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Villisca is a community people with diverse backgrounds and interests call home. It is a safe community with an outstanding school system and a quality of life envied by urban dwellers. Its geographic positioning makes it a perfect homebase for two-income earner households. It can well be said that it is a community of individualists and that is one of the endearing qualities that makes living in Villisca forever an adventure. |
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This
Scrolling Marquee on the Villisca Middle/High School Campus is a
gift from the Villisca Alumni and Friends Association - aka VAFA |
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has a different motive - one of just saying thank you to the many people
who, if they did not volunteer their time and talents, Villisca would
not be the community it is. The hesitation in listing those who volunteer
is that someone will be overlooked. But we should not let such a fear
keep us from giving a heartfelt thank you to all those who make Villisca
such a wonderful place to live. I was in Florida the Christmas Eve our
church burned. My mother gave me the news when we called home Christmas
day. Volunteer firemen had given up their Christmas Eve celebrations that
year to put out the fire. It affected not only the volunteers but their
families. Others volunteered in the days to come to see to it that we
had a place to worship and in making it possible for a new church building
to be constructed. ~~ Roxanna Sieber, Webmaster
This time of year
also causes us to remember those who make life a little bit better -
those who volunteer for the We Care program, those who make the life
merry at Good Sam. The other day I saw "Santa" driving down
our street in his red pick-up. I had to wonder whose life he was touching
that day. There are those who give all year long - the hairdressers
at Good Sam, the Kids and Kinship board and their mentor volunteers,
the 4-H leaders, …. the list is long! Here is an attempt at recognizing
those who serve, often sacrificially. There are those who make a difference for our schools and our students: the School Board, 4-H Leaders, Bluejay Adult Athletic Booster Club, Cub/Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Education Foundation Board Members, FFA Alumni, National Honor Society, Student Council, Villisca Alumni and Friends Association Board, Villisca Music Boosters, Y-Teens and teachers and school staff who go the extra mile. There are the EMTs and Firemen; the Food Pantry Volunteers. There are the many who volunteer at Good Samaritan including the Nursing Home Board, the Good Sam Hairdressers, the Before-and-After School children who spend time with the Good Sam residents, those volunteers who take the cart around with treats and books and those who make the special events happen like the Good Sam Family Christmas party. There are the Heritage Days' Volunteers, Interchurch Council Board Members, the Lawn and Garden Committee, Lions Club, those who deliver Meals on Wheels, Relay for Life volunteers, Bloodmobile volunteers, those who manage the SHARE Program. There are the businesses which allow their employees to make contribution to community life during business hours. There are the Villisca Chamber of Commerce members who do the Easter Egg Hunt, the Fireworks, and Heritage Days. And there are the members of the Villisca Country Club Board, the Villisca Historical Society Board, and the Villisca Theatre Board. And, of course, there are all those who serve through our churches and those who contribute financially to local organizations and at the many fundraisers. And then there are all those who volunteer for school and community events.
