Thursday, January 14, 2010
N/Warren Town and County News
Page Seven
Take Steps to Help Manage Winter's
More Costly Energy Bills
Monthly utility bill
amounts often increase
this time of year in Iowa
because of high heating
costs associated with cold
winter weather, but some
simple short-term or long-
term steps to manage
those costs can often help
many customers cope.
In the near term, taking
steps to use energy wisely,
in addition to budgeting,
can help many people get
through high-cost months.
Cost savings can be
achieved through energy
efficiency measures like
turning the thermostat
down a few degrees, espe-
cially when away from
home or when sleeping, if
you can do so safely. A pro-
grammable thermostat can
help you do so with peak
efficiency and comfort.
Another measure that can
: save money and energy is
sealing air leaks around
windows and doors, also,
turn off extra lights, elec-
tronic devices, or appli-
ances that are not needed
at any given rime.
However, simple short-
term measures may not
provide enough savings
for many low- or fixed-in-
ment plan. you should be
able to find the telephone
number of your utility
company near the op of
the first page of your bill.
Leadership Class
of 2010
The Warren County
Leadership Institute
(WCLI) has announced
participants for the Class
of 2010. The Leadership
Institute, formed in 1993,
is affiliated with the War-
ren County Economic De-
velopment Corporation
(WCEDC), and has a pri-
mary objective to train and
inform leaders throughout
Warren County. WCLI's
Class of 2010 will consist
of 17 members and will be
the 17th class in WCLI his-
tory.
Area residents to par-
ticipate are Steve Rose of
Norwalk and Kyla Lenze
of Prole. Others are
Shauna Agan, Troy Bass,
Amanda Henry-Nelson,
Michelle Hinrichs, Robert
Nalean, Kurt Ripperger,
Mindi Robinson, Mike
Schultz, Misty Soldwisch,
Justin Stuart, Mallory
VanderLinden and Andrea
Wells, all of Indianola, and
come customers, or for Teri Caldwell, Tasha
those with extenuating cir- ,
.,. ......... ............. anson and McKinley
cumstances, your local Steig, all of Carlisle.
utility can provide a The Warren County
longer-range solution for
managing utility costs by °
enrolling you in a level-
payment or budget-billing
program that will enable
you to make equal
monthly payments
throughout the year. The
utility sets a level payment
amount based on your av-
erage costs for energy use
mad you pay the same
amount each month. The
monthly payment amount
is adjusted from time-to-
rime to account for actual
usage.
Customers who have
difficulty paying their
utility bills only during
certain times of the year •
can quickly benefit from
participating in a level
payment plan. a level pay-
ment plan may be the right
choice for many customers
simply because it elimi-
nates surprises on the
monthly bill or makes bill
planning easier for people
who have other bills to pay
from a limited income.
Budget billing may also be
beneficial for customers
who have notoriously
managed to pay their util-
ity bills, but it has been dif-
ficult or they have been
late paying other bills or
unable to afford other ne-
cessities like food or medi-
cations.
Please contact your util-
ity if you would like to
enroll or incl4re out en-
rollment in a level pay-
Leadership Institute facili-
tates interactive classroom
programs and networking
opportunities designed
specifically to assist
emerging leaders. This
year's schedule consists of
eight sessions followed by
a graduation ceremony.
Students will learn
about different personality
traits and effective com-
munication, how to deal
with controversy and
emergency management
in Warren County. WCLI
class participants will also
hear from educators in
Warren County and will
learn about local govern-
ment. A bus tour will fol-
low the class sessions and
will encompass spots in
Warren County that were
not visited during the
regular class sessions.
Deadline for ads,
legals and stories
is Noon Friday!
TAX CREDIT
Concluded from p. 4
Credit Program was estab-
lished in 2003 to encour-
age individuals, busi-
nesses and organizations
to make lasting invest-
ments in their communi-
ties. Those who give will
be able to take advantage
of the increased Endow
Iowa tax credits in con-
junction with federal tax
benefits for charitable
gifts. Endow Iowa tax
credits are offered on a
first come, first served ba-
sis.
"With this tax credit
program, Iowa is at the
forefront in creating solu-
tions that make charitable
giving easier, more re-
warding and more effec-
tive," said Angela
Dethleis-Trettin, director
of Iowa Council of Foun-
dations. "We're excited by
how donors are respond-
ing to the program. It pro-
vides a powerful tool for
people across the state to
strengthen their local com-
munities and also benefit
from the tax incentives.
They're able to see how
their philanthropic gifts
are making a difference
right where they live."
Since the start of Endow
Iowa, donors have given
more than $59 million to
community foundations
across the state through
the program alone. To
date, Warren County Phil-
anthropic Partnership has
grown its total endow-
ment assets to $110,725.
Donations have been used
to support Arts, Culture &
Humanities, Education,
Human Services, Public &
Social Benefit, Health and
Environment & Animals
in the Warren County area.
