Belle Plaine’s volleyball squad has been busy in recent days. The Plainsman varsity, which will host English Valleys tonight (Wednesday), has a 1-2 record in recent SICL Conference matches. The Plainsmen had a 2-2 match record at the Keota Tourney and a 2-3 record at the Anamosa Tourney.

BGM 3, BP 0

Kills: Megan Abernathy, 5; Sarah Hafner, 4; Joy Cronbaugh, 3; Katie Pierce, 3. Assists: Bridgette Schminke, 16. Digs: Brenna Ford, 10. Blocks: Abernathy, 2; Hafner, 2; Pierce, 2. Serves: Cronbaugh, 7-9-0; Abernathy, 7-7-2; Schminke, 8-9-1.

Keota Tourney

BP 2, Keota 0

Kills: Abernathy, 3; Pierce, 2. Assists: B. Schminke, 6. Digs: Ford, 5; M. Schminke, 3; Macy DeMeulenaere, 2. Blocks: Abernathy, 4; Hafner, 2. Serves: Demeulenaere, 12-12-2; B. Schminke, 7-7-0; Abernathy, 9-9-2; M. Schminke, 6-6-0; Cronbaugh, 5-5-1.

BP 2, Highland 1

Kills: Abernathy, 5; Cronbaugh, 3; Pierce, 3. Assists: B. Schminke, 13. Digs: DeMeulenaere, 7; Ford, 6; Cronbaugh, 3; Abernathy, 3. Blocks: B. Schminke, 1; Abernathy, 1. Serves: DeMeulenaere, 11-12-0; B. Schminke, 8-9-0; Abernathy, 6-6-3.

Pekin 2, BP 0

Kills: Pierce, 4; Abernathy, 3. Assists: B. Schminke, 2. Digs: Ford, 6. Blocks: Andrea Lohf, 1; Abernathy, 1. Serves: B. Schminke, 3-3-0; Cronbaugh, 3-3-0.

Lone Tree 2, BP 0

Kills: Abernathy, 4; Cronbaugh, 2; Pierce, 2; Hafner, 2. Assists: B. Schminke, 10. Digs, Ford, 11. Blocks: Abernathy, 2. Serves: B. Schminke, 10-11-0; DeMeulenaere, 9-11-0; M. Schminke, 6-6-1; Cronbaugh, 8-8-1; Holly Brown, 4-4-1.

Sigourney 3, BP 0

Kills: Abernathy, 4; Hafner, 4; Cronbaugh, 4; Hafner, 3. Assists: B. Schminke, 14. Digs: Frod, 20. Blocks: Hafner, 5; B. Schminke, 3; Abernathy, 3. Serves: B. Schminke, 13-13-0; Cronbaugh, 9-9-1; DeMeulenaere, 9-11-2.

Anamosa Tourney

BP 2, Olin 0

Kills: Abernathy, 3. Assists: B. Schminke, 22. Digs: Ford, 2; DeMeulenaere, 2; Cronbaugh, 2. Blocks: Abernathy, 2. Serves: Abernathy, 5-5-0; B. Schminke, 6-6-0; Brown, 6-7-0; M. Schminke, 8-9-0.

BP 2, Anamosa 1

Kills: Abernathy, 4; B. Schmike, 3. Assists: B. Schminke, 12. Digs: Ford, 4. Blocks: Abernathy, 5; Hafner, 4. Serves: DeMeulenaere, 10-10-1; Brown, 11-13-1, B. Schminke, 7-7-0; Ford, 6-6-1.

North Linn 2, BP 0

Kills: Abernathy, 4. Assists: B. Schminke, 8; Digs: Ford, 5; Blocks: Abernathy, 2. Serves: DeMeulenaere, 9-9-1; Cronbaugh, 5-5-0; B. Schminke, 5-5-0; Brown, 5-6-0; M. Schminke, 5-6-0.

Solon 2, BP 0

Kills: Abernathy, 4; Pierce, 4. Assists: B. Schminke, 5. Digs: Ford, 2. Blocks: Hafner, 1; Cronbaugh, 1; Abernathy, 1; Pierce, 1. Serves: B. Schminke, 6-6-1; M. Schminke, 5-5-0.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson 2, BP 0

Kills: Pierce, 5; Abernathy, 4. Assists: B. Schminke, 7. Digs: Ford, 8. Blocks: Hafner, 3, Pierce, 2. Serves: DeMeulenaere, 7-7-0; Cronbaugh, 4-5-0; Abernathy, 4-5-0; Brown, 4-5-1.

