“A lot of fans are talking about getting some Norm chants going at the game,” said Collin Coughlon, a University of Iowa student who plans to attend Saturday’s game.

The shout-out will be for Norm Parker, the defensive coordinator for the Hawkeyes, who recently had his foot amputated due to complications with diabetes.

“The University of Iowa is very good about supporting its coaches and team,” said Nick Kennedy, a junior at the University of Iowa.  “I think it’s really good to support Coach Parker like that.”

A special Facebook page set up by Sawyer Mishak, a U-I alum, is requesting fans chant “Norm, Norm, Norm” every time Wisconsin has the ball on a third down.

The University of Iowa athletics department, who Thursday afternoon announced that it supports the Hawkeye fans effort on behalf of Coach Parker, is asking fans to modify the cheer to every first down, instead of every third due to pre-programmed game effects that would drown out the cheering fans.  Plus, a large banner will be on display on the southeast side of Kinnick, near the stage, for fans to sign get well wishes for Coach Parker.

“His personality has been driven into the fan base and he’s just a lovable person who’s going through a difficult time,” said Rick Klatt, associate athletic director for external affairs.  “It speaks to our fans and it also speaks that Iowans that they’re special in how they care about people.”

Fans hope their cheers throughout the game will pump up Hawkeye defense to stop the Badgers from scoring.

“I think it’s intimidating to the Badgers,” said Bob Burns of Johnson County.  “But most of all, it sends a message to Norm Parker about how much we appreciate him.”

Coughlon isn’t sure if the Badgers will know why fans are shouting Norm, but believes the shouts will be “going to be 6 seconds of hell for them on defense.”

Fans who know Coach Parker say that is exactly what he would want.

SourceMedia Group tried to reach Coach Parker to get his reaction to fan’s efforts to show their support of him.  He could not be reached for comment.

Chicken waste covers the road along 250th Street near Kalona Wednesday. (Matt Nelson/The Gazette)

Rural Johnson County residents are fed up with finding chicken intestines covering the road in front of their home.

“Nobody should have to put up with this,” said Tom Gingerich, a resident along 250th Street near Kalona.

Gingerich said his son first spotted the chicken pieces on his way to work Tuesday night.

“[He] called and said there are chicken intestines all over the road by Highway 1,” Gingerich said.

This is not the first time chicken drippings have been located along that stretch of gravel road, according to Gingerich. He said it happened a few weeks ago, when Iowa Poultry first opened its doors.

“[I] saw from the rear of the truck, basically a waterfall of blood was just cascading out of the rear end of this semi,” Gingerich said, adding that blood droppings from the truck were spotted all up and down 250th Street.

For more photos, click on these links (WARNING: Images may be disturbing to some viewers) — Chicken Waste 2 | Chicken Waste 3 | Chicken Waste 4

Gingerich is tired of driving through discarded pieces of chicken to get to his home. He believes Iowa Poultry fills its semis too full with the chicken waste.

“It sloshes out over the trailer, and that’s how this stuff gets all over the road,” he said.

Gingerich wants Iowa Poultry to promise him, and others living along that road, that the company will fix the problem.

Richard Michel, a representative for Iowa Poultry, said Wednesday morning that this issue has been “blown out of proportion.” Michel admitted the truck that spilled the chicken Tuesday night was “a little too full,” but that this is the first time something like this has happened.

He said the company will increase the frequency of the trucks used to transport the discarded chicken pieces so that a spill “hopefully won’t happen again.”

The test gives the county an opportunity to scrub its existing database of numbers belonging to people now living outside the area.  The exercise also gives those who have just moved into the area a chance to sign up to receive the emergency calls.

Of the 39,970 calls that were made, 22,187 were connected. After recalling the non-connects, the total connection rate reached nearly 64%.

The technology allows them to call notify residents of an emergency situation close to their home or business, said Dave Wilson, emergency management coordinator for Johnson County.

“We’ve used it for everything from Alzheimer’s patients who have wandered away [and] we can use it for missing or abducted children much like the Amber Alert network,” Wilson said.  “We can use it for hazardous material gas leaks, floods which obviously we used it right after we bought it. It’s pretty limitless to use.”

For example, Wilson said the last time the county used Code Red was when snowmobiler Marty Davis went missing in Linn County earlier this year. Calls were sent to those living near the area Davis went missing so residents could be on the look out for him.

“We try not to overuse it because then it becomes like the siding salesman who calls every night at 6 during dinner time,” Wilson said.

The Johnson County Joint Emergency Communications Center and the Johnson County Emergency Management Agency encourage businesses and students to add their information into the system’s telephone database.   Signing-up can be accomplished by logging onto the www.johnson-county.com, going to the emergency department sub-heading and following the link to the “CODE RED” page.

Those without Internet access will be able to give their information over the phone by calling 319-356-6762 and leaving a message including name, street address, city, state, zip code and primary and alternate phone numbers.

Since Wednesday’s CODE RED call, over 160 new subscribers signed up for the emergency notification service.

The Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010 in the Iowa River Landing district of Coralville . (Brian Ray/The Gazette)

Within two years, construction could begin on a new 100-room hotel and a shopping center in Coralville’s Iowa River Landing.

“This is another addition that will be very, very good for the particular area,” said Kelly Hayworth, city administrator for Coralville.

The city believes this will allow them to recruit larger conventions to the area who want lodging close by.  Then, once you add the University of Iowa’s new outpatient medical facility that is expected to generate over 300,000 patient visits per year, the need for more hotels in that area will only grow.

“It is not surprising that there’s a lot of people looking to do deals with the city,” said Josh Schamberger, president of the Iowa City Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Schamberger said he receives inquiries monthly to do feasibility studies for various developers.  He would not be surprised if a second hotel is built near the area, too, by the Drury hotel chain based out of St. Louis, Missouri.  The company owns the vacant lot between Perkins Restaurant and the new Banadana’s Bar-B-Q.

In addition to hotels, Coralville also wants to add a large retail development project to the Iowa River Landing.

Hayworth announced Tuesday morning at the Iowa Department of Transportation meeting in Dubuque that an anchor department store for this project would be announced soon.

“We’re looking at a wide variety of local and national tenants,” he said.  “Fashion to maybe a small grocery store…coffee shops to full service restaurants to service the people who will be in that area.”

Tuesday night city council members will set a public hearing for the disposal of property to the hotel operator.  The hearing will be held in 30 days.  If the project is approved, Hayworth would like to see construction on the hotel start in 2012.

An endangered pistol grip mussels sits on a pile of material taken from the bed of the Iowa River by Helms and Associates while conducting an environmental survey of the river Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010 near the Park Road bridge in Iowa City. The company is studying how elevating Dubuque Street and the Park Road bridge may impact the endangered pistol grip mussel in the Iowa River.(Brian Ray/The Gazette)

The discovery of an endangered mussel species living near the proposed relocation site of the Park Road bridge in Iowa City will likely delay one of the city’s top flood mitigation projects.

As part of a larger environment assessment required before the city can obtain proper permits from the United States Fish and Wildlife, a survey of mussels living 50 feet across and 50 feet north and south of the existing bridge had to be completed.

For the last two days, Helms and Associates of Bellevue, Iowa, has been digging around in the river’s bedrock trying to determine the presence of Iowa’s endangered pistol grip mussel.

Thursday afternoon, the company found one – the first since beginning its survey work for the city.

“It’s alive,” Helms said. “This specimen is quite old.”

