OST-4-6-2017 by Shaw Media

TRACK:

• Hyatt petitions for chickens

Fifth-grader Drew Hyatt went before City Council to request permission to raise chickens in town. Granted.

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The Clarke boys opened their season Friday

Events

• Legislative Luncheon

= Cha-Ching! & far & SAVE with SHOP near

page 6

Last legislative luncheon this session noon, Friday, at Lakeside.

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New non-profit established Easter comes to build Osceola rec center to the square A recreation center for the people of Osceola is quickly becoming a reality thanks to a new non-profit called “Operation Recreation.” In 2016, Clarke County was ranked 98 out of 99 Iowa counties1 when it comes to health, and Osceola’s Mayor Thomas Kedley is taking the initiative to change that. Mayor Kedley credits the recreation center in Clinton Iowa with saving his own life as a young man and he wants the people of Osceola to have that same opportunity. As it stands, city recreation activities like league basketball and league volleyball share space in the Clarke Community Schools. The gyms at the schools are in use nearly

all day, every day, all year long which causes an undue amount of wear and tear on the school’s facilities. There is a constant shuffling between middle school and high school practices and games and city rec activities and children aren’t allowed to be in the gym without

By HILARY FERRAND

year-round for learning healthy habits and for families to be active together.” In an effort to improve the quality of life for Osceola residents and to draw more families and businesses to the city, the Osceola Parks & Recreation Board has been working closely with City Administrator Ty Wheeler, Mayor Kedley and others to create the best plan for a Recreation Center the whole community can use. Operation Recreation is a non-profit foundation created with the sole purpose of building this rec center through public fundraising efforts and grants. The Foundation’s Board already has several grant requests in process REC | 3

school supervision. “We’re quickly growing out of what the school can offer,” says Mayor Kedley. “The city is working hard to improve area trails and parks, but Operation Recreation will help Osceola fill the need of all residents to have a place available

ning last year and this year,” said Osceola Chamber Main Street Event Coordinator Samantha Horton. “Now we have Makayla from Osceola Foods. She has been a huge participant in all that we have done.” T h e breakfast is aff o r d a b l e Horton enough for nearly everyone to grab a bite. After breakfast, children can have their photos taken with the Easter Bunny, for a fee. They can also compete in a coloring contest, new this year, and of course, join in

OST news editor hferrand@osceolaiowa. com

Saturday, April 15, Easter comes to the Osceola on the square. With a bottom-dollar bottomless breakfast and several activities for kids to enjoy, families won’t want to miss the festivities this weekend. From 8 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Senior Center, kids and adults can enjoy “Breakfast with the Bunny.” Sponsored by Hy-Vee and Osceola Foods, all-you-caneat pancake and sausage costs just $2 per adult, $1 per child. “Jeff [Mallory] has been the big start on this breakfast. He has worked really hard preparing and plan-

EASTER | 2

Get your motor running Special trips improve quality of life for hospice patients

Contributed photo

Pictured are David Hays and Stacie Beverlin.

By HILARY FERRAND OST news editor hferrand@osceolaiowa.com

Chipps’ Harley-Davidson and Vintage Motorcycle Museum had an important visitor Tuesday, March 7. David Hays, hospice patient and lifelong motorcycle en-

thusiast, took a tour of the facility, coordinated by shop staff, Homestead Assisted Living and HCI Hospice Care Services. “He was just telling me about his first [bike,]” said hospice nurse, Stacie Beverlin. “It cost him $250, and he wrecked it the first day.”

Despite shaky beginnings, Hays’ love for motorcycles grew into a lifelong interest visible in the collectibles he keeps in his room at Homestead. During the visit, Beverlin wheeled Hays around the facility to look at several new models of bikes and to talk shop with a new group of likeminded friends. “You need yellow glasses for riding,” said Hays. “The reason is they clean all the distortion away. If it’s raining, you can see with yellow glasses on.” “Yeah. They’re good for riding at night, too,” said Robbie Chipp, manager. From the small bikes of Asia to brand trends in the United States, the men discussed the business of bikes before Hays was given the grand tour of the vintage motorcycle museum, housed in the back half of the building that formerly housed tractor parts. “It had sat empty for a few years when we purchased it,” said Chipp. They’ve been in business now for nearly 12 years, and converted the old storage area to a museum two years ago.

“We had motorcycle parts in there, pallet racks on the wall. We cleared everything out and poured concrete. It was quite an undertaking.” Today, the shop houses an impression selection of bikes mostly from the 1960s onward. Special pieces include a rare Can-Am and a WWII Puch military bike. However, it was the smaller cycles that were on Hays’ mind. “If you want to see people get excited over motorcycles, go to Vietnam,” said Hays. “My wife and I were there on a mission trip. They’re crazy about motorcycles. You go down the street and in a city block there’s thousands, little 60cc jobs.” The tour culminated in a commemorative t-shirt — and a sandwich — provided by Chipps’ before Hays returned to Homestead. At HCI, they know no matter what age or stage of health a person is at, taking a few moments to explore a personal interest makes all the difference.

4/3/2017

Contributed photo

Family fun: The Clarke PTCO carnival helps raise funds

for field trips and other activities. Organizer Jacqueline Shinn begins preparing for next year as soon as people have left. Keen on organization, Shinn organizes everything so that a month to six weeks before the carnival, she can simply take bags out of storage and get the stations ready. The PTCO tries to add something new every year to keep things fun for students. A little over $1,000 was raised during the carnival Friday, March 31, at Clarke Elementary. The group charges 25 cents per game and makes sure that everyone will win a prize. The most popular booths this year were facepainting, thanks to the art club, and the kiddie fishing pond, where kids use fake fishing polls to catch a prize. Pictured are Ethan Shinn, 3, and Audrey Shinn, 2, after a stop at the PTCO Carnival face-painting booth.

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OST photo by HILARY FERRAND Lat: 41.03N, Lon: 93.77W Wx Zone: IAZ083

Observers: Pictured are Brian Evans and Melanie Boyd tour the elementary school Art Pictured is Melanie Boyd, chief patient experience officer at Clarke County Hospital, with Show, during the Leaders of Our Community Open House, Tuesday, March 28 Latest Conditions her tourHumidity guides92% during the Leaders of Our Community Open House. Wind NW 8 MPH Forecasts

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