Izabela Zaluska

F.W. Kent Park in eastern Johnson County has seen a record number of visitors during the pandemic. With the park’s increased use, the county is investing $3.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars to replace the campground shower house and wastewater system, which will also have a positive impact on water quality in the lake.

The memorial has been in the works for a decade and is just a few months away from being in its final form. The project was led by former Coralville Mayor Jim Fausett, a Korean War veteran, up until he died in 2017.

Princeton McKinney finished school at Elizabeth Tate High School in late February, two days before his father passed away. Thinking about what his father would have wanted him to do has pushed McKinney to work hard in pursuing his career as an electrician.

Having moved around her whole life, Shay Church-Roberts said she’s excited to start a new chapter of her life in a new place. The Liberty High senior will go to Fort Jackson for basic combat training as part of the U.S. Army Reserve. She will then start school next spring at Alabama State University.

Hunter Shook will continue his education at the U.S. Naval Acadamy and follow his dreams of becoming a pilot. What set the Naval Academy apart most to him was that “your responsibilities don’t stop when you’re on the ground.”

Kongolo Mwenemkamba plans to attend Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge after graduating from City High School. He will continue playing football and plans to major in kinesiology.

The Coralville City Council is moving forward with filling a council vacancy by appointment, and is now accepting applications from interested residents.

Leah Rogers of Mount Vernon said she always wanted to be an archaeologist. In her career spanning four decades, Rogers has contributed to hundreds of reports revealing clues about the past.

Iowa City’s Parks and Recreation Department wants to hear what the public thinks of its draft recommendations as part of a big picture plan to re-imagine recreation. The draft recommendations include looking at the future of the city’s pools, as well as upgrades to athletic fields.

William “Bill” Alberhasky was the second-generation owner of the iconic Iowa City family-owned business John’s Grocery. His oldest son, Doug, described his father as an innovator and having a great sense of humor. The business has been in the Alberhasky family for more than 70 years.

Eligible Johnson County residents will have until 2 p.m. on Friday to get their applications submitted for a one-time emergency relief check of $1,400.

The land in dispute is key to connecting Forevergreen Road in North Liberty to Tiffin but who will build the final connection and how has been delayed due to a legal fight dating back to 2019. A District Court judge ruled last month Coralville has authority but Tiffin does have the possibility to appeal the ruling.

Construction on the Coralville Community Food Pantry's new building has started, which is “surreal but exciting,” executive director John Boller said.

The council weighed its two options — holding a special election and appointment — during a work session after Tuesday night’s formal meeting, ultimately agreeing on moving forward with appointment to fill the vacancy sooner.

The commission, after months of work, approved an updated facilitator proposal with the same out-of-state firm but this time working with local partners. The proposal has a larger budget and includes more community input.