West Burlington IA News-Sports-Opinion

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Front Row L-R: Drake Woodsmall, Andy Crooks, Colton Campbell, Caleb McDowell, Cade Walker. Middle Row L-R: Andrew Currie, Braydon Roberts, Cowan Hayes, Shane Burtlow, Taylor Newland, Brad Barnett, Emille Lacsa. Back Row L_R: Head Coach Jeff Housel, Zeke Murphy, Steven Crowner, Scot Perkins, Nathan Babcock, Jacob Arthur, D.J. LaVeine, Skylar Schmeiser, Dustin Guihan, Asst. Coach Scott Weston.

The government took on $6.8 trillion in new obligations in 2008, pushing the total owed to a record $63.8 trillion.

Leap in U.S. debt hits taxpayers with more red ink

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West Burlington Arnold High School seniors throw their mortarboards in the air in celebration of their coming graduation. Sunday’s Baccalaureate is 1:00 p.m. at West Burlington Christian Church with Commencement exercises starting at 3:00 p.m. at West Burlington High School.

Falcon,

Hearing that about 60 GE employees will be in the unemployment line, would it be wise for all government employees to have a wage freeze? In these tough economic times, it only makes sense to do this for both fairness and financial reasons. There are many people in our area that have either lost their jobs or are working reduced hours. Are these same people going to see a property tax increase next year to pay for local government employee pay raises for the next 5 years? It sure looks like it. Our local government representatives need to have a little more guts and passion to put in a wage freeze. What about the poor taxpayer that is already suffering or the retired person that can't afford much more? When will these government employees ever get enough? It is not tough times for them. They are receiving MORE of our money that is literally taken from us. They are not concerned about the rest of us, and that is troubling.

-Concerned about Others

National Studio / www.DanHockett.com

West Burlington/Notre Dame JV Softball

Front Row L-R: Courtney Moore, Whitney Woodside, Danielle Wall, Lauren Williams, Karrie Albert Middle Row L-R: Ashlie Graham, Hannah Ebbing, Cortney Earhart, Leah Carlson, Allison Milligan, Karissa Alfred Back Row L-R: Head Coach Laura Mickey, Ashlee Logan, Carissa Huston, Marissa Brodersen, Jamie Johnson, Daley LaVeine, Asst. Coach Keisha Ball, Coach Dave Oleson

Largest Budget in State History and High-Priced Borrowing Plan
Receive Final Approval from Governor Culver

Biggest State Budget in Iowa History.

Last month, when the Iowa Legislature adjourned for the year, lawmakers had approved the single largest budget in the history of the state.

On Tuesday, May 26, Governor Culver gave his signature of approval on the largest state budget in Iowa history. For the budget year beginning on July 1, 2009 the state will spend $6.297 BILLION.

The state budget this year is largely balanced on one-time money from the federal government and one-time funding from the state Cash Reserve Fund because state tax collections have not come in at the same rapid pace as state government leaders are spending them.

State Auditor David Vaudt, in a recent review of the budget, estimates the gap between spending and current tax revenue to be over one billion dollars! (For more information on the condition of the Iowa budget, Auditor Vaudt's review of the adopted Fiscal Year 2010 budget is available online at: http://auditor.iowa.gov/press/Briefing_05-18-09.pdf.)

Because lawmakers used one-time funding to balance the budget this year, when lawmakers return to the Capitol in January, the state financial situation will be more disastrous. With a budget gap over one billion dollars, lawmakers will have to make decisions on major reductions in spending, massive tax increases, or a combination of spending reductions and tax increases.

State spending has grown out of control and tax increases are not the way out of the budget disaster.

The same lawmakers who proposed eliminating federal deductibility this year will be back in January and it is expected they will make another attempt to force you to pay a tax on a tax. We must remain steady in our fight and remind our Legislators "No Tax on a Tax."

High-Priced Borrowing Plan Mortgages the Future of Iowa.

The legislation establishing the newly created I-Jobs Program also gained final approval from Governor Culver this month. The I-Jobs Program was created for various infrastructure, road, and technology projects and is funded by borrowing $765 million to be repaid over the next 25 years.

This borrowing program will cost taxpayers a total of $1.664 billion when the borrowed dollars are fully repaid in 2034.

The 2009 Legislature left a budget hole over one billion dollars and put Iowans in debt for the next 25 years. Iowans have many reasons to be wary of the 2010 Legislative Session.

-Iowans for Tax Relief

5/27/09 – 8:05 p.m. in Des Moines County.
Terrence Unice Carter, 27, West Burlington; Des Moines County warrant – third degree burglary.

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West Burlington/Notre Dame Varsity Softball

Front Row L-R: Jenna Brissey, Avalon Sorensen, Kassidy Guihan, Jennifer Rucker, Kaitlin Sparrow Middle Row L-R: Jade VanRycke, Emma Shipley, Kaitlyn Dirth, Katie Cook, Heather Gray, Kaitlyn Caston Back Row L-R: Head Coach Dave Oleson, Asst.Coach Keisha Ball, Lindsi Tillo, Erin Mickey, Emily Siefken, Mariah Young Mgr. Asst. Coach Laura Mickey

Federal tax revenue plunged $138 billion, or 34%, in April vs. a year ago — the biggest April drop since 1981.

