March 1, 5:47 p.m. – Police responded to 107 11th Street on a report that a juvenile female had allegedly assaulted her guardian. The female was taken to the Northeast Iowa Juvenile Detention Center in Waterloo and referred to juvenile authorities on a charge of assault causing injury.
March 2, 10:43 a.m. – Ambulance assist in the 600 block of 17th Street.
March 2, 1:37 p.m. – Officers investigated a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Eighth Avenue and 13th Street. A 2003 Oldsmobile Alero, driven by Lindsey Osipchack, Belle Plaine, was eastbound on 13th Street when it struck a 1993 Ford F-150 pick-up truck, driven by Gina Miller, Belle Plaine, that was traveling northbound on Eighth Avenue. Osipchack was transported to the hospital by ambulance with an arm injury. Miller was cited for failure to obey a stop sign. There was over $1,000 in damage to the two vehicles.
March 2, 6:15 p.m. – Christopher Miller, 21, Belle Plaine, was arrested at 602 14th Street on a Benton County warrant for third degree sexual abuse. He was turned over to the Benton County Sheriff’s Department.
March 3, 12:15 p.m. – Officers responded to 801 Ninth Avenue for a raccoon on the property. The raccoon was apprehended in a live trap and released outside the city limits.
March 3, 2:50 p.m. – A Belle Plaine woman turned over a substance believed to be marijuana and some allegedly unlawfully obtained prescription drugs that she found in a bedroom at her home in the 100 block of 11th Street. Subsequent to this discovery, a female juvenile was referred to juvenile authorities on drug charges.
March 4, 12:55 p.m. – Brian Rigler, 19, Belle Plaine, was cited for driving while under suspension during a traffic stop at Ninth Avenue and 13th Street.
March 4, 4:27 p.m. – Ambulance assist at 1010 Eighth Avenue, Iowa Health Physicians Clinic.
March 4, 4:45 p.m. – Vehicle unlock in the Dollar General parking lot.
March 5, 7:39 a.m. – Vehicle unlock at 1006 Eighth Avenue.
March 5, 9:36 a.m. – Police were called to the 800 block of 12th Street where a sign in the middle of the road had been struck. There was minimal damage.
March 7, 6:03 p.m. – Police executed a search warrant at 1310 Third Avenue. The investigation continues.
March 8, 9 a.m. – A stray cat was caught in a live trap at 913 Sixth Avenue and taken to the Countryside Veterinary Clinic.
March 8, 12:40 p.m. – John Smalley, Belle Plaine, was cited for driving while under suspension after a traffic stop in the Country Foods parking lot.
March 9, 12:36 a.m. – Police received a report of loud music at 1307 Seventh Avenue. Officers were unable to locate any disturbance.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

When Belle Plaine city officials make their formal presentation requesting Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) funding for the proposed downtown revitalization project, they will be vying with possibly as many as seven other projects under consideration.
The CAT Review Committee will meet Wednesday, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Science Center of Iowa in Des Moines. Belle Plaine is seeking approximately $500,000 toward the cost of its downtown renovation.
Two other communities are seeking funds for major streetscape projects. Kalona is requesting $550,000 after having raised more than $100,000 locally. West Union has an even more ambitious project, pegged at approximately $8.6 million. Officials from that city would be requesting only a portion of the project cost from CAT funds. But the project would include many green aspects, including geothermal heating and cooling for downtown buildings and a special paving project to improve drainage.
West Union is also requesting a grant for improvements to its outdoor recreation facilities.
The cities of Elma, Buffalo Center and Orange City are requesting funds to help pay for community buildings. The eighth request is from the city of Hubbard for its public library.
The State of Iowa budgets $12 million per year for CAT projects, which are reviewed and scored by personnel from the Iowa Department of Economic Development. The committee requires proof of broad-based local funding for projects it approves.
Following Wednesday’s formal presentations, the committee either send the requests back to the submitting agencies for more information or will refer them to CAT staff for scoring and recommendations.
Wednesday’s meeting is open to the public. Local officials are hoping for a good representation from interested members of the community as a show of support for the project.

