Coralville Courier

Today's weather forecast and a four day outlook.  Check this page for the latest weather reports in the corridor area.  Up-to-date weather conditions for the Iowa City area are observed at the Iowa City, Iowa City Municipal Airport, IA.  For weather conditions specific to other cities outside the corridor area, just type in your zip code below.

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The City of Bettendorf, IA is looking to hire officers!

Starting salary of $ 56,510 /Yr.

Hiring bonuses for certified law enforcement officers.

Apply through November 5^th, 2021 at 5 PM

More details and application at Bettendorf.org/jobs

Available at participating locations from Wednesday, October 13 – Sunday, November 21

FORT WORTH, TX.– Fuzzy’s Taco Shop announces the addition of the Chipotle Chicken Fajita Taco to its menu, available for a limited time. The new taco brings a delicious blend of savory flavors, packed with fajita chicken and grilled peppers and onions, topped off with a smoky honey chipotle sauce.

The Chipotle Chicken Fajita Taco features house-marinated fajita chicken with grilled peppers and onions, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, Fuzzy’s signature garlic sauce and a honey chipotle sauce on a warm flour tortilla.

Guests will be able to enjoy the new taco at all participating Fuzzy's Taco Shop locations from October 13 through November 21.

“With fall bringing cooler weather to our patios and restaurants, our fans will love the smoky flavor and warmth of our house-made honey chipotle sauce,” says Laura Purser, Vice President of Marketing. “Many Fuzzy’s fans don’t realize we marinate our fajita chicken in-house daily. The flavors in this taco may encourage them to try something new, and allow us to really show off our scratch kitchens.”

The taco is available for a limited time for dine-in, takeout, and delivery (where available). Skip the line with Fuzzy’s online ordering placed through the Fuzzy’s Taco Shop website and app. 

Follow Fuzzy’s Taco Shop on Instagram and Facebook for your daily share of good vibes and craving-inducing images. Fuzzy’s Taco Shop has nearly 150 franchise- and corporate-owned locations in 18 states. For a full list of locations please visit www.FuzzysTacoShop.com.

About Fuzzy’s Taco Shop:

Founded in 2003 near the Texas Christian University campus in Fort Worth, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop® is a fast casual restaurant serving Mexican favorites with a splash of Baja. The laid-back atmosphere pairs perfectly with signature Baja-style tacos, famous chips and queso and icy-cold beverages always served at a chill price. With nearly 150 franchise- and corporate-owned locations in 18 states, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop was ranked a Top Food Franchise, Top Franchise for Culture, and Top Multi-Unit Franchise for 2021 by Franchise Business Review, recognized in Entrepreneur’s 2021 Franchise 500 Ranking and Nation’s Restaurant News’ #10 “Fastest Growing Chains” of 2018, and was included on Franchise Business Review’s “Top Franchises” list in 2017. For franchising information, please visit www.MyFuzzys.com.

By Mike Thayer

Watermelon and Whiskey is a good pairing

Blended and flavored whiskeys continue to be red hot in popularity, consumer demand for brown spirits remains on the rise with American Whiskey in particular seeing some phenomenal sales growth.

Regular readers know that I am a fan of flavored whiskey, I've always got a bottle of something in my freezer for a chilled shot or flavored specialty in the liquor cabinet to enjoy on the rocks.  My favorite in all this tasting fun so far, has been Ole Smoky Peanut Butter flavored whiskey.  It's BETTER than Skrewball!

Given how much I enjoyed the Ole Smoky Peanut Butter, I decided to give another one of their flavored whiskeys a try.

Today's tasting:  Ole Smoky Salted Watermelon

If a shot of whiskey can be refreshing, this is it!

You get the whiff of watermelon in the nose, the hint of salt kisses the tongue along with the fruity note and then there's the warm whiskey finish.  It's slightly sweet, not overpowering at all and it's balanced by that salt.  It's smooth and yes, refreshing! 

As always, I tried this whiskey neat, on the rocks and in a chilled shot. It's very good any way served. It would also lend itself well to mixology, adding a splash of ginger ale comes to mind.  A friend of mine recommended mixing it with lemonade which sounds real good. 

Costing me $19.99, Ole Smoky Salted Watermelon is definitely a repeat buy and gets 4 out of 5 Bachelor on the Cheap stars. 

$pend Wisely My Friends...

IOWA CITY - The public is invited to attend Houseplants Propagation and Care 101, an open-air, in-person class presented by Johnson County Master Gardener (JCMG) volunteers. The class will be held Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 5:30 p.m., at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in the Heritage Barn breezeway, near the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden.

Participants should feel free to bring a lawn chair to this outdoor class and perhaps a jacket. Some bench seating will be available.

A team of Master Gardener volunteers will identify some easy ways to propagate and care for houseplants and will share new plants and starts with class attendees. There is no cost to attend the class, however, a goodwill donation for the plants is appreciated. All donations support JCMG programs and activities.

Johnson County Master Gardener program will celebrate its 40th year of service in 2022. JCMG was organized in 1982. An early launch to the anniversary year was held Oct. 2 with a cooperative effort to plant 40-plus trees in Wetherby Park, 2400 Taylor Dr., in Iowa City. The effort was coordinated by the Iowa City Parks Department to replace trees destroyed by the derecho. Master Gardeners will complete community service projects throughout the anniversary year.

The educational volunteer Master Gardener program is sponsored by Iowa State University Johnson County Extension and Outreach and uses research-based horticulture and gardening knowledge and practices to educate people and coordinate projects that promote healthy communities. Master Gardener volunteers receive horticulture training and volunteer to promote a mission of education and service. The program is open to anyone 18 or older with an interest in gardening and a willingness to use their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to make a positive impact on their local community.