CLICK HERE ARTICLE

Falcon:

Why in the world would Iowa play host to Madam Pelosi our lying sitting speaker of the house. This is a woman that promotes illegal immigration, baby killing and of course gay marriage. To her thinking this is what America is all about.

She just returned from China where I’m sure she dazzled the Chinese with her charm while back in the states no one can stand her and wish she’d just go away. Supposedly she was pushing the Chinese to follow in Obama’s footsteps with cap and tax, his answer for messing with Mother Nature, something we mortals can do nothing about because Mother Nature has a mind of her own and doesn’t need Obama or other radical environmentalist poking their noses where they don’t belong. Mother Nature will do just as she pleases and nothing we do will have any effect on her well being.

Every time Pelosi or Obama have a problem they hit the road at the expenses of the taxpayer and believe me Pelosi is running up major charges on the taxpayer and on weekends she, her family and friends are flying all over the place at our expense.

Pelosi is living proof that our government is full of misfit radicals who have an agenda for ruining our country. She became speaker simply because she’s got longevity and nothing else. This woman is a menace to society as we know it and should be thrown out of office for lying about what she knew regarding water boarding.

-Embittered

Falcon:

A sick congressman from Minnesota named Representative James Oberstar says in the below statement that he wants to immediately put a mileage tax on our automobiles.

"Why do we need a pilot program? Why don't we just phase it in," Rep. James Oberstar, D-MN., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said in April in a story published in Automobile magazine. "I'm at a point of impatience with more studies."

Could it be the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has not done its job over the years because of gross incompetence that has wasted our tax dollars on high salaries, high living and of course greed by malice.

Even the state of Iowa is studying slapping a mileage tax on our autos, which would make me quit my job because it involves commuting back and forth from one town to another. I guess I could go on welfare which is what the government wants, everyone dependent on big government.

Just how long can the American people put up with incompetent government. Our government has done nothing to reign in its overspending, over paying itself and over benefiting itself. It’s just a tax-wasting bunch of idiots we have in Washington clear down to the state level. Government in America is beginning to resemble the Nazi form of government of the 1930’s.

Iowa has squandered its tax dollars on worthless resorts, overpaid state employees, over benefitted state employees who do their best to make our lives one of servitude by taxing the hell out of us so they can live the good life at our expense.

America has no leaders anymore and what happened to the statesman of the past? Just where have all the good people gone? All we have in office are liars and greedy cheaters destroying our once great country for their personal gain.

America is dying and no one is stepping up to the plate leaving these losers to ruin our country. How is it possible that just 545 or so people can ruin the lives of 300 million? What in the hell is missing in this equation?

-Abandoned

5/24/09 – 3:15 a.m. at West Burlington.
Brian Lee Dunkin, 34, Burlington; driving under revocation.

5/23/09 – 6:21 p.m. at old Highway 34.
Rebecca Anne Dickerson, 25, Danville; Des Moines County warrant for failure to appear on fifth degree theft.

Falcon:

I cannot believe Pelosi was sent over to bargain with the Chinese on the Obama policy of cap and tax.

She has hounded China for years on their civil rights failures and has outright lied to the people of the United States about her knowledge of water boarding.

Every time Pelosi or Obama put their foot in their mouths they almost instantly take a trip to a foreign country.

Pelosi has no business dealing with the Chinese because she has no qualifications for such an assignment. You can bet the Chinese aren’t going to go along with a cap and tax policy because their completely dependent on coal for energy and if the United States were to be forced into this cap and tax mess by Obama our remaining companies would vanish to Asia because an already uneven playing field would be tilted more and more away from American companies.

The environmental people are just another special interest group trying to force Americans into a lifestyle based on false science. Mother Nature can take care of herself and doesn’t need radical liberal dimwits trying to force their demands on the majority.

The environmentalist and Pelosi should just chill out and do something worthwhile for a change like getting a real job and stop trying to push their arrogant fanatical environmental agenda. Better yet Pelosi should just resign and go back to San Francisco where she belongs with the rest of the weirdo’s.

-Disgusted

Falcon:

This whole environmental crap is all about money with Al Gore and GE along with others lined up to rip off the American people under the guise of environmental false hoods.

Obama will be our doom if his environmental plans succeed and it's up to the voters to make themselves heard and put a stop to this foolishness. Obama is trying to pay back his debt to GE along with NBC/MSNBC and others for lying throughout the entire campaign. Obama's union funds succeeded in getting the unions a 39 percent stake in GM.

Obama's former organization ACORN is suspected of so much graft and cheating on voter registration that it'll probably take years to sort it out and indict those guilty of voter fraud and other charges.

Americans had better start waking up and face the fact they made a very poor choice for our president a person who has lined our government departments with tax cheaters and liars. These people only paid their taxes after they got caught or we'd never have seen the money. Do you think the average citizen would get the same break as these liars and cheats?

He then appoints a person who promotes baby killing to the head up the department of Health and Human Services a policy he himself approves of.

Also, no one knows how he could afford his Ivy League education along with other personal information that's been well known about past presidents. Just what is Obama's history, does anyone really know? We now have a president that no one really knows anything about other than what the Bush bashing press lied about.

