2010-2011 Week 2 NFL Raffle Results:

Highest

1^st Place      113 pts.      $350           Don Walton                                       Belle Plaine, IA

2^nd Place      110 pts.      $150           Rob & Trixy Petsche               Manchester, IA

3^rd Place      107 pts.      $ 80            Ben Reineke                                      Belle Plaine, IA

3^rd Place      107 pts.      $ 80            Kris Sherwood                         Atkins, IA

5^th Place      106 pts.      $ 50            Brandon Heying                      Belle Plaine, IA

6^th Place      105 pts.      $ 37.50       Les Jacobi                                Belle Plaine, IA

6^th Place      105 pts.      $ 37.50       Quinn Rhamy                          Pella, IA

8^th Place      104 pts.      $ 18.33       Wayne & Char DeMeulenaere Hartwick, IA

8^th Place      104 pts.      $ 18.33       Randy Northrop                      Carrolltown, TX

8^th Place      104 pts.      $ 18.33       John Thys                               Belle Plaine, IA

Lowest

1^st Place      28 pts.       $  9             Travis Slauson                        Cedar Rapids, IA

1^st Place      28 pts.       $  9              Rob Formanek                        Chelsea, IA

1^st Place      28 pts.       $  9              Don Walton                                      Belle Plaine, IA

1^st Place      28 pts.       $  9             Robert Blosch                         Hiawatha, IA

1^st Place      28 pts.       $  9             Randy Northrop                      Carrolltown, IA

A strong defensive performance that limited Iowa Valley to just eight yards rushing and 71 yards in all enabled the Belle Plaine football squad to claim a 16-8 win over the Tigers Friday at Belle Plaine.

The win evened the Plainsman record at 2-2, 1-0 in district action. It was the first loss of the season for a Tiger squad which rolled up 515 yards in total offense the week before in a win over North Mahaska.

Belle Plaine took an 8-0 lead with 3:08 left in the first quarter when Devon Parr raced in from five yards out and Logan Baburek passed to Ben Ehlen for the two point conversion. It capped a six-play, 58-yard drive.

The Plainsmen cushioned their lead at the 6:45 mark of the third quarter when Parr scored from one yard out and Baburek passed to Kyle Janss for the conversion. This drive went 54 yards in 13 plays.

The Tigers finally scored with just 2:16 to go in the game on a 23-yard pass from Brian Behrens to Cullan Yardley. Behrens added the conversion run for the 16-8 final.

Again in this game, the Plainsmen spread out the offensive chores, with five players having rushing statistics. Janss had 32 carries for 146 yards and caught both passes for 38 yards. Cooper Northrop had three carries for 27 yards, Baburek had two carries for -7 yards, Parr had 22 carriees for 75 yards and Brayden Morrow had one carry for three yards.

Parr also led the team defensively with eight tackles, including a half tackle for loss and a sack. Cody Chekal and Zach Snyder each had two, Devin Conway had three with one for loss, Janss had two, Dustin Drexler had one, Brett Hampton and Tyler Williams each had two with Williams having a half-sack. Chad Olson had three, Blake Chekal had two, Baburek had one, Brent Stull had two with 1 ½ for loss and a half-sack, Ehlen had one with a pass interception and Garrett Rollins had six with 2 ½ for loss and two sacks.

This week, the Plainsmen hit the road for the short trip to HLV. The Warrions are 2-2 this season and beat Winfield-Mt. Union, 38-6 last week.

Iowa Valley 0 0 0 8 - 8

Belle Plaine 8 0 8 0 - 16

BP IV

First downs 16 8

Rushing 60-244 24-8

Passes 2-8-1 4-18-1

Pass yds. 38 63

Punts 3-24 7-29

Fumbles 3-3 0-0

Penalties 4-25 4-20

As Belle Plaine city officials are busy obtaining temporary easements and developing designs for the downtown revitalization project, a team from the Iowa Department of Economic Development’s Main Street Iowa program was in the city last week observing what the city has accomplished in its first two years in the program and what it plans for the future.

The team of Debi Flanders, Iowa Downtown Resource Center consultant, Jim Thompson, Main Street Iowa business improvement consultant and Tim Reinders, Main Street Iowa design consultant, held meetings with city officials, Belle Plaine Community Development Corporation (BPCDC) representatives and downtown business operators. They also held two public meetings, seeking opinions on several questions at the first meeting and presenting their findings the following night.

The team asked the public what the community development group could do to keep activities going during the downtown construction and how to draw the public back downtown and entice new businesses to the area once the improvements are completed.

The team members said that they had not worked with a city in the process of this calibre of major renovation.

The team asked the public several questions at the first meeting. They asked what the BPCDC has accomplished since becoming a Main Street community. Among the responses were the Wall Dog and museum mural projects, improvements of school facilities and the new aquatics center, Belle Plaine Now.com, obtaining the state and federal grants for the downtown project and new ownership for the Lincoln Cafe and the new Clark’s Soda Shoppe.

