Updated 9/2011

Midland Power Cooperative recently presented the Friends of Rippey President, Velda DeMoss a $500 donation for the expansion of the Rippey Community Room.
Those pictured from left to right are Mary Jo Allen, Angie Gibson, Velda DeMoss, Colleen Radebaugh, Barb Peterson, Colleen Newell,  and Abbey Sprague.

Pictured above is from left to right, Gary Weaver, Mark Colton, and Dan Brubaker. Mark was presenting a check from the Alliant Energy Foundation for the purchase of round tables and chairs for the Rippey Community Room.

Maybe a better shot????

Mark Colton, Manager of Customer Operations for Alliant Energy presented a $2,000 check to Gary Weaver representing the Friends of Rippey and Rippey Mayor, Dan Brubaker for the purchase of round tables and chairs to be used in the Rippey Community Room. The City of Rippey has worked closely with the Friends of Rippey to refurbish the former Masonic Lodge into the Rippey Library. Plans are underway to expand the building to the west for a large community room. The Friends of Rippey is fund raising for the remodeling as the new room will be used for family reunions, wedding receptions, along with social and other community activities.

The Alliant Energy Foundation’s funds are directed to programs and projects that benefit the residents and communities in the areas served by Alliant Energy.

The City of Rippey and its citizens receive services from Alliant Energy.

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Rippey Library and Community Room Update

The Rippey Library has now been moved to its new location. The last component of the library move has been completed with the installation of the distribution desk from Iowa Prison Industries. A grand opening will be planned in the future by the Rippey Library Board of Trustees.

The roof of the former Masonic Lodge has been re-shingled; an energy efficient entry vestibule has been built as well as the installation of windows. Doors have been added to separate the library from the multipurpose room. The multipurpose room has been rented to families and other organizations several times during the summer and is available for community coffee time at no charge.

Several buildings on the Rippey Main Street are to be razed prior to winter coming. These include the former Brobsdt café, the former Rippey Library, as well as the buildings given to the Friends of Rippey by People’s Trust and Savings.

Friends of Rippey are waiting to be informed by the Vision Iowa Board, Community Attraction and Tourism Committee if their application will fund expansion of the former lodge building to the west for a community room that may be used for wedding receptions, family reunions, and anniversary parties.

Pictured above Toni Roberts, Rippey Librarian, and Jean Borgeson, Rippey Library Trustees Board President show joy at recently receiving a grant from the Central Iowa Library Service Area.

Jet Kofoot, acting administrator of the Central Iowa Library Service Area announced that the Rippey Library had received a $500 check for the purchase of a CD disc holder. The disc holder will display up to 80 movies or recordings and will prove useful in the new library when the Rippey Library moves to the former lodge hall. The remodeling of the library is almost completed with floor covering to be done the first week in June. Tentative plans are for the library to vacate the former States Drug and move in mid to late June.

Velda DeMoss, President of the Friends of Rippey, is smiling as she has just happily accepted a check from the Greene County Community Foundation that will be used for the new Rippey Library.

The funds received for the Rippey Library has been adequate to begin remodeling of the former Masonic Lodge Building given to the City of Rippey last October.  Through the support of individuals and businesses of the community, as well as former Rippey High School Alumni funds of over $70,000 has been donated since the campaign began last October.

Additional funding has come from the Greene County Board of Supervisor’s, $5,000 from the Louie Dreyfus fund, and $18,500 grant from the Greene County Community Foundation, will aide in the purchase of furniture, and shelving.

Individuals and businesses within Greene County have been employed to “keep the funding local”. John McConnell Construction Company of Jefferson is doing the construction, and Durlam Electric is providing electrical services.

Prison Industries of Iowa has been contacted and shelving and the distribution desk has been ordered.
It is planned the library will be relocated during the summer.

The original plan of developing the former lodge building to be used entirely for the Rippey Library was modified in response to recommendations from the Rippey Community. The modified plan included using the former dining area of the lodge building as a “multi-purpose” room.  This area will be used as an overflow for library programs in terms of reading, and crafts associated with library activities.
In addition the multi-purpose room will be available as a place for community persons to gather for coffee, communication, and card games on a daily basis.

Funds from the Department of Natural Resources have been secured to complete asbestos testing of several older buildings on the Main Street and up to $25,000 will be made available to remove asbestos, with a match of the amount coming from the recent donations.

