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Brokaw tells UI grads to learn from mistakes this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Sunday, May 16, 2010
Author/Byline: Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 4A Print

IOWA CITY -- Former NBC-TV news anchor Tom Brokaw said University of Iowa graduates Bibliography (export)
should strive to learn from their mistakes, and also act to make a difference in the world.

"Failure can be an option if you confront it honestly," Brokaw said. Quick Links
Find articles by Christopher Pratt
, The Gazette
Brokaw, author of "The Greatest Generation," spoke Saturday morning at Carver-Hawkeye
Find more articles from page 4A
Arena to graduates of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He received an Honorary Find all articles from May 16,
Doctor of Humane Letters degree, 2010

Brokaw said his brief time as a student at the UI during the late 1950s was a character-
building experience. Wearing a black and gold Hawkeyes cap, Brokaw joked about his
scholastic prowess at Iowa.

He quoted Woody Allen's famous line saying that 90 percent of life was showing up. "I was
the other 10 percent," he said.

Brokaw said he consumed plenty of beer, wasted opportunities and let his family down.

"That time to me has been an enduring reminder of the lessons of failure," he said.

He told the crowd at the basketball arena about how he traveled across the country and
developed a love of the land, including Iowa. The South Dakota native traveled the state
before his speech Saturday morning.

He also discussed serious issues. Most of the men and women who fight the United States'
wars belong to the working class and are unlikely to have obtained a college degree, he
said.

The Internet, said Brokaw, is only a tool, and should not substitute for human joy, like that of
a first kiss.

Brokaw spoke for 15 minutes, closing with two simple and familiar words: "Go Hawks."

Rachel Konne, 21, of Des Moines, who studied pre-law, said she found inspiration for her
own career during Brokaw's address.

Konne said she planned to take a year off, gain some experience and then go to law school.

An estimated 4,757 UI graduates received diplomas during the spring commencement


ceremonies.
Comments: (319) 398-8431; chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Caption: Rachel Konne UI graduate Tom Brokaw Former anchor

Index Terms: EDUCATION


Record Number: 5512745
Copyright (c) 2010, Gazette Communications, Inc.

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Dog day of spring - Annual event raises money for K9 units this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Sunday, May 23, 2010
Author/Byline: Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 3A Print

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Law enforcement officials used fun and games to get out a serious Bibliography (export)
message on Saturday: Dogs make their work easier.

A band, dunk tank and McGruff the Crime Dog were on hand at the parking lot of Pet's Quick Links
Playhouse at 151 Jacolyn Dr. NW during the third annual fundraiser for the Cedar Rapids Find articles by Christopher Pratt
, The Gazette
police and Linn County Sheriff's K9 units.
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Mike Hunt, the owner of the store, said the event raised $10,000 in 2008 and $12,000 last 2010
year.

"The more dogs we have the safer I think everybody will be in town, the safer the officers
will be," Hunt said.

The Cedar Rapids Police Department currently has seven dogs, which are used to combat
drug traffic and scope out problem areas. The department added a 2-year-old Dutch
Shepherd named Jenks to the force in January. The Linn County Sheriff's Office has two
dogs on its force.

"The city doesn't have a budget for the canines. All of our money comes from community
support and things like this today," said Al Fear, 38, an officer with the Cedar Rapids canine
unit.

Many children approached Fear and his K9 partner, Marco.

"They're all very friendly, just make sure you have eye contact before you reach down and
pet the dogs," Fear told the children. "Not that the dogs will attack you but we just want to
make sure we are all safe."

Fear said Marco helped seize hundreds of pounds of marijuana a few weeks back.

One child caressed Marco as he panted patiently. "What happens if the bad guy starts
shooting at the dog?"

All of the dogs have bulletproof vests, Fear said.

"That's cool," the child said.

Comments: (319) 398-8393; chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Caption: PHOTO
Record Number: 5530777
Copyright (c) 2010, Gazette Communications, Inc.

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Pools and water parks welcome eager patrons this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Sunday, May 30, 2010
Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 5A Print

Swimming pools and aquatic centers across Eastern Iowa opened Saturday, just in time for Bibliography (export)
summer's steamy days.

"The pool's just a good place to cool off and chill out in the summer," said Julian Quick Links
Good-Jones, 13, as he uncrumpled a $20 bill to pay his way into Bever Pool in Cedar Find articles by By Christopher
Pratt , The Gazette
Rapids.
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The temperature bubbled up near 80 degrees Saturday as a crowd lined up outside the 2010
pool, waiting for it to open at 1 p.m.

"It's taking forever," Jones said as he snaked forward to the cool waters of the eight-year-old
facility.

"We're ready to rock and roll and have a good time," said Carolyn Hamilton, Aquatics
Program Supervisor for the city of Cedar Rapids.

Last year, only 342 people came on opening day, Hamilton said. But on Saturday, Hamilton
said 396 people had already come in by 2 p.m.

For the Clark family, sliding down waterslides, cannonballing off the diving board and
plain-old sunbathing is part of a complete aquatic experience.

Deb Clark said she brought her twin boys, Darren and Caleb, all the way across town to
enjoy the nice day. She caught rays while the twins splashed around and dove into the pool.

Darren said his favorite thing at the pool is the diving board. He buckled his knees for a
quick instant just before smacking the water. Then, he swam to the side of the pool so the
next in line could follow.

The brothers said they can't wait for school to end because their swim routines are like a
religion.

"We come three times a week," a dripping Caleb said.

Bever Pool, 2700 Bever Ave. SE is open until August 22. Most other outdoor public pools in
Cedar Rapids open June 5. Admission to Bever Pool is $3.75 per day and season passes
are available.

Comments: (319) 398-8393; chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Caption: PHOTO Tom Lundvall/Correspondent Andrew Hudson, 6, was selected from a


drawing to be the first person down the new slide Saturday at the grand opening of the Belle
Plaine Aquatic Center. The $2.5 million facility replaces the original pool built in the late
1950s.

Record Number: 5549035


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Seniors aim for strikes on Wii this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Friday, June 4, 2010
Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 6A Print

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Once a week, the Evergreen Estates I assisted living center transforms Bibliography (export)
a quiet living room into a virtual bowling alley as 110 residents get a chance to play video
games on a Nintendo Wii.
Quick Links
"This is the best thing to come around in a long time," said Mary Ketchum of Cedar Rapids, Find articles by By Christopher
Pratt , The Gazette
an 81-year-old mother of three and grandmother of six. She's also the all-time high scorer at
Find more articles from page 6A
Evergreen Estates, with a 232. Find all articles from June 4,
2010
Activity coordinators and volunteers assist residents as they strive to roll strikes. The
seniors have a definite passion for the game, which also provides exercise and socializing.

"If you get them to play it once, then they like it, but you get a lot of them that are
old-fashioned. Play their bingo, do their trivia, stuff like that," said Marian Franke, an activity
coordinator at the center, 3410 12th Ave. SW. Franke works with residents to develop their
own throwing styles.

