The Burlington Beacon Newspaper

08/18/2024

In just a few minutes, the sound of a church bell will ring out over Crapo and Dankwardt Parks. Learn more about the history of this bell and its connection to the vacant church building at the foot of Snake Alley in the latest issue of the Beacon.

08/18/2024

Century 21 Open House
Sunday, Aug. 18, 1-3 p.m.
1005 S. 7th St., Burlington
Hosted by Deb Fowler

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08/17/2024

Brushes and Blooms

Photos by John Lovretta

The Art in the Garden Party, a fundraiser for Homestead 1839, was held Saturday, Aug. 10 in West Burlington. The event raising money for educational programs for adult and children. It featured a beginning plein air painting class with Jeri Sparks, music by Daniel Pappas, guided garden tours, and an art auction.

08/17/2024

Century 21 Open House
Sunday, Aug. 18, 1-3 p.m.
1005 S. 7th St., Burlington
Hosted by Deb Fowler

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08/16/2024

NEWS RELEASE

August 15, 2024

From the Office of Sheriff Kevin Glendening:

On August 15, 2024, Des Moines County Deputies observed a possible stolen vehicle traveling south on US Highway 61 near 210th St. Deputies attempted to catch up to the vehicle to verify that it was stolen. The vehicle then accelerated and attempted to elude law enforcement while traveling south on US Highway 61 at speeds greater than 25 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. The vehicle continued to elude law enforcement until pulling over near Roosevelt and Mt. Pleasant St.

The driver was placed under arrest and identified as Jefferey Lynn Elmore, age 54, of Burlington, IA. The vehicle he was driving was confirmed to be stolen from the Burlington area. A search of the vehicle revealed a drug pipe. When searching Elmore’s person he was found in possession of methamphetamine. Elmore appeared to be suffering from a medical condition and was transported to the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center by ambulance.

Upon release from the hospital, Elmore was transported to the Des Moines County Correctional Center and charge with Eluding (D felony), Theft 2nd Degree (D felony), Driving While Barred, Reckless Driving, Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

A CRIMINAL CHARGE IS MERELY AN ACCUSATION AND THE DEFENDANT IS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL AND UNLESS PROVEN GUILTY.

08/16/2024

CLASSIFIED ADS - posted August 15, 2024

GARAGE SALE
Large Garage (Estate) Sale: Friday, 8/16, and Sat. 8/17, 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. Selling the entire house and garage contents. Furniture, tools, antiques, holiday decor, lawn equipment, kitchenware, toys, decorative items. Something for everyone. 1160 Ash St. Burlington, Iowa.
# # #
GARAGE SALE
Garage sale - a fundraiser benefiting Messiah Lutheran Preschool. Friday, 8/16 and Sat. 8/17, 8 a.m.-noon. Messiah Lutheran Church, 2411 West Ave., Burlington. Kitchen items, home and holiday decor, children's clothing, adult and children's books, luggage sets, purses and bags, and much more. Free-will donation.
# # #
HELP WANTED
Part-time maintenance position open at a local campground. Call 319-752-8691.
# # #

08/15/2024

Waiting for a lifeline

Local man in need of a kidney donor

By William Smith
Burlington Beacon

Burlington resident and Army veteran Charles Webb never asked for anything he didn’t earn.

For nearly three decades, he’s worked at the Walmart Distribution Center, earning a living for his family. His two sons are grown and have gifted Charles and his wife Mona, with six grandchildren. Mona has worked at Hope Haven for 35 years.

It’s everything Charles ever wanted. Then a diagnosis of kidney failure in 2019 threatened to take it all away.

“The doctor said my kidneys were down to about 20 percent. The doctor said he thought it might have been because of my high blood pressure and maybe the wrong medication I was taking,” Webb said.

The condition made Webb’s legs swell, so he changed his lifestyle — per doctor’s orders.

“I went on a restricted diet, cut back on salt and that stuff,” Webb said.

It helped for a little while. But Webb’s condition continued to worsen. In May, he went on dialysis. He still works at the Walmart Distribution Center but isn’t sure if he can continue.

Waking up after eight hours of dialysis through the night is exhausting.

His wife gets up early every morning with him, taping down the porthole that allows him to receive dialysis.

