I grew up in an area which now has more than 350,000 people. Stores open and close on a regular basis in the Quad-Cities. Manufacturers open and close and most residents aren’t that concerned. In my little town, Riverdale, just east of Bettendorf, we were separated from the mighty Mississippi by the world’s largest aluminum rolling mill. Alcoa is more than a mile long, with the river on one side and Highway 67 on the other.

Property taxes are ridiculously low and our school district wanted for nothing when it came to facilities improvement, thanks to the property taxes paid by that one big company.

So while I may have grown up observing the coming and going of stores and factories in the metropolitan Quad-Cities, we never feared that Alcoa would shut down.

I thought of that last week when the crushing news came down that Benco Manufacturing, Belle Plaine’s main employer, was closing in the next six months.

Alcoa was a major defense contractor, producing aluminum for aircraft. It also produced aluminum foil and every cook needs aluminum foil. Benco produces car parts. Car companies are needing fewer and fewer parts as they attempt to downsize and survive.

When the news leaked out about our plant closing, there were the understandable comments from community leaders and the soon to be unemployed work force. Workers were told that the company would provide severance pay, job placement services and training opportunities. But while many of us may have suspected this news would come someday, employees reportedly were told the day before the closure announcement that this plant was doing good things and was healthy. Then word came that management from Canada was coming for a visit the next day and the fears probably began to mount.

Companies close all the time in these perilous economic times. Every day you hear about hundreds of thousands joining the national unemployment rolls. It is unfortunate that it took the closing of this local plant for many of us to appreciate the dedicated workers among our friends and neighbors that are soon to be facing a forced change in life. Some of the folks who will be without a job at the end of the year have worked at Benco since they left high school or college. Some have been there 30 years or more. For some two income families, both incomes have been derived from that one company.

It’s natural to want to lash out at someone in anger when you lose your job. Ultimately, it’s difficult to focus blame on this news. Local management couldn’t save the local plant. Corporate folks who had to make this decision knew that if their customers weren’t buying the product, they couldn’t continue to operate. Car companies can’t continue to order parts for cars that aren’t selling. People can’t buy new cars when they don’t have a job.

So the circle continues and the frustration mounts. It’s also frustrating for those who are concerned about the economic future of this city. There has been considerable speculation what will happen to the Benco building when the company closes. Will the company be willing to market the building to a new enterprise? Will it stand up, take responsibility and act like a responsible member of the community, even as the equipment and business files are moved from town? Or will the building sit empty, just like the former Benco building, for years to come?

Tough times lie ahead. While now may be a time when many of us mourn the passing of this business, we can’t spend too much time in despair. The way to get through this, whether you are a soon to be former employee, friend or neighbor or community leader, is to look ahead and keep your eyes open to the small victories or pleasant experiences you have on a daily basis, like the news of a Lonnie Nielsen victory on the Champions golf tour or the upcoming Fourth of July festivities in one of the greatest places in Iowa to celebrate, or the upcoming county and state fairs.

Don’t ignore the future, but also don’t ignore the present.

June 22, 6:55 a.m. – Two vehicles were reportedly burglarized at 1010 16^th Street. A flashlight was taken from one and the other was ransacked. Both were unlocked. The incident remains under investigation.

June 22, 3:59 p.m. – Illegal solicitation was reported in the 800 block of 12^th Street. A subject was located and advised to leave the area.

June 22, 7:10 p.m. – Illegal burning was reported at 1608 Fifth Ave. A resident was warned.

June 23, 8:35 a.m. – Kids were allegedly playing with a phone, in the 800 block of 14^th Street, repeatedly dialing 911. Officers were unable to locate them.

June 23, 9:46 a.m. – Vehicle unlock at 908 Sixth Ave.

June 25, 12:20 a.m. – Extra patrol was requested near 1608 Fifth Ave. due to some dogs apparently running loose.

June 25, 5:10 p.m. – A two-vehicle accident at Eighth Street and 10^th Ave. remains under investigation. No other information was available.