His only worry about Chrysler and GM is his ties with the unions and the money they gave his campaign. Why waste our tax dollars on automakers when they dug their own hole through poor management. He should have let them go bankrupt instead just throwing out tax dollars down a black hole.

One thing we do know, Obama was the most liberal senator in the senate along with Harkin, which should tell Iowa something, and after all it was Iowa that started this disaster with its caucus vote.

-Scared

"Once each May, amid the quiet hills and rolling lanes and breeze-brushed trees of Arlington National Cemetery, far above the majestic Potomac and the monuments and memorials of our Nation's Capital just beyond, the graves of America's military dead are decorated with the beautiful flag that in life these brave souls followed and loved. This scene is repeated across our land and around the world, wherever our defenders rest. Let us hold it our sacred duty and our inestimable privilege on this day to decorate these graves ourselves -- with a fervent prayer and a pledge of true allegiance to the cause of liberty, peace, and country for which America's own have ever served and sacrificed.

... Our pledge and our prayer this day are those of free men and free women who know that all we hold dear must constantly be built up, fostered, revered and guarded vigilantly from those in every age who seek its destruction. We know, as have our Nation's defenders down through the years, that there can never be peace without its essential elements of liberty, justice and independence. Those true and only building blocks of peace were the lone and lasting cause and hope and prayer that lighted the way of those whom we honor and remember this Memorial Day. To keep faith with our hallowed dead, let us be sure, and very sure, today and every day of our lives, that we keep their cause, their hope, their prayer, forever our country's own."

--Ronald Reagan

File photo

In a sobering holiday interview with C-SPAN, President Obama boldly told Americans: "We are out of money."

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Figures from Iowa Workforce Development show Iowa's unemployment dropped slightly in April to 5.1% compared to 5.2% in March. Workforce Development spokesperson, Kerry Koonce, says it's good news, but it doesn't indicate just yet that the job outlook is turning around.

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Nike Lindsey Reed (right) and Mt. Pleasant’s Andy Pieper (left) pursue the ball during Thursday night’s game in Burlington. Nikes defeated the Panthers, 3-0.

Iowa produces enough wind energy to spark a fight over who will get to sell the surplus.

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FBI served East St. Louis City Manager with a subpoena early Wednesday afternoon. The subpoena asked for tax increment financing district records and copies of contracts.

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Community Colleges squandered millions in taxpayer funds.

State auditors report that taxpayers were soaked for millions on a job training program for new companies that failed.

The program called 'Iowa Industrial New Jobs Training Program' is run by the state's community colleges.

'Iowa Industrial New Jobs Training Program' borrowed $38.5 million for businesses that promised to move to Iowa or expand their operations in the state.

The audit shows companies closed, went bankrupt or failed to create more than 15,000 planned jobs.

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Auditors say incentive program for jobs failed

While ethanol has been touted as a way to reduce emissions and cut our country's dependence on foreign oil, it may not be the best fuel for your lawn mower, weed-eater or chain saw. Many mechanics here in Iowa and around the country say that putting any amount of alcohol into small engines can damage plastic and rubber parts. And those mechanics say they have been doing a lot more repairs on small engines in recent years because more and more people are now using these gas-alcohol blends.

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Senator Harkin,

You have taxed the citizens of Iowa beyond our means to pay. With the proposed taxes that you support and helped pass is creating less dollars of the tax payee As a consumer I can no longer afford to give my children the start in life that is needed.

I pay taxes on almost every item that I purchase. You now hope to tax items that you feel not health for the public. With that in mind congress needs to be taxed. They are not healthy for the country. Congress gave away billions of dollars to companies that raped the investors who had planned for retirement, to companies who have put prices on their products that the public can not afford. You have supported scam agencies who told people that they could afford homes we could not afford.

Government has not encouraged thrift with in itself or with the agencies they oversee. If you do not spend it you loose it and we will not give you more next time. Never have you seen spending go down with in a agency.
Federal Government, State Government,County Government, City Government,Schools Boards, Every public (Government) agency is sticking their hands into my pockets.To keep them running. I feel that I need to file Rape or Sexual harassment charges. My only dilemma is who to name 1st

- Taxed Exacerbated Angry

Falcon,

Anyone know who is going to pay for the flower gardens and the upkeep of said gardens?

If any money comes from the public like the city or any group that gets money from the city this should be shut down now. Sure it will look nice but if it cost 1 penny that could be used for streets then it is wrong.

-Tired of the city spending money we don't have.

5/18/09 – 10:23 p.m. at 500 block of S. 10th, Burlington.
Herman Nmn Mables, 42, 890 W. Mt. Pleasant St., West Burlington; domestic abuse assault, violation of no contact order, interference with official acts.

A city manager in Ohio couldn't handle public criticism - lost his cool - and ordered a website owner to cease and desist. His action outraged some council members.

“I am tired of the dirt,” the city manager cried. “I don't know what the hell is going on. These personal attacks are going to stop. I'm really tired of the personal attacks.”

A councilmember was outraged by the cease and desist letter, calling it “garbage. We cannot dictate how she runs her business,” he said.

The manager also scolded council members who attended an earlier town hall meeting and didn't speak on his behalf.

