West Burlington IA News-Sports-Opinion

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Notre Dame - West Burlington Boys’ Tennis 2009

Front Row L-R: Mitsuhiro Nagamatsu, Ben Heckenberg, Tim Brees, Dustin Guihan, Nick Hartman, Alex Conner, James Hong. Back Row L-R: Coach Brian Japsen, Tyler Hackenmiller, Landon Stewart, Johnny Kingyon, Jacob Arthur, Stewart Holloway, Chris Kirk, Scott Swanner. Not pictured: Blake Riffel, Craig Mayfield.

Falcon,

The taxpayers pay taxes for services, or at least that is the way it was designed. They collect our taxes, tell us that they don't have the money for services, and then they hand out pay raises. How long will the public put up with this. The economy is not very good right now and everybody who could read, knew this. Why are our local governments entering into 5-year contracts with annual pay raises? They could take a wage freeze and it would not hurt them. We don't need anymore new government employees. We can't afford them. I thought Heland and Beck were more honorable. I don't trust them either. They are in it for themselves. They are at the trough! When they should be using their fitness benefit.

-DMC Voter

4/27/09 – 5:45 p.m. at 550 S. Gear, West Burlington.
David Laverne Burtlow, 31, Midtown Lane #28, Burlington; simple domestic abuse assault.

4/27/09 – 11:11 a.m. at 525 S. Gear (Target), West Burlington.
Jacob Ashton Merritt, 25, 709 Swan St., West Burlngton; fourth degree theft.

4/27/09 – 9:34 a.m. at 701 E. Pennington, West Burlington.
James Antoine Howard, 27, 800 Palm Ave., Mt. Pleasant; interference, eluding, 5-counts stop sign violation, speeding, driving under suspension.

Kelley wins 100-meter dash.

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West Burlington – Notre Dame senior Jacob Deen runs the first leg in the 4x100-meter relay at the Mediapolis Relays Tuesday. Falcons placed fourth in the event.

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West Burlington – Notre Dame’s D.J. Laveine throws the shot at the Mediapolis Relays Tuesday.

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West Burlington – Notre Dame junior Ryan Kelley finishes first in the 100-meter dash Tuesday at the Mediapolis Relays with a time of 11:92-seconds.

Team Scores:

1. Mediapolis 113
2. Wilton 107
3. WBND 57
4. Louisa Muscatine 53
5. Highland 27

Falcon,

Another article in the Hawkeye [Tuesday] about the lack of funds for rock on the county roads. Here is a suggestion to spend the tax dollars more wisely. Supervisors Jeff Heland and Bob Beck have other careers and jobs. This Supervisor job is part-time and should not provide full-time benefits, especially when the County is short on money for rock. The full-time Health/fitness benefit is $1200. per month. This cost the Des Moines County taxpayers $28,800. per year to pay for this benefit for these two part-time employees. Here is $28,800. that the County should spend on rock to improve the quality and safety of these roads. Who is really serving who? Where are the dollars going? We pay taxes for services!

-County Resident

Falcon:

County Resident is exactly right; the county always has funds for raises and free benefits for everyone and nothing for the county roads. All government employees take care of themselves first and then maybe the left over funds go to the resident needs of the locality. In these hard times I wonder how many county employees have been laid off or put on furlough? I’m willing to bet they haven’t laid-off one person or done anything but line their pockets with unearned raises and benefits since the first of the year.

Citizens should start demanding roll back of wages and free benefits for government employees where raises are given for nothing with many based on longevity with no concern for responsibility or job performance.

Supervisors should be part time employees ineligible for insurance and shouldn’t receive pay as though it were a full time 40 hour a week job. Who keeps track of their actual time on county business?

They should drop any country club memberships it has, stop fee payment for societies that personnel belong to and any number of other costly frills to the taxpayer. Let the employees pay their own fees for nonessential memberships in societies. This should also be done by the city, cut back on the hidden frills given to personnel at taxpayer expense. There are hundreds of ways local government could trim its budgets but this is unlikely to happen because government personnel are basically wards of the taxpayer, from cradle to grave they expect to be cuddled and pampered by the taxpayer. And in return all we get is crying they have no money left for this or that.

Just poor management is what I call it and a give-a-damn-attitude to the taxpayer.

-Disgusted

4/26/09 – 3:43 p.m. at West Ave. & Howard, Burlington.
Pablo Rodriguez, 701 E. Pennington #158, West Burlington; driving without license.

State Alcohol Division Administrator strong-arms taverns to obey smoking ban.

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Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division Administrator Lynn Walding (right in dark suit) and local A.B.D. Investigator, Steve Henson (right in white shirt) tell tavern owners they will use fines and liquor license suspensions to force them to obey the State’s controversial smoking ban during a meeting at Burlington City Hall Monday. When asked if the State would refund fines should the courts rule the smoking ban unconstitutional, Walding replied, “probably not.” Walding said over 60-percent of taverns and bars in Des Moines County are currently not in compliance with the smoking ban. As yet, no citations for smoking ban violations have been issued by any law enforcement agency in Des Moines County.

Falcon,

Your friend with the "rest of the story" should either get his facts straight or tell his "folks in Iowa City" to head down to the police station.

According to the article you linked to April 24, the police say, "they have had a hard time tracking down suspects because they usually can't find witnesses." If what the April 26 post says is true, then these folks have failed to do their civic duty and step forward as witnesses.

So, either someone is unwilling to be a good citizen or is more interested in spreading fear and anger based on mistruths. Either way, they should be ashamed. They are part of the problem, not the solution.

— MK

4/26/09 – 3:10 p.m. at 324 W. Agency (Wal-Mart), West Burlington.
Jo Yvonn Green, 54, 625 S. 8th , Burlington; fifth degree theft.
Veronica Donna Rose Ann Marut, 31, 625 S. 8th , Burlington; fifth degree theft.

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Junior Brad Hardy and Senior Jenna Brissey show their moves on the dance floor during West Burlington High School Prom at Memorial Auditorium in Burlington Saturday night.

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Junior Ryan Kelley tries to pick up a few extra bucks in the inflatable money blower at West Burlington’s post prom event early Sunday morning at West Burlington High School. Participants had ten seconds to grab as much money as they could while inside the plastic bubble.

Falcon,

I read the story in the Des Moines County News about the bad County roads. There were county residents complaining at the County Supervisor meeting. Supervisor Beck and Heland, who both are on the free monthly family health insurance at $1200.00 per month, say they don't have the money for rock. They blame the State. The County gave out annual pay raises and free health insurance. The Supervisors got a pay raise. They also either take the FREE health insurance or most of the money for their retirement plan. And then THEY don't have any money for the taxpayers’ roads. Isn't there something wrong with this picture? Many area people are laid off and they all get pay raises. Ridiculous! Enjoy the freebies Bob and Jeff, on the backs of your citizens. How do you sleep at night after you fill your pockets with taxpayer funds?

-County Resident

www.DanHockett.com

Seniors Colten Moore and Samantha Plath were crowned West Burlington Prom King and Queen during Promenade at West Burlington High School on Saturday.

An Iowa judge says he will no longer perform marriages because of the Iowa Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay-marriage.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Falcon,

What the AP article goes great lengths to avoid in disclosing is the race of victims and assailants in the attacks. From what I have been told by folks in Iowa City is that all of these attacks have been racial in nature. That is to say all of the victims have been white and the attackers have been black.

-The rest of the story

American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa Press Release

Iowa Court orders Pharmacy Board to consider medical marijuana

The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, announces today that it has secured a court victory in its quest to have marijuana considered for medical use in the State of Iowa. Polk County District Judge Joel D. Novak ruled that Pharmacy Board had to consider whether marijuana is improperly classified as a schedule I controlled substance under Iowa law and directed the Board to consider only one criteria when it makes its decision.

Currently, marijuana can be used legally under medical supervision in at least 13 states for relief of severe nausea, pain spasms, and other debilitating symptoms brought on by such diseases as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and AIDS. Proponents of medical marijuana contend that the substance is often much more effective, and has fewer side effects than outrageously priced prescription drugs that attempt to mimic marijuana's known therapeutic effects.

