Click here to submit your
news ideas and stories to the
Manchester Press!
| | 
The
Official Newspaper of Manchester and Delaware County, Iowa
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
| |
Council discusses tobacco-free parks, early retirement
by Latisha Sand |
The Manchester City Council discussed and approved many items at their regular council meeting on Monday, July 23, including making the Manchester city parks non-smoking zones, offering voluntary early retirement and purchasing the Don & Walt property.
The council approved resolution 117, which approves the offer to buy the Don & Walt property, which is located on West Main Street near the West Main Street bridge. Within the resolution it states that the city would purchase the existing location for $243,000 and provide the owners of Don & Walt, Soppe & McCrabb, LLC, with a property tax rebate for five years for their new location. The tax rebate for the location, which is the old Schultz building on the east end of town, would be in a fixed amount of $14,110 per year. The resolution also states that the city would allow Soppe & McCrabb, LLC to lease their current location on a month-to-month basis with the first two-months free.
The council agreed to offer the previously discussed voluntary early retirement program. The program’s purchase, according to program’s outline, is that it “provides an incentive that promotes an orderly means of attrition of employees and anticipates a cost savings to the city. It also recognizes service to the city and acknowledges those employees with superior attendance during their employment.”
The program will be offered to regular full-time employees whose resignation will be effective Dec. 31, 2007, who is at least 55 years of age on Dec. 31, 2007 and who has been employed by the city of Manchester for at least 10 consecutive years.
Employees who are interested in participating in the program would have to fill out an application and get approval from the city council. If approved, the employee would then get paid “25 percent of each day of his or her earned, unused sick leave days” and still receive the city’s health insurance, if the employee was previously covered by the plan. The city will not pay more than $400 per month for the plan.
Clare Jones, from Helping Services for Northeast Iowa and a member of the Delaware County Tobacco Free Partnership, approached the council about making the city parks tobacco free. The Parks and Recreation Commission had asked Jones to talk to the council about this possibility before they offered their recommendation on the plan.
Jones told the council there are three important reasons why the city parks should be tobacco free. The first is health reasons. She said that there has been studies done that prove that no amount of second hand smoke is healthy for anyone, whether inside or outside. The second reason was that parks offer family activities and the third was that cigarette butts cause litter within the parks. Jones also said that the state would provide tobacco free signs to post at the parks in order to let visitors know the policy. The council’s main concern was how they would enforce such a policy. They will discuss the information further before making a decision.
The council also
• approved the application from Ron and Callie McDonald for the Downtown Incentive Program Façade Grant in the amount of $3,124 for Strokers Saloon
• postponed the discussion on forgiving a housing rehabilitation grant for Terry Routier because more information is needed
• postponed discussion to approve whether to use asphalt or concrete for the River Front Trail walkway, which extends from the West Marion Street bridge to the West Main Street bridge. The debate is whether or not the trail should extend under the West Main Street bridge and connect to the proposed parking lot, which may go up on the existing Don & Walt property. |
Chesmore preparing for next overseas shipment, 1-133 returns
by Ken Boesenberg |
The Chesmore’s are at it again with their next shipment to men and women serving overseas. The date for this shipment is August 16.
With the arrival of the 133rd last week the number of soldiers being served has been reduced from 83 to 30, making this shipment the smallest that has been made.
“I am sure that this number will increase as the next couple of weeks go by. So we still will need your help and support to ship these packages.
Also, if anyone has a loved one serving overseas please get us their name and address as soon as possible so we may include them in this next shipment,” says Shirley Chesmore.
Shirley says that they are sending many of the same items this time as they usually send, however there are some new additions.
“We are sending fresh pillow cases this time. We have received many of them already from St. Mary’s Blessed Trinity Cluster and the Calico Cutup from Independence. And as well we will be receiving some from the 4-H group in Hopkinton.”
