A water main break at Ninth Street and Fifth Avenue was reported Wednesday morning. It will result in some water service interruptions for residents of the area, according to Belle Plaine city officials.

By: Brad Cook

A young squad of Belle Plaine girls traveled to Tama on Saturday June 26^th to compete in a 12 and under softball tournament. Facing some of the top softball programs in the state the Plainsmen girls battled older more experienced teams while gaining valuable experience for the future.

Game one pitted the Plainsmen against the sterling pitching of BCLUW.  Savannah Meeks pitched in a losing effort against the Cobras of BCLUW. Kylie Hegwood had the only hit for Belle Plaine as the girls fell 9-0.

Game two saw the Plainsman bats start to heat up against a tough East Marshall girl’s team. Kalli Grieder began the game pitching giving way to Madison McIntire after suffering an injury. Kalli Grieder, Savannah Meeks, and Shaylee Stanerson all had hits for the Plainsman in a 17-4 loss.

Fighting a 100 degree heat index the girls left it all on the field against South Tama in a hard-fought 10-9 loss. Savannah Meeks returned to the mound and the Plainsmen capitalized on numerous bases on balls given up by the Trojan pitching staff. Leading 9-8 going into the bottom of the last inning the Trojans manufactured two runs to get the win. Scoring runs for the Plainsmen in the finale were Savannah Meeks, Kylie, Shaylee Dodd, Shannon Murray, Madison McIntire, Amanda Cook, Dawn Toney, and Shaylee Stanerson.

Also competing for the Plainsman were Lakota Stanerson, Ashton Bohlen, Kendra Alcott, Lilly Papesh, and Kaitlyn Plumb. Phillip Stanerson and Megan Ehlen coached the team with Todd Bohlen helping and umpiring.

The summer parks and recreation season comes to an end next week with the Benton County League tournament taking place Monday through Friday at sites to be determined.

Players huddle with coach Stanerson between innings.

Editor’s note: This week we begin a new feature by Duronda Schlue. A retired teacher in the Belle Plaine Community Schools, she has traveled extensively and will share what she has discovered in periodic contributions to this site.

By Duronda Schlue

Trains have always fascinated America. Our history is rich in stories of train robberies, hobos jumping on boxcars, and my favorite childhood story about the little train that was so brave it managed to get the toys to the children when all others failed. One of the best family vacations we ever had was taking our children on Amtrak from Ft. Madison to New Mexico. We had such fun that we repeated the trip three or four times during their childhood.

The westbound Southwest Chief leaves Ft. Madison at 6:57 p.m. It travels briefly through Missouri stopping in La Plata before heading on to Kansas City. KC is a refueling depot and the longest stop in route to New Mexico. As the train’s travelers relax in a “stress-less” mode over the clicking of the rails, the train travels through Kansas during the night and on to Colorado. It makes brief stops at many places on the rail line.

After a few stops in Colorado, the famous tunnel near Raton, New Mexico is first sign we are nearing our destination. In Raton many Boy Scouts disembark and head for the famous Fremont Ranch, the summer training ground for the Scout program. The Chief makes several stops in New Mexico after Raton including Las Vegas ( not the gambling place), Lamy (near Santa Fe) and Albuquerque. The travel time from Ft. Madison to Las Vegas is roughly 19 hours.

The Southwest Chief is a double-decker modern train. When it pulls into the station, the doors open and the attendants step out to assist new travelers in finding the correct car. All seats are assigned. Upon entering the train, pieces of luggage are placed in large luggage storage racks on the lower level. Totes and small bags can be taken upstairs to waiting seats. Upstairs passengers find overhead racks as well as storage areas in front of each seat.

Each coach car has comfortable reclining chairs with footrests. Two seats are on each side of the aisle. There is a drinking water counter with paper cups at the end of the car. Bathrooms are on the lower level. There are at least 5 available in each car. An Amtrak attendant is on duty in each car. Attendants take tickets, assist the car’s passengers with luggage, getting on and off the train, and general needs.

The lower level also offers coach seats in a quiet car for elderly and handicapped or people needing a quieter spot. There are also sleeping compartments on both floors. Singles and pairs can enjoy a room for two. Although the space is tight, it is adequate and comfy for sleeping. There is also a deluxe room with its own shower and bathroom. It sleeps 3 comfortably or 2 adults and 2  young children.

