VIP Tickets Remain for .38 Special

Posted 3 July 2009
Appearing
on the Farm Bureau Main Events Stage, Friday, July 17 at 8:30 PM, .38
Special. formed by neighborhood friends Don Barnes and Donnie Van
Zant in 1975 in Jacksonville, Florida .38 Special began amalgamating
southern rock and arena rock in their music, thereby kicking off a
string of successful albums and singles.
Their first high-charting song was "Hold On Loosely" (1981); "Caught Up
In You" (1982) and "If I'd Been The One" (1983) both hit #1 on
Billboard magazine's Album Rock Tracks chart. "Back Where You Belong"
(1984) continued the annual sequence of radio favorites, and "Second
Chance" (1989), a #1 hit on Billboard's adult contemporary chart, was
sung by former Specialist Max Carl.
In 2007, 38 Special was the opening act on Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank
Williams Jr.'s Rowdy Frynds Tour, and on September 27, 2008, they
filmed a CMT Crossroads special with country singer Trace Adkins,
performing both artists' hits from over the years. In 2009, 38 Special
opened for REO Speedwagon and Styx as part of the "Can't Stop Rockin'
Tour."
The current lineup consists of Barnes, Van Zant, guitarist Danny
Chauncey, bassist Larry Junstrom, keyboardist Bobby Capps and drummer
Gary Moffatt.
Grandstand
seating is included with admission to the Fair. VIP seats are
available for $60 and can be purchased at the Fair
Office, Ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000
Two Weeks Til Gretchen!

Posted 2 July 2009
Appearing
on the Farm Bureau Main Events Stage, Thursday, July 16 at 8:30 PM,
Gretchen Wilson. Wilson debuted in 2004 with the Grammy
Award-winning single "Redneck Woman," a number-one hit on the Billboard
country charts. The song served as the lead-off single of her debut
album, Here for the Party. Wilson followed this album one year later
with All Jacked Up, the title track of which became the
highest-debuting single for a female country artist upon its 2005
release. A third album, One of the Boys, was released in 2007.
Overall, Wilson has charted thirteen singles on the Billboard country
charts, of which five have reached Top Ten: the Number One "Redneck
Woman", as well as "Here for the Party" (#3, 2004), "When I Think About
Cheatin'" (#4, 2004), "Homewrecker" (#2, 2005), and "All Jacked Up"
(#8, 2005). The album Here for the Party was certified 5×
Multi-Platinum by the RIAA for sales of five million copies, while All
Jacked Up was certified platinum and One of the Boys certified gold.
Grandstand seating is included with admission to the Fair.
Reserved seats are available for $34 and can be purchased at the Fair
Office, Ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000
Rides
Included at the Delaware County
Fair!

Posted 1 July 2009
Forget
the bracelet. New for this year at the Delaware County Fair, the
rides are free. With the price of admission, all of the mid-way
rides are included. Ride as many times as you like!
According to Fair Manager, Jeannie Domeyer, "A family of 4 saves at
least $20, probably more. In today's economy, the Fair Board
knows that making the Delaware County Fair affordable for families is
important. Mom and Dad can bring the kids to the fair and let
them ride all day without paying for a ride bracelet. Also, you
can see great acts like Big Daddy Weave, Gretchen Wilson and .38
Special perform at the fair with the price of admission."
Pay your price of admission to the fair and receive your carnival
rides, free on grounds shows, teen and beer garden entertainment and
grandstand shows all FREE!
Get your tickets today. The fair office is at the Community Center at
the Fairgrounds, in Manchester.
Office hours are 9-5
Phone 563.927.6449
Adults: $9
Kids 1-11: $1
The
Eagle Has Landed At
Heartland Acres Agribition Center