BP 3, Montezuma 2

Kills: Pierce, 10; B. Schminke, 4; Hafner, 4; Abernathy, 3; Cronbaugh, 3. Assists: B. Schminke, 44. Digs: Ford, 11. Blocks: Abernathy, 11; Pierce, 7. Serves: B. Schminke, 19-21-1; Abernathy, 14-15-6; DeMeulenaere, 13-17-2; Brown: 14-15-1; M. Schminke, 20-21-2.

The following is a list of winners in week three of the Belle Plaine pro football raffle:

Highest

1^st Place-           101pts.             $325     Larry Formanek

1^st Place-           101pts.             $325     Jennifer Juett

3^rd Place-          95pts.              $ 80      Lee Mescher

3^rd Place-          95pts.              $ 80      Shane Hayler

5^th Place-           94pts.              $ 50      Earline Wheeler

6^th Place-           93pts.              $ 40      Ray Meck

7^th Place-           92pts.              $ 35      Louis Higdon

8^th Place-           90pts.              $ 18.33 Robert Blosch

8^th Place-           90pts.              $ 18.33 Charles Ledger

8^th Place-           90pts.              $ 18.33 Robert Bills

Lowest

1^st Place-             6pts.               $ 20      Karla Ehlen

2^nd Place-          10pts.              $ 12.50 Cathi Calderwood

2^nd Place-          10pts.              $ 12.50 Lyal & Cara Fox

Thank you for playing!

With the commemoration of the United Nations’ sponsored World Habitat Day coming up on Monday, Oct. 5, Belle Plaine’s local salute to affordable housing is well underway.

Just six weeks after the groundbreaking ceremony and three weekends of volunteer construction, the Habitat for Humanity home at 408 11^th Street is under roof. The front driveway and sidewalk is in place, the roof is finished and siding and windows are completed.

It will be the home of Jerrilee VonAhsen. At the groundbreaking ceremony, it was estimated that the home could be completed by early November.

Habitat for Humanity is a “nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization building simple, decent, affordable housing in partnership with people in need.”

The theme of this year’s observance of World Habitat Day, Planning our Urban Future, is meant to underscore the urgency of meeting the needs of city dwellers in a rapidly urbanizing world, according to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

“The major urban challenges of the twenty-first century include the rapid growth of many cities and the decline of others, the expansion of the informal sector, and the role of cities in causing or mitigating climate change. Evidence from around the world suggests that governments at all levels are largely failing to address these challenges. Urban sprawl and unplanned development are among the most visible consequences.  Hundreds of millions of urban dwellers are also increasingly vulnerable to rising sea levels, coastal flooding and other climate-related hazards.

“A troubling trend has emerged in many cities in developed and developing countries alike: the growth of up-market suburban areas and gated communities, on the one hand, and the simultaneous increase in overcrowded tenement zones, ethnic enclaves, slums and informal settlements, on the other.  Stark contrasts have also emerged between technologically advanced and well-serviced business sectors, and other areas defined by declining industry, sweatshops and informal businesses.

“Better, more equitable urban planning is essential.  New ideas from smart cities around the world are pointing the way toward sustainable urbanization.  But there is far more to do.  Urban poor need improved tenure and access to land.  All cities need safer and more environmentally friendly public transport, housing security, clinics and public services.  There is also a need to mobilize financing for urban development.

“Planning is at the heart of this agenda.  But planning will work only where there is good urban governance and where the urban poor are brought into the decisions that affect their lives. And planning will work best only where corruption is honestly tackled.  United Nations bodies such as UN-HABITAT can provide vital help with capacity building, research, and knowledge management and exchange.

“At the dawn of this new urban age, we recognize the problems and we know how to tackle them. We understand perhaps more clearly than ever before that no-one can be excluded, especially the poor. On World Habitat Day, let us pledge to do our part to follow through on our plans for a better, greener, more sustainable future for our increasingly urban planet.”

