| | 
The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday,
August 10, 2006 |
Strike Continues, Negotiations in the Works
by Michelle Phillips |
The strike at Bennett Machine and Fabricating (BM&F) is still underway, and negotiations are in the works to attempt rectification of the walkout.
The 18 employees that are part of Teamsters Local 238 have remained united in the strike, and hope that the next mediation, scheduled for August 10 will yield some results.
“We told them what we were interested in getting, and they said they’d think about it,” said BM&F employee Terry Lewis.
Lewis said the workers are asking for more money and benefits.
|
Terry Lewis, Scott Gienapp and Mike Fall on the picket line at Bennett Machine and Fabricating. The men, who are part of teamsters Local 238 went on strike August 1 after their 3-year contract ended. (Journal-Eureka Photos by Michelle Phillips) |
“We really aren’t very defined at this point,” he said.
The employees have changed their strategy a bit and now have three people walking the picket line in six-hour shifts.
While employees are on strike they receive a percentage of their incomes from a strike fund, through the union.
“You can technically go to work someplace else,” said Lewis, who added that since the strike is only a week old that hasn’t been a consideration up to this point.
BM&F has declined to comment on the strike since it began on August 1. |
Springville to Celebrate 125 Years
by
Michelle Phillips |
The City of Springville has held Fun Day for many years, but with the town celebrating it’s 125th anniversary, the town’s mayor, Bill Cooper thought a bigger celebration was in order, and a quasquisentennial event was slated for August 11-13.
“We had a big celebration for the centennial, and it was Mayor Cooper’s idea to do something bigger and better than our normal Fun Day, said Events Committee member Cynthia Stimson.
A committee was formed about a year and a half ago and 25-30 men and women set about brainstorming to think of things to include in the quasquisentennial event. Co-chairs of the committee are Mayor Cooper and Michelle Nachazel.
“We looked at what had been done for the centennial and asked area residents for input,” Stimson explained.
One of the highlights of the celebration is a concert with Little Big Town and local band The 100s on August 12. Stimson said the gig was conveinient for Little Big Town because they have another show in the Midwest on their schedule.
“We’re really hoping we can sellout the concert. We’re also hoping that everyone in Springville will get involved,” she added.
One of the ways the committee is planning to get everyone involved is through a community meal in Upper Butler Park on August 13. The meal will feature sandwiches, side dishes and a drink.
Dessert will also be available.
“We’re also really excited about bringing fireworks back, we haven’t had fireworks in many years,” included Stimson, who said the fireworks displays became too costly.
In addition to music, food and fireworks, the event will include other events that have always been apart of Fun Day. They Include: a parade, tractor pull, kids games and a street dance.
Stimson said ther were several families with multiply generations in the parade. The Grand Marshals will be Brown Township Insurance, which started business in Springville in the 1860s, and Merle and Harriet McGrew, who have been married 65 years. Both Merle and Harriet grew up in Springville.
Alta McGrew, who lived in Springville and now resides at Hallmark Care Center in Mount Vernon, just turned 101 and will be included in the parade.
“Her banner is going to say ‘101 and still having fun,’” Stimson said with a laugh.
The town will also be celebrating the Springville Library’s first birthday on August 11. Ice cream and cake will be served.
“The library will also have historical items people have gathered on display,” she said.
Stimson said the committee got both residents and businesses involved in running some of the events. Much of the funding for the celebration was provided by corporate sponsors in the area.
Back on June 11 1881, 41 of the 365 residents in what is now Springville, petitioned the district court to incorporate Springville as a town. On July 20, 1881 the proposed incorporation was put to vote and passed by a narrow margin of 45-36.
The land had originally been part of the Second Black Hawk Purchase in 1837 after it was ceded to the United States by Sac and Fox Native American tribes. It was then purchased by Charles Pickney in 1840. The area was named Brown Township after an old Revolutioner, Nathan Brown, who settled in the area in 1839. In 1842 he first post office was built. Currently, Springville has a population of 1091, based on 2000 U.S Census figures.
