Belle Plaine’s downtown area, as well as a large grain bin northeast of the city, are sporting new art work this week, thanks to the weekend work of more than two dozen visiting artists and local volunteers.

Four murals depicting some of the scenes Belle Plaine is known for were created and installed on walls of three downtown buildings and on a grain bin at the intersection of Highways 30 and 131 by a group of artists known as “The Walldogs.”

The artists, from as far as Colorado and Canada, arrived in the city Thursday night, guests of local residents. That night, Highway 21 near Seventh Avenue was blocked off for several hours as images of the designs, which the artists had created, were projected on to white panels. The artists meticulously traced the designs on the panels and on Friday, they went to work, turning the white pieces of metal into works of art.

All four of the murals were mounted on the walls of the Country Foods store, where the artists spent all day Friday and Saturday and a good deal of Sunday painting them Many passersby stopped to watch them at work. Several local artists volunteered their expertise and some school classes also stopped to observe and take up paint brushes to help with the work under the close supervision of the professionals.

One of the artists came from Boston and learned only on Monday that she would be coming to Iowa after another artists was forced to pull out of the project. She said this was only her second trip to Iowa. She had been a part of an earlier Walldog team in the state. She said she is also in charge of the lettering at Fenway Park.

“I have the park all to myself (when she is on the job),” she said. “So when I go to games there, I look around and wonder what all the people are doing there!”

By all accounts that was the mood of most of the visitors, who seemed to enjoy the Iowa hospitality and the unseasonably warm and dry weather. Installation of the murals went without a hitch on Sunday afternoon, except for the work at the round grain bin. That mural was installed Monday morning and the last bolt was driven just as the rain began to fall.

The City of Belle Plaine paid for the project as a part of its streetscape project.

A record number of re-enactors, more than 100 students and perfect weather combined for a great weekend for Belle Plaine’s Weekend of Living History. The sixth annual “Battle for the Bridge” at Franklin Park drew 160 Civil War re-enactors from throughout the Midwest. Many of them were camped in the park by Friday and presented several seminars on life and battle during the Civil War era to students from several area schools.

On Saturday, the afternoon battle was preceded by Union and Confederate drills in the park and a morning parade of colors down Main Street. Following the afternoon battle, which featured infantry, cavalry and cannon troops, an actor portraying Abraham Lincoln addressed the crowd. Saturday night there was a Civil War Ball at the park.

Disciplinary charges have been filed against Belle Plaine physician Robert A. Bischoff, M.D. by the Iowa Board of Medicine. The charges were filed on Sept. 2, 2009 against the physician who has been a member of the staff at the University of Iowa Family Practice Clinic.

Charges are simply allegations and do not assume guilt or innocence.

According to a press release from the board, “…The board charged Dr. Bischoff with engaging in a pattern of sexual misconduct, unprofessional conduct and disruptive behavior. The board alleged that Dr. Bischoff engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a former patient in 2007, and the patient stole his prescription pad and illegally obtained prescription drugs. Dr. Bischoff was reprimanded by his former employer for making inappropriate sexual advances toward a female co-worker in 2006, he was the subject of a number of complaints from female patients who alleged that he engaged in inappropriate touching and unprofessional comments and he viewed and stored pornographic images on a computer at his workplace. The board also alleges that Dr. Bischoff frequently becomes angry and yells at co-workers and other healthcare providers. On June 18, 2009, the board ordered Dr. Bischoff to complete a comprehensive physical, neuropsychological, mental health, sexual misconduct and substance abuse evaluation and he completed the board-approved evaluation on July 29-31, 2009. After careful consideration, the board has serious concerns that Dr. Bischoff has engaged in a pattern of sexual misconduct, unprofessional conduct and disruptive behavior. A hearing has been scheduled on October 21, 2009.”

