The Burlington Beacon Newspaper

07/14/2025

Ag Olympics

Photos by Chris Faulkner

The Lee County Fair held its annual Ag Olympics Sunday at the fairgrounds in Donnellson. Youngsters competed as a team in tying a ribbon on a goat's tail, pushing a wheelbarrow around a pylon, and tossing eggs. Hay bales weren't available for the stacking contest, it was reported. The fair ended on Sunday. The Des Moines County Fair runs from Sunday, July 21, to Saturday, July 26.

07/14/2025

COLUMN

A love affair with film, rekindled

Jeff Abell
Our Town

It was a cold November evening when my older brothers and I crunched along a freshly shoveled sidewalk, heading toward our hometown movie theater. The air was sharp, our breath visible in the glow of the marquee. We joined a small crowd gathered just outside the entrance, the theater’s neon lights painting our faces in red and blue.

It felt like we stood there for hours — jittery with anticipation — until the doors finally opened. We rushed in as the opening credits began to roll, fumbling through the dark, sidestepping knees, and popcorn bags in search of empty seats.

That night marked a rite of passage: my first time seeing a movie without parental supervision. I don’t remember the film, but I’ll never forget the feeling — eyes locked on the screen, utterly transfixed as moving images danced in the dark. Something inside me clicked. I was hooked.

In high school, I tried to bottle that magic. Armed with a camcorder and a spiral notebook full of scribbled scripts, I recruited my friends to be my stars. We weren’t aiming for Shakespeare — our stories were silly, rough around the edges — but they had heart.

We spent weekends scouting locations and running lines. Hours passed behind the camera before we shot a single frame. Editing often meant late nights and frequent re-shoots, followed by screenings in someone’s basement. It was a labor of love, and I loved every minute of it.

I continued to pursue it into college, but eventually, adult life took over. Work deadlines replaced script deadlines. My short films were boxed up, tucked away, and many never made it through the moves that brought me to Burlington.

Still, the filmmaking bug doesn’t disappear. Over the past few years, I kicked around ideas for a web series and a documentary. Neither project made it past the brainstorming stage, but the itch remained.

That itch is why I first wandered into the Capitol Theater in downtown Burlington years ago for the Snake Alley Film Festival. And it’s why I keep going back.

Each year, the festival rekindles my love of storytelling. It’s not just the films, though they’re outstanding, encompassing a range of genres, including horror, comedy, sci-fi, and documentary. It’s the people: the writers, directors, and actors who share the stories behind their work. Their passion is contagious, their honesty refreshing.

In an age dominated by formulaic Hollywood blockbusters, the Snake Alley Festival reminds me what movies can be — bold, intimate, original. Many of the films screened here are available online, but nothing compares to experiencing them on the big screen, surrounded by others who share a love for movies just as much.

I could spend this entire column rattling off the titles of memorable films I’ve seen at the festival. That’s a testament to the organizers, who outdo themselves year after year. They deserve a standing ovation.

If you missed this year's event, make sure to attend next year’s Snake Alley Festival of Film. You won’t regret it.

And who knows — maybe someday you’ll be the one onstage, sharing your story with a theater full of dreamers.

07/14/2025

Red, white, and youth

Column by Chris Faulkner
Burlington Beacon

More than 100 years ago, Fort Madison resident Charlie Korschgen noticed that none of the children were out playing and enjoying the Fourth of July holiday.

That might seem normal, given all the distractions children face these days. But this was before the PlayStation, before streaming, before TikTok and Instagram, before smartphones, DVDs, CDs, and even television —black and white or color.

It was on July 4, 1913, that Korschgen decided to engage the neighborhood kids in a special celebration on the west end of town. He bought a dozen small flags, strapped his large snare drum around his neck, and proceeded to march around the neighborhood.

Like an American version of the Pied Piper, Korschgen soon had a line of fellow marchers.

That began a tradition that at one point featured upward of 1,000 children taking part during the 1940s, according to one article.

The parade moved downtown, and this past Friday, residents watched the 113th parade, with 118 participants, march from 15th Street and Avenue G to the end of downtown at the Moose Lodge in the 600 block of Avenue G.

The Moose lodge members serve ice cream treats at the end of the route, a tradition the group has maintained since 1946. Additionally, the volunteers who organize the parade announce the award winners for the various categories.

There are the bike riders, a few unicyclists, walkers, humorous entries, motorized entries, and there’s even one for those who march along with their pets.