For more information on the event, visit www.ci.springville.ia.us. |
Ground Breaking Held at Anamosa Care Center
by Michelle Phillips |
Anamosa Care Center residents and Anamosa Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors converged on the care center for an officially ground breaking at the facility.
The care center is currently building an addition to the facility that will offer 16 assisted living units. The assisted living area will attach to the care center through a corridor.
Anamosa Care Center director, Margaret Stickley said the expansion will fill a void in the community.
“The response from the community has been tremendous. If I were to open today I’d have it filled and people on a waiting list,” she said, and added that the residents at the care center are very excited about the project.
Jordan Payne of Payne Building Systems in Winterset is the contractor for the 13,879 square foot facility, which had a home located on the site just a few months ago. |
Residents and staff of Anamosa Care Center were on hand for a ground breaking of the facility’s new assisted living addition on August 7. (Journal-Eureka Photo by Michelle Phillips)
The Anamosa Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors held a ground breaking for Anamosa Care Center on August 7. The care center is adding 16 assisted living units to thier facility. (Journal-Eureka Photo by Michelle Phillips)
|
Payne, whose company specializes in building assisted living facilities said his crew has about six more weeks of work on the project.
“The weather has put has back about 14 days, but we’re working on the plumbing and the framing will start in about two weeks,” he said.
Payne said he has been trying to subcontract work out to local businesses, and Rogers Concrete of Anamosa did the cement work on the building. He said he would like to get more local contractors to bid out roofing and drywall in the coming weeks.
When the land was cleared and leveled for the new addition, 1200 loads of dirt were removed. The majority of the dirt was sent to the Hale Bridge Project to build approaches.
Stickley had nothing but praise for Payne Building Systems.
“They’ve been very conscientious to make sure the neighbors are satisfied and very good about letting me know what’s coming,” she said.
She added that since the care center is landlocked she didn’t think expansion would be possible.
“It’s a dream come true. I never thought this would happen,” Stickley concluded. |
Weideman to Run for School Board Re-election
by Michelle Phillips |
Anamosa native, Sharon Weideman, will be running for her fourth term as an Anamosa Community School Board member on September 12.
One of the reason she wants to continue to serve on the board is community involvement.
“I think it’s very important for people to take an active role in their community and try to help to make it a better place to live and raise families,” Weideman said.
Weideman said she feels that education needs to be customized for individual students, whether they will attend college or not.
“It’s important to meet the needs of all kids. |
Sharon Weideman |
There’s a strong internship program at the high school, that gives kids a variety of opportunities to pursue interests, and I think that needs to continue,” Weideman stated.
She said she would support a mandatory four years of English, and said many students already take English for four years. She feels that classes could be offered through the ICN or in the classroom, which ever is more financially feasible for the school district.
Weideman said that with nine years as a school board member under her belt, she knows that communication among everyone, parents, administration and the board is important.
“The board is just a portion,” said Weideman. “Those who work day-to-day with students make the biggest impact.”
Some of the issue Weideman feels are timely for the district include providing the best possible education for all students, open enrollment with other districts and addressing what to do with the current middle school.
“I think it’s a very exciting time for the district,” she said.
Weideman said new administrators and the opportunity for a new middle school are two of the best things on the horizon for the Anamosa School District.
“Carol (Lensing) began interviewing people who open enroll out, so I think it’s important to continue that and show them what the district has to offer,’ she added.
Weideman is a graduate of the Anamosa Community schools and Cornell College. She is currently the Vice President/Marketing Director at Citizens Bank in Anamosa.
Weideman and her husband Kevin have two children, Tim, a junior at Anamosa High School, and Jay, who is in seventh grade.
|
PO
Box 108, 208 W. Main Street, Anamosa, IA 52205
319-462-3511,
FAX 319-462-4540
Copyright
Anamosa Publications
Anamosa Journal-Eureka / Town Crier 2005
Thede Web
Works - Website
Questions
|