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Week six of the high school football campaign should be an interesting one. In District Five, Belle Plaine will attempt to get back on the winning track against a team that has tasted victory only once this season.

The Plainsmen take to the road this week to face an Iowa Valley team that topped Van Buren last Friday, 42-6. The big offensive story in that game was Nick Heisdorffer, who gained 167 yards in 18 carries and scored four touchdowns.

The Tigers bounced back from a 50-14 loss at the hands of Eddyville-Blakesburg the week before. They have given up an average of 26 points per game and have been shut out twice this season.

The marquee game in the district this week has to be the match-up of Pekin at West Branch. Both teams are perennial Class 1A powers. This year, the Bears, currently rated third in the state and undefeated, appear to have the edge.

They have scored at least 31 points in each of their first five games and have topped the 50-point mark twice. Their defense may not be the team strong point this season. After giving up only six points in each of their first two games, the Bears gave up 28 points twice before allowing 12 against the Plainsmen last week.

Nobody has found a real way to stop star running back Cole Kelly yet this season. He had 126 yards against Tipton, 137 against Wilton, 182 against Eddyville-Blakesburg, 286 against Wapello and 158 last week against the Plainsmen.

Down at Pekin, this is not a typical year for Coach Tom Stone’s squad. The Panthers are 3-2 overall, 2-1 in the district. They dropped a 17-16 decision in the season opener against Sigourney and last week, they were tripped up by an improving Wapello squad, 38-29. But the Panthers can certainly put the points on the board, as evidenced by their 90-0 win over an outmanned Van Buren team the week before.

The Panthers do feature a varied attack. Spencer Adam has had two games of over 100 yards rushing in each, including 195 last week against Wapello. But in the 90-0 win against Van Buren, 11 men were listed with rushes and Adam’s name was missing. The team also features an adequate passing attack, spearheaded by quarterback Dalton Stone.

Another team quickly gaining respect in Class 1A circles is Wapello, which hosts Durant this week. High school football observers across the state may have been surprised to see the Indians hand Pekin a 38-29 defeat last week. But their only loss so far this season came the week before against West Branch, 55-28. They had scored at least 40 points in each of their first three games, while limiting their opponents to 12, 12 and eight points.

Most coaches value a solid running game as the basis of a successful squad and Wapello appears to be no exception. In their first win, the Indians had two runners, Danny Johnson and Dylan Schrader who each gained 134 yards. But Johnson has been missing from the stats since. Schrader followed that performance with two more plus-100 yard efforts. Pekin held him to just 32 yards on the ground, but the Panthers were unable to stop quarterback Taylor Jacobsmeier, who hit on 16 of 23 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns.

At Durant, statistics are available for only three of the first five games. The Wildcats opened with a 3-0 loss to Wilton, then beat Tipton the next week, 20-6. They handed Iowa Valley a 28-0 defeat in district opening action. Then they dropped a 27-7 decision to Belle Plaine and last week, they dropped a 19-14 decision to Eddyville-Blakesburg.

In statistics available, the Wildcats appear to be riding the back of running back Jake Goering. He had 169 yards and two touchdowns in 25 carries against Tipton, 32 carries for 203 yards and two scores against Iowa Valley and 24 rushes for 118 yards against Belle Plaine.

In the other district contest, Eddyville-Blakesburg takes its 3-2 record into Keosauqua to face winless Van Buren. In its two losses to CMB and West Branch, Eddyville gave up 56 points in each game. But the Rockets scored 49 in a win over Pleasantville and 50 in a victory over Iowa Valley.

Running back Jacob Batterson had what must have been a career night against Pleasantville, when he had 10 carries for 325 yards and scored six touchdowns. He also had four carries for 131 yards and two touchdowns against Iowa Valley.

It’s been a truly tough year for Van Buren, which lists only 23 men on its varsity roster, including 11 sophomores. The Warriors have scored in four of their five games this season, but including that crazy loss to Pekin, they have given up an average of 43 points per game.

In that game against Pekin, they managed just 33 yards on the ground and 142 yards in total offense.

