Postville News

Brandi Falan Grahlman of Peoria, Illinois, and Matthew Charles Bachman of Swisher announce their engagement. They plan a May 7, 2005, wedding in Postville. The bride-elect is the daughter of Robert and Barbara of Postville. Parents of the future bridegroom are Charles and Karen Bachman of Swisher.

Pastor Gary Catterson will perform the 4 p.m. ceremony at the Presbyterian Church.

Brandi received a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Iowa. She is a morning show producer at a television station. Matthew received an A.A. from Kirkwood Community College.

•Five Years ago

•The Postville Board of Education ratified the master contract with the Postville Education Association. The contract reflects 4.35% raise with the base pay for beginning teachers being $21,500.

•The Lady Pirates placed fifth at the Lady Pirate relays with Erin Sheeley placing first in the 100, and 200 meter dashes. Galina Mikityuk finished first in the 800 while Anne Straate was first in the 400 hurdles and Danielle Heins was second in the same event.

Jeremy Birdsell of Postville has been accepted into the Commercial/Residential Electrician program at Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar to begin the Fall Semester of 2005. The Commercial/Residential Electrician program includes AC & DC electrical principles, technical mathematics, construction principles, motors and control principals, home and small structure wiring.

Jeremy is the son of Richard and Marilyn Birdsell

Cory and Heather Koenig would like to announce the birth of twin sons, Rhett John (7 lbs, 6 oz) and Ryder Lee (6 lbs, 3 oz), born on March 23. They join big brother Reid at home in Prairie du Chien. Area grandparents are Duane and Norma Koenig and Hall and LuAnn Swenson. Area great-grandparents are Harlen and Lorraine Koenig, Mary Svendsen, Verdon Swenson and Roger and Marilyn Christofferson.

The staff at Postville’s Early Childhood Learning Center enjoys working with children from birth through preschool as they mold their minds and bodies. They have many activities planned this week to celebrate “The Week of the Young Child.” Staff members are Heather Emerson, toddler provider; Adriana Cortes, toddler provider; Gerry Cook, infant provider; Morgan Radloff, floater, school age teacher; Jolene Reeg, director.

Fire on Summer Street

Firefighters from Postville, Luana and Monona were called to respond to a house fire on Summer Street in Postville last Friday afternoon. Fire Chief Milo Sebastian said the fire started in the kitchen about 5:30 p.m. and burned through some walls. Above, firefighters were forced to chop holes in the roof to help with the smoke while others trained a stream of water on flames that appeared near the roof. Four people living in the house were forced to evacuate. The house is owned by Nevel Properties.

The City of Postville yard waste collection program begins in April. The program is tentatively scheduled to continue through October. Because the City’s yard waste program is very costly and labor intensive, all yard waste will be collected by city crews on the specified MONDAYS listed below. BURNING IS PROHIBITED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.

Yard waste collection dates are:

April 11, 18, 25

May 2, 9, 16, 23, 31

June 13, 27

July 11, 25

August 8, 22

September 6, 12, 19, 26

October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

by Wanda Simmons

Over 900 friends, neighbors, colleagues, and clients of the Postville Vet Clinic showed up at the clinic's grand opening last Thursday, March 31, almost a year to the day after a fire destroyed their downtown facility.

With Chamber of Commerce members and other dignitaries in attendance, a ribbon cutting ceremony led off the day of celebration for the vets, their staff, and the community of Postville.

What’s Happening in & around Postville.....

Trees to be planted

The Postville Tree board and area volunteers will be planting trees on Saturday, April 30 beginning at 8:30 a.m. Anyone willing to help should meet at City Hall as the Tree Board has announced they are in need of many volunteers in order complete the plantings.

Please remove flowers from the cemetery now

OVERALL COACH ELLIS PLEASED WITH LADY PIRATES TRACK SEASON OPENER

By Gary Simmons, Sr.

DECORAH – The Lady Pirates track season got underway at the Upper Iowa Conference Indoor meet at Luther College last Monday (March 21st) night. Twelve girls have signed on to run track for Coach Richie Ellis this season and the young Lady Pirates gave a strong performance in their first meet.