It’s the first of its kind in the state of Iowa: a three-D “I-MAX” theaterwill be built in Davenport. The theater will be part of the 11-and-a-half million dollar expansion ofDavenport’s Putnam Museum of Science and Natural History. The museum’sboard has raised half that amount and is seeking the rest from the city andprivate donors. The opening of the two-hundred-70 seat I-MAX theater is setfor 2001. Construction will get underway in the spring. I-MAX spokeswomanTerees Andrade says I-MAX stands for Image Maximum.Putnam director Chris Reich says the museum will show “family” films — on afive-story screen.An estimated 200-thousand patrons would likely view an I-MAX feature inDavenport each year.
Auditor clears Marshalltown School District of wrongdoing
September 23, 1999 By
State auditors say the Marshalltown school district should develop a plan toimprove its finances, but the audit didn’t uncover illegal activities,as some district residents alleged in a petition drive.That’s Warren Jenkins, deputy state auditor, who says the district’sfinancial managers need to do a better job of planning ahead.State auditors have suggested Marshalltown employ a different method ofpaying early retirement benefits.Marshalltown’s school district is operating in the red. State auditors areexamining Ottumwa’s school budget, too, as the district is deeply in debt.
Couple faces prison in scam of elderly woman
September 23, 1999 By
A Bettendorf couple convicted of bilking an elderly client out of almosttwo-hundred thousand dollars is sentenced to 10 years in prison. Allen Flax and his wife, Judith, were also ordered to payone-hundred-95-thousand dollars in restitution to the 76-year-old woman whosuffers from Alzheimer’s. A Scott County jury convicted them of firstdegree theft. Prosecutors say they got the woman to trust them, got powerof attorney and talked her into giving them money the couple claimed were aseries of gifts and loans. Their attorney asked that the couple besentenced to community service to make it easier for them to repay themoney, but the judge said that would let them get away with a crime withoutdoing the time.
Davenport man extradited back to Iowa in murder case
September 23, 1999 By
The Davenport man suspected of killing a three-year-old Bettendorf girl lastweek is back in the Quad Cities to face kidnapping and murder charges. Three sheriff’s deputies drove a shackled and handcuffed Eugene Smith backto the Quad Cities from Denver, where Smith was arrested a day after thelittle girl was taken from her babysitter’s home. Smith used to be engagedher the girl’s mother, and allegedly told Amy Mose that if he couldn’t haveher, he would take her child. Smith will be arraigned today. He’s beingheld on five-million dollars bond. The girl’s body was found in Smith’scar, which was abandoned in the Illinois Quad Cities, and if convicted,Smith could face Illinois’ death penalty.
Harkin says Ag bill deadlocked
September 23, 1999 By
Senator Tom Harkin says the emergency farm aid bill is endangered by asquabble over selling food and medicine to Cuba. The Senate overwhelminglyvoted to sell U-S food and medicine to Cubans, but the matter has become asticking point with House republicans on a committee which is trying tostrike a deal on the ag aid bill.Earlier this week, Senator Chuck Grassley predicted the farm aid bill wouldwin final House/Senate approval yesterday. Harkin says there’s a chance thestalemate could last awhile.Harkin says 70 Senators voted to open up food and medicine trade with Cuba– a move sponsored by Republican Senator John Ashcroft of Missouri.Harkin will join other democrat Senators this afternoon in a Washington,D.C. news conference to call for quick action on the farm aid package.Harkin is a member of the House/Senate negotiating committee, as isCongressman Tom Latham.
Iowa Falls earns top volleyball ranking
September 23, 1999 By
The Iowa Falls volleyball team is proving why they are top ranked in class2A. The Cadets won a tournament in Fort Dodge and posted a North Centralconference victory over 13th ranked Clear Lake. Iowa Falls coach RonnRickles has a solid nucleus back from last year.Rickles says the conference race will be challenging.
Freshman is at the center of ISU’s offense
September 23, 1999 By
Redshirt Freshman Zach Butler will get his first collegiate start at centeron Saturday when Iowa State hosts 15th ranked Kansas State. Butler wasforced into service after starting center Ben Bruns suffered a knee sprainon the first play of the game during I-S-U’s victory at U-N-L-V.Butler says he wants to take advantage of the opportunity.