The city manager proclaimed, “It didn't start with me and or end with me, but I'm going to try to put a stop to it,” he said.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

5/17/09 – 12:47 a.m. at 111 Broadway, West Burlington.
Brett Curtis Ritchey, 706 Swan, West Burlington; violation of no contact order
Sherry Lynn Ritchey, 1717 Sunnyside, Burlington; aiding & abetting no contact order.

5/14/09 – 3:55 p.m. at 200 block of Cottage Grove, West Burlington.
Cherissa Joy Wenig, 27, 208 E. Michigan, Danville; warrant arrest for trespass & disorderly conduct.

5/14/09 – 8:52 p.m. at 500 block E. Michigan, Danville.
Chad Allen Mead, 24, 1340 Mt. Pleasant St., Burlington; warrant arrest for failure to appear.

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Notre Dame – West Burlington’s Blake Riffel (left) and Holy Trinity’s Ben Rector (right) fight for the ball late in the second half of Monday’s game in Burlington. Nikes defeated Holy Trinity, 1-0, on an early second half goal by Jon Lowell.

Here's a video link of a journalist who was voluntarily waterboarded. He wagered he would last 15-seconds. He lost.

After watching the video it would be difficult to call it 'torture'.

Waterboard Video

Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons lashes out at Obama, "I am disappointed at the hypocrisy shown by this administration. President Obama is coming to Las Vegas later this month for a political fundraiser, but he will not help the struggling families in Las Vegas and Nevada who are out of work because of his reckless comments."

"This is politics, pure and simple, President Obama stood for change, but all he has done is brought negative economic change to Nevada," Gibbons said.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

City pumps sewage into street to prevent homes from flooding.

Photos by Dan Hockett

West Burlington Public Works powered up four pumps to remove excess water from the city’s sanitary sewer system and let it flow into the street to be carried away by the city’s storm sewers during Friday’s rainstorm. Public Works director Randy Fry recently asked the city council for money to televise the city’s sanitary sewer system, “focusing on sewer lines that have had [flooding] problems lately.” The council approved his request.

Pump locations during Friday’s rain are, Huston St. at alley between Leffler & Broadway (top left), Huston St. at alley between Broadway & Swan (top right), Mt. Pleasant St. by F&M Bank (bottom left), and Wheeler St. at alley between Leffler & Ramsey (bottom right).

Burlington Bees and fans pay tribute to veterans & troops.

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Veteran honor guard displays the flag as Burlington Bees fans recite the pledge of allegiance at Community Field in honor of our veterans and troops Saturday evening.

A record 120 attend Outdoor Youth Jamboree.

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Ten-year-old Donovan Ross (right) of Burlington receives pointers from instructor Matt Schuler (left), of Yarmouth Gun Club, as he tries to shoot clay birds at Saturday’s Outdoor Youth Jamboree at Big Hollow Recreation Park near Sperry. A record 120-youths attended the event this year.

5/14/09 – 9:47 p.m. at 3630 Bauer Drive, Burlington.
Jacqueline Dominique Walker, 23, 724 Swan, West Burlington; criminal trespass and interference with official acts.

5/14/09 – 10:58 a.m. at Burlington High School.
Jerry J. Holston, 17, 401 Cottage Grove, West Burlington; assault.

5/14/09 – 10:00 a.m. at Burlington High School.
Zachary Taylor Bertholf, 16, 406 Cottage Grove, West Burlington; disorderly conduct.

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An Alliant Energy workman peers around flames fueled by a gas line ruptured when lightning struck a tree on Glasgow Street near West Burlington Avenue in West Burlington a few minutes after noon on Friday. Crews from Alliant Energy, West Burlington Public Works, West Burlington Fire, and West Burlington Police responded to the fire.

Scene before emergency crews arrived.

Photo submitted by Gary Deen

View of Friday’s gas line fire looking east on Glasgow Street in West Burlington. Photo taken moments after lightning strike and before emergency crews arrived on scene.

The U.S. Government mailed a $250 stimulus check to a man who died in Italy 34 years ago.

The Social Security Administration mails between 8,000 and 10,000 checks, worth millions of dollars, to dead people because the agency had no record of their death.

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1956 - the last time Budweiser’s Clydesdales were in town.

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A case of beer is delivered by the Budweiser Clydesdales to the ‘Paddle Wheel’ on Jefferson Street Thursday evening. The last time the iconic Clydesdales were in Burlington was in 1956.

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Budweiser Clydesdales pass under the Great River Bridge on Front Street in Burlington on their way to Big Muddy’s Thursday evening.

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The Clydesdales make their last stop in front of Big Muddy’s on the riverfront Thursday evening.

Deery Brothers in West Burlington is one of 22-Iowa dealers to lose their Chrysler franchise as part of the car manufacturer's cost cutting measures. About 800 dealers nationwide were notified yesterday Chrysler was dropping them.

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Chris Kirk and Mitsuhiro Nagamatsu of the Notre Dame - West Burlington boys tennis team advanced to the District Semifinals in doubles before bowing out with a team record fourth place finish. Kirk and Nagamatsu the third seeded doubles team defeated teams from Fairfield Maharishi and Davis County in the opening and quarterfinal rounds respectively before being defeated 6-4, 7- 5 by the #2 seeded team of O'Blenness and Gatton of Keokuk. The NDWB duo then dropped a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5 tiebreaker) decision to the Keokuk team of Hopkins & Piper.

