June Yard of the Month

Russell News

Around Town 

     Thursday, July 4th,  the city will have regular garbage pickup  even though it is  a holiday.  Our condolences go out to the Russ and Joann Harris family for the death of their son-in-law in a freak accident in Minnesota. Services will be held this week. 

      For the 4th of July celebration, the flags will be placed on the Avenue of Flags at the Russell Cemetery on July 2 and removed on July 5th. They are a sight to behold. 

Museum/Library News

   New officers elected for the coming year are president,-Wanda Liddell; vice president-Terry Elmore; secretary-Duane Bedford; treasurer-Jacque Chester.

     The Museum Board wishes to thank all donations that helped match the Grant for our cement work. Whether monetary or labor, it is very much appreciated.  There is still help needed to finish the landscaping.

Special recognition goes to Harry Reed and Ed Sellers for their extreme efforts on those hot days. 

      Also, the blue Russell Alumni books are now available for sale at the Museum, along with the DVD's. 

     For your convenience, for June only, the Museum/Library will be open from 1-5 Monday through Friday and 10-2 p.m. on Saturday. 

June Calendar

       Children's Story Time continues at the Museum/Library, Friday at 1:00 p.m. for children ages 4-8. 
       Sunday, July 14th at 10:45 a.m. First Baptist is having a Vacation Bible School kick-off at the band stand. A couple of puppet skits  will  be introducing Spy Guy/Girl, a character that has skits each day of VBS. They will  have a picnic afterwards for anyone who wants to come. All food is provided for that. VBS will be that week, the 15th-19th, from 6-8:15 p.m. for ages 4-5th grade (completed). The closing program will be on Sunday the 21st at 10:45 a.m. The theme is "Investigation Destination," and it's all about secret agents finding and following clues. Everyone is invited. 

For Russell news updates try the Russell Historical Society Blog at:
http://www.russelliowahistoricalsociety.blogspot.com
For Lucas County information try their blog at:
http://lucascountygenealogy.blogspot.com
If you have comments or suggestions for this column, e-mail 
myoak10@gmail.com or call 641-535-2402
The Russell Museum's email - rihs106@yahoo.com

Visit from Our Iowa Magazine Editor

On Tuesday, June 18, the Our Iowa magazine editor Jerry Wiebel and his wife, Paula toured the Russell Museum, along with other attractions in Lucas County, to get ideas to feature in an upcoming article in their magazine.

It seems the magazine is going to feature different attractions from throughout Lucas County in a future issue.  Linda Baynes and Lyle Asell were giving them a quick tour through Lucas County.

The magazine was founded by Roy Reiman, publisher of such magazines as Taste of Home, Farm Wife News and other magazines.  Our Iowa is one of Iowa's most popular publications.  Reiman created Reiman Gardens, now one of the largest public gardens in Iowa.   Reiman Gardens creates a striking entrance to Iowa State University and the city of Ames.

Russell Library's Summer Reading Program

The Russell Library will begin their Summer reading Program on Friday, the 7th of June at 1:00 p.m. Last day will be August 9th.  Our thanks go out to Joan and Craig Gooder for providing this enjoyable time for the children.  Last years session was very well received and the children really enjoyed the stories.  See what the Gooder's have planned for this summer.  See you there.

Benefit Poker Run for Amanda and Aaron Russell

Amanda and Aaron Russell are the daughter and son-in-law of Chris and Brenda Knust of Russell, IA.  Amanda and Aaron have lost everything in a house fire in May.  

Please come and enjoy a fun ride for a great cause.  The ride will be starting at the Southside Bar & Grill in Russell and ending at Harley Haven Sports Bar in Russell.  There will be food, an auction and the DJ will be starting at 8:00 p.m.  All proceeds will be going to Amanda and Aaron.