I joined in when I first moved to Fort Madison as a member of the Jaycees. Once known as the Junior Chamber of Commerce, they took over when Korschgen was getting too old to organize the event. When the Jaycees disbanded in 1999, former members and other volunteers took over.

I was soon getting bikes prepared for our four children.

What makes this a special memory for the people of Fort Madison is that, although it’s organized to a degree, it remains simple.

It doesn’t take a large chunk out of the family budget to decorate a bike or a wagon and put on some patriotic-looking glasses and face paint.

Although there’s no formal record of multiple generations participating over time, one family took advantage of the parade to showcase four generations.

Janice Feaney, 92, rode in the front of a float and was joined by two of her daughters, Mary Mendez of Miami, Fla., and Kathleen Moseley of Albuquerque, N.M. Moseley’s daughter, Ariana Uchizono, of Washington, D.C., was caring for her four-year-old daughter, Nova.

Feaney’s neighbor, Danny Mahoney, set up the reunion of sorts and drove the truck that pulled the float.

The family took second place in the motorized vehicle division.

Korschgen’s memory will never fade, and not just because the banner leading the parade bears his name.

Right behind the banner is someone carrying the large drum as Charlie did. But the carrier has nothing to strike it with. At some point, years ago, it was deemed unsafe to keep pounding on the aging instrument, so it remains a silent memory to the man who just wanted to give children something to do.

07/13/2025

Ludens, Bulldogs head to substate

By Joe Geren
Beacon Sports

The sixth-ranked (Class 2A) Mediapolis High School baseball team is one win away from qualifying for the state tournament.

Bulldog right-hander Lance Ludens and southpaw Max Griffin combined for a one-hitter and Mediapolis blanked Durant, 3-0, in the Class 2A, District 7 championship game Saturday night in Mediapolis. The Bulldogs (26-2) advance to Tuesday’s Substate 4 championship against MFL MarMac (24-6) at the Recreation and Nature Area in Solon. The substate winner earns a berth in the state tournament.

Mediapolis last appeared in the state tournament in 2015.

Saturday night, Ludens started on the mound and kept the Wildcats scoreless and hitless for six innings. He allowed just two base runners. He hit opposing pitcher Colby Gast with a pitch in the first inning, but Gast was then caught stealing.

Ludens retired the next 11 batters he faced. Then, in the fifth, Isaac Schwarz grounded to Mepo shortstop Gannon Gunn, who bobbled the ball but got the throw off. But it was too late and Gunn was charged with an error. Ludens then retired the next five batters before being relieved by Griffin, who allowed one single in the seventh inning.

Ludens walked none and struck out seven.

“I think he’s one of the best pitchers in the state,” Mediapolis head coach Rick Whitaker said. “He doesn’t throw the hardest in the state, but at any point in time he can throw a curveball for a strike. He’s a really good pitcher, a good player. He’s a smart pitcher. He’s been doing this since he was eight.”

Whitaker said Ludens threw just 59 or 60 pitches “through six innings. That’s incredible, isn’t it? He’s averaging about 10 pitches an inning. That’s kind of what he does. He threw a complete game one time and threw 89 pitches.”

Ludens is now 10-0 on the mound. He lowered his earned run average to 1.22. It was Griffin’s first save.

Mediapolis scored all it needed in the first inning. With two outs, back-to-back doubles to left field by Ludens and Kyler Crow made it 1-0. Whitaker thought that was the key to the win. “Breaking that zero, getting that run with back-to-back doubles by Lance and Kyler,” Whitaker said. “They’re our two best hitters, I would say.”

The Bulldogs added an unearned run in the second on a hit batsman, a Wildcat error, a walk, and Will Luttenegger’s sacrifice fly to right field. Mepo added another unearned run in the fifth. Will Luttenegger reached second on a two-base error, advanced to third on a Ludens single, and scored when Crow bounced into a fielder’s choice.

Gast limited Mepo to three hits, two by Ludens. He struck out eight Bulldogs.

07/12/2025

07/12/2025

Snake Alley Festival of Film is Underway

Photos by John Lovretta

Festivalgoers take in a slate of screenings on Thursday during the opening day of the annual Snake Alley Festival of Film at the Capitol Performing Arts Center in downtown Burlington. The festival resumes today at 11 a.m. with an animated film block and continues throughout the day, wrapping up on Sunday.

07/11/2025

Jazz Comes Home: Burlington’s Mississippi Legacy, Bart Howard, and the Sound That Keeps Moving Forward

By Emma Reynolds

When I moved to Burlington last August, I had no idea I was stepping into the heart of an American jazz story.