It would appear that Belle Plaine may be over the hump, both in the number of games on its regular schedule and in toughest opponents. After this week’s trip to Marengo, the Plainsmen must host Wapello next week for homecoming, then comes a trip to Van Buren before they close out the regular season at home against Eddyville-Blakesburg.

Editor’s note: The following is the first in a series of profiles of candidates for the fall municipal election.

Jason Parizek, 28, of 604 Seventh Ave. is challenging first term Councilman James Kurovski for the Third Ward city council seat in the November election.

Parizek is the owner of Kool Kustumz, an auto and home improvement company located on 13^th Street. His wife’s name is Amber. He has two stepchildren, Landyn and Larkin. He has lived in Belle Plaine for the past 13 years.

He decided to run because, “I feel it is important for someone to be on the city council that really interacts with the public and is able to hear the concerns and views of the public away from the council chamber.  The city council tends to have their own views and opinions and the community doesn’t have much of an option to voice theirs, besides at the meetings, and yet it tends to never go any further then that.  The community needs a leader for the community, not just for the city council.  I believe by me running, (and possibly being elected) the community will have a better chance of getting their concerns across the table more so.  I will speak for the community, not myself.  So, the answer to the question would be, I want to be a community leader, not an ordinary council member.”

When asked what are the greatest challenges facing the city council in the next year, he said, “That is a difficult question to answer.  There are always challenges and the position of being challenged.  We cannot tell what is going to happen in the future, just like we, or most, were not able to predict Benco Manufacturing was going to be closing its doors.  That was a tough situation for a lot of the community from an economic standpoint.

“We really need to “think outside of the box” when it comes to things other than the community presenting themselves in a nice, clean manor for passersby or potential new members of the community.  For the last year, it’s really been just about making the community look nice, recognizable or basically giving it a facelift.  We need more then a facelift.  The world is still in an economic hole and should think about those perspectives as well.  If we can make our community attractive to new business’ and companies, that will very well be a way to get more people to come to the community and possibly be interested in becoming a part of the community.

“In general, the council needs to “think outside the box” and come up with a game plan for other “developments” other then “facelifts” for the city.  And that is a challenge as an idea itself that needs to be taken into consideration.”

He was also asked how the city can best grow and continue to thrive. His response: “By getting more or new people involved in the city.  New leaders bring new ideas, new inspirations, new goals and new value.”

By Coach Joel Formanek

Week three of action for the Belle Plaine Optimist Youth Football team was an exciting one.  Belle Plaine tied 6-6 against Cedar Rapids Regis 2 at Cedar Rapids LaSalle Middle School on Sunday. Both teams were undefeated going into the game.

The first half was back and forth with no score. Belle Plaine in the second half came out right away and Jonathan Stone intercepted a pass and returned it to the 5-yard line.  Brant DeMuelenaere scored on the very next play.  The extra point failed.

Belle Plaine played pretty solid defense the rest of the half.  The lone score for Cedar Rapids came one play after a Belle Plaine fumble that was returned to the 15-yard line.  They missed the kick and that was the final score.

We had a lot of drives where we moved the ball really well but just couldn’t get it in the end zone. We had one drive end at the 15 yard line and one that ended at the 25 yard line just before half time.

Overall I was happy with the performance. We played a really tough team and held our own for playing a bigger school than us.

Belle Plaine plays next week at Newton Black starting at 1 p.m. Sunday.  This will be another tough challenge as Newton Black is undefeated and looks to be the best Newton team we will play.  It will be fun for the kids because they have an artificial turf field to play on.

Sept. 18, 10:35 a.m. – Ambulance assist in the 1400 block of Sunset Dr.

Sept. 18, 10:25 p.m. – Officers received a report of a possible suicidal subject in the 500 block of Seventh Ave. The subject was transported to the hospital for evaluation.

Sept. 19, 3:20 a.m. – A report of a 911 hang-up at 1106 14^th Street proved to be a false alarm.

Sept. 19, 3:50 a.m. – No charges were filed as a result of a domestic dispute in the 1100 block of 14^th Street.

Sept. 19, 5:50 a.m. – A stray cat was caught in a live trap at 1506 Second Ave. Police transported it to Countryside Veterinary Clinic.

Sept. 19, 10:50 p.m. – Car unlock at 210 Seventh Ave. Lot 16.

