Guttenberg Press

Following an April 14 work session to hear facility assessment costs from ICAT (Iowa Construction Advocacy Team) and Estes Construction, the Clayton Ridge School Board of Directors opened a public budget hearing and school calendar hearing. 

Business manager Dave Schlueter presented the proposed 2016-17 certified district budget with total expenditures of $11,371,447. Tax rates were as follows: general fund - $3,006,949, management fund - $125,000, voted physical plant and equipment - $212,095, and regular physical plant and equipment - $104,465.  The total taxable valuation is $305,271,721 and the tax levy rate is $11.22/per $1,000 taxable valuation.

By Molly Moser

Guttenberg Development & Tourism, soon to be known as Guttenberg Chamber of Commerce, is once again offering an opportunity for cooperative television advertising to its members. Last year’s commercial, which aired 1,785 times throughout the months of August – November, also garnered 8,000 views online – enough to encourage repeat participants and attract the interest of new ones. 

By Shelia Tomkins

At a lengthy monthly meeting on April 4, the Guttenberg city council gave final approval to utility rate increases, approved 50/50 cost share agreements with two businesses, discussed pool issues, and heard comments about railroad crossing closures. 

Mayor Russ Loven led council members Steve Friedlein, Jane Parker, Virginia Saeugling, Fred Schaub and Austin Greve through the evening's agenda. Also present were City Manager Mary Willett and City Attorney Michael Schuster.

By Molly Moser

The story of a local student’s passion for poetry begins with a produce lady. Margaret Mackey, who co-owned Mackey’s with her husband Milford, gave Clayton Ridge senior Alex Simon a nudge in the right direction when he was just six years old – and that nudge may have pushed him all the way to the All-State Speech Festival this spring.