Preservation plan backs Clermont pipe organ restoration
Kaufmann opposed an $80,000 line item for an agricultural learning center at Muscatine Community College where he teaches history. Jerome Thompson of the State Historical Society supports spending to restore Clermont’s historic pipe organ, funded by a $50,000 Save Americas Treasures grant and federal money, to be repaired by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders. The organ, valued at about $500,000 if cared for, could be saved for Iowa.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kaufmann
Muscatine Community College
Clermont
Jerome Thompson
State Historical Society
Save America’s Treasures
Thompson
Iowa
Wenther West
Dobson Pipe Organ Builders
Lake City
National Cathedral
Washington, D.C
Wenthe
Jeff Kaufmann
Wilton
Sioux City
E Legis
Capitol
Organ Funding Sparks Iowa Budget Debate Over Heritage
The House debated state spending citing $3 million for routine maintenance of state buildings and $1 million for prison project costs along with $220,000 to stabilize Civil War battle flags. Critics called an $80,000 organ restoration a poster child for pork while supporters emphasize its historical value tied to a gift from former Gov. Larrabee and its role in Clermont’s cultural events.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fort Madison
Mitchellville
House
Christopher Rants
Sioux City
Andrew Wenthe
D-Hawkeye
Fayette County
Ermont
Iowa
William Larrabee
Montauk
Clermont
Wenthe
Immigrant era organs and policy battles spotlighted
Former Gazette staffer Beverley Duffy explored immigrant era churches in northeast Iowa with grand pipe organs and stained glass. Critics decry infrastructure funding in the same bill as pork and partisan misuse, urging transparency in the late session push.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iown
Gazette
Beverley Duffy
GazetteOnline
NRA argues against Cedar Rapids gun data proposal
NRA lobbyist Andrew Jennison criticizes a Cedar Rapids gun enforcement plan calling it an overreach and vows to oppose it, citing Iowa preemption and state law. Store owners raise concerns about stolen guns and the practical effects on costs, while Gander Mountain stresses cooperation but questions necessity and effectiveness.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
NRA
Andrew Jennison
National Rifle Association
Iowa
Police Department
Jennison
Fairfax
Cedar Rapids
Matt Schrantz
Center Point
Stegen
Schrantz
David Ewald
St. Paul
Minn
Gander Mountain
Ewald
Clancey to step down as Cedar Rapids city leader
Cedar Rapids longtime official Lee Clancey announced she will retire from her government post after three productive years. She credits a cancer scare with prompting the decision and says she will remain a background cheerleader as a new leader takes over. Community leaders praised her role in shaping the city’s shift to a city manager structure, the local option sales tax for schools, and the downtown master plan.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Clancey
Cedar Rapids
Russell
Lee
Doug Neumann
Monica Vernon
Chamber
Also Mentioned on This Page
James.lynch
Gazcomm.com
West Union
Logan Blue
Kimball
Union Sunday School
United States
Courtney Sargent
the Gazette
The
Kimball Pipe Organ
Mercy
Joint Commission For Our Heart Disease and
Re.org
Washburn
Rick.smith
Janet.rorholm
Tay Se
Musi
Karastan
Kerastan
Smulekoffs
Third Ave
Smulekoffs.com
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