The game system is plugged into a television set and projects a simulated bowling alley
onto the screen. Players can then pick figures to carry out their rolling motion. The players
wind their arms and scoot their hips while they strategize.

On a recent Tuesday, about 20 residents gathered for two hours to create a stadium-like
atmosphere.

"What it does is fill the time for us," said Ketchum, who said she used to bowl at Tropics in
downtown Cedar Rapids. "It's something to look forward to that you can do. And I think it's
exercise, too, because you get up and you move. You know, a lot of people just sit around,"

One of the virtual bowlers, Judy Barvinek, 70, has developed a throwing strategy from her
wheelchair.

"I'm a left-hander, so I try to get the headpin and the pin next to it. That usually gets me a
strike," she said.

After Barvinek rolled a 145, she was distraught by her performance in front of the crowd.
But despite her disappointment, she was cheered on by the group.

Splitting pins has been the most challenging part of the game for residents.

"You'd rather have a strike than a split," said Ketchum.


As the session wore on and another meal drew closer, Franke continued to help her
residents roll, even if they struggled to grasp their controllers.

"Like I said, even the pros have their off days," she said.

Jill Gleason, an activities coordinator with Heritage Area on Aging, one of the state's 13
agencies designed to meet seniors' needs, said the gaming system allows for
multigenerational activities.

"Especially with the Wii, fitness allows for increased socialization," Gleason said. Linn
County has more than 30,000 people over the age of 60, and improving balance and overall
physical health is important for their healthy aging, she said.

Evergreen Estates II, 307 Edgewood Rd. SW, bought a Wii system in March 2009. The
service organization Quota International spent about $700 on two more of the systems and
games, ensuring that all of the residences, including Evergreen Estates III at 2204 Johnson
Ave. NW, have access to the bowling game.

Comments: (319) 398-8393; chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Caption: Cliff Jette photos/The Gazette Cliff Jette photos/The Gazette Mary Ketchum
celebrates a strike as she competes with a teammate from Evergreen II against two
residents from Evergreen I as the two buildings face off in a Nintendo Wii bowling
competition at Evergreen Estates in Cedar Rapids. The event late last month was the first
time residents from two different buildings at Evergreen Estates have competed against
each other playing video games. Judy Barvinek competes in a Nintendo Wii bowling
competition at Evergreen Estates in Cedar Rapids last month.

Record Number: 5561829


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West Branch winery dealt setback this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Sunday, June 13, 2010
Author/Byline: Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 5A Print

CEDAR RAPIDS - The day after a historic downtown West Branch building collapsed, its Bibliography (export)
coowner is sorting through the mess and trying to figure out what will become of the winery
he and his wife were building.
Quick Links
'It's a pile of rubble. Find articles by Christopher Pratt
, The Gazette
Find more articles from page 5A
There's nothing left,' said John McNutt, who was hoping to renovate the former turn-of- Find all articles from June 13,
the-century post office and, most recently, the site of Virgil's Sinclair at 116 Main St. 2010

McNutt said he had been in contact with his insurance adjuster and his banker, and that he
and his wife intended to keep building a tasting room on the property.

Their plan was to renovate the old building and have it complement a new structure to form
the 1907 Winery.

McNutt said construction had begun earlier this month on the old building, one of several
structures in town on the National Register of Historic Places.

'This is really kind of a blow to our business plan, and the bigger blow is the loss to this
historic facility that's been here (more than 100) years.' West Branch Mayor Don Kessler
said orange fencing and barricades now surround the property. He said he was hopeful
building could resume soon.

The impact of the collapse was literally felt at City Hall by the mayor and the new city
administrator, Matt Muckler.

They had just had a meeting.

'As we walked out of the city offices we heard the crackling of wood and we saw the
structure go down,' Kessler said.

Comments: (319) 398-8393; chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Record Number: 5587871


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Northeast Iowa soldier dies in Iraq this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Thursday, June 17, 2010
Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt and Associated Press , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 5A Print

Les Opat, 58, of Lime Springs, said he knew something was wrong when the two uniformed Bibliography (export)
officials came to his door Tuesday morning.

"That was the type of thing I never wanted to see," Opat said from his northeast Iowa home. Quick Links
Find articles by By Christopher
Pratt and Associated Press , The
The officials were there to tell Opat that his son, Spc. Christopher Opat, 29, had died in
Gazette
Baquah, Iraq, from injuries suffered in a non-combat incident. Military officials are Find more articles from page 5A
investigating and released no further details. Find all articles from June 17,
2010
Opat said his son graduated from high school in the Howard-Winneshiek district in 1999. He
said his son wanted to make a career in the Army, and after attending Northwest Iowa
Community College, that's what he did.

"He liked the Army and he was dedicated to the Army," his father said.

Christopher Opat served more than three years in Germany and was deployed twice to Iraq.
Federal officials said he received several awards, including two for good conduct, a National
Defense Service Medal and an overseas service ribbon.

Les Opat said his son's body was being flown to Dover Air Force Base last night before
being brought to Cresco. Funeral arrangements are pending with Conway Funeral Home.

Les Opat said his family was doing all right because "we know that's what Chris wanted."

As of Tuesday, at least 4,406 members of the U.S. military had died in the Iraq war since it
began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. At least 60 of them had
Iowa ties, according to the Defense Department, the Iowa National Guard and family
members.

Record Number: 5599215


Copyright (c) 2010, Gazette Communications, Inc.

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Strong storms fell trees, cause power outages this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Saturday, June 19, 2010
Author/Byline: Jeff Raasch and Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 3A Print

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Storms hit hard in the early morning hours Friday, and persisted with Bibliography (export)
intense batches of lightning and rain throughout the day.

In Cedar Rapids, many streets were impassible during the evening barrage. Over the Quick Links
course of about 90 minutes, starting at 7 p.m., an inch and a half of rain fell near the city Find articles by Jeff Raasch and
Christopher Pratt , The Gazette
center.
Find more articles from page 3A
Find all articles from June 19,
The late spring storm hit Anamosa particularly hard. Public Works Director Larry Driscoll 2010
said that the department and Anamosa firefighters removed 10 trees from the city's streets
before sunset.

Driscoll said that on a typical day, only five people work for the streets department, but last
night they had about 15 people pitching in to help clean up.

Four trees fell on North Williams Street. Last night, the street was busy with people trying to
help those who were affected.

A blue spruce crashed on Jennifer Barnes' house and a Chinese elm was uprooted in her
yard. Her father-in-law, brother-in-law and nephews helped chop up the trees and repair
other damage.

Barnes kept her humor through the storm. "Nothing you can do about it. Just made plans for
my weekend here," she said.

As the thunder crashed, a trained storm spotter said something caught his attention. "It had
a really good shelf cloud," said Travis Clark-Smith, 30, of Cedar Rapids.

Clark-Smith said some Cedar Rapids streets were hit hard by rushing water, particularly at
Wenig Road and 42nd Street NE. "It just looked like a lake in that intersection," he said.

