The crowds at the 34th Annual Grant Wood Art Festival may not have been as big as Anamosa resident’s had hoped, but the June 11 event did see a steady stream of people milling around on Main Street.

Cold and rain was a common theme over the weekend, and a Grant Wood Art Festival Kick-off Party registered low attendance.
The rain didn’t slow down the popular local band, The 100’s, or prevent fans from dancing and enjoying the evening.

The Jones County Cattlemen were serving up burgers at the party.

Sunday was also cold and rainy, causing the Grant Wood Art Festival to get off to a slow start. By early-afternoon, crowds began to gather on Main Street and in the food and entertainment tent. The musical entertainment provided by WREN, Wicked Liz and the Bellyswirls and Funk101 seemed to get the crowd on their feet for much of the day.

Some of the artists were excited to have the festival return to Anamosa. Goldsmith Vahan Bedeian of Blue Grass explained that he had shown and sold his work at the festival many times in the past, but had forgone the festival in recent years to attend a conflicting festival.

The Anamosa City Council discussed the condition of Anamosa sidewalks at their regular meeting on June 12.

City Administrator Pat Callahan told the council there are many sidewalks in disrepair and suggested an inspection of all sidewalks.

Those that are badly damaged and areas without sidewalks would be the first targeted for repair after inspections are complete. Sidewalks with minor damage would be included in a second phase of inspections.

Sidewalks targeted for repair or replacement would be the responsibility of the property owner. If the owner takes no action the city could hire a contractor to do the work and assess it on the property owners taxes.

Council voted to approve the inspection, but no date has been set for the inspection to take place.

Parking on city streets was also on the agenda at the meeting. Previously the council approved the first reading of an ordinance that would change parking areas on the following streets:

• North Williams from Main Street to Knoll Street, no parking on east side of the street.
• Dillon Court, no parking on either side of the street.
• Huber Street form Cedar Street to Liberty Street, no parking on east side of the street.
• East Liberty Street from North Ford Street to North Huber Street, no parking on either side of the street.
• High Street from West Main Street to its terminus, no parking on the east side of the street.
• Chamber Drive from Highway 64 to Breca Ridge, no parking on either side of the street.
• Main Street, near the intersection of Davis Street to 64 feet West of the South line of Main Street, no parking on the south side of the street.
• Main Street from the intersection of Cleveland Street, West to a point 25 feet West of the intersection of the South line of Main Street and the West line of Cleveland Street, no parking on the south side of the street.

The council hopes to improve traffic flow on these streets by eliminating parking on both sides of the street, which can cause accidents due to narrow passages.

The council approved the second reading of the ordinance and waived the final reading.

Shannon Appleby addressed the council, concerning a city logo he designed for a promotional video that will be distributed to travel and tourism agency. Appleby said when he tried to find a logo for the city he discovered there was none.

Appleby said he would donate the logo to the city to be used on marketing materials and for promotions. He told council members he could make modifications to the logo if they desired. No action was taken.

The council approved the replacement of the mower shed at the Lawrence Community Center. The LCC has also been approved to acquire a window air conditioner for the Warner Room.

Council members voted to close Booth Street on the evening of June 24. The closing is for a street dance at Tucker’s Tavern.

A campaign fundraising dinner for State Representative Ray Zirkelbach will be held June 16 in Canton, Iowa at the Long Branch Restaurant from 4-7:30 p.m.

Representative Zirkelbach is currently serving in Iraq with the Iowa National Guard. He has been out of the country since October 2005 and in Iraq since January. Zirkelbach will return for a two-week break in October and is scheduled to return home in April of 2007.

His wife, Emily Zirkelbach, is hoping for an outstanding turnout in support of her husband’s 2006 campaign.

“The goal of the fundraiser is to get support for Ray as he is running for his second term as State Representative for District 31,” she stated that Senator Tom Hancock and Representative Tom Schuller of Maquoketa have coordinated efforts to show support for their good friend.

Zirkelbach is the only State Representative deployed to Iraq. He is running unopposed in this year’s election.

The menu for the event includes: butterfly pork chop, baked potato and coleslaw and the cost is $20.

Saturday’s chilly temperatures and rain had no effect on the spirit of the Jones County Relay for Life. Approximately two hundred walkers in twenty five teams signed up to participate in a walk-a-thon fundraiser sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

Each year Relay For Life is held at a different Jones County school with this year’s event being held in Monticello. Due to inclement weather, all events were held inside the high school with walking taking place in the gym.

Committee member, Julie Finn was positive about the day’s events, “There is a very good turnout despite the rain. Everyone is out here for the cause.”

The traditional Survivors Lap started off the walking at one p.m. Above and Beyond Health Care of Monticello was present offering health checks. Donations were accepted as nurses checked blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose.

Entertainment was ongoing throughout the twelve hour event. Vendors were on hand selling wares as well as food items to keep walkers and families fueled up. The Olin Dance Team performed live at 5 p.m. and a live auction was scheduled for 7 p.m.

SleepWalkers IV is a group of fifteen Monticello residents that have walked the event for four years beginning in 2000. They have always worn the initials of their surviving teammate, Renee Adams on their right sleeve to show their support.