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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday,
May 3, 2007 |
Giuliani Snubs Jones County
by Michelle Phillips |
OLIN–Last weekend Deb and Jerry VonSprecken of Olin received a call from former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s campaign office asking them if they would be interested in holding a campaign rally on May 4, after she had donated to his campaign.
“We thought it would be an honor and agreed,” said Jerry.
The campaign office continued to contact the VonSpreckens throughout last weekend and were told a security check would be needed. The couple passed the security check and began putting plans in place.
“We started making phone calls. We got the sheriff and fire department and Olin school was going to let out early. We were also expecting kids from the Anamosa school,” Jerry explained. “Deb even went around and personally invited people.”
On Tuesday Deb received a call from Giuliani’s Des Monies office and was asked to call New York.
“They wanted to know our assets,” she revealed, and added that she and Jerry have a modest 80 acre farm and raise cattle.
Later she received a call from Tony Delgado at the Des Monies location.
“Tony said, ‘I’m sorry, you aren’t worth a million dollars and he is campaigning on the Death Tax right now.’ then he said they weren’t going to be able to come,” Deb continued.
The Death Tax is a federal version of the Iowa Inheritance Tax.
The VonSpreckens then called Delgado back and told him how upset they were that the event had been cancelled, how much work they had done and that they had been expecting 75-100 people at their farm.
“I invited him into my home,” Deb said of Giuliani, fighting back tears.
She said she then got a call from New York later the same day asking her to introduce Giuliani at a rally in Cedar Rapids, also scheduled for May 4. They offered her one-on-one time with Giuliani and to have her photo taken with him.
“My feeling is that they’re trying to cover their butts,” said Jerry.
“I may go and give him a piece of my mind, but I’m not going to introduce him,” Deb included.
Preparations had already been put in place for traffic control and bleachers and Deb’s mother, sister and niece were planning to fly from Texas to meet Giuliani.
“Now they pull this,” Jerry exclaimed. “It’s really sad that we aren’t good enough because we aren’t millionaires.”
“This is a horrible retraction we’re having to make. I’m in a state of shock, very hurt and embarrassed. I don’t understand why they don't want to talk to normal people,” she concluded.
Maria Comella, spokesperson for the Giuliani campaign, said, “We’re glad to have Debby and Jerry’s support and are thankful for all their hard work on the campaign. We’re looking forward to our visit to Iowa on Friday and having the opportunity to share Mayor giuliani’s message of fiscal discipline.
Comella did not comment on the cancellation at the VonSprecken home, and said a site had not yet been chosen for a campaign stop. |
Postage Increase Starts May 14
By Michelle Phillips |
On May 14 the United States Postal Service (USPS) will see a rate increase for both letters and packages. A first class letter up to one ounce in weight will cost the sender 41¢, up from the current 39¢ rate.
The USPS makes small increment increases to make sure they are not losing money, but bigger hikes don’t occur because they can’t.
“We are a non-profit, so we have to make a small projected increase to break even,” said Anamosa Postmaster Angie McDonough.
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In addition to the letter increase, there will also be an increase in the cost of Priority flat rate boxes and envelopes. Other boxes will have their postage determined not only by weight, but also size due to higher air shipping costs.
“You want to pack wisely, but make sure the items are packed to prevent damage,” McDonough suggested.
One area of postage is actually decreasing in price, first class letters in the one to two ounce weight range will now cost 58¢ as opposed to the 63¢ currently charged.
“It’ll be advantageous for people to fold first class items and put them in an envelope, rather than use a first class flat rate envelope,” McDonough stated.
Other postal changes include an elimination of three international mail classes, changes in the names of international classes, which reflect domestic names, and the new Forever stamp.
The Forever stamp pictures the Liberty Bell and has no denomination printed on the stamp.
Therefore, when the USPS has a price increase, there will already be stamps on hand.
McDonough said the Anamosa Post office is prepared for the changes. “We will have plenty of 2¢ stamps available for those who still have 39¢ stamps left,” she concluded.
For more information on rate changes, international class changes and the Forever stamp, visit www.usps.com or call the Anamosa Post Office at 319-462-2684. |
Terrell Writes Novel, Book Signing Slated
By Daryl Schepanski |
He’s been a fixture on the Anamosa Journal-Eureka sports pages for many, many years writing his wildly popular Fishing In-Trails column.
Now Howard (Keith) Terrell may become a fixture in books stores all over the country as well recently becoming a published novelist.
“I’ve always been interested in writing and I also liked the challenge of doing something no one else thought I could do,” said Terrell who penned Line Rider Of The Valley Grande many years ago but just recently had the book published by Camp Pope Bookshop, out of Iowa City. “I’ve wanted to write all my life but never had the typing skills either. My foster-son installed my first computer and I started messing with it and then I started writing In-Trails and things just kind of went from there.”
