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2020 – A Year in Review: Looking back at the top stories of September & October Friday, January 8, 2020 | 14 pages | Volume 5 • Issue 14 www.pencitycurrent.com OCT. 11, 2020: Area loses Zephan Abel after weeks-long cardiac battle LOOKING BACK ON 2020 23,981- views, 5,299 engagements City sees Gone losses at many levels Editor’s Note: See ya 2020. too There was little to smile about in 2020 and the loss of our beautiful Kelsey made this past year at times insurmountable, unbear- able, and improbable - often all at the same time. But pressing on we managed to continue soonBY PCC STAFF to provide local coverage of the events that matter most to you. Zephan Abel, a 16-year-old from Fort Mad- From crime, politics and ison, died on Oct. 11 after complicatios from business, to sports, obitu- a pulmonary condition and procedure. Abel aries, and yes, health, we was an avid performer with an infectious smile put together 224 E-editions, and personality. He was a Central Lee student while maintaining 24/7 web- heavily involved with Old Fort Players, Eliott site traffic and social media VANDENBERG Test Kitchen, Illiniwek Archeology and Great channels. River Players. He served on the Youth Advi- Each year as we start the new year we look sory Council at U of I Stead Family Children’s back at the news and events that shaped the Hospital. lives of those in north Lee County. He made better the lives the thousands he The coronavirus will carry a heavy pres- touched. Zephan William Abel - Feb. 3, 2004 to Oct. 11, 2020 ence editorially this year. With daily reports on 14-day positivity rates, and the actions TOP STORY - 31,783- views, 5,969 engagements taken at all levels of government to help the public stay clear of the virus that is being connected to almost 4,000 deaths in Iowa Siemens-Gamesa lays off 130 at FM facility alone in 2020 took up a lot of column inches BY CHUCK VANDENBERG “On September 14, Siemens Gamesa rent. this year. PCC EDITOR notified employees at its Iowa wind “We appreciate the professionalism We’ve lost loved ones, watched others turbine blade manufacturing facility and dedication of our valued employ- suffer from afar, and heard the heroic tales FORT MADISON – Siemens-Game- that we are reducing the workforce by ees, and we will assist them during this of the front line health care professionals. sa officials confirmed Monday morning approximately 130. We do not take this time of transition.” We’ve written about schools scrambling to that approximately 130 employees have decision lightly, but we must adapt to Lee County Economic Development serve the interests of not just students and been laid off. the demands of the market and meet President Dennis Fraise said, even the staff, but families across Lee County. A spokesperson for the company our customers’ needs in an ever-chang- light of the announced closing of Bag- And we’ve seen the gaping holes the virus confirmed the announcement and said ing environment,” the spokesperson craft next month, there are still plenty has uncovered in our ability to stay connect- the decision didn’t come lightly. said in an email to the Pen City Cur- of good paying jobs in Lee County. ed in and between our rural communities. The criteria for selecting the stories is SEPT. 3, 2020 - 19,444- views, 4,382 engagements based on Google analytics and social media traction on a month-to-month basis. We Lee County Board of Health gives nod to public mask mandate will combine two months per issue for the next six issues. PCC STAFF a mandate. Current news will continue to be posted LEE COUNTY – The Lee County Board of Health voted Thurs- Lee County Health Department Administrator Michele Ross day morning to create a regulation requiring masks be worn in said she recommended issuing a position statement that all county on our website and social media channels. public by all county residents. residents be “requested” to wear masks while out in public. LCHD We hope you enjoy looking back on the The move was approved unanimously after a lengthy discussion issued a similar position statement advising against any large scale year with us as we usher in a new year with among board members, and Lee County Attorney Ross Braden at events back in August. a glance to regressing coronavirus and the the board’s regular meeting. “My opinion is that if we start with a position statement and peace that should follow along. Braden told he board he wasn’t advocating for any position on release it from the Board of Health, then we don’t have to do the We thank you for your patronage and the masks, but was there to help answer legal questions regarding (legal requirements),” Ross said. wish you a wonderful new year. INDEX WEATHER OpenWeatherMap SUBSCRIBE FRI 08 Jan ................................................................. Overcast, 30º F/ 24º F 2020 - A YEAR IN REVIEW ......Ps.1-14 Great River Regional Waste Authority ....P.3 Pothitakis Dentistry ..................................P.5 Scan the code to subscribe today Business Directory.....................................P.9 Griffin Muffler & Brake Center............... P.12 Rashid Pharmacy & Wellness ................. P.12 SAT 09 Jan ................................................................... Overcast, 27º F/ 21º F CLASSIFIEDS ...............................Ps.8-9 Holy Trinity Catholic Schools ...................P.4 Shug’s Tiny Town ........................................P.5 SUN 10 Jan .........................................................Broken Clouds, 27º F/ 18º F Paid & Free Options Available! Complete Rental ..................................Ps.2,7 IN REMEMBRANCE ...................Ps.2-3 Sonny’s Super Market ...............................P.8 Farm Bureau Financial Services – LCK Roofing ............................................P.10 Test Kitchen Education Foundation ....... P.13 Tammy Reynolds......................................P.10 Lee County Health Department ..........Ps.2,6 Tri-State Outdoor Products ....................P.10 IOWA LOTTERY Fort Colony Family Restaurant ..............P.10 Menke & Company ................................. P.13 Welch’s Insurance ................................... P.4= LOTTO AMERICA 01/06 ...................4 8 17 25 44, Star Ball: 6, All Star Bonus: 2 Fort Madison Community Hospital..........P.7 Pen City Current ................................Ps.4,14 PICK 3 01/06 MIDDAY .....................................................................................4 3 9 Fullenkamp Insurance ............................. P.13 Pilot Grove Savings Bank ......................... P.11 PICK 3 01/06 EVENING ...................................................................................7 4 6 PICK 4 01/06 MIDDAY ..................................................................................9 3 3 2 PICK 4 01/06 EVENING ...............................................................................8 2 8 2 POWERBALL 01/06 ...........................1 20 22 60 66, Powerball: 3, Power Play: 3 2 - Pen City Current - Friday, January 8, 2021 2020 – A Year in Review: September & October WeZephan William Remember Abel Devyn Michael Broeker OurRuby Rose (Cron) Loved Smith Eugene StaceOnes Fraise Carol Lost Ann Hasenclever in 2020Sandra Kay Janssen Lyle E. Acker James William “Buzz” Vida Suzanne Curtis Chase William Frank Hazel L. Hawes Kathryne R. “Kay” Jeffries William M. “Bill” Adams Brooks, Jr. Barbara A. Custer Kevin W. Fuget Garnet M. Hayes James E. Jenkins Mary L. Amann Sharon L. Brotherton Edna Jean Daggs Ann Fullenkamp William Henry Hayes Dale Wayne Johnson Tawnya K. Ammer Joy Lee Brown John Charles Paul Judy Ann Fullenkamp Joan D. Hays Marc Raymond Johnson Reva Marlene Anderson Ramon D. Brown Daugherty Bendlage Patricia Heidbreder Dolores Ann Jones David A. Andrews Carmella Lucy Mary Alice Davis Milton C. Garrison Thomas R. Helling Robert “Bob” Jack Jones Ronald David “Dave” Brunnelson Peggy F. Davis Douglas Gates John Joseph Helwig Wade P. Jones Andrews, Jr. Shirley Maxine (Bryant) Alma Cora Dawson Carol “Eileen” Gaylord Christopher R. Hemphill Nola J. Joy Carmen Arnold Batley Gary L. Dawson Dolores H. Genck Betty Kathryn (Herzog) Elizabeth “Betty” Kaiser Opal Jean “Nick” Arnold William “Billy” Buckner Patricia Beth Decker Finley Stephen Ray Genck Thompson Maurice Fred “Junior” Delene Rae Atterberg Matthew Warren Burford Michael J. DeHaven Theresa Giannaris Dennis A. “Butch” Heth Kaltefleiter, Jr. Danny C Bailey Ronnie Lee Butler Cheryl Lynn Denning Noreen Ruth Gilbert Rita Jeanne (Hierstein) Hull Jerry J. Kamp Mary “Lucille” Bailey Julia Louise Byrne Earl Edward DePew, Jr. Jerry Lee Gillespie, Jr. Robert Martin Higby Patrick J. Kamp Nancy Mae Baker George William “Bill” Marianna Derr Thomas Edison Daril Dewayne Hill Robert Lewis Kaufman Verlin Morris Baker Cackley Betty Jo Dial Gilman, Jr. Theresa Ann Hillgartner Jack L. “Pappason” Kay Richard W. Baldwin Kevin Greg “Pops” Ray Thomas “Tom” Laura M. Glidewell Frances Marie Hilpert Geraldine Mable Kayser Wayne E. Ball Cahoon Dickson, II Jeanne Juanita Ronald C. Hines, Sr. Davis Richard Lee Ballew Mary Louise Calfee Doris Ditto Golembiewski Delmar John Hirschler Sister Patricia Keating Warren “Barney” Barnum Margaret Jean Campbell Edward L. Dodds Esther Elizabeth Gray Dorothy K. Hoffman Kenneth James “Jim” Kersten Rodney J. Bartholomew Mary Marjorie Campbell Elizabeth Jane Dodge Daniel Thomas Green Jennifer L. Holliday Gertrude Julia Ketcham Jack Richford Bartlett (Peterson) James L. Doore Victoria Marie Green Francis E. Holmes Anna Ruth King Rosanna Bartlett Ronald