Des Moines area news

Disc golf course name honors advocate

Des Moines is looking to name its newest disc golf course for a longtime advocate of the sport.

Becky Zallek was an East High graduate who introduced many central Iowans to disc golf. She taught people how to play and was the Des Moines Disc Golf Club newsletter editor and sole contributor from 1994 to 2000. She helped organize a women’s league to nurture the skills of women new to disc golf.

Zallek died of brain cancer in 2013 at the age of 48.

The Park and Recreation Board will consider naming the course at Prospect Park, 1225 Prospect Road, the Becky Zallek Disc Golf Course.

A public hearing is scheduled for 5 p.m. March 24 at City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive.

Controlled burns in D.M. parks this week

Des Moines will conduct controlled burns this week at the following locations:

• Greenwood Park, 4500 Grand Ave.

• Gray’s Lake Park, 2101 Fleur Drive.

• Ewing Park, 5300 Indianola Road.

• Grandview Park, 3230 Easton Blvd.

• McHenry Park, 1012 Oak Park Ave.

• Pioneer Park, 1602 Pioneer Road.

• Prospect Park, 1225 Prospect Road.

• Glendale Cemetery, 4909 University Ave.

• Four Mile Creek.

• Elm Grove Cemetery, 6501 Indianola Road.

• Witmer Park, 1610 34th St.

• Valley High Manor, 1022 Winegardner Road.

• Union Park, 725 Thompson Ave.

Weather conditions such as precipitation and wind direction will determine when and where the controlled burns are held.

Controlled burns help reduce undesirable plants, maintain a rich diversity of wildflowers and grasses, encourage oak and other native trees to naturally regenerate and decrease the threat of wildfires.

Book talk at South Side Library

Spending your spring break in Des Moines? Join in a special Kids Book Club discussion at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the South Side Library.

Children in first through fifth grades can read “Ramona Quimby, Age 8” by Beverly Cleary and come ready to talk about it.

Register online ahead of time. Snacks provided.

City looks for cemetery stewards

Des Moines is looking for cemetery stewards to care for the city’s seven municipal cemeteries.

Stewards can choose to maintain a specific section of a cemetery. They pick up small branches, cut back dead flowers, maintain headstones and report disrepair, and pick up litter.

Steward orientations will be held:

• Saturday: 10:30-11:30 a.m., Franklin Avenue Library, 5000 Franklin Ave.

• March 28: 10:30-11:30 a.m., Laurel Hill Cemetery Office, 3601 E. Court.

Food pantry open at River Place

Polk County and the Des Moines Area Religious Council have partnered to open the Polk County River Place food pantry, 2309 Euclid Ave.

Once per calendar month, individuals and families in Polk County can go to the food pantry to receive a four-day supply of healthy, nutritional food and other nonessential nonfood items. Food is distributed to anyone in need.

Food pantry hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Polk County River Place food pantry needs volunteers to fill three-hour shifts. For more information,O call 515-286-3695 or visit http://bit.ly/1C4VINE.