Gazette Daily News Podcast: Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024

– Iowa River Power Restaurant brunch, dinner menu returns to Iowa City with new Supper Club at The Highlander Hotel

– Linn-Mar school board appoints Laura Thomas to fill vacancy

– Blind Boys of Alabama bringing gospel sounds to Englert Theatre

Episode Transcript

You are listening to the Gazette Daily News Podcast on Wednesday, February 28. This podcast gives quick bites from the latest headlines coming out of The Gazette newsroom. I’m Bailey Cichon.

Coming up, Iowa River Power Restaurant’s menu is making a comeback. Stay tuned for more details

And later, a new member has been appointed to the Linn-Mar school board

Plus, the Blind Boys of Alabama are coming to the Englert on Thursday

First, the Coralville favorite Iowa River Power Restaurant closed in November after being forced out by its landlord. Now, the menu and staff are returning, this time as The Supper Club at The Highlander Hotel in Iowa City.

Sunday brunch and dinner service will be offered four nights a week. Hotel owner Angela Harrington said quote, “It really is a good fit. You take an iconic restaurant, an iconic hotel, smash them together, and bam. I really envision this as a full-service resort. Thanks to Danise (Petsel), it’ll have a full-service restaurant with all the trappings of a true supper club.” end quote.

Brunch service will run every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m starting March 24. The cost for adults is $32.95. That price includes non-alcoholic beverages. Dinner service will run Thursday through Sunday starting April 4. Expect the return of quote “the exact same menu” end quote made by the same staff from Iowa River Power. That means favorites like prime rib, filet, lobster, duck, seafood and more.

Former Iowa River Power owner Danise Petsel said, quote, “The nice thing about a supper club is you get what you pay for. Most restaurants have gone to this (style) where you have your salad, potato, vegetable, bread and entree, and now you pay $100. But if you order off a supper club menu, you know exactly what you’re paying for those. It’s a leisurely, heartier-feeling food.” end quote.

The Supper Club will also serve hotel guests daily with a limited menu, including complimentary breakfast. There are plans to add entertainment with dinner. A celebration with Glenn Miller Orchestra is planned for June. The Highlander was a renowned supper club in its heyday in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Next, earlier this month, a vacancy opened on the Linn-Mar school board when Matt Rollinger resigned with a year and a half left in his term. Rollinger did not cite a reason for his resignation.

Now, the board has appointed Laura Thomas to fill the vacancy. Thomas said she applied for the seat to be a voice for every child and family in the school district. Thomas was one of five people who applied for the unpaid opening on the seven-member board.

School board members expressed that appointing a new board member is difficult. Board member Rachel Wall said, quote, “It feels like you’re making this decision for an entire community that generally would happen with an election. For me, it’s figuring out who would fit the best.” end quote.

Thomas is Northeast Iowa native whose parents were educators with the Keystone Area Education Agency. She is a senior programmer for Social Policy Research Associates of Oakland, California. She works remotely and focuses on workforce and economic development and data analysis.

Thomas is a single parent with two kids, aged 12 and 9 years old. She said she started watching Linn-Mar school board meetings regularly online about a year ago. Thomas said, quote, “I acknowledge I still have a ton to learn. I’m not watching anymore. I am in it. I want to listen and have more in-depth conversations, so I can better understand how some of those tough budget issues and legislation could impact Linn-Mar.” end quote.

Read the full story at the gazette dot com or follow the link in this episode’s description.

Looking for some entertainment ahead of the weekend? Iconic gospel group The Blind Boys of Alabama is taking the Englert stage on Thursday. The musical group formed at the Talladega Institute for the Deaf and Blind in 1939. While none of its original members are alive today, the tradition has carried on. The Blind Boys have worked with musical icons like Willie Nelson, Lou Reed, Tom Waits and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. The ensemble has won five Grammys, been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and has been invited to perform at the White House during the Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations.

The Blind Boys will perform Thursday, Feb. 29 at the Englert Theatre in Iowa City. Whenever the band plays in Iowa City, they visit Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague’s home in Decatur City.

Longtime member Ricky McKinnie said quote, “That’s always fun. We got to know Bruce 20 years ago and we’re good friends. His mother cooks up an amazing meal. We have pigs feet, fried chicken, collard greens, cornbread and rice. We love it.” end quote.

As always, you can find a link to each of the stories featured in today’s episode in this episode’s description or at the gazette dot com.

Next, let’s talk about the weather. Can you believe it’s only February? It has been unseasonably warm in Eastern Iowa but today will provide a brief reprieve from warm temperatures. Expect a high of 30 degrees and sunny skies. Tonight, temperatures will drop to 16 degrees. Thursday will be windy. Anticipate a high of 51 degrees and a low of 32 degrees.

Thank you for listening to the Gazette Daily News Podcast. Stay up to date with the latest news from Eastern Iowa at the gazette dot com. I’m Bailey Cichon.

Comments: bailey.cichon@thegazette.com