Posted 22 June 2009
Wood
brings a glow to Joe Lies retirement years….At age 65 (2004) Joe had
time ‘on his hands’. Most people would think the ‘glow’ would be
from the fireplace but he thought he would try something
different. Sculpting wood with a chain saw gave him many hours of
pleasure. Not knowing for sure the final outcome of each
sculpture
because the varieties of wood would create something unique. Many
locals would see him in what is fondly called ‘the tree dump’ studying
each log.
Now several years later his wife, Dori, has retired and they would like
to sell their home and do ‘lots of traveling’. One of his
sculptures is an eagle with spread wings made from red oak and another
is a family of wolves made from maple. These two magnificent
sculptures are now on display at Heartland Acres Agribition Center.
The “Eagle has landed’ in the newly established ‘Butterfly Garden’ just
south of the Heartland Acres Agribition Center. This past spring
“Butterfliz’s of Iowa’ again was part of the program during the annual
“Spring Hatch”. The Buchanan Co. Master Gardeners became
interested in starting a Butterfly Garden at Heartland and now both
projects have come together to develop another unique story at
Heartland Acres. The garden and eagle can be seen from the inside
looking out the “S. Silo” windows, as well as walking around in the
garden outside, weather permitting.
The family of wolves new home is in the “Hall of Time” section fitting
into early Iowa history. Early explorers ventured into Iowa for
many reasons. Some were trappers or traders who lived off the
land, others were missionaries looking to establish missions and
military men were sent to map and secure land deeded to the United
States. The United State began opening up the Midwest for
settlement by signing treaties with local Native American groups as
early as 1804. The Black Hawk Purchase of 1832 made it legal for
settlers to move into territories west of the Mississippi. Most
newcomers came seeking land and were pleasantly surprised by Iowa’s
favorable climate, sufficient rainfall, generous growing season,
abundance of timber, fertile land, and VARIETY OF WILDLIFE. This
large sculpture speaks volumes.
If you haven’t been out to visit Heartland Acres Agribition Center
lately you will see many different exhibits. Summer hours are now
in effect – open 7 days a week. Monday through Saturday the hours
are 9:00am-4:30pm and Sundays noon-4:30pm. Group rates are
available for larger groups. Admission charge as usual.
2600 Swan Lake Blvd. Independence, Iowa exit #252
from Hwy. #20. Check out the website www.heartlandacaresusa.com
Iowa Agriculture Past, present and Future. Call 319
332-0123 for further details.
Strawberry
Days Parade





"First Friday at 5"
Kick's Off

Posted 8 June 2009
Manchester's
First Friday at 5, kicked off last Friday,
featuring Bad Habits. The
free event features music, food, beer and fun. First Friday at 5
is held in the parking lot accross from City Hall. The line up
inlcudes Swamp Cats on Friday July 3, and Lockren August 7.
NICC
Gas Utility Program Generates First
Graduating Class

