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The
Official Newspaper of Manchester and Delaware County, Iowa
Tuesday,
February 14, 2006 | |
Earlville Postmaster receives high award
by Latisha Sand |
Clem DeMuth, the Earlville Post Office Postmaster, recently received an “I Satisfy Customers” Award.
“It should read ‘We Satisfy Customers,’” said DeMuth about the Hawkeye District award. “We wouldn’t have gotten this if it wasn’t for the people and other post offices doing their jobs.”
A military man for nearly 26 years, DeMuth lives by the ‘we, us, our’ concept, which means it’s always a group accomplishment, not an individual one.
DeMuth and the Earlville Post Office was nominated by an Earlville customer and then nominated him for this periodically given statewide and national award.
“I applaud your efforts in helping the United States Postal Service improve our customers’ level of satisfaction…” reads the award, which is signed by Mark Allen, the Manager of Post Office Operations out of Cedar Rapids.
The award also states that it’s for the “recognition of the time and attention you devote to our customers.” |
Clem DeMuth, Postmaster, Earlville Post Office |
| DeMuth is the third longest postmaster since the Earlville Post Office was established in 1857. He has served Earlville since 1993. |
Over 20 years for SWCD tree program
by Julie Sunne |
The Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is once again offering trees at a great price during their annual Tree Sales Program. The program has been in existence for over 20 years.
According to Marilyn Beau-dine, secretary at the district office, the program began as a way for the district to raise money for award programs. Selling trees accomplishes that goal, promotes conservation, and is a public service.
Beaudine says the district does pretty well from the sale, selling an average of 2000 to 4000 trees a year. The district sold over 8000 trees during their top year.
Twenty-six species of trees and shrubs are available, ranging in price from $1 to $2 per tree. The six-inch to three-foot bare root seedlings are hardy stock from Cascade Forestry. Although there is no survival guarantee, the fact that the seedlings are locally grown greatly increases survival rate.
Tree sales began Jan. 1 and will end March 15. Payment needs to be received at the time the order is placed. The trees will be delivered to the county in mid to late April. A letter specifying the exact time and place of pickup will be sent out about a week before their arrival.
Jerry Rattenborg, SWCD commissioner, emphasized that you don’t have to be a farmer to order the trees.
“Anybody can order any quantity,” he said. “You don’t even have to be a resident of the county.”
Rattenborg encourages those having questions or needing technical help, like choosing species or spacing considerations, to call the district office at 563-927-4590. |
Discover energy alternatives at Friday’s conference
By Brian Cook |
The Delaware County Fairgrounds Pavilion will host a conference on renewable and alternative energy this Friday, Feb. 17.
Paul Dolan, alternative energy coordinator for EIP Manufacturing of Earlville will open the conference at 9 a.m., after registration, which begins at 8:30 a.m. He will introduce Rob Robinson, the president and CEO of EIP Manufacturing, Donna Boss Director of Delaware County Economic Development, Darrell Hanson of Delaware County Extension Service, State Senator Brian Schoenjohn, State Senator Thomas Hancock and State Representative Roger Thomas.
State Representative Steve Lukan is scheduled to speak at 9:10 a.m., followed by Joseph Huber for Congressman Jim Nussle regarding upcoming legislation on renewable energy. At 9:30, attorney Carrie La Seur, vice president of I-Renew, will discuss interconnection and net metering standards as they relate to tax credits.
Mike Goater of Alliant Energy will discuss company policies and positions on renewable energy.
Regi Goodale, director of regulatory affairs for the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives will discuss the electric industry in Iowa and RECs plus wind energy interconnection requirements.
After a break for questions and answers, Michael Ott executive director of BIOWA will discuss biomass technologies. Jim Bodensteiner, program planner for Iowa DNR Energy & Waste Management will talk about methane energy recovery. Dan Meyer an agricultural Engineering field specialist for Winneshiek County Extension will tie together biomass methane energy recovery.
After lunch, Eldon Neighbor, who lives south of Alburnett, will lecture on the topic of “What to expect after you’ve made your decision” from his firsthand experience of installing a wind generator. Bill Haman, industrial program manager of the Iowa Energy Center will discuss recognizing Iowa’s Wind Potential.”
After another question and answer period, Norm Brusof USDA Rural Development will discuss renewable energy and energy efficiency loans. The last speaker of the day will be Bill Haman, of the Iowa Energy Center discussing the alternative energy revolving loan program.
Dolan said the conference is for anyone who wants to learn about renewable energy. EIP, he said, decided Northeast Iowa needed to have a renewable energy conference similar to ones sponsored by the Farm Bureau in other parts of the state.
EIP was started in 1975 as Eastern Iowa Pork and restructured two years ago and expanded into renewable energy.
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Portion of Hwy. 3 to see work this summer
By Brian Cook |
Residents in the Edgewood area learned more at a public meeting Thursday about the construction project scheduled for this summer, which will cause a detour for the 6.7 miles of Highway 3 to be repaired.
Highway 3 will be closed to through traffic from the junction with Highway 38 to the east, and Highway 13 to the west. The bid letting will be March 21 for the project and Jim Schnoebelen, an assistant district engineer for the Iowa Department of Transportation, said the first part of June would be the earliest any work could start. Some work may be done before the detour is in place, including curb and gutter work and sub drainage repair or replacement.