In Iowa, however, marijuana has been kept on the list of substances that have "no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States." As such, it is subject to even more control than supposedly "harder" drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, and opiates. In the ruling announced today, a Polk County Judge rejected the Iowa Pharmacy Board's position that it could not approve use of marijuana under medical supervision until the ACLU's clients proved that marijuana "lacks a high potential for abuse."

Under Iowa's controlled substances law, drugs and other substances are listed on schedules according to their utility in medicine and dangerousness to the public. The Iowa Board of Pharmacy is charged with the responsibility of periodically reviewing the scheduling of substances and with making recommendations for rescheduling to the legislature when a substance no longer meets criteria for listing on its current schedule.

The Petitioners in this action, Carl Olsen, George McMahon, Barbara Douglass, and Bryan Scott, petitioned the Pharmacy Board for a recommendation that marijuana be removed from Schedule I because it no longer met the required criteria of having no accepted use in medical treatment in the United States. The fact that marijuana is now legally used for medical purposes in 13 states could not be ignored by the Pharmacy Board, they argued.

At its July 29th, 2008 meeting, the Pharmacy Board balked at the suggestion that it should review the status of medical marijuana as required by statute based on its desire to see the federal government take some action first. The Petitioners, some of whom have been waiting for decades to obtain a similar decision at the federal level, pressed their case and the Pharmacy board issued a ruling on October 7th, 2008 requiring the petitioners to prove as an additional criteria that marijuana "lacks a high potential for abuse." It was this ruling that was appealed to the Polk County District Court.

Petitioner Carl Olsen is a well known marijuana activist. Petitioners McMahon and Douglass are two of the last three or four persons in the country who are enrolled in the federal "Investigational New Drug (IND) Compassionate Access Program" under which they receive marijuana grown by the federal government to use to alleviate their medical conditions under the supervision of a physician. In 1992 the George H.W. Bush administration closed the program to new patients when it became clear that a large number of AIDS victims were turning to marijuana for relief of their symptoms. Outside of the federal program, marijuana has not been legally used in Iowa for medical purposes since prior to the 1930's when it was recommended by physicians for an number of ailments.

The judge in this case was the Hon. Joel D. Novak. The attorneys were Scott Galenbeck from the Iowa Attorney General's office, representing the Board of Pharmacy, and Randall C. Wilson, Legal Director of the ACLU of Iowa Foundation, representing Petitioners, McMahon, Scott and Douglass. Carl Olsen appeared pro se.

It's far worse than most people realize.

Anyone who thinks that same-sex “marriage” is a benign eccentricity which won’t affect the average person should consider what it has done in Massachusetts. It’s become a hammer to force the acceptance and normalization of homosexuality on everyone. And this train is moving fast.

The homosexual “marriage” onslaught in public schools across the state started soon after the November 2003, court decision.

At my own children's high school there was a school-wide assembly to celebrate same-sex “marriage” in early December, 2003. It featured an array of speakers, including teachers at the school who announced that they would be “marrying” their same-sex partners and starting families either through adoption or artificial insemination. Literature on same-sex marriage – how it is now a normal part of society – was handed out to the students.

Within months it was brought into the middle schools. In September, 2004, an 8th-grade teacher in Brookline, MA, told National Public Radio that the marriage ruling had opened up the floodgates for teaching homosexuality. “In my mind, I know that, `OK, this is legal now.' If somebody wants to challenge me, I'll say, `Give me a break. It's legal now,'” she told NPR. She added that she now discusses gay sex with her students as explicitly as she desires. For example, she said she tells the kids that lesbians can have vaginal intercourse using sex toys.

By the following year it was in elementary school curricula. Kindergartners were given picture books telling them that same-sex couples are just another kind of family, like their own parents. In 2005, when David Parker of Lexington, MA – a parent of a kindergartner – strongly insisted on being notified when teachers were discussing homosexuality or transgenderism with his son, the school had him arrested and put in jail overnight.

Second graders at the same school were reading a book, “King and King”, about two men who have a romance and marry each other, with a picture of them kissing. When parents Rob and Robin Wirthlin complained, they were told that the school had no obligation to notify them or allow them to opt-out their child.

In 2006 the Parkers and Wirthlins filed a federal Civil Rights lawsuit to force the schools to notify parents and allow them to opt-out their elementary-school children when homosexual-related subjects were taught. The federal judges dismissed the case. The judges ruled that because same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts, the school actually had a duty to normalize homosexual relationships to children, and that schools have no obligation to notify parents or let them opt-out their children! Acceptance of homosexuality had become a matter of good citizenship!

Think about that: Because same-sex marriage is “legal”, a federal judge has ruled that the schools now have a duty to portray homosexual relationships as normal to children, despite what parents think or believe!

In 2006, in the elementary school where my daughter went to Kindergarten, the parents of a third-grader were forced to take their child out of school because a man undergoing a sex-change operation and cross-dressing was being brought into class to teach the children that there are now “different kinds of families.” School officials told the mother that her complaints to the principal were considered “inappropriate behavior.”

Libraries have also radically changed. School libraries across the state, from elementary school to high school, now have shelves of books to normalize homosexual behavior and the lifestyle in the minds of kids, some of them quite explicit and even pornographic. Parents complaints are ignored or met with hostility.

Over the past year, homosexual groups have been using taxpayer money to distribute a large, slick hardcover book celebrating homosexual marriage titled “Courting Equality” into every school library in the state.

It’s become commonplace in Massachusetts schools for teachers to prominently display photos of their same-sex “spouses” and occasionally bring them to school functions. Both high schools in my own town now have principals who are “married” to their same-sex partners, whom they bring to school and introduce to the students.

“Gay days” in schools are considered necessary to fight “intolerance” which may exist against same-sex relationships. Hundreds of high schools and even middle schools across the state now hold “gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender appreciation days”. They “celebrate” homosexual marriage and move forward to other behaviors such as cross-dressing and transsexuality. In my own town, a school committee member recently announced that combating “homophobia” is now a top priority.

Once homosexuality has been normalized, all boundaries will come down. The schools are already moving on to normalizing transgenderism (including cross-dressing and sex changes). The state-funded Commission on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth includes leaders who are transsexuals.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

News from the Hill…

This week on Monday evening, there was a public hearing on making changes to the sex offender laws. There were many speakers from local law enforcement, county attorneys, and the department of public safety. Both Des Moines and Louisa County Sheriffs attended with Louisa County Sheriff Curt Braby speaking in favor of the proposed changes. Much of the discussion that night was about the flaws with the 2000 foot law and how ineffective it is in keeping our young people safe. There is a need to make changes to comply with the Adam Walsh Act that has been seen as an opportunity to update other provisions of Iowa’s sex offender laws. Law enforcement is frustrated because the 2000 foot residency restriction provides ineffective results through present law. These results are the main reasons for the proposed changes. Law enforcement claims that it is proving unenforceable and only regulates where a sex offender sleeps. The bill creates a tiered system of classification for all sex offenders. Tier I contains the less severe offenders while Tier III will contain the most severe offenders. Classifying offenders into three tiers is a requirement of the Adam Walsh Act. The bill makes many other changes, too many to list in my newsletter. For those wanting more information you can bring up HF 711, but make sure you click on the amendment, because that is the entire bill.

Tax Bills and the Economy…

During the first session of Iowa’s 83rd General Assembly, several tax proposals have been offered that, if enacted, will have a chilling effect on Iowa’s ability to further develop its statewide economy. A few of the misguided proposals includes eliminating taxpayers’ ability to deduct their federal taxes paid from their state tax liability, placing a cap on important tax credits and providing local governments with additional taxing authority. While all of these tax proposals are still alive, one is expected to reach the floor of the House very soon. Senate File 483, a bill to place limitations on tax incentives and place burdens on both corporate and individual taxpayers. This proposal, as amended by the House Ways and Means Committee, seeks to limit the aggregate amount of tax credits to a maximum of $185 million each year for five important tax credit programs.

