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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday,
July 19, 2007 |
Anamosa Mourns Loss of Teenager
by Michelle Phillips |
A one-vehicle accident on July 10 left residents of Anamosa in mourning. At approximately 8:30 p.m. the Linn County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of an accident on Buffalo Ridge Road, near Hart Road in rural Linn County.
Upon arrival at the scene, deputies found a Chevy Lumina in a cornfield and four injured teenagers. The two backseat passengers, 14 year-old Crystal Carson and 14 year-old Brian Ogden were both thrown from the vehicle. Neither was wearing a seatbelt. Both Carson and Ogden were air-lifted to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where Carson died of her injuries and Ogden is still in critical condition.
The driver, 17 year-old Aleen Austin and front seat passenger, 15 year-old Anthony Snobl were both treated and released at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids.
The accident is still under investigation.
All of the accident victims are Anamosa residents.
Anamosa High School officials wasted no time in offering counseling for students or even adults.
The school had a team of staff and a Crisis Response Team from Grant Wood AEA on hand from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on July 11 and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on July 12 and 13. A special group therapy session was also held on July 13 for Carsons closest friends. Anamosa High School Principal Steve Goodall said about 80-100 came to the school for counseling.
A candlelight vigil was also held for Carson on July 11 at the Anamosa High School flagpole.
“It’s a very unfortunate and negative situation. It’s been positive that the kids and parents are seeking help from the school. It’s good to know that the school has such a good repoire with the community. We certainly sympathize with all of the parents, especially the Carsons,” Goodall commented.
Goodall said the school was in the process of compiling a handout to help teachers deal with this sensitive subject.
“As we start the new school year, it will be tough for the other three students,” he added. |
Remembering Crystal
By Michelle Phillips |
Before Deb and Mike Carson’s daughter Crystal lost her life in a car accident on July 10, the Anamosa couple had no idea how special she was.
“Of course she was special to us because she was our daughter,” said Deb. “We had so many people tell us how wonderful she was.”
“She wasn’t perfect, but she touched a lot of people,” added Mike.
The community’s love for Crystal was apparent at both her visitation and funeral, with about 700 attending the visitation on July 13 and 300 at the First United Congregational Church of Christ during the July 14 funeral, where friends and family members spoke about Crystal.
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Crystal Carson |
Deb and Mike related stories about Crystal on July 16, and described the 14 year-old high school freshman as outgoing, helpful, happy, respectful, intelligent, independent, strong-willed and determined.
One teacher told the Carsons that Crystal always asked if her teachers needed help and told them to have a nice day. A mother told them that Crystal had been the only one to play with their autistic son. A girl in Crystal’s class told then that Crystal always made sure to include her, even though other kids didn’t.
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“She seemed to be one of those people that just lifted other people up when they were down,” said West Middle School Principal Linda Vaughn.
By all accounts, Crystal was unique.
She loved sports and played basketball, ran track and played full-contact football in middle school.
Deb and Mike said she started playing football with the neighborhood boys and attended clinics at the Lawrence Community Center as well as playing flag football for two years.
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Above: Crystal with her two sisters, Rose and Danielle. |
“She asked if she could go out for full-contact football. I asked her why she wanted to play football and she said, ‘I’ve always played it and I like it,’” Deb recalled.
When the boys on the team started to tease her, Deb told her she had to stand up for herself.
“I was there if she needed me, but I wanted to see her make that step on her own,” she explained, and included that she played tight end.
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Mr. Kiley, the middle school football coach, wrote the Carsons a letter and told them that he let Crystal play because she was good, not because she was a girl.
Crystal was very involved in cheerleading and dance. She was chosen for the varsity cheerleading squad as well as the varsity dance team.
Vaughn remembered how excited she was to be chosen. “She was very, very excited when she made the dance team in the spring.”
Crystal was also asked to help the junior varsity cheer squad improve their routines. In fact she had been at a cheerleading competition on the day she died. She returned home, then went to the pool with Aleen Austen, the driver of the vehicle. Deb said the kids were just out for a ride, when a raccoon crossed their path. Austin swerved to miss the animal and Crystal, who was not wearing a seatbelt was thrown from the car.