This was the last new city service visit by the Main Street representatives. But they will continue to offer advice to the architects during the initial phases of the downtown facade program. They will offer continuing education to the BPCDC and public on surviving the construction phase and drawing new business and customers back to the area. They will also monitor funding sources for the project.

The team said they appreciate the amount of time that everybody devoted to the visit. He said it shows that the people are committed to improving the city.

Planning is continuing on Belle Plaine’s downtown revitalization project. City Administrator Bill Daily reported to the city council Monday night that the RDG Design representatives will be in the city early next week with some rough sketches of facade improvements to present to downtown property owners. In addition, environmental assessments are underway which are conditions of some of the grants the city has received for the project.

Daily hopes that construction bids for the facade improvements can be let in December, with work to get underway next spring. He also said that since there is a time consideration on the facade improvement grants, he has not yet started planning for the streetscape portion of the project.

The council also approved several other community improvements at its meeting. It formally accepted the 2009 sanitary sewer improvement project and approved a payment of $4,347.15 to Denver Underground & Grading.

The council awarded a bid of $12,800 to Hamilton Construction for concrete repair on a section of 11^th Street.

On other downtown matters, the council approved a facade grant not to exceed $3.300 for the Lincoln Cafe. A commercial interior grant of $1,386.67 was approved for Great Life Fitness Center. Temporary easements were granted to the Belle Plaine Community Development Corporation for two downtown properties, the former D & N Small Engine Repair Shop at 723 12^th Street and the property immediately to the west of the video store at 830 12^th Street.

The council approved the appointment of Devin Rinderknecht as a full-time police officer. He was sworn in at the meeting by Chief Kris Hudson. Rinderknecht is a native of the Van Horne area and is currently completing instruction at Hawkeye Community College. He has already interned with the Benton County Sheriff’s Department and received good reviews on his internship, according to Hudson.

The chief reported that the depatment’s new squad car should be ready for duty later this week. His department has been concentrating on increased enforcement in school zone areas. He added that motorists should be aware of the 25 mph speed limit on 13^th Avenue, which runs by the high school. During a recent enforcement period, he stopped a vehicle travelling 51 mph on the street.

During a committee of the whole session prior to the formal meeting, the council heard an annual report from Kristi Sorenson, director of the Belle Plaine Community Library. She is beginning her tenth year in the position.

Sorenson reported that circulation is up approximately 1,000 over last year. The library, which has recently upgraded its computer hardware and software and offers free wi-fi, averages about 80 computer sessions per day, she said. One of the computer upgrades this year has been the posting of the library’s card catelogue on line so that patrons may see what books are available at the library and whether or not they are checked out. She added that the library can now offer some books electronically for patrons who have the new readers, such as the Kindle.

She also reported that the library has received grants from several sources this past year, including the library foundation, HACAP, the state, the fall walk and run event, the women’s tea, a raffle, from the Mansfield Trust and from Benton County LOST funds.

The library has been re-accredited by the state, a designation that must be obtained every three years. She also said that there was record participation for the summer reading program.

The yard waste site that had been available for local residents on the grounds of the waste water treatment plant is now closed. City Administrator Bill Daily announced Monday that the action was taken following a communication from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Daily said the DNR advised that failure to comply might result in fines for the city. Residents are no longer allowed to deposit yard waste or branches at the site. Apparently the main concern has been that the pile is periodically set on fire, with smoke drifting over some residential areas.

Currently, the city allows residents to burn yard waste on their property seven days a week from 4-9 p.m. Yard waste and tree branches may also be taken to the Benton County Landfill. There is no charge for leaving the material there, but it must be removed from bags.

Sept. 15, 6:25 p.m. – Police assisted the Benton County Sheriff’s Department with the execution of a protective order in the 1500 block of A Avenue.

Sept. 15, 9:30 p.m. – Officers investigated a report of a prowler in the 700 block of Tenth Avenue. No one was located.

Sept. 16, 9:50 a.m. – A theft of prescription drugs from a vehicle was reported. The vehicle was parked in the Country Foods parking lot. The incident remains under investigation.

Sept. 16, 10:26 a.m. – Officers were called to the 1800 block of Eighth Avenue for a civil dispute.

Sept. 16, 5:40 p.m. – A two-vehicle accident was reported in the 700 block of Ninth Avenue. A 2002 Ford F150 pick-up truck driven by Norman Longnecker, Belle Plaine, was backing out of a driveway when it struck a 2002 Ford F150 pick-up truck owned by Steven Lorenzen, Belle Plaine, that was parked along the street. Damage was estimated at $2,000 to the Lorenzen vehicle. No damage was reported for the Longnecker vehicle. No charges were filed.

Sept. 16, 10:35 p.m. – Vehicle unlock at 1308 Fifth Avenue.

Sept. 17, 11 a.m. – Criminal mischief was reported at Anderson Park, where the light bulbs in the shelter house were smashed.

Sept. 17, 9:25 p.m. – Officers were called to the 1700 block of 11^th Avenue for a domestic dispute. No charges were filed.