I’m a vocalist, educator, and lifelong student of music. I grew up in Northern California and spent years in Los Angeles, steeped in the bouncy, rowdy and rhythmic sound of early 1900s jazz. But it wasn’t until I stood beside the Mississippi River that I began to understand where that sound really came from.

Jazz, like the river, moves. It winds, it bends, it carries with it stories, people, cultures. It builds community. It refuses to sit still.

The Roots of a River Town

Long before Burlington had a jazz festival, it had jazz. By the late 1800s, music was drifting north from New Orleans—riverboats filled with brass bands, ragtime pianists, and blues singers spreading a sound that would soon be called jazz. Burlington, perched on the Mississippi, was a natural stop. The music arrived by water, and Burlington listened.

“I remember one of the early riverboat cruises,” recalls Burlington native and historian Bob McCannon. “I remember that calliope—the sound of the calliope. I loved that—the idea that here I am on the Mississippi River, right where all of that started.”

It was contagious. By the 1920s and ’30s, ballrooms, clubs, and steamboats filled with touring jazz bands. In 1963, the city launched the Steamboat Days Festival with a Dixieland jazz focus. The legendary Louis Armstrong even played Burlington in 1964.
Bart Howard: Burlington’s Own Standard

Born in Burlington in 1915, Bart Howard studied piano at the Martin Bruhl School of Musical Art—then one of the largest conservatories between Chicago and the Pacific Coast. Though trained classically, jazz soon found him. At 16, he left to tour the vaudeville circuit. Then came Hollywood, then New York. By 22, he was working at New York City’s famed Rainbow Room, and in 1938, he became musical director of the Blue Angel, an exclusive Manhattan supper club and cabaret, launching a genre-defining career with Mabel Mercer.

Then in 1954, he wrote a song you probably know. "Fly Me to the Moon."

“It was written from the heart. I wrote it for Bud,” Bart shared in 1990, referring to his partner of 58 years, Thomas Fowler. Originally titled In Other Words, the song became a standard. Sinatra’s 1964 recording—paired with Count Basie and arranged by Quincy Jones—launched the tune into orbit, literally and figuratively. But Bart wasn’t a one-hit wonder. He wrote hundreds of songs, and his cabaret-driven, lyric-forward style influenced singers from Johnny Mathis to Peggy Lee.

Bart’s friend, Bob McCannon remembers him well: “He was very kind, extremely kind, sophisticated as hell… I thought, ‘This is the kind of guy that wishes to wear a tuxedo at home.’ But he was very humble. There was a common thread, a Midwest thread, woven into his being.”

KT Sullivan, one of Bart’s protégés, put it best: “When I heard Bart’s songs, they just leapt out and shook my memory bank… but I’d never heard them expressed quite like that.”

Why Jazz Still Matters

Jazz isn’t just music—it’s a movement. It breaks boundaries. It listens. It evolves. Jazz is a living conversation between past and present, tradition and innovation. It’s built on community, creativity, and improvisation.

That’s what makes jazz timeless. Old styles are still studied and celebrated. New forms are born every day. And jazz never stops moving forward. It cannot be contained in a place or on a screen. To experience jazz, all you need is a little curiosity and the courage to listen deeply.

The Festival: A New Chapter

If you’ve caught the jazz bug—or want to know what the fuss is about—join us Monday, July 14 from 7–9pm at the Art Center of Burlington for a special fundraiser for the Burlington Jazz Festival.

You’ll hear the voice of Bart Howard. You’ll hear our stories. You’ll see where jazz is going—and how it’s alive here and now. I’ll be joined by my musical and life partner Matt Landon, plus Blake Shaw and Michael D’Angelo, fellow jazz educators and performers. You can also team up for four short rounds of jazz trivia! It’s free, and all donations support more access to jazz education and performances here in Burlington. RSVP at btownjazzfest.com.

Then, on July 25–26, jazz comes home.

The Burlington Jazz Festival will feature over 75 musicians across nine acts at beloved venues like The Capitol Theater, The Washington, the Art Center, Burlington Riverfront Entertainment, and Heritage Garden Event Center.

We’re putting Burlington back on the jazz map—with swing, soul, groove, and joy.

There’ll be jam sessions, a Bart Howard-inspired Cabaret Cocktail Competition, and a big 3rd Street Block Party featuring local food, vintage vendors, youth performances, and more.

And yes—it’s all free.

A River. A Town. A Heartbeat.

Jazz is for everyone. It always has been.

