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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday,
October 11, 2007 |
Young’s Pumpkin Smashes State Record, Carves Up Competition
by Michelle Phillips |
Cheers rang out through the Lawrence Community Center (LCC) when the weight of Don Young’s pumpkin was announced at the 19th Annual Ryan Norlin Pumpkin Weigh-off on October 6.
The official size, 1662 pounds, was a new state record.
Don raised his arms in victory, and the crowd seemed to roar even louder.
When asked if he was disappointed that he fell short of the 1689 lb. world record set the weekend before in New England, he replied, “It’s still the second biggest pumpkin in the world.”
Don won first place as well as the Pride of Iowa award for the biggest Iowa grown pumpkin. He said he never even considered taking the pumpkin to another weigh-off and that he wanted to bring it to Anamosa.
“There are a lot of nice people in Anamosa, and it’s nice how the whole town rallies around Pumpkinfest,” he added.
Kevin Gripp, Don’s neighbor, attended his first Pumpkinfest this year, winning the award for ugliest pumpkin and fourth place in the watermelon weigh-off.
“I thought it was pretty interesting to see all the pumpkins,” he said.
The largest county grown pumpkin was awarded to Ralph Trumm of Onslow, weighing in at 1026.8 lbs.
“I estimated it at 1086, but it went a little lighter,” Ralph said. “I was still happy to win Jones County.”
Ralph said his pumpkin was grown from seed produced by the 2006 winner. He said he thinks he can top the record set by Don.
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Don and Julie Young on the grower’s float with Don’s 1662 pound winning pumpkin.
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“I look forward to being here next year, and maybe I’ll be the one chasing the world record,” he added.
“We sent a message to the world of pumpkin growers that Iowa will set a world record,” said Greg Norlin, father of Ryan, who organizes the event with his wife Nancy.
Greg said there were 42 entries in the competition this year, up from 34 in 2006.
“I was happy to see that and I hope it continues to increase,” he said. “It’s a great memorial and tribute to Ryan and Anamosa should be proud.”
The average weight of the pumpkins was 1093.5 lbs., which is amazing, considering the first year’s winner was only 252 lb and grown by Bob Ruff, who has competed every year of the weigh-off.
“I never, ever imagined that we would have a pumpkin this big,” Greg said.
Nancy agreed, “It’s remarkable, in such a short time, how big these pumpkins have grown.”
She added that the event was originally held on Columbus Day, as were all pumpkin weigh-offs around the country.
“It was on Columbus day because everyone East of the Mississippi had the day off,” Nancy explained.
Greg said the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, which oversees the weigh-offs, changed the dates so weigh-offs could be held on weekends. The season now runs from August 1-October31.
For complete Pumpkinfest coverage, see section B of this week’s Anamosa Journal-Eureka. |
School Board Nominations Not Yet Available
By Michelle Phillips |
The Anamosa School Board chose to take no action concerning the resignations of three board members. If no action is taken within a 30-day period, a special election must be held.
The 30-day period will end on October 17, and if the board hasn’t appointed anyone, procedures for a special election will begin. At that time nomination forms would be made available to those seeking one of the seats.
Jones County Auditor Janine Sulzner said she has already had a request for nomination papers.
“I can’t give out nomination papers until the election is officially called for and that can’t happen until the 17th,” she said.
If an election is called, interested persons will have to acquire the nomination forms from the auditor office at the Jones County Courthouse. The forms are specific to Anamosa and will not be available on the Secretary of State’s website. Sulzner said those wanting to run would then have until October 26 at 5 p.m. to return the nomination. |
Citizens Turn Out at Council Meeting to Discuss Theresa Avenue Improvements
By Ben Parker |
Theresa Avenue was a hot topic for the October 8 Anamosa City Council meeting. A handful of residents came to voice their opinions on a possible development agreement with the city and Doug Ricklefs to improve the area north of the street. Many had issues with different sections of the agreement based on their experience of living on the street. Some on the council even questioned whether improvements like curbs and sidewalks or even a hammerhead at the end of the street were necessary.
Some residents, whose yards had been affected by the excavation of the retention basin, came to report on what they were doing about the yard. They wanted to wait to replace damaged trees until after the seeding was finished. They had no idea this would be in late September. They are still waiting to be reimbursed for the trees they did manage to get in year since most nurseries in the area have run out of stock.
The council could not take action on the development agreement since Doug Ricklefs had yet to receive and read his copy.
Actions taken by the Council:
• Casey’s Class C Beer Permit with Sunday privileges was approved for renewal along with a similar license for Tucker’s Tavern.
• The official trick-or-treat time for Halloween will be on October 31 from 5:30-8 p.m.
• A spec sheet is to be made for finding a new sanitary sewer cleaning machine.
• The first reading of Ordinance amending Chapter 99, which increases the sewer rates to finance the waste water treatment plants, passed. There will be a second, and possibly third, reading.
Jim Caswell and other veterans weren’t quite satisfied with the ordinance limiting firing firearms inside city limits in the case of 21-gun salutes. He was to make a presentation to come up with a workable solution with the council, but due to a misunderstanding that the presentation would be on the October 22 agenda, he was not present to make his case.
Becky DirksHaugsted asked that the council reschedule the presentation for the next council meeting. The recommendation is that two veterans serve as representatives to work with the city administrator and two council members to come up with a solution to present to the council.
Not on the agenda: Dick Dearborn came and updated the council on what’s happening with the property he is hoping to build on. This is the property near Division Street that had been brought up in prior council sessions. He wants to purchase additional city property and add it to his current property. Doing this would give Dearborn the appropriate perimeters under city ordinance to put up a new house.
It turns out that the original agreement, selling him land up to the creek, was not enough. He needs 8000 square feet. He tried to get a variance from the Planning and Zoning Board of Adjustment, but it was denied because the property was under that square footage requirement.
Dearborn is willing to give the city an easement and take the property on the other side of the stream, just to get the necessary square footage. An easement would let the city do with the land as they wish, which is one of the reasons they were unwilling to part with it before.
Because of a recent traffic accident at the intersection of Old Dubuque Road and Highway 151, the city administrator proposed that the council look into ways to handle the traffic at the intersection. The current proposition is to close off Old Dubuque Road from the current exit to the highway and extend it to Circle Drive.
On a bright note, the Sycamore Street culvert will be ready for the bridge to be installed in about a week and a half. |
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Box 108, 208 W. Main Street, Anamosa, IA 52205
319-462-3511,
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