Sept. 19, 11:20 p.m. – A suspicious activity call in the 500 block of Sixth Street proved to be unfounded.

Sept. 20, 2:40 p.m. – Kyle McDermott, 21, Belle Plaine, was arrested on Linn County warrants for second degree theft and criminal mischief. He was transported to Linn County.

Sept. 21, 12:01 a.m. – A report of criminal mischief at 210 Seventh Ave. Lot 16 remains under investigation.

Sept. 21, 12:30 p.m. – No charges were filed as a result of a harassment complaint at 620 Sixth Ave.

Sept. 21, 8:15 p.m. – A stop sign was found down in the 400 block of Eighth Street and turned over to the police department.

Sept. 23, 11:05 a.m.- A complaint of the violation of a protective order proved to be unfounded. The subject came to the police department.

Sept. 24, 10:50 p.m. – Gregory Parmenter, 30, Belle Plaine, was arrested on a Benton County warrant for interference with official acts. This stemmed from an incident on Sept. 9, when he and another subject allegedly ran from police during a stop. He was transported to the Iowa County Jail.

Sept. 24, 11:40 p.m. – Officers were called to 202 11^th Street on a report of a bat in the house.

Sept. 27, 4:30 p.m. – A loose dog was reported in the 200 block of 11^th Street. The owner of the dog was warned.

Sept. 27, 6:20 p.m. – Ambulance assist in the 1400 block of Fourth Ave.

Sept. 27, 8:50 p.m. – No charges were filed as a result of a neighbor dispute in the 400 block of 11^th Street.

Sept. 28, 12:30 p.m. – Officers responded to the 700 block of Ninth Ave. on a report of a loose dog. None was found.

Sept. 28, 12:50 p.m. – Police took a report of a possible attempted burglary at 2008 11^th Ave. No entry was gained.

Belle Plaine suffered a double loss Friday night. Fourth-rated West Branch came to town and handed the Plainsmen a 34-12 setback and the home team lost star running back Brian Crow for at least the remainder of the regular season when he went down early in the fourth quarter with a dislocated shoulder.

Bohlen said the good news on the injury was that there was no ligament tear and no bone chips. He said Crow’s loss will be an added incentive for the team to qualify for postseason play with the outside chance that he might be able to return.

Early on it appeared that the two veteran opposing coaches were staging the football equivalent of a chess match, putting their main weapons out there time after time until the opponent found a way to stop him. The Plainsmen took the opening kickoff and drove down the field, with Crow getting the call on eight of the first nine plays from scrimmage. But the drive stalled on fourth down at the Bear 18 on an incomplete pass and on their second offensive play of the night, the Bears took the lead when their main man, senior Cole Kelly, raced 76 yards for the touchdown. Brandon Young kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 6:50 left in the first quarter.

West Branch made it 14-0 with just 19 seconds left in the quarter when Jayson Madsen went over from two yards out with the first of his three touchdowns on the night.

The Plainsmen scored their first touchdown of the night midway through the second quarter as they took advantage of a Bear mistake. Ryan Rupp recovered a fumble at midfield and eight plays later, Crow went in from two yards out to make it 14-6 at the half.

Coach Todd Bohlen, who said his team did a nice job on that initial drive of the game and then saw the Plainsmen battle back in the second quarter, said he and his staff felt good going into the locker room down by a touchdown at the half.

But on their first possession of the second half, the Bears widened the margin on a three-yard run by Madsen with 9:31 left in the third quarter. The extra point kick made it 21-6. Then on the first play of the fourth quarter, the visitors made it 27-6 as Madsen capped a 38-yard, six play drive with a one-yard plunge to make it 27-6.

The final West Branch score came with 9:36 left in the game hen Rilen Carew picked off a Plainsman pass and raced 57 yards for the touchdown. It was right after that when Crow came off the field with his shoulder injury, which eventually led to a trip to the hospital and the diagnosis.

The Plainsman reserves accounted for the last score of the night. With just seven seconds remaining, Devon Parr found Kyle Janss in the corner of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown pass. The conversion run failed.

As the Belle Plaine coaching staff prepares the game plan for this week’s trip to Iowa Valley, they will have the unfortunate task of trying to replace an offensive weapon who had followed up last season’s 1,665, 29-touchdown performance with 612 yards and seven touchdowns in under five games this season.

