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Posted by Lynette McGregor on Thursday, 8 October 1998, at 3:27 p.m.
We are a group of 10-12th grade students from Nashua-Plainfield High school in Nashua, Iowa, USA; 42:57N and 92:32W. Nashua and Plainfield are small rural towns of with a combined population of about 1800. The towns joined their schools in 1993. Both have strong communities of hard working families and farmers. In the spring we plant our crops, including corn, hay and soybeans. In the fall we harvest. We feed people all around the world.
In Nashua we have a golf course, swimming pool, 3 gas stations, 4 restaurants, 2 parks and 1 fairgrounds. We have no fast food restaurants like McDonalds or Pizza Hut. The town is well known for the Little Brown Church in the Vale, made famous by a song of the same title from back in the early 1900's. Our town's park is a big source of entertainment because there is a lot to do; go on a picnic, go boating, or you can go camping in the park. Many recreational activities are done on Cedar Lake which the park is located on, jet skiing, boating, fishing, swimming and water-skiing in the summer, In the winter we ice-skate and snow-mobile on the lake.
This past June, a tornado went through Nashua and destroyed many of the town and parks beautiful old trees just a week before the town's summer celebration. The entire town and surrounding communities pitched in and helped get the town and the park cleaned up in time for the celebration. We still have many trees to replant.
Plainfield is also a small town, the middle school and one of the elementaries is located here. The Cedar River also runs near the town with a county campground just outside of town.
Our high school has about 300 students grades 9-12 with lots of extra-curricular activities. We have Science Club, Future Farmers of America, Future Homemakers of America, Speech, Future Problem Solvers, Future Teachers Association, Foreign Language Club, Drama, Student Council, and National Honor Society. Our sports include: volleyball, football, cheerleading, basketball, wrestling, track, golf, baseball, and softball. We also have band and chorus.
This class, Biology, is involved with this project for the purpose of learning more about our water, the Cedar River, that provides both of our communities with many recreational opportunities. The farmers in the area have chemicals on the fields. When it rains the chemicals run-off of the fields and into the water. Not far from here a lake was contaminated with human E. coli this past summer and we wish to see if ours also is. We are excited about the opportunity to accompany you on our voyage to explore the water sources of the world.
Sincerely,
Shelly M, Lindsay J, Sarah S., Kristin K., Sarah K., Danielle T., Kendra T., Craig P., DeAnn W., Colt K., Matt D., Cass D., Nick W., Matt D., Al S., Brandon E.,