Bonding going once…

“How big are the bonds going to be,” is a question still waiting to be answered. The Governor says $750 million, the Senate Democrats and the House Democrats say $700 million dollars that spends the money in different places. Borrowing money to solve a spending problem does not work for individuals, businesses or government. The state needs to scrap this idea and move on.

Open and Transparent…

The Administration and Regulation Budget passed the Iowa House last week with language that sets up a searchable database for spending in state government. This passed easily in the Iowa House, but the Senate stripped the searchable database out. When the bill came back over to the House for debate, the floor manager of the bill recommended we concur with the senate. He agreed the cost was too much and it would be fiscally irresponsible to spend the money for a system that makes government more transparent. Personally, I am not sure why he became fiscally responsible at a time that was a benefit to all Iowans. Seems to me he is late incoming to see the light of fiscal responsibility. The small cost of setting up a system to make state government more open is a small price to pay. There are many other ways to reduce cost of state government.

Final Adjournment on the horizon…

As of Friday morning there seems to be a push to end this year’s session and adjourn for the year. Most years the final days are a sprint to the finish; this year seems to be more of a stagger to finish. One moment the body is going one direction, another moment the body is going off in a different direction.

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” -Ronald Reagan

-Tom Sands

President Obama showed his hand this week when The New York Times wrote that he is considering converting the stock the government owns in our country’s banks from preferred stock, which it now holds, to common stock.

This seemingly insignificant change is momentous. It means that the federal government will control all of the major banks and financial institutions in the nation. It means socialism.

And whoever controls the banks controls the credit and, therefore, the economy. That’s called socialism.

-Dick Morris

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

What's going on in Iowa City?

_On March 27, a college-aged man was assaulted at about 2 a.m. downtown. Witnesses said six to 10 men ganged up on him, and when another man tried to intervene, he too was knocked unconscious. Police say the assailants then ran along a downtown street, punching other men as they passed.

_On April 2, a 22-year-old man was smoking outside a downtown bar when six men approached him and asked for cigarettes. As he was handing them out, the men knocked him to the ground and took the whole pack. Later, the same man walked past a group of men who knocked him to the ground and stole his watch.

_On April 6, a man woke up to bystanders helping him sit up. The man told police someone he didn't know knocked him unconscious. He didn't realize his jaw was broken until a hospital visit the next afternoon.

_On April 16, two college-age men stepped outside a bar to smoke at about 1:15 a.m. After an argument with others, one of the men was pushed to the ground, then kicked and punched by several people. He suffered a broken nose and a head cut requiring staples to close.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Global Warming postponed, solar furnace cooling.

Sunspots could be seen in 2001 (left), but not this year (right)

In the mid-17th Century, a similar quiet spell - known as the Maunder Minimum - lasted 70 years, and led to a "mini ice age". Some scientists, who hope to hang on to their government grants to study global warming, say this will have little effect.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

CLICK HERE FOR NASA ARTICLE

If you are old enough to remember liking disco music, you may also remember the environmental issues of the day such as air pollution. Scientists were telling us in 1970 that by the 1980's life expectancy would be 42 and that hundreds of thousands would die from air pollution. Democrats are holding a full three day summit on Cap & Trade -- a giant taxation scheme that does nothing to stop global warming. Maybe Democrats should look at what happened to air pollution --- which has decreased dramatically since the 80's, despite huge increases in population --- before they levy yet another giant tax on Americans.

-Glenn Beck

Notre Dame West Burlington boys’ tennis team notched their 1st win of the 2009 season with a 6 – 3 win over the Panthers at Mt. Pleasant. Both teams played with their #7 players and lower on the roster. James Hong, Johnny Kingyon and Stewart Holloway lead NDWB with two wins each.

Singles:
1) Alex Spencer MP def Dustin Guihan NDWB 8 – 4
2) James Hong NDWB def Mason Nichols M 8 – 2
3) Johnny Kingyon NDWB def Pierce Lorenz M 8 – 1
4) Tim Brees NDWB def Chris Overton MP 8 – 3
5) Stewart Holloway NDWB def Nathan Smith MP 8 – 5
6) Daniel Yaley MP def Landon Stewart NDWB 8 – 6
7) Phillip Yaley M def Nick Hartman NDWB 8 – 3

Doubles:
1) Guihan / Hong NDWB def Spencer / Nichols MP 10 – 4
2) Kingyon / Holloway NDWB def Lorenz / Overton MP 10 – 4
3) Smith / Yaley MP def Brees / Stewart NDWB 10 – 8

The NDWB Boys improve to 1 – 2 for the year and will be off until next Thursday, April 30th when they host Burlington at Dankwardt Park.

Tuesday, Flint Hills Golf Course, Burlington

Team Scores:

Boys
NDWB 195, Danville 216

Girls
NDWB 226, Danville 241

Individual Scoring:

Boys
Danville
Jacob Brooks 49
Josh Stevens 50
Taylor House 58
Adam Brown 59
Zach Scott 61
Alden Tucker 64

Notre Dame – West Burlington
Skylar Schmiser 46
Derek Carlson 48
Kevin Moehn 48
Kyle Mesecher 53
Tyler Dick 54
Kaleb Alfred 57

Girls
Danville
Libby Helt 54
Laura Loots 55
Maggie Cross 65
Alexa Hogberg 69
Kaylea Pfeifer 78
Catilyn Troutman 81

Notre Dame – West Burlington
Katie Gaudian 51
Katliyn Sparrow 54
Ali Bishop 59
Katie Cook 62
Kaylen Vedder 67
Melanine Martain 74

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Danville’s Becca Nelson places second in 100-meter hurdles at the Panther Relays in Mt. Pleasant Tuesday with a time of 12.58-seconds.

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Danville’s Brooke Byars launches at the start of the 200-meter dash Tuesday at the Panther Relays in Mt. Pleasant. Byars teammate, Lynsey Albin, holds her blocks.

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West Burlington – Notre Dame’s Jade Van Rycke competes in the 400-meter run at the Panther Relays in Mt. Pleasant Tuesday.

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West Burlington – Notre Dame’s Daley LaVeine competes in the 100-meter hurdles at the Panther Relays in Mt. Pleasant Tuesday.

Class B Team Scores:

1. New London – 105
2. Danville – 77
3. Central Lee – 76
4. WACO – 67
5. Sigourney – 65
6. Cardinal – 55
7. WMU – 43
8. Van Buren – 36
9. Wapello – 31
10. West Burlington – 29
11. Mt. Pleasant JV – 5

President Barack Obama plans to convene his Cabinet for the first time where he will order members to identify a combined $100 million in budget cuts over the next 90 days. Just how laughable is Obama’s latest stunt to try to maintain his “fiscal responsibility” credentials? This graphic from Heritage’s John Fleming might help:

"To put those numbers in perspective, imagine that the head of a household with annual spending of $100,000 called everyone in the family together to deal with a $34,000 budget shortfall. How much would he or she announce that spending had to be cut? By $3 over the course of the year–approximately the cost of one latte at Starbucks. The other $33,997? We can put that on the family credit card and worry about it next year.”

-Harvard University economics professor Greg Mankiw

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

West Burlington Christina Church Welcomes Junior Talley. Saturday April 25th. Junior and his wife will entertain with some Elvis style Gospel!

Falcon,

I find it amazing that this photo, taken so many years ago, still exists!
And now someone has put it online for all of us to see.
This INCREDIBLE picture was taken in 1918.

It is 18,000 men preparing for war in a training camp It Camp Dodge in Iowa EIGHTEEN THOUSAND MEN !!!!!
What a priceless gift from our grandfathers...'

From Iowa National Guard website:

"On a stifling July day in 1918, 18,000 officers and soldiers posed as Lady Liberty on the parade [drill] grounds at Camp Dodge." [This area was west of Baker St. and is currently the area around building S34 and to the west.] "According to a July 3, 1986, story in the Fort Dodge Messenger, many men fainted-they were dressed in woolen uniforms-as the temperature neared 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The photo, taken from the top of a specially constructed tower by a Chicago photography studio, Mole & Thomas, was intended to help promote the sale of war bonds but was never used." (Grover 1987)

CLICK HERE FOR Iowa National Guard website

-Glad to be American

New ice analysis indicates that contrary to the belief that there is large-scale melting of ice over most of Antarctica, ice is actually expanding in a large portion of the continent.

Antarctica has 90 per cent of the Earth's ice and 80 per cent of its fresh water.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Falcon,

Two burglars invaded Democrat Senator Ray Lesniak home Saturday. It got a little tense when one burglar told the other to shoot him. Of course gun control Senator Lesniak had no way to defend himself. Luckily cooler heads prevailed and he survived.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

There are times when a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with 00 buck beats a sensitivity session. "Hands up!"

-AO

4/18/09 – 4:40 p.m. at 701 E. Pennington Apt. 109, West Burlington.
Shon Marie Davis Vassar, 47, 701 E. Pennington Apt. 109, West Burlington; warrant for serious domestic abuse assault.

4/17/09 – 1:35 p.m. at 411 W. Agency Suite 4 (Sally’s Beauty), West Burlington.
Michelle Diane Appel, 45, 525 S. 9th, Burlington; fifth degree theft.

by www.DanHockett.com

2009 Danville JH Boys’ Track

Front Row L-R: Matt Ott, Brandon Sanchez, Curtis Richards. Back Row L-R: Manager Alissa Miller, Caleb Wilson, Erik Spencer, Adam Drain, Kody Duncan, Manager Kourtney Menke. Not pictured: Garrett Gobble, Manager Madison Wolkenhauer.

No question Susan is real and talented, but are we really suppose to believe Simon Cowell didn't know about her?

Link to Spike's post on Susan Boyle

A 1999 recording of Susan Boyle has been uncovered and she was spectacular 10-years ago.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

www.DanHockett.com

2009 Danville JH Girls’ Track

Front Row L-R: Rachel Beck, Emily Cameron, Kristen Beames, Manager Sarah Ott. Back Row L-R: Danielle Williams, Morgan Roby, Sarah Snavely, Claire Henry, Gabbie Grothe. Not pictured: Anna Smith, Shelby Oliver

Jenna Brissey signs with Marshalltown Community College

Photo submitted

Jenna Brissey, West Burlington (front center), signs her softball letter of intent with her parents and Marshalltown Communtiy College softball Coach Lamb (back center). West Burlington - Notre Dame softball coach David Oleson said “Jenna loves the game of softball and is willing to play at any position needed to help the team. Her sophomore year she played second base, left and center field, earning 2nd team all conference as a utility player. Her junior year she started every game at third base earning honorable mention all conference.”

Iowa second-best in use of water to make ethanol.

Iowa ethanol production uses less water than all other ethanol producing states except one, according to a new study.

University of Minnesota researchers found Iowa uses 6-gallons of water to produce 1-gallon of ethanol.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Nikes battle back to tie game at 3-3, only to forfeit to BHS.

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Notre Dame – West Burlington’s Cameron Gray (3) and Burlington’s Willis Fry (right) battle for ball control in the first half of Friday night’s game at the RecPlex in West Burlington. Grayhounds jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the first half before the Nikes battled back to knot the game at 3-3 at the end of regulation play. However, the game will go in the books as a BHS win after a misunderstanding forced officials to declare the Nikes forfeited. Nike coach Chris Bankie thought there was a prior understanding if the game was tied at the end of regulation play no overtime would be played. However, BHS coach Kevin Dunlop didn’t recall any previous agreement. Officials were forced to make the forfeit call after Nike players left the field.

www.DanHockett.com

Nike Lindsey Reed (left) kicks ball in goal past Burlington goalkeeper Meghan Ryan (right) in the second half of Friday’s game at the RecPlex in West Burlington. Reed scored twice to lead the Nikes in a 2-0 win over Burlington.

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Burlington’s Brynn Krekel (3) and Notre Dame-West Burlington-Danville-New London’s Taylor Delaney (28) collide going for ball during Friday’s game at the RecPlex in West Burlington. Nikes defeated the Grayhounds, 2-0.

4/12/09 – 1:05 p.m. at DMC Correctional Center.
Donald Terral Hawkins, 37, West Burlington; warrant arrest for probation violation.

www.DanHockett.com

West Burlington – Notre Dame’s Kevin Moehn chips onto the green at Flint Hills Golf Course in Burlington on Thursday. Nikes topped the Tigers, 174-188

Individual Scoring:

NDWB
Kyle Mesecher 39
Tyler Dick 44
Skylar Schmiser 45
Derek Carlson 47
Kaleb Alfred 49
Kevin Mohen 54

New London
Jayden Allen 44
Kris Millard 44
Kyle Helmerson 48
Micah Alden 52
Jake Kadel 54
Logan Stevens 59

New London Girls Top NDWB

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West Burlington – Notre Dame’s Katie Gaudian putts on the first hole at Flint Hills Golf Course in Burlington on Thursday.Tigers topped the Nikes, 183-225.

Individual Scoring:

New London
Jessica Lerdal 43
Courtney Taylor 43
Rachel Thornburg 48
Kelsy Riely 49
Keli Moffet 62
Hanah Holtkamp 65

NDWB
Katie Gaudian 44
Katlyn Sparrow 56
Kaylen Vedder 62
Katie Cook 63
Melianie Martain 72

Fear and Greed Driving Sales of Guns & Ammo

Buyers Fear Anti-Gun Legislation; Collectors Hope to Profit

Gunowners believe President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress will soon reimpose a federal ban on the sale of so-called assault weapons. If such a law passes, collectors figure their collections -- guns, ammo magazines and weapon parts to assemble semiautomatic rifles -- could triple in value.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

News from the Hill…

This week the capitol had several large groups rally on the west steps. The first one was Monday, people stood in the rain supporting biblical marriage between one man and one woman and family values. They simply want the legislature to listen to their concerns and they want the chance to vote on this very important issue.

The largest group was by far on Wednesday, April 15th. The date our federal income taxes are due. The group, reported to be near 3,000 people, gathered to express their frustration over out of control spending and tax increases at both the state and federal levels. These gatherings were going on throughout our nation. The citizens of our country are frustrated. The Des Moines event lasted two hours with numerous speakers. The main topics were the frustration over the inflated federal budget, the recent stimulus package, our State’s over spending, and the possible loss of federal deductibility on our state income tax. From the House Chambers looking out to the West, it was an awesome sight to see that many people gathered to express their disappointment with the direction our country is going. We need to keep this momentum going through the next election cycle. That way we can have a positive change in this country.

Sands Bills…

One of the bills I co-sponsored this year was HF 218. This bill directs the college student aid commission to establish and administer, in consultation with the department of veteran’s affairs, an Iowa veteran’s college loan repayment program to encourage veterans to establish careers in Iowa.

A veteran is eligible for the program if the veteran is a resident, was a resident for not less than three years at the time of application, and is employed in Iowa for wages by an employer; and has exhausted, or is not entitled to, benefits under the federal military college loan repayment program. The amount of loan repayment an applicant may receive is the lesser of the remainder of the veteran's outstanding college debt or $3,000 for a veteran who has lived in the state for not less than three years, $8,000 for a veteran who has lived in the state for not less than five years, and $18,000 for a veteran who has lived in the state for not less than 10 years.

End in Sight?.?.

There are many unanswered questions of how this budget is going to balance. We will be adjourning on Thursday night until Monday morning. We were told that by the time that we arrive on Monday morning they will have reached a deal on the budget. Time will tell how this budget will be balanced, how much they are going to bond and how much federal stimulus money will be used to balance the FY 2010 budget. Using this one time money may solve a budget problem this year, but it sets the state up for a huge cliff to fall off of in 2011. I will continue to be a no vote on bonding and using one time money to fund any new ongoing program.

“The wise and correct course to follow in taxation and the all other economic legislation is not to destroy those who have already secured success but to create conditions under which every one will have a better chance to be successful”
-Calvin Coolidge, Inaugural Address 1925

-Tom Sands

Burlington plans to use same HESCO flood barriers.

