Iowa Gov. Chet Culver’s announcement this week that the state budget would be immediately cut by 10 percent has sent officials from most government agencies scrambling to gauge the impact of the cut and how to deal with the loss of revenue.

Bill Lynch, superintendent of the Belle Plaine Community School District, said Friday afternoon that the district had been notified that the state will be cutting state aid by $300,857 this year. That will necessitate some major budget revisions, which he was just beginning to address the day after Culver’s announcement.

Lynch said at least some of the cuts will be made up through use of the district’s cash reserve fund. But he said other options are being considered. He said he was not surprised about the announcement from the state, although he, along with many others, were a bit surprised at the percentage of cuts, after earlier estimates had indicated that the state would see a shortfall of just under seven percent in revenue.

“It’s serious, but we will maintain a quality educational program,” the superintendent said.

With more than 80 percent of the school budget allocated for staff and signed contracts in place through the end of this school year, the areas for possible cuts in all school district are limited. Some school officials across the state have been hesitant to drain their cash reserve funds, speculating that the cuts might be even worse next year.

The Belle Plaine Board of Education is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, Oct. 21, and Lynch indicated he should have a report by then on what measures will be enacted.

New trial dates have been set for next year for three defendants in the death of Curtis Bailey of Marengo. Jessica Dayton and Jacob Hilgendorf, both of Belle Plaine and Denise Frei of Marengo were slated to stand trial beginning Monday, Oct. 12. But on Friday, Iowa County District Court officials said the trial for Dayton has been rescheduled for Jan. 4, 2010, while the date for the trial of Frei and Hilgendorf has been reset for May 17, 2010.

All three face first degree murder charges in the death of Bailey, owner of the Lincoln Café in Belle Plaine, who was killed on July 19^th at his home in Marengo. The three were taken into custody shortly after the discovery of Bailey’s body.

Frei was Bailey’s girlfriend, Hilgendorf is her son and Dayton was a friend of Hilgendorf. All three remain in custody at the Iowa County Jail.

With the recent reports of massive absenteeism in some Iowa school districts related to the flu outbreak, local school officials report a slightly elevated number of absences as they work to stave off the numbers experienced elsewhere.

Susan Grieder became the school nurse in the Belle Plaine Community Schools this year. She said the district has experienced a few more absences than normal in the past couple of weeks. But nothing like the reports out of Iowa City, where more than a third of the student body at City High missed one or more days of school this week due to the flu.

With predictions of the outbreak coming even before the start of school this fall, Grieder said she has reminded the janitorial staff to pay special attention to cleaning surfaces that see the most human contact, such as door knobs, stair rails, sinks and drinking fountains. She has been instructing students on good hand washing, coughing into their elbows rather than their hands, etc.

She has sent information home with students in the lower grades and has put hand sanitizer in most of the classrooms. The Benton County Health Department has also been instrumental in handing out packets with hand sanitizer and other materials for students.

Grieder has also attended a couple of workshops on the epidemic at Benton Community Schools and at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton.

She also reports that other than the few extra cases of suspected flu, there was one confirmed case of chicken pox at Longfellow earlier in the school year.

Health care professionals remind everyone to cough into their elbows rather than their hands to limit germ transmission, wash your hands often and if you are sick, stay home. Some recommend that if you have had a fever, you should stay home for 24 hours after the fever breaks.

Benton County has reportedly begun receiving the H1N1 vaccine, but apparently only 200 doses have been received so far. It should be available soon, although some people are not sure if they will receive the new vaccine, since it has been placed into distribution quicker than other medicines. But federal officials have assured the public that the vaccine is safe.

Belle Plaine’s annual Homecoming celebration clicked into high gear Thursday night, with a parade through the business district, followed by a pep rally at the high school.

Taylor Schafbuch and Brian Crow were crowned queen and king of the festivities. On hand to make the presentations were last year’s royalty, Queen Sam Behncke and King Shane Rieck. The senior attendants are John Long and Bree Nerison.

The senior class edged out the junior class for first place in the homecoming float contest.

The pep rally featured a dance number by the cheerleaders, the traditional appearance by several freshman football players who dressed up as cheerleaders for the night and a skit produced by parents of the senior players entitled, “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth or Sixth Grade Football Player?” The skit quizzed senior members of the team with questions regarding their memories of experiences during their football careers.

The softball team and the cheerleaders also presented checks to Josh, Jessica and Addison Stamp for Addison’s medical expense fund. This was the second check from the softball team and the cheerleaders presented proceeds from their camp. The two donations totaled more than $1,800.

Today (Friday) festivities continue with a student “Shin-Dig” during the afternoon featuring various activities. The game against Wapello is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the dance will follow.

This year’s Belle Plaine Homecoming royalty includes, front row, from left: senior attendants John

Long and Bree Nerison, King Brian Crow and Queen Taylor Schafbuch and 2008 royalty, King Shane

Rieck and Queen Sam Behncke. Back row, from left: junior attendants Zach Snyder and Kelli

Freeman, sophomore attendants Cody Chekal and Macy DeMeulenaere and freshman attendants

Lance Hinschberger and Sterling Formanek.