Craig Mayfield & Tyler Hackenmiller dropped 1st round singles matches and the doubles team of Blake Riffel & Dustin Guihan lost in opening round action.

The Nike Falcon Boys tennis team is now done for the season.

Falcon,

I'm just plain pissed off at the democrats and their sickening raid on our taxes, morals, and our pocketbooks. First they steal our income via income tax, Next they are planning on carbon credits for global warming (that is nothing more than a crock of concocted crap) which will steal more money by those who pay energy bills. Now they are going to steal money in the way of taxes on sweets, tobacco, and alcohol to pay for a cockamamie socialist plan for government paid healthcare. Will their legalized thievery of the citizens ever end? The only way it is going to end is when we throw them out of their elitist mansion on Capital Hill and Des Moines. Waiting to 2010 to vote them out will be too late as Obama the liberal messiah has done more destruction in the first 4.5 months in office than Bush did in 8 years. Now is the time to take a stand and rise up our patriotic hands and be seen. We had our tea parties, now let's have our Lexington and start this revolution to take this country back from the destructive forces of liberals!!! Its time to physically remove these enemies of our constitution and all things American by force and show them we cannot be trampled on. Obama fired the first shot on us, now it is time for us to volley back with a destruction of liberals unheard of in modern times.

-Proud Patriot

If you enjoy alcohol, cigarettes, chips or Coke — Democrats are looking to tax you to pay for their nationalized health care system.

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Rain cuts conference meet short

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Kayli Morrison of Danville competes in the long jump at the Southeast Iowa Super Conference track meet Tuesday in Danville.

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Danville’s C.J. Williams competes in the shuttle hurdle relay at the Southeast Iowa Super Conference track meet Tuesday in Danville.

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West Burlington – Notre Dame’s Jamie Johnson clears the high jump bar Tuesday at the Southeast Iowa Super Conference track meet in Danville.

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Brad Hardy of West Burlington – Notre Dame competes in the long jump Tuesday at the Southeast Iowa Super Conference track meet in Danville.

SEISC South Division Team Scoring
(rain shortened)

Boys
1. New London 76.33
2. Van Buren 55
3. Central Lee 50
4. Cardinal 25
5. Danville 13.33
6. West Burlington – Notre Dame 13
7. Maharishi 10
8. Harmony 4.33

Girls
1. Danville 73
2. New London 61
3. Central Lee 45
4. Cardinal 40
5. Van Buren 27
6. Harmony 13
7. West Burlington – Notre Dame 12
8. Maharishi 4

Average federal bureaucrat salary tops $75,000!

President Obama's call last year for "shared sacrifice" doesn't extend to federal employees, at least based on the details of his administration's 2010 budget released this week.

At a time when the official unemployment rate is nearing double digits, and 6.35 million people are receiving unemployment benefits, the U.S. government is on a hiring binge.

There's little belt-tightening in evidence in Washington, D.C.: Counting benefits, the average pay per federal worker will leap from $72,800 in 2008 to $75,419 next year.

It's A Good Time To Work For Uncle Sam

5/11/09 – 12:57 p.m. at HyVee #2, Burlington.
John James Cechota, 74, 14565 Washington Rd., West Burlington; fifth degree theft.

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Notre Dame – West Burlington’s Andrew Gall heads ball during the first half of Monday’s game against Highland in Burlington. Nikes defeated Highland, 5-0. Nikes Jon Lowell and Kameron Gray scored 2-goals each with teammate Andrew Schilling adding another.

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Notre Dame – West Burlington’s Cowan Hayes (left) and Highland’s Daniel Mendez (right) collide going for ball in the first half of Monday’s game in Burlington. Notre Dame – West Burlington defeated Highland, 5-0.

5/10/09 – 12:57 a.m. at Dankwardt Park, Burlington.
Kristy Marie Garrett, 17, 701 E. Pennington #233, West Burlington; curfew.

5/10/09 – 12:57 a.m. at Dankwardt Park, Burlington.
James Roger Lavelle, 23, 701 E. Pennington #233, West Burlington; parks closed.

5/9/09 – 6:45 p.m. at 324 W. Agency (Wal-Mart), West Burlington.
Jessica Nicole Fugate, 17, 935 N. 7th, Burlington; fifth degree theft.

5/9/09 – 12:37 a.m. at 2800 block of Mt. Pleasant St., Burlington.
Lisa Ann Cloyed, 46, 539 S. Central, Burlington; driving while barred.

5/8/09 – 8:30 p.m. at 550 S. Gear, Suite 44, West Burlington.
Paul Cesar Rodriguez-Acevdo, 19, 1500 W. Agency, Winegard Hall, West Burlington; fifth degree theft.

5/7/09 – 6:40 p.m. at 700 block of West Burlington Ave., West Burlington.
Jeffery Todd Lewis, 46, 719 Swan St., West Burlington; warrant arrest.

Did West Burlington apply for funds to fix sanitary sewer flooding?

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

5/9/09 – 4:53 a.m.at 100 block of Marietta St., Burlington.
Trenton Blaine Furnald, 19, 313 Swan, West Burlington; interference with official acts.

5/8/09 – 10:09 p.m. at Catfish Bend Casino, Burlington.
Larry Nathan Hicks, 49, 741 Swan St., West Burlington; driving without license & failure to headlights.