Upon the transfer of the Library to the remodeled building, the former Squeak’s restaurant, the former City Hall, the Library and the café owned by Brubaker’s will be razed.  People’s Trust and Savings Bank has contributed funds for removal of their former two buildings and they will also be removed. This second phase is being called re NEW RIPPEY.

While the largest grant request submitted for $110,000 remains unfunded from the Department of Economic Development future plans include expansion of the room on the west of the former lodge building to allow for a large community room that will be used for graduation and  wedding receptions, anniversary celebrations, community potlucks and large family reunions.  Funds will continue to be requested and accepted for the community room.

 

 

Pictured Left to Right:  Mary Millard, Velda DeMoss, Dan Brubaker and Casey Riley.

Rolling Hills Bank and Trust recently presented a check to Friends of Rippey in the amount of $5000 to be used for the Library/Community building remodeling.   Mary Millard and Casey Riley both employees of the Rippey Bank presented the check to Rippey Mayor, Dan Brubaker and Friends of Rippey President, Velda DeMoss.  Mary Millard is also treasurer of the Library Board of Trustees.   Rolling Hills Market President, Gene Richardson was also on hand for the presentation and was given a tour of the former Masonic Lodge building where a couple of volunteers were doing some preliminary work prior to the actual remodeling. 

 

Check presentation from Black Hills Energy to FOR here!

 

 

Updated 12/17/10

John Pinegar location manager of the Heartland Cooperative at Rippey recently announced a $10,000 contribution to the campaign to change a portion of the former Masonic Building into a new library and community room.  The Heartland donation along with others will help to secure additional funds through grants from private philanthropic foundations.

Friends of Rippey, FOR, was given the challenge by the Rippey Mayor and City Council, and the Rippey Library Board to raise an estimated $200,000 for refurbishing of the former Masonic Lodge building. The Friends of Rippey are very pleased that local businesses as well as individuals are providing funds to use as seed monies for this major project. The recent biscuit and gravy breakfast generated $500, and the Greene County Board of Supervisors allowed funds from the Louis Dreyfus account for $5,000. Currently $70,000 has been secured during the three week fund raising effort.

Prior to the Library moving, installation of windows, enlargement of the entrance on the south, increased wiring, and general interior remodeling must be done to allow the library to function. It is expected this will be done during the upcoming winter months. The new library will share space in the community room for library crafts, movies, as well as story time. There will be general sharing of storage, restrooms, and the kitchen area.
 

Additional fundraising will continue from development of a cookbook, activities around the Bike Ride to Rippey, and  contributions from businesses and individuals. FOR is a 501 c 3, and donations are tax deductible. Donations may be mailed to the Friends of Rippey, Box 52, Rippey, Iowa 50235.

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The Friends of Rippey, FOR, recently accepted a request from the Rippey City Council, the Rippey Mayor, and the Rippey Library Board to generate $200,000.This past summer the Rippey Masonic Lodge disbanded and gave the lodge hall to the City of Rippey to be used as a Library and Community Room.  With grant funds a State of Iowa Library consultant completed an assessment of the current library, built in 1902, a review of the former Masonic Hall, and identified needed space for the future. Following the consultation, FEH, an architectural firm was hired and remodeling plans were completed.

Renovations will include a new roof, new siding, installation of windows for natural light, additional wiring, new floor covering, purchase of furniture and library tables, and enlargement of the southern entrance with overhang to be handicapped accessible. The community room is to be developed for use at wedding showers, graduation celebrations, family reunions, or other meetings.  The City of Rippey will also use this room for City Council meetings.

The Friends of Rippey has been in existence since 2001, and was formed to help the City and the surrounding community obtain and receive grants and funds. Past activities have included grants from the Greene County Community Foundation for the recreational trail, as well as park equipment, and purchase of computers for the library. The Friends of Rippey is a not for profit, 501 (c) 3 organization.  Anyone wishing to contribute to this remodeling project should contact Velda DeMoss, President of FOR at 515.436.7679, or mail a donation to FOR, Treasurer Sharon Ulrich, at 2121 Terrace Avenue, Rippey Iowa 50235. 

Donations received may be observed at the Rippey News website, http://www.rippeynews.org, or the Rippey Library home page, http://www.rippey.lib.ia.us.  

 

Rendering of Proposed Library Project