Jim Field speaks with Lisa Steen Riggs with the Danish Windmill in Elk Horn about Tivolifest this weekend.
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Jim Field speaks with Lisa Steen Riggs with the Danish Windmill in Elk Horn about Tivolifest this weekend.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.3MB)
Subscribe: RSS
A Council Bluffs civic group has apologized to Vietnam Veterans over controversy involving a parade float. The Vietnam War veterans group pulled out of last weekend’s “Celebrate Council Bluffs” parade, after event organizers told the vets they couldn’t display a replica bamboo “Tiger Cage” on their float, which symbolized the plight of American POW’s in the Vietnam War. The Council Bluffs Daily NonPareil reports The Celebrate CB board issued a written apology, Wednesday.
Carol Horner, chairwoman of the Celebrate CB board, said the move to deny the group’s float application was made after complaints were received last year from parents and veterans alike, who expressed concern regarding the veterans group’s depiction of a soldier in a “tiger cage” cell. Horner, who is the daughter of a Vietnam veterans, said organizers erred by not realizing the importance of the imagery behind the float.
Ben Wiese of Glenwood, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 798, said he was sincerely pleased with the board’s apology, which he graciously accepted. The board’s decision to deny the Vietnam veterans’ float sparked a protest, as several groups pulled out of the parade to stage a small demonstration Saturday afternoon in Bayliss Park.
Outrage against the board’s decision also spurred citizens to make angry emails, phone calls and voicemails to members of the Celebrate CB board and subcommittees. One board member was also allegedly threatened. Wiese says those types of actions are not acceptable, and they in no way meant for their protest over being excluded from the parade to present a danger to anyone.
Carol Horner said she would like to see the debate become a teaching moment, working with veterans to help educate students about the true nature of the Vietnam War and the hardships endured by soldiers returning home.
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The text of the letter is as follows: “It is with great humility that the Celebrate CB Board offers an earnest apology to the veterans, members of the armed forces, police and fire departments and residents of Council Bluffs. Our board never meant to exclude, harm or separate our war heroes. The mission of Celebrate CB is to celebrate our city and take pride in our community.
We recognize the importance and sacrifices our veterans made for our freedom. We obviously failed in our recognition of those who served our great nation, and we ask for compassion regarding our actions. Veterans all over the country make up the fabric of being America strong. Please accept our deepest apology. It would be our honor to work and learn from our veterans, members of the armed forces, police and fire departments and those citizens who have a genuine interest in making our great city of Council Bluffs even greater.
Sincerely, The Celebrate CB board”
FOR SALE: 9 pair of “mom” capris size 10, 4 pair of size 8 , 3 pair size 12 jeans $5.00 each Will make a deal if you buy multiple pairs. In Griswold 712-789-0286.
FOR SALE: Kerosene heater. 27” by 18”, 12 hour heating with 2 gal tank. Rated for 1000 sq feet heating area. Auto Ignition. Used once. always been stored inside. White in color. 145.00 new. $50.00 firm. GARY JACKSON, MASSENA, IOWA, 712-254-6936.
FOR SALE: kids toys, plastic car $20, plastic tricycle. $20. 249-4005.
(re-posted with proper formatting)
The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, set July 2nd as the date for a public hearing on the implementation of a City-wide Tax Abatement program. City Administrator Doug Harris said Mayor Dave Jones and the Community Development Committee recommended the council approve the program as described in the city’s Urban Revitalization Plan.
The plan includes a five year sliding scale tax exemption for residential and commercial new construction starting at 80-percent, 70-percent, 60-percent, 50-percent and 40-percent. Harris said residential rehabilitation would include a 100-percent tax exemption on the actual value added by the improvements. The improvements however, must increase the actual value of the property by a minimum of 10-percent. That also applies to all qualified real estate assessed as commercial property.
Eligible property improvements would include rehabilitation and additions to existing residential and commercial structures located within the Urban Renewal Area, new construction on vacant land, or on land with existing structures. Properties classified as “Commercial” effective January 1st, 2014, would not be included, but would instead be re-classified multi-residential, effective January 1st, 2015.
Individuals and business owners interested in participating in the program, if approved by the Council after the public hearing, will be required to file an application at City Hall. If the application for tax abatement is approved, it will be forwarded to the County Assessor’s Office for inspection once the project is complete, and subsequent assessment for valuation.
In other business, the Council approved: the sale of property at 405 W. 4th Street to Todd Knudsen, for $400; a request from the 1st United Methodist Church to close Cedar Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets, on August 10th from 3-to 7-pm (for the purpose of a community block party); and, they unanimously passed a Resolution approving a policy for the use of Public Funds for Observances. Seven years ago, the City established a policy setting the maximum amount to be paid for flowers, gifts, cards and plaques given in observance of City employees’ major events such as retirements, hospitalization and death.
City Administrator Doug Harris said he and Mayor Jones drafted an addition to the policy that would include recognition of citizens who regularly dedicate countless hours helping the community with events and perform other services for the City.
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A Nebraska man was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, following an accident Wednesday evening in Council Bluffs. According to Bluffs Police, 54-year old Brian P. Loye, of Omaha, was driving his 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle westbound on Interstate 80 at around 8:20-p.m., when he lost control as he was about to cross the state line into Nebraska. The cycle crashed into the southbound median. Loye, who was wearing a helmet, suffered incapacitating injuries during the crash and was last reported to be in critical condition at the hospital.
Witnesses told accident investigators Loye was traveling at a high rate of speed when something fell off his cycle. They said when he turned his head to look back, he lost control of the motorcycle.
(Updated 5-a.m.)
Today: Mo. Cldy w/scattered showers & thunderstorms, mainly this morning. High 72. E/NE @ 5-10. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. E @ 5-10.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. E/SE @ 5-10.
Fri. Night: Mo. Cldy w/a 20% chance of showers & thunderstorms after midnight. Low around 55. E/SE @ 5-10.
Saturday: Mo. Cldy w/a 50% chance of showers & thunderstorms. High near 78. SE @ 10-20. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sat. Night: Cldy w/a 60% chance of showers & thunderstorms. Low around 62.
Sunday: Mo. Cldy w/a 40% chance of showers & thunderstorms. High near 82.
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Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 85. Our 24-hour Low (ending today at 7-a.m.) was 55. Rainfall in Atlantic this morning (thru 7-a.m.) was .03″.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — County auditors are opening their offices Saturday May 31 for voters who want to cast ballots early for the June 3 primary. Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz says voters not yet registered may register at their county auditor’s office using election day registration procedures and cast their ballot. The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is 5 p.m. Friday, May 30. Absentee ballots received in the county auditor’s office by 9 p.m. on June 3, are eligible for counting.
Schultz says his office also has developed a smart phone app that allows voters to check voter registration information, fill out the Iowa voter registration form, find the correct polling place, and request and track an absentee ballot.