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Howard (Keith) Terrell |
Terrell also was inspired by many less than moving western paperbacks he read over the years.
“I figured I could do better than some of those books,” he said. “I got inspired to write a western and finished my first book (Line Rider Of The Valley Grande) in about two months.”
Terrell sent out queries to six agents who asked for manuscripts.
“One said it was a really good western but didn’t think he could sell a debut book,” said Terrell.
“Another agent wanted to try and we signed a contract in May of 2003. That contract was cancelled in October of 2006. In March of this year I signed on with Camp Pope and here we are.”
Line Rider Of The Valley Grande is about a young cowboy and his struggles to save the life of an injured farm girl, prevent a range war and stop squatters from taking over the valley only to end up with a rope around his neck.
The book is the first of a series for Terrell who has also penned Cattle Baron Of The Valley Grande as well as Uncle Toley’s Odyssey, which are both already completed and ready for publication. Terrell also plans on a fourth publication before it’s all said and done.
“I never gave up on myself and even while my first book was struggling to get published, I knocked out two more books while I was waiting,” said Terrell. “I never really gave much thought of scrapping the whole getting published idea. I kept thinking it would sell and I was also advised by my agent to keep writing. So I did.”
Terrell grew up in a log cabin in the back woods of western Kentucky. Some of his first toys were a tobacco stick horse and a six-gun made from a fork of a hickory stick. By the time he entered the first grade in a little one-room school at Glen Chapel, he had learned to read comic books by the light of a coal lamp. He would read and re-read Roy Rogers comics borrowed from a neighbor boy and he never missed an episode of The Lone Ranger on the old battery radio that stood on the table in the corner of the tiny combination living room-bedroom.
By the age of nine Terrell was writing poems and short stories he shared with his teachers and classmates.
Although many of his teachers encouraged him to pursue a career in writing, Terrell left school early to follow his passion and seek adventure in the Wild West.
Terrell began working his way west, but got sidetracked in eastern Iowa, where he met and married his soul mate.
Keith and Lois settled down in Anamosa. Terrell began working as an electrician and Lois in early childhood development.
Retiring at the age of 55, Terrell returned to writing, penning his weekly newspaper column where he combined his love of fishing with his love of writing.
Terrell’s column caught on quickly with the Anamosa Journal-Eureka readers and became a favorite of the town folk.
Umpteen friends and neighbors said, “you ought to write a book.” So Terrell has done just that.
Terrell’s celebration will also include a book signing at the Anamosa Library and Learning Center Saturday, May 12 from 1-3 p.m., where fans, friends and reading enthusiasts will also be able to purchase Line Rider Of The Valley Grande with a substantial portion of that purchase price being donated to Friends of the Library.
“Evan at 68 I feel I have much to accomplish,” said Terrell. “I hope to break even on this book in order to do the next and so on. Mentally and physically I am as fit as I have ever been. I will continue to write my column plus put out a book of columns. The immediate future consists of getting Line Rider in as many outlets as possible.” |
Anamosa Students Win Poster Contest
By Michelle Phillips |
The Jones County Soil and Water Conservation District has named the winners in their annual poster contest. The contest asks students to make a poster concerning ways we can conserve our resources.
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This year’s winners in Division 2 were Mikayla Whitman, First Place, $25, Meagan Norton, Second Place, $15 and Samantha Maruga, Third Place, $5 and a $5 Wal-Mart gift card, all of Anamosa’s Strawberry Hill. Division 3 winners were Kaitlynn Pate, First Place and overall winner, $30, Justine Osterkamp, Second Place, $15, both from Strawberry Hill and Becky Rees, Third Place, $10, from Sacred heart in Monticello. Honorable Mention went to two students, who received $5 Wal-Mart gift cards, Dalton Starn of Strawberry Hill and Cassi Britt of Sacred Heart.
Criteria of the judging scale were: message which educates about conservation, creativity and visibility to the observer.
The event is co-sponsored by the Wapsiketa Ladies Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, and the women of that group raise donations for the prizes.
Prizes were donated by Delancey Electric, Citizens Bank, F&M Bank, Garret Moenk, Wal-Mart and Security State Bank, all of Anamosa. Monticello businesses included, Citizens Bank, DuTrac Credit Union and Pizza Ranch.
All those who participated received candy.
Photo: Students show off their posters and certificates. L-R: Justine Osterkamp, Samantha Maruga, Mikayla Whitman, Meagan Norton, Kaitlynn Pate and Dalton Starn. |
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