Editor’s note: The following is a revised version of my column. I was a bit tough on the media relations department at Alliant in the earlier version and to their credit, they did respond to my questions, nearly 24 hours after my initial request.

“Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?” was the name of a popular tune more than a few years ago. I think it might have been inspired by a blackout on the east coast.

That tune came to mind earlier this week when we experienced a lights-out situation here in Belle Plaine. I was making a final check of my Facebook account on the internet and was just about ready to shut down the computer for another day when suddenly everything went dark. Everything except for my laptop, which I discovered automatically switched over to battery power, so my living room had a little light until I could locate my flashlight.

The golden oldie tune was one immediate thought, as well as a memory of a late winter weekend when an ice storm left us all in the dark for a few days.

This time, since it was great weather with no ice, no thunderstorms and no wind, I imagined that either a squirrel or raccoon met a sudden end when climbing on the wrong pole or that someone had hit a utility pole somewhere. I remembered the instructions from the power company that when you experience a power interruption, you should report it. Luckily, I located my cell phone and dutifully punched in the number. Of course, I didn’t talk to a living human. We are all creatures of the electronic age and so I reported the outage, along with my address, etc. The electronic voice on the other end said the goal would be to restore service in two hours.

I realize that much of our town was already in bed by the time the lights went out at 10:30 p.m., but I decided to try to stay up so I wouldn’t wake up the next morning to the TV set and living room lights on. I grabbed the flashlight and wandered around the house, looking out the windows. At that time of night, Belle Plaine is generally a pretty quiet place, except when the trains roll through town. With all of the houses suddenly dark, without even one streetlight shining, the silence was nearly deafening. Looking up in the sky, I was reminded of something that my rural friends are well aware of. On a clear night with low humidity, Nature’s natural light show – the moon and stars – is especially spectacular.

I finally decided to give up for the night and headed up to bed. As I was wrestling with the flashlight while dispensing my nightly medication, the lights suddenly came on, almost precisely two hours to the moment they went out. I reset the flashing digital clocks and finished getting ready for bed.

The next day, I checked the daily newspaper and the local newscasts, hoping to hear an explanation. There was nothing. Later that day, somebody in a store told me he heard that several other area towns were without power. But nothing official was reported.

So I tried to get the story from the public relations department at Alliant Energy. That’s where the second part of this story gets interesting. I figured that if I called the 800 number at mid-afternoon the next weekday, surely the phone would be answered by a real person. Silly me!

I traveled through a maze of electronic connections and commands and finally, after what seemed like 10 minutes of listening to the most awful hold music, I reached a customer service representative. I explained that I wasn’t calling as a customer, but as a reporter looking for answers. She put me on hold again, with more terrible canned music, came back on the line to say she was trying to locate someone to answer my questions and then a few minutes later, she returned to say she couldn’t locate anyone in the media relations department. She promised to send a request to the department and someone would get back to me.

I finally got a response to my inquiry earlier Friday afternoon. Justin Foss said the outage affected several area towns from Elberon and Belle Plaine to Van Horne and Blairstown, nearly 1,100 customers. He said the Alliant crews traveled the lines in the area and couldn’t find an obvious reason for the outage. He explained that when a problem is detected, such as a tree branch landing on the lines or an animal on the lines for a specific period of time, the system shuts down automatically.

Anybody out there have an explanation?

Oct. 3, 11 p.m. – Police responded to a juvenile problem at 112 11^th Street. No charges were filed.

Oct. 4, 9 a.m. – Officers responded to 605 10^th Street for a juvenile truancy issue.

Oct. 4, 5:20 p.m. – Ambulance assist in the 1000 block of Eighth Avenue.

Oct. 4, 5:47 p.m. – Domestic dispute at 1309 Seventh Ave. Apartment 14. No charges were filed.

Oct. 4, 9:09 p.m. – Daniel Brodie, 41, Belle Plaine, was arrested at 13^th Street and Eighth Ave. on a Benton County warrant for violation of a protective order. He was taken to the Benton County Jail.