Earlier Friday, wind gusts near 65 mph uprooted trees in southeast Cedar Rapids, tearing
down power lines and destroying a garage. No injuries were reported from that line of
thunderstorms, which moved through about 12:15 p.m.

At least three large trees or large branches fell in the 500 block of Knollwood Drive SE,
including one elm tree at the Tom and Linda Bergerson residence. The tree crashed onto
the Bergerson's garage, causing the other end to rip up off the foundation.

"It sounded like a rumble, like a freight train," Linda Bergerson said.
Bergerson said she was standing at her kitchen sink and saw a maple tree sway. She said
she didn't realize the falling elm tree was bringing part of it down.

When Bergerson went out to her backyard, she saw the base of the tree with its roots and
soil -- about 7 feet in diameter -- sticking up in the air. The house wasn't hit, but the garage
will be a total loss.

Another tree crashed down on the other side of Anderson Park, in an alley between Fourth
and Fifth avenues. The tree struck the corner of a house and ripped down power lines.
Asphalt in the alley was cracked near the base of the tree. City crews chopped up another
tree that fell on Fifth Avenue near 19th Street. Over in the 1300 block of 36th Street SE, a
pine tree came down, blocking part of the street and scattering pine cones. It just missed a
parked car.

Comments: (319) 360-7035; jeff.raasch@gazcomm.com

Caption: Jeff Raasch/The Gazette, Brian Ray/The Gazette, Liz Martin/The Gazette

Index Terms: WEATHER


Record Number: 5605818
Copyright (c) 2010, Gazette Communications, Inc.

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West Branch winery dealt setback this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Sunday, June 13, 2010
Author/Byline: Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 5A Print

CEDAR RAPIDS - The day after a historic downtown West Branch building collapsed, its Bibliography (export)
coowner is sorting through the mess and trying to figure out what will become of the winery
he and his wife were building.
Quick Links
'It's a pile of rubble. Find articles by Christopher Pratt
, The Gazette
Find more articles from page 5A
There's nothing left,' said John McNutt, who was hoping to renovate the former turn-of- Find all articles from June 13,
the-century post office and, most recently, the site of Virgil's Sinclair at 116 Main St. 2010

McNutt said he had been in contact with his insurance adjuster and his banker, and that he
and his wife intended to keep building a tasting room on the property.

Their plan was to renovate the old building and have it complement a new structure to form
the 1907 Winery.

McNutt said construction had begun earlier this month on the old building, one of several
structures in town on the National Register of Historic Places.

'This is really kind of a blow to our business plan, and the bigger blow is the loss to this
historic facility that's been here (more than 100) years.' West Branch Mayor Don Kessler
said orange fencing and barricades now surround the property. He said he was hopeful
building could resume soon.

The impact of the collapse was literally felt at City Hall by the mayor and the new city
administrator, Matt Muckler.

They had just had a meeting.

'As we walked out of the city offices we heard the crackling of wood and we saw the
structure go down,' Kessler said.

Comments: (319) 398-8393; chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Record Number: 5587871


Copyright (c) 2010, Gazette Communications, Inc.

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Northeast Iowa soldier dies in Iraq this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Thursday, June 17, 2010
Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt and Associated Press , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 5A Print

Les Opat, 58, of Lime Springs, said he knew something was wrong when the two uniformed Bibliography (export)
officials came to his door Tuesday morning.

"That was the type of thing I never wanted to see," Opat said from his northeast Iowa home. Quick Links
Find articles by By Christopher
Pratt and Associated Press , The
The officials were there to tell Opat that his son, Spc. Christopher Opat, 29, had died in
Gazette
Baquah, Iraq, from injuries suffered in a non-combat incident. Military officials are Find more articles from page 5A
investigating and released no further details. Find all articles from June 17,
2010
Opat said his son graduated from high school in the Howard-Winneshiek district in 1999. He
said his son wanted to make a career in the Army, and after attending Northwest Iowa
Community College, that's what he did.

"He liked the Army and he was dedicated to the Army," his father said.

Christopher Opat served more than three years in Germany and was deployed twice to Iraq.
Federal officials said he received several awards, including two for good conduct, a National
Defense Service Medal and an overseas service ribbon.

Les Opat said his son's body was being flown to Dover Air Force Base last night before
being brought to Cresco. Funeral arrangements are pending with Conway Funeral Home.

Les Opat said his family was doing all right because "we know that's what Chris wanted."

As of Tuesday, at least 4,406 members of the U.S. military had died in the Iraq war since it
began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. At least 60 of them had
Iowa ties, according to the Defense Department, the Iowa National Guard and family
members.

Record Number: 5599215


Copyright (c) 2010, Gazette Communications, Inc.

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Strong storms fell trees, cause power outages this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Saturday, June 19, 2010
Author/Byline: Jeff Raasch and Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 3A Print

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Storms hit hard in the early morning hours Friday, and persisted with Bibliography (export)
intense batches of lightning and rain throughout the day.

In Cedar Rapids, many streets were impassible during the evening barrage. Over the Quick Links
course of about 90 minutes, starting at 7 p.m., an inch and a half of rain fell near the city Find articles by Jeff Raasch and
Christopher Pratt , The Gazette
center.
Find more articles from page 3A
Find all articles from June 19,
The late spring storm hit Anamosa particularly hard. Public Works Director Larry Driscoll 2010
said that the department and Anamosa firefighters removed 10 trees from the city's streets
before sunset.

Driscoll said that on a typical day, only five people work for the streets department, but last
night they had about 15 people pitching in to help clean up.

Four trees fell on North Williams Street. Last night, the street was busy with people trying to
help those who were affected.

A blue spruce crashed on Jennifer Barnes' house and a Chinese elm was uprooted in her
yard. Her father-in-law, brother-in-law and nephews helped chop up the trees and repair
other damage.

Barnes kept her humor through the storm. "Nothing you can do about it. Just made plans for
my weekend here," she said.

As the thunder crashed, a trained storm spotter said something caught his attention. "It had
a really good shelf cloud," said Travis Clark-Smith, 30, of Cedar Rapids.

Clark-Smith said some Cedar Rapids streets were hit hard by rushing water, particularly at
Wenig Road and 42nd Street NE. "It just looked like a lake in that intersection," he said.

Earlier Friday, wind gusts near 65 mph uprooted trees in southeast Cedar Rapids, tearing
down power lines and destroying a garage. No injuries were reported from that line of
thunderstorms, which moved through about 12:15 p.m.

At least three large trees or large branches fell in the 500 block of Knollwood Drive SE,
including one elm tree at the Tom and Linda Bergerson residence. The tree crashed onto
the Bergerson's garage, causing the other end to rip up off the foundation.

"It sounded like a rumble, like a freight train," Linda Bergerson said.
Bergerson said she was standing at her kitchen sink and saw a maple tree sway. She said
she didn't realize the falling elm tree was bringing part of it down.

When Bergerson went out to her backyard, she saw the base of the tree with its roots and
soil -- about 7 feet in diameter -- sticking up in the air. The house wasn't hit, but the garage
will be a total loss.