As the snow continues to slowly melt and many of us are anxious to begin warmer outdoor activities, there are several indoor events to keep us busy in and around the area this week.
Tonight (Monday) the Belle Plaine Planning and Zoning Board meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
On Tuesday, the Belle Plaine Park Board meets at City Hall at 5 p.m. The PTO meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Belle Plaine Library.
There’s an important meeting in Des Moines on Wednesday. Vision Iowa’s Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) Review Committee will hear a presentation from Belle Plaine representatives on a request for a CAT grant for downtown revitalization. The request is for approximately $500,000, which city officials say would be a major piece in the puzzle of the upcoming downtown improvement project.
Community support is an important aspect of the review committee’s decision. Anyone who would be able to travel to Des Moines for the meeting is welcome. It will begin at 10 a.m. at the Science Center of Iowa, 401 W. Martin Luther King Parkway.
For more information, contact City Administrator Bill Daily at the Belle Plaine City Hall.
Preschool story time is scheduled for Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the Belle Plaine Public Library.
On Sunday, the Knights of Columbus will sponsor a pancake breakfast at the Catholic Church from 7:30 a.m. to noon.
It’s a light week on the school activity calendar this week. With three weeks remaining before the scheduled start of the outdoor track season, the boys are scheduled to get a taste of action Friday indoors at the Central College meet, hosted by Pekin.
If you’ve lived in Iowa for a number of years, you know that for some reason, one of the two state basketball tournaments is usually plagued by a late winter snowstorm. But we may have dodged the bullet this year, as the seven-day forecast calls for temperatures in the 40s during the day and no lower than the lower 30s at night.
Has anybody seen any robins yet? Can the daffodils be far behind?

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Students of the music department in the Belle Plaine Schools took the audience on a tour of some recent Broadway and movie music Tuesday night at the annual pops concert, “An Evening at the Theatre.”
The evening, which included seating in a café setting and desserts and other refreshments, featured music from the film scores of Danny Elfman and selections from “Dead Man’s Chest,” “Wicked” and “Rent.”
The junior high jazz band, under the direction of Jack Schlesselman, performed two numbers by Les Aldrich and Dean Sorenson. That group was followed by the high school concert band and concert choir.
Up next was the debut of a new high school group, “Belle Plaine Vocal Velocity,” a 14-voice jazz choir, performing a couple of works by George and Ira Gershwin. The high school jazz band closed out the performance with works by Charles Mingus, Sammy Nestico and Herbie Hancock.
The high school groups are under the direction of Brad Allen.

Director of high school

bands and chorus, Brad

Allen.

The choir performed works from “Wicked” and “Rent.”

The high school concert band performed music from the film scores of Danny Elfman and selections from “Dead Man’s Chest.”

The high school jazz band performed three numbers.

The junior high jazz band opened Tuesday’s pops concert.

In March 2010, more than 130 million addresses will receive a 2010 Census form by mail or hand delivery. The 2010 Census will document the changes in our nation since the last decennial census in 2000, and tell us how we’ve evolved as a country. Because census data affect how more than $400 billion in federal funding is distributed to tribal, state and local governments, the census also will frame the future of our country and our community for the next 10 years.

During Census 2000, the mail participation rate was 72 percent as of the April 2000 cut-off. About $85 million is saved for every one percent increase in mail participation. For these and many other reasons, we must work to encourage everyone’s participation in the census.

Here’s what you should know about the 2010 Census:

It’s easy. One of the shortest census forms in history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. The individual in whose name the housing unit is rented or owned should complete the form on behalf of every person living there, both relatives and non-relatives.

It’s important. Census data are used to reapportion seats in Congress and ensure proper district representation in state and local governments. Information from the census helps determine locations for child-care and senior centers, new roads, hospitals, schools and community centers.

It’s safe. By law, the U.S. Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

Finally, the most efficient way to respond to the 2010 Census is to complete the form as soon as it arrives and return it in the postage-paid return envelope. Census workers will visit households that do not return forms to take the count in person.

We are issuing a challenge to this community to increase the mail participation rate and help ensure a complete and accurate count in 2010.

For more information about the 2010 Census and the “Take 10” initiative, visit 2010census.gov.

Residents will have a chance to see Belle Plaine’s newly renovated ambulance unit during a soup luncheon at the ambulance center on Sunday, March 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Vegetable beef, broccoli cheese, cheesy potato and chili will be served for a free-will donation.
Free heart monitor checks (EKGs), blood pressure checks and ambulance tours will be offered.