Oct. 5, 12:12 a.m. – A domestic dispute at 1309 Seventh Ave. Apartment 14 resulted in the arrest of Robart Ramon Mikesell, 30, Belle Plaine. He was later arrested near Luzerne by Benton County Sheriff’s deputies on a charge of domestic abuse causing injury and taken to the Benton County Jail.

Oct. 5, 1:30 a.m. – A noise complaint at 708 Ninth Ave. was unfounded.

Oct. 5, 8:50 a.m. – Officers responded to Zip Mart on a report of a stray cat. They were unable to apprehend it.

Oct. 5, 9 p.m. – A two-vehicle accident was reported at Seventh Ave. and 11^th Street. It was minor and no report was filed.

Oct. 7, 11:50 a.m. – Ambulance assist at Clark’s Soda Shop.

Oct. 8, 5 p.m. – Corey Matthew Ary, 20, Van Horne, was arrested in the 900 block of Second Ave. on a traffic stop. He was charged with driving while revoked. He was taken to the Benton County Jail, where he was subsequently additionally charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Oct. 9, 5:42 p.m. – Police were summoned to 506 15^th Street for a complaint of an uneven sidewalk.

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

Eighth-rated BGM held Belle Plaine to just 54 yards on the ground and scored the last four touchdowns on the night to post a 34-7 victory Friday night. The loss dropped the Plainsmen to 2-2 in the district and 3-4 overall. But they are still in the playoff picture as they travel to North Mahaska Friday and close out the regular season at home the following week against Montezuma.

Eight Plainsman runners had carries Friday night, but three of them had negative yard totals. Quarterback Logan Baburek was a little more successful through the air, hitting six of 12 for 100 yards and the lone Belle Plaine touchdown.

BGM got on the scoreboard first in the first quarter on Danny Brau’s seven-yard run. The extra point kick made it 7-0 after the first quarter. But the Plainsmen tied it up in the second when Baburek found Cooper Northrop with a pass that went for 39 yards. Northrop kicked the extra point and the game was tied at 7-7.

But the Bears regained control later in the quarter, first on Brau’s 25-yard run and then on a 47-yard run by Kyle Hawkins. They added an extra point kick to make it 20-7 at the half.

The defense added to the lead for BGM in the third quarter when John Beck picked off a Plainsman pass and returned it 60 yards. With the extra point kick it was 27-7 after three quarters. The final score came in the fourth on a 71- yard pass play from Jevohn Miller to Beck.

Brau was the main offensive weapon for the Bears as he gained 187 yards in 26 carries.

Kyle Janss led the Plainsman ball carriers with 15 carries for 45 yards. Devon Parr had eight attempts for 17 yards. Brayden Morrow had two for 14, Dustin Drexler had two for nine yards. But Northrop had one carry for zero yards, Nick Pippert had one for minus 11, Baburek had two for minus nine and Ryan Zumbach had one for minus 11 yards.

Northrop had four pass receptions for 82 yards and the touchdown. Janss caught two passes for 18 yards.

On the defensive side for the Plainsmen, Reed Petersen had seven tackles, including two for loss. Parr had six, Garrett Rollins had four with a half-tackle for loss, Zach Snyder had three with a half for loss, Devin Conway had one with a fumble recovery, Janss had two, Keegan DeMeulenaere had four with a sack, Brett Hampton led the team with nine tackles, Tyler Williams had eight, Chad Olson had two with one for loss, Blake Chekal had four, Ben Ehlen had two with one for loss and Morrow had two.

North Mahaska is winless this season, but the Warhawks could be a dangerous team as they attempt to become playoff spoilers in their final two games. Last week, they lost a 14-12 decision to Montezuma in their closest game of the season. They have been shut out twice and scored only one touchdown in each of two other games. Their defense has allowed an average of more than 32 points per game.