The family car is the ultimate in train travel. Children and parents have the entire width of the train on the lower level. The sofa makes a double bed and there is an adult berth above.  Two chairs pop down to make a bed suitable for a child 10 or younger and overhead is another child’s bed. Meals are complimentary with the sleeping cars.

The dining car offers economical meals three times a day. There are set hours and reservations need to be made. Attendants can help with reservations. The train offers a chef and crew that prepare delicious meals. If a lighter fare is preferred, the lounge car on the lower level offers sandwiches, snacks and beverages. Most families bring snacks for their children.

The favorite spot for most people is the observation car with its floor to ceiling windows and chairs facing the windows. The scenic beauty of the Southwest can be enjoyed for hours. On the Southwest Chief passengers can see herds of deer and antelope. Occasionally a herd of elk might be seen. There is a herd of buffalo in the area and it would be a rare treat to see the mighty beasts.

Before Raton, New Mexico is the Santa Fe Railroad’s train tunnel. It is the highest peak on the rail line. It is difficult to imagine what planning it took and how much dynamite required to create the bed for the railroad as well as hollowing out the tunnel.

Amtrak.com has plenty of information to peruse for options in accommodations, dates and prices. Train fares are in the same ball park as air lare if coach seats are purchased. They also offer family discounts. Parking is never an issue. Since Ft. Madison is a working railroad yard, there is ample parking in a well-lighted area where workers come and go at all hours. Tickets can be picked up at the Ft. Madison station, but it is a good idea to check the hours the office is open.

For people who are tired of the headaches of airline travel, I suggest you try a trip on Amtrak. It is restful. Some people read books, others write while some just meet new people and observe the scenery. Whatever sounds appealing, it is a refreshing way to experience America. Your children will love it too.

As I sit here, spending another leisurely evening watching Cubs baseball on the tube, several questions about America’s grand old game seem to baffle me. Some of these questions are specific to the Cubs, while others pertain to the Major League game as a whole.

For instance,

• • When a pitcher is coming back from an injury, he often throws a “simulated game” before returning to the roster. What is a simulated game? Do they use simulated batters and simulated umpires and simulated fans and simulated beer vendors selling simulated beer?
  • I have all the respect in the world for the guys who wear Major League uniforms. Although I never played the game in an organized manner, I have seen hundreds of games and I still don’t understand why guys who hit a grounder and sprint down to first base sometimes slide head-first into the base. The little I know about physics or whatever would tell me that you lose momentum when you slide. Why not run through the base?
  • What’s up with the recent trend of longer pants worn by baseball players? Tradition would dictate wearing pants just below the knee, with long socks meeting the cuff of the pants. A lot of these guys wear pants that bunch up at the top of their cleats. You wonder what competitive benefit these too-long pants have.
  • Have you noticed the recent trend by umpires to throw a baseball out of the game every time a pitcher throws it into the dirt? Are these balls then relegated to the batting practice bag or are they wiped off by the bat boys and put back into play? I thought one of the pregame preparations was for the umpires or bat boys to rub up each of the game balls with a special mud from a certain river bottom. So they’re already a little dirty when they’re put into play.
  • On another baseball note, when did players begin to throw balls into the stands at the end of each inning? As long as the teams can afford it, this is probably a good thing. With what it costs to attend baseball games these days, it’s nice that more fans leave the game with souvenirs.
  • Speaking of the price of admission, with the rather limited success the Cubs have had over the last several years and the skyrocketing ticket prices, how are they able to routinely sell out Wrigley Field each day? According to the Cubs’ web site, ticket prices range from $22 to $315 per seat per game. And if you want to sit in certain seats in the front row at field level, you have to be the high bidder in an auction. When I was still in high school, we attended a game on a Tuesday afternoon. The place was nearly sold out, but we paid $2.50 for a lower level covered grandstand seat along the third baseline. Those seats now go for up to $42 per game. Had we decided to watch from the bleachers, we would have paid 75 cents. Bleacher seats today range in price from $54-$76 for the prime dates.
  • Those of you who know that with my liberal leanings I would generally side with the working man over management may find the following a bit puzzling. When Cubs’ pitcher Carlos Zambrano recently started yelling at his teammates after a tough first inning, he was sent home by the manager. In the old days, if the manager and general manager determined that a player should be suspended for bad judgment, they would call him into the office and give him the news. It took several days for the final word on Zambrano’s punishment to become known. The Cubs had to consult with Major League Baseball and the players’ union before making the announcement. Meanwhile, he is still under contract that pays him tens of millions of dollars and if the Cubs made the tough decision to drop him from the squad, they would still be liable for that salary for the remainder of the year. Two questions come from this: when did we begin allowing the inmates to run the prison? And, do you suppose if there was a salary cap of maybe $2 million per year per player it would cost less than $300 to purchase a seat in the best part of the ball park?
  • Here’s a general baseball question: I know it’s not politically correct to say anything about races, but a fan would have to be blind not to notice the number of Latin American players in pro baseball. I am certainly not in favor to limit the number of foreign-born players in Major League baseball. The best guys should play, regardless of their race or ethnic background. My question is, what is it going to take to get more players born in the United States on pro baseball rosters? I suspect that we are a victim of our own prosperity. The dedicated athletes are generally multi-sport stars in high school and may not eat, drink and breathe baseball like the kids do in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

