Three
Dog Night Three Dog Night will be performing
at the 2006 Delaware County Fair.
On Friday, July 14, 2006 Three Dog Night
will take the stage as the fair’s VIP group.
Tickets are on sale now
and can be purchased by calling 927-6449.
They are $50 a piece, which
includes the concert and all you can eat and drink. |
| | 
The
Official Newspaper of Manchester and Delaware County, Iowa
Tuesday,
December 6, 2005 | |
  The
Manchester Police Department is investigating the theft of a silver 2003 Crew
Cab Dodge pickup which was taken off the lot (J's Auto, Manchester) sometime after
the close of business
on 11/23/05. Persons who may have seen this vehicle
are urged to contact the
Manchester Police Department at 563-927-3355 with
any details. |
Fundraising
efforts underway for auditorium
by Brian Cook |
SUBMITTED
GRAPHIC
Plans for the high school auditorium and fine arts expansion. | This
past September, voters in the West Delaware School District approved a plan or
a major expansion of the high school building that would be paid for without raising
taxes. The funding available would pay for the construction of an auditorium shell,
but another $1 million would be needed for completion of the project.
Fundraising
efforts have begun to raise the remainder of the money needed through private
donations for the 706-seat auditorium.
“We’re confident people
in the community have waited a long time for this opportunity. We’re confident
they’ll support he project,” Dave Dudley, chairman of the West Delaware
Fine Arts Fundraising Committee explained. |
“We
look at it as a quality of life project for the whole West Delaware Community.”
Dudley
said over the past 10 years people have been making contributions for a project
like this, and those funds have been sitting there waiting to build this facility.
With previous donations and recent donations, the fund has grown to over a third
of the goal.
The fundraising committee, which Dudley says includes about
20 very dedicated people, has been meeting the past two months and organizing
for the time to take the campaign public.
They decided to start now, since
bids for the high school project will be let this winter with construction to
begin in the spring. The goal is to be in the new facility when school starts
in the fall of 2007.
Also by starting now, it allows contributors up to
three tax years to make deductible contributions.
The campaign has several
opportunities for naming gifts and recognition levels.
A way Dudley thinks
many people will want to participate is through buying seats. There will be a
plaque with a list of names recognizing the people who make contributions in any
amount from $5,000 on up. Also by buying a seat for $500 each, a person’s
name will be added to the plaque. If they buy two seats there will be a star by
their name, two stars for five seats and three stars for 10 seats.
The
West Delaware School Board decided to build the auditorium big enough to hold
the student body and faculty. The auditorium will also allow West Delaware to
host events such as State Show Choir, State Jazz Band, conference music festivals,
district speech contests, FFA district contests, Pass the Hat Player events and
school assemblies.
“We’ve always been the weak sister,”
Dudley commented. “This will give us an opportunity to showcase our community
and facilities.”
Those interested in donating to the campaign can
contact Dudley at 927-4093, or one of the subcommittee co-chairs: Mike Ryan at
927-5717, Ried Boom at 927-6960, Doris Sherman at 927-5957, Connie Behnken at
927-6766 or Pat Johnson at 927-2981.
More information about the project
can also be found at the WD Fine Arts Committee website: www.wdfinearts.org
. |
 | BRIAN
COOK/Press
Ron Struble and his grandchildren, Bergan and Laiken Blommers,
were part of the live window display for the American Legion at RJ Enders which
was picked as a winner during Manchester’s Window Walk last Thursday. Heritage
Printing was named winner of the businesses that decorated their own windows. |
County
adopts Quarantine and Isolation Policy
by Julie Sunne |
After
hearing from Jane Sherman, Vice President of Delaware County Community Health
Agency, the Delaware County Board of Supervisors voted at their Nov. 28 meeting
to accept the quarantine and isolation procedures recommended by the Iowa Department
of Health. The policy will go into effect in the event of an untreatable disease
threat in the county.
Due to the seriousness of epidemics and the quick
response time needed during an outbreak, a policy allowing the board of health
to act needs to be in place. Sherman emphasized that, even though it may be unlikely
that we ever have to use the policy, all bases need to be covered because quarantining
or isolating individuals infringes on their rights.
Supervisor Bill Skinner
agreed with Sherman, “It probably won’t happen, but it’s a good
policy to have in mind.”
The policy, written at the state level for
counties, encourages seeking the cooperation of the people involved before mandating
actions. The quarantine or isolation would need to be in the least restrictive
means for no longer than necessary, with the county ensuring everyone’s needs
are met.
The local board of health can verbally quarantine for emergencies,
but a written order needs to be in place within 24 hours. There is an appeal process
built in.
The Supervisors approved an amendment to the 2005/2006 county
budget following a public hearing.
The amendment proposed a decrease in the
roads and transportation section by $245,000 and an increase in the capital projects
section by $1,150,000, for a total increase of $905,000. Most of the increase
will be paid out of the carryover fund.