5/7/09 – 11:04 p.m. at 1200 block of S. 14th St., Burlington.
Shelia Marie Galbraith, 37, 611 W. Van Weiss #45, West Burlington; public intoxication & interference with official acts.

U.S. highway deaths fell to their lowest level since John F. Kennedy was president.

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Sunspots could be seen in 2001 (left), but not this year (right)

The sun is the least active it's been in decades and the dimmest in a hundred years. The lull is causing some scientists to recall the Little Ice Age, an unusual cold spell in Europe and North America, which lasted from about 1300 to 1850.

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A group of college students said they are lucky to be alive and they’re thanking the quick-thinking of one of their own. Police said a fellow student shot and killed one of two masked men who burst into an apartment.

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5/3/09 – 2:20 p.m. no location given.
Dennis Lee Roscum, 55, Danville; simple assault.

Obama wants to cut $17-billion from his $3.5-TRILLION budget. That's a whopping 0.04% reduction.

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Heland & WB City Attorney buddy up and travel together.

Spike outs Jeff Heland and West Burlington City Attorney Mitch Taylor. Looks like these two are joined at the hips - enough so that Taylor offered to pay Heland’s tab for a trip to Washington DC.

CLICK HERE FOR Spike’s Link

Obama to conceal Union contributions.

Fifty years ago, Congress passed the landmark Landrum-Griffin Act to protect rank-and-file union members from malfeasance by union leaders. Senate hearings had uncovered serious corruption and other unethical practices inside the labor movement, and a bipartisan coalition emerged to shine the light of disclosure on union practices.

Nevertheless, Democrats in Congress and in the executive branch have often attempted to undercut that law's financial reporting and disclosure requirements. Prior to reforms adopted in the George W. Bush administration, for example, one union could get away with reporting a $62 million expenditure as nothing more than "contributions, gifts, and grants to local affiliates" -- with no further explanation. Unfortunately, the Obama administration is already showing that it wants to return to this nontransparent standard of financial disclosure.

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5/5/09 – 12:01 p.m. at 122 Broadway, West Burlington.
James E Bielser, 60, 907 N. Front St., Oquawka, IL; disorderly conduct.

5/4/09 – 3:20 p.m. at 701 E. Pennington Apt. 103, West Burlington.
Emily Christine Warth, 24, same address; disorderly conduct.

In a historic first, Uncle Sam has supplanted sales, property and income taxes as the biggest source of revenue for state and local governments.

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Notre Dame West Burlington Boys tennis picked up a 7 – 2 varsity win over the Fairfield Trojans Tuesday in Fairfield. Mitsuhiro Nagamatsu, Craig Mayfield, Alex Connor & Dustin Guihan all picked up two varsity wins for the Nike/Falcons. Other players with two wins Tuesday were James Hong, Stewart Holloway & John Kingyon.

Singles:
1. Justin Bradfield F def Chris Kirk 6-4, 6-0
2. Mitsuhiro Nagamatsu NDWB def Kyle Brewington 6-2, 6-4
3. Craig Mayfield NDWB def Ryan Brewington 6-1, 7-5
4. Nathan Hurley def Tyler Hackenmiller NDWB 6-1, 4-6, 10-6
5. Alex Connor NDWB def Allen Chen 6-1, 6-2
6. Dustin Guihan NDWB def Will Gaub 6-0, 6-2

7. James Hong NDWB def Matt Price 8 – 5
8. George Winland FF def John Kingyon NDWB 8-5
9. Stewart Holloway NDWB def Matt McCann 8- 1
10: Jacob Arthur NDWB def Evan Davis 8 – 2
11: Keegan Richmond F def Landon Stewart NDWB 8 – 1
12: Kyle Greiner F def Scott Swanner NDWB 8 – 3
13: Kevin Thorn F def Nick Hartman NDWB 8 – 1

Doubles:
1. Kirk/Nagamatsu NDWB def Bradfield/Hurley 6-4, 6-2
2. Mayfield/Hackenmiller NDWB def Brewington/Brewington 6-1, 6-4
3. Guihan/James Hong NDWB def Chen/Gaub 6-1, 6-3
4. Connor/Kingyon NDWB def Winland/McCann 8 – 1
5. Kingyon/Holloway NDWB def Richmond/Thorn 8 – 2
6. Price/Davis def Arthur/Hartman NDWB 8 - 5

Nikes improve to 2 – 4 on the season and travel to Mt. Pleasant this Thursday.

5/4/09 – 12:21 a.m. at Mt. Pleasant & Dehner, Burlington.
Jessica Nicole Fugate, 17, 701 E. Pennington #243, West Burlington; curfew violation.

5/1/09 – 10:18 p.m. at 915 N 8th, Burlington.
Julianne Marie Haynie, 38, 14876 Washington Rd. #85, West Burlington; violation of no contact order.

5/1/09 – 2:38 p.m. at Central & Market, Burlington.
Charles Don Freeman Jr., 56, Echo Valley #74, West Burlington; driving while barred – habitual offender, operating while intoxicated – second offense, no insurance, fraudulent use of registration.

Gay and lesbian military service members who are legally married in Iowa will be involuntarily discharged from the Iowa National Guard and other military branches under a federal law that prevents homosexuals from openly serving in the armed forces, military officials say.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Falcon,

Here’s the solution to the whole SEIRPC lack of space. I think this is the best solution and I don’t even hold political office.

