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The
Official Newspaper of Manchester and Delaware County, Iowa
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
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“Hawk Habits” presented at WD
by Ken Boesenberg |
The introduction of “Hawk Habits” has hit the West Delaware High School campus.
This program is based on Sean Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.
Last fall representatives of the Covey organization in conjunction with West Delaware High School held a rally for students from not only West Delaware but Ed-Co, Maquoketa Valley, Starmont and East Buchanan as well.
The rally was such a success that it has led to a group of West Delaware faculty organizing what is now being known as “Hawk Habits.”
“The entire program is designed to take three years,” commented West Delaware teacher, Tom Fetter.
Last Wednesday afternoon students in grades nine through 12 at West Delaware participated in some group activities set up by the Hawk Habits committee.
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KEN BOESENBERG/ Press
Mrs. Mary Kelley, Mr. Dave Schultz, and Mrs. Joan Salow put on a skit for the sophomores, juniors and seniors as part of the Hawks Habits Rally held last Wednesday afternoon in the West Delaware High School gym. The program is a new one that has met with much acceptance in it’s early stages. |
Following small group activities that were held in classrooms, the sophomore through senior classes were dismissed to the gymnasium.
In the gym they were treated to a slide show that had been put together by West Delaware students Emily Heffernen and Billy Conner. The two had ventured into the hallways at the high school armed with a digital camera to get some candid shots of students.
The song that was played along with the slide show, “Who Are You?” by the Who, added to the theme of the rally.
They did an excellent job of getting many candid pictures as well as gleaning through Mrs. Temeyer’s collection of yearbook photos in order to cover a wide array of students and activities.
Following the slide show presentation the students were entertained by three faculty members who performed a skit on the stage.
Mary Kelley, Joan Salow and Dave Schultz did an absolutely marvelous job of performing while getting their point across concerning one’s Personal Bank Account.
This Personal Bank Account should not be confused with a personal checking or savings account, although it is one that you can and do make deposits and withdrawals from each and every day.
Students were introduced to ways of making deposits in their PBA (Personal Bank Account) through their daily thoughts and actions. Some of those ways of making a deposit in their PBA are by speaking up when you know you are right; being happy for another person’s success or by having the courage to defend a person someone else speaks badly of when they are not present to defend themselves.
Following the skit the students then were addressed by guest speaker, Ken Boesenberg.
Mr. Boesenberg continued the theme of the day by relating how some of the hardest battles in life are the ones that are fought within oneself. Through these battles you learn to tap into your inner strength and develop character, at which time you can really grow.
At the conclusion of Mr. Boesenberg’s speech the student body was treated to a short film put together by Kevin Schuchman that highlighted many of the world’s greatest leaders.
Included in the video were clips of Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Desmond Tutu, Mother Teresa and many more world famous leaders who all made a difference in the world.
The final presentation was a seven-minute clip of Michael Jackson performing his “Man in the Mirror” routine at the 1988 Grammy Awards.
In addition to those already mentioned, the following individuals also spent an enormous amount of outside-the-classroom time preparing for the Hawk Habits Rally - Dianne Kramer (Chair), Jolene Pitzenberger-Timp (Slide Show), Marcia Powell (Slide Show), Kathy Naughton (Publicity), Tom Fetter (Facilitator), Kelly Jared, Marianne Sandberg, Tammy Bolsinger and Rob Petsche.
As well there were the many teachers who held separate activities for the freshman class during the time the upper classmen were in the gym.
The agenda for the balance of the year includes an Advisor/Advisee meeting monthly, as well as a wrap up celebration in May. |
Street Improvements Project topic discussed at Council meeting
by Ken Boesenberg |
The Manchester City Council held their regular meeting on Monday night, Jan. 28 in the City Council Chambers.
Among the items on the agenda was a public hearing regarding the proposed Resolution of Necessity concerning the 2008 Street Improvements Project.
The project consists of reconstruction of existing streets, reconstruction of storm sewer and sanitary sewer, limited repair of the water mains, and reconstruction of driveways and sidewalks, and other work incidental thereto on and along certain streets in the City of Manchester.
The following streets will be affected by the project:
* Clara Avenue from North Franklin Street to a point approximately 13 feet beyond Sherman Avenue, a total length of approximately 1,470 feet;
* Oak Court from the cul-de-sac to Clara Avenue, a length of approximately 225 feet;
* South Tama Street from Vine Street to the Railroad, a length of approximately 1,210 feet;
* New Street from Prospect Street to Clara Avenue, a length of approximately 725 feet.
The assessable portion of the 2008 Street Improvements Project includes curb reconstruction, utility service connections, driveway resurfacing, and sidewalk replacement.
The City had mailed notices of estimated assessments to all 85 affected property owners and the public meeting was held to hear of any concerns from the public.
There was a large turnout from the public with a number of very good questions asked.
Manchester Mayor, Milt Kramer emphasized that citizens should stay in contact with city officials if they have any questions regarding the 2008 Street Improvements Project.
“We would encourage you to first direct any questions you have to Tim (Vick) our City Manager or to Marty Kelzer as they will be the most familiar with the project and can direct you in the proper direction for answers,” said Mayor Kramer.
Most of the comments from the public had to do with sidewalk replacement.
The citizens were informed that there have been no final decisions made on each individual case as far as sidewalks were concerned. Those decisions would be made early in the spring as the city was aware of some instances where new sidewalks may not be needed.
For estimate purposes the following values were used - curb and gutter per LF (paving) $23.75; driveway per SY $50.00; sidewalk per SY $39.50; sewer service EACH $100.00; water service per LF $28.50 plus $150.00 for curb stop.
In other business brought before the City Council, Randy Rattenborg with Gibbs Engineering addressed the Council on behalf of Hausers Water Conditioning regarding the moving of a property line.
The property lies outside the city limi
ts but inside the two-mile radius making approval by the City Council usually a necessity.
In this particular case it has been determined that the moving of the property line would not have to be approved by the City Council but the affected parties wanted the OK of the council so that there would be a good paper trail created.
The mayor and the council were concerned that there may be a precedence being set in allowing such an action. They were told by City Attorney, Jim Peters that he and City Manager, Tim Vick are working on redoing the ordinance in question so that it better defines the original intent of the ordinance.
The resolution to this particular situation between the City and Hausers will be resolved by City Attorney Peters writing a letter stating that the City of Manchester would not find Hausers in violation of the current ordinance.
In other business the council passed Resolution R-025-2008 which was a resolution authorizing and approving a Loan Agreement and providing for the issuance of an $800,000 General Obligation Fire Station Note and providing for the levy of taxes to pay same.
The low bidder on the $800,000 note was Citizens State Bank with a bid of 3.85%.
There was also some discussion regarding the Communication Agreement with Delaware County.
Everyone is in agreement that the service is good and that such a service is needed, it is getting an agreement as to who will pay how much for the service.
Dispatching has always been done from a location inside City Hall. The service is used by the Delaware County Sheriffs Department as well as the City of Manchester Police Department not to mention the surrounding cities for both ambulance and fire dispatching.
Currently the City is looking into the cost to actually physically move the entire center to another location.
The best guess at this time is that that cost could run into the six figure area.
The City Council will be attending another meeting with the Delaware County Board of Supervisors on Monday, Feb. 4 to further discuss the many options surrounding the Communication Agreement.
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Pat Becker retires after 30 years
by Ken Boesenberg |
KEN BOESENBERG/ Press
On Friday, Jan. 25, 30-year Delaware County Sheriff’s Department employee, Pat Becker was honored with a huge retirement party. Guest after guest filed into the basement of the Sheriff’s Office to wish Pat the best. In the photo above Pat is flanked by a number of other retired employees that she worked with. Pictured are, from left to right - Bill Hermes, Duncan Gross, Pat Becker, Dorothy Palmer, David Elledge and Bert Elledge, Jr. Bert was the Delaware County Sheriff at the time that Pat began working. |
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