County Engineer Mark Nahra reported
that the amendment is needed for several reasons. An increase in the cost of fuel
has required the secondary roads department to budget an increase of more than
$160,000 in fuel costs this year. The 235th Street Bridge replacement project
was added because of bridge failure. Also, a project was moved up from the 2006/2007
fiscal year due to the availability of contractors.
The level B road policy
was discussed in the context of a landowner’s desire to rock a portion of
220th Street near Delaware. The policy states that only minimal maintenance is
extended to level B roads, but a landowner with a building site may pay for the
county to rock a portion of a road if he has permission.
The supervisors
expressed a reluctance to allow the rocking of level B roads in all but a few
instances.
This particular stretch of road has a machine shed on it, not a
house. The board denied the county engineer permission to grant the permit.
In
other business the board approved a farm to market voucher for $15,186.75 to pay
for utility lines that had to be relocated during the Dundee Bridge project. They
also approved a resolution to establish snowmobile routes in the county right-of-ways,
effective Nov. 28, 2005 through May 1.
Snowmobiles may operate on these designated
routes during the dates set from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday
and 24 hours a day on Friday and Saturday.
A public hearing is set for
Monday, Dec. 19 at 1:15 p.m. at the supervisor’s office in reference to vacating
portions of 262nd Avenue and 250th Street. The portions in question are the old
right-of-ways bypassed by the 262nd Street project. |
Courthouse
part of controversy many years ago
by Latisha Sand - Second in a Series |
LATISHA
SAND / Press
The Delaware County Courthouse in Manchester.
| The
bell and clock tower that looms over Manchester has been a part of the town’s
skyline for over 100 years and is the pride of the county. But it hasn’t
always been that way.
When Delaware County became a county in 1840, Delhi,
or Silver Lake as it was known then, was elected as the county seat. But 40 years
later, some residents of Delaware County would petition to have the seat moved.
After
the land became known as Delaware County and the seat was selected, a need for
a courthouse soon arose. Although the county didn’t have the money to buy
the land at $1.25 per acre, an 18 x 20 foot log cabin was constructed. The building,
which was just northwest of the lake, had no windows, doors or a roof because
it would cost $65 to finish it.
Four years later, Lawrence McNamee and
Leroy Jackson each loaned $100 to the county to buy the land and for several years
warrants were sold at 50 cents to repay the two men. |
“The
History of Delaware County Volume I” book stated that the first court was
held on Sept. 30, 1844 and the grand jury met in a little grove near the courthouse.
According to court records, horse stealing, counterfeiting, selling liquor to
Indians and murder were the crimes during the fist 10 years of operation.
The
building, however, was a failure and by 1850 a new building was demanded. No one
wanted the job so, Judge Frederick Doolittle and William Price offered to do it
even though they had no experience in the construction trade. They were paid with
$5 city lots in Delhi and by the next year, the foundation was laid, the walls
and basement were made and the frame was raised. In 1852 the roof was in place
and by 1853, the building was finished.
The first courthouse was sold and
used as a stable and the new building proved successful. The building housed the
jail in the basement and on the main floor was the courtroom. The building was
used until Manchester took over the seat in 1880.
Before the county seat
was moved, however, Manchester wasn’t the only one to campaign for it –
Earlville and Delaware wanted their chance as well.
During the years of
1840 to 1869 other towns sprung up in the county and experienced huge growth and
soon Manchester became the chief trading point. People claimed that the approaches
to Delhi were difficult with poor railroad facilities and inadequate hotels.
So,
in the spring of 1869, Manchester residents petitioned to have the seat moved
to their town and even raised $12,000 to build a new courthouse. But it was declined
in October by a majority of 367.
That same year Earlville earned $10,000 to
build a courthouse and they were also declined.
A second attempt was made
in 1874 and a third in 1875 but it wasn’t until 1880 when both Manchester
and Delhi filed petitions that the Board of Supervisors held another election
to decide which town would hold the county seat.
On Nov. 2, 1880 the board
found that Manchester won by a majority of 487 votes – with 2,115 ‘yes’
votes and 1,628 ‘no’ votes. Delhi filed with the Supreme Court but they
were denied.
There are many different versions of how Manchester “stole”
the county seat from Delhi. Many say the election was illegal and that the Board
of Supervisors wouldn’t have wanted to move the county seat and yet others
say everything was perfectly legal.
The Nov. 5, 1880 issue of the Manchester
Press stated, “Our citizens…made certain offers to the people that if
they would locate the county seat at Manchester they would save them the expense
of these buildings for many years…” Whether or not these offers were
legal or illegal, we may never know.
According to Belle Bailey’s “A
Three Volume History of Delaware County,” after the matter was settled a
“large party of men from Manchester went to Delhi and took the county records,
carrying them by wagon at night in a pouring rain. When they reached Manchester,
bonfires and torchlights illuminated the scene of a large celebration. The City
Hall was leased for 99 years to be used as a courthouse.”