Bohlen said they had been preparing for this possibility, or for giving Crow some rest time for the past few weeks, moving Seivon Steward, Cooper Northrop and Kyle Janss around to different offensive positions. He said the aim this week is to stiffen up the defense, because Crow was a definite presence on that side of the ball as well, although the coaches had attempted to limit his defensive reps to keep him fresh for the offense.

He said Iowa Valley will not offer the typical shotgun spread as in the past. Just as both teams worked at ball and clock control last week, he expects the Tigers to attempt the same thing this week. They have been playing four sophomores and four freshmen on both sides of the ball, so the coach hopes that the Plainsman depth and experience will be a big plus in this week’s contest.

The Tigers will be coming off their first win of the season. Last week, they throttled Van Buren, 42-6.

Before he left the game early in the fourth quarter, Crow had carried the ball 27 times for 114 yards and a touchdown. Steward had six carries for one yard, Damon Rhoades had 11 carries for 38 yards, Chris Janss had one carry for minus one yard, Northrop had one for two yards, Kyle Janss had five carries for 51 yards and Ryan Rupp had one carry for 0 yards.

Crow caught one pass for four yards and Kyle Janss had one reception for 15 yards and a touchdown.

On defense, Chris Janss had seven tackles and a fumble recovery, Steward, Austin Chekal and Keegan DeMeulenaere each had two tackles, Rupp had 10 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery, Rupp had five tackles with one for loss, Rhoades had two tackles, Northrop, one, Scott Wheeler had four, Garrett Rollins had six with one for loss, Blake Chekal had one with one for loss, Jacob Miller, Kyle Janss and Zach Snyder each had one and Ben Ehlen had a fumble recovery.

West Branch               14        0          7          13        -           34

Belle Plaine                 0          6          0          6          -           12

BP                   WB

First downs                 14                    8

Rushing                       52-203             30-256

Passes                          2-9-1                2-7-0

Pass yds.                     19                    25

Punts                           4-31                 3-29

Fumbles                       2-0                   3-3

Penalties                      4-27                 2-20

Editor’s note: Mayor Jim Daily recently responded to a letter to the editor which appeared in last week’s Star Press Union regarding several city matters.

CAT grant – amount to be awarded is $96,000 not $93,000.

Family aquatic center bid price was $2,520,222.50.

Citizens voted for a bond issue for $2.1 million.

Difference is being made up from grants and donations from people dedicated to the survival of this community.

Disposition of the rent from the old Benco building – none of my business what the owner of that property does with his income. Please feel free to contact the owner and request the rent be donated to the city.

“Property of the city” – As far as I am able to determine the city doesn’t own any property at 11^th Street and First Ave.

Grass – Your duty as a responsible citizen is to report violations of the nuisance ordinance. Please give a list to the police department. Pictures would be a plus.

Cost of the Walldog event was $37,750. It is a piece of the downtown revitalization project. The mural that the Kromminga family so generously allowed to be attached to their grain bin was designed for that purpose to point the way to our main street.

Closed alleys – “Alleys” is plural. Is there more than one? The council in its collective wisdom has to make the decisions it deems best for each situation. Sometimes decisions are unpopular. It’s called “representative government.” In the upcoming election only one seat is contested. Why? Many citizens sit on a barstool at the taverns or restaurants or around the kitchen tables and opine as to what should be done but they aren’t willing to step forward in an elective or even a voluntary capacity to carry the burdens of decision making or the actual spade work of progress.

Communication with city officials – We have two council meetings each month, the first and third Mondays at 6 p.m. The council also meets as a committee of the whole, uncompensated, once a month, usually on the third Monday at 5 p.m. to discuss ideas on future actions and perceived problems. Most often the elected officials, city staff and the press are the only attendees. Perhaps we should serve cookies.

As another source of communication and information we are fortunate to have two local news outlets covering the meetings. Both do an excellent job of keeping the townspeople up to date.

Recently on TV I saw a frustrated congressman trying to reason with a constituent, saying he might as well have a conversation with the dining room table. I appreciate his frustration.

Mayor James R. Daily