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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday,
August 9, 2007 |
Everyone Can Benefit from Lunch Buddies
by Michelle Phillips |
Everybody eats lunch, and the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Lunch Buddies program is hoping that some Anamosa residents will want to eat lunch with a child.
“We only have six right now,” said Patti Bammert of the Family Resource Association, who coordinates the volunteers in Anamosa.
“In a school this size we have a ton of kids we could match up,” she added.
Lunch Buddies is a program that places students with adults for lunch and friendship.
Bob George who has been a Lunch Buddy for about four years said it is an easy way to volunteer your time and make a difference in a child’s life.
“We talk about school, help with lessons or work on things they may be having a problem with,” said George, who said he plays games with his buddy.
“We’ve played a lot of Chinese Checkers,” he said.
George said his buddy has come out of his shell over the years.
“His enthusiasm is just amazing,” he added.
Polly Chalstrom has been a Lunch Buddy since October and said she sees the program benefiting her buddy.
“She has some consistency and stability in her life. It is something to look forward to and a time to really focus on her,” she said.
Both George and Chalstrom agree that the program requires little effort, meeting with the child a minimum of every two weeks, but preferably each week. They also say the benefit is not only to the child, but also the volunteer.
“As you see him expanding his horizons, it really makes you feel good,” said George.
Chalstrom added, “I think the biggest thing is a sense of fulfillment. You get to interact with a child, and they are full of enthusiasm and excitement.”
“I would encourage anybody to do it,” said George.
“It takes very little effort and the payback is enormous,” included Chalstrom. “I love my Lunch Buddy and I can’t wait to see her again when school starts.”
Bammert said the Lunch Buddy schedule could work around the volunteer’s schedule and the school.
“It’s good to have the same day each week, though,” Bammert said.
Those interested in the Lunch Buddies program must fill out a short application and be interviewed through Big Brothers and Big Sisters. A time can be arranged for someone to come to the volunteer to conduct the interview.
For more information and to acquire an application, contact Big Brothers and Big Sisters at 319-377-8993 or visit their website at www.beabigcr.org. |
Civil War Battle Flag Preservation
By Michelle Phillips |
Bob and Charlene George, Jan Koppenhaver, and Ray and Maryann Cox took the Civil War Battle flag to Des Moines where it will be preserved and then returned to Anamosa Library and Learning Center.
The flag was found in the vault of the old library, and has a tag sewn on it stating that it had been carried by Thomas Blizzard of Fairview Township. He was killed in the Battle of Vicksburg, July 1863. Several businesses, individuals and clubs donated to this conservation project and grants were received from Anamosa Affiliate Group, Jones County Endowment and REAP.
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| The preservation process will be done at the Civil War Battle flag lab at the State Historical Society. It will be cleaned, stabilized, documented and mounted in an archival frame and will be placed in the Anamosa Library study room. |
School Board Celebrates Students, Teacher and Administrator
By Susan Yario |
The Anamosa Community School District board had several celebrations at its regular meeting on Monday evening. President Jim Mitchel presented The Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Nancy Stout, with a certificate of appreciation. Mitchel also presented certificates to two middle school students; Ben Gates and Lauren Taylor. These students are recipients of an annual eighth grade student recognition award entitled the Walt Fortney Award. Gates and Taylor were chosen by middle school staff in May 2007. The award is based on character traits of: responsibility, politeness, punctuality, cooperation, respect, reliability, honesty and consideration of others during all years of schooling at West Middle School.
Strawberry Hill Elementary school Principal Reona Ewald was awarded a special trophy for her hard work and dedication on the preschool grant project. Anamosa was one of less than 15% of Iowa schools to win a preschool grant.
Personnel matters approved on Monday evening are as follows:
Classified staff:
Carmel LaFave, Alcohol Grant Secretary, reinstate of reduction Alcohol Grant effective immediately.
Cindy Miller, WMS Health Paraeducator, effective 07-08 school year.
Cari Atwood, Rainbow Day Care Asst., effective immediately.
Coaching/Extra Curricular, Amanda Gile, Color Guard Choreographer, effective 07-08 school year.
James Fuhrmeister, Football Coach (volunteer), effective immediately.