Belle Plaine     0          7          0          0          -           7

BGM               7          13        7          7          -           34

BP                   BGM

First downs                 7                      14

Rushing                       32-54               42-267

Passes                          6-13-1              3-7-0

Pass yds.                     100                  109

Punts                           7-32                 5-25

Fumbles                       3-3                   1-1

Penalties                      6-45                 4-25

Here’s a note to the younger readers out there: The older you get, the faster time seems to fly. It’s hard to believe that the leaves are turning colors and fans of Plainsman football are preparing for the eighth game of the season.

But before Friday’s contest comes along, there’s plenty of community and school activities to keep us all busy this week. Today (Monday) the Planning and Zoning Commission is set to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, the Park Board will meet at 5 p.m.

On Wednesday, Christ United Methodist Church will be the site for the annual pork loin supper, serving from 5-7 p.m.

The Belle Plaine Community Development Corporation Board meets on Thursday at 5:15 p.m.

There’s a full schedule of high school activities this week, beginning with the volleyball squad at English Valleys and the JV football team at Lynnville-Sully tonight. On Tuesday, the cross country team travels to the Union-LaPorte City meet. On Thursday, the volleyball squad hosts Sigourney. Then on Friday, the football team will seek to keep its playoff hopes alive at North Mahaska.

Enjoy this unseasonably warm weather and get out and do something this week!

LaVaun D. Edwards, 85, formerly of Belle Plaine and currently of Higley Mansion, died Saturday, October 9, 2010 at the Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids following a short illness. Services will be 10 AM Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at the Hrabak Funeral Home by Rev Jim Campbell. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 PM Tuesday at the funeral home.

She is survived by: brother, Marvin (MaryAnn) Keller of Grinnell; three granddaughters, Annette (Jeff) Lockwood of Falling Waters, West Virginia, Tressa Scott of Cedar Rapids, and Tara Sloan of Marion; great-grandsons, Cole Scott & Connor Thompson.

Community improvement matters ranging from downtown revitalization to disposal of yard waste were some of the major topics handled at Monday’s Belle Plaine City Council meeting.

The council authorized the mayor to sign temporary easements with owners of nearly 30 downtown properties. The easements are the next step needed for downtown property façade improvements. Later in the meeting, during his report to the council, City Administrator Bill Daily said that the design firm has met with the property owners and will be back later this month for further meetings. Then final construction documents can be prepared and construction bids received. He said the projected start of construction is now April 2011.

The council approved another easement request from the new owners of the Lincoln Café to allow for the installation of a ramp at the front of their building to allow for better handicap accessibility. But another request to make a curb cut on the west side of Eighth Avenue to allow parking on the property adjoining the north side of the restaurant was tabled until further information can be gathered.

An extension of the agreement with the Iowa Department of Economic Development for the Main Street Iowa program was approved, as was a resolution pledging a continuation of financial support for the local participation. The three-year agreement calls for a city contribution of $15,000 per year.

The council approved the sale of the 2005 Chevy Impala police car to Kathy Daily for $1,650. Her bid was the highest of six bids received for the car.

Gina Trimble, representing the accounting firm of Ridihalgh, Fuelling, Snitker, Weber & Co. P.C. presented the city’s annual audit. She pointed out some accounting practices that should be changed before the next audit. She agreed with City Clerk Kaye Buch that some of the problems that were found this year were the result of a computer software glitch that both women are working on. She once again commended the city staff for their cooperation with the auditing process.

Daily told the council that he is still attempting to find a suitable plan for the public to dispose of yard waste. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources ordered the city to close the yard waste dump site south of the city late last month. Daily said that Waste Management, the city’s refuse collector, would pick up residential yard waste at a monthly cost of $2 per household. He is also consulting with another firm that could gather grass clippings and leaves and grind tree limbs. He added that he has considered property acquisition for a new dump site.

In more news on the downtown project, Daily said that there are “many hurdles to go” in regard to acting on properties covered by the Brownfield grant the city received. He also said the streetscape aspect of the project is still on the same timetable as the façade improvements. But due to the time constraints of the grant received for the façade project, it is now taking center  stage with the streetscape planning postponed temporarily.