It began as an expression of Black American life—of struggle, joy, resistance and resilience. It has always moved forward. Whether in a nightclub or a church basement, on a concert stage or a riverboat, jazz shouts: we’re still here, and our story is worth telling.

In Other Words… be part of something real this summer. Come hear Burlington’s story. Come hear your own story reflected back.
Come to the Burlington Jazz Festival.

07/11/2025

Mediapolis defeats WB-ND in softball

By Chris Faulkner

Beacon Sports

Mediapolis' softball team came out strong in its Class 3A regional opener with West Burlington-Notre Dame Thursday with an eight-run first inning.

The visiting Falcons stopped the Bullettes for a couple of innings, but Mediapolis won 10-2 on the new eight-run rule after five, marking the first post-season victory on the new field.

Mediapolis (15-8) advances to play fourth-ranked Davenport Assumption at the Knights' field at 7 p.m. Saturday for a regional semifinal game.

The Falcons end their season 15-21 and graduate Lyndsey Kelley, Madalynn Knapp, and Bailey Hayes.

The game was set to start at 7 p.m., but a single lightning flash delayed even the warmups by 30 minutes.

All nine Mediapolis batters reached base successfully in the bottom of the first. Between them they had two doubles, three singles, two walks and a hit batter.

WB-ND coach Dave Oleson brought in Avery Lillie to replace starter Orayana Gonzalez after just six batters. It was only Lillie's second outing, but she pitched slower than Gonzalez, and that seemed to help.

When the top of the order came up again, Lillie got the next three batters out.

The Falcons were scoreless after two innings, but with two out in the top of the third, they put together a string of five hits: Gonzalez, Whitney Snowden, Madelyn Thomas, and Kelley and Madalynn Knapp with RBI singles.

Thomas came on to pitch for the Falcons in the third and held the Bullettes in check.

But Avalynn Prall brought in Avery Bandy with a fielder's choice, and Layne Price singled in Charlotte Mohr to get the eight-run lead, 10-2.

Payton Harris walked the first Falcon batter in the fifth but got the next three out to secure the victory.

Bandy hit a pair of doubles on the night. Harris had a double, and Kenna Jankowski, Maycie Thornburg, AvaLynn Prall, pinch-hitter Greenley Cummings, and Mohr all had singles.

Courtesy runners Bri Spears and Lena Prall each scored for their respective batters.

Aside from the five singles in the WB-ND third, Kelley and Tannisyn Christofferson had the only other hits.

Mediapolis coach Jeff Martin said of the quick start, “It was a lot of fun to watch. Our kids came focused, ready to play.

“I was really proud of how they handled the rain delay and came out ready to go,” Martin said.

He didn't expect to keep the Falcons from scoring.

“They're a good team, and they play hard, and their kids don't give up,” Martin said. “I knew it'd be a struggle right there.”

Coach Martin said Price played well at second base, and Harris pitched well.

Coach Oleson of WB-ND said of the Bullettes, “They put the ball in play really well against one of the better pitchers in southeast Iowa.

“We didn't help ourselves,” Oleson said. “We walked a couple, and we made an error or two. It just snowballed. But after we settled down, I thought we played ball for the next four-and-a-half innings.”

Oleson said Thomas had a sore wrist, so he was reluctant to put her in.

“I thought Avery (Lillie) could put the ball over the plate and (pitch) slower in an effective way,” and she gave the Falcons two good innings before Thomas came in to finish.

Oleson will return all four pitchers, including Makayla Dueringer, who didn't pitch in the tournament game.

“They've got some instructions on what they need to do in the off season to get better,” he said. “We'll see how it goes.”

Photos by Chris Faulkner

07/11/2025

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07/11/2025

Cardinals oust Grayhound girls

By Joe Geren

Beacon Sports

It just wasn’t a night for Grayhounds.

Burlington High School’s softball team led briefly, but Maquoketa’s Cardinals soared past the Grayhounds, 11-8, in the quarterfinal round of the Class 4A, Region 6, tournament at Wagner Field Thursday night.

BHS ended its season at 13-14. Maquoketa (16-21) advances to Saturday’s semifinal round at Clear Creek-Amana. The game ended the prep careers of BHS seniors Keirah Wiseman and Sophie Brown.

Against Burlington, Maquoketa banged out 14 hits and took advantage of five walks and a Grayhound error. Burlington had seven hits.

