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Wed
06
May

FFA banquet honors Zaruba and Ihde


Molly Andersen (left) and Rachel Anderegg present their new classroom leader Carolyn Ihde with flowers. Ihde will take over for Steve Zaruba, who will retire after 37 years teaching agriculture in Guttenberg. (Press photo by Molly Moser)

By Molly Moser

Mr. Steve Zaruba will retire this May after nearly 40 years teaching agriculture at Clayton Ridge. He attended his last FFA banquet as an instructor on Sunday, April 26. Students presented him with a special award and noted the impact he’s had on their lives. 

Wed
06
May

Cook family parents two sons and triplet daughters


Amber (Ihm) Cook, daughter of Linda and John Ihm, and her husband Matt are celebrating this Mother's Day with their five children. Front from left are Cooper and Collin, on laps are Corrigan, Cecilia, and Calina, with parents Matt and Amber in the back. (Photo submitted)

By Molly Moser

Last Mother’s Day, Amber (Ihm) Cook had two children, boys named Cooper and Collin. One year and a single pregnancy later, Cook will celebrate Mother’s Day in a family of seven. 

Wed
29
Apr

Spring city-wide sales May 1-2

Guttenberg's annual spring city-wide garage sales will be held Friday and Saturday, May 1-2. 

The Guttenberg Press is againserving as the sponsor of the event. This week's issue of The Press contains a page with all the garage sale ads grouped together. The ads will also appear in The Trader, an advertising publication with a circulation of more than 23,000. In addition, ads will appear on The Press website at www.guttenbergpress.com. 

There will be no maps this year; instead, those unfamiliar with city street locations can visit The Press  website and download a city map. 

Wed
29
Apr

Recycled bottle cap fish mosaic introduced by Umbrella Arts


A colorful bottle cap fish mosaic will be on display at various places in the community, with its first stop scheduled at River Park Place, followed by the Guttenberg Bakery. (Photo submitted)

  Submitted by Juanita Loven

Umbrella Art President

Few knew that a historic venture was taking place at the Welcome Center on Thursday, Feb. 19.  The FIRST recycled bottle cap fish mosaic was being created by Umbrella Arts (UA) volunteers. 

The idea for a bottle cap mosaic came about when Mayor Russ Loven and Juanita were vacationing in the Corpus Cristi area of Texas in March 2014. Friends took them out to for fish at Pop’s Tavern in Lamar. The Lovens were fascinated by huge bottle cap mosaics mounted on two walls.   Thus, the idea to recreate such a mosaic in Guttenberg was born.

After almost a year of collecting bottle caps from local businesses and individuals, washing and sorting caps by color, and formulating a plan, the creative part of Guttenberg’s first bottle cap mosaic was  completed; however, we had to wait for warmer weather to apply the final epoxy bar-top finish to preserve it in all kinds of weather and circumstances. This was accomplished on April 17.

This is an Umbrella Arts project. UA member Jeff Dolan donated the 30”x90” hollow core door that the mosaic is mounted on, plus a stand to aid in displaying this piece of art.   

Wed
29
Apr

Guttenberg martial arts instructor inducted into hall of fame


Jerry and Nancy Trowbridge, who have operated a martial arts school in Guttenberg for 13 years, attended the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame on April 17 and 18. Jerry received the high honor of being inducted into the hall of fame. (Photo submitted)

By Molly Moser

“I never dreamed in a million years I’d be inducted into the hall of fame,” said Guttenberg Tang Soo Do instructor Jerry Trowbridge. “It’s pretty unheard of,” added his wife Nancy, also an instructor.

It may be a rare honor, but in the Trowbridge family, it’s a familiar one. Jerry and Nancy have seven children together, all of who practice martial arts. Their son Josh was inducted into the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame last year, and Josh’s wife, Abbey, was inducted along with her father-in-law Jerry at this year’s banquet on April 18.  

Jerry was given the Golden Life Award by the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame for his 41 years in practice. Instructors who have devoted their lives to teaching martial arts may be nominated for the hall of fame and honored for their commitment. Jerry is a sixth degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and has spent a combined three decades teaching in Dubuque, Monona, and Guttenberg. Currently, he estimates that he and Nancy have 75 to 100 students between their schools in Monona and Guttenberg.

“We decided to open a school because we saw what martial arts does for people,” Jerry explained. “Our ultimate goal is to build character. We are building the future leaders in our communities.” 

Wed
29
Apr

Shrek the Musical draws hundreds to Garnavillo


Shrek the Musical, directed by Michelle Fassbinder and Adam Radcliffe, drew an overwhelming crowd on opening night. From left are Amber Anderegg as one of the three little pigs, Janelle Burr as Gingy, Blake Bolsinger as Shrek, Eric Ihde as Papa Ogre, Anna Berns as Princess Fiona, Dustin Kelly as the bishop, and Levi Berns as Pinocchio. (Press photo by Molly Moser)

By Molly Moser

Opening night of Shrek the Musical at the Clayton Ridge middle school auditorium played to a house packed with excitement, talent, and a very large crowd. The 262 seats in the auditorium were full, and additional seating made room for a total of about 280 in the audience. “Friday and Sunday were the biggest crowds I’ve had since being at Clayton Ridge,” said director Adam Radcliff. “We were very, very happy with the support and attendance from the families, community members, and out-of-towners!” 

