Two Belle Plaine city employees have been honored for their work. At Monday’s Belle Plaine City Council meeting, City Clerk Kaye Buch was honored for her 20 years of service with the city. She received a plaque, flowers and a cake from city staff and council members.

Also at the meeting, it was announced that City Administrator Bill Daily has been selected to receive a 2010 Governor’s Volunteer Award for his “outstanding commitment and service.” He was nominated for the award by Jane Seaton of the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

July 12, 5:17 p.m. – A Belle Plaine male juvenile was cited for driving while under suspension during a traffic stop in the 1200 block of First Street.

July 13, 11:35 a.m. – A resident at 1114 13^th Street reported telephone fraud. The person was informed that she had won a sweepstakes and was directed to send $2,000 to a California address. Belle Plaine Police urge anyone who receives a similar phone call to hang up, it’s a scam.

July 14, 10:50 a.m. – Police were called to 402 11^th Street for a civil matter.

July 14, 12:42 p.m. – Police received two reports of a person selling meat from the back of a truck, first in the 1800 block of 10^th Avenue then on Sunset Drive. The person apparently did not have a permit for sales. Officers were unable to locate the subject.

July 14, 8:45 p.m. – Ambulance assist in the 1300 block of Eighth Avenue.

July 15, 8:34 a.m. – Criminal mischief was reported at the True Value store where a window was broken.

July 15, 4:10 p.m. – Brittany Goers, Belle Plaine, reported that a friend had taken her car without her consent from the 1000 block of Seventh Avenue. The vehicle was later recovered and the owner refused to press charges.

July 15, 5 p.m. – Criminal mischief was reported in the 900 block of 11^th Street where paint was sprayed on a building.

July 15, 7:40 p.m. – Officers were asked to assist the Benton County Sheriff’s Department on a report of shots fired at 1378 78^th Street Trail. They were unable to locate the source of the report.

July 15, 9:35 p.m. – A dog was reported missing from the 300 block of 10^th Street.

July 16, 12:30 p.m. – An erratic driver was reported northbound on Highway 21 on the south edge of the city. But officers were unable to locate anyone fitting the description.

July 17, 10:30 p.m. – Steven Rethman reported criminal mischief to his vehicle in the 600 block of Third Street. In the subsequent investigation, Joseph Moore, 20, of Williamsburg was arrested for criminal mischief in the fifth degree and disorderly conduct. He was taken to the Benton County Jail.

July 19, 12:13 p.m. – Vehicle unlock in the 800 block of 12^th Street.

July 19, 12:45 p.m. – Officers investigated a report of animal neglect at 1514 Sixth Avenue. The report was unfounded.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The National Weather Service is predicting another steamy week in the Belle Plaine area this week, with at least the chance of showers and thunderstorms each day through Sunday and temperatures remaining in the low to mid 80s or above. So this might be a good week to spend some time in the air conditioned confines of meeting rooms around the city to learn a little bit more about what your local leaders are doing to make this an even better place to live.

This afternoon (Monday) the Belle Plaine City Council will meet twice, first in a work session at 5 p.m. and then in the formal council session at 6 p.m. Both meetings are open to the public and will take place in the always cool and comfortable City Hall chambers.

Items on the work session agenda include discussion on possible purchase of property for development near the airport, plans for the downtown revitalization project and discussion on curb cuts in the area of the new storm sewer project on the north side of 11^th Street near Ninth Avenue.

At first glance, the agenda for the formal council meeting appears to be a long one. But many of the items pertain to authorization of payments for various projects underway or completed in the city. There will be consideration of the third and final readings of ordinances governing wind energy systems in the city and division of the taxes collected in the urban renewal area.

The council will be asked to approve a recommendation from Police Chief Kris Hudson to promote Amy Baldus to full-time police officer status. There will be reports from the chief and from Jeanne Duffy, director of the Belle Plaine Community Development Corporation (BPCDC) and from City Administrator Bill Daily.