Another tree crashed down on the other side of Anderson Park, in an alley between Fourth
and Fifth avenues. The tree struck the corner of a house and ripped down power lines.
Asphalt in the alley was cracked near the base of the tree. City crews chopped up another
tree that fell on Fifth Avenue near 19th Street. Over in the 1300 block of 36th Street SE, a
pine tree came down, blocking part of the street and scattering pine cones. It just missed a
parked car.

Comments: (319) 360-7035; jeff.raasch@gazcomm.com

Caption: Jeff Raasch/The Gazette, Brian Ray/The Gazette, Liz Martin/The Gazette

Index Terms: WEATHER


Record Number: 5605818
Copyright (c) 2010, Gazette Communications, Inc.

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Iowa City celebrates gay pride this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Sunday, June 20, 2010
Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 4A Print

IOWA CITY -- Around 1,000 people attended an annual celebration of gay pride Saturday in Bibliography (export)
Iowa City.

"I like a good party. In the long run that has something to do with it," said Iowa City resident Quick Links
Kristen Plowman, 28, of her involvement in the Pride Festival. Plowman, who is the chair of Find articles by By Christopher
Pratt , The Gazette
the Iowa City Pride Committee, helped put on Saturday's event.
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A morning parade with around 20 vehicles, as well as the musical group the Drag Kings and 2010
other troupes, marched down Dubuque Street in Iowa City. Plowman's group invited
vendors to set up along the Ped Mall after the parade. The Lambda Legal Foundation
passed out literature to raise awareness about the beating of a gay man in Atlanta, while
one local business sold rainbow snow cones.

The Pride Festival, which happens on the third Saturday of June each year, has been held
since the 1980s. Plowman said as the culture has changed so has the mood of the pride
event. "It's become less of a protest and more of a celebration," she said.

Sen. Bob Dvorsky, D-Coralville, discussed same-sex marriage during an address to the
crowd, saying Iowans face a simple choice in the upcoming election if they want to preserve
the state Supreme Court's decision that allows same-sex marriage.

"If you want to continue and not have discrimination in the Iowa Constitution, elect
Democrats. If you don't elect someone else," Dvorsky said.

For one same-sex North Liberty couple attending Saturday's event, deciding to get married
in Iowa has not been a simple decision.

Lolita Blaha and Lisa Harbit, both 45, considered marrying last year. But Harbit said
entering into a legal union might compromise employer health benefits. She said the couple
applied for a marriage license in Johnson County last year but backed off after weighing the
decision.

"You have to make sure you explore those things, if those things are important to you," she
said.

Comments: (319) 398-8393; chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Caption: PHOTO Christopher Pratt /The Gazette Mark McCusker holds a flag and chats
with fellow festivalgoers near the music stage Saturday at the Iowa City Pride Festival. The
festival, which has been going on since the 1980s, featured vendors, music and a parade.
Record Number: 5608409
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Cedar Rapids soldier dies at Fort Hood this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Friday, June 25, 2010
Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 11A Print

CEDAR RAPIDS -- The Army is investigating the death of a Cedar Rapids soldier last week Bibliography (export)
at Fort Hood, Texas.

Sgt. Benjamin Daniel Chadwick, 28, died June 17 at the military post located about 160 Quick Links
miles south of Dallas, according to an Army news release. Foul play is not suspected. Find articles by By Christopher
Pratt , The Gazette
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Chadwick was the father of three children, two girls and one boy, his wife, said his wife, Find all articles from June 25,
Kristall, who is expecting their fourth child. 2010

Kristall Chadwick said the couple was married in the summer of 2001. They were about two
months away from their ninth wedding anniversary, Aug. 20.

Chadwick said that her husband graduated Xavier High School in 2000, joined the Army in
2001 and left the service in 2004. Chadwick also said that her husband attended some
classes at Kirkwood Community College.

After re-enlisting he was sent overseas.

"My husband got in, got out, and got back in," Chadwick said.

In October 2007 he was deployed to Korea for a year, his wife said.

A vigil service is set for this coming Sunday at the Teahen Funeral Home, from 3 to 6 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to Carl Darnell Hospital, Attn: The Fisher House, 111
Rockville Pike Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850-5168.

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Caption: PHOTO Sgt. Benjamin Chadwick Died June 17

Record Number: 5625066


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Water main break causes detours, leaves damage this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Sunday, June 27, 2010
Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 4A Print

CEDAR RAPIDS -- At least four lawns were damaged Saturday after a water main burst Bibliography (export)
around 2:30 p.m. near Waveland Drive and Edgewood Road NW.

Dennis Meyers, a water department supervisor, said it didn't look like a typical water main Quick Links
bust. Find articles by By Christopher
Pratt , The Gazette
Find more articles from page 4A
"This has probably got a big split in the main," Meyers said. Find all articles from June 27,
2010
There are around 125 water main breaks each year in Cedar Rapids, Meyers said. He said
the city was still looking into the cause of the break.

Water gushed into lawns along Waveland Drive and Iris Avenue. Police stood along
Edgewood Road and blocked traffic from turning onto a soaked Waveland Drive. A backhoe
operated near the main while a stream of dark brown water oozed down Edgewood Road
and onto at least two lawns on Iris Avenue.

Mark Beason, 3320 Iris Ave. NW, said he had just returned from Ellis Pool to find the water
flowing on his lawn.

He said he recently finished a landscaping project and now had to repair the damage from
the break. He said it might cost about $1,000.

"I don't know if the city pays for damage when water mains break," he said.

"We were flood victims in '08. So this is nice," added Beason. The water that inundated his
lawn was clean, and didn't compare to the flood of 2008, he said.

Comments: (319) 398-8393; chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Record Number: 5631786


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Fans line up early at C.R. movie theater to sink teeth into this article
'Eclipse'
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Friday, July 2, 2010 Email

Author/Byline: Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Print


Edition: F
Page: 13A
Bibliography (export)
CEDAR RAPIDS - Some fans of the teenage vampire series"Twilight" had their thirst for a
new movie installment quenched early Wednesday morning.
Quick Links
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Hundreds of fans flocked to Galaxy 16 Cine, 5340 Council St. NE, for the midnight showing , The Gazette
of "Eclipse." Find more articles from page 13A
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"This is the holiest of all holy days, that's how I feel about it," says Amanda Beguim, 20, of
Cedar Rapids, who waited in the theater's lobby for the midnight premiere. Beguim says the
Twlight series, written by Stephenie Meyer, is a great love story.

The plot revolves around Bella Swan, who has to make decisions about love and friendship,
while mysterious killings plague her small town.

As part of a triple feature promotion by the theater, fans could watch the two previous
"Twilight" films before the midnight showing of the new movie. Many people stood alongside
a velvet rope, waiting to watch "Twilight" and "New Moon."

Chris Weber and Cher Delperdang, both of Manchester, passed the ticket taker around 7
p.m. to see the first film of the series, making the six-hour commitment to the triple feature.