Sept. 18, 5:30 p.m. – Suspicious activity was reported at the Townhouse Apartments. Officers found three subjects who did not live there in the laundry room of the complex. They were advised to leave.

Sept. 18, 9:20 p.m. – Ambulance call at the ambulance garage.

Sept. 20, 9 a.m. – Police are investigating the theft of $150 in diesel fuel from a truck at the Heartland Co-op.

The third full week of the month is a busy one, starting with a city council meeting tonight (Monday) and ending with volleyball on Saturday.

The Belle Plaine City Council will hold its monthly committee of the whole meeting at 5 p.m. today, prior to the regular council meeting at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Items on the committee of the whole agenda include library director Kristi Sorenson will present her annual report, there will be discussion on a private sewer connection, review and discussion of the city cell phone usage policy and discussion of the city’s pets in the workplace policy.

During its formal meeting, the council will consider the appointment of a police officer, consider bids for the sale of a pick-up truck and for concrete repair on 11^th Street and consider several matters pertaining to the downtown redevelopment project. The annual performance review for City Administrator Bill Daily, expected to be a closed session, is also on the agenda,

On Friday, the Belle Plaine Public Library will host preschool story time.

Activities on the school calendar this week include cross country meets at BGM on Monday and at Vinton-Shellsburg on Tuesday. The volleyball team will be in action at home Monday against Keota, on Thursday at Tri-County and on Saturday at Anamosa. The football team travels to HLV on Friday.

First and third quarter touchdown runs by Devon Parr propelled the Belle Plaine football squad to a 16-8 victory over Iowa Valley Friday night at Belle Plaine. The win knocked the Tigers from the ranks of the undefeated, while it evened the Plainsman record at 2-2.

Parr scored with 3:08 remaining in the first quarter on a five-yard run and the conversion pass from Logan Baburek to Ben Ehlen gave the Plainsmen the 8-0 lead. That was the score until the 6:45 mark of the third quarter, when Parr scored again from one yard out. The conversion pass to Kyle Gunderson gave the host team a 16-0 lead.

The Tigers finally scored with just 2:16 left in the game when Brian Behrens fired a pass in the flat and it was lateraled to Cullen Yardley, good for 23 yards and six points. Behrens added the conversion run for the final margin.

The Plainsmen travel to HLV on Friday.

The recent electrical problem which affected the lights at the football field and prompted a trip to Victor to finish a game drew a lengthy and sometimes heated exchange between board member Jim Pierce and a representative of the electrical engineering contractor at Wednesday’s Belle Plaine Board of Education meeting.

Justin Doyle, an electrical engineer with Modus Engineering, reported on what his firm had discovered when it investigated the problem. In the second quarter of the game on Sept. 3, the lights on one side of the field suddenly went out, as well as the power to the scoreboard. Then they came back on and the lights on the other side went out, as well as power to the press box and the concession stand. After several attempts to restore power to the field, the decision was made to move the game to the HLV field in Victor.

Renovations to the outdoor sports complex include the installation of an all-weather track, a new scoreboard and upgraded electrical service. Doyle explained that the wrong sized fuses had been placed in on electrical box owned by Alliant Energy. That flaw wasn’t discovered as the electrical engineer and contractor were making renovations to the system.

Pierce challenged the comments of the engineer, disputing his findings and whose fault the problem was. He said he had three electrical contractors examine the system and they didn’t agree with the engineer’s assessment.

The board then discussed how the problem could be fixed in time for Friday’s scheduled game with Iowa Valley. One option would be to have the electrical contractor disable some of the lamps on each of the light poles in an attempt to reduce the amount of power needed for each light pole. Another option would be to rent two electrical generators at a cost of up to $1,000 per day to provide temporary power for the field. The third option would be to move the game to Iowa Valley.

On Thursday morning, school officials were reviewing all three options and hoped to make a decision soon.

Another matter which drew considerable discussion centered on the appointment of a part-time teacher to work with the talented and gifted TAG students. Jacquelyn Rupp was appointed to the part-time position and she will work with Gina Miller with the students.

Pierce said he was disappointed with the direction the talented and gifted program is going. He said he his comments were not meant as any reflection on the job Miller was doing. Miller is also the elementary art instructor in the district. He questioned whether either instructor is certified to teach TAG students, but school officials indicated that both are certified, with one fully certified and the other having conditional certification.

Board member Mike Bachelder said there was money in the general fund specifically earmarked for the TAG program that cannot be used for other programs.

Superintendent Bill Lynch told the board there was no attempt to short-change the TAG program and if more instruction time is needed, it will be implemented. He also said that the instructors had provisional certification to teach the TAG students.

Principal Cherie Brown said she believes the people in place are the right people for the job at this point.

The board also approved the addition of a part-time weight room supervisor to supervise in the room three afternoons per week.

The City of Belle Plaine will be flushing fire hydrants throughout the city next week on Sept. 21, 22 and 23. Residents may notice a slight discoloration in their water supply and may want to adjust their plans to wash clothes during this time.