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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday,
July 5, 2007 |
Nominations for Historical, Cultural Designations Underway
by Michelle Phillips |
Anamosa residents gathered at F&M Bank on June 20 to learn about plans to create a Historical District in Anamosa. A second meeting was held in Stone City on the same day.
“The Jones County Historic Preservation Commission (JCHPC) has received a Certified Local Government Grant from the State Historical Society of Iowa to prepare a nomination of the Anamosa Main Street Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places,” said historian Will Page who is working with the commission in applying for the grant.
A second grant was secured for Stone City. The meetings were scheduled to discuss the projects, but specific parameters have not been decided for either area.
“In Stone City we’re a little more ahead of Anamosa because we have a better idea of where the boundaries would be,” said Rose Rohr of the JCHPC. “In Stone City we did a survey and evaluation first. We also had a committee formed.”
Page will be working from newspaper research conducted by Elizabeth J. Coleman in the 1980s as part of the Anamosa Main Street Project. At the time she completed Iowa Inventory Site sheets for each of the buildings on Main Street. Page will use the information to place it in the context of a district as a whole, rather than individual property. The historical and architectural significance will be weighed based on specific criteria for designation.
“The meeting discussed the benefits of National Register listing,” Page added.
Some of those benefits include: improved aesthetics, increased tourism and tax credits for improvements.
Rohr is also working on Cultural District designation for Anamosa in conjunction with the historical designation. Anamosa has a high concentration of cultural businesses such as Starlighter’s II Theatre, the Grant Wood Gallery, museums and Daly Creek Winery. Some of the benefits of a Cultural District overlap with that of a Historic District, but also includes attracting a diverse and well-educated work force and contributing to creativity.
“What I’m hearing from the downtown businesses is that they want more traffic,” said Rohr, who included that she hoped Anamosa and the county would support the designations.
The deadline for cultural designation is in September and the cut off for the historical designation is June 2008.
Other towns in Eastern Iowa who have Cultural Districts include Iowa City and Dubuque.
The next step for the projects is a community breakfast, which will be announced at a later date.
At this time Page and Rohr will be on hand to present more information and answer questions. |
Fourth Annual Anamosa Publications School Supply Drive Begins
By Michelle Phillips |
Anamosa Publications is pleased to announce its Fourth Annual School Supply Drive. The drive is intended to help children of families who may not be able to afford everything on the school supply list.
“Last year we partnered with Jones County Family Resource at Strawberry Hill, which was a great success, said Michelle Phillips, Editor, Anamosa Journal-Eureka.
“This allowed children from around the county to benefit from the drive, not just those in Anamosa. Donors were also given the option of making a cash donation to the school of their choice.”
If you would like to donate school supplies they can be dropped off at the newspaper office at 208 West Main Street between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday or 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Wednesday. Donations will be accepted through August 8.
“We are asking as well as encouraging residents of the county for their assistance in helping area families with their school supply needs,” said Phillips. “Last year dozens of children were received items from the school supply drive.”
If you don’t have time to purchase items, cash donations will be accepted. That money will then be used to purchase supplies or pay book fees for those who can’t afford it. You may also make a donation to a specific school in Jones County.
Those who need supplies should contact Jones County Family Resource Association at 319-462-5318.
Items needed:
Pocket folders (all colors, with and without prongs)
Loose-leaf notebook paper
Single subject spiral notebooks (wide rule)
3-ring binders
#2 pencils
Pencil bags
Erasers
Colored pencils
Expo markers
Highlighters
Glue sticks
Elmer’s glue
Red, blue and black ballpoint pens
5-subject spiral notebooks
3x5 index cards
5x8 index cards
Washable markers
Fine-tip markers
Rulers (English/metric)
Post-It notes
Calculators
Poster board
Scissors (adult and child size)
Boxes of 24 crayons
Boxes of 16 crayons
Boxes of 12 crayons
Boxes of 8 crayons
Coloring books
Silly putty
School boxes
Book bags
Watercolors
Small photo albums
Tab dividers
Graph paper
Composition books
Computer disks
Tissues
Contact paper (not clear or white)
Wet wipes
Ziploc bags (quart and gallon size)
Paper towels
Copy paper
Colored copy paper
Hand sanitizer
35mm film
Scotch tape |
Head Football Coaching Job Major Discussion for Olin School Board
By Elsa Hirl |
The Olin School Board was overwhelmed with support for the current football coach, Jamie Fuhrmeister, over a veteran teacher with 23 years of coaching experience, Mr. Cummings.