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At
the 2006 Veterans Day Program, readers from the VHS Government Class
told a story of patriotism in Villisca. The readers were: in the front
row Lori McAlpin and Jackie Herzberg; in the second row Austin Cooper,
Trever Shipley and Jake Gillespie; and in the back row Clark Dolch and
Michael Dolch. Below is the story, written by Melissa Feilmeier, they told: |
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Initially, I, like many outsiders, believed the only history that existed in Villisca revolved around the notorious 1912 ax murders. Complete a Google search of Villisca, and “ax murders” becomes synonymous with the town. The murder has amplified the status and recognition of what could easily be passed off as a dot on a map, another typical rural small town in Iowa, where a Casey’s General Store lines the highway, townspeople wave to friends and strangers alike and embedded into the towns memory is the 1980s economy which destroyed a once prospering town leaving an aftermath of vacant buildings and barren lots. Quaintly placed In the midst of the town square lies a memorial. Names are etched into brick, unveiling an ordinary community member as an extraordinary hero. The perception to some is that “it’s just a name”, but this one name is a piece of a puzzle that unveils a magnificent history of military service. |
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Insignia of rank and memories of war resurrect tales of courage and bravery that we have neglected teaching to younger generations. Tales of heroism have been buried with these brave soldiers and with the loss of the uniform is the loss of the soldier who transforms into a humbled veteran and continues about their daily routine as if their contribution were insignificant, as if they didn’t help materialize a vision of freedom into a reality for all of us to enjoy. |
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Military service in Villisca is one of the most valued and oldest traditions, stemming back to the Indian Wars. The contributions of our veterans service has not gone unrecognized. |
| From the Pulitzer Prize winning photo of Robert Moore’s return home to Villisca, books are published about witty escapes from the enemy and on the unfortunate capture of some of our veterans. Villisca had some of their very own being held captive by the German Army: Frederick Bryson, Glenn Fengel, Harold King, Robert King and Bill Day. Optimism and simplicity are the sentiments expressed by Bill in his journal he kept while he was a POW. | |
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"I was one of forty-three captured the morning of February 16. The Germans that captured us were dug in around a building, three machine guns and mortar fired on us at various times, running us down and wounding two of our own. We were in two camps in Tunisia. The first was an old French army camp. This camp was fairly comfortable, after sleeping on the ground a spell. We had a quarter of a loaf of bread and coffee for breakfast. A piece of candy and 2 cigarettes were issued. For dinner and supper it was soup." |
| "We arrived in Naples on Sunday and rejoined Fengel, Borden, Baker and about 40 more of the old gang. On Tuesday April 20th, the Vatican sent presents for all POW’s. Had hopes of getting to write home soon. We are in dire need of clothing and shoes." | |
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"Rumors of war have been going favorable to the Allies in heavy fighting in Tunisia. May 14, the news had it that the African campaign was over and 300,000 Germans and Italians as prisoners." |
| "June 6, 1944, In the afternoon, while the orchestra was practicing in the theatre, an officer of the German camp staff announced that France had been invaded at 12:05 that morning. Later German under-officers mentioned it in the barracks. The men were skeptical, but later events were to bear out the facts." | |
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"November 11, 1944. Bugler blew taps today in observance of Armistice Day. No other ceremonies. No Red Cross food parcels." |
| Liberation of our soldiers was met with relief, however, there were still areas occupied in enemy territory, which needed the attention of the United States and their allies. The 42nd Rainbow Infantry Division entered into Dachau, a German concentration camp outside the city of Munich. Upon the gate a phrase captured the attention of soldiers, “Arbeit Macht Frei”, work makes you free. One of the first soldiers to enter this death camp was Walter Hyink, a former Villisca businessman. | |
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After the entrance of the 42nd Rainbow Division a news report captured the vulgar scene troops encountered: |
| "When infantrymen of the 42nd Division fought their way into Dachau against fanatical SS troops who met deserved violent deaths along the moats, behind the high fences and in the rail yards littered with the bodies of fifty carloads of their starved victims, those hardened soldiers expected to see a horrible sight. But no human imagination fed with the most fantastic of the tales that have looked from the earliest and most notorious of all Nazi concentration camps, could have been prepared for what they did see there." | |
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The emancipation of Dachau and other death camps in the European and Pacific fronts left tormented chains on the memories of our soldiers. When they returned, they did not glorify nor dignify the atrocities of war. Rather, they are weighed down with the memories of war. What they saw, heard and the unknown. |