The council also approved an extension of the contract with Alan Dvorak for water meter reading. The one-year agreement will pay him $310 per month. Daily said the arrangement has worked out well. The council also approved administrative policies banning city employees from bringing pets to work and limiting the use of cell phones during working hours by city staff.

Irene M. Nekola, 83, died Sunday, October 3, 2010 at the Keystone Nursing Care Center from complications of age.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Thursday, October 7 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church with Rev. Michael Mescher, Celebrant, and Deacon Joe Behounek.  Burial will be in Stayskal Cemetery, rural Chelsea.  Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hrabak Funeral Home where there will be a Rosary at 6:30 p.m.

She is survived by: a daughter, Carol Whipple of Dysart; son, Clark (Jennifer) Nekola of Tipton; sister, Evelyn Benesh of Belle Plaine; brother, Manson (Carol) Vokoun of Clutier; and grandsons Ryan, Blair, and Steve.

Plainsman fans celebrated a happy homecoming Friday night as Belle Plaine stopped Lynnville-Sully 40-12. Now 3-3 on the season, the Plainsmen are still in the running for a district title as they prepare for a trip to BGM this week.

Last week, the home team established a 34-0 halftime advantage and cruised from there. The Plainsmen scored firs with 2:29 left in the first quarter when Logan Baburek found Cooper Northrop with a short pass that went for a 47-yard touchdown. Northrop kicked the extra point for the 7-0 lead after the first quarter.

Lynnville-Sully turnovers would be a major factor in this game and the Hawks fumbled a punt recovery on the last play of the first quarter which gave the Plainsmen possession on the Hawk 14. On the first play of the second quarter, Devon Parr scored his first touchdown on a 14-yard run. Northrop added the conversion for a 14-0 advantage. Parr scored again with 7:19 left in the half on a 12-yard run. Melissa Janss, who came on for an injured Northrop, kicked the extra point. Less than two minutes later, Kyle Janss went in from one yard out and Melissa Janss kicked the extra point to make it 28-0. Big plays in that three-play drive included a 30-yard pass from Baburek to Cody Chekal, followed by a 14-yard run by Kyle Janss.

The last score of the half came after a Plainsman pass interception and a nine yard pass from Baburek to Kyle Janss. The extra point kick was blocked.

Coach Todd Bohlen said this is the first time a girl has played varsity football for him. He said she volunteered to try out for the kicking position after injuries sidelined Keegan DeMeulenaere and Northrop. When Northrop was sidelined early in this contest, she handled the extra point kicks and the kickoffs the rest of the way. The coach said she did a good job, especially following instructions on placement of her kickoffs.

The Plainsmen added one more touchdown in the third quarter on a three-yard pass from Baburek to Brayden Morrow with 7:52 left in the period.

At this point, the coaching staff was able to start sending in the substitutes on offense and defense.

Lynnville-Sully scored twice in the fourth quarter on an 11-yard pass play from Cale Van Wyk to Logan Vos and then later on Bailee Samson’s three-yard run.

“We came out slow on those first couple of drives,” Bohlen said. “Then we opened it up a big with screen passes to put 27 points on the board in the second quarter.” He added that the defense did a nice job, especially recovering a couple of muffed punt returns to give the offense good field position.

Eight Belle Plaine players carried the ball in this contest. Kyle Janss had 18 carries for 106 yards. He also caught two passes for 10 yards. Northrop had one carry for zero yards and one pass reception for 47 yards. Ben Ehlen had two carries for two yards and caught two passes for 34 yards. Caleb Parr had two carries for six yards. Nick Pippert had five carries for 20 yards. Devon Parr had four carries for 32 yards and one pass reception for 14 yards. Dustin Drexler had four carries for 11 yards. Baburek had oen carry for zero yards.

