When will construction on La Porte Road begin? Your Call the Courier questions answered

Q: My question is about Diamond Star Academy, it’s on the corner of Ridgeway and Ansborough. I didn’t know if they had enrollment for this school year. Every time I go by there isn’t cars or anything. I’m kind of wondering what the status is.

A: In a March 31 story, The Courier reported that Diamond Star Academy had 27 students enrolled for the 2025-26 school year from kindergarten through eighth grade.

Q: I’m just wondering why there is absolutely no work being done on La Porte Road, not even the segment that was supposed to be finished the first of this year. Has it even started? We’re two months into the construction season already.

A: La Porte Road from Bopp Street to Grimm Street will close May 26. City engineer Jamie Knutson said the section was delayed because Waterloo Water Works wanted to add watermain work and the contractor has been waiting to receive the materials. For the section from Ridgeway Avenue to U.S. Highway 218, the city is waiting for an amendment for the grant from the federal funding agency. Once that is given, the city will bid on the project and start construction.

Q: Why has Cedar Falls allowed a high traffic, high pollution business like a car wash to operate out of an A-1 residentially zoned area like North Cedar? Why does the city send out notices to residents telling them not to wash cars in their own driveway because of the soapy run off but allows a commercial car wash to operate without any noise or pollution controls?

A: Amanda Huisman with the city of Cedar Falls said this: “If there are concerns about compliance for a specific property, please contact the planning division at (319) 273-8600. In general, the A-1 district does not allow commercial car washes. The city zoning code allows home occupations in any district, within certain parameters that are intended to avoid nuisances to neighbors. The city has a noise ordinance, setting noise limits in residential, commercial and industrial districts. Commercial car washes are regulated by the Iowa DNR for pollutants.”

Q: When did they stock Casey Lake at Hickory Hills with fish during their renovation?

A: Blue gills, bass and channel catfish were stocked last summer. A story on the lake’s renovation was published Thursday.

Q: What show was at the Paramount Theater Halloween of 1953?

A: The Halloween show at the Paramount was advertised as “Two Horror-ific Super Thrillers,” according to Courier archives. But the ad does not indicate which movies those were. It also stated “Our guarantee: if you can withstand the shock of the entire program … you’ll get a pass to a coming show as you stagger out! Girls! Don’t Come Alone!” Seats were 75 cents. Other movies showing at that time were “Arrowhead” and “Little Boy Lost.”

Q: How many of the original Statler Brothers are still alive?

A: Lead singer Don Reid and baritone singer Phil Balsley are still alive at the ages of 80 and 86, respectively. The first lead singer, from 1955 to 1959 and before the group really blew up, Joe McDorman, also is still alive. Tenor and guitar player Lew DeWitt died in 1990 and bass Harold Reid died in 2020.

Q: Why’s the United States' national debt over $39 trillion? Who do we borrow money from?

A: According to the Peter G. Petersen Foundation, which supports reducing the national debt, 80% of the nation’s debt is held by the public. This includes the Federal Reserve which purchases and sells treasury securities, or low-risk debt obligations issued by the Department of Treasury, to finance government operations. The remaining 20% is from China, Japan, the United Kingdom and more than 30 other countries.

Q: I noticed they cut down a bunch of trees between Ansborough Avenue and Sergeant Road near the Veridian. Do you have any idea why they did that?

A: The area is designated as a ponding area for the levee during floods. As part of Waterloo’s agreement with the Corps of Engineers, the city is required to maintain the ponds and is removing the trees to grade the area to provide the appropriate amount of ponding.

Call (319) 291-1550 to leave a voicemail or email newsroom@wcfcourier.com with your question.