| Another unknown came to an end on October 4, 2002, which brought some solace to a community that mourned a veteran who was presumed missing in action until the unveiling of a plane and the remains of 2 US soldiers were discovered in Laos. One was Scott Dotson, the other was Lee Gourley from Villisca. | |
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Lee Gourley was the Villisca High School valedictorian for the class of 1962. By November of 1968, Lee Gourley was in Vietnam with the 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing in the Republic of South Vietnam. August 9, 1969, Lee was serving as Misty Forward Air Controller over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos where contact was lost with his F-100F aircraft. |
| His status moved from MIA to KIA, a harsh reality for Lee’s loved ones to face. | |
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Questions plague family members: |
| What do we do with the information that he had been taken a prisoner of war? | |
| What do you do when you spent so many years chasing what is now only a dream? | |
| And practical considerations like, what dates do you put on the tombstone? | |
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He deserved to come home from that war and we all deserved to have him come home, but God’s plan was far different. |
| Vietnam not only tormented Villisca with the loss of a great man, but our soldiers were left with a hangover of nightmares of war and of course, some were condemned with the most toxic of all memories, Agent Orange. Vietnam has been dismissed as a “conflict”, but a conflict does not claim nearly 58,000 lives and conflict does not scar a nation with remnants of shameless protests towards our soldiers and conflict does not disintegrate nationalistic pride. | |
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After Vietnam, the United States was skeptical of war, maintaining an isolationist approach and utilizing the United Nations as a source of diplomacy. Once again, the United States was a sleeping giant until early one morning in September of 2001. On September 11th, 2001, the gap between generations narrowed as we empathized with the terror and horror our nation must have felt on December 7, 1941. War was something my generation wasn’t supposed to know. Although a shadow of the past covered our eyes and veiled us from the horrors of past conflicts, it was inevitable. |
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"When I arrived in Villisca in August of 2003, the trees wore yellow ribbons sending a message to our troops we were behind them and we would hope and pray for a safe return. I felt secure knowing I wasn’t alone and one of the first people I met was a woman whose son was overseas in Afghanistan. Chris Casey’s valor upon hearing the call to duty and service was passed off as if it were a simplistic task that any American would do." |
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"I recently spent a year in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Afghanistan is a country that has known nothing but fighting, bloodshed and fear for at least the past 20 years. Stories were told of being beaten by members of the Taliban because the length of their hair or for being clean-shaven. They were then loaded into a truck and taken downtown where the beatings continued and then their heads were shaved before they were allowed to leave. The people of Afghanistan have a new hope, that they will one day have the freedoms the American people have. This was all due to the efforts of the American Veterans and their will to fight terrorism and inspire freedom in a country that has never been free." |
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After the return of our soldiers from the Red Oak and Corning units trees were gradually stripped of the yellow ribbons causing me to feel relief for the return of their loved ones and disappointment because there are still many soldiers fighting overseas who need our support on a daily basis. |
| We must prevent these veterans from becoming nameless faces and faceless names on a brick. | |
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There is nothing dishonorable about the Villisca community. It has been tainted with myth and fallacy of ghosts, but the ghosts are the forgotten veterans whom we celebrate their service and commitment to freedom only once a year. It shouldn’t take a national holiday to thank a veteran. |
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 The
Villisca Swimming Pool continues to be a favorite gathering place in
the summer months. For those who have fond memories of time at the pool
and would like to help preserve this for future young Villiscans, tax-deductible
contributions may be made to the pool fund by sending them to Villisca
City Hall, 315 South 3rd Avenue, Villisca, IA. Approximately $28,000
has been raised to make necessary changes to the pool. $135,000 is needed
to put in stainless steel guttering and plumbing. Additional funds would
be needed to provide some of the items for the kids, such as a new slide,
diving board, lifeguard chairs, concrete work. |
Here kids from the 7th grade Ag class help unload the first shipment of equipment for the new play area in the park on the square in Villisca. The money for the equipment is being been raised by V-Town Park Boosters - Villiscans who look forward to continuing to enhance Villisca's quality of living for young families. Funds are still needed to complete the project. The total cost is $31,000 and about $18,500 has been raised. Tax-deductible contributions may be mailed to Villisca City Hall, 318 S. Third Avenue, Villisca, IA 50864 |
 Memories
continue to be made in Villisca - just simple memories - swimming at the
pool, spending time in the city park, participating in school activities,
Heritage Days. The quality of living in Villisca continues but at a cost.
