Lee County, IA

LEE COUNTY – Area law enforcement officials are touting the impact of the “Back the Blue” legislation signed into law last week by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. Lee County Sheriff Stacy Weber and Fort Madison Police Chief Mark Rohloff both pointed to qualified immunity as one of the biggest changes in the bill that will have an immediate impact.

The Montrose Farmer’s Market had some special visitors from the Lee County Extension office last week. Jessica Ellison, along with Rising Star intern Catie Messer and Lee County intern Brooke Finney, served samples of “Creamy Cauliflower” salad from the Spend Smart, Eat Smart website. They also provided the recipe for this summertime salad. They plan on being back with us sometime in July, so stay tuned for further details.

BURLINGTON – The Central Lee Hawks baseball team dropped an 8-5 decision to Burlington Notre Dame on the road Monday night. The Hawks put up four runs in the fifth, but had already spotted the Nikes a 7-1 lead going into the inning. Notre Dame added an insurance run in...

Ronald Lee “Ron” Lambert, 53, of Montrose, IA died Sunday, June 20, 2021 at his home. He was born July 16, 1967 in Keokuk, the son of Gerald and Delores South Lambert and graduated from Keokuk High School with the class of 1986. He then attended Quincy Tech and received his automotive mechanics certificate.

DONNELLSON – This year’s July 4th Parade in Donnellson will begin at 11 a.m. and will run the same route as always. The theme chosen is “Hometown Heroes” as we say a big “thank you” and honor our own hometown heroes who have aided and rushed to administer medical attention, fire protection and police safety to our community during this past year while in the middle of a pandemic.

The committee charged with screening applications for Lee County’s $6.5 million in American Relief Plan Act (ARPA) funds made some tentative slices to divide the pie. At its meeting Monday, the committee comprised of Supervisors Garry Seyb Jr. and Ron Fedler, Auditor Denise Fraise, Budget Director Cindy Renstrom, Administrative Assistant Sara Helenthal and Mike Norris, executive director of the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission, set preliminary percentages of the total funds that will be available for projects and groups in certain categories.

LEE COUNTY – With $3.25 million in the bank and another $3.25 million expected next year as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, county officials are beginning to prioritize and categorize how the funds will be spent. A steering committee tasked with setting up parameters on how the Lee...

LEE COUNTY – After 17-months, the Lee County Health Department Senior Health Clinics will be back up and running in July. The clinics were halted in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The clinics offer toenail services for a $5 fee, and blood pressure checks for free. Clinics are open to the public, however people are asked to bring their own towel and masks will be required for everyone who attends. Locations and times for the clinics are:

The Board of Directors of The Lee County Charitable Fund met last week to award grants to 17 Lee County Iowa 501 C (3) exempt non-profit organizations and qualified government agencies. The Lee County Charitable Fund consists of board members from both the North Lee Community Foundation and the Keokuk Area Community Foundation. The directors of the Lee County Charitable Fund awarded 17 Lee County nonprofit organizations grant funding. Grants were awarded to nonprofit organizations that promoted the fields of arts and culture, community betterment, education, health, and human services in Lee County. $75,755.47 was distributed to 17 Lee County nonprofit organizations.

ABATE District #18 will host their 17th annual Mystery Ride Saturday, July 17, with all proceeds benefiting the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice (formerly Great River Hospice) and Lee County Health Department-Hospice. The event is open to bikes, cars and trucks. Food will be available before and after the ride. Participants...

The Labor Day committee has announced the 2021 Labor Day Celebration and Parade are back on for 2021. After a year in hiatus, it will be good to celebrate the day and see the annual parade go down Main Street. The Labor Day Parade and Celebration has become a great...

Merlin John Hellman, devoted husband, father, and community servant, born and baptized in Fort Madison, Iowa, died on Father’s Day, June 20, 2021 at age 85. Merlin was born September 1, 1935, to William and Ceal (Sanders) Hellman, the third of the four children they raised in the small, close-knit community of Houghton, Iowa. His mother died when he was just eight years old, and he often recalled how the town of Houghton and his extended relatives lovingly cared for him when his father had to be away from home. He spoke proudly of helping with the reconstruction of St. John’s Catholic Church in Houghton by manning the bucket pulleys, and he told many a tale of coal-fired furnaces, freezing cold outhouses, and life as a small-town boy in the 1940’s.

Lee County officials will soon be advertising for a safety director. Mark Shaffer of Safety and Personnel Resources, LLC was hired several years ago to evaluate each county department and property, implement employee training, reduce accidents and workers’ compensation claims, and keep the county in check with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. However, Shaffer told Lee County Supervisors last week that he will soon be retiring.

My father died when I was six years old. I only remember a powder blue suit with white ruffles on this guy lying in a casket. I remembered smiling because it was funny to me at that age that everyone was dressed up with a stranger laying down in front of them.

DONNELLSON — Lee County Speedway postponed racing for Friday. The Conn Communications $3 grandstands will be rescheduled — likely in mid-July. Racing returns to Lee County Speedway this Friday with round four of qualifying for the ‘Drive For 5’ for the IMCA Late Models and IMCA Modified. Also in action are the IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Sport Compacts.

About the Lee County Charitable Fund/ The County Endowment Fund. The Lee County Charitable Fund is a permanent endowment fund of the Keokuk Area Community Foundation. Every year, The County Endowment Fund contributes to the Lee County Charitable Fund to support charitable projects in Lee County. The County Endowment Fund...

Lee County Health Department will be holding a Children’s Immunization Clinic 1-4:30 p.m. Thursday, June 24, at Lee County Health Department, 3 John Bennett Drive, Fort Madison. The clinic is open to children who have no insurance, are insured by Iowa Medicaid (MCO) or those who have private health insurance...

The future Joint Education Center edges another step closer to fruition. It was announced on June 16 the Southeast Iowa Regional Economic and Port Authority (SIREPA) had voted to purchase the building in rural Montrose as part of a plan to use the building for a future Lee County Joint Education Center.