Official Paper of Parkersburg, Aplington, New Hartford, Aplington-Parkersburg Schools, and Butler County
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clipse
NEWS - REVIEW
! T U ! O T U T I O K T I C E K H C CCHE PARKERSBURG
Briefly. PARKERSBURG — The Aplington-Parkersburg High School Dollars for Scholars chapter will host its annual Senior Awards Ceremony Wednesday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to the event. Refreshments will be served.
STARTING AT 8 A.M.
Congressional candidate visits Parkersburg
Congressional candidate Rick Bertrand (R) visited Parkersburg last Friday as part of his campaign to unseat District 4 Congressman Steve King. Bertrand spoke to a small gathering about the work he has done in and around Sioux City as well as representing what he called the people of the district. The Primary Election will be June 7. (John Jensen/Eclipse News-Review photo)
Aplington City-Wide Garage Sales June 4
APLINGTON — Aplington City-Wide Garage Sales will be held Saturday, June 4th from 8 a.m. to noon. Entry forms are available at Aplington City Hall. Entry fors and fees are due to City Hall by 4:30 pm on Thursday, May 26 in order to have your listing published in the paper. For more information about the City-Wide garage sales contact Shiloh Johnson at Maple Manor Village, (319) 347-2309 or Deb Prier at City Hall, (319) 347-2425.
Extension Office closed May 5
The Butler County Extension Office will be closed May 5th due to Farm Safety Day Camp which will be held at the fairgrounds. Will be open again on May 6th.
A-P Preschool sign-up now underway
Obituaries.....................page 3 Opinion.........................page 4 Aplington News...........page 5 Church News................page 9 Records...................... page 10
Classifieds........... pages 14-16
Sports.................. pages 17-20
Garage Sale listings and map on 7
Parkersburg council discusses TIF for three new projects
PARKERSBURG — The Beaver Meadows Golf Course in Parkersburg will host its annual Ryder Cup Tournament Saturday (May 7) beginning at 9 a.m. The tournament is a 27-hole two-person event. For more information call the club, 319-346-1870.
In this week’s issue
CITY-WIDE
SATURDAY, MAY 7
Beaver Meadows to host Ryder Cup tourney
Signup for the 2016-17 Aplington-Parkersburg Preschool classes will be available online beginning Monday, April 4, 2016, on the Parkersburg Elementary website (www.a-pcsd.net). Please complete the basic sign-up form no later than Friday, April 15, 2016. Sign-up information will be used for configuration of next year’s preschool classes as well as for sending out further information. Internet access is available at the Aplington and Parkersburg community libraries during their open hours as well as the district school buildings from 9 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. Be advised there is a limit on enrollment for preschool. The district operates preschool programs for children ages 3 1/2 and 4 years of age. Birthdate for the youngest child considered is March 15, 2013. 4-year-olds must be 4 on or before September 15. If you have any questions regarding sign-up, call the Parkersburg Elementary office at 346-2446. More Briefs on Page 3
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INSIDE Local youth learn spin casting skills
A-P Dollars for Scholars to host Awards Night
WEDNESDAY May 4, 2016 20 pages 144th Year • No. 18
Drake Relays Local athletes from
both Apl i ng t on-Pa rker sbu rg a nd Dike-New Hartford had strong showings at the Drake Relays this weekend. Above, A-P’s C.J. May, far left, tries to get around the lead chase pack in the final two laps of the 3,200-meter run. More photos and a story from the Drake Relays is on page 20.
By JOHN JENSEN Eclipse News-Review PARKERSBURG — The Parkersburg City Council Monday discussed the possibility of TIF agreements for three projects, including a proposed hotel/motel development. The hotel or motel is being considered by investors who currently wish to remain unnamed. The proposal would be for an approximately $2 million project in the Parkersburg Industrial Park that would have 30 or more rooms. According to documents shared at Monday’s council meeting, the city is considering giving incentives of up to $600,000 to the developers, including a possible 75 percent tax rebate for up to 10 years. Other projects being considered for TIF Funds include Wood Vision’s recent expansion as well as a proposed project by Dom Sparrgrove to renovate two currently unoccupied residential units that are in the upstairs of one of his downtown buildings. Sparrgrove has asked the city to contribute $10,000 in low- to moderate income set-aside funds for the project. Information distributed at Monday’s meeting indicated that his receiving the funds would be subject to his satisfying several conditions, including an annual survey to verify that his residents are low- to moderate income according to HUD guidelines. No Council action was taken on the TIF proposal, though action could come at an upcoming Council meeting. Economic Development Director Janice Johnson also talked about the community’s recent growth, noting
that 13 lots have been sold in the city since the first of the year. Council passed a request from the public works department to have micro-sealing and spray patching done. A quote from Struck and Irwin Paving was the only one received for the work and was approved by the Council. Cit y Ad m i n i s t r a t o r C h r i s Luhring briefed the council about ongoing negotiations with the city’s insurance provider about payment to replace a light pole that was struck along Highway 57. Luhring asked the Council to approve a request to end negotiations, as he has been told that repairing the light pole could present a safety risk and that replacement is the best option. Police Chief Scott Schrage approved the Council about no parking concerns, particularly with the new, larger truck that the Parkersburg Fire Department recently took delivery of. Luhring asked Schrage to gather any changes that he would like and bring them to the Council at the next meeting. Schrage also spoke about computer and software needs of his department. IN OTHER BUSINESS, COUNCIL: • Approved a cigarette and tobacco permit for Kwik Star; • Approved cigarette and tobacco permits for both Brothers Market and Dollar General pending their application for the permits; • Approved a liquor license renewal for Mad Dogs subject to ABD approval. The next city council meeting will be held June 6.
A-P Middle Schoolers play in River City Honor Band
New Hartford Legion Auxiliary donates flag pillows
The American Legion and Aux-
iliary meet the third Tuesday of each month with a potluck starting at 6:30 p.m. and meeting to follow at 7. Each month the Auxiliary presents veterans of the New Hartford post with flag pillows. Above, John Brocka, Liz Blake and Butler County Legion Auxiliary president Eilene Smith present a veteran with a pillow. Right, Unit President Dolores Mooty presents a pillow to Larry Bass. (Courtesy photos)
On Saturday, April 23, four sixth-graders from Aplington-Parkersburg Middle School attended the fourth-annual River City Honor Band in Mason City. The honor band is hosted by the Lincoln Intermediate School band program and is for 5th and 6th grade band students in North Central Iowa. The day consisted of leaving A-P at 8:00, with their first rehearsal starting at 9:30. The 6th grade guest director for the day was Kevin Brown, a band director in the Iowa City School District. Kevin co-directs a 7th grade and 8th grade band, conducts a 6th grade band, two junior high jazz bands, and a high school jazz band. Kevin has taught instrumental music for a total of 17 years, where he has received numerous awards and unanimous Division I ratings at Large Group contests. The day consisted of 3 1/2 total hours of rehearsal, a 45 minute sectional, lunch, and a concert at 4:00 - so the students had a jam-packed day. The A-P 6th grade band students did a tremendous job and had a lot of
fun! Playing in a large band setting with students they’ve never played with before is always a great experience for any musician. There are
more honor band opportunities for the students in 7th and 8th grade as well as in High School, so keep up the hard work! It pays off in the end!
Pictured left to right are Aplington-Parkersburg sixth-grade students Elena Mulder (percussion), Lauren Husz (flute), Abby Berends (clarinet), and Sam Livingood (trumpet).