Meanwhile, others counted down to midnight outside of the 16-screen complex.

"It's just fun to camp out," said Taylor Ort, a student at Xavier High School.

Ort and two friends set up at the south entrance, wanting to get the best seats in the house.
Tickets can be purchased in advance, but that doesn't guarantee a great seat.

The girls brought the "Twilight" books to read before the movie.

"This is like my fifth time reading the series," said Ort.

"Eclipse," which is rated PG-13, is showing at Galaxy 16 Cine and Wynnsong 12 in Cedar
Rapids, Sycamore 12 in Iowa City and Coral Ridge 10 in Coralville.

Caption: PHOTO

Record Number: 5646264


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Buchanan County shows off new jail - Facility was financed this article
with $4.5 million bond
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Sunday, July 11, 2010 Email

Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Print


Edition: F
Page: 7A
Bibliography (export)
INDEPENDENCE -- The public was given a peek at the new Buchanan County Jail on
Saturday during an open house.
Quick Links
Find articles by By Christopher
About 300 people toured the structure. Some snacked on peanut butter cookies as Pratt , The Gazette
members of the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office guided them around the building. Find more articles from page 7A
Find all articles from July 11,
The facility, which will house inmates and serve as work space for law enforcement staff, 2010
was financed by a $4.5 million bond passed in 2007. It was built onto the county
courthouse.

Sheriff Bill Wolfgram said the jail was a necessary investment for the county.

"It's a jail ... this is not something that anybody wanted to spend money on," Wolfgram said.

People sometimes want the work of law enforcement to be out of sight and out of mind, he
said. But as the bond debate wore on, people began to realize that a jail had to be built.

The old facility was often in violation of Iowa Department of Corrections standards. Staff and
inmates had been subjected to hot conditions during the summer, for example. If the jail
hadn't been built, the county might have had to pay other facilities for incarceration costs for
years to come.

"We got 70 years out of our facility, which is good," Wolfgram said of the jail built in 1939.
That facility was originally built to house 10 people, but over the years space was added to
accommodate more prisoners.

Last night, the facility was housing about 20 people.

Wolfgram said the new facility, built onto the south side of the courthouse, can house
around 50 inmates and meets state standards.

At the old facility, contraband was sometimes passed from visitors to prisoners. At the new
jail, however, inmates will see their visitors in a room equipped with video screens. The new
jail also has three pods where prisoners will sleep and live.

Wolfgram said the new building's communications center and offices will allow his 12
deputies to be more productive and relieve a lot of legwork, such as moving inmates back
and forth between jails.
Taking inmates to the courthouse also was made easier, Wolfgram said. Now deputies can
walk people directly into a courtroom and not have to pass through a busy hallway.

Mary Kay Miller, who toured the jail Saturday and participated in a "bail for jail" fundraiser
Friday got to sample a little bit of the jail life.

She wore a red and white jumpsuit and sampled the food.

"It's not bad," she said.

Comments: (319) 398-8393; chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Caption: Christopher Pratt photos/The Gazette Christopher Pratt photos/The Gazette


Buchanan County Sheriff's Corrections Officer Tammy Bathen guides members of the public
through the control room during a tour of the new jail facility Saturday. Buchanan County
Sheriff Bill Wolfgram stands in a cell of the county jail built in 1939. A new facility was built to
replace the 71-year-old structure and Wolfram showed this room after guiding a tour of the
facility. This room was sometimes used to incarcerate drunken people.

Index Terms: BUILDING,CRIME


Record Number: 5668177
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Former Manchester man killed in Alabama this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Thursday, July 15, 2010
Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 5A Print

Alabama police are investigating the slaying of a former Manchester man. Bibliography (export)

Marc Wenger, 46, was found dead at his home in Harvest, Ala., earlier this week.
Quick Links
The death was being investigated as a homicide, according to the Huntsville (Ala.) Times. Find articles by By Christopher
Pratt , The Gazette
Investigators at the Madison County, Ala., Sheriff's Office were not available to comment on
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the investigation. Find all articles from July 15,
2010
"It was such a shock," said Patricia Wenger, of Masonville, Wenger's aunt. She heard about
the death earlier this week from a relative.

Marc Wenger, a 1982 graduate of West Delaware High School, enjoyed cutting trees from
an early age, his aunt said.

"I don't think he was in school yet, when he started cutting down trees with a toy saw,"
Wenger said.

He later turned his interest into a business. Wenger said she had last seen her nephew in
2004 when he came to visit from Harvest, a town of about 3,000 people, where he had
started Wenger Tree Service.

She said he was dedicated to his business, even after an injury significantly affected his
body.

"Oh, he'd work and work and work," she said.

A funeral service was being planned for next week in Manchester, at the Bohnenkamp-
Murdoch Funeral Home. (obituary. 12A).

Comments: (319) 398-8393; chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Caption: PHOTO

Index Terms: CRIME


Record Number: 5676077
Copyright (c) 2010, Gazette Communications, Inc.

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Mount Vernon residents work at righting a wrong
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Author/Byline: By Chris Pratt, The Gazette
Edition: F
Page: 3A

MOUNT VERNON -- Mount Vernon residents, including Cornell College football players and coaches, were
busy last night repairing damage to about 55 graves that were vandalized at Mount Vernon Memorial Cemetery
between June 28 and July 8.

Many gravestone were knocked over and cracked, according to Police Chief Marc Winder. Police are
investigating the incident but have no suspects, he said.

Football players and coaches were among about 35 volunteers who walked row upon row to fix disturbed
headstones. Sometimes a backhoe was brought in to move dirt around the graves.

The volunteers used caulk to piece a few memorial stones back together.

A woman whose husband's gravestone was damage stopped to talk to the volunteers.

"She showed us her husband's stone that was damaged, and I think so far the guys have fixed it as much as
they can," Winder said.

C.J McDonald, a running back for the Rams, said it was disturbing that vandalism had occurred in a place
where the dead should be able to rest peacefully. "It's vandalism to its highest," he said.

The volunteer support allowed the city to put a big dent in the damage done by the vandals, Winder said.

Index Terms: ABUSE,CRIME


Record Number: 5688052
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Bullet found on floor of church in Cedar Rapids this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Friday, July 23, 2010
Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 5A Print

CEDAR RAPIDS -- A bullet that struck a Cedar Rapids church sanctuary is under Bibliography (export)
investigation.

Jay Eberly, senior pastor of Spirit of Faith Family Church, 4070 22nd Ave. SW, said ushers Quick Links
found a bullet on the carpet of the worship space Wednesday evening. The gunshot was Find articles by By Christopher
Pratt , The Gazette
not believed to be a targeted act of violence, said Eberly, in an e-mail to The Gazette.
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It's unknown when or why the bullet was fired. 2010

"The bullet penetrated the east wall of the church and had come through the ceiling in the
back sanctuary," Eberly said. The church property was vacant at the time the shot was fired,
Eberly said.

