TOP STORY

Kids "walk" to California

The third graders in Trisca Mick’s class have pledged to walk the length of the L.A. Marathon. When each student completes 26.2 miles, he or she will receive a medal from Lu Fink. The Jazzercise instructor has also bought storybooks about running for the class. Story inside.

by Connie Mattison

It’s a snowy, blustery Tuesday morning. It would be a good morning to sleep-in, but like clockwork, students begin arriving at Jacobson Elementary school, some as early as 7:15 a.m. Music blares from a boom box and a walking regimen begins.

Elementary PE instructor Kay Trampel’s students are walking their way across the country to California (via laps around the gymnasium) with one goal in mind.... Los Angeles. A map of the United States is pinned to the gym wall, showing the distance between Iowa and California. Each student keeps track of how many laps they walk and/or run with 19 laps equaling one mile.

Local News

School ponders outsourcing food and technology

Belmond-Klemme Superintendent Marshall Lewis told the school board Feb. 9 that he is looking at outsourcing some departments. He said that hiring private firms to oversee some departments is not feasible in several areas, but it is still under consideration for technology and food service.

County sets salvage yard rules

The rules for a proposed salvage yard on the north edge of Belmond were modified Monday by the Wright County Board of Supervisors.

You can adopt a magazine for the library

The Belmond Library Foundation is sponsoring an “Adopt-a-Magazine” project to help the library pay for magazine subscriptions for 2012. Individuals and community groups are needed to “adopt” a magazine by paying for a one-year subscription renewal. To show their support of this project, each foundation board member has agreed to “adopt” at least one subscription and the foundation will donate up to $1,000 for magazine subscriptions which are not chosen.

Read the entire Belmond Independent online

You can see the complete Belmond Independent for this week online. Just click on the E-EDITION link at the top of the page and follow the instructions to subscribe.

Lots of Belmond Photos and Videos

Check out these videos and slideshows taken all over Belmond. There's lots to do for a town of just 2,500 people!

History of small town newspapers -- a video

Check out this video that explains how newspapers used to be put together. Lots of old machinery! -- NEWSPAPER HISTORY VIDEO

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Sports

Boys go 10 and 10

The Bronco boys basketball team rushed out of the gate to a 16-8 lead in the first, but couldn’t keep it up as they fell to North Iowa 52-35 in conference play February 6.

Season ends for girls at district game

In their second matchup and final conference game of the season, the Bronco girls were overpowered by North Iowa in a 63-33 basketball loss February 6.

Wrestling season ends

The Belmond-Klemme wrestling team ended its season Saturday in a disappointing manner in the sectional tourney in Garner. Although B-K earned one third and one fourth place finish, no Bronco placed in the top two to advance to districts.

Sports photos

See lots of pictures of Belmond-Klemme sports action at our Dot Photo website. Click on the COLOR PHOTO box at the top of this page. You can look for free or buy any you like.

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Obituaries

EUNICE KURTZ

EVELYN ARNOLD

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Online Poll

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Features

Planning your new kitchen - renew or redo?

(ARA) - Upgrading the kitchen is on many homeowners' "to do" list. And for good reason. A minor kitchen remodel ranks fourth on the list of the top 10 home improvement projects that deliver return on investment, according to Remodeling magazine's 2010-11 Cost vs. Value Report.

Find the perfect snow thrower for you

(ARA) - With only a few weeks until the official start of winter, now is the perfect time to choose a snow thrower before the blizzards hit. With so many options on the market, which one is right for you?

Save money with these energy efficiency tips

(ARA) - Saving money is on everyone's mind this winter season. Between the holiday expenses, colder temperatures and tight budgets, finding ways to reduce costs can be a bit of a challenge. If you're looking for ways to save, look at your home, and see if you can improve on your energy efficiency - thereby keeping a few extra dollars in your pocket.

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