Helms estimates the female pistrol grip mussel is about 20 years old. More mussels could be living in or around that same area.

“We will try very carefully to map out the area where we think it could be,” Helms said.

Upon finding the mussel, Helms called the Department of Natural Resources who indicated it wanted the mussel moved to a location that will not be affected by the upcoming bridge construction.

Helms and Associates employees Scott Helms (front) and Daryl Hankemeier (back) both of Bellevue sift through material from the bottom of the Iowa River as they search for the endangered pistol grip mussels while conducting an environmental survey Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010 near the Park Road bridge in Iowa City. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)

Melissa Clow, special project manager for Iowa City, said the city will plan to relocate all of the pistol grip mussels before they begin work on the new Park Road Bridge. The extra work will cost the city more money and take more time.

Clow said the city expected the endangered mussel would be found and that its discovery is actually a good thing.

“In past years, this stretch of the Iowa River has been considered ‘impaired”, so finding the mussels (any of them, not just the pistolgrip) is a good sign of a healthy river,” Clow wrote in an email sent to The Gazette.

The mussel survey will cost up to $18,000. The entire environmental assessment is expected to be finished within one year.

This invoice is evidence in an Iowa City Police Department scam investigation. Local businesses were sold what they believed to be sponsorships on t-shirts and spoken announcements at Iowa City High and Iowa City West football games. The high schools say the salesperson was not authorized by either school. Currently 13 businesses have reported to the Iowa City Police Department that they bought the advertising they now believe was a scam. (Matt Nelson/The Gazette)

Iowa City police investigators say since making a business scam public, more and more Eastern Iowa businesses are calling to complain that they, too, were duped.

“It was just an explosion of phone calls,” said Detective D.J. Steva of the Iowa City Police Department after the agency issued a press release last week warning area businesses of the scam.

The scam involves an Illinois man who posed as a representative of two Iowa City high schools, trying to sell advertising for their football teams.

”He was offering advertising to sponsor City High football,” said John Logan, owner of Russ’ Northside Service, one of the victim’s of the scam.  “What he was offering was t-shirts, announcements during the game, etc.”

Logan said a man who identified himself as Tony Phiathep approached him in June with the deal.

”He was really very convincing,” Logan said.  “He talked a good game.”

Logan had long been interested in purchasing high school football advertising, so he signed up.

“He wrote me a really nice looking invoice and I wrote him a really nice looking check,” he said.  “That’s the last I heard from him.”

Start-up business owner Dr. Michael Ross also was blinded side by Phiathep.   His story about being swindled is similar, and when Dr. Ross realized he’d been scammed, he called police.

”At first I was ticked off at myself for being so gullible,” said Dr. Ross, owner of Veterans and Family Wellness Chiropractic off Highway 1 in Iowa City.  “Most people would say ‘It was only 300 bucks, it’s not that big of a deal.”  But for a start-up company, every dollar counts.”

Detective Steva says Phiathep’s finagling has hurt numerous businesses.

”We’re finding more victims every day,” he said.

So far, 13 businesses have called Detective Steva.  Most of those are in Johnson County, though victims extend all the way up to Cedar Rapids.

While Detective Steva is still gathering evidence of the extent of damage Phiathep has caused, he said athletic directors at Iowa City City High and West High are concerned this incident could mar future high school fundraisers.

”When legitimate kids or teams go to ask for fundraising from businesses, they may be turned down,” Steva said.  “They’re not going to want to be scammed again.”

Detective Steva said an arrest warrant for Phiathep, who police believe lives in Illinois, is imminent.  Phiathep will likely face multiple theft charges.

Police are offering some tips to avoid such scams: be wary of people who only list a cell phone and an email address not tied to a business; and check out the organization online and ask to see the merchandise before you ever give money.

If you have fallen victim to this scam, call Iowa City Police Department.

This invoice is evidence in an Iowa City Police Department scam investigation. Local businesses were sold what they believed to be sponsorships on t-shirts and spoken announcements at Iowa City High and Iowa City West football games. The high schools say the salesperson was not authorized by either school. Currently 13 businesses have reported to the Iowa City Police Department that they bought the advertising they now believe was a scam. (Matt Nelson/The Gazette)

HACAP head start director Christi Regan said a cleaning crew was using unauthorized equipment Wednesday night and that the building was not properly ventilated while they worked.  Regan said that caused the CO levels to spike to unsafe levels.

Regan said HACAP workers heard the CO alarms sounding Thursday morning when they entered the building.  Workers immediately called parents to notify them that classes would not be held Thursday due to health and safety concerns associated with the unsafe CO levels.

Regan said the CO levels have returned to normal at the building and classes are being held as scheduled today.

Iowa City Police officers Tom Hartshorn (left) and Rob Cash patrol the Ped Mall in front of Brothers Bar & Grill on Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, in Iowa City. Six downtown Iowa City bars are paying for two officers to work the Ped Mall Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to bar close, in response to the number of fights downtown. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

The tug-of-war of words over the impact of Iowa City’s so-called 21-only ordinance reached a new level Monday as those opposed to the new law alleged the Iowa City Police Department is purchasing new riot gear to help bust up neighborhood house parties.

“I’m not going to be a conspiracy theorist or anything like that but I just think that they’re obviously seeing something that leads them to believe that they need this equipment,” said Matt Pfaltzgraf, campaign manager for the anti-21-only YESS group.

Sergeant Denise Brotherton said the department does need the new equipment to upgrade its current gear and to provide protective equipment to its new officers; however, she dismissed Pfaltzgraf’s statement that police may need to use the gear to help officers stop house parties as “absurd.”

“I think it’s trying to illicit fear in the community that’s not necessary,” she said. “It’s deceptive in how it’s written… It was just thrown out there to stir up emotions.”

Sgt. Brotherton said the police department has been working since May 2009 to purchase the new gear. It has taken more than a year to complete the paperwork process, conduct product research, secure grant money to fund the new equipment, and put it out for a public bid.

“This is our chance to upgrade what we have [and to] get us some better coverage,” Sgt. Brotherton said. “It is not in response to any past event or in anticipation of a future event.”

Pfaltzgraf said he wrote the release as a way to inform the community about what the police department is purchasing.He based his information on “coincidence” between the timing of gear police are seeking to purchase and what he considers to be an uptick in the number of house parties since the 21-only law went into effect.

“Do I have like an email or a memo saying this is for keeping riots down? No, but I think it’s pretty easy to connect the two,” he said.

Sgt. Brotherton said she cannot think of a house party that would require officers to don riot gear, which she claims is generally used for a “significant event.”

“I haven’t seen that situation,” she said. “I wouldn’t expect to see that situation.”

After work, she planned to meet up with her friend Amy Jarrett, 28, a flight attendant who was coming in to town for a late birthday celebration for Aquino-Nemecek.

But Jarrett would never arrive.

Aquino-Nemecek, who now lives in Mount Vernon, was busy that day nine years ago greeting lounge members when she noticed some disturbing images on the television sets. She remembered wondering who had changed the channel to a war movie.

“I saw the color of the plane,” she said recognizing the grayish color was that of a United Airlines aircraft. “I was speechless. I thought ‘Oh my gosh.’”

About three dozen people gathered around her began panicking, wanting Aquino-Nemecek to find out which plane had crashed.

“The whole club was just in chaos,” she said. “Everybody was crying. Everybody was yelling.”

It was then she remembered her friend Amy and ran to check her cell phone.

She listened to a voicemail from Amy that said “I’m aboard 175; on my way there.”

