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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday,
December 1, 2005 |
Free
Anhydrous Ammonia Locks Distributed |
 | Dave
Christianson from Tanks-A-Lot in Humboldt, Iowa, shows Jamie Orr of Crop Production
Services in Wyoming (L) and Gerald Ehlers of Innovative Ag Services of Monticello
how to properly install Anhydrous Ammonia locks on the valves of the tanks.
“I’ll
be doing distribution as well,” said Christianson.
Money for the
locks came from a Federal grant secured by US Senator Tom Harkin. The grant is
for $1.2 million dollars to be used statewide and began in 2003. the grant will
run out in 2006.
“We’re locking up every tank in the state,”
added Christianson, who said there are 27,000 Anhydrous Ammonia tanks in Iowa.
In Jones County 224 locks were given out. (Journal-Eureka Photo by Michelle Phillips) |
Local
Access Ruling Should Come Next Week
by Michelle Phillips |
JONES COUNTY–The Cities of Anamosa and Monticello took their Local Access
Channel battle to Jones County District Court on November 28, with District Court
Judge David Baker presiding in the case. A decision is expected next week.
Several witnesses were called to the stand to testify in the lawsuit, which was
originally filed in August 2004.
Rick Delagardelle, Chairperson for the
Anamosa Monticello Local Access Commission (AMLAC), was the first witness called
to the stand by Anamosa City Attorney, Adrian Knuth. He told the judge about the
background of the commission, which was formed in 1999, soon after the two cities
passed resolutions to embark on the joint cable channels.
Delagardelle
told the judge that Monticello was the fiscal agent as was determined in a 28E
agreement drafted by the cities at the time the channels were formed. The two
cities were to split the cost of operation, $19,000 each per year, and currently
Monticello has $43,427.27 in assets.
He said the intent was to have one
channel for local items and a second for Kirkwood Community College programming,
but due to a signal problem Kirkwood was never able to broadcast and one channel
was used as a bulletin board and the other for community events.
Becky
Dirks, who oversees programming for the channels, then took the stand and discussed
the equipment inventory and gave the estimated depreciation of the equipment used
by the station.
She was also asked to detail her duties as the programming
coordinator.
Dirks is in charge of the broadcast schedule, taping events,
budget outline and the community bulletin board.
When asked how programming
was affected, Dirks told the judge that Monticello items are no longer taped,
but citizens may submit tapes to her. Monticello residents still have access to
both channels.
Next on the stand was Anamosa City Clerk Tammy Coons. Coons
stated that Monticello had stopped helping fund the channels in June of 2004,
and no funds have been received from Monticello for fiscal year 2005-2006. Coons
told Judge Baker that there is still $3,000-$5,000 in the account at this time.
One of the disputes in the case is over filing procedures. Monticello City Attorney
Doug Hermon presented evidence that the 28E agreement had not been filed with
the state in 2004. It was then filed on July 1, after Monticello’s City Council
voted to drop the channels.
Hermon then called Monticello Mayor Tom Yeoman
to the stand. It was determined that Yeoman was not holding a public office, either
as mayor or a member of city council in 1999 when the agreement was made. He was,
however, mayor at the time the council voted to dissolve the agreement.
Yeoman told the judge that in early 2004 council members started to voice concerns
because they were not happy with the product Monticello was receiving. He added
that although the contract was not approved for 2004-2005, money or the channels
was figured into the city budget.
Judge Baker is reviewing the documents
submitted as evidence as well as the validity of the contract. He asked that the
attorneys provide him with additional documents and court was adjourned.
The court will reconvene next week and judge Baker is expected to have a ruling
in the case next week. |
Cut
Your Own Christmas Tree
by Michelle Phillips |
Keith
Lehrman, Gerry Barker, Louise Frasher and Shawna McConoughy wrap up a tree for
Brylin Washington of Anamosa on November 25. (Journal-Eureka Photo by Michelle
Phillips) |
ANAMOSA–Going out into the woods, or in this case the Bar-K-R Tree Farm located
at 22712 Fish House Road, to get a Christmas tree has become a family tradition
for many.
“The best part of this for me is when kids come out and
get to pick up a tree. It becomes an experience for them,” said Gerry Barker,
who owns the tree farm with his wife Maureen.
Bar-K-R offers a variety
of trees in all sizes, including White and Red Pine, Balsam, Concolor and Fraser
Fir.
Barker said fir trees typically drop fewer needles and Fraser Firs
drop the least. |
“In
fact, they hardly ever drop needles,” he said, adding that they also grow
slower in Iowa than the other species.
The Barkers purchased Bar-K-R 13
years ago. The couple wasn’t looking to get into the Christmas tree business,
just a place for their daughter to have horses, but the couple decided to keep
the farm running.
Barker said there are about 20-30 acres of Christmas
trees planted on the 360-acre property, and each year about 500 trees are planted
to replace those that were sold or didn’t survive. He said the trees are
pruned and maintained by Louise Frasher, who in turn hires help with the tasks.
“It’s a long process, not like planting a crop of corn and cutting it
down the same year,” Barker added.
Each year cards are sent out to
those who previously purchased a tree from Bar-K-R, and Barker said most of the
farms business is from repeat customers.
Business has increased over the
years and Barker thinks he knows why.
“People like to come out to
the country and pick the perfect tree. It’s heartwarming,” he concluded.
Bar-K-R Tree Farm will be open from 9am-4pm December 3-4. They also sell trees
the weekend after Thanksgiving. Barker said he decided only to sell trees for
two weekends this year rather than three as in previous years.