Regular items being sent include: Microwave popcorn, spaghetti and meatballs, mac and cheese, beanie weenies, ramen noodles, peanut butter, fruit snack and jammers, gum, razors, over the counter drugs, sunburn and suntan lotions, feminine products, boyd lotion, q-tips, band-aids, chap stick, dental floss, disposable cameras, CD’s, wrap around sun glasses, white boot socks, wet wipes, hand held games, board games, DVD’s, small boxes of cereal, and powdered drinks.
Home made cookies are always on top of the list and all cookies received will be sent.
Another interesting request has been received for this shipment according to Chesmore.
“I recently received an e-mail from Barb Davis. She had received an e-mail from her brother-in-law who is the husband of a former Manchester resident.
He is stationed in Baqubah, located northeast of Baghdad and about 50 miles from the border of Iran. He tells how all the rich people have left the city, including the doctors and nurses; leaving only the poor. |
Soldiers from the Iowa National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry make their way across eastern Iowa heading for their homecoming ceremony in Waterloo last Wednesday. Several local soldiers were among those on the buses returning home including Josh Zuck and Aaron Butikofer.
Several Patriot Guard Riders who were among more than a hundred riders that escorted the returning troops down Highway 20 on their way to Waterloo Wednesday.
|
The fighting is taking a huge toll on the people of the town and he is asking for “comfort items” such as aspirin, Tylenol, vitamins, gauze, clean white sheets cut into strips (2” x 12”, 4” x 18” and 8” x 24”) and some candy (for the children).”
“He has related how much that it hurts to watch people die just because they have run out of the basic medical supplies,” concluded Chesmore.
As always, if anyone would like to help out in this effort you may call Shirley Chesmore at 563-927-3646.
|
RMC names wellness center after Holtz
by Ken Boesenberg |
Lifetime Greeley resident, Bob Holtz has been honored by the Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees with the dedication of The Bob Holtz Wellness Center.
The center carrying his name will include the Fitness Center, Massage Therapy, and Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab services at Regional Medical Center.
“This quiet man is a genuine philanthropist, in his desire to give back from what he has worked hard for all his life. His gift will offer an opportunity for better health tomorrow for those who choose to commit the time and effort required. In accepting a gift of this magnitude, it is only appropriate that the center be named in his honor,” said Regional Medical Center, CEO, Dr. Lon Butikofer.
|
Bob Holtz |
Holtz owned and operated Holtz Construction for more than 45 years, constructing bins and other agriculturally related structures all over eastern Iowa.
Through the years Bob gave many a young person an opportunity to learn construction while providing them with summer jobs before and during college.
Helping people is nothing new to Holtz. For more than 15 years he has provided scholarships to Wartburg and Loras College students who were graduates of West Delaware and Edgewood-Colesburg schools.
“It has been rewarding just to see what these kids can do, and I look forward to assisting other students in furthering their education,” commented Holtz.
Bob is impressed with the wellness center, saying, “it has state of the art exercise equipment, and is unique in the fact that it is staffed by certified fitness personnel, and emergency medical equipment and personnel are readily available.”
Many others are also impressed with the facility and appreciative of what Bobs financial contribution has made possible.
“We are so thankful to Bob for his gift which will provide area residents the opportunity to improve their health and well-being in this beautiful facility,” commented Pat Doyle, VP of Quality and patient Services.
Jane Dzaboff, RN, MS, Clinical Specialist, oversees the operations of the Fitness Center echoed others thoughts regarding the new facilities. “We are excited with the wide open space overlooking the park. The additional space gives us some breathing room and has allowed for an expanded free weight area with room for floor exercise.”
“The new Cardio Theater system allows members to watch TV while they exercise. Each person will be provided individual headphones, so we won’t have dueling TV stations blaring away,” concluded Dzaboff.
|
109
E. Delaware - P.O. Box 245 - Manchester, Iowa 52057
563-927-2020 / FAX 563-927-4945
Copyright
Manchester Press 2005 - 2006
Thede
Web Works - Web Questions
|