Posted 26 May 2009
At
NICC’s graduation ceremony in Dubuque on
May 15, the first four Gas Utility Construction and Service (AAS)
graduates walked across the stage to receive their degrees. Good job
market news awaits. The program’s lead instructor, Bob Waechter,
reports that graduates hired for entry-level gas utility jobs in
northeast Iowa can expect to earn an average of $30-$35,000 annually,
and jobs are plentiful because many skilled workers are nearing
retirement. The curriculum input from area energy companies and their
equipment donations also contributes to student and job placement
success.
As NICC’s newest two-year industrial technology offering on
the Peosta campus, the Gas Utility Construction and Service
program trains students on the installation, maintenance and
operation of high and low pressure natural gas distribution systems
used to supply residential, commercial and industrial facilities. The
program’s first graduates say they are ready to work in a good career
with great opportunities and the added job security with working for a
utility company.
Graduates who form the Class of 2009 are:
· Mike Chatfield, the son of Judie Reynolds and Jim
Reynolds of Dubuque
· Aaron Mathson, son of Wayne and Mandy of
Prairie du Chien, Wis.
· Andrew Millman, son of Randy and Dawn Millman
of Dubuque
· Collin Welsh, son of Pat and Sandi of Dubuque
Mike Chatfield previously worked for Gronen Restoration,
where he ran heavy equipment, refinished floors, worked in
demolition, and did carpentry and brick work as part of the
restoration efforts in old Dubuque. For Chatfield, the work
experience generated an appreciation for task variety in a new
career. “I really enjoy the variety that the gas utility career
offers,” said Chatfield. “You’re checking meters, repairing appliances,
and you’re always doing something different in gas utility work.” All
the graduates enjoyed the five-credit, eight-week internships during
their final NICC semester.
Each graduate rotated for four consecutive weeks between
Black Hills Energy and Infrasource. Interns read meters during the
first week, performed operations technician work the second week and
worked as service technicians the third week. During the final week,
the graduates worked alongside construction crews in the field. “The
internship was great,” said graduate Collin Welsh. “I was finally
getting to work with live gas, not just the simulations we used earlier
in our program.”
Lead instructor Bob Waechter said that the donations from
area companies make the hands-on learning approach of the
program possible. John Deere Dubuque Works, Alliant Energy,
Black Hills Energy and Infrasource provided students with a range of
industry-standard equipment needed to do the job. The
companies donated or loaned fitting trucks, fusion units, telemetry
equipment, loader backhoes, gauges and piercing tools for NICC students
enrolled in the program.
Although many area customers may associate gas utility work with meter
reading, gas line leak repair or the local company’s customer service
representative, Waechter said there are many
opportunities in the gas utility field for specialization. NICC Gas
Utility Construction and Service graduates are trained to perform
complex tasks such as annual leak surveys, telemetry, corrosion repair,
pipe welding, trenching and gas line installation.
NICC’s gas utility program is the only two-year program of
its kind in the state of Iowa. In 2006-2007, NICC built a 10,000
square foot industrial technology building equipped with a 2,500
square foot gas utilities lab, classroom space, office space,
computers and storage for heavy machinery. An outdoor field lab
provides extra space for students to practice trenching, on-site pipe
fitting and gas line installation. Gas utility students learn alongside
NICC’s construction trades students in the new facility, which gives
students time to learn in a cross-disciplinary setting.
Over the course of the program, John Deere has loaned
equipment such as a 410JTC loader backhoe. Black Hills Energy donated
polyethylene pipe (PE pipe), meters, regulators and a meter set with
telemetry. Black Hills Energy personnel also trained students in
advanced regulation and measurement work. Infrasource, a national
energy company based in Des Moines, donated one fitting truck that gas
utility workers use to transport equipment to job sites, a John Deere
310 backhoe, a Vermeer backhoe/trencher and various other pieces of
equipment.
Three of these first grads directly benefited from financial
support through The Alliant Energy Foundation. The Alliant Energy
Foundation, an independent, non-profit philanthropic corporation funded
by Alliant Energy shareowners, established a new scholarship for NICC
Gas Utility Construction and Service students. The foundation awards
three $1,000 scholarships annually to students entering or currently
enrolled in the program. Through the coordination of the NICC
Foundation, the funds will be available to qualifying students each
fall.
To learn more about NICC’s Gas Utility Construction and
Service program, call the Peosta campus admissions office at (800)
728-7367 or (563) 556-5110, ext. 401, or visit here
Manchester
to Host Iowa CornHole
Championships

Posted 26 May 2009
Mark
you calendar, Manchester will play host to the Iowa CornHole
Championships Saturday, August 8, 2009 as part of the "Because
Manchester is Fun" Weekend.
Other activities include the "First Friday at 5" gathering on Friday
August 7 featuring Lockren and the Car Cruise.
Check the web site
for more details!
Stay tuned to Manchester 24/7 for continuing coverage!
State
Auditor Vaudt Reviews 2010 Budget
Posted 20 May 2009
Continuing
in his role as the “Taxpayers’ Watchdog” and his duty to report
directly to the people of Iowa on the condition of the State’s
finances, State Auditor David A. Vaudt has completed his review of the
adopted Fiscal Year 2010 budget.
Iowans heard many times during the legislative session about all the
difficult choices to be made in order to “cut the budget.” Ironically,
the adopted budget responds to the difficult fiscal challenge caused by
a 2.7% decline in revenues with a 1% spending increase. Once again, the
adopted Fiscal Year 2010 budget continues poor budgeting practices
while pushing tough decisions to the next fiscal year.
Rockefeller
Students Learn Power of
Teamwork