Jeff Alderdyce, 8th Grade Asst. Football Coach, effective 07-08 school year.
Mark Walker, Asst. Varsity Football Coach, effective 07-08 school year.
Casey Ditch, Asst. 7th Grade Football Coach, effective 07-08 school year.
Resignation:
Judy Weber, Strawberry Hill Elem. Food Service, effective 07-08 school year.
Also approved were six PPEL projects previously discussed for recommendation for a total of $47,664.00.
• $16,674 + $650 – high school phone system replacement & backup batteries.
• $8,470 – Football Stadium clock and sign.
• $10,000 – 59-passenger bus purchase to replace one of two buses that are close to January retirement.
• $3,350 – Asbestos removal for water heater in boiler room at WMS.
• $4,000 – Retaining wall removal at WMS due to safety reasons.
• $4,500 – New volleyball Standards for AHS gymnasium, supporting Booster Club request.
The remaining $24,000 is still undesignated in the 07-08 budget. Items sighted for exploration are; replace current visitor bleaches at the football field with portable aluminum bleachers and replacement washer and dryer at AHS for consolidated uniform cleaning as requested by the Booster Club.
DLR representatives, Tom Penny and Jacob Sertich presented a process and procedure schedule for the next year. The outline presented describes how the staff, community, students and administration will be included in the ten year facility master plan, High School design and High School remodel to Middle School. Administer workshops are beginning in August and with September being the month for student and community workshops. Board workshops will take place September through December. Workshops will enable all committee groups to ask questions and present challenges from different perspectives. DLR will align workshops to coincide with school board meeting nights.
December 3, 2007 will be the final acceptance date of the long-range plan including alternative scenarios, AHS renovations, mechanical and electrical system options for the new building, current middle school options and preschool options for the elementary school as well.
A shared Kids Quest 28-E agreement between Anamosa and Monticello was approved with Anamosa continuing to supervise the before and after school program. Also approved on Monday night were two members of the Administrative team to be a part of the District Leadership Team to monitor and oversee the implementation of the requirements of statutes and administrative code provisions relating to the teacher quality of Senate File277 Professional Development Day. The members appointed are Mary Bendixen and Superintendent Dale Monroe.
Some discussion was had over the cost analysis of the IA 64 corridor traffic study. The total cost of the report by Snyder & Associates may be reduced by approximately $2,500.00 if assisted by volunteers in the district to help with traffic counts at scheduled times and locations. The entities involved; JRMC, IDOT, City of Anamosa, Jones County and Anamosa Community School district are scheduled to meet within the next few weeks. There is no final agreement in place as of this time.
The Super Report was the final item of the school board meeting. Superintendent Monroe related that the school board candidates are Brian Bieber, Julie VonMuenster and Jim Mitchel. A community forum is scheduled for August 30, 2007.
Also of interest is a new bill being introduced by Senator Harkin for grant dollars that may be obtained by high need rural schools. Monroe will be forwarding information to the board members for their support.
A Strawberry Hill student bus-loading pilot will be introduced at the beginning of the new school year.
School administrators will be attending the Administrators meeting in Des Moines on Wednesday and Thursday of this week in preparation of the new school year. |
C-SPAN Campaign 2008 Bus Stopping at LCC
By Michelle Phillips |
The C-SPAN Campaign 2008 Bus will be rolling into Anamosa on August 15. The stop is part of the “Politics in the Heartland Tour”, which will travel Iowa throughout August.
The bus is a new endeavor for C-SPAN, and will be at the Lawrence Community Center from 9-10 a.m. The campaign bus is designed to teach people about the political process in the United States, and the information is introduced by government teachers from around the country.
The trip is sponsored by Mediacom Communications and involves several interactive stops along the way. On August 15, an interactive stop is planned for Clinton from 1-3:30 p.m., but the Anamosa stop will also provide useful information for voters and educators interested in teaching the political process.
Information on accessing classroom tools through the C-Span website will also be available. Those resources include campaign footage, podcasts and debate-oriented questions for the classroom. The information can be accessed at www.c-spanclassroom.org. |
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Box 108, 208 W. Main Street, Anamosa, IA 52205
319-462-3511,
FAX 319-462-4540
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