“She wore it (seatbelt) 99 percent of the time, and one time she doesn’t,” said Deb, her voice trailing off.
“I’m gonna harp on kids to wear their seatbelts,” added Mike.
“It was an accident. It wasn’t anything out of the realm of normal,” commented Deb.
Brian Ogden was in the back seat with Crystal, and was not wearing his seatbelt either. He is at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and is still listed in critical condition.
“I’ve spoken to Brian’s father and he said he would like to see the laws changed for seatbelts in the back seat,” Mike said.
“My heart goes out to the Ogdens,” said Deb.
“We want to make sure that people remember the boy in the hospital,” Mike included.
The Carsons are coping with their loss the best they can. Both have lost weight and both say they would take their daughters place in a second.
“It’s a feeling that the order of things is just not right,” Deb stated. “I though of all the things we were going to miss out on. It’s not that she died, it’s when she died.
“People say it’s a physical pain. They say it’s like someone standing on your chest and that’s true, it’s really true,” Mike explained. “We just shut down for about 72 hours.”
“I don’t know how to recover. It feels like nothing is right with the world. You don’t even know if anything will ever be right again,” Deb went on to say.
Deb said the community has rallied around the family and in a letter to Crystal she thanked her for bringing so many friends close.
“I was so proud of my community and the love from my community, friends and family,” said Deb, her eyes welling with tears.
Mike added, “Thank-you for your support, you’ve blown me away.”
“Crystal wanted to be a surgeon, a brain surgeon. She wanted to help people,” recalled Deb.
Crystal wrote in a journal and Deb has been looking at the entries. “In her journal she wrote, ‘I love God first, then my family.’ I want kids to know that she had a personal relationship with God, and that it’s alright to have a relationship with God.”
She pulled out one of Crystal journals, in which she talked about a project she had begun, which she called Project Smile. The goal was to get people to smile when they seemed blue, tired or down. Crystal recorded the person, place time and reaction of those she met.
I a recent entry she wrote: Remember the power of a smile. I have it. Someone else needs it. I must always remember this.
“It feels like she wasn’t just our daughter–she was everybody’s daughter,” Deb concluded.
Editor’s Note: The Anamosa Journal-Eureka would like to thank Mike and Deb Carson for providing the photos of Crystal. |
Edwards Makes Campaign Stop in Anamosa
By Michelle Phillips |
Democratic Presidential hopeful and former North Carolina Senator John Edwards made a stop at Fountain Park in Anamosa on July 14.
Edwards spoke to a group of about 200 people after an introduction by Anamosa residents and supporters, Kyle and Victoria Tapken.
Edwards began by announcing that he was starting an initiative to train Americans for Green Collar Jobs. The initiative is designed to provide training grants for 150,000 workers a year. The training will help meet the needs of the new energy economy. The plan would also provide 50,000 stepping-stone jobs into the new green economy.
After briefly announcing the initiative, Edwards began taking questions from the audience.
The first person asked if there should be an investigation into the corruption big oil companies or if the government was too scared to investigate?
“I don’t think we need an investigation to know,” he answered and said that oil companies should be held accountable for their actions. Edwards included that Americans can take that power away by not using oil.
The next question asked what Edwards would do to help veterans and their families?
“I think we have a sacred responsibility to veterans,” Edwards said.
He included that we should have an independent home redeployment plan to determine the needs of returning vets and help them assimilate into civilian life. Edwards also said that the families of soldiers deployed should get assistance as well.
Edwards said he saw the Bush Administration as an “imperialist regime”, when asked about Bill Moyers suggestion that the next president should seek impeachment for the pair. He added that they should be held accountable for torture, entering the war on false pretenses, poor foreign policy, illegal spying and secret prisons.
“How do you see presidential power?” someone else asked.
Edwards said there has been an enormous expansion of power under the Bush Administration, and that the office must be, “married to transparency.”