First we need to establish a focus group with Courtney, Hinkle, Hoshek and Tapp. The focus group should appoint a committee.

The committee should have a meeting to discuss the findings of the focus group and hire a staff. The staff should elect officers and hire an outside consulting firm.

After, the consulting firm has presented its report.

The staff should report to the committee who will then report to the focus group. The focus group should ignore the consulting firm's findings.

Have the city of Burlington bond 2 million dollars. Loan the money to the Chamber to build a new shell building; sell the shell building to SEIRPC for 1.5 million dollars because the economy sucks right now.

Have the city partner with SEIRPC in this venture so the city can help SEIRPC pay the Chamber back the money the city loaned to the Chamber to build the building in the first place.

Have Scott Power sue the consulting firm for misinforming them.

Power will tell them this is a slam-dunk case that can be won for about thirty thousand dollars. Of course the city will go along with this in the name of jobs or is it money.

After the lump sum bill from Power for three hundred thousand dollars. The city can go to Wal-Mart and get a for sale sign and put it in the window of the shell building and advertise it in the Hawkeye.

Tapp can ship some laid off workers from Detroit to town to cut the grass at the manor and the industrial park and bill the city for the work and brag that he brought in some $8 an hour jobs.

Then recommend refurbishing the old BNSF shops to accommodate all the growth that has occurred with all the new jobs he's brought to Southeast Iowa.

Courtney can go to Des Moines and ask for some Vision Iowa funds and some FEMA trailers to put at the manor for the workers from Detroit to live in.

Hoshek can start campaigning for county supervisor again on the platform he helped Tapp bring some jobs to the area, he was partially responsible for the growth at the industrial park and he helped get the ball rolling at the manor.

Hinkle can ask the city if they would be willing to fund the construction of low-income multi family housing units at the site of the manor. He would state the case that by doing this.

The city would no longer have a vacant lot along Roosevelt Avenue and the city would start recovering some of that money they lost because the Chamber would pay city back with the money the city loans the Chamber

Mike Sweet can write how it's George Bush's fault that mowing grass only pays $8 an hour and during Vietnam Dick Cheney took a deferment so he could mow grass for Halliburton.

Any questions?

-Troy Chambers

Honoring Our Troops!
Armed Forces Night, Saturday, May 16
At The Burlington Bees!

Pre-Game Tribute begins at 6:15 p.m
Game at 6:30 p.m. @ Bees Ballpark on Mt. Pleasant St.

For all currently serving Military (Active, Guard and Reserve)
& immediate family (spouse and children), free admission
by presenting Military I.D. at the main gate.

Military members are invited and encouraged to stand
with our local Veterans during the Tribute.
Please arrive by 6:00 p.m. (if possible)
Uniforms welcome! Military T-shirts are fine too.

Veterans also receive free admission and are invited
to stand with our Troops during the Tribute.

Military Families with loved ones deployed are encouraged
to attend! Free admission w/Military ID or by letting us
know you are deployed. It will be a patriotic evening.

Rain Date: Monday, May 18. (Same times as on May 16th).

We encourage our Community to attend to help
say THANK YOU to our Military and our Vets!!

Thanks to our Troops for Protecting us!!

5/2/09 – 9:25 a.m. at 306 Agency (Kohl’s), West Burlington.
Kristie Lynn Stepps, 21, 16995 Roosevelt Rd., Middletown; fourth degree theft.

Get ready for 'environmental sales pitch'.

‘ecoAmerica’, a environmental marketing and messaging firm in Washington advises their eco-friends and eco-organizations to change the words they use when discussing the environment.

Instead of grim warnings about global warming, the firm advises, talk about “our deteriorating atmosphere.” Drop discussions of carbon dioxide and bring up “moving away from the dirty fuels of the past.” Don’t confuse people with cap and trade; use terms like “cap and cash back” or “pollution reduction refund.”

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Photo taken in front of bank the morning of April 30th

Falcon,

The city [West Burlington] continues to pump sewage from manholes into the street whenever a moderate amount of rain falls. Here they pump sewage from a manhole in front of the bank on Mt. Pleasant Street and Broadway. When it rains they have to pump sewage into the street otherwise businesses on Broadway are flooded with sewer water.

When will city politicians realize pumping sewage into the street is NOT normal? How long will it take before they conclude there is something wrong with their sewer system?

Come on guys, it’s time to fix it!

-Tired of it

Notre Dame West Burlington Boys Tennis wrapped up a very busy week with a dual meet loss at Davis County Friday. The Nikes & Davis County were tied at three apiece after singles but dropped 2 of 3 doubles match to lose the match. Then Saturday, the team earned a third place finish at the Pioneer Invitational Saturday in Fairfield hosted by Maharishi. Mitsuhiro Nagamatsu led NDWB with a 2nd place finish @ #2 Singles. At #3 Singles, Alex Connor From NDWB went 5–0 winning 47 of a possible 65 games.