“I’m on the list at Mayo for a kidney transplant, but since I’m healthy, I’m not going to be one of the first ones to get one,” he said.

Webb has a physical job and does his best to protect the port and bandage under his shirt.

“My main goal is to not rip that out when I’m working,” he said. “I work in shipping, so we’re lifting boxes all day.”

Being on the transplant list isn’t enough. Webb is one of thousands of people in need of a kidney.

Much like them, he has taken it upon himself to find a kidney donor through online sources and advertising.

“I would need someone that would want to volunteer one of their kidneys,” he said, noting that he could be on the kidney donor list for six years.

Webb worked with the National Kidney Foundation to set up a website explaining his situation and the type of kidney donor he needs.

The organization also suggested he get the word out through social media.

It’s not easy for Webb — asking strangers to provide a kidney so he can live. He has nothing to offer other than gratitude. At 63 years old, Webb has always paid his way.

But this time, Webb has to ask for help for the sake of his family. He has no expectations beyond that.

“People want to know your story, but they can’t give you one of their kidneys. And that’s okay. I understand. They say there are at least 10,000 people who need kidneys,” he said.

Webb is a native of Clarksville, Mo., and moved to Burlington in 1987 after serving six years of active duty and three years of non-active duty in the U.S. Army. He was a communications specialist and served twice in Germany as well as stateside.

Webb moved to Burlington to help out his sister and find a job. He eventually found a new career at Walmart.

The Missouri native is also a sports nut, and coached soccer when his boys were in school. One of those sons — Jordan Webb — is now the head football coach at Burlington High School. Webb used to do quite a bit of fishing, but he’s simply too tired these days.

But he’s never too tired for a kidney transplant. He thinks about it every day.

“They told me to always be ready,” he said.

When Webb does get a transplant, he’ll be facing at least six weeks of recovery and rejection medication. Webb has type O+ blood, but that match doesn’t negate possible rejection.

“My insurance will pay if somebody wants to donate,” Webb said.

“They’ll fly them to Mayo or whatever needs to be done. It just won’t pay their week of salary if it takes a week. It’ll pay for surgery. It’ll pay for a plane ride, or however they want to get there.”

Webb is also on a donors list for military veterans. Those interested in donating or helping can contact Dove Transplant at www.dovetransplant.org, or visit Webb’s page on the National Kidney Register at www.nkr.org/qyl534.

Photo by John Lovretta

Editor's note: This story appeared in the Aug. 9 print edition of The Beacon.

For more local news and sports, subscribe to The Burlington Beacon at https://burlingtonbeacon.com/pages/subscribe.

Copyright © 2024 Burlington Beacon

08/15/2024

The office will be closed on Thursdays for the remainder of this month and next. We want to take that time to meet our readers and focus on our ever-growing distribution operation.

08/14/2024

Stinky Feet Lead to Attempted Murder

By Beacon Staff

A Burlington man has been charged with attempted murder after an argument with his father over smelly feet.

The fight escalated to the son shooting his father in the face, according to a criminal complaint.

Officials said the suspect, 48-year-old David Carpenter, called law enforcement around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11, and stated he had shot his father in the face.

Police responded to the 2700 block of Monarch Drive and found Carpenter in the residence's front yard. Carpenter's father was located inside the residence with a single gunshot wound to the face.

The victim told police that he and his son were in an argument over his son’s stinky feet. David then grabbed his gun from his bedroom and shot his father in the face.

Detectives conducted an interview with David at the Burlington Police Department. David said his father told him that his feet stunk. David said the two had a heated argument over family issues and that his dad made a comment about shooting him.

The criminal complaint says that David then walked to his bedroom, retrieved his firearm, and walked back into the living room where his father sat in a motorized scooter. David told police that he then pulled the firearm out from behind his back, yelled at his father about guns, pointed the gun at his father’s face and accidentally pulled the trigger.

The victim was transported to a local hospital with what appeared to be a non-life-threatening injury.

Officials located two children inside the residence, one of which was in the living room during the shooting.

Carpenter was arrested and has been charged with attempted murder and child endangerment.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 21.

08/14/2024

Find four friends or co-workers to play some golf on Friday, September 13th at Flint Hills and support the Burlington Bees ! It will be a beautiful Fall day and what better way to spend it golfing and supporting your Burlington Bees!