That’s about all the questions that come to mind for now – unless somebody can tell me why the Cubs can’t get into the World Series when they have such a talented roster year after year. The first person that figures that out deserves a deep-dish pizza and an Old Style.

A “Chalk the Lincoln Highway” event will be held on Saturday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Main Street near the Belle Plaine Museum. The event is sponsored by the Belle Plaine Historical Society, who urges artists of all ages to “commemorate people, places and events from the area or Lincoln Highway history by drawing their images on the old Lincoln Highway.”

Savings bonds and Belle Plaine Bucks will be awarded for first, second and third place in each of five categories. Clark’s Soda Shop will give a free treat to each participant.

The last few days of June are relatively quiet on the activity front in Belle Plaine. But many in the community are gearing up for what promises to be a big Fourth of July weekend, starting on Saturday.

There will be a teen summer program at the Belle Plaine Public Library on Wednesday, beginning at 1 p.m. and a summer reading party at the aquatic center at 7 p.m.

Activities for the upcoming weekend have been documented elsewhere on this site. They include a car show and street dance, 5K and one-mile run, parade plenty of activities in Franklin Park and a big fireworks display.

Just added to the list of events is a “Chalk the Lincoln Highway” event on Saturday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Main Street near the Belle Plaine Museum. The event is sponsored by the Belle Plaine Historical Society, who urges artists of all ages to “commemorate people, places and events from the area or Lincoln Highway history by drawing their images on the old Lincoln Highway.” Savings bonds and Belle Plaine Bucks will be awarded for first, second and third place in each of five categories. Clark’s Soda Shop will give a free treat to each participant.

It looks like the high school baseball and softball teams will be getting a break with great weather forecast all week. Tonight (Monday), the teams will host BGM. On Wednesday, they are home once again, playing host to Sigourney. On Friday, the softball team is slated to play at the Nevada Invitational.

Have a great Fourth of July weekend and play safe!

Lanny R. Fintel, 65, died Thursday, June 25, 2010 at his home following a courageous battle with cancer.  Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 28 at the First Lutheran Church by Pastors Dean Duncan and Dr. Richard Osslund.  Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Sunday at the Hrabak Funeral Home and after noon Monday at the church.

He is survived by his wife, Karen; son, Shawn (Karen) of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Sherri (Aaron) Hrabak of Cedar Rapids; brother, Rick (Pam) of Lytle, TX; grandchildren, Dakota, Eriq, and Jazmynn Fintel.

A memorial fund has been established.

In conjunction with the Fourth of July holiday period, Iowa law enforcement agencies, including the Belle Plaine Police Department, are announcing they will again be out in full force starting July 2nd through the 5th, cracking down on impaired drivers and other traffic violators to prevent crashes and save lives.

With hopes of warmer weather and an extended weekend, law enforcement will gear up for the 4th of July weekend.  In addition to speed and seat belt violators, they will target drunk drivers.  “Driving while drunk isn’t worth the tremendous risk,” said Larry Sauer, Bureau Chief at the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau.  “No matter your age, if you’ve had too much holiday spirit, you’d better find a safe and sober ride home or your chances of arrest are high.”

Sauer cited recent statistics to underscore the importance of the crackdown.  “According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration during the 2008 July 4th holiday period (6 p.m. Thursday July 3rd to 5:59 a.m. Monday July 7th) our nation recorded a total of 491 traffic-related deaths.”

