Christopher Pratt Clips 4

Eastern Iowa News Now
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Pizza store employees robbed with pellet gun

Posted June 17, 2010 4:00 am by Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News
CEDAR RAPIDS — Two employees at a local pizza house came into contact with a pellet gun during a
Wednesday night robbery carried out by two men, at least one of whom was armed with a plastic gun.
Police Sgt. Jeremy Paulsen said two black males with bandanas on their faces were believed to have
carried out the caper at Mama Miaʼs, 408 Edgewood Road NW.
Matt Thompson, 26, of Cedar Rapids, a delivery driver, was walking out of the restaurantʼs kitchen
towards the bathroom when he saw the robbers who demanded money from him. Thompson said he
was knocked on the back of his head and that the other employee was shot with a pellet gun.
Thompsonʼs girlfriend was also in the store. Nobody went to the hospital. The amount of money of taken
was unknown, and the police commander on duty was not immediately available for comment.
Thompsonʼs description of the two men was similar to Paulsenʼs and he said both were around 6′ tall.
The scene was calm shortly after the holdup.
That calmness camouflaged the grim situation. These employees werenʼt safe at work. “They took
everything of mine,” said Thompson, while smoking a cigarette outside. His girlfriend was nearby and
the glow of the Mama Miaʼs sign lighted some of the parking lot.
“I thought it was a joke at first, maybe somebody I knew,” said Thompson. It wasnʼt and now he doesnʼt
have his phone, wallet or car keys.
Mama Miaʼs closed early on Wednesday.
About Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News

Chris was an intern at SourceMedia Group in 2010.
View all posts by Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News →
This entry was posted in Crime, Law and Justice. Bookmark the permalink.
Father: Son was dedicated to the Army

LIME SPRINGS — The father of an Iowa soldier killed in Iraq said his sonʼs body had arrived back in the
U.S. and that a Cresco funeral home would coordinate funeral services.
Spc. Christopher Opat, 29, died Tuesday in Baquah, Iraq, from injuries in a non-combat incident,
according to the U.S. Department of Defense. A military investigation was ongoing and there were no
further details.
The father said his sonʼs body was flown into Dover Air Force Base Wednesday evening. The Conway
Funeral Home in Cresco was coordinating burial services for the family. No further details were given
about services.
Les Opat, 58, of Lime Springs, said he knew something was wrong when two uniformed officials came
to his door earlier this week, “That was the type of thing I never wanted to see,” said Opat.
Opat became the 59th Iowa solider killed in or after serving in the war zone. Two of the specialistʼs
brothers had served in the armed services and another recently joined the Air Force, Opat said.
The father said his son wanted to make a career in the Army, and after attending Iowa Lakes
Community College thatʼs what he did. “He had tried to get a job, and he was having, not a hard time
finding a job, but he decided that he needed something different.”
“He liked the Army and he was dedicated to the Army,” said Opat.

This entry was posted in War. Bookmark the permalink.

Center Point flower shop flooded

Posted June 15, 2010 10:14 pm by Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News
CENTER POINT – Floodwater rose over the Apple Creek and swamped one womanʼs flower shop.
“The creek back here started coming up, and it came up real quick, and we ended up with six inches of
water on the floor,” said Judy Parizek, after a flash flood devastated Center Point Floral and Gifts, 600
Franklin St.
Parizek stripped the shopʼs hardwood flooring after the morning rush of water damaged it. Her husband
and one of her employees were helping her clean up near dusk. They set aside a pile of rubbish that
was ready to be hauled away by a private dumpster company. She was intent on getting her business
back up and running by next week.
“Every day Iʼm closed, Iʼm short on money,” she said, as she surveyed the damage to her shop.
Parizek said she had flood insurance and hoped it would cover the destruction that came when the
creek came rushing in. The creek is about 100 feet from the shop.
Across Center Point, the impact of the early Tuesday morning storm was still being felt by residents.
Mayor Mona Barz declared a water restriction until 9 p.m. because of the rain and flooding. The cityʼs
Web page read,“We ask that homeowners reduce the amount of water usage from washing machines,
showers, dishwashers, etc.”
Garnet Mader, 67, of Center Point, said she lived in Center Point all her life and had never seen flash
flooding like the one that happened today.
“Peopleʼs yards are still full of water, like ponds,” said Mader.
Nancy Krapfl, an employee of Center Point Floral and

Gifts, 600 Franklin St., stands next to a sign that floated
away from the store during a flash flood on Tuesday,
June 15, 2010. (Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group
News)
Judy Parizek, owner of Center Point Floral and Gifts,
600 Franklin St., and her husband Alva, stand by a pile
of rubbish they gathered, after Apple Creek overflowed
and floodwater came into the shop on Tuesday, June
15, 2010. (Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News)

