Every year she hopes for a Christmas miracle: the chance to meet the girl her sister gave up for adoption. This year, that baby girl would be turning 60. The woman, who does not want to be identified to protect the privacy of her sister — the girl’s mother — said a couple from All […]
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Year: 2023
Costs for new school to replace Harrison...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Touted costs-savings to replace the structurally sound and architecturally significant Harrison Elementary with a new school have already proven greatly exaggerated. The Cedar Rapids Community School District’s Master Facility Plan Oversight Committee was told at its Dec. 18, 2023, meeting that the estimated cost had grown to $33.8 million, well over […]
Despite missing stones, masonry complete...
By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Finish work on stone columns and what remained of the historic stone wall at Oak Hill Cemetery became more challenging when it was discovered that none of the field stones had been saved for the project. The 120-foot-long wall, cited as a contributing historic structure in the […]
Cedar Rapids School District request for...
UPDATE: 10 a.m. Dec. 8, 2023: The Cedar Rapids Community School District changed the wording of its post to say “in addition to” instead of “in lieu of” a holiday gift, and after nearly 90 comments and 55 shares, limited comments on its Facebook post and posted a response regarding the intent of the request […]
One person, 2 cats dead in Cedar Rapids ...
UPDATE Dec. 6: Cedar Rapids Police have identified the person who died as 71-year-old Wasifia Elshennawy. Three others suffered smoke and fire-related injuries in the Dec. 5 fire. Police noted that several residents unable to escape their apartments on the second and third floors due to smoke in the hallways were rescued through exterior windows […]
Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa crowned during Ol...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A new Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa was crowned Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, during the Old World Christmas Market at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. Isabel Sherman, a sophomore at the University of Iowa, will represent the state in the coming year at Czech festivals and other events. State queens […]
Photos: Noelridge Greenhouse Lights and ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Hundreds of visitors, young and young at heart, stepped into tropical warmth to enjoy the spirit of the holidays inside the Noelridge Greenhouse. Volunteer Wanda Lunn said Friends of Noelridge hosted the Noelridge Lights & Blooms event one night last year and decided to extend it to two nights in 2023. […]
Iconic Iowa restaurant ends decades-long...
By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan CORALVILLE, Iowa — Customers will miss the tender prime rib, popular Sunday brunch and to-die-for twice-baked potatoes at the Iowa River Power Restaurant, but memories of anniversaries, birthday parties and other milestone celebrations make the iconic restaurant’s closure especially poignant. “This was her favorite place,” Dave Stauffer, 82, said of his […]
After nearly a century, jewelry store pr...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Ginsberg Jewelers has started a “going out of business” sale, ending four generations of the family-owned jewelry store. Steve Ginsberg, the fourth-generation owner, announced the store’s closure in early November, after 93 years in business. Steve Ginsberg, right, points out jewelry to a customer on the first day of Ginsberg Jewelers’ […]
Illinois man fatally shot while hunting ...
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported the second death of a hunter in as many months. According to the DNR, the incident happened Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Guthrie County in west-central Iowa. That followed the death of an Iowan who was shot while hunting coyote Oct. 8 in Hardin County in north-central Iowa. […]