June 25, 10:05 p.m. – Officers were called to 1409 12^th Ave. apartment 3, for a subject that was allegedly refusing to leave. Michael Cooper, 20, Marengo, was subsequently arrested for trespassing and taken to the Iowa County Jail. The incident remains under investigation.

June 26, 9 a.m. – Police were called to the swimming pool to assist the parks and recreation department in the capture of a snapping turtle in the pool. The turtle was captured and relocated.

June 26, 12:09 p.m. – A two-vehicle accident occurred in the 1000 block of Eighth Ave. A 1992 Chevy truck, driven by Steven Rethman, Belle Plaine, struck a 2002 parked Buick LeSabre, owned by Donald Williamson, Atkins. Rethman dropped his cell phone and in attempting to retrieve it, his truck hit the car. He was cited for reckless driving. Damage to his truck was listed at $500 and damage to the car was listed at $8,000.

June 26, 12:40 p.m. – Two dogs were reportedly running loose in the 500 block of 11^th Street. Charges of keeping unlicensed dogs are pending against the owner.

June 26, 4:30 p.m. – A stray cat was picked up at 1910 11^th Ave. and taken to Countryside Veterinary Clinic.

June 26, 10:06 p.m. – Four Belle Plaine juveniles were cited for being persons under legal age in possession of alcohol following a traffic stop for speeding in the 400 block of 13^th Ave.

June 27, 1:42 a.m. – Responding to a complaint of loud music coming from 1106 14^th Street, officers charged five Tama County juveniles with being persons under the legal age in possession of alcohol.

June 27, 10:38 a.m. – A stray dog was captured in the 1300 block of Third Ave. and returned to its owner.

June 27, 9:25 p.m. – Fireworks were reportedly being set off in the 800 block of 19^th Street.

June 29, 9:20 a.m. – Beth Kithcart, 403 11^th Street, reported the theft of a garden tiller.

June 29, 11:42 a.m. – Vehicle unlock at 1508 Fourth Ave.

Belle Plaine Police remind residents that discharging of illegal fireworks is a serious misdemeanor. Chief Kris Hudson said if the perpetrators are caught, it could result in a range of measures, from confiscation of the fireworks to possible filing of charges that could bring up to a year in jail and/or a fine. In addition, if juveniles are involved, their parents could be liable for civil penalties.

Results of week 5:

The Office 15, Oasis 7
Great Life Fitness 13,Weber’s Plumbing & Heating 10
Madness 16, Hrabak Funeral Home “Undertakers” 1
Great Life Fitness 20, Oasis 7

Results of week 6:

Weber’s Plumbing & Heating 21, Hrabak Funeral Home “Undertakers” 13
Great Life Fitness 7, The Office - 3
“Madness” 26, Oasis 1
The Office 29, Weber’s Plumbing & Heating 9

Standings after week 6:

G.L. Fitness/Friedman’s Coverall/Johnson Motors 7-1
“Madness” 6-2
The Office 5-4
Weber’s Plumbing & Heating 4-4
Hrabak Funeral Home “Undertakers” 2-6
Oasis “7th Inning Strokers” 1-8

Commissioner Evan Hrabak says: “We’d love to see more of a crowd to come watch! Thanks to our fans that already come to the fun. The concession stand is open operated by the BP Athletic Boosters.”

Blanche M. Duncalf, 77, of Luzerne, died Friday, June 26, 2009 at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids following a short illness.  Memorial services will be 10:30 AM Wednesday at the Hrabak Funeral Home in Belle Plaine by Deacon Joe Behounek.  Inurnment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour before the service.

She is survived by daughters, Barb (Tom) Buch of Belle Plaine and Linda (Bob) Wentzel of Huntington Beach, CA; sons, Les of Luzerne and Mike of Belle Plaine; brother, Charles Vondracek of Evansville; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hrabakfuneralhome.com under “obituaries.”