Posted 18 May 2009
Rockefeller
Alternative High School Program
students at NICC’s Calmar campus spent the day at Camp Ewalu, in
Strawberry Point, to strengthen friendships and build trust in each
other on May 1. Every year the seniors anxiously this trip, viewing the
camp trip as a reward for their hard work. The Rockefeller students
especially enjoy the Camp Ewalu high ropes course, which presents a
series of challenges to prove the students’ strength in each other.
At the first station,
students had to work together on
problem solving. Each student must climb a 15-foot wall and the group
learns that using teamwork will complete their goal. The last student
to scale the wall could not have any help from peers at the base of the
wall, and could only be assisted from above. Students cheer and
encourage their peers to supply extra inspiration to accomplish the
task.
The camp’s second station
was the towering rock wall.
Although many of the students did not think they could make it to the
top, most of them did. At the top of the wall was a horn, and when the
students reached the top, they sounded the horn to celebrate their
victory.
The zip line station
provided the most relief for the student
participants. The students climbed up a pole and got strapped to the
150-foot zip line. The students felt the most fear when they had to
step off the platform into nothing but air. As soon as the students got
off the zip line, they felt very relieved and relaxed.
The last, and most
challenging, station was the leap of faith. Student had to climb up a
25-foot pole, reach the top and carefully climb onto a platform. At
this point, most of the students felt that they had enough, but all
students pushed themselves one step further. The station demanded that
students take a leap of faith. Each student had to leap out into the
air and try to grab a trapeze bar about five feet out in front of them.
The students agreed that this was the most challenging station of them
all.
After this experience, the
students grew much stronger and closer together. For many of the
students, the day presented many challenges that they didn’t think were
possible to overcome. Every student stepped up to their challenge and
faced it head on. The ropes course was not only fun for the students,
but provided a lifelong learning experience.
Students completing the Rockefeller Alternative High School
Program at NICC’s Calmar campus participated in their graduation
ceremony on Wednesday, May 13. NICC hosted the celebration program in
the Wilder Auditorium. A record-breaking number of 23 students
graduated from the program this spring.
NICC has partnered with five northeast Iowa community
school districts since January 1995 to provide an alternative high
school opportunity for students. The program gives students an
opportunity to complete their resident high school graduation
requirements in a nontraditional setting. The small one-room program,
with one full-time instructor and one part-time classroom associate,
promotes a caring and supportive environment. Currently, five school
districts are served by the Rockefeller Alternative High School
Program: Decorah, North Fayette, South Winneshiek, Turkey Valley and
Valley. Nearly 150 northeast Iowa students have now graduated with high
school diplomas by completing high school courses through the
alternative program.
For more information on the Rockefeller Alternative High
School Program, contact the Calmar campus at (563) 562-3263, ext. 342,
or visit http://www.nicc.edu
Ropes Course Photo: Decorah students Curtis Rasing and Toni Kurtze are
at the top of the wall and South Winneshiek students Isaac Rasmussen
and Dustin Baumler assist North Fayette student Marsha Ourada to the
top of a 15' structure.
Barn
Quilts of Delaware County