Reach out to Clayton Davis at [email protected] or call 515-556-6650 with your team and sign up!

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08/13/2024

ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK

Tiger is a 9-month-old male pit bull terrier. He has spent most of his life cooped up in a little kennel; he is in a bigger one here and loves stretching out in it. He would love to have a couch to chill on! Sweet and handsome, he loves his baths, toys, and treats. He is learning to walk good on a leash and really just wants to be someone's good boy!

Contact the Des Moines County Humane Society to meet Tiger!

Post sponsored by Diane Boyd Insurance Agency Inc.

08/13/2024

Stop by the Bethany Lutheran Church Burlington (ELCA) Ice Cream Social on Aug. 14, 5-7 p.m. A meal plus dessert and ice cream -- only $10 for adults and $5 for kids under 10.

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08/13/2024

Back in the Huddle

Photos by John Lovretta

Burlington High School football players started practices on Monday at Bracewell Stadium. This year, they will be led by new head coach Jordan Webb. The Grayhounds open their season at Fort Madison High School on Friday, Aug. 30. Their season home opener is on Friday, Sept. 6, hosting Washington High School.

Read Joe Geren's story about BHS football in this Friday's print edition of The Beacon.

08/13/2024

READ IT FIRST IN THE BEACON

Court Rules in Favor of Great River Health Concerning Taxable Status

Beacon Staff

The Iowa District Court for Des Moines County has ruled in favor of Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center on the remaining properties involved in the dispute over tax exemptions.

Those properties include the Eastman and Mercy Plaza medical office buildings, the Family Medicine building, the Mediapolis Clinic, the Outpatient Services Plaza (Walk-In Clinic), the daycare (Kid Zone), and the warehouse.

According to a press release from Great River Health, the court’s decision maintained the charitable function of these properties. The decision overturns the board of review’s previous decision to revoke the exemptions. Great River Health said in the release that the board acted contrary to Iowa law.

Historically, Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, West Burlington, and its predecessors — going back over 100 years — have been exempt from property taxes due to their charitable use.

All non-profit hospitals in Iowa are believed to be exempt from property taxes for the same reason.

Evidence submitted at trial showed that major non-profit hospitals in Iowa have full property tax exemptions, including University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Mercy One Des Moines Medical Center, UnityPoint Health-Iowa, Methodist Center, Des Moines, Genesis Medical Center in Davenport and UnityPoint Health and Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids.

Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center will continue to pay property taxes on undisputed non-exempt properties and percentages of properties leased to other entities.

Trent Henkelvig, with the Des Moines County Attorney’s Office, addressed the case during the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors Meeting Tuesday morning. He said there was time for an appeal.

“We have until Sept. 9, if we (the county), want to appeal,” he said.

For more on this story, see this Friday's print edition of The Beacon.

08/13/2024

Over the Edge

Photos by John Lovretta

The United Way of Southeast Iowa hosted an urban rappelling event and fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 10. The goal of Over The Edge was to raise $25,000, with the money going to the organizations supported by the United Way. Participants rappelled down the nine-story F&M Bank and Trust building in downtown Burlington.

For more local news and sports, subscribe to The Burlington Beacon at https://burlingtonbeacon.com/pages/subscribe.

Copyright © 2024 Burlington Beacon

08/13/2024

Congratulations!

Greater Burlington Partnership Names Amy O’Brien As New President & CEO

BURLINGTON, IOWA – Following a nationwide executive search for a visionary leader to lead the Greater Burlington Partnership, the Partnership announced today that Amy O’Brien has been selected as its new president and chief executive officer. O’Brien will take the helm of the Partnership on Monday, September 16, 2024.

The Greater Burlington Partnership’s Joint Powers Board voted unanimously in favor of hiring O’Brien. Melinda Bickel, chair of the Greater Burlington Partnership board, said “Amy is a strategic, big-picture thinker with deep experience advocating for businesses of all sizes. Amy brings extensive experience spanning the public, private, chamber, downtown and economic development sectors. She has the vision and strategic focus to take the Greater Burlington Partnership to the next level, advocating for our members and community.”

“I am truly honored to have the opportunity to lead the Greater Burlington Partnership,” said O’Brien. “I feel as if my entire career trajectory has led me to this position at the right time. The Partnership’s work is vital to the business community and economic development, and I look forward to working with the boards, members, volunteers, and staff to grow the organization and to promote the community and ensure the livelihood of all local businesses in the Greater Burlington area. On a personal note, I am also looking forward to relocating back to Burlington and to reconnect with so many friends and colleagues.”

