From the monthly archives:

September 2008

Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s campaign event in Iowa ended with a bit of a Rodney Dangerfield routine.

The late Rodney Dangerfield was the comedian who often repeated the line: "I don’t get no respect." McCain’s host for today’s event — Albert Jennings, the CEO of EPCO Forms – seemed to complain the local media don’t respect his company.

"In the local paper they say we’re a concrete company and I don’t know what that is. We haven’t poured a wheelbarrow full of concrete for anybody in 50 years," Jennings said, to laughter.

McCain had a ready quip: "The paper is always behind." The crowd laughed. Jennings wasn’t done.

"We’ve been here 75 years and they still don’t know what we do," Jennings said.

McCain quickly added: "They still don’t appreciate what I do, either."  The crowd applauded louder and longer.

EFCO is the primary supplier for the forms which are being used to pour concrete for the Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center site in New York City. EFCO’s also the company that made the forms for rebuilding the Interstate-35 bridge which collapsed in Minneapolis. "So we’re pretty proud of playing a part of that," Jennings said.

McCain amplified that sentiment. "You should be very, very proud of that," McCain said, as the crowd applauded.

AUDIO: Henderson report (mp3 runs 1 min)

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Hawkeyes look to cut turnovers against MSU

by admin 09/30/08 2:29 PM

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says while the Hawkeye offense is better than a year ago it is not good enough to overcome mistakes. The Hawks committed five turnovers in a loss to Northwestern and take a 3-2 record on the road this weekend to Michigan State.
Ferentz says it’s a great illustration of how [...]

Read the full article →

UNI has short turnaround after tough loss

by admin 09/30/08 2:29 PM

The UNI Panthers don’t have time to dwell on a 27-24 loss at Southern Illinois. The Panthers return to action Thursday night at home against Nicholls State. UNI coach Mark Farley says "It was a tough pill to swallow, it still is, we let one get away."
Farley says the Panthers made too [...]

Read the full article →

Kansas coach says bye week was helpful

by admin 09/30/08 2:28 PM

The Kansas Jayhawks will bring the nation’s number-16 ranking to Ames as they take on the Iowa State Cyclones in the Big-12 opener for both teams. KU is 3-1 and like the Cyclones coach Mark Mangino’s team had last week off.
Mangino says the break gave them a chance to reflect on what they’re [...]

Read the full article →

Waterloo man accused of torching own home

by admin 09/30/08 2:23 PM

A Waterloo man has been arrested on arson charges, for allegedly igniting a propane tank inside a home. Ronald Swartz was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree arson in connection with an incident that occurred last week.
On Friday, authorities were called to a Waterloo home on the report of a man who [...]

Read the full article →

Group sponsors forums on conservation funding

by admin 09/30/08 2:21 PM

A group of Iowa organizations that works for conservation funding is sponsoring a series of forums around the state to discuss the proposed Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. Rosalyn Lehman, campaign coordinator for the Sustainable Funding Coalition, says the proposed fund is to be addressed next year by state legislators.
Lehman says [...]

Read the full article →

McCain meets with Iowa business executives

by admin 09/30/08 12:54 PM

Republican presidential candidate John McCain met publicly with a handful of Iowa’s top executives this morning, none of whom said they were ready to lay off employees due to the current economic meltdown. 
“I, like you, am optimistic,” Prinicpal Financial CEO Larry Zimpleman told McCain about half-an-hour into the conversation. About 300 business [...]

Read the full article →