1st place is $100 donated by Harley Haven; 2nd place is $50 donated by The Landing; and the Worst Hand is $25 donated by Southside.  The entry fee is $10 per card and 100% of the benefit will go to Amanda and Aaron.  All of the proceeds from the auction items that are donated by local businesses and individuals will also go to the family.  Thanks to all for your help and support

Sign in starts at 12:00 p.m. at the Southside and the ride will leave at 1:00 p.m.  The route will be to The Landing, Dawgs, Red Barn, Whistle Stop and the last card will be at Harley Haven at 7:00 p.m. with the auction to follow shortly after.

Thank you in advance for attending and supporting our friends and family of Russell.

Russell City Council Meeting June 10th

Council members present were Ed Scheel, Mayor; Duane Bedford, Jeremy Blue, Jay Pierschbacher and Wayne Riggs, Councilmen.
Also attending were:  Wendy Nickell, City Clerk; City employee, Larry Mitchell; Visitors: Craig Gooder, Larry Templeton, Steve Pollard and Joe White.

Approval was given to close part of Short Street for an event at Harley Haven June 22.  Harley Haven will be having another event July 19 and that approval is yet to be granted.

A resident needs a culvert replaced in his driveway.  Resident has to purchase the culvert and the city will put it in.

Steve Pollard requests the water be turned on at 409 S. Prairie.  City employee Larry Mitchell will install a meter at the site.

Joe White requested an explanation about the open area behind his home.  The Mayor explained that the area behind his home is not an alley and never has been.

Larry Mitchell continues to work on repairs to the streets.

Repair needs to be done to a tube in the alley and adjoining properties to the north on the corner of Ames and Main.

Larry will check on prices for two tires for the dump truck.

The next meeting will be on Monday July 1 at 7 p.m.

Reminder:  The Trojan Campground at the old football field is now open for your use.  Self-explanatory directions are available at the entrance.

Historical Society Property Improvements

The Russell Historical Society is again making efforts to improve the looks of the community.  Have you noticed the improvements being done to the sidewalk area of the Museum at the corner of Prairie and Shaw Streets?  They started digging out and removing the old sidewalks and the driveway and hauling the cement chunks away on Sunday June 2nd.  The rain has been giving them some trouble, but they have gradually begun to get the forms placed.  They will continue to adjust them and do some more excavation to get it up to grade.  There will be a walkway leading up to a 7 x 10 area at the corner of the building by the Memorial Board for the picnic table, a  large driveway approach to the garage door, along with handicapped accessibility at the street corner and to the building.  Plus new sidewalks in front of the museum and around the corner.  With the addition of new sidewalks at Beaty Insurance and the Museum's new sidewalks, the corner of Prairie and Shaw will look really nice.

Trojan Campground

The Trojan Campground at the old football field is now open for your use.  The Firemen camped there this past weekend.  Self-explanatory directions are available at the entrance.

Russell Alumni Reunion Report

On behalf of the 2013 Russell High School Alumni Reunion Committee, we would like to thank everyone that attended and helped with the Reunion on May 25th.  We were completely pleased with the great turnout of people that braved the chilly weather.  As always, it's great to see former classmates and teachers.  We are so fortunate to live in a community where we know almost everyone.  We look forward to keeping the Russell Alumni reunion going strong and we are certain that the 2018 Alumni committee will do an amazing job of coordinating the next reunion.  It's been a pleasure putting together this event and we will cherish the whole experience forever.  

The Russell Historical Society Museum/Library reported it was thrilled to see 115 Alumni and friends   They viewed all the displays, renewed old friendships and made more memories.  They were served cookies and beverages provided by the Alumni Committee.  The museum volunteers are looking forward to hearing the happy chatter at the next reunion.

Sincerely, the 2013 Alumni Committee - Donise Atwell Altenhofen, chairman; Kelli Miller Spencer, vice chairman; Felicia Brown Beaty, treasurer and Nikki Slack Hermann, Secretary.

Officers for the next reunion are Brian Moore, chairman; Charlie Relph, vice chairman; Jennifer Woods, secretary; Ashley Bedford, treasurer.