Page 7 - Clear Lake Mirror Reporter E-Edition 3-16-2016

Local NewsClear Lake Mirror-Reporter
THE SANDBOX
from page 1
scariest roller coaster ride using
KNEX, built a race car from an Erec-
tor set, characters from Legos, and
programmed objects to navigate maz-
es.
Para-educator Lisa Lacey thought
up some of the challenges for stu-
dents spending time in The Sandbox
and the ideas have continued to flow
through other staff members and even
the students themselves.
“It’s cool to hear kids talking
about what they’re doing in The Sand-
box and the fact that they want to
spend time in there challenging them-
selves,” said Hill. As the school year
comes to a close in May, “The Sandy
Awards” will be held to celebrate
Sandbox success stories, she said.
Last week Middle School students
had the chance to share the Sandbox
experience with special guests. Eight
students from the Iowa Educational
Services for the Blind and Visu-
ally Impaired were partnered with a
CLMS student to work on one of the
maker space Sandbox Challenges.
Hill, along with CLMS Principal
Steve Kwikkel, were making a pre-
sentation about The Sandbox at their
school at a tech conference in Cedar
Falls when the connection was made
with the Educational Services for
the Blind and Visually Impaired. Jay
Colsch, regional service coordinator
for the visitors, said he was impressed
by the Clear Lake students and their
ability to share their knowledge and
enthusiasm for the skills they have de-
veloped in the Sandbox.
Eighth graders Kelsie McKibben
and Amber Colunga introduced Jus-
tine Yang to Legos Friday morning.
The students helped her to sort, then
fit pieces together.
“I’m trying to build the tallest
tower— it’s harder than you think,”
said Yang, as her tower stretched past
the four-foot mark.
Logan Humpal, a freshman from
Calmar, displayed his auctioneering
skills as his partner, Alexis Stoychoff, chickens will supply the orphanage with eggs and meat.”
recorded his banter and on the other
side of the room 10-year-old Dylan
Carter was excited to give power to
a race car he dubbed “Lightning Mc-
Queen” with seventh graders Sydney
Williams and Paige Rolling.
“My favorite part is just seeing
our kids sharing the challenges— just
listening to the kids talk to our guests
is amazing,” Hill said. “It takes their
learning to another level.”
GONE COLD
from page 1
A Madrid man for whom Frank
Bell worked part-time as a household
appliance repairman quoted Bell as
saying his wife “had left town.”
“He asked me if I’d be interested
in buying a refrigerator,” the man said.
“He told me he had put his wife on
the train the night before, that she had rings. He identified all three as be-
left him and that he was selling their
household goods.”
The explanations for Mrs. Bell’s
disappearance weren’t adding up. Still,
Frank Bell put the couple’s Madrid
home up for sale.
The Body at the Dump
At about 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday,
May 31, Jane Comer, 18, and her
12-year-old brother, Jerry, of nearby
Moran were poking around at the
Madrid city dump in Dallas County
when they stumbled upon something
they never expected to see: skeletal
remains. Protruding from beneath a
piece of tin, the skeleton’s head and
shoulders lay partly hidden amongst
tin cans and other refuse.
They immediately notified Mar-
ion Johannsen, a Woodward police-
man, who summoned Dallas County
Sheriff John Wright of Adel. Sheriff
Wright, who saw the skeleton soon af-
ter it was discovered, said part of the
skull was missing but that it could not
be determined whether the skull had
March 16, 2016 • Page 7
Naming chickens LEKWA MARSH Lekwa Marsh History
from page 1 Lekwa Marsh is a small Wildlife
Second grade students at Clear Creek Elementary learned about chickens they helped to purchase with money raised in Management Area (WMA) on the
their December Service Project. Megan Watson (back), a mission leader, recently returned from a trip to Haiti where she The Hobie club is proposing tie south shore of Clear Lake. It was
used money raised by the students to purchase chickens. Each student got to name one of the chickens. Pictured with down access for four to five catama- purchased in four separate tracts
Watson are second grade students (L-R): Ava Downs, Delaney O’Hare, Preston DuClos, Josie Brady, Lily Biermann, rans at any location on the access. The from 1925 – 1965. Two of the small
Avery Puttmann, Natalia Soto, Chase Fletcher and Walker Williams. -Reporter photo group would not store trailers there, tracts are listed under the ownership
as in the past, and would pay a permit of State Parks, with management be-
Clear Creek second graders help fee, keep the area clean and safe, and ing the responsibility of the Wildlife
stay out of the way of other patrons. Bureau. The area is approximately
children in Haiti through chicken project “Fleet 10 is one of the original 48 acres in size with mixed woodland
Hobie fleets of several hundred across (13.8 acres), wetland (14.1 acres),
the nation and world,” Brewer’s letter and the remainder is uplands, shrubs,
continued. “In addition to sailing on and/or roadway.
Saturday and Sunday with the Clear is no longer using and an interpretive
Lake Yacht Club, we travel to ven- panel may eventually be placed at the
ues around the country representing site.
our club and Clear Lake.” The club Residents of the area suggested at-
has also hosted national and regional tention be given to making access in
events at Clear Lake, positively im- and out of the area as safe as possible
pacting the local economy, he added. with the heavy traffic South Shore re-
Rembe noted extended stay ceives. Rembe said although it is not
parking on state property has always in the immediate plans, a small dock
been prohibited, however it has not with a place to load and unload a kay-
been enforced at the site. With the ak was also a popular suggestion for
improvements, the DNR is looking the area.
to change that, however the Hobie
Fleet’s concerns were noted and will New Baby?
be reviewed, he said. Share the good news!