Besides the pool and playground equipment projects, soon another fundraiser
will be in place to raise funds for a quad area at the High School; a
new track is needed; funds continue to be raised for the before-after
school program. Villisca has a wonderful history of raising funds to meet
the needs of the community - the community center, the Christmas decorations,
the wonderful hanging baskets and other garden enhancements around town,
the physician's center, Good Sam. The local churches continue to need
contributions so they can meet the spiritual needs of those in the community.
For those who have enjoyed the benefits of growing up in Villisca, we
invite you to contribute to the projects of your choice. pictured to the
left is the city square at night with the new lights. |
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For those who
have enjoyed the benefits of growing up in Villisca, Listed below are some of the fundraising efforts going on in Villisca Contributions can be sent to those noted or can be sent to the Villisca Education Foundation, c/o Carol Greenfield, 120 North 5th Avenue, Villisca, IA 50864. The Foundation is a 501c3 so contributions are tax deductible. When sending money to the Foundation, please include what the money is for. |
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Bring
back the Victory Bell and move forward with a new Courtyard Villisca Swimming Pool Fund - This fundraiser is to raise funds for renovation of the Villisca Swimming Pool, a mainstay for summer recreation for Villisca residents. For those who have fond memories of time at the pool and would like to help preserve this for future young Villiscans, tax-deductible contributions may be made to the pool fund by sending them to Villisca City Hall, 315 South 3rd Avenue, Villisca, IA. $135,000 is needed to put in stainless steel guttering and plumbing. Additional funds would be needed to provide some of the items for the kids, such as a new slide, diving board, lifeguard chairs, concrete work. Villisca City
Park Playground Equipment - The money for the equipment is being
been raised by V-Town Park Boosters - Villiscans who look forward to
continuing to enhance Villisca's quality of living for young families.
Funds are still needed to complete the project. The total cost is $31,000.
Tax-deductible contributions may be mailed to Villisca City Hall, 318
S. Third Avenue, Villisca, IA 50864. Hanging Baskets
and Harris Harmony Trail 4th of July Fireworks
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Villisca Alumni
and Friends Association At this time, the legal work to incorporate the organization, to set out the by-laws and to apply for tax-exempt status is being done with the help of Bob Mullen, Class of '67. The board is being put together with the leadership of Jim Robinson, Class of '67. Each decade will have two representatives. Through the VAFA, there will be a number of ways to participate in preserving the past and building the future of Villisca. Once the board is formed, it will begin to develop initiatives to match the mission and vision of the organization which many of you will choose to participate in. As with any organization there will be organizational costs involved. Contributions may be sent to the Villisca Alumni and Friends Association, c/o Jim Robinson, 114 North 3rd Avenue, Villisca, IA 50864 For more information on the Villisca Alumni and Friends Association contact Jim Robinson, 114 North Third Ave., Villisca, 50864 or send inquiries to VAFA, P.O. Box 45, Villisca, IA 50864; or e-mail alumni@villisca.com Villisca Historical
Society Library Volunteer
Firefighters and EMTs Churches Interchurch Council Sunday Dinner
Fundraisers Some fundraisers
don't call for cash contributions. If you shop online, if you start your shopping at Boxtops4Education.com or iGive.com, the participating retailers will donate a percentage of your purchase to the charity of your choice. There are over 200 stores in the Boxtops Marketplace and over 600 at iGive.com including stores many people shop at everyday. The only thing you have to do to get the donations to your charity is to start your shopping trip at the Boxtops or iGive Websites. |