And the
Manchester City Hall was used as a courtroom, but since the town promised to construct
a building to house the officials and county records, they built a two-story frame
building. The land was purchased from Ray Griffin for $3,000 and was located on
the southeast corner of Main and Tama streets.
After several years, the
residents were no longer happy with the two-story building and demanded a suitable
courthouse be built. They filed a petition with the Board of Supervisors for one
to be constructed not exceeding $40,000 but the board couldn’t grant that
much money.
In 1855 Congress passed an act that swampland entered in state
counties prior to 1852 would be reimbursed to the states. It was during this time
that Judge A.S. Blair was elected by the board to handle the swampland. Blair
secured $22,000 and 20,000 acres for the county. An election was held later to
sell the acres of land for money to build the new courthouse.
Bids were
later opened for the construction and Barnet and Record of Minneapolis won with
an estimated cost of $36,860. The courthouse was completed in 1894 with no debt
because according to Bailey’s book, “workmen gave services at a reduced
rate and this helped make the whole thing possible.”
The county also
paid $800 in plumbing costs.
The two-story building was sold and moved
to West Butler Street to be used as a resident home. The new courthouse was dedicated
on Jan. 7, 1895 and E.J. Conger gathered about 700 people to help purchase the
bell and clock for the 146-foot high tower.
The main structure of the building
was 76 by 95 feet and housed offices on the main floor with the courtroom, judge’s
rooms, jury rooms and offices for the county attorney on the second floor. The
basement was for the furnaces and other uses.
The building was composed
of St. Louis pressed brick and stone, the trimmings and arched entrances of Cleveland
sandstone and the basement of Delaware County limestone. The roof was slate and
the corner ornaments and cornice were copper. The entire building was plastered
with Acme cement, the basement trim was pine and the first and second floor trim
was oak. The base of the corridor was granite and the main and inner doors had
clouded glass with inscriptions of titles of the various officials.
In
the Jan. 3, 1895 issue of the Manchester Press it stated, “Delaware County
people may, without reservation and with the utmost sincerity, congratulate themselves
on the possession of one of the finest buildings in this or any other state…”
The
building was added to the National Historical Places in 1981 and today, a plaque
is located on the first floor, near the County Treasurer’s office, stating
the names of all 700 people who helped purchase the bell and clock. The building
has been remodeled since it’s construction but, the original 18-inch thick
walls, the decorative metal ceilings on the first floor and the intricate woodwork
remains. |
XL
Specialized Trailers breaks ground for plant expansion
by Brian Cook |
BRIAN
COOK/Press
XL Specialized Trailers broke ground for an expansion at its Manchester
plant last Thursday. Present were, from left, Saren Johnson of Hunter Companies,
Scott Wall of XL Specialized Trailers, Steve Brady of Community Savings Bank,
Donna Boss of Delaware Economic Development, Manchester Mayor Milt Kramer, Tim
Vick of the City of Manchester, Hunter Parks of Hunter Companies, Dan French of
XL Specialized Trailers, Delaware County Supervisor Shirley Helmrichs, Jack Klaus
of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Brian Pralle of DCED Board, George Wall
of XL Specialized Trailers, Brett Nagel of Community savings Bank, and Delaware
County Supervisor Bill Skinner.
| XL
Specialized Trailers celebrated the ground breaking of its latest Manchester plant
expansion last Thursday.
The 68,000 square foot expansion will cost more
than $4.5 million in building and equipment. Hunter Company of Cedar Rapids will
serve as general contractor for the project. When completed the plant in Manchester
will have more than 100,000 square feet and will be a state-of-the-art production
facility. The expanded facility will provide the capability of producing more
trailers from production to finishing, painting and final installation and delivery
of products.
Those in attendance included XL Specialized Trailers personnel,
representatives from Hunter Companies, the general contractor for the project
and officials from the City of Manchester and Delaware County. |
“We
are very proud of this facility and pleased with the turnout for this ground breaking,”
said George Wall, president of XL Specialized Trailers. “This expansion will
allow XL Specialized Trailers to deliver many more trailer with great efficiency.
We have terrific employees in Manchester and our other plant in Oelwein. We have
been very pleased with the work ethic and skill level of the folks in Manchester.
We plan to hire more great people in the near future.”
XL Specialized
Trailers is in need of additional welders, painters and finishers as well as other
personnel.
“Our sales are booming right now, which has caused a considerable
backlog in production. This facility will allow XL Specialized Trailers to address
that backlog in a state-of-the-art facility. Also we need additional production
help to satisfy demand,” Wall added. “Iowa Workforce Development is
handling the initial screening of applicants, so people who are interested should
apply at their local Iowa Workforce location.”
XL Specialized Trailers
provides heavy duty and special use trailers throughout North America, to the
Armed Forces and worldwide. The company was founded in 1995 and has plants in
Oelwein and Manchester, employing more than 180 people. |
109
E. Delaware - P.O. Box C - Manchester, Iowa 52057
563-927-2020 / FAX 563-927-4945
Copyright
Manchester Press 2005
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