“There are a bunch of things I would just eliminate as soon as I took office,” said Edwards. “The government doesn’t belong to the president, the government belongs to the American people.” |
Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards speaks to about 200 at Anamosa’s Fountain Park on July 14.
Edwards supporters wait for the politician to arrive
Edwards is surrounded by area residents after speaking at Fountain Park in Anamosa on July 14.
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He went on to say that America needed a president who is a strong leader, is honest and decent.
Edwards was asked by two different people about whether or not he would welcome mediating talks between Israel and Palestine. His answer was that he did not feel the US should become involved in the situation.
When asked about his views on NAFTA, Edwards said that tax breaks to company who go out of the country should be eliminated.
What would he do about Social Security?
Put it on hold for now because Edwards said the real problem lies with Medicare.
“Medicare is more financially sick than Social Security,” he said.
Edwards said the cap on Social Security tax should be lifted and that all Americans should pay in, regardless of income.
A young girl asked him what are some of the other things he would do to change the United States?
“I want everybody to have the same chance to do great things,” he said.
He included that it should be easier to go to college and get affordable healthcare and housing as well as earn a living wage.
Edwards also told the people that he would end the war in Iraq. His plan would include reducing troops by 30,000-40,000 immediately and bringing the rest home soon thereafter.
In a one-on-one interview after the event, Edwards answered a few more questions.
There are problems with rural schools declining enrollment a, so parents send kids to bigger schools. In rural areas there are problems with inner city schools and parents want to send their kids to smaller schools, how could these problems be rectified?
“Well, we have to create incentives for the teachers in small towns. We also need to raise teacher pay in general to recruit new teachers,” he commented.
Edwards then asked if he could speak on rural economy?
“We need to create a capital fund for rural areas,” he said and added that this would help build new businesses.
Edwards included that he would like to see broadband expanded to help small town businesses compete with those in urban areas.
How could the federal government work together with Iowa’s Energy Fund?
“I think what Gov. Culver is doing is wonderful,” he praised and said he felt a fund should be created for carbon permits.
In addition, Edwards would like to see a cap on carbon emissions. He said by selling permits the federal government could make $30 million and that $13 million could be used for research and development of more green fuesl like wind, solar and cellulose based ethanol.
The flat tax has been getting attention and support lately. Would you consider supporting a flat tax.
“I do no support a flat tax. I think we need to have a progressive tax system based on income,” he concluded.
After leaving Anamosa, Edwards was headed for another campaign event in Cedar Rapids. |
School Board Offers Monroe New Contract
By Susan Yario |
The Anamosa School Board began their July 16 meeting with a moment of silence in remembrance of Crystal Carson, the Anamosa High School student who was killed in a tragic traffic accident last week.
The Anamosa Community School Board unanimously approved a contract offer to Dale Monroe for a two-year contract. The contract is for succeeding years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 with the next year salary to reflect a 5.88 % raise.
Also approved at the Monday evening meeting were the following agenda items:
Bills due and payable and bills paid between board meetings.
Shared Teaching agreement with Olin School District- 28 E Agreement.
Bids approved for the 2007-2008 school year for Fuel (propane, diesel, & gasohol: New Horizons FS) Waste Disposal: Wapsi Waste Service Inc., Milk: Swiss Valley and Bread: Interstate Brands Co.
Personnel Appointments & Adjustments:
Hirings/Certified Staff
Amanda Christenson HS Special Education teacher effective 07-08 school year
Jennifer Buckwalter HS Internship (.5) effective 07-08 school year.
Shared position w/Olin Schools.
Classified Staff
Sue White Food Service Director effective 07-08 school year.
Sherri Wageman WMS Secretary effective 07-08 school year.
Tiffany Dooley HS Special Education Para BD effective 07-08 school year.
Becky Keating HS Special Education Para Child specific effective 07-08 school year.
Mark Walker HS Student Supervisor effective 07-08 school year.
Tami Gates Paraeducator Summer School effective Julty1-31, 2007.