Warren County Philan-
thropic Partnership pro-
vides local residents a
simple, powerful and
highly personal approach
to giving-so that their gifts
do good works within the
community, forever. For
more information on how
Endow Iowa is changing
lives in Warren County
and across the state, con-
tact Warren County Phil-
anthropic Partnership at
515-961-1067 or visit our
website at http://
www.wcedc.com/wcpp/.
clip and save
Norwalk Schools Phone Directory
Central OfficeAdministration
High School (Grades 10-12)
High School Activities
Eastview 8/9 School
Middle 6/7 School
Lakewood Elementary (Grades 4-5)
Oviatt Elementary (Grades PreK-3)
Transportation Office (Bus Barn)
Food Service/Nutrition Office
Building & Grounds Office
981-0676
981-4201
981-4204
981-9655
981-0435
981-1850
981-1005
981-0016
981-9876
981-0917
RAGBRAI Bus - "Cops Behind Bars" Photo submitted.
Cops Behind the Bars Bus
Area residents have
seen the "Cops Behind
Bars" bus in the Norwalk
area and some have won-
dered who and what it
represents. The bus started
out as bus number 12 in
the Norwalk Community
School District fleet of bus-
ses. After faithfully serv-
ing many years as a trans-
port for Norwalk students,
it was purchased in 2008
by the RAGBRAI team
known as "Cops Behind
Bars."
The RAGBRAI team
consists of law enforce-
ment officers, along with
friends and family, who
are avid bicycle riders. The
pilot of the "Paddy
Wagon" is a Norwalk man,
Don Duff. Not only is the
• bus utilized as RAGBRAI
transportation, but mem-
bers of the team are also
heavily involved in the
Law Enforcement Torch
Run for Special Olympics.
The bus can be seen at
many Special Olympics
fundraising events such as
the "Polar Plunge" and
"Cop on Top" building
sits.
Along with his duties as
driver, Duff also works
hard at lining up the many
sponsors who have as-
sisted with the operating
expenses and transforma-
tion from a school bus to
what it is today (pictured
above).
The local sponsors are
listed on the side of the bus
and reflect the home-town
spirit that Norwalk is
known for. During the last
July 4th parade, many re-
marks were overheard
about the bus and the im-
pressive list of sponsors
listed on the side of the
bus. Also, during the trav-
els across Iowa, the team
has encountered people
who have made favorable
comments about the bus,
individuals and busi-
nesses that sponsor the
team. There have been
timesf01ks approached the
team wanting to talk about
having lived or worked in
Norwalk and who are fa-
miliar with some of the
sponsors.
Sponsors include Ac-
counting Associates of Des
Moines, American Secu-
rity, Brian Wood Construc-
tion and Home Improve-
ment, Benshoof Farms of
Winterset, Countryside
Golf Course, Doll Distrib-
uting of Des Moines, En-
dodontics PC of West Des
Moines, Haskin Chiro-
practic Clinic, Holmes
Chevrolet, IDG Iowa Den-
tal Group of Des Moines,
JJ Designs, Scott's Foods,
Miller Auto Body of
Cumming, Struthers
Brothers of Des Moines
and Hy-Vee Food Stores.
Warren County
Conservation Board
515-961-6169
1565 ll8thAve, Indianola, IAS0125 FAX: 515-961-7100
Bald Eagle Watch - Sat- vited to ski on the trails at
urday, Jan, 23, leawng the .itl/re Center.
from the Annett Nature Reservations are required
Center (ANC) at 6 a.m. if you need skis. Call 515-
and returning around 8:30 961-6169 to register. The
p.m.: Join us as we trek to Warren County Conserva-
Dubuque for a day-long tion Board has cross coun-
event in celebration of the try skis for rent at ANC
Bald Eagle. Several pro- most weekends. Skis may
grams throughout the day also be rentedon Sundays
will feature the Bald Eagle from 1-4 p.rh Rental fees,
and other raptors. There paid in advance, for a com-
are activities for children, plete package are $10 per
A variety of exhibitors of- weekend plus a $10 de-
fer everything from nature posit.
books to nature photo- TheAnnettNatureCen-
graphs. Spotting scopes at ter is located five miles
Lock and Dam 11 provide south of Indianola. Travel
an opportunity to see Bald four miles south on Hwy
Eagles in their natural set- 65/69• ant I i'b14 for the
ring. We will couple this Annett Nature Center
event with a visit to the signs. From there, turn
National Mississippi River west on G-58 to Lake
Museum and Aquarium Ahcifiabi and then turn
for Ice Fest. See ice harvest- north on 118th Ave. The
ing demonstrations, ice ANC is on the east side of
sculpting demonstrations, the road..Fo re infor-
special indoor presenta, marion, contact theANC at
tions and outdoor games 515-961-6169.' S''
as well as the main mu-
seum and aquarium at- 1
tractions. Fee: $15 (admis' ira, rr"qE. 1"O"
sionto00e00ve u
and Aquarium not in-
cluded). Registration re-
quired. Call Missy at 515-
961-6169 ext. 25 to sign up.
Cross Country Skiing- The pound sign (#l is
Sunday, Jan, 24, 1-3 p.m. called anoctothorpe.
at ANC: This is a free - ',
workshop for beginning LIBRY HOURS
skiers who are ready to Monday- Thursday
explore the winter out- 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
doors. Cross country ski- Friday & Saturday
ing is an active stimulus
for both the mind and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
body and it is easy to learn. Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Participants will be in- Closed Sundays
structed indoors then in- (Memorial Day-I_alxrr I)ay)
