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Study says marketing works to get kids to smoke, and to get them to stop

August 21, 2008 By

A report out today from the National Cancer Institute concludes tobacco marketing causes kids to smoke and anti-tobacco advertising campaigns help prevent smoking. Danny McGoldrick, vice president of research for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, says nine of every ten smokers in Iowa started using tobacco in their teens.

McGoldrick says, "In Iowa, about 19% of high school students smoke and about 4,700 d Iowa kids become daily smokers every year and, unfortunately, that’s why Iowa loses about 45-hundred of its residents every year to premature death from tobacco use." He says legislation that’s pending in Congress would give the F.D.A. broad new powers over tobacco.

McGoldrick says, "Based on the conclusions of this report and our long knowledge of the tobacco companies’ marketing practices to kids, we’re calling on the Congress to finally give the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate the sale, marketing and manufacture of tobacco products just like they do virtually every other consumer product."

The legislation has already passed in the U.S. House and has the co-sponsorship backing of 58 senators, including Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin. Iowa’s other U.S. Senator, Republican Chuck Grassley, has expressed support for the bill. McGoldrick says the bill would put new restrictions on tobacco marketing into effect almost immediately.

"The bill would get rid of all outdoor advertising near schools," he says. "It would remove advertising with colorful pictures that appeal to kids from convenience stores where kids are hanging out a lot and also from kids’ favorite magazines, and it would end all the tobacco companies’ sponsorships including sports and music events that we know appeal to young people."

He says the legislation would also give the F.D.A. the authority to respond when "sophisticated tobacco marketers" come up with new and creative ways to get around the restrictions. For more information on the study, see the National Cancer Institute website .

Filed Under: Health & Medicine Tagged With:

Urbandale Postal worker dies in accident

August 21, 2008 By

A U.S. Postal Service worker died in an accident in central Iowa Wednesday. Police say 64-year-old Lee Harry Spencer of Urbandale was found dead near a semi truck and trailer at the bulk mail facility in Urbandale.

Investigators says Spencer was sent to move the truck around about 6:30 Wednesday, and co-workers went looking for him an hour later when he failed to return. Police says the semi was found backed up against a light pole and still running with Spencer on the ground. Spencer apparently got out of the truck for some reason and was run over.

Investigators say the truck appeared to be working properly.

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters

New Drake football coach happy with frenzy on campus

August 21, 2008 By

If momentum from one sports year can carry over to the next then new Drake football coach Chris Creighton will thoroughly enjoy his first season at the helm. Creighton was introduced as the new coach in the midst of a record breaking season for the men’s basketball team and the sports year concluded with the school hosting the NCAA Track and Field Championships.

Creighton says the campus has been in a frenzy since he go here and he knows nothing else, and believes that helps everything on campus, including the football program. Creighton says success in one sport can carry over to others.

He says they talk to the players about knowing who you are and being proud of it. Creighton has a good feel about it right now and everyone is fired up and he believes that will help the football team. The Bulldogs have ten starters back from last year’s team that finished 6-5 under interim coach Steve Loney.

Creighton says he doesn’t know who will play now, but says they have to compete against themselves to be the very best. Creighton says being the third coach in three years means it may take some time for the players to buy into his system. He says he’s normally an impatient person, but is trying to be patient now, knowing he is the third coach for many of these players.

Creighton says on paper things should be good, but he says there are some natural walls built because of the coaching changes. Creighton says he has been impressed with the Bulldog’s commitment and work ethic.

He says those are the two hallmarks of the program for players. Drake opens at home August 28th at home against Upper Iowa.

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Buensa Vista coach hopes to build on 5-5 record

August 21, 2008 By

Buena Vista football coach Jay Anderson hopes the momentum his team built at the end of 2007 can carry over to this season. The Beavers closed out the season by winning three of their last four games to finish with a record of 5-5.

Anderson says they ended the year in a positive way and have been trying to build on that in the preseason as they prepare for the season opener. There are some key holes to fill on offense but Anderson is banking on a defense that has a number of veterans returning in the secondary and line.

Anderson says a key this year will be limiting mistakes. He says they are looking at winning the turnover battle while improving the running game. Anderson says the games in the Iowa Conference come down to turnovers, special teams and who makes the fewest mental mistakes. Buena Vista opens at home of September 6th against Wisconsin-Platteville.

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Public hearings on smoking ban begin

August 21, 2008 By

Bar owners and citizens are having their say about the new state rules for enforcing Iowa’s statewide smoking ban which went into effect July 1st. The Iowa Department of Public Health is holding public hearings around the state this week over the Iowa Communications Network.

