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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday,
March 9, 2006 |
Wal-Mart to Hold Grand Opening for Supercenter
by Michelle Phillips |
ANAMOSA–Nearly a year after construction began on the Anamosa Wal-Mart Supercenter, the store is preparing for its Grand Opening on March 22.
Anamosa Wal-Mart Manager Doug Pate said the Grand Opening will get underway at 7:30 am with the store opening at 8 am.
The event will include a ribbon cutting, cake and coffee and donations to local and civic organizations. The AmVets color guard will also be on hand to present colors and a Wal-Mart associate will sing the National Anthem.
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The new Anamosa Wal-Mart Supercenter will hold a Grand Opening at 7:30 am March 22. (Journal-Eureka Photo by Michelle Phillips) |
“We invited local officials, business and community leaders and managers from other area Wal-Marts,” said Pate.
The new Supercenter will offer a one-hour photo center, in which any kind of photo media can be used, a full grocery, deli and bakery. There will also be a Grab and Go section with a seating area. The Grab and Go area will offer quick snacks and beverages.
“It’s done on the honor system,” said Pate. “You basically get your food and drink and can eat it right there.”
Some of the other feature of the new Wal-Mart will include hardwood floors in the clothing area, skylights for energy savings and a TV wall.
“Departments that do well in this community will be expanded, those which don’t do as well will be reduced in size,” explained Pate, who said Wal-Mart tries to tailor stores to meet community needs.
The new Supercenter has also expanded their Garden Center to include more selections of patio sets, plants, patio stones and outdoor furniture. The pet department has also been expanded and will now offer live fish.
The new store is approximately 99,000 square feet, nearly three times larger than the old Wal-Mart, and will be open 24 hours a day.
A Murphy USA gas station will be located on the site, but at this time the two lots on the property have not been sold or leased. However an undisclosed buyer has purchased the old Wal-Mart store.
“It’s a good location, and it didn’t take long to sell,” added Pate.
The new store will employ 215 people including Pate, seven assistant managers and over 20 department managers.
“I know that a lot of people that shop my store now can’t wait for the new store to open,” concluded Pate. |
Schepanski Wins Midland Athletic Boosters Award
by Michelle Phillips |
WYOMING–Anamosa Sports Editor Daryl Schepanski wasn’t surprised when Midland High School Athletic Director Kirk Park called him to see if he could cover the school’s Winter Sports Banquet on March 6, the surprise came later when Schepanski was named the Winner of the 2005 Midland Athletic Booster of the Year Award.
“Kirk Park called me last week and asked me what I was doing last (Monday) night. He said they were handing out some special awards and wanted to know if I could get some pictures,” explained Schepanski, who agreed to get photos of the kids.
“I had my camera out, getting photos of the kids and he (John Meyer) said they would be handing out the Midland Athletic Boosters Award. |
Karla Bowen, Midland Athletic Booster officer, presents Anamosa Journal-Eureka Sports Editor, Daryl Schepanski, with the Booster of the Year Award at the Midland Winter Sports Banquet March 6. (Photo by Shirley Jones) |
He started to describe the person, and didn’t say my name, just a description. They started to talk about all the photos and articles this person put in the paper, and I figured out it was me!” Schepanski said.
The description of Daryl told of him on the sidelines taking photos, talking to coaches, administrators, parents and students.
“Daryl Schepanski, Sports Editor and photographer for the Anamosa Journal-Eureka, goes beyond reporting the box scores and taking the required pictures. He gets to know some of the Midland athletes–and all of the coaches–personally,” Meyer read.
Park explained how the award recipient was chosen, “He was nominated by people in the community, the nominations were turned in to Booster Club officers and they made the final cut.”
Schepanski said he was not expecting the award and was completely shocked when he won.
“It just kind of hit me from left field,” he said.
Park said Schepanski has always been a great supporter of Midland Athletics and was the clear cut winner for the award.
“It was time to give him a little recognition from the community, students, boosters, athletes and school,” Park added.
The Midland Athletic Boosters started the Booster of the Year Award in 1993 to acknowledge people, businesses and organizations that support the school’s athletic programs.