Verlyn Joseph Coover, 64, of Clarinda and formerly of Belle Plaine and Cedar Rapids, died Friday, June 26, 2009 at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha following a lengthy illness.  Graveside services with Military Rites will be 2:00 PM Wednesday at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Belle Plaine by Rev. Jack Andrews.  There will be no public visitation.  Hrabak Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

He is survived by a son, Todd (Genna) Parry of Marion; granddaughter, Kaylee to be born in August 2009; and three nieces and nephews.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hrabakfuneralhome.com under “obituaries.”

Belle Plaine was 1-3 in baseball action last week. Their win came in a doubleheader split at Tri-County.

This week, the Plainsmen will be on the road tonight (Monday) at BGM then at Sigourney on Wednesday.

The following is a summary of last week’s action:

BP 4, Tri-County 3

The Plainsmen finsiehd with seven hits, including a homer and two RBIs for Austin Chekal. John Long and Colton Miller each had two hits. Miller picked up the win. He gave up just four hits and struck out six.

Tri-County 4 BP 1

Belle Plaine was held to just four hits in the nightcap. Miller had two doubles. Kyle Janss gave up four hits and struck out four.

HLV 4 BP 2

The Plainsmen had seven hits by seven hitters. Long had a double. Miller took the loss. He gave up six hits and struck out eight.

North Mahaska 17 BP 4

The Plainsmen had five hits, including a double by Chekal, against the eighth rated opponent. He gave up two hits on the mound. Janss pitched 2 1/3 innings and gave up four hits, five earned runs and struck out two. Devon Parr also pitched 2 1/3 innings and gave up two earned runs on five hits and struck out three.

The planning is nearly complete and now it’s up to the weatherman to provide great weather for Belle Plaine’s annual Fourth of July celebration.

The city’s big celebration, which is sometimes called a “community homecoming,” kicks off Friday afternoon on Main Street with the annual car show and cruise. In the past, more than 80 custom cars and motorcycles have lined 12^th Street while hundreds of spectators choose their favorites. The show will run from 4-8 p.m. and music will be provided by DJ Spoon.

After the show and subsequent cruise, Main Street will be turned into a giant dance floor for a street dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., featuring the music of the band, Hard Barney.

Saturday morning, festivities begin with the annual parade down 12^th Street at 10 a.m. At noon, the action moves to Franklin Park, with a flag raising at noon. There will be a tractor pull, midway games, 4-on-4 basketball tournament, sand volleyball tournament, craft show and bingo.

From noon until 4 p.m., the Belle Plaine cheerleaders will be offering face painting. The Gold Medal wrestlers will sponsor a flush tank from noon until 6 p.m. There will be a Pro Video fishing game from 1-4 p.m., karaoke contest featuring Class A Karaoke Service from 2-4 p.m. and cow chip bingo at 4 p.m.

There will be plenty of entertainment, including the Touch of Sparkles east of the bingo pavilion at 12:30 p.m., music by Mike Lasack and his Rhythmaires polka band from noon to 1:30 p.m. by the beer tent and Don Anders Trio + 1 from 2-4 p.m. near the beer tent.

Class A Karaoke & DJ Service will play from 2-10 p.m., the Belle Plaine High School Jazz Band will perform from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and the rock band Cross Trainer will play from 6-7:30 p.m.

There will be plenty of food and refreshments throughout the day. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Luzerne, will be in charge of the main food booth. The Belle Plaine High School cheerleaders will sell cotton candy, Dollars for Scholars will offer snow cones and funnel cakes, the Gold Medal Wrestling Club will sell Pizza Hut pizza, the Rotary Club will have Kentucky Fried Chicken and the July 4^th Committee will sponsor the beer tent.

The July 4^th Committee is sponsoring a raffle featuring many great prizes, including a top prize of $250. Tickets are available at MidWestOne Bank, Chelsea Savings Bank, True Value and Country Foods. The raffle drawing will be at 7:30 p.m. on July 4^th, preceding the city’s biggest and best fireworks display at dusk.

Belle Plaine native Lonnie Nielsen celebrated his 56^th birthday a day early Sunday afternoon, as he surged to the lead with a spectacular start and went on to post his second win on the PGA Champions golf tour at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, NY.