Requests for further information and Bischoff’s current status with the local practice were referred to Tom Moore at the University of Iowa. Moore said the university has had a long-standing practice of not commenting on matters involving employees and pending litigation. When pressed further on what patients of Dr. Bischoff should do and if he is still employed at the local clinic, Moore advised the patients should call the clinic and make appointments as necessary.

A check of the UI Family Care web site lists Bischoff and Michelle Malloy, ARNP, who has been with the practice since 1998 on staff.

Belle Plaine bounced back from its lone loss of the season the week before to hand Durant a 27-7 setback Friday night at Wildcat Stadium.

The Plainsmen won in several aspects, timely passing, strong running and stout defense. The lone Wildcat score came on a long kickoff return to start the second half.

An 11-yard pass from John Long to Chris Janss got the scoring underway for the Plainsmen with 5:31 remaining in the first quarter. The touchdown came at the end of a 13-play, 62-yard opening drive and was capped by Keegan DeMeulenaere’s two-point conversion run on a fake kick.

The defensive highlight of the night for Durant came at the start of the second quarter, when the Wildcats turned back a Plainsman threat on fourth down at the Durant three yard line. But the next time Belle Plaine got the ball, the Plainsmen started deep in Wildcat territory and despite two fumbles, they scored with 3:32 left in the half on Brian Crow’s two-yard run. DeMeulenaere’s kick made it 15-0.

Then on Durant’s next drive, Damon Rhoades picked off a pass and the Plainsmen were once again in business on the Durant 13. Rhoades got the call two plays later for a three-yard touchdown run and with 1:56 left in the half, the visitors had a 21-0 lead.

The Wildcats struck right away in the second half. A combination of out-kicking the coverage and some coverage mistakes by the Plainsmen allowed Shane Sheahan to race 94 yards for the Wildcat score. The extra point kick made it 21-7.

The was the end of the scoring until the 3:22 mark of the fourth quarter, when Crow broke free for 56 yards and the final touchdown.

“Our line was more physical than it has been in the past,” Coach Todd Bohlen said. “We still made some mistakes on center-quarterback exchanges, etc.”

Rhoades had a good night on both sides of the ball. He had nine carries for 44 yards and a touchdown and on defense, he had five tackles, including one for loss, two pass interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Crow led the team with 26 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Ryan Rupp had one carry for nine yards, Chris Janss had two for 10 yards, Long had five carries for nine yards, Seivon Steward had four for nine yards and Cooper Northrop had two carries for 15 yards.

Long completed four of seven passes for 42 yards and a touchdown. Janss caught three of them for 29 yards and a score and Steward had one catch for 13 yards.

Rupp led the team with 10 tackles with one for loss. Janss had seven with one for loss, Steward had three, Austin Chekal had four with two for loss, DeMeulenaere had five, Devon Parr finished with six with one for loss, Northrop had six, Scott Wheeler had seven with three for loss, Garrett Rollins had three with a sack, Blake Chekal had one, Kyle Janss had two and Jacob Miller had an interception.

This week is another District Five showdown week when West Branch comes to town. The Bears are 4-0 on the season. They held Tipton and Wilton to six points each in their two non-district games, then gave up 28 points in wins over Eddyville-Blakesburg and Wapello. Last week, they beat Wapello, 55-28, as Cole Kelly rushed 19 times for 281 yards, giving him 731 yards for the year.

Bohlen said West Branch will feature a good, big, tough, skilled line. He said the game plan is to force them to throw the ball.

The injury report going into this week is generally favorable. The schedule for the return of Raymond Edgar, out with a knee injury, is still uncertain, the coach said.

Other Plainsman team results

Before Friday’s varsity contest, the Belle Plaine junior varsity dropped a 12-6 decision to the Wildcats. Lance Hinschberger scored the touchdown for the Plainsmen.

On Saturday, the Plainsman junior high teams traveled to North Mahaska. The eighth graders took a 34-14 win. The seventh graders, the “Iron Men,” led 20-0 at the half, then dropped a 22-20 decision. The team includes just nine seventh graders and two first-year eighth grade players. They played every down in the contest, Bohlen said.