On Tuesday, the BPCDC’s promotions committee meets at 5:15 p.m. On Wednesday, the Belle Plaine Partners for Beautification will meet at 5 p.m. at the Community Center.

Another lengthy agenda awaits those who attend the Belle Plaine Board of Education meeting at Longfellow Elementary School at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Many of the items on the agenda deal with business normally considered this time of year – issuance of contracts, other personnel items including acceptance of the agreement with the Belle Plaine Education Association, acceptance of bids for bakery, milk and fuel products and several reports including district goals, review of test scores, preschool program and Microsoft settlement funds.

Let’s hope the rainy weather disappears in time for the weekly men’s slow pitch softball games, scheduled for 4-8 p.m. at Franklin Park. It’s a good chance to come out and watch some of the guys who played high school baseball on the same field in past years to see how much of the skills they developed years ago still survive.

Friends and family of Janice Hinschberger are seeking donations for a benefit to be held in September. On Memorial Day weekend, Hinschberger was riding when she fell from her horse, landing on her head and left side. She suffered major injuries, including a brain hemorage, broken collarbone, cracked ribs and a bruised lung. She is currently recovering at St. Luke’s Hospital, Cedar Rapids, in the rehab center. She will soon be going home, but will require 24-hour care.

She and her husband, Jim, are the parents of three daughters and grandparents of four. One of her daughters postponed her marriage to be with her mother and another daughter will be a senior at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School this fall.

The benefit will be held Sept. 19 at the Belle Plaine Country Club. It will include a nine-hole, four-person best shot golf tournament, silent and live auctions and bake sale. Organizers are seeking items for the auctions and the bake sale. Monetary donations to also help with the ongoing medical expenses may be sent to Chelsea Savings Bank or MidWestOne Bank in the name of the Janice Hinschberger Benefit.

Anyone with questions or who would like to donate their time, goods or services may contact one of the following:

Kim Hinschberger, 319-444-3056, kimerhinsch@yahoo.com

Kelly Hinschberger, 319-444-3834, husker4@netins.net

Mari Grieder, 319-444-2989, mgrieder@netins.net

Terri Jo Hinschberger, 319-444-2060, t.hinschberger@mchsi.com

Berta Jacobi, 319-444-3994, jrjacobi@netins.net

Jamie Hinschberger, 319-361-0466, jamie-hinschberger@uiowa.edu

Belle Plaine Country Club, 319-444-3113

Andrew J. Ericson, 83, of Belle Plaine died July 16, 2010 at his home following a lingering illness. Services are 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 20 at Hrabak Funeral Home, Belle Plaine. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the funeral home.

Several contracts for employees in the Belle Plaine Community School District were approved at a special meeting Thursday night and school officials indicated that a tentative agreement has been reached with the teachers’ association on a new pact.

Contracts for board secretary Stacey Kolars, maintenance dirctor Rod Blount and transportation director Jan Kaplan were approved. Each will receive a 2.8 percent increase for the upcoming year.

Superintendent Bill Lynch indicated that a tentative agreement has been reached with the Belle Plaine Education Association and he indicated it could be on the agenda for board approval at next week’s regular meeting. Before the agreement was announced the two sides were heading for binding arbitration on the contract.

Following the contract approval, the board went into a work session to discuss the junior-senior high student handbook. Board members went over each page of the proposed handbook, making several changes in language and reviewing the good conduct policy and cell phone use policy.

With temperatures forecast to hit the 90 degree mark this weekend, organizers of the second annual Belle Plaine Ambulance Sweet Corn and Hog Roast Festival are hoping to draw a good crowd to lower Franklin Park.

The festival will run from 3-11 p.m. Saturday and feature plenty of food and beverages for all ages, music, kids games, a slow pitch men’s softball marathon tournament and a raffle.

Admission is $5 for adults, with those 17 and under admitted free. Included in the admission price is the entertainment and a raffle entry for several prizes.

