Oelwein Daily Register (Newspaper) - November 22, 1989, Oelwein, Iowa Wednesday November 221989 News in brief i No OELWEIN The Oelwein Daily Register does not publish a newspaper Thursday Thanksgiving Day The office is closed so employees may spend the time with friends and family Have a happy holiday Concert OELWEIN The AllState band and chorus concerts airs 6 pm Thursday tomorrow and pm Friday on Iowa Public Television A total seven Oelwein Community High School students and other students par in the concert which was Saturday Nov 18 at the Hilton Coliseum at Ames There was a 285 piece allstate band a or chestra and a chorus Courthouse closed WEST UNION The Fayette County Courthouse will be closed Thursday and Friday Nov 2324 for Thanksgiving It opens for business as usual next Monday Nov 27 Fayette FAYETTE An accident onehalf mile south of Fayette on Iowa 150 occured this morning Authorities said two cars and a pickup were involved The cars collided because of wet conditions not snow or ice No one was injured but those involved in the accident were taken to the Gundersen The Iowa Highway Patrol the Fayette County Sheriffs Department and the Fayette Police were on the scene No further details were available at press time Santa parade Santa Claus is coming to town Oelwein plans a special parade for him 3 pm Friday Nov 24 A short parade starts on North Frederick by Caseys General Store and continues to First Street SW at the Oelwein Area Chamber of Commerce building where Santa takes residence for the season Santas hours are 3 to 5 pm and to 8 pm Nov 24 3 to 5 pm Dec 2 to 8 pm Dec 7 3 to 5 pm Dec 9 to 8 pm Dec 14 3 to 5 pm Dec 16 to 8 pm Dec 21 and 3 to 5 pm Dec 23 The first drawing for prizes totaling Oelwein dollars and 10 turkeys is Dec 1 There are drawings Dec 8 and Dec 15 for the same amount of prizes Entrants must register each week Lottery DBS MOINES AP A report praising the states business loan program is being mailed to legislators but at least one lawmaker says the document appears to be so onesided it will not be taken seriously I certainly dont think that carries much weight at all said Sen Michael Gronstal Bluffs The loan program the Community Economic Betterment Account was established in 1985 to provide state lottery profits to businesses that promise to locate in Iowa or expand their operations in the state Earlier this year the program was criticized by several Democratic state legislators who charged that the funds could be better used for other pur poses such as environmental protection or social programs They complained about CEBA loans and grants to companies that later failed or that competed with existing businesses in the state and also criticized aid to businesses that pay low wages or have poor worker safety records Steamer DES MOINES AP Although damaged during transit a Chinese locomotive arrived amid cheers at a tourist railroad in Boone and officials said theres a chance theyll stoke up the first head of steam early next month Were all smiles here today George Eckstein president of the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad who first proposed buying the machine 21 months ago said Tuesday I gave out a big scream when it first came in Amazing what a scream will do for you Railroad officials hope the steamer will make the tiny railroad one of the states leading tourist attractions next spring when it replaces an aging diesel engine at the head of the railroads passenger cars The engine the largest of the three steam locomotives ever exported from China js the last steamer made by the Datong Engine Works which is being converted to produce diesel engines Tonight partly cloudy and very cold Low around 10 North wind 5 to 10 mph Thanksgiving partly sunny and very cold High near 20 Thanksgiving weekend outlook warmer with a chance of rain or snow Saturday and Sunday COLDER age Daily Funeral Hospital Entertainment5 Happy Thanksgiving Recognition Linda Benter standing was one of the Tuesday night many people recognized at the Oelwein Brosig Area United Way appreciation reception Photo by Andrew D United Way hosts appreciation reception for volunteers Register General Manager OELWEIN The Oelwein Area United Way held an informal Ap preciation Reception Tuesday evening at Sportsmen Restaurant to recognize people who helped to make the fund drive successful United Way President Tom Masey introduced generals workers special assignment groups and Drive Chairman Dennis Rowse Special certificates were presented by Masey and United Way Vice President Russ Lohrer to those people and businesses who donated or more to the United Way drive with bronze awards silver awards gold medallion awards and diamond awards for the various levels of contributions At the event Masey announced that the drive currently has topped well over the announced goal of Masey said the success of the drive here this year as in past years is due to the support for the United Way programs and the hard work and dedication of many of the people who attended the Tuesday reception as well as many other people in the community who were unable to attend Masey said the United Way slogan It brings out the best in all of us is true and that it takes the efforts of many people working together to make the United Way campaign succeed Drive chairman Oelwein Area United Way president Tom Masey right hands Drive Chairman Dennis Rowse a recognition plaque Photo by Andrew D Brosig Simmer voters favor addition By MARTIN Register News Editor SUMMER Theyll be building that addition to Durant Elementary in Sumner after district voters gave nearly 80 percent approval Tuesday to a bond issue The final margin was 646166 for the issue to pay for an foot ad dition to the elementary center A media center or