This entry was posted in Disaster and Accident and tagged Center Point, flooding. Bookmark the permalink.
Owner takes steps to move forward after West Branch

property crumbles
WEST BRANCH — The day after a historic downtown West Branch building collapsed, its co-owner is
sorting through the mess and trying to figure out what will become of the winery he and his wife were
building.
“Itʼs a pile of rubble. Thereʼs nothing left,” said John McNutt, who was working to renovate the former
turn-of-the-century post office and, most recently, the site of Virgilʼs Sinclair at 116 Main Street.
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 June 1 on the 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
thatʼs been here (more than 100) years.”
West Branch Mayor Don Kessler said orange fencing and barricades now surround the structure in this
Cedar County town. 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.

This entry was posted in Disaster and Accident, government, human interest and tagged Main Street, National
Register of Historic Places, Post Office. Bookmark the permalink.
Web site gives updates of injured airman

The brothers of an Air Force member injured earlier this week in Afghanistan have set up a Web page to
keep people updated on the condition of the airman.
U.S. Air Force Capt. David Wisniewski, a graduate of Woodbury Central High School in Moville, Iowa,
was injured while riding a helicopter in Afghanistan. He is the son of Iowa City Regina Activities Director
Chet Wisniewski. He was transferred to Bethesda Naval Hospital Friday after first receiving care for
head injuries in Germany.
Wisniewski received results of an MRI on Saturday afternoon. His brain stem was intact, and he was
reacting to stimulus, according to an afternoon post on the Web page. That post said the Nevada-based
captain was able to breathe without the support of a ventilator for one minute. “Finally some good news
for the day,” wrote Wisniewski Family.
Those wishing to make a financial contribution in support of the Wisniewski family can do so at any Hills
Bank and Trust location.
Link to the Web site

This entry was posted in War, human interest and tagged Air Force, Airman, blog. Bookmark the permalink.
Two hotel heists in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — Two hotels were held up at gunpoint Thursday night. The Budget Inn, 3100 16th
Ave. SW, had some money stolen around 10:20 p.m. by a thief described as a black male, 5ʼ9″ tall, and
in his late teens or early 20s. He also wore yellow gloves and a brown bandana, according to a police
report.
The Super 8 Motel, 720 33rd Ave. SW, had cash taken around 11:45 later in the night. A police report
said a black male between 6ʼ1” and 6ʼ3” tall came into the hotel, showed a gun, and demanded money
from a staff member. The man wore light-colored gloves, and also a do-rag and a mask. It was unknown
if the heists were related.

Minor-league ballpark tour comes through Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — A cross-country tour that celebrates minor league baseball set up outside of
Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday.
“Itʼs the longest running, largest mobile baseball celebration,” said Fredrick Velez, Tour Manager for the
Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest.
This was the 13th stop on a cross-country whirlwind tour of 43 minor league ballparks. Velez and his staff
have traveled like a big concert act. The financial giant brings its message to ballparks. “Itʼs about the
whole value that minor league gives people in terms of family oriented low prices,” said Velez. “We think
itʼs the perfect marriage.”
The tour is set to bring its interactive games and colorful atmosphere to ballparks in 25 different states
throughout the summer.
Velez said the tour had been through Cedar Rapids at least four times in the past seven years. They
entertained a few thousand people prior to the game. “This (the stop) is actually a good one for us all the
time,” he said.
The grounds outside the stadium buzzed with activity prior to the contest against the South Bend Silver
Hawks. On this humid night a giant slide, a bungee run and two Kernels players helped in the
companyʼs production.
This stop on the tour coincided with something monumental for two siblings, Brittany Thompson, 12,
and her brother Ayden Lane, 4, both of Cedar Rapids. Ayden said he had never been to a Kernels
game. He got to come face to face at an autograph table with pitcher Jonathan Bachanov and infielder
Michael Wing before the 6:35 p.m. first pitch. Minutes later the two went through the turnstiles.
“Weʼre looking forward to watching people play baseball,” said Brittany before she shadowed her
younger brother past the ticket taker.
A few minutes later the crowd had dissipated from where Velez and his tour had set up. But, it would
soon be on to another stadium.