"This obviously happened when no one was in the facility, or we would have no doubt
known," he added.

Cedar Rapids police are investigating the gunshot as an act of criminal mischief and there
are no suspects at this time, said Sgt. Cristy Hamblin.

"Spirit of Faith Family Church has been a safe place to worship for many years, and we will
see to it that it remains so in the future," Eberly said.

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Index Terms: CRIME,RELIGION


Record Number: 5692773
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Author dedicated to finding Earhart's lost plane this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Sunday, August 1, 2010
Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 9A Print

A Naval Academy graduate who has tried in vain to find Amelia Earhart's lost Lockheed Bibliography (export)
Electra plane described his searches last night during a talk to about 200 people at the
Ballantyne Auditorium at Kirkwood Community College.
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David Jourdan, author of the new book "The Deep Sea Quest for Amelia Earhart," led trips Find articles by By Christopher
Pratt , The Gazette
in 2002 and 2006 to the South Pacific, where Earhart's plane vanished in 1937. When
Find more articles from page 9A
Earhart's plane went missing near Howland Island, there was no wreckage, oil slick or Find all articles from August 1,
floating debris. 2010

Flashing a laser point at slides, the founder of Nauticos, a deep sea exploration company,
described how crews used sonar to search the ocean floor. He said some parts of the
Pacific Ocean are still unmapped.

"There's not much going on in that part of the world," he said.

Over the years, Jourdan has teamed up with engineers and analysts from Rockwell Collins
in Cedar Rapids. The work Nauticos has done has helped map more of the ocean, as well.

Jourdan said searching for Earhart was an expensive and time-consuming adventure. He
said it cost about $1 for every second a ship was at sea. One of the journeys ended early
when two crew members became ill.

Over the years, Jourdan said he had grown to appreciate Earhart's life. He said he hoped to
return to Cedar Rapids one day soon with the Electra.

"We would take it from city to city and ultimately it would be donated to the appropriate
museum," he said.

Rod Blocksome of Cedar Rapids listened as Jourdan took questions after the speech. The
recently retired systems analyst said he had been on the two previous expeditions with
Jourdan.

Blocksome said he was looking forward to the next trip and said the science and adventure
involved in finding the Electra was what kept him inspired to continue the search.

"It's more than a quest," he said.

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Index Terms: HISTORY


Record Number: 5713493
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North-Linn graduate dies in Alaska plane crash this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Sunday, August 1, 2010
Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 4A Print

A fallen airman is being remembered for his rising spirit. Bibliography (export)

Maj. Aaron Malone, 36, formerly of Cedar Rapids, was killed Wednesday when the C-17
plane he was aboard crashed at the Elmendorf Alaska Air Force Base in Alaska. Quick Links
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Pratt , The Gazette
Malone was practicing for the Arctic Thunder Air show, a popular attraction put on by the
Find more articles from page 4A
military in the sky above Anchorage, when he died. Three other servicemen were also killed Find all articles from August 1,
in the accident. The accident is still under investigation. 2010

Malone, a 1992 graduate of North-Linn High School, had an unquenchable work ethic and a
sense of patriotism from a young age, said his mother, Karol Malone.

"He was really an all-American kid," she said. "He did well in school and had lots of friends."

Malone, who was part of the Alaska National Guard, 249th Airlift Squadron, also had a love
of baseball, karate, and hunting, his mother said. The family moved to Alaska before he
completed his senior year, but he stayed in Eastern Iowa to finish high school.

Malone played baseball for his high school team. Carrie Malone, his younger sister, said
before he became a pilot he had another dream.

"He wanted to be a pitcher for the New York Mets," she said.

From a young age, his family said Malone was driven to excel in life. "When he was young
he had a Gazette paper route and four Penny Saver routes," his mother said.

Besides Alaska, Malone had flown jets for the South Dakota and Montana National Guards.
Carrie Malone said he had three jobs while he put himself through flight school.

Malone was married and a father of three, and had built a life with them in Eagle Ridge, a
suburb of Anchorage.

"He loved his family," Carrie Malone said.

Even after Malone moved to Alaska, the state of Iowa remained important to him. He had
enrolled in classes at Iowa State University and was very close to earning a master's
degree, his mother said. She said he wanted to help families with their financial planning.

"Everything he set out to do he really did," Karol Malone said.


The family was still working on memorial service details.

Comments: (319) 398-8393; chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Caption: PHOTO Maj. Aaron Malone

Index Terms: ACCIDENT


Record Number: 5713505
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Night's Light - Midnight Hoops brightens late hours for this article
neighborhood teens
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Wednesday, August 4, 2010 Email

Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Print


Edition: F
Page: 5B
Bibliography (export)
CEDAR RAPIDS -- The Black Team tips off against the Blue Team. At 10 p.m., it's the
second and final game of the night.
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The gym is swelteringly hot, but Alleigha Green plays it cool as she dribbles the perimeter. Pratt , The Gazette
Find more articles from page 5B
She says she has a tendency to showboat, but her teammates on the Black Team, including Find all articles from August 4,
Dacien Pledge, 16, of Cedar Rapids, keep feeding her the rock. 2010

Every Friday between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., Pledge, Green and about 40 other teens from the
Wellington Heights and Moundview neighborhoods get together at the Jane Boyd
Community House gym, 943, 14th Ave. SE, for Midnight Hoops.

Organizers Jason Pershing and Trent Gaines, who have known each other since their own
boyhoods playing basketball at Jane Boyd -- say the mission of the league is to teach
neighborhood kids teamwork and the value of friendly competition as well as offer an
alternative to pressure from peers to get involved in criminal activity.

"You can have friends and hang out with your friends and do positive things," says
Pershing, who works for Upward Bound at Coe College and is also a basketball coach at
Washington High School.

That's why Pledge is there.

"It teaches me how to, like, how to work with others," he says.

In addition to playing basketball, the teens will hear motivational speakers throughout the
six-week program, which ends Aug. 13. Teens ages 14 through 18 who live in the two
neighborhoods are the target group for this program. However, many of the players are
older and from other parts of the city.

The league got started with a $4,753 grant from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community
Foundation. The Wellington Heights neighborhood Association also helped bring in the
program.

"The kids in the neighborhood deserve this," says Terry Bilsland, the group's president.

Lessons learned playing basketball transfer into the real world, says Green, 15, a Jefferson
High School sophomore.
"It teaches me to be disciplined in everything I do, and it teaches me a lot about teamwork.
And some things you can't do on your own," she says.

Green says her mom wouldn't allow her to cause mischief on the streets. But this league
may stop others from giving into temptations, she says.

"After this, you're already tired, so most likely all you're going to do is go home and crash,"
Green says.

That's the idea, Pershing says. They wanted to bring teens together.

"The teamwork aspect: playing with guys you normally wouldn't play with, maybe you don't
even know them," he says.

One recent Friday night, it's apparent all the teens in the gym shared at least one thing -- a
love for the game.

Sweat drips onto the gym floor. Pledge slashes down the lane.

A table's been set up in front of the bleachers. Pershing tallies rebounds, and Gaines ticks
at the scoreboard.

Pershing and Gaines compare Pledge's style to a pro player, "He's kind of like Antawn
Jamison," Gaines says.

"It's kind of classy, a little unorthodox," Pershing says.

Only a few seconds remain on the clock. Gaines shouts from the sidelines.

"Finish strong, Blue! Keep playing, Blue!"

When the final buzzer sounds the players walk around shaking hands at center court.
Gaines and Pershing cram extra jerseys in a cardboard box. Play is over for the night and
the gym door is locked up.

A bright light that had been beaming from the gym into the dark night vanishes, but it'll be
back on next week.

Comments: (319) 398-8393; chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Caption: Liz Martin photos/The Gazette Liz Martin photos/The Gazette Sam O'Donnell
takes a shot over Mike Hodges (left) and Tyrone Perkins during a Midnight Hoops game
July 16 at Jane Boyd Community House 16 in Cedar Rapids. Evan Davis (center) shakes
hands with Razadon Taylor (left) and Will Havertape after their Midnight Hoops game at
Jane Boyd Community House on July 16 in Cedar Rapids. Cameron Beets (right) tries to
take a shot around Morris Williams during their Midnight Hoops game. Every Friday,
between 9 and 11 p.m., around 40 teens from the Wellington Heights and Moundview
neighborhoods get together at the Jane Boyd Community House gym, 943, 14th Ave. SE,
for Midnight Hoops., organized by Jason Pershing and Trent Gaines.

Index Terms: BASKETBALL,NEIGHBORHOOD; SPORTS


Record Number: 5720385
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'Arch will rise again' - West Branch winery will retain historic this article
character
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Thursday, August 5, 2010 Email

Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Print


Edition: F
Page: 5B
Bibliography (export)
WEST BRANCH -- The arch will rise again, says the co-owner of a recently collapsed
building in historic downtown West Branch.
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Find articles by By Christopher
Many of the buildings in West Branch are part of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. Pratt , The Gazette
Find more articles from page 5B
But Ilene Lande and her husband, John McNutt, had been working to renovate the former Find all articles from August 5,
post office, which had a prominent arch, into a winery. On June 11, the building collapsed. 2010

Lande and McNutt were left to sort through a pile of bricks at 116 E. Main St. The building
had most recently been Virgil's Sinclair.

The renovated building was going to be a tasting room to complement another structure of
the couple's winery. The other building wasn't affected by the collapse.

Crews cleaned up the debris and a new design for the tasting room was hatched.

Walls for the new building's foundation have been set in place.

"If the weather cooperates this week, we'll put in parts of the foundation and footing of the
building," Lande said.

Some bricks were salvaged after the building crumbled, Lande said. Those bricks are being
kept safe with a contractor for now, but they will find a way into the new structure, which will
have an arch, she said.

The arch of the new winery will retain the character of the old building, Lande said.

"The arch was very distinctive and it's sorely missed in the downtown district," she said.

The couple had planned to call the new winery business 1907, but that changed after the
collapse, Lande said. It's no longer practical for the couple to use the name 1907, she said.
Instead they will call it the Brick Arch Winery.

The couple plans to open the new winery in December.

"We have a lot of work to do," Lande said.

Hooverfest will be held in West Branch on Saturday. The business partners plan to
capitalize on the opportunity by selling winery T-shirts that read, "The Arch Will Rise Again!"

Comments: (319) 398-8393; chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Caption: Brian Ray/The Gazette, Photo courtesy of Brick Arch Winery Brian Ray/The
Gazette Workers tear down the historic post office and former Virgil's Sinclair service station
in West Branch after the building collapsed June 11. The building was in the process of
being converted into a winery. No one was inside at the time and no one was insured. Ilene
Lande Winery owner John McNutt Winery owner Photo courtesy of Brick Arch Winery The
prominent brick archway is shown in this historical photo of the old West Branch post office.

Index Terms: BUILDING,HISTORY


Record Number: 5722926
Copyright (c) 2010, Gazette Communications, Inc.

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Learning to swim late in life Xy - Learning to swim later in life this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Saturday, August 14, 2010
Author/Byline: Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 7B Print

CORALVILLE -- A few nights a week this summer, a biochemist set aside his eyeglasses Bibliography (export)
and lab wear for a swimsuit and a kickboard. At 38, Shuvendu Das was learning to swim.

Many people learn to swim as children, but there is a growing demand for the adult classes, Quick Links
says Coralville Aquatics Supervisor Faron Van Nostrand. Find articles by Christopher Pratt
, The Gazette
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Adults don swimsuits and goggles for varying reasons. For some it's at a doctor's Find all articles from August 14,
suggestion. Physicians often recommend swimming as a low-impact exercise. 2010

Others want to swim with their kids or overcome their own fear of the water.

According to a study for USA Swimming by researchers at The University of Memphis 65


percent of parents of at-risk swimmers are themselves at-risk swimmers. On the other hand,
only 19 percent of parents of non-at-risk swimmers are themselves at-risk swimmers.

The same study found that a quarter of parents are unable to swim and nearly another
quarter, 23.7 percent can swim a little, but are not comfortable in the water.

That's why Das signed up.

"I know that if I get down into the water, up to 5 feet, I will not die," says Das, a University of
Iowa researcher from Coralville.

It used to be that he would go to the beach and only submerge himself waist-deep in the
water.

Not any more.

After weeks of lessons, he's no longer afraid of the water.

He and about 10 other students enrolled in two beginner-level swim classes offered this
summer by Coralville Parks and Recreation, 1508 Eighth St.

Several drowning cases this summer prove that knowing how to swim is important, says
instructor Allison Davis, 18, of North Liberty.

"Swimming is something everyone should learn how to do," she says.

The group meets for 30 minutes near a sign reading "adults only" to learn new strokes.
Davis enjoys teaching adults, she says. They can communicate their learning styles and
goals better than kids.

Rob Butcher, executive director of United States Masters Swimming, a national organization
of more than 50,000 adult swimmers, says it doesn't take long to see benefits once a
person begins to swim.

"It's undeniably one of the safest and healthiest forms of exercise," he says.

There are 12 masters clubs in Iowa, according to the Iowa Masters Swimming Web page.
About 500,000 adults swim a few times each week for exercise in the United States,
Butcher says.

Van Nostrand, with the Coralville Recreation Center, says he expects to see the demand for
adult swim lessons stay steady. In addition to the two beginner courses, there also are
intermediate ones. In all, around 20 adults took classes this summer.

Of course, kids are learning to swim at the recreation center as well. Das' son, Aaron Das,
5, is one of them.

He says he's proud of his father for learning how to swim.

Comments: (319) 398-8393 or chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Caption: Julie Koehn photos/The Gazette

Index Terms: SWIMMING


Record Number: 5743193
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Library director emphasizes civic space in new facility this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Thursday, August 19, 2010
Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 2A Print

CEDAR RAPIDS -- The new Cedar Rapids Public Library will feature a space for people to Bibliography (export)
gather for activities, such as small concerts or business meetings, the library's leader said.