library and computer teaching lab will be housed in that addition While 60 percent was needed better than 79 percent of the voters gave their ap proval Four more yes votes would have put the measure past the 80 percent mark We had good support from the voters and the support team did a good job Superintendent Donald Miller said We had a lot going for us New school standards require each center in a district to have a media center which Durant does not Tuesdays vote means an additional 29 cents per valuation to current school taxes That means an annual increase of on the average home and between 20 and 25 cents per acre for farmland in the seven townships in the district The cost factor was not that high Miller said of the bond issue We have one of the lowest tax rates per and will still have a lower rate than any of our neighboring districts Bids for addition will be let in December or January Construction could begin in the spring students could be in the addition at the start of the 199091 school year Alternatives to the media addition would have included purchasing Starmont decision may take two months ARLINGTON Special Judge George Stigler of Waterloo said in District Court in Elkader on Tuesday that it may take two months to give a decision on what was presented today in the Starmont Board of Banke lawsuit that is now in court Bankes attorney argued the case should be dismissed because it should have been filed in Fayette County The attorney representing Starmont Schools argued the case was properly filed in Clayton County The two sides also presented their case for and against Banke as a Starmont teacher The lawsuit which was filed by the Starmont Board of Education is an appeal to a ruling made by adjudicator William Berquist last February saying that Banke should be reinstated as a teacher in the Starmont Schools after he was fired in 1988 This ruling came after Banke appealed to the Public Employees Job Relations Board for reinstatement Through his attorney Becky Knutson of Des Moines Banke sought en Tuesday to have the Board of Education dismiss the case because he felt it should have been filed in Fayette County where the Starmont Community School Districts main office and its place of business are located Attorney Brian Gruhn of Cedar Rapids attorney for the Board of Education argued that the case should continue in Clayton County since Starmont is designated as a Clayton County school Oelwein economic development groups V officers reelected Register General Manager OELWEIN Officers of the Oelwein Area Economic Development Foundation were reelected at a meeting of the board of directors Tuesday night The 1990 officers are Harry Young president Ken Schmith vice president Walter Manchester secretary and Don Frazer treasurer The replaces the Oelwein In Development Corporation following approval of a change in the by laws at the annual meeting in October At Tuesday nights meeting the directors also discussed plans and goals for the future both on a shortterm and long term basis Included was discussion of a new dues structure to help raise operating capital for the and the possibility of con ducting a drive for funds to help finance the intensified effort to attract more in dustry and business to Oelwein Shelley Morris executive director of the Fayette County Economic Development Commission discussed possible goals with the board Walt Manchester reported to the board on plans for the Tourism Committee of Join Bandwagon for Success which plans to print and distribute more brochures in the spring promoting the attractions of Ike Bouska of the Citizens Committee of JOBS reported on the work of that group He spoke of plans to continue the reward offered to anyone who can provide a lead that will result in a new industry locating in Oelwein Bouska received the approval of the board to continue to advertise the reward The board also reviewed a financial report and discussed various options to improve finances in the future Harry Young Reports were made by several board members in regard to contacts with in prospects Young emphasized that although the is at times criticized because people dont think were doing anything the matter of confidentiality is imperative He said a good prospect was recently planning to arrive in Oelwein for another visit with engineers for further discussion on a possible expansion here However the information leaked out from sources other than here and the visit was cancelled Although contacts are made regularly and the work to attract industry is con people are not aware of the effort being made because of the need for secrecy Young explained New Chamber president appointed portable buildings at a cost estimated now at the reduction of two primary grades to two sections and more than 30 students in a class or sharing with a neighboring district that has a media center That second alternative would have provided the space for a small media center but not for the computer lab ac cording to the support committee Tuesdays margin of approval was impressive but the 1970 bond issue vote at Sumner for the addition of the gym auditorium art and industrial arts room and kitchen still has top honors of 85 percent The Bremer County Auditors Office reported that 812 of the 2070 registered voters in the Sumner School District cast ballots yesterday Thats 392 percent OELWEIN Tom Fick was elected president of the Oelwein Area Chamber of Commerce at a meeting Tuesday noon at Country Kitchen Fick will replace Curt Solsma as Chamber president at the first of the year Other officers elected are Ron Zanatta vice president and Dan Crandall treasurer Walt Manchester continues as executive director Caria Lamphere and Steve Kaune reported on plans for the Christmas Retail