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Detour for Highway 3 this summer. |
One of the contractual requirements in the bid will be that the detour can’t be in place until after school lets out in the Edgewood-Colesburg District. The last scheduled day of classes at Ed-Co is May 24. The project is anticipated to take the entire summer, with the goal to be completed before school begins again in the fall.
“When we’re talking about putting a detour in place, we’re not saying the road will be closed. Just detoured to other places,” Schnoebelen said explaining that there will be access to businesses in Edgewood and local traffic for access to homes.
Elise Bergen of the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce said the businesses she has talked to are very happy the project is being done, and that there will be access for their customers.
“We’re going to try to keep information out there to the businesses and their customers – working with the DOT and project manager so everybody knows what’s going on,” Bergen added.
Ryan Wicks of Tekippe Engineering, the project manager for the City of Edgewood, said they will be adding curb and gutter and storm sewer on both the east and west ends of the corporate limits and will have some curb repair as well. There is a 28E agreement between the City of Edgewood and the DOT.
The DOT will pay for the center 32 feet of surfacing. The city will pay for the curb and gutter, plus driveway and sidewalk repair. Storm sewer costs will be split between Edgewood and the DOT.
Based on preliminary cost estimates, the project will cost the City of Edgewood $300,000.
In town, the existing bad asphalt will be milled off and be replaced with a new layer of asphalt. In other areas the pavement rehabilitation project will include the reutilization of the existing pavement, which means it will be crushed and placed down as a base for the new surface.
In the rural areas there will also be a widening of the highway. Now there are two 12-foot lanes.
When the project is completed there will be two 12-foot lanes plus two two-foot paved shoulders.
Schnoebelen said the paved shoulders would reduce maintenance needed because of rutting from water drainage and will increase driver safety.
This year’s project is the first of three phases of pavement rehabilitation for Highway 3.
Schnoebelen said the intent is in 2007 to continue on the west end and go from Strawberry Point to the junction of Highway 3 and 13. Then within three years to work on Highway 3 from the junction with Highway 38 to Highway 52 in Luxemburg. |
Manchester native flying high
By Latisha Sand |
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Casey Hansen, a 21-year-old Manchester native, is a multi-licensed pilot instructor. "I love aviation because there is nothing like being in the air and being free." He is sitting in a 2004 Piper Seneca V, a multi-engine aircraft.
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Casey Hansen, a 21 year old from Manchester, has always wanted to fly…
“My first word might have been ‘airplane,’” said Hansen.
…and he’s making a career out of doing something he loves.
With over 1,000 hours of flying experience under his belt, Hansen is a multi-licensed pilot instructor and he hasn’t graduated college yet.
“I can’t think of anything better to do than to help someone else achieve the dream of getting their pilots license,” he said.
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Hansen, in his short career, has obtained around eight licenses or ratings and has flown about 20 different aircrafts. His favorites are the Mooney 201, which can travel 201 miles per hour, and the Taylorcraft.
“For someone his age he has indeed accomplished a great deal in a short time,” said Lee Bowden, a pilot at the Independence Municipal Airport where Hansen works. “Casey is very passionate about his flying and flying is definitely the major part of his life above and beyond being a form of employment.”
When Hansen isn’t studying at the Upper Iowa University, for his public administration and business degree, or spending time with family, friends and his fiancée, Amber Ling, he spends time flying around the United States or teaching. One of his longer flights included taking Wal-Mart vendors to Bentonville, Ark. He regularly flies in and out of Iowa with passengers and students.
“Probably the most rewarding experiences I have had come after the completion of students successful check rides,” said Hansen. “It is a lot of work to get them ready and to help them get finished with what is usually a very personal experience and challenge. The grin on their faces after successful check rides and realizing they are licensed pilots is something that cannot be beat.”
Hansen even provides tours, aviation ground schools, seminars, annual airplane rides at the Manchester Municipal Airport and speaks to schools, businesses and organizations.
“It gives me the chance to spread the word about aviation and how it can help the community and individuals who want to enjoy flight,” said Hansen.
And he tells people that if you like it, pursue it.
“I would guess one of the best reasons to choose flying is simply because one likes it and has a passion for it,” he said. “I have not yet met a pilot who did not simply breathe aviation 100 percent.”
Hansen, whose parents are Mark and Arlys of Manchester, still has two licenses he can get but he’s just enjoying what he loves right now. In the future, though, he wouldn’t mind managing an airport.
He said it takes time to become a pilot as well as training.
“It takes dedication and passion about what is being taught because it can be a lot of information at one time,” said Hansen. “The first step, really, is to stop by the local airport and talk with an instructor about your plans, flying for fun or for a career, then he or she can point you in the right direction.”
Pilot lessons are expensive though. Someone could spend up to $4,000 for just the first license, the private pilot license.
Hansen would like to thank his instructors, Jim Connell, Mike Connell, Rick Hannen and Tommy Tomkins. “My flight instructors were some of the best pilots I’ve had the privilege of working with,” he said.
And Bowden said that Hansen has achieved near perfect scores on all of the pilot written tests he’s taken.
“These tests are quite lengthy, very detailed and require a great deal of study,” said Bowden. “Yes, Casey is an excellent student but, to an even larger degree, a better instructor and teacher.”
Hansen is a member of the Manchester Airport Committee and a member of the national organization Aircraft Owner’s and Pilots Association (AOPA).
He can’t stress enough how much he loves flying…
“There is nothing like being in the air and being free to go wherever you want.”
…and simply sitting back and enjoying the view.
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