January 28, 2012

You are here: Home / 2009 / Archives for July 2009

Prairie area near Jefferson designated as state preserve

July 29, 2009 By

Carroll Perkins, Governor Culver. (l-r) The governor has designated 30 acres of privately-owned land in Greene County as a state preserve.

A brief ceremony was held in the governor’s office earlier today to sign and notarize the documents which declare the tract of land the Perkins Prairie State Preserve.

Carroll T. Perkins of Jefferson has owned the land since the 1960s. "This is the only piece of property that I’m aware of in this part of the state that has the characteristics that it has, that it is a natural prairie," Perkins says. "I’m doing it because I love it, I admire it and I want it to remain for people that come long after me."

Perkins has created a trust to finance maintainence of the area, which is located southwest of Jefferson. The act of designating it as a state preserve extends certain legal protections over the property which, for example, prevent the construction of buildings on the 30 acre preserve.

"I would like to have the students in the area be able to experience the prairie, to be able to come in and walk in this tall grass that’s native (to Iowa)," Perkins says. "When it’s truly native, it’s over my head and it’s wonderful to go through."

Perkins and his son-in-law have restored the area to its native state. "This is something I’ve worked on for at least 20 years," Perkins says. "In the beginning there were a lot of invasive species, trees and a lot of shrubs that needed to be removed. Most of that’s been done."

Iowa Department of Natural Resources director Rich Leopold says it’s not very often the state gets to dedicate ground as a preserve. "Perkins Prairie is our newest state preserve and only one of a few that are privately owned," Leopold says.

Almost 100 parcels of land in Iowa have been designated as state preserves. Some are smaller than an acre; others are almost 10,000 acres. A state law passed in 1965 started the process of protecting natural and historic tracts of land as state preserves.

 

Filed Under: Agriculture, Environment & Conservation, Human Interest Tagged With:

Culver stops short of calling for lawmaker’s resignation

July 29, 2009 By

Representative Kerry Burt (far left) listens to Governor Culver during an event at the capitol earlier this year. Governor Chet Culver isn’t calling for a state legislator’s resignation, but the governor says he expects fellow Democrat Kerry Burt of Waterloo to be facing not one but two criminal cases soon.

Burt was elected to his first term in the Iowa House this past November.  In February, Burt was arrested Ankeny and charged with drunken driving. Recently-released video of Burt’s arrest shows Burt claimed to have been drinking with the governor that evening. During a brief question-and-answer session this morning with statehouse reporters, Governor Culver was asked about Burt’s claim.

"I was with Mr. Burt for all of about 30 minutes at a dinner with about 15 people. I have no idea what he did after I left that dinner at 8:55," Culver said. "I was home at nine o’clock. He was arrested at 2 a.m. and I have no idea, really, what he did between nine and two."

Culver insisted he’s not peeved Burt tried to "name drop" to try to get out of the drunken driving arrest.

"In this job you get used to kind of rolling with the punches," Culver said. "And (Burt) had a (0.13) blood alcohol level and he said a lot of things, I’m sure, that he regrets at this point."

Burt at one point is heard on the video tape claiming legislators cannot be arrested and, at another, he asks the policeman to be let go as a "professional courtesy" to a fire fighter. Culver isn’t calling for Burt’s resignation, however.

"That’s really a decision Mr. Burt needs to make along with his family and his constituents and perhaps his lawyers," Culver said. "But we have two criminal proceedings moving forward and the outcome of those proceedings might impact his decision, I would imagine."

A state audit concluded Burt used a relative’s address to enroll his children in the Price Lab School at the University of Northern Iowa, thereby saving over $35,000 in tuition. Culver denies having "inside information" about a pending indictment in that case, but nonetheless Culver hints Burt’s August trial on the drunken driving charges may not be Burt’s only trial.

"I expect there will be information forthcoming with more details," Culver said.

Culver himself provided a few details about his own drinking on the evening Burt claims to have been out on the town, drinking with the governor. Culver notes that he did attend the same Iowa Pharmacy Association legislative reception as Burt, followed by dinner in Des Moines with Burt and about a dozen other legislators.

"There was some alcohol that was served at the pharmacy reception," Culver said. "I had a glass of wine and had a quick dinner and went home."

The arrest report released this week by Ankeny police indicates the policeman who pulled Burt over heard metal grinding on the pavement and saw one of the tires on Burt’s vehicle was shredded. Burt told the cop he had hit a concrete barrier along Interstate 35.

"Obviously this is a very serious legal matter and I think very troubling to see how dangerous this situation really was," Culver said. "But because it’s a pending legal matter I’m not going to comment further."

Listen to all of Culver’s comments by clicking on the audio link below.

AUDIO: Culver comments on Burt…MP3 3 min

Filed Under: Education, Fires/Accidents/Disasters, Politics & Government Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Iowa ranked #2 in wind energy

July 29, 2009 By

wind farm Texas is the nation’s wind powerhouse, but Iowa is now number-two in wind energy, surpassing California and Minnesota.

The American Wind Energy Association is putting out new rankings today based on wind generation capacity. Kathy Belyeu, the association’s manager of industry information, says Iowa’s a true leader in the wind power field.

