Chris Umscheid

NORTH LIBERTY– The North Liberty Fire Department (NLFD) has been grappling with how best to meet the challenges of a constantly growing community, while also facing recruiting and retention issues coupled with an increased demand for services, for several years. Chief Brian Platz presented a five-year strategic plan for the department to the North Liberty City Council on Tuesday, Dec. 11, outlining how the predominantly volunteer department is addressing the challenges it faces, and is changing to meet the projected demands of the future.

Study and recommendations

OXFORD– The School Board of Directors for the Clear Creek Amana (CCA) Community School District approved a significant change to the preschool program for the 2019-2020 academic year. Currently the district offers a full-day program with state grant money paying for the morning session (aka “Voluntary”) and families paying tuition for the afternoon (aka “Enterprise”). However, CCA has been accumulating a surplus balance on the state-funded portion while routinely running a deficit on the private pay.

NORTH LIBERTY— A Christmas tradition continued in North Liberty as Santa Claus appeared at the Recreation Center on Saturday, Dec. 8, for the annual Breakfast with Santa event. Between 250 and 300 kids spent a ltime with the Jolly Old Elf discussing their hopes and dreams for Christmas presents, as well as their behavior over the past year.
The event has grown over the years, since starting in 2006, said Recreation Supervisor Matt Meseck.

TIFFIN– Even with the onset of winter, work continues on the Clear Creek Amana (CCA) Community School District’s Oak Hill Elementary in Tiffin. The school, scheduled to open in August 2019, will house fourth- and fifth-grade students from Tiffin Elementary and North Bend Elementary in North Liberty. Amana Elementary and Clear Creek Elementary (CCE) in Oxford will continue to house their own fourth- and fifth-graders.

NORTH LIBERTY – Parker Brothers introduced a murder mystery board game named “Clue” to the United States in the late 1940s. Players chose a character, a weapon, and drew cards to deduce the murderer, the weapon used, and which room in a mansion the murder occurred in to win the game.
In 1985, the game was turned into a movie with a screenplay penned by Jonathan Lynn. Ten years later a musical version was created, which was revised and returned to Broadway this year. Lynn modified his theatrical (non-musical) script for the stage in 2016.