Burlington hit a lot of pitches right at Cardinal defenders “and then we hit some balls and they made some pretty good plays,” BHS coach Larry Heath said. “It’s the difference in the outcome of the game. Obviously, we didn’t stop them. They managed to hit the ball when they needed to. We were able to get the first couple of strikes, then we couldn’t finish.”

Burlington claimed the early lead. With one out in the first inning, Ava Brandenburg hit an infield grounder and took two bases on a throwing error. She claimed third base on a passed ball and scored on Kylee Hill’s sacrifice fly to right field.

But Maquoketa scored five runs in the second on two hits, four walks, and a fielding error. The Cardinals wouldn’t trail again. They added one run in the third, three in the fourth, and one each in the fifth and sixth innings.

Hill started and finished the game in the pitching circle, but Josie Newell relieved in the fourth and fifth innings. Hill surrendered 10 runs, six earned, on nine hits and five walks in five innings. She struck out three Cardinals. Newell gave up one earned run on five hits and no walks in two innings.

“It definitely was an off-day for (Hill),” Heath said. “She struggled with the strike zone. That’s kind of the way it’s been all year with our pitching. If we can get the ball in the strike zone and not walk people we have a much better chance of winning the game. I don’t know how many walks we had tonight, but it was way too many. Then they were able to put the bat on the ball and that’s the difference in the ball game.

“She seemed more comfortable the second time I brought her in,” Heath said. “I was hoping it would be that way. What? Two innings we kept them from scoring? Five of the seven innings they scored runs. You’re not going to win too many games doing that.”

Burlington scored twice in the third inning, four times in the fourth, and once more in the fifth.

Wiseman singled, doubled, and tripled in four at bats in the leadoff spot. Her double struck the left field fence on the fly. She had two RBIs. Hill was 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Lillian Hand, Macy Peterson, and Kenlee Levinson each added a single.

Photos by John Lovretta

07/11/2025

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07/10/2025

Fall Foliage, Ghostly Legends & Grand Estates: Discover the Hudson Valley This October 6-15

If you love crisp autumn air, vibrant fall colors, and a good ghost story—or two—Trailways Travel has the perfect escape for you. This October, join us for Hudson Valley: Harvest & Haunts, an unforgettable journey through one of the most scenic (and storied!) regions in the country.

From the moment you step aboard our luxury motorcoach, you’ll feel the magic of fall unfolding around you. We’ll wind our way through charming towns and leaf-covered hills, making plenty of stops for history, mystery, and a bit of mischief. Think of it as the ultimate seasonal blend: part scenic getaway, part historical deep-dive, and part haunted tale brought to life.

Our journey begins in the fabled town of Sleepy Hollow, where headless horsemen still ride through moonlit lore and literary legend. You’ll walk among the centuries-old stones of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, visit Washington Irving’s enchanting Sunnyside estate, and stand beneath the looming Gothic towers of Lyndhurst Mansion. With each stop, the valley’s rich past comes to life—some of it spooky, all of it spectacular.

And what’s fall without pumpkins? You’ll experience the magic of The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, where thousands of glowing, hand-carved pumpkins light up the night in dazzling displays. It’s the kind of Halloween whimsy that sparks joy for kids at heart of all ages.

But the Hudson Valley isn’t just about chills and thrills. It’s also home to some of America’s most iconic historic homes, including the hilltop grandeur of the Rockefeller Estate, the ornate Vanderbilt Mansion, and the peaceful retreat of Eleanor Roosevelt at Val-Kill. You’ll stroll through manicured gardens, cruise the Hudson River with fall foliage as your backdrop, and explore the innovation and artistry of Samuel Morse’s Locust Grove Estate.

Along the way, enjoy charming small towns like Tarrytown and Rhinebeck, where quaint shops and colonial inns welcome you with open arms (and usually a slice of pie). You’ll dine at celebrated local favorites like Shadows on the Hudson and Foster’s Coach House, savor a farm-to-table experience in Bear Mountain State Park, and even sit down for a traditional Amish “Haystack Meal” served right in an Amish home.

This tour is as much about the journey as it is the destination. You’ll visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame, explore the Studebaker National Museum, and learn the traditions of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point—all while traveling in comfort with a professional driver and cheerful host to guide the way.

Whether you’re drawn by the haunted legends of Sleepy Hollow, the grandeur of Gilded Age mansions, or the simple beauty of autumn in full bloom, Hudson Valley: Harvest & Haunts is the perfect seasonal escape. It’s history with a twist, fall at its finest, and a journey you won’t soon forget.

Grab your sweater and your sense of adventure—we’re saving you a seat. Click here to join us! t.ly/f2kR9

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