Fargo, South Dakota is having trouble with sand filled HESCO flood barriers similar to the type Burlington will be purchasing. Fargo also found a problem with 'Tiger Dam' water-filled flood barriers when temperatures fall below freezing.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Cedar Rapids video of Tiger Dam water filled system

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

2009 Danville Girls’ Track

Front Row L-R: Micaela Williams, Ashley Becker, Karrie Hicks, Kayli Morrison, Brooke Byars, Taylor Bowling, Jamie Dockendorff, Maria Wagner. Back Row L-R: Asst. Coach Kim Becker, Megan Kupferschmid, Brandy Lowary, Jordan Gerst, Ashley Hopson, Becca Nelson, Tiffany Aliprandi, Lynsey Albin, Manager Taylor Deggendorf, Head Coach Natalie Hibler. Not pictured: Ashley Carey.

Obama faces veteran anger after his Homeland Security Chief labeled them potential right wing terrorists.

Obama faces veteran anger at extremism report.

Federal agency warns of radicals on right

Maybe Obama's Homeland Security Chief should look into left wing extremists.

Protest stops Tancredo's UNC speech

Police used pepper spray and sparked Tasers on student protesters Tuesday evening when they denied former Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo his free speech rights to oppose in-state tuition benefits to illegal aliens.

Left wing illegal alien supporters attack Tom Tancredo event at UNC Chapel Hill.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

4/10/09 – 10:42 p.m. at Hwy-34 & 110th Street.
Paul Kenneth Serczyk, 34, Danville; driving while revoked & no insurance.

Delivers message on importance of making right decisions

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

Miss Iowa Olivia Myers takes questions from West Burlington Junior High students during a ‘Right Decisions, Right Now’ assembly Tuesday at WBHS. She spoke to students about the importance of making the right decisions as they pursue their dreams. Miss Myers lives near Sperry and graduated from Mediapolis High School. Myers was second runner up in the Miss America pageant in January. She will continue her studies at the University of Iowa this fall and plans to be married in August.

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

Notre Dame – West Burlington teammates Andrew Schilling (right), Andrew Gall (center) and Chris Kottenstette (left) celebrate after Schilling scored the game-winning goal against Danville in double overtime Tuesday night in Burlington. Nikes defeated the Bears, 2-1.

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

Danville’s Tevin Thomann (left) and Notre Dame – West Burlington’s Zach Taeger (right) fight to control ball in the second half of Tuesday’s game in Burlington. Nikes downed the Bears, 2-1 in double overtime.

Falcon

In recent articles in The Hawkeye and The Des Moines Register, elected officials have commented that everybody needs to bite the bullet in these tough economic times. This is true. The State employees did have to take a furlough for two days per month. The County Supervisors talked about it. They then raised property taxes and gave out pay raises and no furloughs. The City of Burlington in these tough times, voted on a new 5 year contract with annual pay raises and free health insurance. The Burlington taxpayers have enough to pay for with the Manor Debt at 5 Million dollars and the railroad lawsuit, over $300,000. Couldn't the City and County employees take a wage freeze in these tough times? It would be more fair to the people paying the bills, especially those laid off. Just a thought.

-Taxed enough

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

2009 Danville Boys’ Track

Front Row L-R: Taylor Fraise, C.J. Williams, David Wilkins, Chaz Williams, Collin Fairlie, Jacob Griffin. Back Row L-R: Asst. Coach Jairo Scruggs, Jared Menke, Preston Siegworth, Adam Brown, Ethan Fullenkamp, Beau Nelson, Josh Stevens, Matt Rowan, Head Coach Steve Rogers.

Falcon,

Iowa City Press Citizen published Iowa government salaries.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

-How much is enough?

4/8/09 – 6:29 p.m. at Hwy-34 overpass, West Burlington.
Stephen Allen Knotts, 53, PO Box 126, Gladstone, IL; operating while intoxicated – first offense.

4/8/09 – 3:10 p.m. at 550 S. Gear Suite 44 (The Buckle), West Burlington.
Abbey Ann-Marie Belger, 16, 1016 N. 6th, Burlington; fifth degree theft.

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

2009 Danville-New London JH Soccer

Front Row L-R: Jacob Yaley, Sammie Peterson, Sierra Jobs, Janice Sinclair, Cory German, Jairin Swailes. Middle Row L-R: Wesley Elliott, Ashley Davey, Breanna Stevens, Shae Seils, Nick Oliver, Ashlynn Brown, Mikala Kinzenbaw. Back Row L-R: Manager Shelby Blint, Michael Kranci, Conner Hogberg, Alex Lewman, Kayla Speers, Manager Alley Nicholson, Coach Greg Lorber. Not pictured: Abigail Noel, Anna Tampio.

According to a Des Moines Register poll, 70% of Iowans doubt the federal stimulus plan will help the economy.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Falcon:

Only about 11 percent of American workers are union members yet because of their political donations to the Democratic Party we have a situation where these politicians will vote against the majority of Americans in return for union money.

We have this with the Democratic Party right here in Iowa where the governor and elected members of the "Party" try to jam union agendas down our throats regardless of the harm they do to the majority of working Iowans. The same occurs with illegal immigration because the pay back here is more votes for the "Party".

Freedom of Choice and card check are union lies backed by the "Party" for the sole purpose of increasing union membership by any means necessary and thus insuring more union money and votes for the Democratic Party. Union members will promise the world to anyone that will sign up and then when the signer realizes all the promises were lies, it's too late.

All this is just another ploy to buy union votes by the Democrats and boost union membership a true Quid Pro Quo relationship.

-FFS

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

2009 Danville-New London Boys’ Soccer

Front: Marcus Lane Middle Row L-R: Wynston Gray, C.J. Williams, Jon Martin, Chad McCannon, Brandon Lewman, Jason Benedict, Hunter Steinhoff. Back Row L-R: Manager Braylin Wolkenhaue, Braydon Kelly, Justin Lox, Niall Williams, Pat Mackey, Steven Meyer, Jordan Gray, Trevor Heckenberg, Coach Ted Kuechman, Manager Samantha Wilson. Not pictured: Bobby Roark, Tevin Thomann, Ryan Menke, Sean Bartsch, Jake Hopkins, Colby Hummel, Tyler Sembach.

WB Councilwoman Lees’ Son Arrested for Harassment

4/10/09 – 6:02 p.m. at DMC Correctional Center.
Tyler Mitchell Lees, 24, 508 West Aire Dr., West Burlington; Des Moines County warrant for harassment.

Arrangement by National Studio, Photo by Dan Hockett

2009 Notre Dame – West Burlington – Danville – New London Girls’ Soccer

Front Row L-R: Amber Goostree, Brittany Fletcher, Megan Mahoney, Maggie Miller, Jennifer Rucker, Lindsey Reed, Stefanee Leis. Middle Row L-R: Charley Lorber, Parrish Blow, Jessica Albrecht, Avalon Sorensen, Taylor Delaney, Amanda Armenta, Lindsay Hopkins, Hannah Ebbing. Back Row L-R: Head Coach Brooke Yuskanich, Anna Kottenstette, Bailey McAllister, Katy Kirk, Grace Deery, Megan Owens, Manager Emilia Sorrell, Asst. Coach Ryan Rump. Not Pictured: Ciara Allen.

A Former Union Organizing Director discusses the tactics used to deceive, harass and threaten workers into signing union authorization cards. Watch the shocking video here.

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

2009 West Burlington- Notre Dame JH Grade Boys’ Track

Front Row L-R: Justin Jennings, Zane Armstrong, Christian Cullison, Robbie Roberson, Kyle Rokosz, Lucas Whitaker, Logan Reich. Middle Row L-R: Austin Woodside, David Carter, Ramone Gallegos, Kyle Cromer, Daryl Van Rycke, Christian Ramos, Keven Chng, Keelan Murphy. Back Row L-R: Manager Lindsey Johnson, Carter Reed, William Brockett, Kevin Martin, Cole Riniker, Wes Bloomberg, Austin Boyer, Jordan Junker, Manager Harlie Holloway. Not Pictured: Branden Paduano, Trevor Lee

News from the Hill…

The tension seems to be building in the halls under the golden dome in Des Moines. Budgets are tight, cuts are being made, some groups are being treated very unfairly, stimulus money is flowing, fees are rising and taxes are being raised. The final balance sheet of just how the budget will be balanced is still a mystery at this time.

