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Dole speaks at Grinnell College

November 13, 2008 By

Former Kansas Senator Bob Dole spoke at Grinnell College Thursday, honoring his fellow World War II veterans and their families. "D-Day we lost 10,000 young men in one day; 10,000 never drew another breath — never had a chance to go to Grinnell College or any other college or to be whatever they wanted to be because they gave their life for us," Dole said. "In the Battle of the Bulge I think we lost about 11,000 in just a few days, so you can’t measure the sacrifices…There’s no way to repay these men and women."

Dole was instrumental in construction of a World War II memorial in Washington, D.C. and he choked up as he explained what it’s like to talk to the other vets who visit the site. "It’s a very emotional experience," Dole said. "…Suddenly they’re walking through this arch and they’re probably thinking about, you know, ‘What was I doing when I was 18, 19, 20?’…I ask them…’Did you shed a tear?’ You can’t think of anything that is more meaningful."

Dole, the 1996 Republican nominee for president, also touted the two books he’s written since then. "The first one was called ‘Great Political Wit’ and the subtitle was ‘Laughing Almost All the Way to the White House,’ and it became a best seller. I don’t know why," Dole said. "…We had so much fun doing that one, we said, ‘Well, let’s try one more’ and it’s called ‘Great Presidential Wit’ and the subtitle was ‘I Wish I Was in This Book.’"

Dole’s last book listed the 10 presidents who had the best senses of humor, but according to Dole his publication deadline had to be pushed back because the 2000 election was undecided. "We had to wait because we had to have the Gore and Bush humor, but fortunately we got it all on about a half a page," Dole quipped. The Grinnell audience responded with laughter.

Dole’s book classified Abraham Lincoln as the president with the best sense of humor. "I think he used humor as a crutch to get through each difficult day," Dole said.

About 600 people — including many veterans — gathered to hear Dole speak in Grinnell. The oldest vet in the crowd was 91. Dole is 85. "Now, they call us ‘The Greatest Generation’ — Tom Brokaw did — but I think the greatest generation now are the young men in Iraq and women in Iraq and Afghanistan and Korea and all around the world who are looking out for us. They’re ‘The Greatest Generation’ now and I think we’d be happy to pass the baton because it’s a fact," Dole said. "They’re taking the same risks that we did."

(Chris Johnson of KGRN in Grinnell contributed to this report.)

Filed Under: Military, Politics & Government Tagged With:

Group says cities should have more options to raise taxes

November 13, 2008 By

Researchers with the Iowa Fiscal Partnership say Iowa cities should be given more options to raise tax revenue. The group’s Beth Pearson says Iowa cities rely more heavily on property taxes than cities in other states, and it would make sense to allow cities in Iowa to collect a local option income tax.

"It would just be a surcharge that would piggyback on top of the state income tax just in the same way that the local option sales tax piggybacks on top of the state sales tax," she says, "and it would allow cities to raise money in a way that is responsive and sensitive to the incomes of its residents so that it’s fair and not disproportionately impacting low income households."

Pearson says cities in other states which are allowed to collect local option income taxes reduce their reliable on property tax revenue significantly. "States where cities can use this option tend to have 24 percent of their (tax) revenues coming from property taxes, compared to over 40 percent in Iowa and 32 percent nationwide," Pearson says.

Pearson released a report entitled "City Revenue and Smart Growth" this morning, arguing a "heavy reliance on property taxes skews city revenues toward a less fair form of financing than one that taxes higher-income people at a higher rate than lower-income people.

See the report at the Iowa Fiscal Partnership’s website .

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Report: Prescription drug abuse growing problem

November 13, 2008 By

Education materials on prescription drug abuse. New statistics confirm that prescription drug abuse is a growing problem in Iowa.

Kathy Stone, with the Iowa Department of Public Health, says nonmedical use of pain relievers is the fast growing form of substance abuse in the state.

"It’s a problem about which many people are not aware," Stone said. "More people are concerned about their kids drinking or using meth, and those are legitimate concerns, but the increase in (abuse) of those over-the-counter and prescription medications is much more of a concern."

Kevin Frampton, director of the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, says agents have worked 79% more prescription drug cases so far this year compared to all of 2007. In addition, agents have seized 348% more diverted pharmaceuticals.

Frampton says many of those cases involve criminals that are "doctor shopping." He says people will go to a doctor, complain of a pain, get a prescription filled and then turn around and sell those pain pills. Federal officials say the most popular abused drug is Hydrocodon. That also appears to be the case in Iowa.

"The majority of all of our investigations and seizures have (involved) Hydrocodon or a derivative of that," Frampton said. Stone says nonmedical use of pain relievers is an especially big problem among teens. She says medicines are generally viewed by teenagers as "safe" and they’re easy to obtain.

"Over the counter drugs and prescription drugs are available in the family medicine chest. You just have to go to the bathroom, open the door and there it is," Stone said. "That’s different than having to meet someone…you’re not going downtown to meet somebody on a dark corner."

The Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy is launching an educational initiative directed primarily at parents. The effort will include public service messages, brochures, posters and presentations. Officials are also hoping a new Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, expected to go on line next spring, will curb the illegal diversion of prescription drugs.

The electronic system will involve a centralized database to monitor pharmacy transactions. State officials say while prescription drug abuse is growing, alcohol remains the most widely abused substance in Iowa, followed by marijuana and methamphetamine. 

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Health & Medicine Tagged With:

Documentary features Maharishi school in Fairfield

November 13, 2008 By

A documentary about an unusual school in southeast Iowa will make its debut next week in the town where it was filmed. "School of Thought" focuses on the Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment in Fairfield. Colorado-based filmmaker Tony Perri says a famed Hollywood director, known for movies like "Blue Velvet" and the TV show "Twin Peaks," is featured prominently in Perri’s documentary.

Perri says, "David Lynch is our not-quite tour guide but he’s one of the main spokespeople and Dr. John Hagelin, renown quantum physicist, they talk about transcendental meditation, but the highlight are the students, both the young kids, as young as seven or eight years old…up to university age."

The school offers what’s called consciousness-based education from preschool through 12th grade. Perri says the students at the Fairfield institution are unlike any he’s encountered elsewhere, saying they’re brimming with confidence, compassion and intelligence.

"They are what makes this film stand out, just listening to them, looking in their eyes," Perri says. "I really made a conscious effort to get some good close-ups and be able to see their eyes when they talk. They really make this film wonderful and make it work." The documentary details some of the unique aspects of the school’s attributes, including how all students meditate once in the morning and again in the afternoon.

Perri says, "I believe in what I’ve seen in that it really is the meditation that they do twice a day that sets them apart. They win athletic championships all over the state and country, academic championships." The school’s website boasts that its students consistently score in the top one-percent of the nation on standardized tests, while the school has more than ten times the national average of National Merit Scholar finalists.

For more information, visit the  school’s website ,  and for details on the film, see Perri’s website . The documentary is to premiere in Fairfield next Tuesday, November 18th. 

Filed Under: Education, Recreation & Entertainment

Farley says hold the playoff talk, focus on Indiana State

November 13, 2008 By

UNI coach Mark Farley says it is still too early for his team to start talking about the playoffs. The Panthers close out Missouri Valley Conference play at Indiana State before visiting Southern Utah in the final game of the regular season.

Farley says "you’re not in until you’re in" and he says the have some huge things they can accomplish, but the other teams aren’t going to let it happen without a fight. Falrey says there is plenty on the line against Indiana State. He says they approach it with two huge milestones, one is winning the first championship in the inaugural Missouri Valley, which switched from the Gateway Conference. And he says they can win back-to-back titles.

Indiana State has lost 22 straight games but Farley says this is not the same team that the Panthers beat 68-14 in Cedar Falls a year ago. He says Indiana State is much better than they were last year and are playing well now. Farley says while the Sycamores have not posted a win this season they are much more competitive under first year coach Trent Miles.

Farley says they have been able to move the ball up and down the field against everyone, so it is not going to be an easy football game. UNI is currently tied with Southern Illinois at the top of the Valley standings.

 

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Mark Phelps excited to get Drake season underway

November 13, 2008 By

The Mark Phelps era at Drake begins on Saturday night when the Bulldogs open the regular season at home against Butler. Phelps took over after Keno Davis left for Providence following Drake’s record breaking 28-5 season. He says it has been both a short and a long six and a half months, and most of his emotion is excitement.

Phelps says the Bulldogs are confident but realize last season is in the past. He says they approach each practice and opponent with a great respect and demeanor that is a good mix of confidence and humility.

Most teams prefer to open the season against a so-called "cupcake" opponent but Drake will not get that chance. Phelps says they will find out more about themselves by playing Butler and know it’s a game of great interest to both programs. This is a rematch of a heart-stopping Bracket Busters contest won by Drake last season and while Butler lost several starters off that team Phelps says the style will be similar.

He says Butler has a certain culture about their program that they continue. 

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Central and Simpson to meet in Pella

November 13, 2008 By

Long-time rivals Central and Simpson collide in Pella on Saturday in the season finale for both teams. Simpson is 6-3 under first year coach Jim Glogowski and the Storm feature the top ground game in the Iowa Conference.

Glogowski says the Storm would love to finish the season with a victory. He says they will find out at the end of the game how good they are, and he says either way he is proud of the team. Simpson’s last win in this series came back in 2003 and Glogowski says it is up to the Storm to make it a rivalry again.

Central came into the season riding a 27 game regular season winning streak but at 6-3 is part of a four team logjam in third place. Coach Jeff McMartin says his team showed some character last week by posting a 23-14 win at Buena Vista which ended the Beavers’ title hopes.

Central slowed down Buena Vista’s ground game last week and will try to do the same against Simpson.

McMartin says despite Central’s domination of this series the Dutch still consider this a rivalry. He says every game in recent history has been very close. 

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