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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday, April 17, 2008
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Smoking Bill Signed into Law
By Michelle Phillips |
It just became harder to find a smoking spot in Iowa.
Governor Culver signed the Smoking Bill into law Tuesday after the Iowa Senate voted on April 10 to pass the bill. Senators voted 26-24 in favor of the bill, which caused controversy earlier in the year.
Previously, the Iowa House of Representatives had sent the bill to the Senate with several exceptions, including casinos and veterans’ organizations. The Senate sent it back with no exclusions, but the House didn’t agree to the provision.
The bill was next sent to conference committee where legislators came to a compromise. |
Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed a bill banning smoking in most businesses on April 15. |
There would be a few exceptions attached to the bill, including casino floors, outdoor areas of bars, outdoor areas at the Iowa State Fair as well as county fairs but not the grandstand, limousines, retail tobacco stores, designated areas of correctional facilities, the state veterans home in Marshalltown and designated National Guard facilities.
Places in which smoking will not be allowed include: workplaces; restaurant outdoor seating areas; the grounds of public buildings; bowling alleys; hotels and motels, except in designated rooms; outdoor sports facilities; common areas of apartments; public transit areas; school grounds.
Senator Tom Hancock said he did not support the Smoking Bill because of feedback he received from constituents.
“I received a lot of emails from business owners, and I got a petition from a community near Anamosa saying, ‘please let us decide for ourselves,’” Hancock explained. “I don’t smoke. I hate smoke, but I voted for the business owners.”
Brett Seeley of the Anamosa Bowing Center echoes that sentiment, “I’m against it. I don’t like being told what I should and shouldn’t do.”
He added that although he has never been a smoker, many of his customers do smoke.
“I think, how many members are you gonna lose? I know I’m gonna lose membership,” he said of the league members.
Seeley said he was looking into putting up an outdoor area so customers can go outside to smoke.
“Bowling shoes aren’t meant to go outdoors. It’s gonna be a hassle,” he added. “How are they going to enforce it?”
For some, the ban came as no surprise.
Dirk Downing of Tyler and Downing’s Eatery said he expected the change. “I saw the writing on the wall years ago when California and New York passed it. It was inevitable, kind of like four dollar a gallon gas,” he said and added that healthcare expense and lawsuits against the tobacco industry also lead to banning smoking.
Downing said he expects that customers who smoke will spend less time in businesses. “Maybe one less cocktail or no dessert,” he speculated. “There may be a short-term loss, but it may be a wash–heck that’s just a guess.”
Other business won be affected because they don’t allow smoking now. Daly Creek Winery is one of those businesses.
“We’ve always been non-smoking, and we hear positive comments all the time,” said Linda Miller, Assistant Manager at Daly Creek.
Hancock said that the rumor around the capitol is that legislators will try to get a complete smoking ban during the next session.
“I’m probably going to support that one,” he said.
The bill is scheduled to go into effect on July 1.
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Council Gives Blessing in Tourism, Chamber Merger
By Mike Moynihan |
Anamosa’s City Council voted Monday to support continuing discussions of a merger of Jones County Tourism and the Anamosa Area Chamber of Commerce, but that support came with the tacit understanding that it was good only so long as it doesn’t cost the city any more money than it already does.
Dr. Mark Davis, president of the Anamosa Area Chamber, appeared before the council to explain some of the reasoning behind the merger. In discussions between the two organizations, it has been felt that combining the two would yield results greater than the sum of the results of the two as individual agencies.
No name has yet been agreed on for the joint Tourism / Chamber effort, beyond that it will probably begin as the “Greater Jones County” something, as in the Greater Jones County Chamber of Tourism and Commerce”, or the “Greater Jones County Board of Commerce, Tourism and Development.”
Councilor Dan Young was primarily concerned that any synergy the two organizations gained in their merger was not reflected by a similarly synergetic increase in funding over what they currently receive as separate entities.
The mission statement of the new organization is, “We will strive to enhance the economic viability of our local residents and our business owners by bringing visitors into, and by promoting, the Greater Jones County Area.”
It isn’t exactly clear what the “Greater Jones County Area” is, but if one speaks of the “Greater Des Moines Area,” one is referring to the city itself and its immediate surrounding communities.
The council passed a resolution of support 5-1, with Tom Swisher dissenting on the grounds the new entity wouldn’t have the capacity to do economic development as it promises.