Let the People Vote…

Iowans are speaking out on the Supreme Court’s ruling with a few supporting the ruling and many strongly opposing the ruling. Those opposing the ruling are asking for an amendment to the constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. I support amending the constitution and voted Thursday afternoon to immediately debate HJR 6. We tried earlier that morning to bring the bill up for debate, but the Speaker of the House ruled that the motion was out of order. People of Iowa want to vote, they don’t care about procedure, they just want government to listen to their concerns and let them vote.

DOT Budget…

This week the Department of Transportation Appropriations Budget was passed in the Iowa House on a party line vote. The bill, HF 805, appropriates a total of approximately $352.4 million to the Iowa DOT from two sources, the Road Use Tax Fund and the Primary Road Fund. This is an increase of $15.6 million and an increase of 20 full time employees compared to 2009. This bill does not spend any general fund money or monies for road construction. So, for every dollar spent in this budget is one less dollar that is able to be spent on road projects. This is the reason we went line by line in review of the budget and given the current need for increased funding for road projects, Republicans felt that this may be one small way to increase funding to the state’s critical road projects.

Tax on a Tax…

The bill to eliminate Federal Deductibility is still on the calendar for debate. After one week of making changes to the bill, it is still a back door tax increase of over $400 million over the next five years. Government trying to pick winners and losers never works and this is one more example of government failing miserably to do so.

Sands Bills…

Another bill I filed this year provides a tax credit to certain businesses for increasing the wages of employees. The amount of the credit is equal to the aggregate amount of wages paid in the tax year that is in excess of the amount of wages paid in the prior tax year. The bill provides a method for determining the amount of wages paid to employees who were not employed for the entirety of both tax years. The wages paid to employees in the tax year who were not employed during the prior tax year cannot be included in the calculation of the amount of the credit. To be eligible for the tax credit, an employer has to be a business operated under single management and with 50 or fewer employees. Taxpayers taking a deduction for wages paid to employees cannot also claim the tax credit. The tax credit is not refundable but may be carried forward for up to two years.
Unfortunately the bill never was allowed to be debated in committee.

“This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it.”
-Abraham Lincoln

-Tom Sands

Only 53% of American adults believe capitalism is better than socialism.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 20% disagree and say socialism is better. Twenty-seven percent (27%) are not sure which is better.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

2009 West Burlington – Notre Dame JH Grade Girls’ Track

Front Row L-R: Erin Schilling, Jordan Bloomberg, Jalyn Brissey, Alexis Hawley, Joslyn Hicks, Sarah Kottenstette. Back Row L-R: Brittany Cooper, Mickenzie Larpenter, Lauren Ewinger, Emily Salvador, Mary Kate Brueck, Lexie Orth. Not pictured: Kelsey Hand, Dayton Elliott.

Falcon,

"Upset" complains about the state supreme court ruling that a ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional because it's unlike the smoking law that should be deemed unconstitutional because it favors one group or Iowans over another."

Actually, it's exactly like that. People like "Upset" would like to see one group - straight people - treated differently that another group - gay people. If the smoking ban is unconstitutional because it segregates one group from the other, then a gay marriage ban is also unconstitutional.

"Upset" continues to blur lines arguing that the court should "leave marriage legislation to the senate and house, those who supposedly represent the voters of Iowa." If that's true, then "Upset" must believe that the smoking ban is the product of people who represent the voters, since it was passed by the same lawmakers he wants the courts to bow to for marriage legislation.

It's odd that people like "Upset" like to argue that government should stay out of people's personal lives, but still seem willing to stick their nose in a person's most personal of spaces - the bedroom.

- MK

Hey upset... I finally am going to have equal rights! Do you know what that is of course you do. The courts did the right thing nobody should be denied anything. This isn't about religious beliefs, it is about law and fairness. God will be the one to judge in the end not you nor anyone else's. So please keep your own morals to yourself and I'll keep mine to myself.

-Tired of ignorant people!

Falcon,

With all the lawyers the University has on staff, they hire a private law firm to send threatening letters:

U of Iowa Law firm to Dave Moore:
http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20090408/NEWS01/90407002/1079

Dave Moore rebuttal letter:
http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20090408/NEWS01/90407003/1079

-Tired of the Waste

4/7/09 at DMC Correctional Center.
Randon William Lee Robbins, 18, Danville; fifth degree criminal mischief.

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

West Burlington – Notre Dame's Matt Buhmeyer throws the shot at Mediapolis Invitational Track meet Tuesday.

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

West Burlington – Notre Dame freshman Karissa Alfred competes in the shuttle hurdle relay Tuesday at Mediapolis Invitational Track meet. Falcons finished second behind Lone Tree in the shuttle hurdle relay.

Mediapolis Invitational Track Meet Team Scores

Girls
1. Mepo 158
2. L&M 138
3. Columbus 96
4. Highland 84
5. Lone Tree 66
6. WBND 41

Boys
1. Wilton 102
2. Winfield Mt. Union 90
3. Mepo 76
4. New London 75
5. Wapello 67
6. Columbus 50
7. WBND 32
8. WACO 28
9. Highland 27
10. L&M 10

Falcon:

I would surly hope the legislatures in Iowa wake up and over turn the high court in Iowa from ruining our state by trying to legislate its own law agendas. Our legislature should overturn the courts liberal decision to allow same sex marriage. The court has no right to create laws. It’s unlike the smoking law that should be deemed unconstitutional because it favors one group or Iowans over another.

Why doesn’t the court get some balls and deem the smoking law unconstitutional as its currently written and leave marriage legislation to the senate and house, those who supposedly represent the voters of Iowa, something the court doesn’t do?

Upset

4/2/09 – 9:47 p.m. At 400 S. 3rd St. #8, Danville.
Randon William Lee Robbins, 18, Danville; second degree criminal mischief.

4/5/09 – 7:15 p.m. At 324 W. Agency (Wal-Mart), West Burlington.
Danisha Anesis Williams, 16, 2506 Washington St., Burlington; fifth degree theft.

4/5/09 – 1:09 p.m. At 550 S. Gear (Westland Mall), West Burlington.
Samatha Alida Groves, 17, 1311 Bank St., Keokuk; fifth degree theft.

4/4/09 – 4:30 p.m. At 306 E. Agency (Kohl's), West Burlington.
Lydia Guajardo, 18, 333 Curran, Burlington; fifth degree theft.

4/4/09 – 1:34 p.m. At 324 W. Agency (Wal-Mart), West Burlington.
Luis A Mazari, 29, 1301 E. Austin St., Sioux Falls, SD; public intoxication.

4/3/09 – 9:40 p.m. At 701 W. Pennington, West Burlington.
Kristen Michelle Mason, 29, 1021 N. 5th St. Apt. 5, Burlington; driving while barred & speeding.

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

2009 West Burlington- Notre Dame Boys’ Track

Front Row L-R: Ryan Kelly, Ed Perkins, Jake Deen, Taylor Newland, Drake Woodsmall. Middle Row L-R: Neil Gorrell, Matt Buhmeyer, Brad Hardy, Coleman Reed, Caleb McDowell. Back Row L-R: Andrew Gall, D.J. LaVeine, Nathan Babcock, Andrew Troutman, Adrian Balderas, Manager Brooke Schramm. Not pictured: Taylor Day, Kyle Cromer, Marcus Miller, Curtis Smith, Emille Lasca, Manager Ali Hardy.

Falcon,

I've heard BNSF is preparing to replace the railroad bridge in Burlington starting in July. Funny thing is, BNSF's staging operations almost completely surround the headquarters of our local newspaper on Main Street, but I haven't read a thing about it. Maybe it's too close for them to see a story.