Past winners include:
1993–John Meyer
1994–Frank Fishler
1995–Craig Muhl
1996–Dave Bucholtz & Larry Meyer
1997–Albert Boots
1998–Ronnie Martensen
1999–Betty Anderson
2000–Bob King
2001–Rick Westoff
2002–None Issued
2003–Wyoming Fair Association & Jerry Sorgenfrey
2004–Walters Lumber Company (Kenny & Bill Walters) |
Hancock Holds Forum
by Michelle Phillips |
MONTICELLO–State Senator Tom Hancock held a forum at Darrel’s in Monticello on March 3. Hancock answered questions from community members, most of which concerned bills that are currently pending in the Iowa Legislature.
Hot topics included the Touch Play machines, sex offender laws and renewable fuel production.
Hancock said the legislature has voted to ban all Touch Play machines in the state. He said that although he doesn’t expect a complete ban on the machines, he does expect restrictions to be imposed.
“There will be a lot of amendments, I’m sure,” said Hancock, who said small business owners have made large investments in the machines.
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Photo L-R: Mel Manternach, Larry Yanda, Bill Meyer and Tom Hancock discuss issues that concern Iowans at Darrel’s in Monticello. Hancock will hold another forum in Jones County March 11. (Journal-Eureka Photo by Michelle Phillips) |
“If we do ban them, they at least ought to get their money back,” he said.
The item made it out of subcommittee and will now be debated on the Senate floor.
On the sex offender bill Hancock said first time offenders would get a 25-year sentence and a second offense would become a 25-year to life sentence.
“When you mess with kids, it’s zero tolerance,” he added.
He said he voted for the law that makes it illegal for sex offenders to live within 2000 feet of a school, park, pool or other places children are commonly present.
“That’s causing problems because it just says you can’t live there, not that you can’t go near it (restricted area),” he said, and added that there should be a change in classifications of a sexual offense.
Hancock said the renewable energy tax grants for wind power will likely be extended.
“I don’t think we’re addressing it (renewable fuels) enough. We don’t do enough to conserve,” Hancock pointed out, and said the Iowa Legislature has installed motion sensitive lights to help conserve energy.
He also said there are only about 30 E85 stations in Iowa, and that should be expanded.
“It’s a process in the works to try to expand E85 availability,” he said.
The expansion of the biodiesel industry has been slow, with only six biodiesel plants in Iowa. Hancock said there are tax credits and incentives available through the Iowa Values Fund.
When asked what could be done about Iraq, Hancock replied, “I don’t know what we’re going to do, I wish I did.”
Hancock will hold another forum in Jones County at Wyoming Memorial Hall at 10:30 am March 11. |
Local Group Raises Money for Brayton Family
by Michelle Phillips |
ANAMOSA–Over 300 people poured in to the Lawrence Community Center for a lasagna and spaghetti dinner and bake sale on March 3. The fundraiser was the latest endeavor by local group, Jones County, Iowa Cares, and all money raised at the event will be give to the family of Michelle Fountain Brayton, a former Jones County resident who was recently killed in a car accident.
Tammy Seeley, one of the organizers of the dinner said the group wanted to stay together after raising money and necessary items for Hurricane Katrina victims.
“After we sent the truck and talked to people in Mississippi, we saw how we helped people. We decided we wanted to keep the group going,” said Seeley, who added that many of the 13 women in the group have children and wanted to do something to help Michelle’s children.
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Photos: Above: Iowa Cares volunteers; Lynnette Otten (L), Trish Langdon (right front) and Mary June Hunter (right back) serving up dinner for benefit guests; Below: Carla Elliott and Tyler Olsen purchasing benefit dinner tickets from Brett Seeley/ Jones Co. Iowa Cares. (Journal-Eureka Photos by Susan Yario) |
Jones County, Iowa Cares also held a bowling tournament on February 25. Between the two events, the women have raised $4,000. They are hoping to surpass their goal of $5,000 after a third benefit for the family, which will be a band at the Anamosa Bowling center.
“Tri-Cyclic donated their time, and we’ll be having a silent auction,” Seeley explained.
Seeley said the women in the group have used their own money to pay for advertising and other items so all the proceeds from the events can go to those who need them.
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| “We’d like to thank our community. We get lots of donations and support from the community,” Seeley added. |
St. Pat’s Holds Annual Fish Fry |
| Right - Lloyd and Carol Lorezen being served fish by Annette Petersen and Mary Jean Recke at the St. Pat's Fish Fry March 3rd. Each year St. Pat’s holds the Fish Fry to kick off Lent. |
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| Right - Table of choice desserts available at the St. Pat's Fish Fry. (Journal-Eureka Photos by Susan Yario) |
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