Defensively, Reed Petersen ahd six tackles, including one for loss and a sack, Devon Parr had six with a half-sack, Cody Chekal had three with 1 ½ sacks, Zach Snyder had four with 1 ½ sacks, Drexler ahd four, Brett Hampton had four with an interception, Tyler Williams ahd three with a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery, Chad Olson had one for loss and a fumble recovery, Blake Chekal had two with a half for loss and a fumble recovery, Keegan DeMeulenaere had a fumble recovery, Brent Stull had two, Ehlen had four, Brayden Morrow had one with a pass interception, Garrett Rollins had two, Reece Kimm, three, Austin Beck, Ross Henning and Carl Meck with two each, Josh Hotz, Nick Pippert and Austin Brown with one each and Grant Bevins had four with one for loss.

The Plainsmen enter preparations for this week’s clash with BGM with a couple of injuries. Northrop tweaked an ankle and sat out much of the game. Bohlen reported that Cody Chekal sustained a possible serious knee injury and was awaiting evaluation early this week by a doctor.

Following a 42-6 loss to Iowa City Regina, BGM has rolled to five straight wins, averaging nearly 40 points per game, while allowing each of their last five opponents one touchdown or less.

The coach said the Bears may be better on defense than they are on offense, with a couple of strong middle linebackers.

Lynnville-Sully                        0 0 0 12 - 12

Belle Plaine                               7 27 6 0 - 40

BP                          LS

First downs                                  12                           10

Rushing                                         37-170                 34-114

Passes                                            9-12-1                    4-12-2

Pass yds.                                       156                            43

Punts                                              3-25                        4-34

Fumbles                                        3-1                           4-3

Penalties                                       5-45                        3-33

Sept. 28, 9:30 a.m. – Theft by bad check was reported at the Wave Station, 1205 Eighth Avenue.

Sept. 28, 10:05 p.m. – False alarm at Country Foods.

Sept. 28, 10:35 p.m. – Officers were called to a neighbor dispute at 1309 Seventh Avenue.

Sept. 29, 5:35 p.m. – A domestic dispute was reported at 1311 11^th Avenue. No charges were filed.

Sept. 30, 9:20 p.m. – Ambulance assist at Eighth Avenue and 11^th Street.

Oct. 1, 8:35 a.m. – A report of trespassing at 1604 12^th Avenue is under investigation.

Oct. 3, 9:39 a.m. – Diane DePoorter, 58, Belle Plaine, was arrested at 909 11^th Street on warrants from Iowa County and Benton County charging fifth degree theft. The Benton County warrant was from the bad check complaint from the Wave Station. She was transported to the Iowa County Jail.

Oct. 3, 11:47 a.m. – Officers received another trespassing call at 1604 12^th Avenue.

Oct. 3, 4:30 p.m. – The investigation continues following an incident at the Country Foods parking lot where a child was struck by a car. The child sustained a leg injury and was transported by Belle Plaine Ambulance to the hospital.

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

The first full week of October will be a busy one in and around Belle Plaine.

Tonight, the Belle Plaine City Council meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Among the items on the agenda will be a presentation of the city’s annual audit, consideration of an easement agreement to install a handicap ramp at the Lincoln Café, as well as an accompanying curb cut along Eighth Avenue to allow for parking north of the restaurant, opening of bids for the sale of a police car, a motion to allow for the signing of temporary easements for the downtown revitalization project and a couple of items regarding the city’s continued participation in the Main Street program.

On Tuesday, the Main Street Design Committee meets at 5:15 p.m. On Wednesday, the Iowa Department of Transportation will hold an informational meeting regarding the proposed Highway 30 improvement project. The meeting will be held in the Community Room at the Biairstown Community Center from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

The Airport Commission meets Thursday at 7 p.m.

On this week’s school calendar, the JV football team will host English Valleys tonight at 6 p.m. On Tuesday, the cross country team travels to Dike-New Hartford. On Thursday, the volleyball team hosts Montezuma. Friday night, the Plainsman football team travels to BGM. On Saturday, the cross country team will compete in the North Linn Invitational. It’s a busy day for the high school marching band, which will compete in the state contest in the morning and at the Wilton Contest in the afternoon.