-Railroader

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

2009 West Burlington – Notre Dame Girls’ Track

Front Row L-R: Emily Mennen, Kalee Mitchell, Karissa Alfred, Kassidy Guihan, Danielle Wall. Back Row L-R: Alyssa Deen, Tayler Johnson, Jade Van Rycke, Emily Siefken, Jamie Johnson, Daley LaVeine. Not pictured: Mariah Young, Courtney Moore, Kaleigh Wagoner, Kennedy Moraniec.

Obama refuses to accept repayment of TARP money.

I must be naive. I really thought the administration would welcome the return of bank bailout money. Some $340 million in TARP cash flowed back this week from four small banks in Louisiana, New York, Indiana and California. This isn't much when we routinely talk in trillions, but clearly that money has not been wasted or otherwise sunk down Wall Street's black hole. So why no cheering as the cash comes back?

My answer: The government wants to control the banks, just as it now controls GM and Chrysler, and will surely control the health industry in the not-too-distant future. Keeping them TARP-stuffed is the key to control. And for this intensely political president, mere influence is not enough. The White House wants to tell 'em what to do. Control. Direct. Command.

If the banks are forced to keep TARP cash -- which was often forced on them in the first place -- the Obama team can work its will on the financial system to unprecedented degree.

After 35 years in America, I never thought I would see this. I still can't quite believe we will sit by as this crisis is used to hand control of our economy over to government. But here we are, on the brink. Clearly, I have been naive.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

120 march protesting high taxes & big government intrusion in their lives.

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

Mike Daily, Burlington Tea Party organizer, prepares to dump a box of simulated tea into the river Saturday morning to protest big government control, high taxes, and out of control government spending. Iowa DNR officials wouldn’t allow tea to be thrown in the Mississippi River so Daily dumped sand into the river.

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

Donald Lucas, Ft. Madison (with flag), leads 120-protesters down Washington Street from Snake Alley to Burlington’s riverfront to take part in Saturday morning’s Tea Party.

Hello Falcon

I assume you are from WB. As I travel your streets quite frequently, I notice how nice they are in West Burlington. I recently read in The Hawkeye that your public works director received a pay raise. I think his pay raise is well deserved. Your past and present City council had good vision and a good street plan. I know Burlington is much larger and we pay our Public Works Director, Mr. Knoke much more money, but our street planning and street conditions are terrible. They don't want to admit this though. Burlington obviously had poor leadership and a poor street plan from the public works director. Why is he still employed with the City? I don't believe Mr. Knoke earned his annual pay raises. He appears to have a know it all attitude when confronted about our street conditions. He thinks he is above the citizens and the council. Good for Garry Thomas for standing up to him. They should send him down the pothole road. For Good! They had no plan for Cascade Bridge either. If it had proper annual inspections and maintenance, would it be in this condition?

Do you think it would be possible for us to rent your public works director for a year or two. I don't know him, but I know who he is. I have seen him actually out doing manual labor on your streets and helping his crews. WB is getting a bigger bang for the buck out of their PWD than what Burlington does. I have never seen Knoke out of new SUV doing anything. And he sure in the hell didn't put together a good plan to preserve the streets or Cascade bridge. He has had plenty of years to do so. Give him another pay raise this year, and they will. And that is the council's fault.

They never have money for proper street maintenance and good basic service, but they always have money for ANNUAL pay raises and free health benefits. Even in these tough times when others are facing layoffs or reduced hours, our City and County are handing out pay raises. We CAN'T afford this every year and then not have any money (our taxes) for services. Who does the elected officials really represent?

-Burlington Pot Hole Dodger

Falcon,

Just a couple buildings that come to mind that are not in the flood plain and are already off the tax roll.

MURRAY TURBO BUILDING plenty of space to grow and lots of inside parking.

COUNTY HOME BUILDING on Washington road.

I understand these building are older building but so are the streets and all the lies the tax payers are being told about the railroad, ballpark lights and all the under the table deals that the city and council make.

-OVER TAXED AND UNDER SERVICED

Arrangement by National Studio, Photo by Dan Hockett

Notre Dame – West Burlington Boys' Soccer 2009

Front Row L-R: Zach Taeger, Cowan Hayes, Frank Xiao, Ethan Zahn, Marcus Jones, Kyle Des Jardins. Middle Row L-R: Manager Jerica Skalinski, Chris Kottenstette, Kameron Gray, Jon Lowell, Patrick Moore, Ryan Brueck, Josh Knotts, Manager Anna Kottenstette. Back Row L-R: Coach Chris Bankie, Dylan Diewold, Andrew Gall, Luke Schneider, Tim Stotlar, Blake Riffel, Scott Perkins, Andrew Schilling, Coach Nate Willeford. Not pictured: Micah Cullison

Unanimous ruling: Iowa marriage no longer limited to one man, one woman

There are no residency rules for marriage in Iowa, so the rule would apply to any couple who wanted to travel to Iowa.

Tax plan more likely to sting Iowa renters, simple filers

Low- and middle-income Iowans to be hurt from Democrats proposed changes in the state's tax laws.

News from the Hill…

Tuesday night the Ways and Means Committee held a Public Hearing in the Iowa House Chambers that over five hundred people attended. The public hearing was on HF 807 which eliminates an individual’s right to deduct the amount of money they pay on their Federal Income tax from their Iowa Tax Liability. Eliminating this deduction is an automatic tax increase of approximately $595 million. The bill takes that money and uses it to lower the tax rates in each bracket and increases some other credits. The bill is revenue neutral to the state for the next two years, but is not revenue neutral for the taxpayers of Iowa. There are people that will pay more in each bracket, there are people who will pay less in each bracket, and there are people that will see no change in each tax bracket. Only 49% to 48% of Iowans will actually see a tax decrease in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Starting in 2011 every Iowan will see a tax increase due to the federal tax cuts expiring; this is a bad bill and does not offer middle class tax relief as they are saying. The majority party is claiming that the bill also simplifies Iowa Tax Code. Striking nine lines in Iowa’s tax code is not simplification.

As the Ranking member, I had a chair upfront to witness government at its best and at its worse all in a matter of an evening during the Public Hearing Tuesday night. Government acted best when it scheduled the Public Hearing to listen to the people’s concerns on HF 807, which eliminates Federal Deductibility. People showed their pleasure to those speaking against the bill and displeasure to the few who spoke in favor of the bill. Government acted at its very worse when the Speaker of the Iowa House cleared the house chamber because he did not agree with what a majority of the people of Iowa were saying. The Iowa House Chamber belongs to the people and to have an elected official throw them out in anger was a terrible example to set. We do have house rules that each of us elected officials need to hold ourselves up to. People are upset and angry with an out of control government that is spending too much money. They are upset with government bailouts of big corporations, US Senate seat being sold to the highest bidder, high ranking officials not paying their income taxes, government wanting to borrow money and raise taxes to feed its enormous appetite. Frankly, so am I.

Supreme Court Ruling…

Friday morning the Supreme Court of Iowa legalized same sex marriage. I was extremely disappointed in the courts ruling and don’t believe that ruling represents a majority of Iowans conservative values. I will be urging the legislative branch to amend Iowa’s Constitution defining marriage is only between one man and one woman, which would better reflect a majority of Iowans values. This is not the hope and change Iowans voted for in the last election.

“The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” Ronald Reagan

-Tom Sands

4/2/09 – 9:47 p.m. in Danville.
Randon William Lee Robbins, 18, Danville; second degree criminal mischief.

4/2/09 – 1:38 a.m. at Hwy. 34 & Des Moines / Henry Ave.
Brooke LeAnn Champagne, 34, Danville; driving while revoked.

Iowa Supreme Court upholds Hanson's ruling; marriage no longer limited to one man, one woman

The decision makes Iowa the first Midwestern state, and the fourth nationwide, to allow same-sex marriages.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

Left to Right: Katie Gaudian, Melanie Martin, Erin Mickey, Katie Cook. Not pictured: Kaylyn Vedder, Kaitlin Sparrow, Randi Almendinger, Ali Bishop.