Friday night the Belle Plaine PTO held their 3rd annual Winter Carnival, by all accounts everyone had a great time. With a theme of “Party like a Rock Star,” about 150 kids came dressed to party. Bryce Janss was the winner of the best costume contest with an unbelievable Gene Simmons from KISS costume.
There were numerous game and activities hosted by a willing staff of volunteers. A silent auction was held with proceeds going to support ongoing and future PTO events. Special thanks to all of the businesses and individuals who donated their time and funds to make this a great night for all.
Donors included:
Grieder Motors
Hrabak’s Funeral Home
BP Coaches
The Tony Benton Family
Country Foods
Jeralyn’s Dance Studio
US Cellular
The Wave Station
Coon Creek Phone Co.
Ehlen Plumbing and Heating
Carquest
Pizza Hut
Perfect Petals
BP Nursing
BP Parks/ Recreation Dept.
Grieder Standard Service
Kirkwood Community College
Chelsea Savings Bank
Drahos Shoe Store
BP Dental
Johnson Motors
Main Street Video
GCI Building Supply
Garling Construction
Subway
True Value
BP Police Department
New 2 You
Frontier Coop
Ma’s Kitchen
Annette’s Styling
Dr.Alcott
Connie’s Hairvanna
Great Life Fitness
Iowa Mold & Engineering
East Side Body Shop
Drahn Insurance Agency
Red Wheel Fundraising
Avery Glass Art
The Brandt Family
MidWest One Bank

With an optimistic eye toward warmer weather, the Belle Plaine softball team is selling rain ponchos to help raise funds for new equipment and uniforms.
Anyone interested in purchasing a poncho may contact Coach Cathy Cronbaugh at the junior high school. Deadline for orders is March 10.

Highway 21 will remain a four-lane roadway through Belle Plaine after the Belle Plaine City Council turned down a suggestion that it consider making the road a three-lane highway with a center turn lane.
The Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) had informed city officials that it is going to be resurfacing at least a portion of the highway this year and asked if the city would want to change the lane configuration at that time. Although the state officials didn’t present a definite preference, they did point out that there could be some safety concerns with maintaining the current four-lane system.
But on Monday night, the council discussed the possible change, along with the ramifications and in the end came to a consensus that the road should remain four lanes. This fall, when more children attend classes at the Longfellow School site, there is expected to be an increase in traffic in the area. Although some had suggested that this could be an argument in favor of a change to three lanes, some councilmen apparently felt that a change at this time might be an adjustment that some drivers might not be able to make.
There was also discussion on what the change might mean for possible traffic congestion near the railroad tracks and at the Seventh Avenue and 13th Street intersection. City administrator Bill Daily said he had consulted three engineers who all favored the change to three lanes. It was also pointed out that under the current configuration, the four lanes are a bit more narrow than current guidelines. He also didn’t take a position either way, but presented his findings and offered some pros and cons for each position.
But in an informal survey conducted by Councilman Jason Parizek on Facebook, there were a lot of comments favoring retaining the four-lane concept.
Daily told the council that state officials have indicated that the east-west section of Highway 21 will be resurfaced this year and they are attempting to secure funding to resurface the Seventh Avenue portion of the highway going south out of town.
On another traffic issue, the council directed staff to draft an amendment to the parking ordinance which would eliminate the diagonal parking on Eighth Avenue from 14th to 16th Streets. Parking would revert to parallel parking, much like in other residential sections of the city. Safety and traffic flow were the reasons given for the proposed change.
Before any changes would take effect, the amendment to the ordinance would have to pass three readings by the council. It may be formally considered at the next city council meeting on March 15.
Following a public hearing, the council unanimously approved the city budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. The budget calls for a total property tax levy of $16.48759 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Earlier, Daily had explained that this rate is up from the past rate of $14.79 and reflects the cost of construction of the aquatics center. He also pointed out that this rate is still lower than it was in 2004.
The council also authorized the submission of a grant request from the State of Iowa Office of Energy Independence for the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant. Daily told the council that the grant could be for as much as $100,000 to be used toward new street lighting downtown. But he said it might be difficult to demonstrate the needed amount of energy savings to qualify for the grant.
In other matters, the council approved a resolution adopting the Belle Plaine Partners for Beautification. The city will act as a sponsor for the group’s efforts in securing a grant from the Benton County Community Foundation.
A request was approved to allow Polar Bear Peppy’s to operate an ice cream truck in the city.
The council also approved a move to pay time and a half to part-time police officers who work on holidays. The officers had requested the boost in pay and while some councilmen pointed out that part-time workers in industry don’t receive extra pay for holiday hours, the city’s part-time officers are all certified law officers who give up some of their holidays to work for the city and those employed with other law agencies on a full-time basis would receive more pay if they opted to work for their primary employer on holidays.