Telegraph - Herald (Dubuque)

School Board Enhances Early Retirement Incentives

In an effort to save money, the Central Community School Board is changing the school's early retirement benefit package. Superintendent Galen Reinsmoen said the move was viewed as necessary in light of changing financial conditions in the state. "Last year, Governor Culver cut 10 percent across the board," Reinsmoen said. "That means a $254,000 reduction of state aid for Central this school year."

Odds and Ends From an Odd Editor

Rather than presenting an in-depth article solving all the challenges of journalism, today's column is a collection (or, if you prefer, a hodgepodge) of notes. However, in some form or fashion, they pertain to journalism in general or the Telegraph Herald in particular.

City Council Lists Top Priorities

At a Jan. 25 meeting, the Elkader City Council laid out a list of ongoing priorities. Topping the list of ongoing priorities was recovery from the 2008 flood that devastated the southwest part of the community and damaged several businesses on Main Street. Included in the recovery plan are ongoing buyouts for properties destroyed in the flood and working on plans for a floodwall.

Letter: Feingold 'Too Busy' for Constituent Concerns

In merry olde England, in the days of periwigs and pompadours, if you didn't want to see someone you simply sent your parlor maid to the door to say "not at home to visitors." Similarly, in Washington, D.C., a legislator can avoid unwelcome visitors by telling an aide to say "too busy."

Tri-State People

Business Helps Raise Money for Choices

CHOICES Domestic Violence Agency of Galena and Mount Carroll, and Galena Dips & Gifts, of Galena, have completed a three-month joint fundraising campaign that netted more than $400 for CHOICES. Homemade dip mixes, soups and holiday gifts were sold at local fairs and other events. Organizers also took online orders using a custom-made ordering page.

The Simple Move That Changes Everything

Cute yoga clothes - and cute yoga instructors - didn't hurt in turning yoga into a hugely popular phenomenon. But the real reason everybody's doing it: It makes you look and feel young and fantastic. And it's legal, and you can do it in public. Want more reasons? Here's a short list of what it does: Keeps your joints young. Yoga increases your flexibility. The more flexible your muscles are, the better your range of motion and the less stress you'll put on your joints doing normal activities.

Visitgalena.Org Sets Marketing Goals

Goals in the newly adopted marketing plan of Visitgalena.org include increasing overnight visits to Galena, increasing day-trip visits to the community and overcoming current negative travel trends, among other aims. The 120-day marketing plan was unanimously approved by the Visitgalena.org board of directors.

H1n1 Vaccinations Will Take Place Wednesday

The Jo Daviess County Health Department will hold an H1N1 vaccination clinic from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Elizabeth Fire Department. The vaccinations are free. Call the health department at 815-777- 0263 to make an appointment.

City Hopes to Replace Pedestrian Bridge

Galena officials should learn soon the status of a grant application to replace the Meeker Street pedestrian bridge - one of two pedestrian bridges over the Galena River. Corrosion by ice-removal materials has shortened the bridge's lifespan, according to an engineer's report.

Lawmaker Dated Payday Loan Lobbyist

MADISON, Wis. - Democratic Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan said Monday there is nothing wrong with him dating a lobbyist for the payday loan industry. Sheridan said during an interview in his Capitol office that he dated the woman off and on for a few months. The last time he saw her was about a month ago and he didn't know when he would see her again.

Births

Meetings

Jackson County Board of Supervisors - 9 a.m., 201 Platt St., Maquoketa, Iowa. Dubuque Community School District Support Services Committee - 3:30 p.m., Keystone Area Education Agency, Room 3A, 2310 Chaney Road.

Funeral Services

Compiled from tri-state area obituaries appearing previously in the Telegraph Herald. William A. "Bill" Hying, Platteville, Wis. - Services: 10 a.m. today, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Platteville. Visitation: After 9 a.m. today at the church.

Duwane Hingtgen

Duwane "Dewey" Hingtgen, 82, of 2814 Jackson St., died at 3:25 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, at The Finley Hospital, Dubuque. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, with the Rev. Thomas Zinkula officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West, Iowa, where military rites will be accorded by Dubuque American Legion Post 6. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, where there wi...

Owi Convictions

All are first offense unless otherwise noted. First date is date of arrest; second is date of conviction: * Jeffrey D. Connolly, 45; Sept. 12; Dec. 22.

Corrections

* An editorial congratulating Mark Dalsing on his appointment as chief of police Monday called Dalsing by the wrong first name. * Another Monday editorial discussing federal deductibility referenced Governor Culver's proposed budget. Federal deductibility is under discussion in a House subcommittee but is not part of the governor's budget.

City has Strong Retail 'Pull'

There is room for growth in Dubuque when it comes to retail, according to one state economist, despite the economic slowdown the state is enduring. Room in particular, Meghan O'Brien said, for more general merchandise and sporting goods stores when the recession comes to an end.

Home to Be Demolished After Being Hit by Driver Eating Chili

LOWELL, Mass. - A Massachusetts house struck by a lumber truck whose driver said he passed out after choking on chili will be demolished. Police said Monday that structural engineers and city building inspectors determined that tearing down the entire home is the only safe way to remove the truck, which has been lodged inside the house since Friday.

Opponents of Mega Dairy Will Host Speakers Tonight

LENA - Helping Others Maintain Environmental Standard (HOMES) is sponsoring a free informational meeting at 6:30 tonight at the Lena Community Center, 497 Lions Drive in Lena. HOMES has engaged in a two-year battle against California businessman A.J. Bos and his large-scale dairy plan in the area.