Nielsen went into the final day of the tournament trailing Fred Funk by three shots. But he opened his final round with birdies on the first and second hole, a long putt for eagle on the third and two more birdies on four and five to go six under for the day. He finished by posting a nine-under 63 for the round. His three-day total of minus 21 was the lowest score posted on the Champions Tour this year.

Meanwhile, Funk tried to stay close, but faded to finish three under for the day and ended the tournament in a tie for second place with Ronnie Black. Both men finished three strokes back.

When reached by e-mail today (Monday), Nielsen replied, “It has been busy here since the big win, (with) lots of calls e-mails etc.  What a thrill.  Winning never gets old because it is so hard to do.  Nothing like it.  I will be playing in all of the events this year.   3M is next and it might be my favorite course we play.  Nice to be going in there full of confidence.”

The victory was Nielsen’s second career win on the Champions Tour and it came before a host of friends. He was a longtime club pro near Buffalo, NY and he said after his round that it was nice to get that win in front of friends. His wife, Mary Jo, was also at the tourney. His previous best finish in 2009 was a tie for third at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am.

The tournament didn’t start off well for Nielsen, who shot a double bogey six on the second hole on Friday. But he then carded three straight birdies, followed by a bogey on the sixth hole and two more birdies to post a two-under 35 on the front nine. Five birdies highlighted the second round as he finished day one with a 66. On Saturday, he had four birdies on the front nine for a 33 and three birdies and a bogey on the back nine for another 33 and another round of 66.

The Champions Tour takes the week off before returning to action July 10-12 at the 3M Championship at Blaine, MN.

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• Nielsen rallies with 63 for second Champions title (cbssports.com)

Belle Plaine Traveling Team

Belle Plaine 6 BGM 5

Belle Plaine had a strong performance from Trey Squiers who went 3-3 with two singles and a triple and scored two runs.  Vance Bohlen went 2-2 and scored a run.  Brandon Zumbach went 1-1 and scored the winning run in the bottom of the 5^th inning.

South Tama 4 Belle Plaine 1

Josh Long went 2-3 with two singles.  Cody Northrop also contributed going 1-3 with a single.  Vance Bohlen went 1-2 with a single.  Justin Jacobi went 2-2 and scored the only run.

Reinbeck 11 Belle Plaine 4

Belle Plaine had a strong performance from Josh Long who went 3-3 with two singles and a double and scored a run.  Vance Bohlen went 2-2 with a single and a double.  Brandon Zumbach and Jacob Ehlen also contributed with each of them hitting a single.

Belle Plaine City League

Midwest One Bank Mets 2 Ehlen Plumbing and Heating Pirates 1

Defense was a big key in this game.  The Pirates racked up eight strikeouts while the Mets got 10.  Offensively Jacob Ehlen was 2-2 with a triple and a double for the Pirates.

Midwest One Bank Mets 6 Red Wheel Red Sox 7

Josh Long had two doubles and Justin Jacobi had a triple and three RBI’s for the Mets.  For the Red Sox, Jon Stone had two singles and 3 RBI’s.  Trey Squiers had two singles as well.  Adrien Griffith had five strikeouts and Tyler Arens had two strikeouts for the Red Sox.  Josh Long had two strikeouts and Dakota Henry had five strikeouts for the Mets.

Midwest One Bank Mets 8 Grieder Standard Giants 6

Caleb Morrow had a triple and a single and Chance Baburek had two singles for the Mets.  Ceaton Harter had two singles and Zac Slaymaker had a single for the Giants.  Justin Jacobi pitched for the Mets and had three strikeouts while Zac Slaymaker had three strikeouts.

Red Wheel Red Sox 9 Ehlen Plumbing and Heating Pirates 3

The Red Sox had a strong performance at the plate from Cody Northrop who went 1-2 with a run.  Trey Squiers went 3-3 scoring three runs.  For the Pirates, Will Mengler went 1-2 and drove in a run.

Red Wheel Red Sox 2 Grieder Standard Giants 1

Both teams had strong pitching performances.  For the Giants, Zac Slaymaker, Vance Bohlen, and Wes Pippert struck out five batters and only gave up one run.  For the Red Sox, Adrien Griffiith only gave up one run and struck out four batters.  Jakob Longnecker drove in the winning run for the Red Sox.