It was then Aquino-Nemecek realized that she had just watched Amy die.

At 9:03 a.m. Eastern time, United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

“I have no doubt that when she was on that plane, she was one of those people who were trying to keep it from happening,” Aquino-Nemecek said.

Aquino-Nemecek and her colleagues on the ground worked to confirm that it was United Airlines Flight 175 that had crashed. They called the Federal Aviation Administration and United Airlines executives to find out what was happening. Once confirmed it was flight 175, Aquino-Nemecek was told to tell those waiting in the lounge.

“I was really just crying,” she said. “It was hard.”

In the minutes following her announcement, those gathered there to greet loved ones on that flight approached Aquino-Nemecek to ask who was on that flight.

“It’s hard to break the news,” she said. “You don’t know which of the 35 people you are going to try to go ahead and comfort.”

At the same time Aquino-Nemecek was trying to calm the lounge guests, she, too, was trying to deal with the loss of Amy, and 14 other colleagues who died that day.

“I was different after September 11,” she said.

Aquino-Nemecek worked for United Airlines for six months after September 11, then quit as the sight of planes every day was just too much to bear. Though the memories of what happened that day remain fresh on her mind, Aquino-Nemecek honors her friends who died that day by remembering the fun times they shared and the compassion they showed others.

Where were you on 9/11? Share your comments below.

“Definitely going to slow them down a lot,” said Detective Shane Chandler, a member of the Johnson County drug task force.

The new system requires customers give pharmacists a photo identification card which is currently used to enter in the name, address, date of birth, and list of products that are being purchased.

“It adds one more layer to our way of identifying someone that may be a little bit over anxious in purchasing pseudophedrine,” said Dave Henning, pharmacy manager at the Waterfront Hyvee in Iowa City.

The information is instantly loaded into a national database.

Pharmacies throughout the state have access to the new system which tells employees when they cannot sell pseudoephedrine to a customer.

“System sends you a red flag identifying that they are over the limit and the sale is halted at that time,” Henning said.

The legal limit of pseudoephedrine is 3600 milligrams in a 24 hour period or 7500 milligrams in a 30 day period.

So, in theory, gone are the days that one could pharmacy-hop to purchase large amounts of the drug.

“I think what it will do is stop them from violating the law,” Detective Chandler said.  “By no means do I think it will stop them from purchasing pseudophed.”

Detective Chandler will now be able to access electronic reports of who purchased the drug at what location and when which he believes will expedite investigations.

Checking out at pharmacies will also get faster as new barcode scanners will soon be installed to automatically enter information from a photo identification card to the database.

Detective Chandler anticipates it could take up to a year to determine the new system’s success, but he is optimistic it will help.

“The greatest success is stopping people from manufacturing meth,” he said.

Iowa City School District officials confirm it was a false alarm.

“We don’t know if it was an equipment malfunction or a student who pulled the alarm,” said Jim Pedersen, director of human resources for the Iowa City Community School District.

Pedersen said it is district policy to evacuate students in the event of a fire alarm sounding, even if there is no fire present.

“Don’t have a choice,” he said.  “We’re going to exit.”

An investigation as to what, or who, triggered the fire alarm is under way.  Pedersen said if a student pulled the alarm he or she could face some sort of an automatic suspension from school and further action from the Iowa City police.

Iowa City firefighters also responded to the scene.

All persons evacuated were allowed back into the building before 1 p.m.

Richard "Dick" Ferguson, retiring CEO of ACT in Iowa City.

The man who has led ACT for more than two decades is retiring.

Richard “Dick” Ferguson, 69, spent his last day at the helm of the company on Tuesday.  He has been an employee of ACT since 1972.

The company produces the popular ACT college entrance examination that was taken by more than 1.5 million high school students during the past school year.  ACT also offers a host of other education and workforce development products.  The company employs about 1,500 people.

Ferguson said a major highlight during his years leading ACT was seeing the company evolve from one focused just on the high school to college transition to with a broader, international focus.

“We believe that the better that all young people are prepared for education and work the happier we will be both as a nation and as a world,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson believes the company’s efforts under his watch have made a difference.

“At the heart of everything we do there are individuals impacted by the decisions that we make, the manner that we go about the work we do,” he said.  “We are touching lives.”

Ferguson’s successor as CEO is former University of Iowa provost Jon Whitmore, 65, who has been currently serving as the president of San Jose State University in California.  Whitmore starts as ACT’s CEO on Wednesday.  Ferguson also served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.  Whitmore will just serve as a board member.  Mark Musick is the new Chairman of the Board.  Musick is currently the :Lead Director on the ACT Board of Directors.

A partially demolished mobile home sits on a lot along Fox Trail in the Regency Mobile Home Community Sept. 15, 2009. Residents of the park are unhappy with the number of abandond or partially demolished mobile homes around the community. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)

Johnson County is looking to enforce a new building permit that would limit what can be added onto or nearby a mobile home.

The action is all part of the county’s efforts to address the many problems at the Regency Mobile Home Park and others that may exist or could be prevented.

The county’s county’s mobile home task force met Tuesday morning to once again discuss how to address current housing issues.

Supervisor Rod Sullivan said it’s an issue that is more complicated than originally thought.

The new building permit implemented by the county’s zoning and planning division could be implemented soon.  It would require those wanting to build onto a mobile home or any county housing structure to get a permit. Right now, no permit is required, which county inspectors say has resulted in a lot of unsafe buildings and ramps constructed at mobile home residences.

“Some of those are in pretty bad shape,” Sullivan said.  “It’s a small part of the solution.”

The Board of Supervisors will meet next week to iron out details of a new housing and maintenance code.  It will likely be months before any new ordinance is passed and enforced.

Two University of Iowa students were struck by a car late Friday night.

Sergeant Denise Brotherton of the Iowa City Police Department confirmed Monday morning that 19-year-olds Brittany Lambert and Christopher Hunter were struck by a car driven by 28-year old Jamie Ellis as they were attempting to cross the non-controlled intersection of Governor Street and College Street.

Neighbors living in the area said last weekend was like “Mardi Gras” with “crazy parties and hundreds of people walking the streets, many with open containers.”

This latest incident is fueling frustration among many residents living south and east of Iowa City who say their neighborhoods are being infiltrated with crowds who have a “mob-like mentality.”

Jerry Baughman, who has lived on South Governor Street for the past five years, said Monday morning that the large groups of roamers could be a walking hazard.

“We have no idea what kind of consciousness they’re in, what state they’re in,” he said.

Baughman, and other neighbors who wished not to be identified due the fear of facing retaliation by those holding house parties, said they are concerned for their safety.

Residents say the college-aged crowds were using vulgar language, tossing beer cans onto private yards, and urinating on public and private property.

Baughman said he saw young adults – both male and female – urinating out in the middle of the street and off house porches.

Neighbors say those wanderers they spoke to over the weekend told them they were “trolling for house parties.”

Sgt. Brotherton said Iowa City police officers received 45 calls for loud party disturbances.  She said that number is down from 61 during the same weekend in 2009.

City records show police issued 25 disorderly house citations, though that number could fluctuate as reports come in, Sgt. Denise Brotherton said.

Baughman knows he cannot prevent the crowds from walking on public sidewalks.   He, and other neighbors, do not agree that this growing nusiance will be solved by dissolving the city’s new minimum bar entry age.  Baughman is just hoping that party crowds will be a little more respectful of those families who live in the neighborhoods they frequent.