The council voted to conduct a public civil hearing at its April 28 meeting on violations by six businesses of the state law against the sale of tobacco to minors. Each of the businesses may be assessed a $300 civil penalty for a first violation.
The six businesses are Knuckleheads Pub ’n’ Grub, Anamosa Mega Mart, Casey’s General Store, Big Value Inc., McNamara Holdings LLC (Anamosa P-N-P) and the Anamosa Bowling Center.
Kathy Bahl appeared before the council requesting relief from surface water on her property resulting from the construction of the detention basin north of Therese Avenue and west of Williams Street. She has repeatedly contacted the city regarding this problem, she said, and hoped it wouldn’t be necessary to go to court in order to get something accomplished.
The council agreed to do what it could to abate the problem. In somewhat related actions, the council approved an agreement with Charles and Gwen Becker for the Davis Street right-of-way and drain tile easement, and also approved an agreement with Mike Carson regarding his connection to the sanitary sewer system as soon as the Therese Ave. sewer line is extended.
The council also approved the first reading and waived the second and third readings of the amended ordinance governing solid waste collection and recycling requirements. The ordinance was again amended to reflect the removal of waste and recyclables to “any licensed facility.”
Council discussed the possibility of reducing the number of companies collecting refuse from five to one, and thus better guaranteeing proper recycling. Monthly flat fees from the five companies range from $12.50 to $16. The question was put to the council, what about fees that didn’t penalize single residents while subsidizing large families?
Council members approved, by a 4-2 vote, Young and Brady dissenting, the purchase of a new Ford Explorer SUV for the Police Department. The vehicle will cost about $22,000 based on a state bid. In other department business, Officer Trevor Martensen submitted his resignation to pursue opportunities in the private sector.
The council voted to designate four parking spaces on South Ford in front of the Post Office as 15-minute parking, with an ordinance to that effect to be prepared for the April 28 meeting.
City Administrator Pat Callahan reported there is a substantial amount of federal Surface Transportation Program funds available for improvements to some of the city’s major collector streets. He recommended the city start the engineering phase of the project in order to have the application process done in time to start street work in 2009.
Street repair in 2008 is somewhat problematic, with repairs needed right now following a harsh winter, and money unavailable until the following year. The city will nevertheless begin the process of repairs to Old Dubuque Road and East First and Second Streets.
Discussion of rental fees for the north side of City Hall yielded a consensus that the rent should include utilities and be in the $250 to $300 range.
The Anamosa Parks and Recreation Board told the council it felt the Lawrence Community Center’s roofing project should be paid for with 50% from the LCC cash balance of the general fund and 50% from Local Option Tax funds. The council voted to pay the full cost from the Lawrence Trust Fund.
Sam Montgomery appeared before the council to push for the completion of the Hwy 64 Trail/Sidewalk Project. There was a great deal of discussion about the width of the proposed walk, whether it should be six feet wide or eight feet wide.
Callahan pointed out slower would be better in this case. Once the city awards a bid for the project, he said, it will no longer be able to use the $100,000 general obligation loan money it has as a match for any grants for trail programs. There are three trail grant programs with applications due July 1, August 15 and October 1.
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Answering the Call to the Choir
by
Daryl Schepanski
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As a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC), it’s easy to see why the sanctuary has been so popular for so many people for so long.
Pastors have come, and pastors have gone over the generations, each leaving their own specific message to the masses with fond memories for the congregation, but while the different leaders within the church have each had their own individual style and grace, one constant throughout the years has given the UCC a power, prestige and strength unlike any other.
Betty Remley.
The UCC’s devoted choir director of an amazing 62 years decided recently it was time to step away from the stage on the choir loft and settle into the pews with the rest of the congregation.
“It pretty much came down to my body telling me it was time to give it up,” said Remley who first took over the reins of the UCC choir way back in 1947. “It just got harder and harder making that trip up those stairs to the choir loft. My mind still wants to be up there directing here at the church, but my body has just had enough. I think it’s time for someone else to take over anyway. I’ve had a good run.”
Remley grew up around music as a youth attending Wyoming High School (now Midland High School) where she graduated in 1935 and even earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Coe College in 1939. She then went on to teach music at the public school level, first at Nora Springs and then at Elkader before marrying Howard Remley in 1941.
“Right after I married Howard, we lived in so many different places with him being in the military,” said Remley who moved five times in two years before the two made their way to Anamosa in 1945. “It was rough there for a while not settling down in any one spot and moving all over the place like that, but when we came back to Anamosa where Howard was from, we knew we were home.”