Although Iowa had only two traffic fatalities in 2009, our 10-year average for this holiday period is 5.  “Too many people still fail to understand that not buckling up, not driving the speed limit and driving impaired leads to loss of lives.  It’s vitally important that we bring this tragic situation to an end,” said Sauer.  “The cost of not obeying these and other traffic laws could be your life or the life of a loved one.”

During the 2009 July sTEP wave (special Traffic Enforcement Program), 237 agencies had contact with 472 alcohol/drug impaired drivers, 1,465 seat belt violators and 6,435 speed violators.  In all, more than 16,200 traffic violations were recorded.  Beyond these violations, officers assisted 844 motorists, investigated 344 traffic crashes and apprehended 143 wanted persons.

For more information, please visit www.iowagtsb.org, www.StopImpairedDriving.org. or contact:

Plans are nearly finalized for Belle Plaine’s biggest celebration of the year over the coming Fourth of July weekend.

This year’s activities include many of the attractions from the past and the return of the 5K and mile running events.

The action kicks off Saturday, July 3, with the car show and cruise downtown from 4-8 p.m. Cat Campbell of KZAT-Radio will be entertaining during the show. After the cruise, a street dance, featuring the band Smooth Maneuvers will take place on Main Street from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

After the dance, put away your dancing shoes and find your running shoes in time for the BP Booster Bolt, a 5K and one-mile running event on Sunday morning, sponsored this year by the Belle Plaine Athletic Booster Club. Registration will be from 7:15-7:45 a.m. the day of the race at the high school. Advance registration or further information is available from Andy Dahlquist, 319-430-9020 or dahlae@hotmail.com

Race time is 8 a.m.

The annual parade starts Sunday at 10 a.m. on Main Street. Following the parade, the action moves to Franklin Park, beginning with the flag raising ceremony at noon.

Events during the afternoon will include a tractor pull, midway and rides, flush tank, 4-on-4 and sand volleyball tournaments, a craft show and bingo. Oscar the balloon artist will perform from noon to 3 p.m. There will be a karaoke contest from 2-4 p.m.,  free swimming at the new aquatics center from 1-5 p.m. and cow chip bingo at 4 p.m.

Entertainment during the day will include Cat Campbell and KZAT-Radio during the parade and from noon to 2 p.m. at the park, Class “A” Karaoke Service from 2-10 p.m., Mike Lasack and his Rhythmaires from noon to 1:30 p.m., Don Anders Trio + 1 from 2-4 p.m.  and the Belle Plaine Community Pep Band from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Plenty of food and refreshments will once again be available during the afternoon. The main food booth will be staffed by members of Christ United Methodist Church. Dollars for Scholars will be selling snow cones and funnel cakes, the Gold Medal Wrestling Club will have Pizza Hut Pizza, the Rotary Club will feature Kentucky Fried Chicken and the Fourth of July Committee will man the beer tent.

The July 4^th Committee is selling raffle tickets with several great prizes and a grand prize of $250 in cash. The tickets are available in advance at MidWestOne Bank, Chelsea Savings Bank, True Value, Country Foods and at the gate on July 4. The raffle winners will be announced at 7:30 p.m. on July 4, followed by a recognition of area service veterans and active duty personnel. The fireworks display, sponsored by the Belle Plaine Lions Club and described as “better than ever,” will cap off the festivities at dusk.

By Jeanne Duffy

Belle Plaine Community Development Director

The song, “I Love A Rainy Night”  keeps dancing through my thoughts these days as I love this weather.  I realize it is not a farmer’s dream.  However, I now realize why Midwesterners listen intently for the day’s forecast.  We didn’t care in Arizona.  There is no difference between 100 and 115 degrees.  Just hot and hotter.

With the Fourth of July approaching, I am reminded why we can celebrate, thanks to the many men and women who put their lives on the line for our freedom.  Leaving family, home and entering a foreign land so we can enjoy the comforts of home.  While 4^th of July fliers do not mention this event around 8:30 p.m. at Franklin Park, after the raffle and before the fireworks, Belle Plaine’s  Military Support Group will be honoring ALL active military and veterans alike from Belle Plaine and surrounding areas. Please try to be there a little early.  You just need to show up to be recognized.  If you have served or are serving, please congregate around the ball diamond, so that the support group can recognize your service.  All gave some and some gave all.  Therefore, we also honor those who gave their lives so we can be free.