Rehearsals for the high school musical began over 10 weeks ago. The four performances during the weekend of April 17 and the dress rehearsal the week before drew an estimated 1000 people to see Shrek the Musical. “We loved it!  Big audiences really get the kids pumped up and they do an even better job,” director Michelle Fassbinder told The Press. Junior Blake Bolsinger starred as Shrek, an ogre sent away from home at seven years old according to ogre tradition. In a Scottish brogue, Bolsinger sang and danced, according to some of his lyrics, as the face that launched 1000 insults. 

Junior Alex Simon played Shrek’s trusty sidekick, a donkey named Donkey. In full makeup, padded donkey suit, and wearing hooves on his hands and feet, Simon’s flashing eyes and dramatic and often frantic gesturing drew many chuckles from the audience. 

Wed
22
Apr

School start date set for Aug. 24

A public hearing for the 2015-2016 Clayton Ridge School District certified budget was held on Thursday, April 9, just two days after the school's bond referendum was rejected by voters.  Board members present were John Heying, Mike Finnegan, Christine Aulwes, Janice Andregg, Jason Reimer, and Jeff  Hoffmann. Kathy Ihde was absent.  Also in attendance were Allan Nelson, Kris Einck, Shane Wahls, Steve Hoff, David Schlueter and Mary Seifert. 

Business Manager David Schlueter presented the proposed 2015-2016 district certified budget with total expenditures of $12,926,688.  

Wed
22
Apr

Laura Ingalls Wilder program Saturday

A historical presentation, Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Real Story, will be presented by Laura Keyes on Saturday, April 25, at 10:00 a.m. at the Guttenberg Municipal Building. Keyes will portray the famous author, and will share the real life story of growing up on the prairie. 

The presentation is a means of teaching history with live performance. This is not the fictionalized account upon which the beloved Little House books are based, but the harsh reality of pioneer life with all its hardships and tragedies. For this reason, the program is not recommended for children under eight years of age.

Wed
22
Apr

Kuhlman is elected first female president of the ILPA


Jane Kuhlman, a New Vienna native who makes her home in Guttenberg with her husband, Rick, has been elected the first female president of the Iowa Limestone Producers Association. Kuhlman has been in the aggregate industry for over 30 years. (Photo submitted)

By Molly Moser

Guttenberg resident Jane Kuhlman was elected president of the Iowa Limestone Producers Association (ILPA) during their 70th annual convention held earlier this year. Kuhlman attended her initial ILPA convention in 1981 and was the first female elected to the ILPA board in 2009. She acted in various positions on the board, including serving on environmental, convention planning, and scholarship selection committees, before becoming the organization’s first female president. 

“I do feel a special responsibility as the first female president, and I intend to do my best to make a difference and leave a legacy that makes it easier for other women to be part of this industry,” Kuhlman told The Press. “I also want to be seen and accepted as an aggregate producer. Mining has traditionally been a man’s field, but women have been taking more active roles over the years. One of my goals is to educate people about the mining industry and its necessary place in our world.”  

While limestone has been used for thousands of years as a raw material for building, it is a part of daily life in Iowa that often goes unnoticed. Limestone makes up roads, bridges, and as we know well in Guttenberg, some of our most distinguished architecture. The stone is also used in agriculture to maintain a neutral pH in soil, and aggregates in general are used to make other everyday products like paper, glass, cleansers, cosmetics, toothpaste, and medicines. 

Wed
22
Apr

Bootleggers is open for business


Bootleggers is now open on weekends in Millville, welcoming customers with food and drink. From left are Bootleggers owners Rod Schlitter, Kris Lewis, and Brenda and Mike Landwehr. (Press photo by Molly Moser)

By Molly Moser

For the first time in six years, the Millville area can call itself home to a bar and grill. Bootleggers opened to the public on Friday, April 3, and will be open on weekends until May, when owners hope to serve the hungry and thirsty seven days a week. 

“We had a great first weekend,” said co-owner Kris Lewis of Garnavillo. “We were overwhelmed by the support and enthusiasm.” Kris and her partner Rod Schlitter, also of Garnavillo, along with long-time friends Mike and Brenda Landwehr of Milwaukee, Wis., have spent every weekend of the last six months renovating the restaurant and planning for its opening. 

After closing on the property last October, the four owners were given a barn in Maynard. They worked together to disassemble the 30 x 60 foot structure, salvaging the barn board for the outside of their new building and keeping the antique corrugated tin roofing to line the bar. 

“We all complement each other and that’s why it makes a good partnership,” Brenda told The Press. Rod transformed the bar with the corrugated roofing and planed rough-cut pine for the building interior. Mike is in charge of finances and is familiar with the bar’s point-of-sale system. Brenda and Kris are best friends and will work together behind the bar. 

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