Promotion including plans for the arrival of Santa Friday afternoon to his headquarters in the Oelwein Area Chamber of Commerce building Harry Borgman reported that he is continuing work on setting up a special dues classification for membership but had nothing more to report on the matter Plans were discussed for the annual meeting of the Oelwein Area Chamber of Commerce which was set for January 27 The board also approved installation of carpet in the Chamber office Tom Fick Man gets 50 years Clayton County murder ELKADER AP An angry Judge George Stigler sentenced Tony Blum in Clayton County District Court to the mandatory 50 years in prison for the March 1988 murder of Blums step father 71 of McGregor I fed safe in telling you you are one of the most manipulative and deceitful persons I have ever had the misfortune to meet Stigler said Tuesday before handing down the sentence My only regret is 1 cant give you more time than am going to give you the judge said Blum raised ire Tuesday by insisting one of the reasons he accepted the guilty plea to the reduced charge of was the judge Blum took the witness stand Tuesday before sentencing to ask that his guilty plea be withdrawn and his murder be continued Stigler denied the motion Man charged with murder in death of tot Rv Thp TI County prepares for winter By The Associated Press and Register staff reports CEDAR RAPIDS AP A Center Point man has been charged with murder and sexual abuse in the death of an Hazleton girl Darren Farmer 19 formerly of Oelwein was arrested Saturday night and charged with willful injury after he brought Jade Marie Horkheimer to the emergency room at Saint Lukes Hospital in Cedar Rapids The murder charge and a sexual abuse charge were filed against him Tuesday after the toddler died of a brain at about pm Monday Linn County Attorney Denver Dillard said Both charges carry a mandatory sen tence of life in prison if Farmer is con Authorities said the childs mother Angie Cummings 18 moved in with Farmer Nov 12 They said he was alone with the child Saturday night and he allegedly assaulted her when he could not stop her from crying Funeral services were held this af Wednesday in Oelwein Burial was at the Hazleton Cemetery Funeral information is on page 7 Dillard said prosecutors at present have no reason to charge Cummings in the case The childs father was Jeff Horkheimer of Hazleton He and Cummings were never married Dillard said Farmer was told of the new charges against him during his initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon District Associate Judge Mike increased Farmers bail to at the hearing The judge also set a preliminary hearing for Farmer for Dec 1 Authorities say the child had severe injuries including signs of vaginal A spokesman for the Linn County Sheriffs Department Monday said the girl had brain injuries and bruises and scrapes on her head stomach and vaginal area Farmer lias been in Linn County jail since early Sunday By MARTIN Register News Editor WEST UNION The salt and sand is being moved into place and the plows are ready This mornings snowfall was the final ingredient in the recipe for winter travel With an ear tuned to the weather forecasts and a dusting of snow on the ground Fayette County Engineer Moellering and the county highway department have turned their attentions to the demands of seasonal driving Sand is being hauled to each of 10 maintenance districts each of which covers an area the size of about two townships Eldorados sand comes from West Union During the winter we create an ad maintenance district by taking miles away from hilly northeast districts said Moellering Four districts are split into five and an extra maintainer operates out of West Union Fayette County has 1135 miles of roadway to maintain 206 of it paved The countys winter arsenal also includes 11 motor graders with snow plows and wings 17 single axle and three tandems with V and oneway plows and tailgate sanders three tandems equipped with V plows and sanders and and motor snowblowers The snowblowers see action during what meteorologists would call extreme conditions Motorists will recognize those conditions as very deep A new maintainer was purchased for the Scott District this fall The blower for the motor grader was purchased in 1952 and is the oldest in the countys winter equipment line Some 2400 tons of mixed salt and sand has been stockpiled Up to 300 tons of it can be stored in a covered building at the Alpha district shop Proposals now are to build more sand sheds around the county to keep the weather from leaching the salt out of the sand Moellering said saying the money spent on the sand and keeping it out of the groundwater in the process Some predictions call for an above average snowfall for the winter of 198990 The county engineer is among those hoping there wont be a repeat of the icy con ditions that glazed the previous winter In the extreme part through January we had several ice storms Moellering recalls We used our normal allotment of salt and sand and considerable more after those storms Paved routes will have priority for snow removal then the countys gravel roads Last on the priority chart are the sec tions of gravel road leading to dead ends after is done to the last house or final driveway leading to livestock When we are aware of snow coming down through the night employees will make every effort to be on the road by 5 am to start cleaning snow said Moellering County answer emergencies such as births ambulance and fire calls at any time and Moellering is asking expectant mothers who live in the rural areas to have their doctors contact his office with the anticipated wintertime birth date Two did so last winter but neither had to follow a snowplow to get to the hospital