“Iowa is one of the big success stories for the wind industry of the past few years,” Belyeu says. “Iowa has been a strong player since the early 80s but has jockeyed back and forth with Minnesota for really the third and fourth place for a while. In the last year however, (Iowa) came on strong and is in second-place in terms of wind generation in the country.”

Texas has a wind generating capacity of 8,300 megawatts, well ahead of Iowa’s capacity at just over three-thousand megawatts, yet Belyeu says that’s a remarkable quantity.

One megawatt of wind can supply 250 to 300 average homes so Iowa’s total around 3,000 megawatts can supply enough power for around 800,000 homes. Number-three California now trails Iowa with around 28-hundred megawatts of wind power capacity. Minnesota ranks fourth, Washington is fifth. Belyeu says wind farms keep growing in Iowa, with the latest being an 80-turbine project coming online in Worth County.

Belyeu says, “Iowa added 160-megawatts just in the last quarter, and in the past year, nearly doubled its capacity because the fourth quarter of 2008 was very strong for Iowa.” Texas is the continental United States’ largest state while Iowa is about average in its size, so she notes it’s particularly stunning that Iowa’s become so dominant in the wind industry.

“Iowa has had strong state policies that promote wind power since the early 80s,” Belyeu says. “Iowa was one of the first states that had a renewable electricity standard and it also has some tax abatements and some other programs that attract not only the projects themselves but also the manufacturers to Iowa.” Learn more at the American Wind Energy Association website .

 

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation Tagged With:

Sales tax holiday set for August 7-8

July 29, 2009 By

The annual sales tax holiday has been set to begin on the first Friday in August. This will be the 10th year for the sales tax holiday which is August 7th and 8th. Iowa Department of Revenue spokesperson Renee Mulvey says it covers most clothing and shoes.

Mulvey says everyday clothing and footwear are exempt from the sales tax as long as they cost less than 100 dollars. The holiday was started with the idea of giving parents a break when buying back to school clothes for kids. Mulvey says the restrictions on what is tax exempt remain in place this year. She says you still will have to pay sales tax on computers, backpacks and school supplies.

Mulvey says the current economic situation will likely have people even more eager to take part as you can save six to seven percent right off the top, and the savings increase when stores offer sales. Mulvey says there is often confusion about the length of the holiday — which she says does not last all weekend.

Mulvey says people and businesses need to understand the holiday is Friday and Saturday only and does not include Sunday. She says if a business is open on the two days, they are required to participate. Mulvey says the holiday annually saves Iowans two to three million dollars in taxes. You can find a list of items that qualify for the sales tax exemption on the Iowa Department of Revenue website .

Filed Under: Business Tagged With:

Two Iowa City bars lose liquor licenses

July 29, 2009 By

Two popular bars in downtown Iowa City have been denied liquor license renewals. The Iowa City City Council voted last night to deny the applications filed by the owners of The Fieldhouse and Etcetera (Etc.).

Council members say too many underage patrons have been ticketed for drinking alcohol in the two bars. Iowa City Police recommended the liquor license renewals be denied, also citing the number of public intoxication arrests and fights associated with the two establishments.

The owners can appeal the decision to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division and keep their bars open during that process, which could take around six months.

Filed Under: Business, Crime & Courts, Politics & Government Tagged With:

Supreme Court refuses to take another look at central Iowa case

July 29, 2009 By

The state’s high court is refusing to give another look to a central Iowa murder case. The Iowa Supreme Court Tuesday denied a request from the Iowa Attorney General’s office to review a ruling that threw out hours of videotaped statements made by a Boone woman accused of helping plot to kill her husband.

Last March, the Iowa Court of Appeals banned from trial hours of statements Jessica Hill made to authorities. The decision came after prosecutors asked for a review of a Boone County District Court’s ruling granting Hill’s motion to suppress. Her lawyer argued that Hill was in custody without being read her rights.

Hill was charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of her husband, Michael Hill. He was found fatally shot on May 28th, 2007, on a sheep farm near Ogden.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Norwalk, Denison-Schleswig advance in 3A

July 29, 2009 By

Matt Dermody scattered eight hits and struck out 13 batters as sixth rated Norwalk got by Decorah 4-1 in the 3A quarterfinals of the state baseball tournament.

Dermody says they are "really pumped" and ready to face Boone, which they already faced in their conference.

Decorah pitcher Tyler Smith had two of the Viking’s hits but they wasted several scoring opportunities and stranded 10 runners. Smith says they couldn’t get the hit they needed to drive in the runners and that took the game out of their hands. Decorah ends the season with a record of 22-14.

Denison-Schleswig catcher Dillon Melby stands about five feet-seven but he came up big at the plate. The senior delivered a two-out single to right in the top of the seventh to drive in the tying run and the Monarchs scored the game winner in the top of the eighth in a 4-3 come from behind win over Vinton-Shellsburg.

Melby says he struck out an three straight curve balls in his first at bat, so he was excited to see a fastball and hit it. The Monarchs survived a six error performance and take a 28-12 record into the 3A semifinals.

Vinton-Shellsburg was in control for most of the game and led it 3-0 going into the top of the sixth inning. Vikings coach Jim Struve says it was a classic case of both teams battling, the other team got some timely hitting, and it wasn’t meant to be for his team.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »