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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday,
May 11, 2006 |
ISU Solar Car Makes Stop in Anamosa
by Michelle Phillips |
The Iowa State University solar car, PrISUm Fusion, made a stop in Anamosa during a week long tour across Iowa. On the journey students who are involved in producing and racing the vehicle go to schools to discuss the car and alternative energy.
“We’re a club on campus that’s open to all students, and there are about 20 dedicated members” said Kyle Miller, an Electrical Engineering major at the university, who added that all of the work for the vehicle is done during the students’ free time.
Miller said the project was started in 1989 by a fraternity and was initially offered only to engineering students.
“Since 1989 we’ve been in every North American Solar Challenge. We’ve been racing ever since there was a race in North America,” explained Miller. |
Al Lange watches as ISU student, Justin Clegg pushes PrISUm Fusion, the school’s solar car, into the Lawrence Community Center on May 9. The car and the students who built it are traveling across the state, visiting schools and communities. the students also give a presentation on alternative energy. (Journal-Eureka Photo by Michelle Phillips) |
Every two years the students build a new car, starting with a year of engineering and design.
The next step is to build the car and work out any bugs before the North American Solar Challenge. The students are currently working on the design for next year’s car.
The 2005 North American Solar Challenge was a 2500 mile race from Austin to Calgary, which took about 10 days to complete. There were 27 university built vehicles that qualified for the race, along with five in Canada. In the 2005 race PrISUm Fusion placed third in the stock division and 11th overall.
“We have been using an aluminum, heat-treated space frame from the beginning,” said Miller.
“We made this car flatter to prevent the cells from cracking.”
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 ISU student Jared Leonard, who designed the solar car’s electrical system, talks with Robert Visser about the vehicle. The box at the front of the car hold its batteries. (Journal-Eureka Photo by Michelle Phillips) |
The car, which is worth nearly half a million dollars contains 532 lithium ion batteries and can go about 150 on the batteries, at a speed of roughly 30 miles per hour. It is extremely lightweight and ready to race weighs only 610 pounds.
“We can go with our sun, it just hampers the distance we can travel,” Miller added.
Miller said the vehicle has a one wheel drive, in-hub, electric motor and can travel at speeds over 50 miles per hour on just a two and a half horsepower engine.
Though the car is built by students, many of whom are freshman, the group is advised by Dr. Ron Nelson.
Money and donations for the car come from private and corporate sponsors alike. Miller said the club cannot take donations from organizations that already donate to the university, which eliminates some potential donors.
“We offer a program called Adopt a Sponsor, and people can adopt a cell, tire or battery,” Miller said.
Donation amounts are $30 for Adopt a Cell, $100 for adopt a tire and $250 for Adopt a Battery. those who donate to the club receive a Team PrISUm shirt.
Large sponsors have their names place on the car’s trailer and the highest donors get their names place on the car itself. All sponsors are listed on the club’s website, www.prisum.iastate.edu, where donations may also be made. All donations are tax deductible.
The car was brought to Anamosa by the ISU Extension office. |
Operation Military Kids Coming to Fair
by Michelle Phillips |
 This year those who attend the Great Jones County Fair will have an opportunity to get in touch with loved ones overseas, thanks to the Army National Guard and 4-H. The groups will bring a mobile tech unit to the fairgrounds as part of a joint project called Operation: Military Kids.
“Operation: Military Kids is a new program, and Iowa has served as one of the pilot states for the program,” said Connie Burhop, ISU Extension County Youth Coordinator.
Jacki Luckstead, 4-H youth Coordinator said she received an email from Chris Gleason, the director for Operation: Military Kids, asking if there would be interest for the project in Jones County. Luckstead immediately thought of the fair and contacted fair manager John Harms, who showed great interest and support for the project.
The mobile tech unit offers families and friends of military personnel a chance to contact the soldiers electronically. It includes laptop computers, printers and photo technology, so photos can be made on the spot and sent to members of the military.
“Anytime someone wants to talk to me about this fair and the military, I’ll roll over dead for them. I have a soft spot for the military,” commented Harms ,who has a son that just returned from Iraq on May 8.
