An accident near Mount Pleasant involving a car and a school bus killed a 10-year old boy. The accident Friday afternoon killed a 10-year old Lockridge boy. According to accident reports from the Iowa State Patrol, Richard Harbin was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 16-year old Angela Shannon when it failed to stop at a stop sign at old U.S. Highway 34 and County Road W-55. It was struck broadside by a Henry County school bus. Shannon’s vehicle spun around, then was struck broadside by a pickup truck. Harbin and Shannon were taken to the Henry County Medical Center where Harbin was pronounced dead. Shannon was airlifted to University hospital in Iowa City where her condition has not been released. The accident remains under investigation. Charges are pending.
Hampsters dance into political spotlight
The lives of two hamsters have become part of the presidential campaign lore of 2008. As you may recall, the hamsters of both the Bush and Kerry families were mentioned at the recent political conventions. The Kerry daughters told of how their father performed mouth-to-mouth to revive their hamster. The Bush daughters poked fun at that Kerry story, and said their hamster had died. A Kerry backer brought the subject up this week at a Kerry campaign event in Des Moines. The woman thanked Kerry on behalf of her two grandsons for saving his daughter’s hamster. She said it’s a “stark contrast” with the Bush situation, because their hamster “did not make it.” Kerry said he’s taken “a lot of flack” for the hamster story.Kerry says “the hamster was never quite the same, but lived.” The Bush twins campaigned in Iowa this past week, but did not answer questions from reporters on this or any topic. First Lady Laura Bush is to be in Iowa on Monday, and will perhaps offer her own version of the hamster story.
Dye could turn criminals pink
A new dye can be added to the anhydrous ammonia fertilizer often stolen from Iowa farms by illegal drug makers. The dye stains the hands and clothing of anyone who tries to steal it bright pink. Jeff Myers with Southern Illinois University helped develop the dye and says the farmer who dreamed up the idea is remaining anonymous, as it threatens to make drug production so difficult. Myers says “He’s right in the middle of meth country and he’s trying to keep a low profile.” The dye is called Glo-Tell. Iowa law enforcement officials are hopeful the product will help them nab methamphetamine makers, well, pink-handed. Myers explains more about how the product works. He says “Even after you think the stain is gone, it won’t wash off, the visible part will but the rest of it won’t, so even after you think it’s gone it’s still there and shows up under a black light.” In addition, Meyers says the non-toxic dye helps farmers detect leaks in their fertilizer tanks.
New citizens take oath
New Americans will take their oath of citizenship in several ceremonies during September. Jerry Heinauer is district director for Citizenship and Immigration Services in the region that includes Iowa and Nebraska. He says this is the end of the agency’s fiscal year, and it has goals to meet — interviewing and naturalizing 4-thousand 330 people to become citizens, a numerical goal he says they’re going to exceed. Another goal is customer service, he says, including treating people with respect and dignity and cutting “processing time” to six months or less. The processing time is from the time they fill out an application until the time they take that oath — and to be eligible to become a naturalized citizen, they’ll have to meet guidelines including five years as a lawful permanent resident, “good moral character,” demonstrated knowledge of the history and government of the US, and be able to read, write and speak English. Contrary to a popular image, those new citizens may not have to sit through a class to learn all they’ll need to know. Some communities have organized volunteers who help teach new residents what they’ll need to know to, but some study on their own. Heinauer says as the agency’s fiscal year comes to a close there are several naturalization ceremonies scheduled, including two large ceremonies to be held in Omaha on September 28 and the 29th in Des Moines.
Does the big game sway a student’s choice?
Iowa and Iowa State meet on the football field today (Saturday) for state football bragging rights — but how much academic impact does this game have? The coaches in the Hawkeye/Cyclone gridiron matchup are often asked whether winning the big game gives them a leg up in recruiting the best in-state players to their campus. In talking with university officials this week about enrollment numbers, Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson asked whether the winner of the game has an impact on attracting non-athletes to the schools. Iowa State University Admissions Director Marc Harding says he’d like to think students look at a lot of factors, not just a football game, when deciding on a school. He says the reality of it is there may be some people out there who swing one way or the other based on the ball game, but he says most will pick the school that best meets their interests. Harding says off the football field students can’t go wrong either way. He says “both institutions are fine institutions.” Over in Iowa City — site of this year’s game — U-of-I Admissions Director Michael Barron looked to keep the feud on the field, saying he thinks his counterpart at I-S-U “is a wise and honorable man, and I wouldn’t disagree with anything he said.” As for the game, Barron’s team is the favorite going in, but he says the odds don’t mean much between these two schools. He says “It’s State Day, and anything can happen on State Day, all bets are off.”
Regents make liason a single position
The Board of regents has a new liaison with state lawmakers. Gary Steinke left a position as assistant to the president at ISU and director of governmental relations, and he says that like his old post, this is a lobbying job. The board decided to consolidate its governmental-relations office for all three state universities, so he’ll work for them all. Steinke says he’ll lobby state lawmakers and “hone the message” of the regents’ priorities. Steinke will also be deputy director of the board, which’ll carry many administrative responsibilities. Steinke took up his new duties just this month, and says while his responsibility’s expanded to include all 3 institutions, his approach won’t change. Steinke says he’s always approached it by highlighting the economic importance of the schools and economic-development focus of the board, and he’ll just expand that to represent all three universities. Steinke will have liaisons at each University who’ll continue to report to the board and he thinks money and budgeting will continue to be one of the things the regents’ institutions discuss with lawmakers. He doesn’t expect any more budget cuts with the state’s economy coming around at last, but he says they’ll also continue to talk about budget, and how the universities support economic development and spin off jobs in the state.
Pelican festival lands in Polk County
Central Iowa’s fifth annual Pelican Festival will be held tomorrow (Sunday). It’s expected to draw hundreds of people and thousands of pelicans. Kami Rankin, community education coordinator for the Polk County Conservation Board, says this is the peak time of year to see the large birds as they migrate across the Midwest. This season, there have already been some 20-thousand pelicans on Saylorville Lake, just north of Des Moines. Rankin says the Pelican Festival has grown each year and includes all sorts of educational entertainment. There’s a speakers’ tent with different speakers every half-hour discussing pelicans, waterfowl, osprey and their amazing migrations. There’s also a kids’ tent for all sorts of kid-focused activities, a live bird exhibit and two releases of birds back into the wild at 2 and 4 P.M. Rankin says plenty of spotting scopes, staffed by trained birders, will be available for public use. The events will be underway at Jester Park near Granger from 10 AM to 6 P.M. tomorrow (Sunday). For more information, contact the Polk County Conservation Board at (515) 323-5300 or visit the website at “www.conservationboard.org”.