O’Brien currently serves as the Assistant City Manager and Director of Economic Development for the City of Mexico, Missouri. In this role, she implemented MainStreet Mexico, arranged for a professional video marketing showcase for business attraction and talent attraction, and played a key role in securing $100,000 USDA grant to create a business incubator in downtown Mexico. Additionally, O’Brien served as the liaison with the Mexico Area Chamber and Progress Mexico providing business recruitment and retention services.

Before her position with the City of Mexico, O’Brien was the Chief Executive Officer of the Audrain Community Hospital also in Mexico, Missouri. There, she managed the transition of ownership from SSM Health System in St Louis to Noble Health and established two new specialty clinics for Orthopedics and Pain Management within the first year of operation.

In Burlington, O’Brien has held leadership roles as Vice President, Business Development & Engagement with Great River Entertainment and as Vice President of Physician Practices with Great River Health System. She holds a Master of Science degree from University of Central Missouri and a Bachelor of Science from Southeastern Louisiana University. She is skilled in operations management, government affairs, business development, workforce development and executive leadership.

O’Brien is married to Joe, the athletic director for Southeastern Community College. They have three adult children and three grandchildren, as well as an “international son” from Croatia bringing their total number of grandchildren to six. In their spare time, they enjoy traveling to family and friends.

Ann Menke, chair of the CEO Search Committee stated, “We are pleased to have someone of Amy’s caliber to lead our organization into the future. We welcome her back to Burlington and feel that her leadership, energy, and passion will complement the Partnership’s program of work and challenge us to aim higher. Amy is an experienced collaborator, consummate leader, and true professional.”

The Greater Burlington Partnership retained Anissa Starnes, IOM, Chief Impact Officer with YGM, LLC, to provide management and oversight for the national search, working with a committee of volunteers from the Partnership’s membership. YGM specializes in executive searches for chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and non-profits.

As the Partnership’s President & CEO, O’Brien will oversee the staff and will report to the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. The President & CEO is responsible for providing overall leadership and management to the membership, boards, staff, and volunteers in executing the respective missions of the Partnership’s organizations, along with financial management, marketing, membership development, fundraising, and overall operations. The President & CEO implements the annual business plan to meet the objectives of the approved Strategic Plan.

O’Brien said her first priorities will be to actively engage with the members to understand both their current and future needs and to meet as many people as possible to build the strong relationships needed to be successful as the leader of the Partnership. She succeeds Della Schmidt, who announced her departure in April to accept the position as the President and CEO of Greater Mankato Growth located in Mankato, Minnesota. Schmidt served as President and CEO since June of 2019.

08/11/2024

Old Couch Music Fest

Photos by Keith Turrill

The seventh annual Old Couch Music Fest rocked downtown Burlington on Saturday, with music, foof=d, fun, and fellowship. The outdoor concert featured Van and the Movers, Eric Pettit Lion, Rocksteady, and 11:11.

The Old Couch Music Fest was created in 2017 to feature local and regional Americana, folk, bluegrass, country, blues, and rock music. The name was inspired by an old couch in the back of the theater that couldn’t be dumped because it was donated in someone’s memory.

08/10/2024

Cornick sisters claim national titles

By Joe Geren
Beacon Sports

When you’re already a national champion, perhaps only one goal remains.

Perfection.

That’s the goal for Odessa Cornick in the upcoming indoor archery season.

Odessa, 16, of Burlington, and her sister Alina, 12, are three-time national champions. Their most recent titles occurred in July at the Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) Eastern Outdoor National on the University of the Cumberlands campus in Williamsburg, Ky. Odessa won the female young adult (age 15-18) championship, and Alina captured the female Eagle division for ages 10-12.

In June, Alina won an indoor national title in Rend Lake, Ill.

“They shoot their first couple rounds, and that’s how they get into the shoot-off,” their dad, Zach Cornick, explained. After the shoot-off, “there’s a bracket-type system where they shoot against each other. It’s two full days.”

In young adult competitions, “the top three finishers get academic scholarships,” Zach said. “There are probably 15 scholarships around the country. They’re adding up.”