The civic space was one of the things library Director Bob Pasicznyuk touched upon as he Quick Links
presented a tentative design plan from architecture firm OPN to about 50 young Find articles by By Christopher
Pratt , The Gazette
professionals last night at Theatre Cedar Rapids. He said the library board was seeking
Find more articles from page 2A
input from many different groups of people as it plans the facility, to be built at the current Find all articles from August 19,
TrueNorth location at Fourth Avenue and Fifth Street SE. 2010

Pasicznyuk said the design is not yet complete and may change, depending upon feedback
from community members.

Many of those in the crowd analyzed five sketches Pasicznyuk had put on display. The plan
features a two-floor facility with $9 million worth of technology equipment and 250,000
books, as well as two outdoor spaces.

Pasicznyuk said the outdoor space idea came from a community member who mentioned
that there ought to be ample green space in the library.

"That's the kind of thing we get from groups like this," Pasicznyuk said.

The site also would have 11 meeting rooms and a place to park bicycles, as well as parking
spaces on all three sides of the building, Pasicznyuk said. He added that the building would
use environmentally friendly materials.

The library director said each square foot of the building would cost about $190. Some
estimates have put the cost of the building at about $45 million.

Pasicznyuk said the money being spent is important because a library serves as a hub for
lifelong learning. However, he added, smart budgeting is important.

"Sooner or later, when we build this library, we're going to have to move from dreaming, to
having to pay the bills," Pasicznyuk said.

Comments: (319) 398-8393; chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Caption: PHOTO

Index Terms: BUILDING


Record Number: 5753646
Copyright (c) 2010, Gazette Communications, Inc.
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City pet licensing draws supporters, opponents this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Friday, August 20, 2010
Author/Byline: By Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 2A Print

CEDAR RAPIDS -- The chance to voice opposition, pledge support and learn about Bibliography (export)
proposed changes to laws about pet cats, dogs and other animals brought about 15 people
to a question-and-answer session with Cedar Rapids' animal control director last night.
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For more than a decade, the city has not required people to register their pets. But Diane Find articles by By Christopher
Pratt , The Gazette
Webber with Animal Care and Control said the stray animal population in the city has
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increased since the Flood of 2008, and new licensing fees would allow the city department Find all articles from August 20,
to provide more staffing and care facilities for neglected animals. 2010

Proposed changes, which are being considered by the City Council, would make the annual
cost of a dog or cat license $10 if the animal has been spayed or neutered. The yearly
license cost for an unaltered animal would be $35.

The department's current budget allotment isn't enough to meet the needs of the animals in
Cedar Rapids, Webber said. The flood played a role in spreading rabies and other
infections among animals, she said, and the proposed changes to the municipal code also
would tighten the city's requirement that pets have rabies shots.

Webber said her department was asked to do a lot more after the 2008 disaster without
being given any more funding.

"When the flood hit, nothing happened," she said.

Under the proposed changes, she said, seniors could own up to three altered pets without
having to pay the annual license fees.

Other exemptions to the fee requirement would include service animals, animals in pet
stores and animals in the temporary custody of veterinarians.

Kay Rathje of Cedar Rapids, who owns three dogs and two cats, said the proposal would
promote responsible pet ownership.

Rathje said she hoped the fees also would provide funds for a new animal shelter.

Donald Woods, a dog owner, spoke against the $10 license fee. He said he is a responsible
pet owner, and the proposed fee isn't fair to people like him.

He said a lot of the city department's work, such as controlling stray cats, is brought on by
irresponsible owners.
"As a responsible pet owner, why do I have to be penalized? he asked.

"Because accidents happen," Webber replied.

Another public meeting will be held at same site -- the Cedar Rapids Police Department
Briefing Room, 505 First Street SW -- on Aug. 31 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Comments: (319) 398-8393; chris.pratt@kcrg.com

Record Number: 5756093


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Corridor now home to some Katrina survivors this article
Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Sunday, August 29, 2010
Author/Byline: By Patrick Hogan and Christopher Pratt , The Gazette Email
Edition: F
Page: 10A Print

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Barb Arceneaux was supposed to be on stage Aug. 27, 2005, for the Bibliography (export)
Slidell, La., production of the play "Sylvia."

But the performance had to be postponed because of bad weather. Quick Links
Find articles by By Patrick Hogan
and Christopher Pratt , The
"We talked about possibly trying again the next day," Arceneaux said. "The previous year,
Gazette
everyone evacuated for Hurricane Ivan and it turned out to be nothing." Find more articles from page 10A
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But on Aug. 28, 2005, Hurricane Katrina began to devastate the region. 2010

Arceneaux, 51, is one of several people who ended up in the Cedar Rapids area after the
hurricane. On the fifth anniversary of the hurricane, she's still here.

Although born and raised in New Orleans, Arcneaux had lived in Marion for 20 years. She
moved back to Louisiana in June 2005 to help care for her mother.

"I hadn't planned to move back," she said.

Arceneaux waited out the hurricane with her parents, but after leaving the city to check on
her sisters in Shreveport, she was told she couldn't return to New Orleans for another six to
eight weeks. She decided to head back to Iowa, and her previous employer, Kirkwood
Community College.

"I just ended up staying," she said. "I already had a son in college here. I had friends here. I
was able to get a full-time position pretty easily. I made out a lot better than other people."

Jeri Halperin, 35, lived in New Orleans for six years before the category 5 storm swept
through the city. She was there that day, but left for higher ground before the levee system
was breached Aug. 30.

Halperin and her husband, Ben, ended up with family in Illinois. Eventually, they decided to
move to Iowa, and in January 2008 opened a restaurant called Augusta, 101 S. Augusta
St., Oxford. The menu showcases New Orleans style dishes, and they have made friends in
the town.

Halperin said surviving a storm that killed more than a thousand people, and displaced
hundreds of thousands like her, has made her stronger during times of adversity. Some
water damage to the couple's home recently brought forth some of the emotions she felt
during Katrina.
Arceneaux experienced similar emotions during the June 2008 flood of downtown Cedar
Rapids. Even though her home in Marion was safe, it was hard to watch Theatre Cedar
Rapids, where she frequently volunteers, end up under water.

"I couldn't go down there," Arceneaux said. "It was too upsetting, too much like Katrina."

Arceneaux still visits her family in New Orleans twice a year, and said reconstruction is
coming along quickly, although some vacant neighborhoods remain. Since her mother died
in December 2005, she has no plans to move away from Eastern Iowa again.

Looking forward, Halperin said the couple hopes to open another restaurant. In between
waiting on customers she quoted a New Orleans Times-Picayune writer, Chris Rose: "'What
happens in Vegas stays in Vegas; but what happens in New Orleans stays in your heart.'"

Comments: (319) 398-8273; patrick.hogan@gazcomm.com

Caption: Jeri Halperin Barb Arceneaux

Record Number: 5777115


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