“Everybody has to be conscious of each other,”he said.  “That’s all we’re asking is a neighborhood consciousness that you’re actually in a neighborhood.”

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics spokesperson Tom Moore said Hunter is in good condition.  Moore said no information is available for Lambert’s condition.

Sgt. Brotherton said preliminary reports found that there was “no alochol” on Ellis’s breath.  She said witness reports have suggested that Lambert and Hunter were among a group of friends talking near that intersection, when they split and attempted to cross the road.  Those friends did not indicate what the two students were doing in that area or where they were going.  No word from police if either Lamber or Hunter had been consuming alcohol or had it in their possession at the time of the incident.

Josh Koeppel (67) watches his teammates during the Iowa Football Spring Practice at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, April 17, 2010. (Cliff Jette/SourceMedia Group News)

IOWA CITY – Hawkeye football offensive-lineman Josh Koeppel was hit while riding his motorcycle Monday morning in downtown Iowa City.

Sergeant Denise Brotherton of Iowa City Police Department said Koeppel was heading westbound on Burlington Street on his Yahama motorcycle when John Logan, 54, of Iowa City turned left onto Gilbert Street and struck Koeppel.  Logan was driving a Ford F-150.

Sergeant Brotherton said Koeppel did not suffer life-threatening injuries and was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to be evaluated.

Logan was cited for failure to yield upon making a left turn.

Koeppel is listed as a possible starter at center for the Hawkeyes this Fall.

No word yet from the Hawkeye football team about how this accident may affect his ability to play this Saturday in the season opener against Eastern Illinois.

Iowa City Police Lt. Mike Brotherton patrols the Pedestrian Mall Friday, Aug. 27, 2010 in downtown Iowa City. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)

Iowa City’s downtown drinking environment is changing.

“Since the new 21-only ordinance, it’s not all that fun downtown,” said Chris Blick, 21, a senior at the University of Iowa.  “The bars are pretty dead and some of our friends aren’t allowed into the bars.”

Lt. Mike Brotherton of the Iowa City Police Department said city’s new minimum bar entry age that went into effect in June is “obviously had an impact.”

Officers patrolling the downtown area Thursday night checked the ages of dozens of bar goers at five different bars before finding one violator – Christy Dunsmore, 20, of 432 S. Johnson Street – at the Blue Moose Taphouse.

Lt. Brotherton said officers are only issuing a few 21-only citations each night.

“I think we’ve gotten the message out that if you’re under 21, you don’t want to be in the bars,” he said.

Many persons under 21 are avoiding downtown simply because they don’t want to get caught and pay the $735 fine.

“A ton of people say that’s the reason that they’re not going downtown is because of that ticket,” said Morgan Alpen, 19, a sophomore at the University of Iowa.

Alpen is one of several college-aged individuals who gathered at a house party held at 702 Iowa Avenue late Thursday night.

“You know you’d always come and hang out at the house and then go down to the bars,” she said.  “Now it’s like you’re here and you may go to a different house party or you’re here at the house the entire time.  It’s a completely different ‘trip’ as you would say.”

Lt. Brotherton said not only are fewer people under 21 spilling into downtown, but new law has kept away out-of-town guests, too.

Police say that is a good thing.

“Ya, they were a lot of the problem children as they were,” said Officer Kevin Prestegard of the Iowa City Police Department.

Opponents of the 21-only law say police are now going to have a difficult time keeping partying under control.  Instead of the drinking hot spot being largely contained in the downtown bar district, they claim it will now spread throughout nearby neighborhoods.

“There’s literally house parties everywhere,” said Geoffrey Paulline, 21, a senior at the University of Iowa.  “I think it’s going to be twice as difficult to regulate.”

So far, Lt. Brotherton said police officers have not noticed an uptick in the number of house parties.  Regardless, police are stepping up patrol efforts in neighborhoods.

“We’ve got officers in uniforms and unmarked cars so they don’t know if a car drives by if there is going to be a police officer in there or not,” he said.

Lt. Brotherton said this is part of police strategy to keep the drinking crowd guessing about who is watching them so they “have to do the right thing.”

Opponents of the ordinance say they are determined to get-out-the-vote in November and repeal the minimum bar entry age.

For now, Iowa City Police are finding the downtown drinking environment less rowdy than what it used to be.

“It’s actually been quite nice,” Lt. Brotherton said.

This morning, Coralville Police Chief Barry Bedford said officers nabbed six drivers for speeding on the busy stretch of road.

One of the drivers was going 21 miles over the speed limit. Police say driving that fast in a construction zone is dangerous.

“Certainly if someone was speeding then they try to negotiate the two lane which is really built over on to a shoulder which is not the regular road way, not only  could they lose control but potentially hit a worker in the area,” Bedford said.

Bedford said the patrols this morning are not part of a special enforcement.  Officers are simply encouraged to stake out areas where drivers are likely to speed.

But police records indicate that is not true.

According to reports from August 19-22 of this year, compared to those of last year during the same time period, the number of loud party complaints and calls for service are actually down, said Sergeant Denise Brotherton of the Iowa City Police Department.

“We always have parties this time of year,” Sgt. Brotherton said.

The number of loud parties, fight calls, and intoxicated pedestrian incidents decreased from 2009.

Police data indicates  in 2009, there were 97 calls for service, 32 of those for loud parties.  This past weekend, police received 66 calls for service.  19 of those calls were for loud parties.  The calls for service reports include calls for loud parties, intoxicated persons, out with a subject, and criminal mischief.

Residents living in the Northside neighborhood which is located just north of downtown Iowa City say so far this year the partying has not been too extreme.

“Pretty good last weekend,” said Susan Futrell who has lived in Northside for 15 years.

Futrell said parties in the area can get “pretty bad” but they vary depending on the students living in the rental units.

“Every school year there are a few houses in the neighborhood that have big parties,” she said.

Other neighbors in the area say the house parties are not bothersome at all.  In fact, Tim Volm believes there has actually been a decrease in the number of “drunken parties.”

“The past couple of years the type of drunkenness – the guys stumbling - that’s dramatically down,” Volm said.  “You just don’t see it.  I haven’t had anybody pass out on my porch for years.”

Still, police know there are those residents who are concerned about house parties.  Police plan to increase their patrols of downtown neighborhoods this weekend.

Sgt. Denise Brotherton said while the downtown area was still busy last weekend, there were not as many people who had traveled from Cedar Rapids and Muscatine to party.

Police issued two PAULA citations and nine violations of the 21-only ordinance.  Sgt. Brotherton said officers issued 19 PAULA citations in neighborhoods, and broke up two house parties.

Sgt. Brotherton said grant money has allowed the city to bring in more officers to assist with patrolling downtown and the neighborhoods.  She said time will tell whether it is the officers or the new law which is changing the drinking culture in Iowa City.

The police department intends to continue their close monitoring of underage drinking downtown and in surrounding neighborhoods during the coming weeks.  Sgt. Brotherton said there may be a point when officers more closely examining the use of fake identification cards, too.

Coralville Chief of Police Barry Bedford said Thursday afternoon that the concern about the road width near the First Avenue Clear Creek Bridge led University of Iowa officials and police to decide against the traditional game route.

Which route the Hawkeyes will use to get to Kinnick on home game days is undecided.  The Iowa State Patrol makes that decision and there was not a representative present during Thursday’s meeting.  University of Iowa Associate Athletics Director Paula Jantz said the “route could change from game to game depending on traffic.”