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Above: Longtime First Congregational United Church of Christ choir director Betty Remley conducts (above) during a special ceremony honoring her 62 years of dedicated service to the church and the choir Sunday, April 13. Below: Remley, who has touched countless lives with her beautiful music over the years, enjoys time in the loft with the entire choir one more time. |
Remley joined Howard’s UCC church in 1945 and two years later was asked to take over as the choir director.
“I never thought it would last as long as it did,” she said. “I never saw myself as a church choir director for this amount of time, but it was the loyalty of all the singers over all the years that just kept me coming back for more year after year after year. It’s these choir members who are the core of the church.”
It’s those same choir members who feel it’s Remley who has been the steadying and guiding hand over the amazing 62-year run delivering beautiful music week-in and week-out.
“Betty came to town when I was just a little girl,” said Phyllis Michels who was a student of Remley’s in her UCC Junior Choir many years ago before she and her husband Don started signing with Remley’s regular choir in the 1950’s. “Her dedication to making the best music possible was always her goal first and foremost and she got that message across to the rest of us that we would not settle for less than the best. For a person not even 5-feet tall and probably 100 pounds at the most, she could easily be the most powerful person in the church. She just commanded respect and we all adore and admired her for everything she has done for not only this church, but for our community.”
Ardith Condry was also a long time choir member and still attends church regularly on Sundays. Condry and her husband Dale were longtime dedicated singers for Remley.
“Betty has been such a wonderful director over the years,” she said. “Dale sang for quite a bit longer than I did, but the one thing I always noticed was Betty never seemed to give herself enough credit for the beautiful music the choir made. She always turned that back over to the choir, but everyone knows it was Betty who made the choir sound the way it did. Even new couples who come to our church notice it right away. The powerful music made by our choir is breathtaking. We’re very thankful to have such a quality Music Department at this church.”
Bettie Miller was another longtime choir member who came back and took to the loft once again singing at the UCC’s Remley celebration Sunday, April 13.
“Betty was my Junior Choir director too,” said Miller who joined the church in the 1940’s. “It’s Betty’s personality that just makes everyone around her feel so welcomed. She is someone you want to be around and someone who makes you feel so important. Betty and the choir have been holding the church together. We’ve gone through some hard times over the years and some great times too, but through it all, it’s always been the Betty and the choir that seems to make everything come together nicely.”
Scott Kelly was also blown away by the passion, pride and knowledge of Remley when he first joined the church in 1991.
“It’s unheard of hearing about people who have served in one capacity like Betty has for so long,” said Kelly. “Other than the message from the pastor, the choir has been the cornerstone of our church service every Sunday. Something our congregation always looks forward to seeing how Betty can amaze them this week. She always strives for perfection in her music and under her direction, we are able to feel as choir members like we’ve achieved it.”
When Remley decided to finally step away from leading the choir, she turned to Lisa Schepanski.
“I wanted someone with a music background to lead the choir and I felt Lisa was that person who will instill in the choir members that sense of pride,” said Remley. “Lisa is always smiling and loves music so much and has been such a great person to be around, I think she is the perfect fit for this choir right now. Music was my calling. I think it’s hers too.”
Schepanski, who was a music major at the University of Iowa for two years before switching her career path to medicine, was honored by Remley’s recommendation.
“Betty kind of appointed me to take over the choir and at the time I didn’t think it was something that would be permanent,” said Schepanski. “I just hope that Betty feels comfortable enough to come back and direct again any time she feels up to it. I will certainly not even try to fill her shoes taking over this position. My limited abilities and training can’t come close to matching her years of experience.”
Retiring as choir director at the age of 90 and after 62 years of service, Remley was surrounded by friends and family during a special celebration honoring her decades of commitment to the church Sunday. Remley even took to the stage one more time directing the choir in a special piece that gave the packed congregation goose bumps.
“I remember writing an article for the Anamosa Journal-Eureka newspaper quite a few years ago and in that article, I bragged about the unequaled beauty of our church, our 106-year-old, one-of-a-kind pipe organ, our beautiful stained glass windows and the stories they tell,” said Kelly. “Our warm welcoming sanctuary, even more so when the sunshine filters through the windows, but one of the most valuable treasures of all in this church is Betty Remley and the legacy of outstanding music she has established and left for all of us.”
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