Unhappy with his honest budget disclosures, Iowa Democrats to cut Republican State Auditor Dave Vaudt’s budget by 26.6%.

Iowa Democrats are cutting State Auditor Dave Vaudt’s fiscal year 2010 budget by an astounding 26.6%. Vaudt warns that such a drastic cut could jeopardize Iowa’s AAA bond rating, put the federal stimulus money at risk, prevent local governments from using the Auditor’s services, and open the door for another scandal like CIETC. The move comes on the heels of Speaker of the House Patrick Murphy’s historic decision to remove the public from a public hearing this past Tuesday night and puts into question the majority party’s commitment to government oversight.

While Auditor’s office is facing a 26.6% budget cut, the Secretary of State’s budget will only be cut 8.1% and the State Treasurer’s budget is being cut by just 10.8%. In fact, the entire Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee budget, which includes these three offices, averages an 11% cut for all offices in their proposed budget. Vaudt, the only Republican office holder out of the three offices under the jurisdiction of this Committee, recently sent a letter to the respective chairs in the House and Senate to voice his objection to the plan.

Vaudt’s letter read, “I must register my strong protest of the Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee’s adoption of a 26.6% reduction in the appropriation for the Office of Auditor of State (AOS) for fiscal year 2010 (FY10). Coupled with the 3.5% reduction already imposed for this year, our FY10 appropriation would be more than 30% less than when we began FY09. This drastic reduction, along with other language included in the appropriation bill to control AOS operations, would not only hamstring AOS’s ability to serve as the taxpayer’s watchdog, it would also result in several extremely detrimental consequences for Iowa.”

Muzzling the taxpayers’ watchdog at a time when the federal government is sending in billions of dollars to Iowa for disaster relief and federal stimulus efforts in inconceivable. Vaudt warned lawmakers that, if the Auditor’s office is unable to audit federal funds (which is mandated by the federal government), those funds may be put in jeopardy.

Auditor Vaudt closed his letter by telling lawmakers, “President Obama has pledged ‘unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability’ over the expenditure of federal funds. In addition, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has selected Iowa as one of 16 states which will be reviewed to ensure federal stimulus funds are expended appropriately. Considering the federal government’s efforts to ensure its funds are expended appropriately, state government should be no less diligent in its efforts to ensure state and local government funds are properly received and expended.”

Iowans are fortunate to have a professional like Dave Vaudt as their State Auditor. At a time when money is tight, we need to make sure that no government agency is misusing taxpayer dollars. It is also imperative that the federal stimulus and disaster relief monies go for their intended purposes. More importunately, since Governor Chet Culver and the Democrats are asking Iowans to go into debt to the tune of $750 million, Iowans need to know that their State Auditor has the ability to make sure that every dollar is accounted for.

Falcon,

Since Culver was elected Iowa legislatures have squandered our tax dollars as though they were drunkard sailors on a weekend pass.

With the legislature as it is an honest person in Iowa hasn’t a chance to survive this tax onslaught brought about by total lack of fiscal responsibility on the backs of the Democratic Party in Iowa.

Our state government caused this mess; so they should lay off non-essential state employees, rollback state salaries and begin giving furloughs to state employees to ease the burden of government. Actually it’d be nice if government just took six months to a year off and left us alone with the exception of law enforcement agencies. Take the DNR for example, who would miss them if they were to shut down for a year? Just keep a few game wardens around and drop the rest of them. Sounds good doesn’t it?

Also, I think we should put a sin tax on all those elected to public office here in Iowa. These elected people have proven themselves inept over and over again thus ruining the lives of the general public in Iowa by representing special interest and union over the majority.

-Ready to Leave

Representative Tom Sands will be on this week’s Iowa Public Television’s Iowa Press Show. Program is set to air Friday evening at 7:30 PM and repeated Sunday morning at 11:30 AM.

Sands is set to discuss Iowa tax issues, including the elimination of federal deductibility with Iowa State Senator Joe Bolkcom.

3/31/09 – 5:33 p.m. at 701 E. Pennington, West Burlington.
Kevin Eugene Morgan, 46, 723 Swan St., West Burlington; no drivers license, no insurance.

3/31/09 – 9:20 a.m. at 701 E. Pennington, West Burlington.
Treva Denise Robison, 40, 701 E. Pennington #155, West Burlington; driving while suspended, no insurance.

3/30/09 – 1221 S. Gear (GRMC), West Burlington.
Aaron Diane Harper, 38, 24365 Hwy. W, Waynesville, MO.; driving while suspended.

Photo by www.DanHockett.com

Front Row L- R; Austin Lowary, Tyler Dick, Kyle Mesecher, Andrew Curry, Kyle Cromer, Derek Carlson, Trent Ramsdell, Andrew Crooks. Back Row L-R: Kevin Moehn, Chris Kirk, Kaleb Alfred, Winston Jones, Braydon Roberts, Skylar Schmeiser, Blaine Boyle, Dillan Lee. Not pictured: R.D. Lee, Raj Patel, Luke Foster.

CLICK HERE FOR YouTube VIDEO

More than 500 people upset with a change to Iowa's tax laws were cleared from a hearing lastnight in the Iowa House after they protested.

“This is the most atrocious thing I’ve seen in the history of the 15 years I’ve been a lobbyist. Pat Murphy has acted like a jack-booted Nazi,” said Ed Failor Jr., president of Iowans for Tax Relief.

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A Ft. Madison couple returning from a 3600 mile trip to Texas in their RV Friday night were stopped and harassed by an Iowa Department of Transportation officer just minutes from their home.

"It was so strange. I literally felt afraid for my life," Jane Schneider, 59, said Monday. "I felt I could have bodily harm. ... He was very menacing and threatening to us."

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Falcon,

I find it utterly disgusting that the state of Iowa is thinking about taxing our older citizens living in nursing homes. How much lower can Iowa government go? It’s already lower than whale dung.

On top of that they want to stop the deductibility of federal taxes, which means they’ll tax us on our federal taxes paid to the government, just unbelievable.

First I think the state should reduce its employee’s cancerous wages that are rapidly ruining the lives of working Iowan’s. Secondly the state should lay off at least 15 to 20% of its overpaid nonrequired employees. Many state jobs go to college graduates that aren’t required for the job, which costs Iowan’s and arm and a leg to support with their excessive wages and benefits.

If the state is in the hole then the state should work its way out of it without taxing working Iowans since the red ink is caused by excessive wasteful spending by the legislature trying to payback the unions and other special interest entities that have bought their elections for them.

You can never trust a politician because they are, in most cases born liars and wouldn’t think twice about selling their mothers or their souls to get elected. We also have the buying off of their loyality from the unions and special interest groups; so that the minority control them and their votes causing the majority of Iowan’s to continue losing their freedoms and earnings.

Until the working Iowan stands up and says, “enough is enough” this socialism will continue to eat away at our paychecks; so the “Privilege Class” state employees and special interest groups can live the good life off the backs of working private sector Iowans.

-Disgusted

3/28/09 – 7:56 p.m. at 725 S. 7th , Burlington.
Joseph Patrick Popp, 31, 11686 Beaverdale Rd. #38, West Burlington; Des Moines County warrant for failure to appear.

3/27/09 – 3:25 p.m. at 324 W. Agency (Wal-Mart), West Burlington.
Tina Marie Hubler, 28, 105 Washington St., Biggsville, IL; fourth degree theft.

2/27/09 – 12:19 a.m. at Hwy 34 & Gear, West Burlington.
Devota Darlene Doak, 38, 1866 Quaker Ave., Mt. Union; driving while revoked & operating while intoxicated – third offense.
Raymond Jay Doak, 36, 1866 Quaker Ave., Mt. Union; violation of no contact order.

3/25/09 – 7:45 p.m. at 324 W. Agency (Wal-Mart), West Burlington.
Gianina Marie Thomas, 20, 910 S 12th, Burlington; fifth degree theft.