Belle Plaine                 8          13        0          6          -           27

Durant                         0          0          7          0          -             7

BP                   D

First downs                 12                    7

Rushing                       49-241             30-142

Passes                          4-7-0                4-13-3

Pass yds.                     283                  167

Punts                           2-53                 4-20

Fumbles                       3-0                   1-1

Penalties                      5-45                 7-65

As many local residents continue to reflect on an amazing weekend of activity in Belle Plaine, a new week brings plenty of activities to the schedule.

Tonight (Monday) the Belle Plaine City Council will meet in a committee-of-the-whole session at 5 p.m. to discuss a policy on fostering dogs, insulation at city hall, Brownfield redevelopment program, sidewalks in the Longfellow Elementary School area and a rental property ordinance.

The regular council meeting follows at 6 p.m. Some of the items on the agenda include reports from Belle Plaine Community Development Director Jon Dayton and Police Chief Kris Hudson and reports from City Administrator Bill Daily on the Walldog event, sewer projects and the aquatics facility construction. Both meetings, open to the public, will be held at City Hall.

On Tuesday, a representative from Congressman Lowell Bosworth’s office will be at City Hall to meet with the public from 11 a.m. to noon.

The Library Board meets at 5 p.m. at the Belle Plaine Public Library.

On Wednesday,  the Belle Plaine Partners for Beautification will meet at the community center at 6 p.m.

Belle Plaine Schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Preschool storytime is scheduled for Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the Belle Plaine Public Library.

On Sunday, “Memories of Chelsea” will be presented by Marvin Kucera at the Belle Plaine Museum at 2 p.m.

The local sports slate is also a full one this week. The Belle Plaine cross country teams have one of those tough weeks with back to back meets. Today, they travel to BGM and Tuesday, they travel to Vinton-Shellsburg. The volleyball squad is at Sigourney Monday and Anamosa on Saturday.

The varsity football team has another crucial game Friday night when the Plainsmen host West Branch.

Mabel Louise (Hansen) Duncalf of Belle Plaine, Iowa died September 18, 2009 at the Belle Plaine Nursing & Rehab Center. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at St. Michael Catholic Church in Belle Plaine with Deacon Joe Behounek officiating.  Burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery near Keystone.  A visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Monday, September 21, 2009 at the Hrabak Funeral Home where there will be a Rosary at 7:30.
Mabel was born at home on a farm near Keystone.  The daughter of Nichalus Hansen and Caroline (Selken) Hansen.  Mabel attended Kane Rural School through eighth grade and attended Keystone High School, graduating in 1939.  On June 28th, 1945 Mabel married Gerald William Duncalf of Luzerne where they farmed together until July 20th, 1983 when Gerald passed away suddenly.  Mabel moved to Belle Plaine in 1986 where she resided until her death.
Left to honor her memory is a son David (Julie) Duncalf of Cedar Rapids; three grandchildren: Leann (Charles) Gatewood of Eagle Grove, Staff Sargent Jacob (Monicia) Duncalf of Urbandale, Benjamin (Marcy) Duncalf of Goldfield; seven great grandchildren Marcus and Alexis Gatewood of Eagle Grove, Zackery, Cael and Walker Duncalf of Urbandale, Jordyce and Daven Duncalf of Goldfield; a brother Wilbur Hansen of Anamosa and a sister Evelyn Fike of Evansdale.
Preceding her in death were her husband,  parents, seven brothers, Willie, Edwin, Johnnie, Raymond of Keystone, Alfred of Amana, LeRoy of Waterloo, Harold of Cedar Rapids, two sisters Helen Macek and Alice Hughes of Belle Plaine.
Mabel was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church at Van Horne from 1945 to 1986 when she then moved to Belle Plaine and attended St Michael Church.

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