Bedford said game goers will still be able to use First Avenue.  Police officers will be on hand to make sure commuters can move through the area “quickly.”  

The construction is part of the City of Coralville’s First Avenue  Clear Creek Bridge and Reconstruction projects that are scheduled to finish in December.

The event will feature autograph sessions with players from the 1960 and 1985 Big Ten Championship teams.

Coach Fry will try to set a new Guinness world record by leading more than 4,400 fans in the hokey pokey. The dance became a post-game tradition under Fry.

Fry Fest organizers say they still need volunteers for the event.

“We need everything from those hokey pokey stewards, those hokey pokey police officers, to hokey pokey cheerleaders, to water sales, to registration – we’re going to need about 450 volunteers,” said Joshua Schamberger, Fry Fest committee.

Additional shuttles will be available during Fry Fest to help ease congestion to and from the events.

http://www.fryfest.com

Submitted photo by Peggy Martin.

Four people – including three from the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City area – were hurt in a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 near Grinnell Sunday afternoon.

The Iowa State Patrol said the crash occurred at the 180 milemarker at 2:04 p.m. near Grinnell in Poweshiek County.

According to troopers, Vance O. Faulkner, 60 of Cedar Rapids was driving a pickup truck pulling a camper in the eastbound lanes when he lost control. The truck and camper landed on its side and hit into a sport-utility vehicle heading west head-on.

Faulkner was taken by air ambulance to a Des Moines hospital from injuries sustained in the crash.

The patrol says Sally A. Hingst, 48, and Barbara J. Hingst, 60, both of Iowa City, and Melissa A. Standard, 50, of Burlington were in the sport-utility vehicle and injured in the crash. All three ended up at a Des Moines hospital from injuries related to the crash.

The westbound lanes of Interstate 80 re-opened at 4:14 p.m.

“I thought, “Gosh, good for you,” said Emma Aquino-Nemecek who worked as the director of the United Airlines Red Carpet Club in Los Angeles.

Aquino-Nemecek said working in the customer services department for an airline is “the worst place to work” as there is not a day that goes by without a passenger complaining.

“They get caught in a traffic jam, set their alarm clock instead of am to pm, so it’s our fault,” she said. “Everything is our fault.”

Aquino-Nemecek understood that customers want the airline employee to listen to whatever is irritating them.

“I don’t take things personally,” she said. “I let them vent when they’re upset about something and try to find commonalities instead of focusing on differences. Try to find a solution to their problems.”

But sometimes, Aquino-Nemecek said a passenger’s rude behavior is just too much.

“I’ve been called every name in the book, been pushed by one passenger, been almost hit by another,” she said.

Still, Aquino-Nemecek said airline employees are trained to maintain poise and politeness towards customers. Supervisors closely watch employee-customer interactions.

“You get rewarded if you’re doing your job the best,” Aquino-Nemecek said. “But, also if you’re not doing your best, you do get reprimanded.”

Aquino-Nemecek said working in the airline industry is stressful and that is why she believes there is so much employee turnover.

“You can just take too much abuse from these irate customers,” she said. “I mean, we’re human. We don’t have control over weather [and] the acts of God. What do I have to do with that?”

This aerial photo shows rising water from floods surround the Hilton Coliseum, top right, in Des Moines, Iowa Wednesday Aug. 11, 2010. Thunderstorms have hit Iowa for three consecutive nights, sending rivers and creeks rolling over their banks. (AP Photo/the Des Moines Register, Arturo Fernandez)

Floodwaters at Iowa State University continued to recede Thursday as leaders prepare to pump out and clean up the mess left behind.

Most of Wednesday’s flooding impacted “non-academic, non-laboratory” buildings like Hilton Coliseum and the Scheman Conference Center, ISU spokesman John McCarroll said.

McCarroll said one of the university’s top business professors estimates the damage is in the six figures.

ISU officials say a top concern is the city’s water problems and how that may impact university operations.

“That’s why the university is officially closed today,” McCarroll said Thursday.

McCarroll said faculty and staff were encouraged to stay home Thursday as part of the university’s effort to minimize use of the water system.

ISU is preparing for the arrival of about 9,000 students who plan to live on-campus during fall semester.  Many of those students start arriving on Saturday.  ISU says they are warning students to abide by the water advisories in effect.

“The water pressure hopefully by the time they start moving in will be improved over what it is today,” McCarroll said.  “They’ll be cautioned not to drink the water, only bottled water or from some other source but not the city of Ames.”

McCarroll said university leaders met Thursday morning to decide if water concerns warranted pushing back arrival dates, deciding that was not necessary.

Classes should start on schedule, he said.

”Hopefully the clean-up will continue at a good pace,” he said.  “Most of the classrooms, residence halls were not affected by the flooding so I don’t foresee any interruption of normal activity there.”

One activity that could be impacted by flooding is a large freshman rally set to be held at Hilton the end part of next week.  McCarroll said if ISU is not able to clean it up in time, the event might be moved to an alternate location.

Flooding at the intersection of Wall and Washington in Colfax. (Jami Brinton/KCRG-TV9)

Significant flooding in Colfax from an overflowing South Skunk River has left hundreds of Iowans without a home, closed multiple businesses, and caused more than $1 million in damage.

“It’s been a tough day,” said Bryan Poulter, mayor pro-tem of Colfax.  “It’s been a tough few days.”

Residents of more than 200  homes were evacuated in anticipation of the river’s higher levels.

Homeowners surveyed the damage Thursday morning, including one who waded through murky waters to retrieve a few of his possessions from his mobile home on Washington Street.

“I feel worth ****” he said, declining to elaborate.

Poulter said the river is expected to rise higher Friday, cresting at 23 feet. It is currently at 21 feet.  Due to the possibility of additional flooding, Poulter said the city is not actively working to clean-up the flooding; rather, Mayor David Mast is working with Jasper County emergency management coordinators to determine an appropriate recovery plan once the water recedes.

Poulter anticipates clean-up work won’t likely start until next week.

A flooded parking lot between Willow Hall and the Lied Recreation Athletic Center. (ISU News Service)

The University of Iowa has offered to help Iowa State University address flooding issues on campus.

Dan Heater, director of building and landscape services for the University of Iowa, made the call.

“First of all, Iowa State and the University of Iowa has a long history of collaboration and partnering during times of needs,” Heater said.

Heater said he contacted ISU’s facilities offices and learned that most of the leaders were in meetings “discussing the things that they need to do.”

On behalf of the University of Iowa, Heater officed to give ISU advices, assistance, equipment and personnel if needed to help with their flood situation.  Equipment assistance would come in the forms of facilities services and utility services.

Heater explained that facilities services includes any sort of maintenance issues as it relates to electrical, mechanical or plumbing.  Utility services comprise utility service distributions on campus.

“We would send pumps, particularly for pumping,” Heater said.  “We have sandbags.  We have HESCO barriers.  We also have experience in building those so we might send teams that would actually go there and help put those things up for them.”

Heater said the University of Iowa could offer whatever ISU feels they need today.

“We could be able to put everything together here very quickly,” Heater said.

Heater anticipates once a call for help was received, his crews could be on the road within an hour and be to Ames a few hours after that.

If ISU just sustains some flash flooding, Heater suspects the University of Iowa’s help would not be needed; if, however, ISU campus falls victim to more long-term flooding, he anticipates ISU will need the UI’s assistance.

File photo

Potential confusion over the ballot language of the city’s 21-only ordinance is complicating an already divisive election issue.