Grider Standard Giants 3 Midwest One Bank Mets 5

Ceaton Harter went 2-2 with two singles and two RBI’s.  Wes Pippert pitched three innings and struck out four batters.  Brandon Zumbach went 2-2 with two doubles for the Mets.  Caleb Morrow was 3-3 with a double and two singles.

Slide show photos by Steve and Matthew Mengler

Last week’s meeting of the Belle Plaine Rotary Club was a special event, as current members took a few moments to reflect on the club’s 90-year history and to honor three longtime members.

Dr. Howard Thomasson, Frank Silkebaken and Don Magdefrau were each cited for more than 50 years of continuous membership in the club. All three are also past presidents of the club. They were honored with a cake and presented with embroidered windbreakers.

Thomasson presented the program for the day, as he reviewed some of the rich history of the local club.

The Belle Plaine Rotary was chartered in 1919, just 14 years after the club was founded nationally by Paul Harris, a University of Iowa law student. Belle Plaine was only the 577^th club chartered. There are now more than 30,000 worldwide.

The Belle Plaine club had 19 original members. Its first president was a local banker, George Ahrens. He was followed in 1923 by James Parks. The third president, O.C. Burrows, started a proud line of members of his family to serve prominently in the Rotary club. John Burrows, the club’s 18^th president, later went on to serve as district governor. He had 43 years of perfect attendance in the club. R.O. “Bob” Burrows served two terms as president from 1952-56. Finally, Dick Burrows was the club’s 40^th president.

William Herring was the club secretary for a record 11 years. He collapsed and died at a Rotary meeting on Oct. 5, 1937.

In more recent years, club presidents have included Dr. Richard Paul, Dr. Fadi Yacoub, Don Magdefrau, Rick Petersen, Dr. Saleem Shamsee, Marie Stratford and the current president, Lon Weber.

The local Rotary club has had a long history of service to the community. For years, the club sponsored foreign exchange students that came to this country, as well as a few local students who went to other countries as foreign exchange students.

The Wayne Conrad Scholarship was established in 1984.

The 1986-87 year was another important milestone for the local club. The main project for the year was PolioPlus, a plan to eradicate polio worldwide. It was also the firt year that women were admitted to the local club. Marie Stratford, Judy Carter and Florence Lyman were the first local female members. All three would later go on to serve terms as the club president.

During the 1980s, the chief fundraiser for the club was an annual spaghetti or fish dinner, with the proceeds going to the retired senior volunteer program, Red Cross swim program, local library, etc.

The club sponsored a circus in 1991, one of the top fundraisers in years.

Other service projects over the years have included the annual Chautauqua, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Boys State, a corn yield contest, teacher receptions, hosting high school seniors at meetings, Christmas toy program, taking seniors to the state legislature for more than 30 years and a self help tractor program.

“Although the Belle Plaine Rotary club is part of a very large international service organization, our primary focus has always been local,” Weber said. “BP Rotarians have one primary fundraiser every spring and has recently started a second one every other fall. This is our spaghetti supper held every April and now every other November. We use most of the money raised to fund two scholarships for graduating BPHS seniors. Other local activities supported by Rotarians include the Living History Weekend, Celebration Iowa Singers, Highway 21 roadside cleaning, Belle Plaine Community Development, as well as many more.

“Becoming a Rotarian is quite easy,” he said. “You simply have to have a desire to do good things for others. In other words ‘Put Service Above Self’. Rotarians ask themselves four questions; 1) Is it the truth? 2) Is it fair to all concerned? 3) Will it build goodwill & better friendships? 4) Will it be beneficial to all concerned? This is referred to as the Rotary four-way test, and is followed by Rotarians worldwide in their business, professional, and personal lives.

“Belle Plaine Rotarians meet every Monday noon at the Lincoln Café for lunch and fellowship. To learn more about Rotary, come join us or ask any local Rotarian, we will be happy to share the Rotary story.”