Food will be available for sale and will include sweet corn, a hog roast, burgers and hot dogs. A special outdoor sales beer permit was obtained during a special meeting of the Belle Plaine City Council Thursday night, so there will be beverages for all ages available.

Music will be provided by Frank Burr from 5-6 p.m. and the Smooth Maneuvers Band from 7-11 p.m.

Proceeds from the event will go to help purchase a heart monitor for one of the ambulance units. Ambulance staff members indicated that the current heart monitor is out of date and a new one could cost up to $26,000.

“What will cash rental rates look like for the 2011 crop year?” has been a much-asked question recently. Setting cash rent in stable times is hard enough. Setting cash rent with volatile prices for corn and soybeans, input cost, and land values is even more difficult.

Iowa State University (ISU) Extension is offering Farm Land Leasing workshops on Thursday, August 12^th 9:30 am or 1:30 pm at the Clarion Inn 180 Exit 225, Amana.  Also Tuesday, August 17th, 7:00 pm at the Linn County Extension Office, 3279 7^th Ave., Suite 140 in Marion.

Jim Jensen, ISU Extension Farm Management Specialist, will be the presenter. According to Jensen, “The 2010 Extension Cash Rental Survey is out and will be discussed as well as the profit potential for tenants.” Cash rents typically reflect profitability the previous year.  Margins are getting tighter which will probably lead to a longer negotiation process.

Jensen will be discussing land values, leasing practices, and lead an interactive discussion on methods to calculate cash rent.   Jensen stated, “The most frequent stumbling block for setting a cash rental rate is determining the land quality of the farm”.  Rents on various quality soils and ways to determine land quality will be discussed.

The Farm Land Leasing workshop cost is $25 per person, and includes the 2010 Farm Leasing Arrangement booklet and copies of the presentation. To pre-register call the Benton County Extension Office at 319- 472- 4739. Registration cost can be paid at the door approximately 30 minutes before the workshop begins. For those that register after August 8^th (Amana) or August 13^th (Linn County) or at the meeting, a $5 late registration fee will be added.

by Jeanne Duffy

Belle Plaine Community Development Director

It’s so good to touch the green green grass of home. How I love Belle Plaine.  I love the drivers that greet you with the index finger wave above the steering wheel.  I love the greetings walking down the street.  I love tending to my tomatoes on the vine, one large and one small, my first ever.  And my flowers.  You can’t take the farmer out of an Iowa farm girl.

As we anxiously await the word from Des Moines on the two new grants so we can start the downtown renovation project, I am excited to see Belle Plaine return to its previous splendor.  I hear those who doubt it will happen but it will.  Bill Daily has worked beyond what I would think possible from one individual to make it happen.  Watching his dedication speaks volumes. He grew up here and he loves the town.

The Lincoln Café shall make it’s re-entrance in September.  Jimmy Lamoni and Kristy Tovar have worked hard to take this grand lady down to bare bones and make it a restaurant that will bring people from surrounding towns.   This means more shoppers for the downtown area.  No shortcuts are being taken on the Lincoln.   If you’ve been to King Towers in Toledo you know the type of food they serve and it’s just another statement of their “get ‘er done right.”

When I travel, people know Belle Plaine by the beautiful architecture downtown.  Look up as you walk through and imagine it restored to its original glory with windows replaced, bricks cleaned and current unuseable buildings restored.  Folks, it’s coming.

All the promises you heard will be kept after we jump through a few more hurdles, and hit the ground running.

Two special public meetings have been scheduled for tonight (Thursday) in Belle Plaine. At 6 p.m., the Belle Plaine City Council will meet at City Hall and at 6:30 p.m. the Belle Plaine Board of Education has scheduled a meeting for the administration center at Longfellow Elementary School.

The sole item on the agenda for the city council is approval of a special events beer and outdoor service license for the American Legion Post 39 for the Belle Plaine Ambulance hog roast Saturday at Franklin Park.

The board of education will consider the approval of employment contracts for “certain staff members” for the upcoming school year and will hold a work session to discuss the junior-senior high school student handbook.