To the editor:

First of all I would like to thank the many citizens for their compliments for the 2009 Veterans’ Day Assembly program, that experience was a memorable occasion for me.
I am going to share my opinion or outlook of some issues that our city leaders are undergoing. I would like to compliment those involved with our current construction to our schools and aquatic center. Those seem to be progressing along very well, and they will be great assets to this community. However, there are four issues I would like to share my opinion on. Those being the main street renovations, Benco Manufacturing closing, Belle Plaine beautification programs, along with our new city council.
Regarding the main street renovations, we citizens all know our downtown district is a rundown, depressed, and neglected region. This is because of years of train smog, traffic, and former city leaders shrugging their shoulders at the facade needs, so plain and simple our business district must be redone. Many people looking for a place to live base it off appearance of the town, along with other major assets. Assets such as job opportunities, city leadership, schools, and location. Appearance is a positive by opinion, and our business district has a negative effect. Our Historic Main Street needs to meet the standard to its name. We can do that with putting trees back on the street along with the historical needs for example: old themed street lights, benches, or even railroad memorabilia to mix in our history. Imagine our historic downtown on Christmas Eve with lights in the trees and the year round historic feel.
The closing of Benco Manufacturing is and will be a major blow to our town economically, socially, and mentally, bringing in the debate of redoing our downtown district. Refilling the Benco building and the older building, must be the mayor and city council’s number one priority. This town may not see the consequences from this in an immediate form, but the outcome will be appalling. So please make this your top priority, for the future of the community.
The third topic I would like to converse about is the beautification program. Our recent hosting of the Walldog painters was a success. The city is in full motion in making this a better place to reside. Walking trails, entrance scenery, and other miscellaneous tasks are at hand within the BPCDC and Belle Plaine Beautification. I have one question regarding these topics. Why do we need a visitor center? Isn’t that what a museum and community center are for? I am fond of walking trails and a prairie grass park. But we do not need to spend money on a visitor center. Instead use that money to construct a sidewalk to the high school on 13th avenue, so students or others don’t walk in the street. That would be a wise idea.
Finally, congratulations to Mr. Parizek, Mr. DeRycke, and Mr. Reekers for succeeding this year’s city council election. I would also like to thank Mr. Kurovski for his hard work on the council. We are at the start of a very interesting time in our history. All these big topics at hand will test our council and citizens. I would like to also mention to those people who do not think Mr. Parizek will do a fond duty, give him a chance. People make mistakes in life, and if you don’t, I would like to meet you. I am 100% positive every living person has made a mistake once in a lifetime, but I respect anyone’s opinion. So please give our newly elected member a chance at success, instead of being judgmental and stubborn. Yet, it will also help if people actually end the inactivity in voting. A democracy doesn’t work if people choose not to participate. Thank You

Sincerely,

Tony Jones
Belle Plaine, IA

Dec. 21, 3:25 p.m. – A suspicious subject was reported on Main Street. Officers were unable to locate anyone.
Dec. 21, 5:55 p.m. – Car unlock at Washington Apartments, 1540 15th Street.
Dec. 22, 8 a.m. – Police executed a search warrant at 832 12th Street, Apt. 5. The incident is under investigation and charges are pending.
Dec. 22, 10:03 a.m. – Police were called to a residence in the 1700 block of Seventh Avenue. A juvenile was subsequently referred to juvenile authorities on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Dec. 24, 11:54 a.m. – Reckless driving was reported in the 800 block of Seventh Street. No one was located.
Dec. 24, 11:26 p.m. – Harassment was reported at 202 11th Street. No charges were filed.
Dec. 25, 11:35 a.m. – Police assisted the Benton County Sheriff’s Department at the scene of an accident at 13th Avenue and Highway 30.
Dec. 25, 8:17 p.m. – Officers received a report of a vehicle heading into the city on Highway 21 without taillights. They were unable to locate it.
Dec. 25, 9:45 p.m. – A report of harassment at 1514 Sixth Avenue remains under investigation.
Dec. 26, 8:24 a.m. – Car unlock in the 1400 block of 12th Avenue.
Dec. 26, 9:03 a.m. – Ambulance assist in the 1500 block of Rainbow Drive.
Dec. 26, 4:11 p.m. – Officers took a report of a hit and run accident in the 1300 block of Seventh Avenue. The vehicle owned by Jerry Jacobi, Belle Plaine, received minimal damage.
Dec. 26, 10:20 p.m. – A prowler was reported in the 600 block of Tenth Street. Officers determined it was someone out walking.
Dec. 27, 2 a.m. – Charges are pending in the wake of a fight outside of the Oasis Bar on 12th Street.
Dec. 27, 3:05 a.m. – Police assisted the Benton County Sheriff’s Department on an accident near the intersection of Highway 131 and E-66. A vehicle went through a fence. No injuries were reported.
Dec. 27, 7:45 a.m. – Ambulance assist in the 1500 block of Sunset Drive.
Dec. 28, 8:10 a.m. – Police investigated a two-vehicle accident in the 600 block of Fifth Street. A 2002 Bobcat skid loader, driven by LaVerne Wille, Belle Plaine, collided with a 2002 Dodge Neon, driven by Tera Buckley, Belle Plaine. Damage to the Neon was estimated at $1,000 with minimal damage to the skid loader. No injuries were reported.

Belle Plaine’s boys’ basketball squad had a rough first month of the season, but closed out the 2009 portion of the schedule on a positive note, handing Tri-County a 66-58 defeat just before the break.
Coach Justin Northrop’s squad entered the break with a 2-6 record. After dropping the first four of the season, the Plainsmen beat English Valleys and then dropped two more contests before the win over Tri-County.
At Tri-County, the Plainsmen trailed after the first quarter, 19-13 and at the half, 33-24. But they came on strong in the second half, cutting the margin to 47-44 before scoring 22 points in the last quarter for the victory.
Ben Ehlen led the Plainsman attack with 21 points. He also had three assists. Chris Janss had 19 points, six rebounds, five steals and a block. Keegan DeMeulenaere finished with seven points, four rebounds three assists and two steals. Seivon Stewart had seven points and eight rebounds. Kyle Janss had five points, two rebounds and five steals. Cooper Northrop had five points, three rebounds and three steals. John Long had two points and two assists.
Tri-County had four players in double figure scoring. But the Plainsmen held the advantage at the free throw line, hitting 16 of 27 attempts, compared to just seven of 11 for the home team.
Belle Plaine hit 24 of 42 shots from the field, including two of four three-point attempts. Tri-County hit on 23 of 53 field goal attempts, including five of 11 three-point tries.
Keota and BGM lead the SICL Conference with undefeated marks at the holiday break. They are followed by Montezuma, HLV, Lynnville-Sully and the Plainsmen.
Belle Plaine gets back into action next week at Iowa Valley on Monday and at HLV on Friday.

If you are planning on traveling outside the Belle Plaine city limits this morning (Monday), use extreme caution. Numerous accidents have been reported on Interstate 80 in Poweshiek and Iowa counties. At least one accident has been reported at midmorning on Highway 30 at the Benton-Linn County line.
The Iowa Department of Transportation web site reports that the interstate is completely covered with ice and snow with a tow ban from near Grinnell east to the Coral Ridge Avenue exit in the Iowa City area. To the east of that point, normal driving conditions are reported.
Partial ice and snow cover is reported on Highway 30 from LeGrand to Clinton.
The National Weather service is reporting blowing snow will be possible during the day, along with slowly falling temperatures. There is a 50 percent chance of snow on Wednesday and Wednesday night and a slight chance of snow on New Year’s Day.