Those in favor of Iowa City’s new 21-only ordinance – 21 Makes Sense and its supporters – worry confusing ballot language may influence the election outcome. However, those opposed to the new minimum bar entry age – Yes to Entertaining Students Safely or Y.E.S.S. and its supporters – say any voter confusion won’t make a significant impact.

“Of course there’s potential for voter confusion with the way the city phrases referendums on the ballot,” said Nick Westergaard, campaign manager for 21 Makes Sense.

Here’s what’s causing the concern: The vote this November is whether voters want to uphold a citizen-led petition that would get rid of the 21-only ordinance and not simply whether or not a person supports the ordinance.

So, for those in favor of the petition and opposed to the ordinance, vote “yes.” And those opposed to the petition, and in favor of the new city’s minimum bar entry age, should vote “no.”

”I think what voters are generally confused about is why they are voting on this issue again after it was defeated three years ago,” said Matt Pfaltzgraf, campaign manager for Y.E.S.S.

Both campaigns say despite their best efforts to educate voters, they recognize some may vote opposite of what they wanted to; however, campaigns disagree if mis-marked boxes will give either side a beneficial bump.

”I think there’s potential for that on any side,” Westergaard said.

Pfaltzgraf said Y.E.S.S. is not anticipating getting much of a bump from the potential confusion but “if there is, then great.”

Johnson County Auditor Tom Slockett plans to discuss whether to clarify the ballot language with county attorney Janet Lyness.

In a written statement, Lyness said she’ll review the language to make sure it is “legally sufficient.”

”Most of the confusion comes with how they [21 Makes Sense] chose their name,” Pfaltzgraf said. “They chose a name that made it sound like “Yes, I agree to that.” So that’s how voters are going to perceive that. I think it might make more sense if they wanted to change their name then if they wanted to change the ballot question itself.”

If the ballot wording isn’t altered, it will be up to those for and against the 21 only ordinance to educate voters.

”At the end of the day – message aside – there’s Election Day and there’s a yes or a no to check and all of our efforts are for naught if people don’t know what they need to do on November 2,” Westergaard said.

Slockett will decide whether to alter the ballot language by the end of August due to printing demands.

Pfaltzgraf said Y.E.S.S. will resist any attempt to alter the language, as there is not precedent for doing so in other Johnson County elections.

Summer rains, high water levels in Clear Creek and utility issues have caused a one-month delay on the first phase of the reconstruction project, according to Dan Holderness, city engineer for the city of Coralville.

“Unfortunately there’s so much work to get done so there’s no way we can get it done by the fall football season,” Holderness said Monday. “We’re going to tell people to allow a little extra time. Leave early. There will be some extra delays but you know, it’s all for a good project so that’s just one of the growing pains.”

Kelly McCann of the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce said not all businesses are being negatively affected by the construction.

But business has been down for many along the route, said Dr. Bradi Arnold, a chiropractor at Family First Chiropractic, 210 First Ave, which is “very, very concerning to us.”

“It’s kind of a nightmare right now,” Arnold said. “I used to come to work on First Avenue and I avoid it now. So I can’t blame people for avoiding it.”

Arnold said the convenience of being located just off Interstate 80 used to be one of the perks she advertised.

“Get off on First Avenue, get an adjustment and be on your way,” she said. “That’s really not the case anymore, sadly.”

First Avenue is usually the route football teams use to get to Kinnick Stadium. University of Iowa sports information Director Phil Haddy and Coralville Police officials said Monday they are still trying to figure out which road opposing teams will take to get to Kinnick. A meeting about what to do has been scheduled.

Arnold said she hopes fans that still use First Avenue this season will notice nearby stores. She is cautiously optimistic that may translate into more customers for her business.

The $2 million project will remove and repave a two mile stretch of road.

“The thing people need to realize is at least through Labor Day and past that the area down here at the Dam is going to be cut in half,” said John Castle, operations manager for Coralville Lake. “You won’t be able to go from side to side across the Dam. You’ll have to make plans accordingly. ”

Some campgrounds – like Tailwater East – will have limited accessibility.

Coralville Lake Marina will remain open, but it will take longer for boaters to access it.

The construction project will start sometime next week and is expected to be finished in November.

This is the first time since 1981 these roads have been improved.

For the most current information on the status of road construction, Castle encourages people to visit www.coralvillelake.org.

The University of Iowa wants to purchase the site of the Iowa City Community School District administrative offices for $4.5 million dollars. The school district has already approved the deal. Though there’s talk the property has something to do with the university’s plans to build a new school of music in this area to replace the flooded-out old building on the other side of campus and university officials are remaining tight-lipped about their exact plans for school district property.

The limited information we do know comes from documents released by the university saying the property would “facilitate the relocation of business entities currently located within the parameters of the proposed site for the School of Music.”

The University wants to build on another piece of land, currently owned by developers involved in a high-rise project. Across the street sit two banks. While the university says negotiations to acquire those spots are ongoing, there has been no public mentioning of a possible land swap involving the school-district site.

The UI says the business have asked all details about negotiations be kept confidential. So just how important is Wednesday’s Regents vote to allow the University to purchase this school district site? ”We need to see if we can move forward with this plan and see if it can work. What if the Regents rejects the Regents request? Then, we’ll have to go back to the drawing board and figure out something different,” said Tom Moore of the University of Iowa.

Board of Regents will meet Thursday in Ames to vote on the proposed land purchase. The Regents told KCRG-TV9 News they have no comment on this issue before Thursday’s vote.

(Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

The Iowa City Police Department is asking residents to lock their doors and turn on outside lights Tuesday night. This is all part of the city’s 27th annual National Night Out.

More than 36 million people are expected to participate in America’s National Night Out Against Crime as local events will be held in 14,625 communities from all 50 states.

The National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness as well as strengthen neighborhood and police partnerships.

“It brings the police and community together,” said Sgt. Denise Brotherton, public information officer for the Iowa City Police Department. “It gives us a chance to interact positively you know just not showing up for that call, showing up for that arrest. But we’re there to have fun with the neighborhoods.”

Block parties, cookouts, flashlight walks and other activities are all part of Iowa City’s Night Out which is sponsored by Target and Iowa City Area Crimestoppers. Most events run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. though a party commences at the Broadway Center at 5 p.m.

Iowa City Police Officers will be attending all registered parties to meet neighbors and handout safety information.

Cedar Rapids locations are listed below:

Iowa National Guardsmen unload sandbags to reinforce a levee at Baculis Mobile Home Park in Iowa City on Monday, June 16, 2008. The crew worked for hours to boost the integrity of the levee keeping the park from flooding out. (Jonathan D. Woods/The Gazette)

Iowa City is applying for funding to build a nearly $4 million flood levee to protect what it considers the most vulnerable part of the city, but some residents living in that area think the levee is unnecessary.

“We don’t want anything,” said Jill Butler, a resident of the Baculis Mobile Home Park.  “We haven’t asked for anything.”

Butler says the government’s efforts to protect her community when the Iowa River rose in 2008 went “ridiculously overboard.”

“We’re covered in Baculis,” she said.  “We didn’t flood.  We won’t flood.”

Butler says the sandbagging efforts of her neighborhood combined with a temporary berm built by Baculis Mobile Home Park owners in 1993 were sufficient to withstand the severe flooding two years ago.

“If [the water] gets higher than that we can sandbag on top of [the berm],” Butler said.  “We’re fine.”

City officials and nearby landowners disagree.