David James, a bar owner in Clinton, had planned to build a patio on his bar as an outlet for smoking patrons, but the rules drafted by the health department essentially ban smoking on bar patios. "Right now, I have people standing right on a busy sidewalk smoking outside my establishment at all times of the evening which I have absolutely no control over," James said. "They are littering out front. The mess is amidst every morning whereas if I had a patio out back, I could control pretty much more so of what’s going on."

The bill approved by lawmakers this past spring included a loophole which would allow smoking on bar patios, but the Department of Public Health’s rules classify nearly every bar that serves hot food as a restaurant, which means no smoking on those outdoor patios. A few of those who testified at the public hearings spoke out in favor of the rules.

Eileen Fisher of Iowa City represents the anti-smoking coalition known as "CAFE" or "Clean Air for Everyone." "I just came to show my support for the law and the administrative rules. I think everything’s going great and I don’t want to see them changed at all," she says. The Department of Public Health holds more public hearing on the smoking law today and tomorrow.

Wednesday’s public hearings were held in Iowa City, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Corydon, Davenport, Keota, Ottumwa, Waterloo, Decorah, Dubuque, Marshalltown and Mason City. Thursday’s public hearings will be held in Des Moines, Ames, Carroll, Guthrie Center, Newton and Pella. Friday’s public hearings will be held in Council Bluffs, Creston, Elk Horn, Osceola, Shenandoah, Woodbine, Sioux City, Cherokee, Denison, Fort Dodge, Orange City, Storm Lake and Rock Rapids.

 

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Politics & Government Tagged With:

Iowa Marines and Sailors return home

August 21, 2008 By

Around 150 Marines and Sailors, who’ve spent seven months in Iraq, will return to their home base in Iowa this weekend. Roughly 80 of the Marines and Sailors of Company E, 2nd Battalion are from the state of Iowa. Another 30 are from Nebraska, while others are from surrounding states like Illinois, Kansas, South Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Lieutenant Colonel Philip Farr says about half of the Marines also spent time in Iraq between 2004 and 2005.

"Those that have been gone twice are obviously going to be very happy to get back home," Farr said. During this deployment, the Marines were sent to Al Anbar province.

"They did a lot of active patrolling, security missions and training of Iraqi police forces," Farr said. For the Marines that completed two deployments to Iraq, this mission offered a much different experience than the trip in 2004.

"They were extremely different," Farr says, "obviously the nature of things has changed quite a bit over there. They did a lot more training in security operations this time than they did the first time." Family and friends of the Marine Reserve Company will gather at Fort Des Moines for a "welcome home" ceremony Saturday evening. The Marines and Sailors are expected to arrive at the Des Moines Airport at 9:30 p.m. Farr says supporters are encouraged to line Army Post Road from the airport to Fort Des Moines. 

Filed Under: Military

Aaron Eilerts honored at scholarship ceremony

August 21, 2008 By

Aaron Eilerts The 14-year-old Iowa Boy Scout who died in a tornado that struck the Little Sioux Boy Scout Camp in June was honored at the statehouse Wednesday.

Aaron Eilerts was honored with a special certificate at the Robert D. Blue Scholarship ceremony, an award given in the name of the former Iowa Governor that shared Eilerts hometown of Eagle Grove.

Eilerts father Bob talked at the scholarship ceremony. Eilerts says it’s an honor for his son to get the certificate and said "I’d like to congratulate you scholar winners on it and kids in the future I hope Aaron’s a good example and don’t be afraid to do what’s in your heart."

Governor Chet Culver choked up as he described the scout’s life — which was filled with work for others that included making pillows for hospital patients and sewing blankets for the animal shelter. After the ceremony, Bob Eilerts said the stories of the good deeds continue.

Eilerts says they continue to hear many good stories about what their son did, but he said he didn’t want to comment on any of them other than to say they "made him proud inside." Eilerts life story will now be printed on every future scholarship application, and the boy’s father says the scholarship will be another good reminder of their son.

He says the scholarship will bring back more good memories of Aaron each year when the awards are given out. Eilerts says they have nothing but good memories of their son. Eilerts was one of four boys who died in the June 11th tornado, the other three boys were from Nebraska. Eilerts had just finished eighth grade and would have entered high school this fall.  

AUDIO: Governor’s comments on Aaron Eilerts. 4:12 MP3

Filed Under: Education, Human Interest Tagged With:
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