Immediately upon the beginning of the discussion, both sides were on the defensive and the tension was a bit thick but eased as the time progressed. Apparently, the Olin School Board hired Fuhrmeister with the understanding that if a teacher wants the head coaching position and is qualified, that teacher will probably get the job, in turn, ousting Fuhrmeister.
Randy Cress said, “He knew from the beginning if there was a qualified teacher they would probably get it. In the past I’m very glad Jamie took the job. I have nothing against Jamie, I think he did a fine job with the kids. My idea is that it’s best to have a teacher in that position.”
School Board President, Mike Hansen explained, “One of the motivations of teaching is coaching.
If our school is going to stay with community coaching, then some teachers don’t have the motivation to come here and teach. I spoke about this with Jamie. I hate this thing. He is dedicated. He’s always stood by these boys and he’s stood by us.”
Many parents and football players attended the meeting in support of Coach Fuhrmeister. It was mentioned that there has not been this much respect, from both the parents and players, for a coach in the Olin School District in a very long time. The players and parents mentioned things that Fuhrmeister has done to boost morale, school spirit and pride in oneself.
Kim Brecht read from a list of positive things that Fuhrmeister has completed recently. “Last year he took a week off of work to roof a house to help raise money for the football program, 10 players had a job over the summer and all got paid. The money raised bought all new away jerseys and helped send kids to St. Ambrose football camp. He takes one hour of vacation everyday in order to make it to practice. Last year his hours at Qwest changed to 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. so in order for him to work 8 a.m.-4 p.m., he paid one of his employees $100 per week to switch shifts. That’s dedication.”
Fuhrmeister volunteers a lot of his time to the football team and program, so Qwest donates around $500 twice a year to the Olin football program. If he has a player get hurt on or off the field, he is on the phone calling that player to see how they are doing.
Jackie Smith, a football parent who is in support of Fuhrmeister and wants him to be retained as head coach, remarked, “I just think in our small of a school that it’s sad that we are fighting over who’s going to be our football coach when we have so much other stuff out there that seems to be taken care of and done for our school and we’re arguing over who’s going to be our head football coach. I think that’s kind of sad.”
The board tabled the issue. They will have a special closed meeting on July 3 at 5:30 p.m. and will reveal their decision at that time.
School Board President, Mike Hansen, attended a meeting at the Kirkwood Center in Monticello regarding Kirkwood’s desire to open a regional high school with students from Olin, Monticello (with 59 students requested), Anamosa (with 68 students requested), Midland (with 29 students requested), Maquoketa Valley (with 45 students requested), Cascade (with 43 students requested), Springville (with 22 students requested) and Central City (with 20 students requested) across from Kromminga Motors in Monticello. Kirkwood would like to see Olin send 13 students at a cost of $14,000 per year.
The programs include Welding, Health Sciences, Auto Technology I and II, Engineering I and II (upon completion of the program, students would be given the chance to work for Rockwell), Education and Early Childhood Education, Information Systems Management, Health Sciences Academy EMTB, Graphics and Media Communication, Local Area Networking, Geospacial Technology, Biotechnology, International Studies and Culinary Arts. Besides that, they have early college offerings that will be dual credited for both high school graduation and towards your college diploma. Those classes include History classes, Humanities, Social Sciences, Composition I and II, College Biology and Physics, College and Career Transition. High school offerings only, which are also vocational, include Home Construction I and II, Technical Communications, Math and Motorcycle and ATV Repair.
They would like to see around 300 juniors and seniors attend this school. The goal for opening is 2008.
As part of the principal’s report, the new principal, Tom Oppelt, was introduced to those in attendance. Galen Noard explained the changes made to the student handbook regarding unexcused absences, open containers being brought into the school and the use of electronic devices. This meeting was the final meeting for outgoing principal, Noard.
The school received a bid from Midwest Glazing to replace the wall of windows in Mrs. Glenn’s room to look like those in the hallway next to the counselor’s office. The top and bottom rows will be opaque and the middle row will be windows. The bid for the job is $17,644. There was some discussion regarding which fund the money will come out of, LOST or PEPPL. A motion was moved to take the money out of the LOST account and the motion passed.
A special meeting will be held regarding the head football coaching position on July 3 at 5:30 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Olin School Board will be held on July 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room. The public is invited and encouraged to any and all meetings. |
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Box 108, 208 W. Main Street, Anamosa, IA 52205
319-462-3511,
FAX 319-462-4540
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