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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday,
August 2, 2007 |
Dodd Visits Fountain Park
by Ben Parker |
Democratic Presidential hopeful, Chris Dodd visited Fountain Park in Anamosa on July 28, hoping to garner support. He spoke candidly with a crowd of about 20 individuals concerning his experience and the problems he planned to address as president.
He first detailed what personal qualifications he had that would make him an ideal president. He’s been elected five times, consecutively, by the people of Connecticut, which suggests they are satisfied with him. He served with the National Guard, making him the only current democratic candidate to have worn a uniform.
He is the father of two daughters, one five and the other two years of age.
Besides a strong desire to do some good for the larger community and the nation as a whole, the biggest driving factor for Senator Dodd is his youngest daughter. She was born only two days after September 11. It made him think hard about what he could do for a child born during such a time of change. He wants to be able to sit down with her and explain what he did to help the country at that time, and he firmly believes that the most good can be done from the oval office.
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Democratic Presidential candidate Chris Dodd talks with potential supporters near the gazebo at Fountain Park. Dodd made the stop in Anamosa on July 28. About 20 people turned out and asked questions of the Senator from Connecticut.
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“I’m here today to make my case to you,” he said.
However, instead of going into a long speech about his favorite issues, the senator opened up the floor for questions. This is something that his supporters claim he is well known for, enjoying the small, one-on-one exchanges. Only five major questions were raised, but he addressed each one at length.
The first question was about a proposition he made to require mandatory community service for high school students.
His response was, “I’d like young people to learn that experience.”
Dodd firmly believes that a mindset of community service and a desire to help is one thing this nation is really lacking, and promoting community service, especially early, is a good start. He wants to make one hundred hours a requirement for high school students.
When someone asked if this would keep a student for graduation, he answered that some details were still in the works.
Next came a question about his plans for health care. Dodd believes that the current health care system needs a lot of change, and he wants to come up with a universal national coverage plan.
“People move around a lot,” he explained, so his plan would be portable. It wouldn’t be tied to a person’s job, but to the person.
It certainly would not be regional, because different rules for different regions would have side effects for those that were just visiting or moved in later. And, by making the coverage national, the risks would be spread across the entire country, instead of a small group of individuals, reducing coverage costs drastically.
To create this plan Dodd would not ask for more taxes. The country already spends enough on healthcare, all it would take would be to spend differently. Also, more emphasis would be made for reducing health costs for any person. This would be achieved by giving incentives to doctors who take steps to reduce medication use and hospital stays and using treatments that actually heal a person, making them well.
Dodd expressed his disappointment about the small amount of time that was given to healthcare issues during the debates he attended.
“You may disagree with me, but that’s all right. At least you know where I stand.”
The last question dealt with the tax on earned income. Dodd believes that the current tax system does need to be changed.
“People do dream,” said the senator, then explained that one of the failings of the Democratic party is that it used to be the party that provided opportunities. It was the party that made dreams possible, if not a guarantee. The Democratic Party needs to return to that role. And the taxes need to be reformed to aid in helping people further their dreams.
For more information on Chris Dodd and his policies, visit www.chrisdodd.com. |
Second Assault at Anamosa State Penitentiary Injures Three Guards
By Michelle Phillips |
On July 25 at about 11:45 a.m. correctional officers were assaulted by two inmates at the Anamosa State Penitentiary (ASP), the second assault at the prison in four days time.
The incident occurred when inmate Matthew Crawford was observed in an unauthorized area. He refused orders to stop moving and left the area. When officers attempted to gain compliance Crawford became combative and assaulted the officer.
While staff tried to restrain Crawford, inmate Eric Peppers intervened, injuring two other officers.
The inmates were both restrained and put in segregation while an investigation was conducted.
All three correctional officers were taken to Jones Regional Medical Center (JRMC) and treated for non-life threatening injuries. Those injuries included neck, wrist and arm.
The previous assault came on July 21 and involved inmate Oscar Gonzales. A correctional officer was also taken to JRMC for non-life threatening injuries. The officer suffered contusions to the neck and face.
Fred Scaletta, Public and Media Relations Director for the Iowa Department of Corrections said there is often no way of knowing when an assault will occur.
“We may not have one for five years, or we may have another one tomorrow,” he said.
Scaletta said the correctional officers handled the incident as they were trained to do.
“The staff did a wonderful job,” he added, and said that the men and women who work in the Department of Corrections put their lives on the line everyday.
ASP Warden Jerry Burt said the last serious assault at the prison was in August 2006. After the assault, ASP staff conducted an informational picket to bring attention to the understaffing at ASP. At that time there were 1296 inmates at the facility, which was designed to hold just over 900.
There were about 200 security personnel in August 2006.
