request Form, found on the Auditor’s page. Absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked before Sept. 5 due to the Labor Day holiday. Absentee ballots may also be returned to the Auditor’s Office in person until 8 p.m. on Election Day. For further information or questions regarding the Regular School Election, please call the Auditor’s Office at 641-622-2320. For questions in regard to the forum to be held at Keota Elementary, contact Amanda Anderson at 319-461-8536.
Hohenbrink joins Keota Eagle The Keota Eagle is welcoming a new face. Michael Hohenbrink has joined Mid America Publications in the role of News Editor, alongside Hailey Brown, who has been with Mid America since May. “I am very pleased to have Hohenbrink Mike join our team,” says Amber Kephart, Regional Manager. “The community can look forward to the knowledge and experience he will contribute to his articles.” A graduate of the University of Iowa, Hohenbrink comes to the paper from northwest Ohio, having lived in Iowa for several years before. He earned a Master’s degree from the UI in 2002. For the last four years, Hohenbrink
and Campus Technology, specializing in educational technology as well as for special interest publications in other areas. Previously, Hohenbrink has served as editor for papers including the Williamsburg Journal-Tribune and the Independence Bulletin Journal. Hohenbrink has been recognized by the Iowa Newspaper Association with awards in categories including Best News Feature, Coverage of Education and Best Front Page. “I look forward to working with the paper to better serve our readers,” says Hohenbrink. “We have strengths, and I want to help the paper grow in some new directions.” Hohenbrink will make his home in Sigourney, along with his wife, Nichol, and four children: Matthew, 11; Scott, 10; Nick, 10; and Joseph, 18 months. “I’m glad to have the opportunity to be back in Iowa,” says I look forward to working with the paper to better Hohe nbr i n k . serve our readers. We have strengths, and I want “This is a home coming to help the paper grow in some new directions.” for me and for – Mike Hohenbrink, News Editor my family.” served as news director at northHistory is a particular love for Howest Ohio’s WJTA 88.9 FM, and he henbrink, and he enjoys music of the taught Humanities, Composition Big Band Era, Jack Benny and the and Speech at Defiance College and history of technology. Bluffton University. At the paper, Hohenbrink can be Hohenbrink has written for nation- reached with story ideas at signred@ al publications such as THE Journal lisco.com or at 641-622-3110.
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Brown added to News-Review line-up
The News-Review has added a new editor as part of a shift in staff at the Sigourney office. Hailey Brown, joined by Mike Hohenbrink, is now Regional Editor for the News-Review, as well as the Keota Eagle. Hohenbrink will also be working on both newspaBrown pers. A Digital Communication gradu-
Farmers Cooperative
ate of William Penn University and Indian Hills Community College, Brown has been working as Regional Editor primarily for the Keota Eagle. She has been employed with Mid-America Publishing Corp. since May, helping occasionally with the News-Review as needed. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know the Keota community and learning each unique story,” says Brown. “I look forward to learning the history and faces of other small towns in Keokuk BROWN to page 8
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