Barker
said the farm does not offer cut trees. The pine varieties are priced at $4.50
per foot and the firs at $6.50 per foot. |
Get
Fresh Cut trees and Greenery in Anamosa
by Michelle Phillips |
Trees,
wreaths and garland are some of the decorating items for sale at Boots Nursery,
Inc. (Journal-Eureka Photo by Michelle Phillips) |
ANAMOSA–Holiday decorating often includes a Christmas tree, wreaths or garland,
and Boots Nursery, Inc. 707 E 2nd Street has a variety of cut trees and other
greenery to accommodate your decorating needs.
In addition to offering
trees, wreaths and garland, Boots Nursery also sells grave mounds, crosses and
candle rings made at the greenhouse from evergreen branches.
“The
greenhouse turns into a little elf shop,” said Anna Mary Riniker.
The
local business has been providing decorating items to area residents for 37 years.
Sales start the day after Thanksgiving and continue until the greenhouse is sold
out. Riniker said
the trees are of high quality and come from a grower who has twice won a nationwide
Christmas tree growers competition. |
“The
prize is a presentation of a tree to the White House in Washington DC. In 2004
they presented a tree to the White House,” explained Riniker. “We are
very proud of the quality of our trees.”
Riniker added that the trees
are cut as close to the shipping date as possible to insure freshness.
Boots Nursery carries White and Scotch Pine and Fraser Fir trees. The prices start
at $15 for a 4-5 foot tree. Wreaths start at $17 and include a red bow and 2-4
pine cones, candle rings are $13.50 and Memorial crosses and grave mounds cost
$30 each.
Boots Nursery is open Monday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm and Sunday
Noon-5 pm. You may also call for an appointment. |
Council
Hears Suggestions for Utility Board
by Susan Yario |
ANAMOSA–Jim Lauzon presented a request of the Mayor and Anamosa City Council
to appoint the recommended board members and council to affirm such recommendations.
Steve
Reyhons–2-year term
Rick Delagardelle (non-resident of Anamosa, works
in town and has technical expertise in the area of concern)–3-year term
Vic
Hamre –4-year term
Sean Williams–5-year term
Jim Lauzon–6-year
term (one member of the board is required to have a 6 year term)
Appointed
utility board members are to serve without compensation with the exception of
incurred out-of-pocket expenses to be reimbursed by the City of Anamosa. The recommended
board members were selected regarding business sense, infrastructure set-up ability
and technical expertise.
Undetermined amounts of research and consultation
have been done with other communities and companies that have created, or are
in the process of creating, a municipal utility board. City Council and the voters
ultimately have the final say on the outcome of the project.
The goal
of the six-year board project will be a broadband communication utility with competitive
pricing.
A second reading of an ordinance establishing zoning for Little
Creek Estates was discussed in-depth. The development covenants have not yet been
determined and council members have misgivings with the possibility of housing
becoming intermingled R-1 (single family) and R-2 (single and/or multi-family
housing), which could raise concerns and lower property values for some properties
in the development and surrounding area. The Third reading was not waived.
Action items approved Monday night were as follows:
• Third reading
of city ordinance amending chapter 40 prohibiting sex offenders from residing
within two thousand feet of a public park, public playground or public library.
• City to contact the owner of fire damaged property at 1103 E. First
St offering 30 days for the owner to commit to action on the property (cleanup,
repair or sale of)
• Beer and Liquor license for Tyler & Downing
Eatery
• $5,00 façade grant awarded to Tyler & Downing
Eatery as recommended by the Façade Grant Committee
• Payment
of November 2005 city bills
• The annual financial report for Fiscal
year ending June 30, 2005 for submission to the State of Iowa.
The meeting
wrapped up with miscellaneous business from Pat Callahan on the TIF report being
a high priority and the goal of completion to be the end of January 2006.
A goal setting session set for city council for Wednesday, January 11th at 5:30PM
and the public forum date set for January 9, 2006 (time to be announced). Thursday,
December 1 is the public meeting on Anamosa’s Comprehensive Growth Plan to
be held at the Lawrence Community Center (LCC) at 7:00 pm. |
Tree
Walk Scheduled
by Michelle Phillips |
ANAMOSA–The annual Anamosa Christmas Tree Walk has been slated for December
9-11 at the Lawrence Community Center.
There will be over 25 crafters
selling their wares, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church will sell food at their annual
St. Paul’s Café and trees, entertainment will be provided and trees
decorated by area businesses will be on display in the gym.
“We will
probably have about 80-90 trees, like last year,” said Kathy Hansen.
Hours for the event are 5-8 pm Friday, noon-8 pm Saturday and noon-4 Sunday.
Entertainment
is as follows:
December 9
5-6 pm: Devonna Matthiessen, piano
students
6 pm: Julie Von Muenster, piano
6:30 pm: Congregational Church
Choir
7-8 pm: Mark Robertson and Kim Beardsley, guitar and vocal
December
10
Noon: Mike McClain, trumpet
12:15 pm: Carolee Chapman, piano students
12:30
pm: Mary Ann Paulsen, piano students
1 pm: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
Praise Band
1:30 pm: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Celebration Singers
2
pm: St. Paul Quartet Celebration Singers Four
2:30-3 pm: Marna Gaye Ketelsen,
piano students
3:30 pm: Scott Kelly, piano
4-4:30 pm: Anamosa High School
Band
5-5:30 pm: Kitty Creek Quartet
6 pm: Sharon Stenzel and Laura ???,
piano and trombone
6:30 pm: Anamosa High School Concert Choir
7 pm: Sadie
Street Singers
7: 30 pm: High school piano students
December 11
Noon:
Nelda Miller Embree and Katie Thumma, piano
1 pm: Leonard Reyman, accordion
band
2-3 pm: Joan Andreesen, piano students |
PO
Box 108, 208 W. Main Street, Anamosa, IA 52205
319-462-3511,
FAX 319-462-4540
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Anamosa Publications
Anamosa Journal-Eureka / Town Crier 2005
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