The Official Newspaper of Manchester and Delaware County, Iowa

Tuesday, May 2, 2006

County pursuing Community Services Building Early grads not uncommon among area high schools Mentoring program looks for volunteers

County pursuing Community Services Building by Julie Sunne

The Delaware County Board of Supervisors voted to continue pursuing a new Community Services Building at Grant and Fifth Street following a public hearing at their April 24 meeting. Currently, County Community Services personnel share a building with the state Department of Human Services employees. Due to growth and expansion of county programs this facility no longer meets their needs. Bids will be opened Monday, May 1 at 1:15 p.m. A resolution was passed stating that Delaware County is working toward compliance with federal regulations concerning National Incidence Management System (NIMS). NIMS began at the federal level in 2004, and requires all elected officials and some county employees to attend at least two meetings to prepare them for responding to disaster incidents. The board approved an alternate plan for the use of Homecare Health Aide dollars. The state is encouraging this plan to allow the home health dollars to be used for things such as mumps follow-ups, so that the money gets used. This will not short change home health aide as there are still county funds that can be used if the need arises. The removal of the 210th Street Bridge northeast of Masonville was also approved. This bridge was closed in November 1998. County Engineer Mark Nahra said that the bridge is not reparable. He also explained that 212th Street is a parallel road less than a quarter miles south that has been used to bypass the bridge since its closure. Resurfacing of 212th Street is on the county construction plan, with surveying possibly done this fall. Some improvement has already been made to the road with the addition of gates and flashers at the railroad crossing. Masonville is also planning to seal coat 212th within the city limits. The board voted to send a letter to the Delaware County Library Association terminating the county’s contract with them. The supervisors do not agree with all of the language of the contract, and have concerns with libraries charging extra fees for certain services or dropping those services to certain county residents. They are also concerned with the libraries seeking funds all at once instead of quarterly as the county receives it. This does not mean that funds will be cut to the libraries, just that the contract will need to be reworded for their reconsideration. Two more right of way contracts were approved for the Jones-Delaware County line project. Richard D. and Irene P. Mardorf will receive $4,360.86 for .63 acres with fencing. The contract for Deborah J. Lange is for .58 acres at $5,875.85, including tree removal and fencing. Two class C liquor licenses were approved for county businesses. Alan and Wendy Kruse’s license is for The Detour in Dyersville, valid May 1, 2006 through April 30, 2007, and Rich and Susan Hughes’ license has been approved for Camp O Beach Resort in Delhi, valid April 30, 2006 through April 29, 2007. In reference to an ordinance concerning “adult” businesses, such as juice bars or sexually oriented businesses, the county attorney has asked for a little more time to do some research and should have something ready for the board by the May 1 board meeting. County road personnel will be working on 180th Avenue south of D42 (Bay Church Road) for the next two weeks. They will be pulling in the shoulders, reconstructing the crown and adding rock. Anyone traveling on that road is asked to drive with care. Patching is complete on D47 and cold in-place recycling begins May 8 with rolling closures. The 298th Avenue Bridge is now open to traffic.

Early grads not uncommon among area high schools by Latisha Sand

With graduation slowly approaching for area high school seniors, 24 of them from West Delaware, eight from Edgewood-Colesburg and four from Maquoketa Valley have already gone their separate ways. Early graduation is not an uncommon event these days and West Delaware High School Principal Jon Nordaas doesn’t see a consistency. “There is no spike or big variance,” said Nordaas. Each school year from the 1997-1998 school year, West Delaware has had as many as 35 (in 1999-2000) and as little as 14 (last year) early graduates. “Kind of a normal practice for kids to do this,” said Nordaas. “Some years are lower than others but from my perspective (the school) continues on.” Early graduates for all three schools must meet the regular graduation requirements. For example, at West Delaware seniors must have 56 credits including a certain amount of English, Science and other classes. For Maquoketa Valley, a senior must have 46 credits and all the required classes and students at Edgewood-Colesburg must complete 54 credits and all the additional required courses. Many students, who participate in early graduation, can only participate in senior activities, like senior award night, prom and the graduation ceremony. But at Edgewood-Colesburg, they are only allowed to participate in graduation. “Some miss out on the educational opportunities we have, like the dual classes (which are college credit courses), some miss out on the social interaction with other high school students,” said Nordaas. “You always ask are they moving to fast? We don’t know the answer but a large number of them have very good reasons (to graduate early).” Some join the military, some get an early start on their college courses, while others work. “But we worry about the ones who don’t do anything after graduation,” said Nordaas. “But they’ve done what they need to do (in order to graduate early.)” The students don’t get their diplomas early either, but if any West Delaware student needs proof they can get a letter or documentation from the administration that they have indeed completed their high school requirements. With the new eight credit English requirement for incoming freshman that West Delaware put into effect at their last school board meeting, Nordaas doesn’t think he’ll see an increase of early graduation applications. “Right now 57 to 59 percent of our students are already taking eight credits (in English) and about 17 percent take seven credits,” said Nordaas. “So we already have kids taking advantage of it.” And Nordaas isn’t worried about the amount of students graduating early either. “We have the dual classes and other services for the students to take advantage of,” said Nordaas. “If we didn’t have those there, I would worry (about the numbers).”

Mentoring program looks for volunteers by Latisha Sand

For the first time, Big Brothers, Big Sisters will be looking for at least 20 volunteers to spend their lunch hour with a Kindergarten through sixth grade student. “They would spend between 35-45 minutes with the student,” said Lannia Syren, the program coordinator for Big Brothers, Big Sisters. “They will sit and read or talk with the student or play a card game or board game. The person would be their buddy.” The program, called School Based Mentoring Program, has already been implemented in several area communities including Monticello and Independence. The program will begin in the fall of this year, however, Syren will be traveling to local businesses this summer to get community members interested in participating. “Throughout northeastern Iowa, there have been 500 kids matched through our program,” said Syren. She also mentioned that if a community member is interested in participating but cannot make it during their lunch hour, they can come from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. “It’s just a once a week commitment,” said Syren, “and 45 minutes.” Background checks and interviews will be made for anyone who has applied for the program. “Nationally we know that kids have increased their ability to learn from their peers, they’ve improved academically, have demonstrated and improved their self-confidence and have increased their sense of future (because of the program),” said Syren. If anyone is interested in helping with the program, call Syren at 927-5148.

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