Last March, Odessa won the national title in the Eastern Indoor S3DA in Owensboro, Ky., and won several scholarships, including some to the University of the Cumberlands, Kentucky Christian, Southeast Illinois, and Lindenwood. With the win in Williamsburg, some of the scholarships were duplicated.

Odessa, who soon begins her junior year at Burlington High School, has not decided which scholarship she’ll use. “I haven’t started looking too much yet,” she said.

Zach and his wife Denissa founded the Flint River Archery Club in late 2020.

Last Sunday, the Cornick sisters were among four Flint River Archery Club members who won state titles in the Iowa State ASA championship in Iowa City. Odessa won the young adult female pins division, and Alina captured the Eagle girls’ pins. Isaiah Mendenhall won the Eagle boys open division and Brody Foley won young adult male pins.

Other club members competing in the state meet were Timothy Burns Jr. (2nd, Eagle boys open), Addison Ewinger (2nd, Eagle girls open), Raelle Miller (2nd, Eagle girls pins), and Abigail Foley (3rd, Eagle girls pins).

Miller also finished 10th in the Eastern Outdoor National in Kentucky last month. According to a Flint River Archery Club Facebook post, Miller’s sights were going low left the first day of the competition. Coaches fixed the problem, and Miller shot a personal best the second day.

“In a couple weeks the ASA Outdoor National is in South Dakota,” Zach Cornick said. “We’ll be going to that.”

Both Cornick girls have played other sports, but archery is their preference.

“I did golf for a little bit, but mostly archery is what I do,” Odessa said. She played on the BHS girls’ golf team. “I started (archery) when I was four years old.”

“I played volleyball and soccer, but not right now,” Alina said. In archery, “I like outdoor targets better. It’s cells (in 3D animal-shaped targets). Basically, it’s upper and lower cells.”

Odessa has goals.

“I want to win some more things, obviously,” she said, “get some more scholarships collected. Indoor season is next, so right now, my goal is to shoot an absolutely perfect score, a 150 with 30 Xs.”

Photo by Joe Geren

Odessa Cornick, left, and her sister Alina won national championships in archery recently. Alina won two in the Eagle (age 10-12) Division and Odessa captured a national outdoor championship in the Young Adult (15-18) Division.

Editor's note: This story appeared in the Aug. 2 print edition of The Beacon.

For more local news and sports, subscribe to The Burlington Beacon at https://burlingtonbeacon.com/pages/subscribe.

Copyright © 2024 Burlington Beacon

08/09/2024

BEACON BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Frankly speaking:

McPherson relishes retirement with hot dog stand.

By William Smith
Burlington Beacon

Everybody in West Burlington knows Randy McPherson.

He grew up there and spent his entire adult life in the small town. McPherson isn’t a public personality. A Google search wouldn’t return many relevant results.

But McPherson is one of the friendliest guys in town. Now that he’s retired, he’s capitalizing on that local fame with a hot dog stand.

He calls it Pinky’s Foot Long Corn Dogs and Hot Dogs and sets up at various places around town. The bright pink canopy makes it plenty easy to find.

“I’ve talked about getting a hot dog car for probably 30 or 35 years when I retired,” he said.

It’s not just the cart that’s pink. McPherson was called Pinky decades before opening his hot dog cart because he was always wearing a pink hat. He still does.

“I’ve been called Pinky since my kids were in school. My youngest, Dylan, is 38 years old now,” he said. “The kids at school just started calling me Pinky.”

It’s the foot-long corn dogs that differentiate Pinky’s from other hot dog stands. During a trip to the Iowa State Fair, McPherson could not find a foot-long corn dog. He never sees foot-long corn dogs.

McPherson started researching hot dog carts in October 2023 and finally opened up a few months ago.

He was stationed in front of the Star gas station last week in West Burlington, and couldn’t go more than a few seconds without a local yelling out a greeting. McPherson often turned those greetings into mini-conversations.

In previous months, McPherson has set up his cart at Auto Zone, Tractor Supply Co., the West Burlington Fourth of July celebration, a Very Vintage Market, and Deery Brothers. Word is getting around fast, and now Shearer’s has invited McPherson to lunch there.

McPherson has unwittingly laid the groundwork for his newfound publicity most of his life.

“I’ve been talking about this to so many people in my life, and it just clicked,” he said. “We went up to Chicago and got the cart. The hardest part was getting the fryer to pass the health inspection.”

Service is quick and to the point, though McPherson is always happy to gab with anyone who buys a dog. The menu consists entirely of foot-long corn dogs and hot dogs, which McPherson can whip up in just a few minutes. A hot dog costs $7, while a corn dog costs $8.

While speaking to The Beacon for the interview last Friday, another familiar face — familiar to McPherson, anyway — yelled out of a truck to give him a hard time.

“You know there’s laws about hanging out on the street,” he said.

McPherson didn’t miss a beat.

“Yeah, yeah. Especially when you’re wearing pink.”

Photos by John Lovretta

Editor's note: This story appeared in the Aug. 2 printed edition of The Beacon.

For more local news and sports, subscribe to The Burlington Beacon at https://burlingtonbeacon.com/pages/subscribe.

Copyright © 2024 Burlington Beacon

08/09/2024

Fun and Food at Sweet Corn Fest

Photos by John Lovretta

Fun, fellowship, and, of course, plenty of sweet corn were the order of the day Thursday at the annual West Point Sweet Corn Festival. The festival continues through Sunday.

See Individual photos for captions.

For more local news and sports, subscribe to The Burlington Beacon at https://burlingtonbeacon.com/pages/subscribe.

Copyright © 2024 Burlington Beacon

08/09/2024

CLASSIFIED AD - posted August 8, 2024

WORK WANTED
Retired carpenter looking for small jobs. I have 57 years of experience; decades behind the hammer. All work is guaranteed. Free estimates. Call 319-768-9565.

08/08/2024

Shuck Fest 2024

Photos by John Lovretta

The annual West Point Sweet Corn Festival began Wednesday with shuck fest, and a full slate of activities Thursday through Sunday. Tons of sweet corn were trucked in Wednesday so town residents could gather to shuck it. Many of those volunteers will also be helping out at the festival. The four-day festival ends on Sunday.

For more local news and sports, subscribe to The Burlington Beacon at https://burlingtonbeacon.com/pages/subscribe.

Copyright © 2024 Burlington Beacon

08/07/2024

State Cost-Share Will Fund Water Quality Practices Around Nine Public Lakes; Lake Geode and Big Hollow Lake to Receive Share of Funds

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced that eight Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Districts will receive $273,489.81 in water quality cost-share funding from the Publicly Owned Lakes program to help protect and enhance nine public lakes in Iowa.

Jointly administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Publicly Owned Lakes program provides cost-share funding to landowners for conservation practices on private land within watersheds above public lakes and reservoirs. Eligible practices include soil conservation and water quality practices that reduce nutrient loss and sediment delivery to Iowa’s public lakes. These resources complement additional efforts by the state and other public and private partners to enhance and protect water quality in Iowa lakes and other surface water.

“Iowa’s public lakes are invaluable assets to our state, and we want Iowans to continue to enjoy and recreate on these beautiful attractions for generations to come,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “By establishing partnerships with public and private partners as well as farmers and landowners, we can effectively accelerate the adoption of proven conservation and water quality practices to help enhance our public lakes.”

“Iowans value water quality and desire safe, healthy lakes for outdoor recreation,” said Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon. “Establishing partnerships to implement conservation practices on land draining into our public lakes is crucial for enhancing and protecting water quality for future generations.”

Each year, a percentage of funding the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship receives for soil conservation cost-share goes toward protecting the water quality of publicly owned lakes in Iowa. Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts submit applications, which the Iowa Department of Natural Resources uses to establish a priority list of watersheds above significant public lakes. Private landowners are then eligible to receive additional cost-share for practices that improve water quality.

The funding will allow for targeted conservation practices, including cover crops, water and sediment control basins, terraces, grade stabilization structures, and other proven practices. The adoption of these practices, implemented through landowner cost-share and state investment, will help protect these lakes for the enjoyment of all Iowans and those who visit our state.

The following local lakes were selected for cost-share funding this year:

Lake Geode
Des Moines County Soil and Water Conservation District
Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District
$19,162.50

Big Hollow Lake
Des Moines County Soil and Water Conservation District
$7,469.10

Photo of Lake Geode provided by Iowa Department of Natural Resources.