“I guess I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want the help to save your park,” said Jim Hammes, owner of neighboring Thatcher Mobile Home Park.

Thatcher supports the city’s desire to build the levee and said Friday he “can’t wait until it’s done.”

“We’ve gone through two pretty major floods in the area and [residents] were evacuated both times,” said Steve Long, community development coordinator for Iowa City.

Long said the city feels like building the proposed $3.8 million levee is the “best, most viable option” the city has to protect the 160 mobile homes and 400 residents combined along with the 20 businesses in the area.

The majority of the two mobile home parks and businesses sit in the flood plain, a few of them actually sit in the flood way.

Iowa City’s proposed 2,700-foot-long levee would require three mobile homes in the Baculis community be removed.

“A lot of the people who live there live there because they want to be by a river,” Butler said.  “Yes, it has risks, but to me it’s worth the risk.”

While the city owns the majority of the land where the proposed levee would be built, Long said the city can’t build without owning all of the property.

The city would need consent from the owner of Baculis Mobile Home Park to build the middle section of levee.  Butler said Friday that the owner’s wife told her she doesn’t think the levee is necessary.

If the city receives the I-JOBS funding it has applied for, construction could start late this year and finish in late fall of 2011.

City High football player Bobby Millard of Iowa City paints the walls of the school's weight room Thursday, July 22, 2010 at the school in Iowa City. Members of the football team were working with the school's custodial staff to help prepare the building for the upcoming school year. The team started the school clean up day last year as a way to give back and take pride in their school. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)

Defending state high school football champions spent Thursday morning sprucing up their school by moving desks, dusting off old trophies, painting hallway walls, and denailing boards that used to comprise the center circle of the old gymnasium floor.

“Better than football practice” said a few of the players while working.

This project is becoming somewhat of an annual tradition for the football team.

“We’re just giving back to the school,” said Dan Sabers, head football coach for City High.  “It’s a budget-crunching time and stuff so last year we started to realize that I have a lot of man power so we’re just trying to use it.”

Most of the t-shirts worn by the dozens of Iowa City City High football team members helping school custodians were soaked through with perspiration as they labored to complete their assigned tasks.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” said Jake Calcotte, senior offensive lineman for the Little Hawks.

George Volk, head custodian for City High, said that the football team’s efforts help his ten-person staff tremendously, especially when it comes to painting walls.

“We don’t have time to do them with budget cuts,” he said.  “One of the things they’ve cut back on in the district is painting.  So, all of this helps out a lot.”

City High football coach Dan Sabers (center) works with Mason Greer of Iowa City (left) and Mohamed Traore also of Iowa City (right) as they paint a hallway Thursday, July 22, 2010 at the school in Iowa City. Members of the football team were working with the school's custodial staff to help prepare the building for the upcoming school year. The team started the school clean up day last year as a way to give back and take pride in their school. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)

Volk estimates the football team’s few hours of labor saves the school a couple thousand dollars.

The service project also cultivates a new-found respect between football players and custodians.

“I work all of the football games, home games,” Volk said.  “So, I know what they do up to the season…and [this] is probably the first chance for a lot of them to see what we do.”

Several football players said they now appreciate the hard work of the custodial staff to make their school something the students can be proud of.

“You see a lot of work that goes in every day that we just kind of take for granted and now we’re finally going to do it,” said Steve Ferentz, a junior tight end for the Little Hawks.

While the players enjoyed taking a break from football practice, Coach Sabers said his team is ready to defend their state champion title during the upcoming football season.

According to police complaints, Wilson, 34, sexually abused a male relative “on a weekly basis since the age of 12.”

The victim reported the alleged abuse to Iowa City Police on May 25, providing investigators with details about the multiple incidents of abuse.

Sergeant Denise Brotherton said during that investigation, police became aware that Wilson allegedly sexually abused another relative during 1996-1997.  At the time, that male victim was between the ages of 13 and 14 years old.

Police records indicate that second male victim and Wilson “were caught by a witness during a sex act that was unreported at the time to police.”  That witness has since provided information about observing that encounter to police.

Police records also indicate that “multiple victims have reported similar acts” that Wilson performed on them.

Wilson is being held at the Johnson County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond.  He is expected to make his initial appearance in court Friday morning.

Interim city manager Dale Helling said the city has collected about 375 dollars since it installed the meters in June.

Iowa City has severely restricted panhandling in the pedestrian mall area.

The tougher panhandling restrictions were a city council action based on reports to it that businesses worried that a growing number of panhandlers would keep people from going downtown.

The city encourages people to drop spare change into the meters instead, and that money will go to local shelters.

Water floods the beach and park area at the Coralville Reservoir in Johnson County on Friday, March 26, 2010. (Julie Koehn/The Gazette)

Gov. Chet Culver has written letters to President Obama and the head of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asking the corps to work with various stakeholders and partners to conduct an immediate review of current policies and procedures to determine what shorter-term deviations may be appropriate under current regulations to help avert future flooding in Iowa.

“We’re looking forward to getting some better information so that we can take care of any an all kinds of prevention and mitigation efforts,” Governor Culver said. “That should be the number one priority in terms of those reservoirs.

Culver sent letters Tuesday to Obama and to Lt. General Robert Van Antwerp, commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Also attached were letters of support from the mayors of Coralville and Ottumwa.

“It has been since the 1960s since the plan of operation for the Coralville Reservoir was looked at,” said Kelly Hayworth, city administrator for Coralville.  “We really think it’s time to look at that operation.”

The city of Iowa City and some Johnson County officials are also supporting the request, saying it is time to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to be more proactive, than reactive to adjusting water levels at the Corlaville Lake.

“We have been getting a lot more precipitation now than when the policies were made,” Sullivan said.  “There have also been] a lot of development which has changed the amount of flow rates both above and blow the Reservoir.”

John Castle, operations manager at Coralville Lake, agrees that a review of existing policies and procedures could be beneficial.  He said he has been pushing for a study since 1993.

“The operating plan we have right now is pretty old,” Castle said.

Castle said if the federal government signs off on the proposed policy review, there are several details that should be examined: flow rates, frequency of flooding at different levels, and an inventory of all of the different things in the flood plain along the river, among others.

“A perfect plan isn’t going to ever come along just because weather is such a variable,” Castle said.

However, Castle said statistical models and historical data could help identify a “little better way we can do things.”

Hayworth said an up-to-date reservoir policy and procedures guide could hopefully decrease the annual threat of flooding.

Castle said that a study like this could cost upwards of $1 million and take two years to complete.

The beer band plays to a raucous crowd at the Fieldhouse, Sept. 4, 2009. (Adam Belz/The Gazette)

Iowa’s Alcoholic Beverages Division today reversed Iowa City’s denial of a downtown bar’s liquor license claiming that the city failed to provide sufficient evidence that demonstated the Fieldhouse does not possess “good moral character.”

“Obviously, we’re pleased,” said Matthew Adam, attorney representing Fieldhouse owner Dave Carey.

Adam is calling the ABD’s decision a “win” for all bar owners downtown who believe the city’s new policy ”went a little too far.”

In February 2009, Iowa City adopted the city resolution that allows Iowa City Police Chief Sam Hargadine to recommend the city council refuse a liquor license renewal to any establishment with underage patrons ticketed for possessing alcohol at a rate of greater than 1.0 per visit. These citations are commonly referred to as PAULAs – or possession of alcohol under the legal age.

