The Good
Iowa City West’s Nick Moore became the 19th wrestler to win four state titles over his high school career. Moore, a 160-pounder, defeated Indianola’s Spencer BeLieu, 11-6 to capture the title. Moore, an Iowa recruit, will feel right at home in Iowa City when he becomes a Hawkeye.
Potholes are a problem — especially a financial one as street crews fill them only to have them reappear shortly thereafter. But a Black Hawk County sheriff has devised a solution that could fill potholes and cut down on labor costs for the city. Sheriff Tony Thompson has Black Hawk County inmates, none who are felons, filling in potholes in Waterloo streets instead of the normal jail-related labor jobs. Thompson also has inmates shoveling snow, mowing the courthouse yard, trimming trees and weeding flowerbeds. Allowing inmates to do these jobs frees up city officials to focus on bigger problems. This could be a great way to help solve a few of the City of Des Moines’ budget problems.
The Bad
Are your outdoor holiday displays still up? Folks in Aurora, Ill., are taking action as officials have made an ordinance that requires residents to pack up the displays 60 days before and after the holidays or they will be fined. The ordinance for the Chicago suburb of 171,000 people took effect in 2006, but now residents will have 14 days to remove the displays before forking over $50. Since the ordinance took effect, the city has received 1,266 complaints. Dan Ferrelli, spokesman for the city, says when holiday displays are up for an extended amount of time, “it gives the message that people don’t care about their neighborhood.” With Easter just around the corner, the topic won’t go away any time soon. Neither will questions about free speech.
Where have the weapons gone? A report by Homeland Security agencies stated 243 firearms with Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration and Customers Enforcement were lost between the 2006-08 fiscal year. The report showed 74 percent, or 179 guns, were lost “because officers did not properly secure them.” Examples include leaving a firearm in an idling vehicle in a parking lot, leaving an M-4 rifle and a shotgun unsecured in a closet at home that was later stolen, and leaving a firearm in a restroom of a fast-food restaurant. Blame it on President Obama (see “Political Mercury,” page 12).
The Ugly
Local authorities defused what could have been a very ugly situation. Last week, Des Moines Police were involved in a four-hour standoff with James A. Taylor, 45. Police were called to the scene on a domestic dispute with a weapon call. As officers were en-route, Taylor allegedly called 911 and told operators he was armed and had doused the house in gasoline. When officers arrived, the house was dark and smelled of gasoline. Fortunately, Taylor’s wife and their daughter were able to escape before authorities arrived. After a lengthy standoff, Taylor surrendered to police, and he was taken into custody without incident.
Fans of Adventureland will have a few less shopping options when the park opens its door in April. Last week, a building full of shops near the front gate caught fire and smoke could be seen billowing into the afternoon sky. As of press time, the official cause was unknown, but park officials believe a ceiling collapsed in a toy store, causing an electrical fire. No one was injured, but attendees at a nearby gun show were evacuated. The building, featuring an arcade, restaurant and bingo parlor, was part of the original park, which opened in 1974. The fire didn’t spread to any of the rides or games, so visitors can still have fun-filled days of long lines, sweaty people and vomit. CV