Originally Luckstead asked if Harms would have the unit at the fair on Veteran’s recognition day, but she said he wanted to have the mobile tech unit available for the whole week.
“The only thing about having it for only one day, is some people only come to the fair once,” said Harms, who felt having the unit at the fair all week would allow more people to use the mobile tech unit.
Joe Yedlik. ISU Extension County Education Director, said the high traffic at the fair, not only residents of Jones county, will make the technology available to a large number of people.
Yedlik also said this is the kind of thing the 4-H is looking for as a service to the community, and the recent hire of Luckstead will make it easier to implement programs such as Operation: Military Kids.
“I expect this to be a very busy spot at the fair,” Yedlik added.
The details of the location of the mobile tech unit have yet to be worked out. Yedlik, Burhop and Luckstead are looking for an air conditioned trailer to use for the week of the Great Jones County Fair. The other possibility would be inside the Berndes Center.
Harms said if the group has a trailer for the mobile tech unit, it would likely be set up outside the Berndes Center or outside the fair office. ours would vary depending on demand.
Luckstead said the AmVets have been contacted and are willing to help with the project. The AmVets will volunteer as needed at the mobile tech unit.
If you would like to donate the use of a trailer, contact Yedlik, Luckstead or Burhop at the Extension Office at 319-462-2791. |
ASP Celebrates Correctional Officers and Employees Week
by Michelle Phillips |
ASP Warden Jerry Burt and Correctional Officer Randy Caspers cook up burgers and hot dogs at a BBQ on the front porch of the prison. (Journal-Eureka Photo by Michelle Phillips) |
Employees of the Anamosa State Penitentiary enjoyed a barbeque on the front lawn of the prison in recognition of employees for national Correctional Officers and Employees Week.
Warden Jerry Burt and Correctional Officer Randy Caspers manned the grill and fellow employees served up side dishes at the annual event.
“We get really good participation from our staff,” said ASP Administrative Assistant Sheryl Perrin. “It’s a good way to say thanks for a job well done.”
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The event also drew in Gary Menard, Iowa Prisons Director, Larry Brimeyer, Director of Eastern Iowa Operations and State Senator Tom Hancock.
Perrin said the institution will also give service awards later in the week. |
Fire Department Holds Breakfast
by Susan Yario |
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Ryan Marek is amazed by the sheer size of Smokey the Bear at the Anamosa Fire Department’s Pancake Breakfast on May 7. The fundraiser was held to raise money for new fire gear for the department. The cost of each set is $1,700, and totals $51,000. The gear should arrive in August. The fire department is still raising money through its can and bottle drive. (Journal-Eureka photo by Susan Yario) |
Delagardelle Wins Teacher of the Year Award
by Michelle Phillips |
Tina Delagardelle, West Middle School (WMS) Special Education teacher, is the recipient of the Anamosa Wal-Mart teacher of the Year Award. Wal-Mart Manager Doug Pate was at WMS to present Delagardelle with the award on May 5 during a tstaff meeting.
Delagardelle was nominated for the award by fellow staff members Tammy Marek, Rosemary Leesekamp, Phyllis Randolph and Angie Osterkamp. The women said the following about Delagardelle:
Mrs. Delagardelle is a Special Education teacher at West Middle School. She strives to challenge the potential of each student, yet accepting their limitations and making the most of their abilities. |
West Middle School Special Education teacher Tina Delagardelle receives a check for $1,000 from Wal-Mart Manager Doug Pate as one of her prizes for teacher of the year. (Journal-Eureka Photo by Michelle Phillips) |
She is excellent at recognizing strengths and special learning needs, and spends countless hours individualizing lesson plans to maximize learning potential.
In the short time she has been in the Anamosa School District, remarkable improvement in the students has been noticed by many faculty members and parents. As associates in her classroom, Mrs. Delagardelle not only treats us with respect, but also as an integral part of her team.
Delagardelle was presented with a certificate, a Wal-Mart shirt, a $100 gift card for classroom supplies and a $1,000 check for the school.
Pate told the audience of staff members that Delagardelle will now compete for the state prize of $10,000. If she were to win the state competition, she would go on to the National Wal-Mart teacher of the Year contest, which offers a prize of $25,000 for the winner’s school. |
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