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There was $100,000 but $20,000 has been matched. If this money is not used by December 31, 2006, it is lost. This is money that can go into the Montgomery County Endowment Fund to match funds that are contributed either to the MCEF general fund or that are used to establish an endowment fund for a specific purpose such as establishing a scholarship or to meet the goal of supporting a specific cause on an ongoing basis such as maintaining the Armory or the swimming pool, supporting the library, the walking trail, EMTs, Volunteer Firefighters, churches or supporting community sports programs or the performing arts at the Rialto - the list can go on. In addition to the opportunity to have your donation matched, Iowans also have the opportunity to take a 20% tax credit against taxes imposed in Iowa. The Endow Iowa bill offers Iowa taxpayers the opportunity to apply (on a first-come, first-served basis) for a possible 20% tax credit against taxes imposed in Iowa in addition to the normal charitable tax deductions for certain charitable gifts. The bill authorizes a total of $2 million in Iowa tax credits in each of four years, beginning in 2005. Eligible gifts must be made to a permanent endowed fund at a qualified community foundation for the benefit of charitable Iowa causes. An endowment is where funds are received from a donor with the restriction that the principal is not expendable. The income from the investment of the funds is disbursed to support the cause or causes as directed when the fund is established. Because the principal - that is, the amount used to establish the endowment fund - is never used, the gift provides funds on an ongoing basis. The money that goes into the MCEF general fund is used to fund grants for the benefit of non-profit organizations (501(c)3s) or governmental bodies. The MCEF was established to help donors, among other things, to contribute to the betterment of their community by creating their own family foundation, an endowed named fund, or a scholarship fund to honor a loved one. Gifts of $10,000 or more may be used start a named fund and allows directed giving that may have multiple philanthropic interests. Such funds may be started with cash, appreciated securities, real estate and end of life bequests that leave a lasting legacy. By establishing an endowment fund through the MCEF each gift has maximum tax benefits because the Montgomery County Endowment Fund is a community foundation and a public charity. The MCEF is affiliated with the Omaha Foundation and many of the services offered through the MCEF are managed by the Omaha Foundation. To begin the process
for establishing an endowment fund through MCEF, contact Villisca's
representative, Scott Sunderman, at Bank Iowa. Information about the
MCEF and the many kinds of giving available can be found by clicking
on Affiliates and then Southwest Iowa at www.omahafoundation.org. There
are laws and regulations directing family foundations so both a CPA
and an attorney with backgrounds in setting up endowment funds need
to be involved in the decision making process of establishing any kind
of foundation. Laws and tax regulations are forever changing so professional
input is valuable in squeezing out the most value from endowment dollars. |
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Police Police Chief Shawn Aquino |
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City
Hall CITY CLERK - Kerin Wright |
Municipal
Power Plant
Office Telephone #712-826-3192 Power Plant Telephone #712-826-2004 |
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Villisca Farmers Telephone Company Contact Telephone #712-826-2812 |
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CHIEF Bryan
Dickey Bob Brown - Ron Brown - Terry Currin - Dereck Freshour - Curtis Gaunt - Larry Gaunt - John Bruce - Gayle Heard - Joe Kernen - Dan Lindberg - Jule McCuen - Junior McCuen - Jason Poston - David Riggle - Don Sexton - Kyle Stein - Byron Sunderman - Larry Taylor - Ryan TenEyck - Tom Wright
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EMTs CHIEF Justin
Rhamy TRAINING OFFICERS Jill Burgess & Tracy Spunaugle Harold Auten
-Darcy Dalton - Terry Dalton - Mike Jackson - Tom Shipley - Adam
Wainwright
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Chamber of Commerce Officers for 2008 |
Villisca Public Library Librarian - Pat Means Contact # 712-826-2452 |
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Swimming
Pool
Telephone #712-826-3455 |
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Villisca
has enjoyed beautiful lighted Christmas decorations in the downtown
area and at the north entrance to Villisca. These decorations were purchased
with donated funds. They have grown tired and in need of replacement.
Funds have been raised for replacements for the decorations on the square.
A second-round of fundraising is now ongoing to raise funds to replace
the remaining decorations. Contributions can be sent to Villisca City
Hall, designated for Christmas Decorations.
For
several summers Villisca's downtown area has been wonderfully decorated
with hanging baskets where the Christmas lights are hung at Christmas.
These take a great deal of loving care in the planting in the spring
and then watering all summer long. The costs of maintenance is raised
by the Villisca Garden Club. Harris Harmony Trail is developed and maintained
by volunteers and the costs of maintenance are covered by contributions
which can be sent to Villisca City Hall designated for Villisca Garden
Club. Pictured is one of the sculptures on the Harris Harmony Trail.