Burt said since the picket, ASP has hired some additional security staff and the number is 211 at this time. He added that they had all available positions full at this time.
“The issue is, we’ve just lost some positions over the years,” he included. “In terms of safety in the institution, it’s not just the correctional officers that contribute to the safety by keeping people productive. All staff have a very, very important role.”
The warden said the legislature has appropriated an additional $324,000 to the penitentiary’s fund,
“That’s basically to keep the staff we have right now,” he stated, and said ASP and Luster Heights have more than 400 people on staff.
Burt said the recent incidents were serious, but isolated.
“We don’t have any reason to believe that the incidents were related in any way or that there was any particular cause,” he continued.
He said there is no magic number of employees for a facility of this size, and no ratio of staff to inmates. Burt said the Iowa Department of Corrections has conducted a study analyzing the staff necessary, but the results have not come back.
The warden said no one likes the assaults, including those serving time.
“It’s difficult on the staff, it’s difficult on the inmates,” he concluded.
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133rd Battalion Welcomed Home by More than 7,000 People
By Michelle Phillips |
Confetti flew, balloons shimmered in the breeze and cheers filled the air as more than 7,000 friends, family and loved ones of the 133rd Battalion waited for the troops to arrive at Riverside Stadium in Waterloo on July 25.
The 640 soldiers, which included six Jones County residents, were due to arrive at 1:30 p.m., but were slowed by the traffic and thousands of people who lined Highway 20 and its overpasses on the route from camp McCoy in Wisconsin.
“It’s wonderful seeing all the flags and signs,” said Teresa Gallagher, who along with her husband Harold, family and friends, chartered a bus from Galena, IL. The group was there to greet Harold and Teresa’s grandson Jamie Gallagher.
Dave Higgins, a former Vietnam veteran was on hand to welcome home his friend Joe Swinghammer, a Deputy Sheriff from Buchanan County. Higgins said he felt supporting the troops is important.
“When I got off the plane in Des Moines, people were throwing eggs,” he recalled.
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One of the Patriot Guard Riders looks on as Anamosa resident Nick Bonifazi walks onto the field at Waterloo’s Riverside Stadium on July 25. Bonifazi is part of the 133rd Battalion that arrived home last week after almost two years of deployment. |
Higgins son, Major Dan Higgins is getting ready for redeployment for the third time, he said.
“I feel proud to see the support for the troops. I’m very grateful that the media is covering this,” he included, pointing to the menagerie of reporters and cameras on the infield.
Leona Riley of Dubuque, IA waited for her son Sgt. Dan Ryan Jr. along with Ryan’s stepmother Doris Ryan of East Dubuque, IL.
“It’s all just so overwhelming, he’s had so much support in Dubuque where he grew up,” Riley said.
She added that this is the second time she has had a son come home from Iraq. Her son Chris Ryan returned in 2005.
Doris Ryan added, “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
Iowa National Guard spokesman, Lt. Col. Gregory Hapgood said a homecoming like this one is one of the biggest senses of joy one can ever experience.
“When the bagpipes start playing and people start to come in, this place will explode,’ he said.
Hapgood said there is always a chance that the men and women will be deployed again, but the State Department tries to keep them home for at least four years.
“It’s the Department of Defense that calls up the unit,” he added.
He said the homecoming event was in the works for several months and the military tried to get the UniDome in Cedar Falls, but the RAGBRAI schedule conflicted with the event.
“We are extremely happy that the city of Waterloo and the stadium allowed us to hold the event here,” Hapgood praised.
He said that there were lessons learned in Vietnam, one of which was that we need to support our troops regardless of political beliefs.
“We have a lot of Vietnam vets who never got a welcome home, but they’re here today–that’s amazing,” said Hapgood.
Cheers went up after an announcement that the buses carrying the soldiers were in sight. Escorted by dozens of Patriot Guard Riders on motorcycles, the charter buses rolled into the parking lot of the stadium. After several minutes the MacKenzie Highlanders of Des Moines began playing bagpipes and drums and the soldiers were cued up for their entrance.
First the Patriot Guard riders filed in bearing American flags, followed by a single file line of soldiers. A deafening burst of cheers rose up over the stadium as the crowd waved flags and signs welcoming the troops home.
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Soldiers stream into Riverside Stadium in Waterloo; Patriot Guard Riders line the entrance before the troops arrive; Dave Higgins, Lauren Kimball, Amy Kimball and Daniel Kimball wait for the 133rd to arrive; Balloons were a common sight at the homecoming; Doris Ryan, Riley Schultejans and Leona Riley in the dugout before the soldiers arrived. |
| Several military dignitaries spoke briefly to the crowd, praising the 133rd for all of their hard work and sacrifice. Then it was a mad dash for soldiers and the crowd to find familiar faces that had been just a memory for nearly two years. |
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