CEDAR RAPIDS - After an absence due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Eastern Iowa Orchid Show and Sale, “Orchids are a Scream” will return to Cedar Rapids in conjunction with the Halloween holiday.

The show will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 23 - 24, at the Elks Lodge Hall, 801 33rd Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Show hours are Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The show venue is family-friendly and offers visitors an “up close and personal” view of some of nature's most exotic flowers. Following the show’s theme, some of the orchids are even a bit scary!

Hundreds of blooming orchids, exhibited by orchid society members around the Midwest, will be on display. Orchid-related crafts and collectibles, all centered with the seasonal Halloween theme, will be displayed. Four regional orchid vendors will be on-site and offer plants for sale.

The show is free and open to the public. Volunteers will be available to answer questions. Visitors are urged to follow COVID-19 precautions.

Visit The Eastern Iowa Orchid Society’s website for information: http://www.easterniowaorchidsociety.org

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – On October 6, 2021 at 6:43 a.m. officers were dispatched to a hit and run involving a vehicle and a pedestrian at 1st Avenue and 35th Street E. When Officers arrived on scene Area Ambulance was rendering aid to an adult male who sustained what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries. The adult male was transported to the hospital by Area Ambulance.

The Cedar Rapids Police Department is asking for assistance from the public to identify the vehicle involved in the hit and run. If anyone has information regarding this incident, please contact Sgt. Graham Campshure at 319-286-5356.

This is an active, ongoing investigation. The names of victims involved in the collision are being withheld pending notification of family members.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – City of Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation staff have begun shutting off water and closing restrooms in the City’s parks in preparation for freezing winter temperatures and the loss of seasonal cleaning staff. Rental of open-air pavilions ended on September 26. The restrooms at high-use parks will remain available into October as staffing and temperatures allow. Portable restrooms will be available after they close.

Parks with gates will begin closing November 1 to motor vehicle traffic. The parks will still be open and foot/bicycle traffic is welcome.

Parks staff will begin mowing and plowing City garden plots at Tuma and Ellis Parks, and the plots near Gardner Golf Course in preparation for winter on Monday, October 11. All non-vegetative materials such as stakes, wire and plant ties must be removed from garden plots rented from the City by Sunday, October 10. Any remaining non-vegetative materials will be cleared by department crews and a penalty fee of $30 per parcel will be charged after this date. For more information, call (319) 286-5760.

Visit with firefighters, learn about fire safety, and have a bowl of soup with the Coralville Fire Department on Sunday, October 10, 2021.

The Coralville Fire Department invites the public to Fire Station #1, 1501 5th Street, for an open house from 12:00 to 4:00 pm.  Stop by for fire safety demonstrations, talk with Coralville firefighters, learn about fire prevention, and enjoy refreshments. A fire truck, rescue equipment, and protective firefighter gear will be on display, and kids can participate in a fire extinguisher game.

Following the open house, the fire department will host their annual soup supper from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm; a vegetarian option will be available. Free will donations are accepted and will benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the St. Florian Fire & Burn Foundation (UI Miracle Burn Camp), and the Coralville Community Food Pantry.

Masks are required to be worn in the City of Coralville’s public, indoor facilities, regardless of vaccination status. CDC social distancing guidelines should be followed at the soup supper.

For more information, please contact the Coralville Fire Department at 319.248.183

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Starting Monday, October 4, the Cedar Rapids Solid Waste and Recycling Division will begin operating leaf vacuum trucks. The trucks will run through Friday, December 10. Residents can expect leaf collection every-other week on a schedule based upon the quadrant in which they live.

Leaf collection in the southeast and northeast quadrants will start on Mondays in alternating weeks. Leaf collection in the southwest and northwest quadrants will start on Wednesdays in alternating weeks.

Leaf collection schedules were sent to Utilities customers along with their mailed bills. The calendar was also printed in the August edition of the Our CR magazine, which is mailed to every Cedar Rapids address. Residents can consult a calendar online at www.CityofCR.com/Leaf to identify when their leaves will be collected. Customers can also call the Solid Waste & Recycling Division at (319) 286-5897 to determine their collection day. To ensure residents always know when leaves will be collected, the City offers text and email alerts at www.CRNewsNow.com.

Residents should have their leaves raked to the parking area or grass next to the street in front of their homes by 7 a.m. on the respective Monday or Wednesday of their collection period.

Areas of the City with mature trees can drop many leaves around the same time. This can create large volumes of leaves for collection. If heavy volumes prevent collection as scheduled, crews will finish collecting leaves in each quadrant before moving onto the next. Fridays and Saturdays will be used as makeup days. If weather or leaf volume slows service, the Cedar Rapids Solid Waste and Recycling Division will strive to reach any missed properties by Thursday (for quadrants with collection beginning Mondays) or Saturday (for quadrants with collection beginning Wednesdays).

Leaves must be kept out of the street and away from obstacles like mailboxes, signs, poles and trees. The vacuum truck will not collect leaves from alleys. Leaf piles should be free from brush and debris. Sticks and twigs can be placed in the YARDY cart for collection. Litter should be bagged and placed in your garbage can. Please do not park cars in front of leaf piles; the trucks will not be able to collect the leaves.

For more information about the Solid Waste & Recycling Division’s yard waste collection program, visit CityofCR.com/leaf or call (319) 286-5897. Sign up for text and email alerts about garbage and recycling at CRNewsNow.com.