Work has already begun to re-
move some small willows from the Contact the Clear Lake
shoreline at the lake access and rip Mirror Reporter
rap will be used this spring to stabilize with your birth
the shoreline. Rembe said he is cur- announcement.
rently gathering bids for the rip rap 641-357-2131
and fill dirt needed. DNR staff will [email protected]
then spread grass seed. Weather per-
mitting, he is hopeful the area will be No charge for announcements. $10 charge for photo
an inviting spot for the public by mid-
Second grade students at Clear Creek Elementary re- laying eggs, the kids get to eat the chickens,” said Natalia summer. The Chamber of Commerce
cently got a special lesson in why it is good to give to those Soto, also a second grade student. has offered to donate a bicycle rack it
in need. In the process, they learned some informative “Every year the second grade kids inspire me, not just
facts about chickens. in how much they give, but how excited they are to give. Dr. Todd D. Hocraffer
In December, the students raised $947.60 during The joy they have in helping others should be inspiring to
their December Service Project, Quarters for Haiti. Megan all of us,” said Watson. “The eggs the chickens lay benefit Chiropractor
Watson, a mission team leader, went to Haiti in February 180 kids per day. It’s amazing how quarters from kids in 641.357.7189
and used the money to purchase chickens for an orphan- Clear Lake can make a huge difference in the lives of others
age in Les Cayes, Haiti. Friday she made a presentation in another country.”
to the second graders to explain how the money was spent
and how many chickens the group purchased. She also Iowa Teacher of the Year
taught the students some interesting facts about chickens nominations welcomed
and life in Haiti.
“The money purchased 60 chickens, which hatched Thousands of talented Iowa educators lead and in-
another 90 for a total of 150 chickens,” said Watson. “The spire their students, but only one is chosen annually as the
state’s top teacher. The deadline to nominate the 2017 Iowa
Part of the fun for the children was that they each Teacher of the Year is April 25.
got to name a chicken. The students were very creative in Nomination forms can be found on the Iowa De-
their name choices, with some of the favorites being, Clair, partment of Education’s website: www.educateiowa.gov/
Spikey, Desmond, Pecky, Christel, Jasmine, Bob, Thea, pk-12/award. The Teacher of the Year serves as an ambas-
Bolt, Jelly, Thunder and Jerry, to name a few, sador to education and as a liaison to primary and second-
“I’m glad we were able to help the orphanage to have ary schools, higher education and organizations across the
something other than rice to eat,” said Avery Puttmann, a state.
second grade student.
“The chickens lay eggs and then when they are done
been crushed by a blow. his wife’s whereabouts. He was bound son also concluded that the woman’s
While investigators found only over to district court on charges of body had been burned sometime after
shreds of clothing on the skeletal re- forgery and uttering a forged instru- death. No theories were offered as to
mains, three rings — including a ment, and returned to the Boone cause of death.
gold wedding band and two diamond County jail in lieu of a $5,000 bond Frank Bell remained in custody at
rings — remained on the fingers, and on each charge. the county jail.
burned articles of clothing were dis- Looking for further evidence, University officials released Mrs.
covered near the head. Beneath the the Bureau of Investigation tore up Bell’s body to her family on Thursday,
body lay a newspaper dated Feb. 26, the sewer at the Bell home and took July 28. Two days later on July 30 —
1966. from the house a variety of items and and with Frank Bell now free on bond
Frankie Bell, Jr., 23, of Ankeny, articles of clothing, which they sent in — Dallas County Medical Examiner
was asked to take a look at the three for analysis. Meanwhile, Frank Bell’s Keith Chapler said the cause, time
Madrid employer, who asked that his and place of Mrs. Bell’s death were
longing to his mother. name be withheld, said Bell had been not being listed on his death report
Frank Bell, Sr., Arrested an “excellent worker” and a “nice guy because, “The matter continues to be
Early Saturday morning, June 4, who was always willing to work and under investigation.”
1966, an Iowa Bureau of Criminal In- anxious to please.” Effie Bell’s family buried her re-
vestigation agent spotted Frank Bell’s X-Rays Tell Tale mains in Moline on Saturday, July 30.
car in Des Moines and followed it On Saturday, June 11, 1966, By August, Boone County Attor-
to the home of Bell’s son-in-law and Boone County Sheriff Camelin an- ney Stanley Simpson said death was
daughter, Mrs. Barbara Vest, In short nounced the skeletal remains had listed as a suspected homicide. Frank
order, Des Moines police, state high- been identified as those of Mrs. Ef- Bell’s trial for forgery and uttering a
way patrolmen, sheriff’s officers and fie Bell, 46, of Madrid. Camelin said forged instrument was scheduled for
state agents had the house surround- University of Iowa’s Dr. Helen Daw- September. He was never charged
ed. Bell was ordered to come out with son made the identification with the with his wife’s murder.
his hands up, to which he complied. assistance of other specialists, and that If you have any information con-
Bell was arrested on charges of a foot x-ray played a large role in the cerning Effie Bell’s unsolved murder
forgery and uttering a forged instru- identification. please contact the Iowa Division of
ment; by having signed his wife’s Mrs. Bell broke bones in her right Criminal Investigation at (515) 725-
name to her final paycheck and then foot a year before her death and had 6010.
cashing it, officers had the justifica- x-rays taken. A report by Dr. Daw-
tion needed to make the charges and
the arrest. Bell was taken to the Boone Commercial Lot For Sale
County jail, and later that morning
was arraigned. Bell admitted he had Location: Corner of 27th Ave. S. & S. 8th St.
taken and cashed his wife’s paycheck,
but refused to answer questions about
Lot size 145’ x 245’. Priced for quick sale.
Call 641-425-4323