Heather Bantz Elementary Preschool Teacher effective 07-08 school year.
Coaching/Extra-Curricular
Matt Weis Asst. Baseball Coach effective immediately.
Casey Ditch Head MS Boys Track effective 07-08 school year.
David Michels Asst. MS Boys Track effective 07-08 school year.
Resignations
Phyllis Randolph WMS Paraeducator effective immediately.
Andrew Buck Marching Band Choreographer effective 07-08 school year.
(one-year contract fulfilled)
Andrew Buck Asst. MS Boys Basketball Coach effective 07-08 school year
Some discussion was had regarding the payment for sewer and water to the new district property on Highway 64. Board member Brian Darrow suggested that the district leave the door open for one year for flexibility if the property were stay undeveloped and sold to a developer. Board President, Jim Mitchel countered that he views paying the lump sum payment on August 1 would save the district $4,000 and if the property were to be sold the water and sewer costs incurred by the school district would be included in any future sales price. The district’s pro-rated share of the water and sewer project of $66,625 was approved with a five yes vs. two no vote. The payment will be made from the SILO funds on hand designated for infrastructure.
Board member LeAnn Ridgeway, the district’s legislative action representative updated the group on her top five recommendations for the IASB for the 2008 General Assembly.
1.) Supports setting allowable growth at a rate that encourages continuous school improvement and reflects actual cost increase experienced by school districts. The allowable growth rate should be set no lower than six percent.
2.) Supports full state funding to implement quality professional development to improve student learning through each school district’s Career Development Plan. Additional days should be funded and required until a minimum of 10 days of quality professional development exists in every school district. The school district is the appropriate authority to determine the content and participation in professional development.
3.) Supports funding to ensure that all three and four year olds have access to a high quality public school preschool program to be funded by including preschool students in the enrollment count with revenues that do not divert what would otherwise be K-12 resources. Funding should be allocated for literacy-based programs with well-articulated standards of high quality.
4.) Supports predictable and timely state funding for servicing special education students at a level that reflects the actual costs, including education programming and health care costs.
5.) Supports sufficient incentives and assistance to encourage sharing, reorganization and regional high schools to expand academic opportunities for students.
All members of the board agreed with Ridgeway’s prioritized recommendations for the district and the agenda item was approved without question.
Activities Director, Derek Roberts gave a short presentation on the upcoming WaMaC conference entrance this fall. To date, twelve schools (East and West) are in the conference with four other invited. The maximum schools in the conference are allocated for 16.
Roberts shared scheduling impacts for sporting activities, meets and games. Basketball will have a more complicated schedule than in previous years. Roberts requested the board approve 12 new coaching positions over the next three years with four positions to be added each year. He also requested that positions be reassessed in the spring of 2009. The district approved the Director’s recommendations.
Superintendent Dale Monroe reflected the days PPEL 7 Facilities committee meeting on several issues.
Bids for a new telephone system for the Anamosa High School should correct the communication problems. Bid information will be available at the next school board meeting on August 6. WMS had a water heater replaced. Asbestos removal and disposal has a price tag of $3,300. The front retaining wall at WMS is beginning to buckle and will be removed and replaced with a sloping grassy grade for safety precautions.
The IDOT meeting regarding Highway 64 traffic concerns was attended by JCRMC, IDOT, Anamosa School District, The City of Anamosa and Jones County. Snyder and Associates will be performing the two month long study and each entity will receive a contract.
Matt English made a request to PPEL for additional transportation dollars to purchase two pre-owned buses. These will replace current buses that are being consumed by rust.
A meeting with the current daycare staff was held on July 2. The staff was given letters of intent from the school board. All but one of the approximately twenty staff have signed and returned the letters. The next meeting is scheduled for July 23 regarding transfer to the school district for employment.
New items needed for the football field, a scoreboard and visitor bleachers. These were requested at the PPEL meeting and additional information regarding quotes and aluminum bleachers will be offered at the next school board meeting on August 6. |
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