Introducing The Hawk Eye s Citizen Scholar Class of 2021
The Hawk Eye
Each year, The Hawk Eye asks schools in southeast Iowa and west central Illinois to nominate three students for the Bill Mertens Citizen Scholar Award.
While eachnominee is worthy of the Citizen Scholar title, only one from each school can be selected for a chance at a $1,000 scholarship, named for The Hawk Eye s late publisher who established it in 2001, the third year of the Citizen Scholars program.
The winner will be announced May 30.
The minimum requirement for consideration was a 3.5 grade-point average. Nominees also were expected to demonstrate a four-year career of active engagement in the life of their school and community through participation and leadership in extra-curricular activities, as well as participation in events and organizations beyond their classroom walls in the places where they live.
The Hawk Eye
As the soil grows warm with spring s arrival, Kayla Schier and Ethan Jones look forward to taking their two children to their favorite spot to scour the earth for nature s delicacy.
The Burlington couple grew up hunting morel mushrooms with their families, Jones in Burlington and Schier in rural Mediapolis. I grew up on a farm and we d always go mushroom hunting when the season hit me, my mom and my brother, Jones said. We d spend hours out in the woods just picking mushrooms.
While Jones morel experience took place in wooded areas, Schier s family turned to the cow pasture.
Bob Saar
for The Hawk Eye
Des Moines County Conservation Board members, supervisors and department heads took in the county s scenic views Tuesday as they toured the Flint River Trail.
Leading the UTV tour on a golf cart was Des Moines County Conservation Director Chris Lee, who said the purpose of the journey was to give the group of eight an overview of the bike trail as it exists today. We re going to look at both the city portion, from the Burlington riverfront up to just past Tama Road. Then we re going to look at the county portion, from Starr s Cave all the way up to Big Hollow, Lee said. It will take a good few hours, by the time we jump and transport the machines across the highway, and go through and stop and talk here and there. Overall, it s almost 20 miles by the time you add it all together.
The Hawk Eye
With nesting season about to start for barred owls, Des Moines County Conservation is offering a look at these interesting birds and their mating habits.
People are invited to meet with Marcus Nack, a naturalist who joined DMC Conservation in spring 2020, and then hike conservation trails, call for mate-seeking owls and follow their voices when they answer.
There are three Night Hike and Owl Prowl events this year to allow for social distancing. The owl prowls tend to be very popular and the first hike scheduled for Feb. 11 is filled.
Not to worry registration will start Monday for a 7 p.m. Feb. 18 Owl Prowl at Starr s Cave Nature Center, and Monday, Feb. 15 for the 7 p.m. Feb. 25 Owl Prowl at Big Hollow Recreation Area. They will start with a short program about owls and their distinctive noises.