“The city’s intention is to reduce underage drinking in bars,” said Mayor Matt Hayek. “That was our attempt. It’s been struck down.”

According to Iowa City Police Department records, 143 PAULA citations had been issued to patrons on Fieldhouse premises during 92 bar checks. This gave the Fieldhouse a PAULA citation rate of roughly 1.55.

“It doesn’t matter if they have a wrist band on,” said Sergeant Denise Brotherton of the Iowa City Police Department. “It doesn’t matter if they consumed it. The only issue that comes into play is ‘Was it in their position?’ So that’s what the officers are working on.”

Iowa City council voted about a year ago to deny the renewal application filed by Fieldhouse owner David Carey of Marion because their PAULA rate exceeded the new policy’s limits.

ABD Administrator Stephen Larson, who issued the state agency’s opinion Tuesday morning, said the City’s reliance on a local resolution that allows the denial of a bar’s renewal application “based solely on the PAULA citation statistics…is inconsistent” with Iowa Code and ABD’s rules defining “good moral character.”

“It wasn’t so much proving those PAULAs didn’t take place” said Eric Goers, assistant city attorney for Iowa City. “We didn’t prove that the bar was aware in each individual case that someone was underage and drinking. Again, that was neever our intent.”

Larson also wrote that the City failed to provide evidence to demonstrate that the Fieldhouse employees knew underage possession and consumption of alcohol were occuring at the field house and that the employees failed to exercise reasonable care to ascertain a patron consuming alcoholic beverages was of legal age.

The ABD’s decision is final unless Iowa City files a petition for judicial review with the Iowa District Court within 30 days.

“I think we’re going to talk about what to do with it,” said Mayor Matt Hayek. “Whether to change it, whether to dump it, whether to do something else. I think everything is on the table.”

Everything including getting rid of the policy all together. Mayor Hayek believes this ruling underscores the need for a 21-only after 10 pm ordinance, which may eliminate the need for the policy ABD questioned today.

“If 21 sticks in November, the need for this policy could be called into question.”

Iowa City Police Department reports PAULA citations issued in June after the minimum bar entry age went into effect are down 90 percent compared to those issued June 2009.

Of the 115,400 Iowans that are currently unemployed, about 15,000 of them would benefit from Congress passing the unemployment benefits extension bill, according to Kerry Koonce, spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Workforce Development.

Koonce said while the IDWD notified many Iowans that their benefits would be cut off on June 2 due to a lack of federal funding, several of those affected persons have been frustrated with the system.

Kimberly, who asked her last name be kept anonymous, receives about $1400 in unemployment benefits each month.

“Covers my rent, lights and half of my water bill,” Kimberly said.

Since moving to Iowa City four years ago from Texas, Kimberly said she has aggressively looked to find a job.

“I go out at least two to three times a week, put in two to three applications in, [during] a week,” Kimberly said.

So far, Kimberly has not had any luck and wants to know why it is taking her so long to find a job.

Koonce said that the Midwest is generally slower to succomb to an economic recession but this region also takes longer to recover from one.

Kimberly said while the unemployment benefits do not even cover the cost of food or clothing for her children and one grandchild, losing this financial assistance would be devastating.

“We’d be out the doors on the street,” she said.

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley responded to the President’s attack today, issuing a statement.

“Republican senators want the extension paid for, but the Democratic leadership wants to add the $34 billion cost to the deficit,” Senator Grassley said.  “Senate Republicans have asked four times – June 14, 17, 24 and 30 — to bring up a bill that pays for and extends benefits, but each time the Democratic leadership of the Senate has objected.”

The senior-ranking Senator said he believes there is a way to extend unemployment benefits without increasing the deficit.

Congress is expected to debate the bill sometime Tuesday.

The swimming pool in the backyard of the residence at 1730 Lakeside Drive in Iowa City is full of water and upsetting neighbors. The property is in foreclosure and neighbors say water in the pool is attracting bugs and causing a smell in the area. Friday, July 16, 2010. (Matt Nelson/The Gazette)

A foreclosed home on Lakeside Drive in Iowa City that has an above ground pool is causing a big headache for city housing and inspection service employees and neighbors alike.

Since the home at 1730 Lakeside Dr. was vacated by former owners a few months ago, the pool has collected a lot of water, which is now stagnant.

“The stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, specifically,” said Jann Ream, code enforcement assistant within Iowa City’s housing and inspection services. “Everyone’s concerned about West Nile and I think that’s a very legitimate concern and of course, it’s just gotten very slimy, dead leaves, bacteria in there. It’s not a good situation.”

Ream has been on the receiving end of multiple emails and calls from neighbors complaining about the condition of the pool and asking the city to fix it.

Mark Edwardssent an email to Ream on July 11 detailing the issues associated with that pool.

He wrote, “I see this as a public health danger, as a bacteria breeding ground…”

“It is a nuisance right now,” said Linda Fisher who lives next door.

Fisher said since MidAmerican came to shut off the electricity several weeks ago, the water has become stagnant.

When heavy rains inundate the area, water from the pool and her former neighbor’s backyard leak into her yard and even into her basement.

“Once in a while right after a rain or if it is really muggy you can smell a stale smell,” Fisher said.

Fisher said at night she also hears bullfrogs coming from the pool.

“A lot of croaking,” she said.

Despite these annoyances, Fisher is most concerned about the potential safety risk to children or teenagers who may hear the toads ribbiting and get curious about the pool.

Fisher and Edwards want the city to get rid of the water. While Ream said the city would like to do just that, it doesn’t have the authority to do anything on privately owned property.

“It leaves the city in a difficult situation,” Ream said.

Ream said Thursday a city investigator tried reaching the Delaware-based bank who owns the home to resolve the issue. Six phone calls were not returned.

“Emails, telephone calls, three to four different people, so we are simply not getting a response,” Ream said. “So, I think probably at this point we are going to have to go to court.

Ream said the city will likely issue a municipal infraction citation to the bank. A court date will then be set. If the bank, or its representative, does not appear in court, the city will get a court order to drain the pool water, which will likely cost taxpayers a few hundred dollars.

“There’s a storm sewer inlet fairly close,” Ream said. “Especially this year with the ground so saturated, there’s no way that we would drain it right onto the ground because it would become an issue on neighbor’s properties.”

However, if the bank does show, it could force the issue to trial which would leave the pool as is until the issue could be resolved.

Either way, Ream said it is likely going to be four to six more weeks before any action can be done to remedy the pool problem.

Part of First Avenue in Coralville remains under water Monday, June 16, 2008, in this photo looking to the north along First Avenue. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)

The 100 and 500 year flood maps currently used by FEMA, state agencies, and local governments are going to change.

Soon, there will be maps forecasting flood projections in 50, 10, even 2 year increments.

The Iowa Flood Center at the University of Iowa has just started a $10 million dollar project to develop
floodplain maps for the 85 counties declared federal disaster areas following the 2008 floods.

FEMA will use the new maps to generate flood insurance rate maps; the state will use them to regulate flood plains; and, homeowners and business owners will have greater access to the new maps, too.

“People who formerly were unaware of their status whether they were located in a flood plain or at risk of flooding will have that information available to them,” said Nathan Young, manager of the Iowa Floodplain Mapping Project. “We’ll be developing tools to distribute this information to them more effectively via the web and other avenues.”

Young said they will not only be mapping the flood plains, but analyzing flood risk well beyond those so that Iowans can be greater access their risk of being flooded over a period of ten years.

This project will take four years to complete.