Posted 13 May 2009
Have
you seen the colorful quilt blocks appearing on more and more barns
here in Delaware county, in neighboring counties and across the state?
The Barn Quilts of Delaware County committee has been in existence for
a year with the goal of promoting barn quilts as a means of encouraging
visitors to experience Delaware county’s farmsteads and beautiful
countryside.
It is very easy to add a barn quilt to your farm building. We ask that
the barn quilt be placed on a building that allows the barn quilt to be
viewed from a public road. Your first step in obtaining one is to
contact any member of the barn quilt committee to let us know of your
interest. You can design your own quilt block or choose a pattern from
books or web sites that are made available to you. Barn quilts are 8’ x
8’ or 4’ x 4’ and constructed of outdoor plywood and treated
two-by-fours. All the wood is coated with two coats of primer and the
design is painted with three coats of high quality exterior paint.
Maquoketa Valley REC has donated their services in hanging the finished
barn quilts. The larger barn quilt costs $300 and the smaller one $200.
If you have made your own Barn Quilt and would like to be featured in
our maps and brochures we have a $50 fee that will cover the costs of
advertising. The Barn Quilts of Delaware County is a non-profit
organization so your fee covers the cost of the construction materials
and our plans to advertise and promote the barn quilts with maps,
calendars and other renditions of the barn and quilt block.
You can see a Pumpkin block on Dean and Jackie Sherman’s building at
413 S Wayne Street, Manchester, and a Hole in the Barn Door block on
Roger and Jody Helmrichs farm at 1443 137th Street, Dundee.

There is a Basket Block on the Roger and Carol Robinson farm at 2958
210th Avenue, Masonville, and a Weathervane block on a building at the
Bill and Mary Ann Lorenz site at 1704 Firefly Road, Manchester. Robert
and Marian Phillip having a Blazing Star on their barn at 2072 Jet
Road, Greeley, and Mountain Star can be seen at the Greg and Nancy
Preussner place, 006 Franklin Street, Delhi.

Grandmother’s Choice barn quilt is on
Lawrence and Inez Werner’s barn at 2471 150th Avenue, Manchester. In
the Colesburg area, Perry and Elaine Sampson’s Woohoo block is at 2859
Hwy 3, and Floyd and Gwen Sampson have Mosaic #4 block at 1005 290th
Avenue. Our Delaware County logo quilt block can be seen on the Iowa
State Extension Service building at Casey’s North in Manchester. There
are more blocks being built and painted, be watching for the Twisting
Star at Randy and Deb Miles at 2265 275th Street, Delhi and the
Homeward Star at Mick and Mary Traver, 1605 165th Street, Manchester.
How can you be a part of adding this tourism opportunity to Delaware
county? We are welcoming additional committee members to help with
construction and painting, and we are especially looking for those
interested in graphic design to help us plan the brochures, calendars
and advertising. Donations from individuals and businesses are also
welcome.
You may contact any of these members of the committee to volunteer, to
apply for a barn quilt, or to have questions answered. Roger Helmrichs,
563-924-2475, Allie Wilske, 563-927-9100 and Jackie Sherman,
563-927-2742, are The Barn Quilts of Delaware County, Inc. officers.
Kathy Wilgenbusch, The Quiltmaker’s Shoppe, 563-927-8017, is the Design
Coordinator. Dave Gibbs, Gibbs Engineering, 563-927-2434, is the Design
Engineer. Dean Sherman, 563-927-2732 is the Construction Coordinator.
And committee member, Jack Klaus, 563-927-4141, with Manchester Area
Chamber of Commerce.
NICC
Plants Trees with Assistance from
Alliant Energy and Black Hills Energy

Posted 30 April 2009
Northeast
Iowa Community College planted 17 trees on Arbor Day, April 24, with
the assistance of environmentally-minded organizations and energy
companies. NICC’s annual spring planting efforts received support from
the Trees Forever
organization, Black Hills Energy and Alliant Energy.
Black Hills Energy’s Power of Trees program provided
$2,000 in funding and Alliant Energy’s community tree
planting program, Branching Out, supported the college with a $2,000
grant. These programs support tree planting because the efforts help
reduce peak electric demand, keep communities healthy and vital, and
provide long term environmental benefits. The NICC tree planting
volunteer crew planted the newest arrivals along the Burds Rd. north
entrance into the Peosta campus.
“We enjoyed working with Trees Forever, Black Hills
Energy and Alliant Energy this year to bring our long term planting
project to life,” said Barb O’Hea, NICC’s associate director for
foundation. “This opportunity brings us together while making our city
more beautiful. We’re making a significant impact in our environment
simply by planting trees in the community,” O’Hea said.
Alliant Energy and NICC officials met on Monday, April 20,
to make this year’s donation to the college’s spring planting work.
Craig Clefisch, strategic account manager, represented Alliant Energy
on campus to formally make the company’s contribution. Over the past
several years, NICC has increased its commitment to green initiatives
through tree planting, reduced energy consumption and additional
conservation measures.
"The Branching Out program is designed to encourage
energy efficiency, environmental awareness and community
stewardship," said Tom Aller-President of Interstate Power and
Light, an Alliant Energy company. "Alliant Energy enjoys partnering
with Trees Forever and local communities to fund and implement
tree-planting projects."
For more information, please contact Barb O’Hea, NICC’s
associate director for foundation, at (563) 556-5110, ext. 284.
Ambassadors
Visit Hausers Water Systems

Posted 29 April 2009
The
Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors visited Hausers Water
Systems, Inc. and
Rippling Springs Bottled Water Company and met with owners Sean
and Chad Hauser to tour their
new facility on 220th Street and learn about the growth of their
company.
Ambassadors
Visit Philippson Masonry
& Concrete

Posted 28 April 2009
The
Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors visited Philippson
Masonry & Concrete, Inc.
and American Concrete Pumping and met with owners Ray and Jane
Philippson to tour their new building
on 180th Ave. and hear about the growth of their companies.
Congressman
Braley's Wind Energy Tour
Good
Seats Remain for
Gretchen Wilson and .38 Special

Posted 16 April 2009
Good
seats remian for this summer's Delaware County Fair Concert Events.
Gretchen Wilson will appear Thursday, July 16 and .38 Special will
perform Friday July 17. Both shows are slated to begin at 8:30 PM.
VIP tickets remain for .38 Special inlcuding reserved seating and all
you care to eat and drink.
For more information, contact the Delaware County Fair at 563.927.6449
Groundbreaking
for NICC
Industrial Technology Building

Posted 10 April 2009
Northeast
Iowa Community College hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on April 7
to officially begin construction of a new Industrial Technologies
Building at Peosta. The building construction, funded from the $35
million bond issue approved by voters in December 2007, will help NICC
to better serve area employment needs and develop the skills of our
area’s workforce.
The new building will expand industrial technology program
offerings and provide larger classroom and lab areas to enhance student
learning Programs that will move into the completed facility
include Auto Mechanics, Diesel Mechanics, Electronic Technology,
Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Welding. A new
Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) program will also be housed in the
building and start in the Fall of 2010 when the building is expected to
open.
(Photo Courtesy of NICC)
Monticello
Chamber Announces
"Uptown Friday Night" Line-up

Posted 2 April 2009
Come
and enjoy the food, fun, and music! FREE admission! Located next to
City Hall on Sycamore Street. These GREAT events start at 5 p.m. and
end at 9 p.m. In the event of rain, all activities will be moved into
the community building. Fun for the whole family with lots of kid's
activities sponsored by the Ross Elizabeth Baty Public Library and
great food vendor.
June
12

The
band mcphisto will rock the crowd with their covers of hard rock
standars and thier own stuff. Check out their website.
Sponsors:
Above & Beyond Home Heathcare and Hospice, The Cone Shoppe,
Goettsch Funeral Home, Keleher's Jewelry, and REM Electric.
Food vendors are the Monticello Jaycees, Advancement Services of Jones
County, and the Monticello Commercial Club. The Monticello Chamber will
sponsor the beverage tent.
July
10

The
band Monkey Business will be playing "Classic Rock" tunes
from Aerosmith to ZZ Top. Check out their website.
Sponsors:
None yet. Contact Kris at the Monticello Chamber of
Commerce!! 319-465-5626
Food vendors are the Monticello Eagles and the Monticello Commercial
Club. The Monticello Chamber will sponsor the beverage tent.
August
14

The
band Bad Habits will be playing Classic Rock. Check out their website.
Sponsors:
None yet. Contact Kris at the Monticello Chamber of
Commerce!! 319-465-5626
Food vendors are the Venture Crew and the Monticello Commercial Club.
The Monticello Chamber will sponsor the beverage tent.
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