Friday Dual at Davis County Singles:
1. Tucker Henderson def Chris Kirk NDWB 8 – 1
2. Mitsuhiro Nagamatsu NDWB def Brad Bish 8 – 6
3. Tanner Ornduff def Craig Mayfield NDWB 8 – 2
4. Tyler Hackenmiller NDWB def Chase Piper 9-8 (7-4)
5. Trevor Walker def Alex Connor NDWB 8 – 4
6. Dustin Guihan NDWB def Kyle Graves 8 – 6
7. James Hong NDWB def Barry Marsh 6 – 2
8. Johnny Kingyon NDWB def Paul Horn 6 – 2
9. Jacob Arthur NDWB def Jeremiah Garber 6 – 2
10: Stewart Holloway NDWB def Paul Horn 6 – 3

Doubles:
1. Kirk/Nagamatsu NDWB def Henderson/Ornduff 8 – 2
2. Bish/Piper def Mayfield/Hackenmiller NDWB 8 – 2
3. Walker/Graves def Guihan/Hong NDWB 8 – 5
4. Kingyon/Holloway NDWB def Horn/Garber 6 – 2
5. Tim Brees/ Arthur NDWB def Stodgill/Marks 8 - 0

Pioneer Invitational Results

Host Maharishi School won the Pioneer Invitational Saturday, winning three of four round-robin singles and doubles flights and finishing second in the other. The Pioneers tallied 164 points (one point for each game won), while Davis County, with second place finishes in both #1 and #2 doubles and third place finishes in both singles round-robins, finished second with 108 points. West Burlington/Notre Dame finished third with 94 points, while Fairfield, led by #1 singles division champion Justin Bradfield, took fourth with 84 points. Albia finished fifth with 49 points.

Individual event champions and runners-up:

#1 Singles Champion: Justin Bradfield, Fairfield (42 points)
Runner-up: Thomas Weiss, Maharishi (36 points)

#2 Singles Champion: Sam Arsanjani, Maharishi (43 points)
Runner-up: Matsuhiro Nagamatsu, West Burlington-Notre Dame (39 points)

#1 Doubles Champions: Joseph Gelfand/Derek Thatcher Maharishi (44 points) Runners-up: tie between Albia’s Clint Aumspach/Kenny Williams and Davis County’s Chase Piper/Bradley Bish

#2 Doubles Champions: Jay Stewart/Brenton Schwartz, Maharishi
(41 points)
Runners-up: Kyle Graves/Trevor Walker, Davis County (31 points)

Policymakers in Washington want to dramatically change America’s energy policy by regulating carbon dioxide emissions. Their most popular idea is 'cap and trade'.

Put simply, 'cap and trade' is a tax on energy consumption. In fact, it is a huge tax. If enacted, cap-and-trade will be one of the government’s largest revenue sources within the next decade. Since 85 percent of our energy demand is met through fossil fuels, increasing the costs of energy will have significant economic consequences.

Circling back to the effects of higher energy prices on the economy, forcing costlier renewable energy makes the economic impact only worse. According to The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Data Analysis, job losses resulting from 'cap and trade' will surpass 900,000 annually in just a few years. Keep in mind; this is net of any “green jobs” created.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

4/30/09 – 5:38 p.m. at 400 block of S. 3rd, Danville.
Dennis Lee Roscum, 55, Danville; simple domestic abuse assault.

4/29/09 – 7:00 a.m. at 1221 S. Gear (GRMC), West Burlington.
Joy Ann Holbert, 41, 2731 Mt. Pleasant St. #32, Burlington; fifth degree theft.

www.DanHockett.com

Burlington’s Brock Anderson hits a backhand return again Notre Dame – West Burlington’s Chris Kirk Thursday at Dankwardt Park in Burlington. Anderson defeated Kirk in straight sets, 6-0 6-0.

www.DanHockett.com

Notre Dame – West Burlington’s Blake Riffel sends the ball over the net against Burlington’s Niku Dhuna Thursday at Dankwardt Park in Burlington. Dhuna was leading Riffel 6-0 when Riffel withdrew due to illness.

Singles
#1) Brock Anderson BHS def Chris Kirk 6-0, 6-0
#2) Rob Nelson BHS def Mitsuhiro Nagamatsu 7-5, 6-2
#3 Niku Dhuna BHS def Blake Riffel 6-0, illness default
#4 Tim Boyd BHS def Craig Mayfield 6-3, 6-1
#5 Garret Coleman BHS def Tyler Hackenmiller 7-5, 4-6, 7-5
#6 Alex Connor NDWB def Kory Nystrom 6 – 2, 6-4
#7 Dustin Guihan NDWB def Nick Wilson 10 – 4
#8 James Hong NDWB def Jeremy Swink 10 – 6

Doubles
#1 Anderson/Nelson BHS def Kirk/Nagamatsu 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-1)
#2 Boyd/Dhuna BHS def Mayfield/Hackenmiller 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
#3 Guihan/Hong NDWB def Coleman/Nystom 6-4, 6-3
#4 Connor/Jacob Arthur NDWB def Werner/Dutzer 8-2

It was Obama and other Democrats who controlled Congress the previous two years who created the giant budget deficit.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Falcon,

Is this really true? $28,000 for two part-time county supervisors health insurance! WOW! That is a lot of money. Some of the employees at work were talking about this. We pay for some of our insurance and we are not getting pay raises this year to keep more people working. $28,000 - that would buy a lot of rock for the roads.

-Charles