Additional traffic cameras start ticketing at midnight

At midnight tonight people that violate traffic laws at seven locations in Cedar Rapids will be mailed
tickets, because of new video surveillance cameras that dot the cityʼs roadways.
The city, according to its Web page has had a warning period for 14 days prior to the midnight activation.
Motorists who run red lights and speed through the cameras have to either pay up or contest the
violations.
Cameras will be activated tonight at:
1st Avenue and 10th Street East

2nd Avenue and 10th Street SE
2nd Avenue and 3rd Street SW
2nd Avenue and 6th Street SW
1st Avenue and L Street SW
Edgewood Road and 42nd Street
The city already tickets motorists with red-light cameras at six intersections. On average, the cityʼs
general revenue fund pockets about $1,000 everyday from the cameras, thus far about $136,000.
Cedar Rapids Red Light Cameras Find closest to:
A look at citation data for red light cameras in Cedar Rapids. Shows number of citations issued since March 14, 2010.
1st Ave & 10th St NE

Cedar Rapids, IA
A
Location Direction Citations Rejections Total Date
activated
1st Ave & E/B 152 18 170 3/14/2010

10th St NE
1st Ave & W/B 680 108 788 3/14/2010

10th St NE
2nd Ave & N/B 159 15 174 3/14/2010

10th St SE
2nd Ave & N/B 97 2 99 4/1/2010

3rd St SW
2nd Ave & W/B 492 31 523 4/1/2010

3rd St SW
2nd Ave & N/B 38 1 39 3/14/2010

6th St. SW
2nd Ave & W/B 34 11 45 3/14/2010

6th St. SW
1st Ave & L E/B 11 0 11 6/2/2010

St SW
1st Ave & L W/B 16 0 16 6/2/2010

St SW
Edgewood N/B 205 13 218 4/25/2010

Rd & 42nd
St NE
Edgewood S/B 224 8 232 4/25/2010

Rd & 42nd
St NE
I380 N/B 879 0 879 6/12/2010

Northbound
@
Diagonal
Dr SW
Mobile Various 881 51 932 3/19/2010

Speed – all
locations
Washing machine brings fire crews to hotel

CEDAR RAPIDS – A hot breakfast at the Collins Inn & Suites is an option guests usually have in the
morning, but there was something extra hot for guests tonight; a laundry machine.
Fire Battalion Chief George Bockenstedt said crews responded to an overheated washer at the hotel
around 9:15 p.m. Smoke cleared soon after, and no one was injured.
This was not the quiet night Michael Cortez, 30, of Coralville, expected at the hotel. He said it smelled
like burned wiring.
“This is different, definitely different,” said Cortez as he sat in the lobby while a fireman talked to the
staff.

City bus fender bender

CEDAR RAPIDS — No one was injured in an accident involving a city bus around 4:20 p.m. this
afternoon near Rockwell Drive and Collins Road NE. The cityʼs risk manager, who handles claims
against the city, was unavailable for comment late this evening.
A city bus was involved in an accident on Thursday,

June 10, 2010. (Christopher Pratt/ SourceMedia Group
News)

UPDATE: Arson suspected in another Cedar Rapids vehicle

fire
CEDAR RAPIDS – Arson is suspected in a fire that burned up a pickup in Cedar Rapids late Tuesday.
Firefighters found the fire already extinguished when they arrived just after 11 p.m. to the 400 block of
17th Street NE. A neighbor who saw smoke and fire inside the cab had used a fire extinguisher to put it
out, Fire Department spokesman Greg Buelow said.
Buelow called the damage to the inside of the pickup “minor.”
Investigators concluded that the fire was intentionally set, Buelow said. No arrests have been made.
Information about this or any other suspected arson can be submitted by calling the “Arrest Arson in
Iowa” hotline at 1-800-532-1459 or the Cedar Rapids Fire Department at (319) 286-5200.
Initial post:
CEDAR RAPIDS — One vehicle was burned last night around 11 p.m. near the intersection of D Avenue
and 17th Street NE. The Fire department responded after a passerby called 911, and it and has opened
an arson investigation.
At the scene, Fire Capt. Andy Olesen said there was no reason to believe the fire was relatedto three
arsons early Tuesday morning. The fire came when Amanda Thome, 26, was upstairs at her 17th Street
residence. Her pickup truck ignited and she said it was burning intensely until her neighbor sprayed his
fire extinguisher on it.
by 11:30 p.m. no smoke or fire was visible, but there had been some damage to both the inside and
outside of her pickup.
The Fire Department responds to pickup burning in

Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, June 8, 2010. (Christopher
Pratt/SourceMedia Group News)
This entry was posted in Crime, Law and Justice, Disaster and Accident and tagged burn, car fire, Fire
Department. Bookmark the permalink.
Relay remembers survivors and those who’ve passed from

cancer
Updated at 4:36 p.m. — The Kohawk walks at the 2010 American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
Kohawk at 2010 American Cancer Society Relay for Life

of Linn County. (Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group
News)
About 400 accomplished students of life gathered this weekend for an all-nighter on the campus of
Kirkwood Community College. They were cancer survivors.
“Weʼre staying all night,” said Phyllis Pflughaupt, a survivor, and a member of one of the 122 teams
registered for American Cancer Societyʼs Relay for Life of Linn County. The event honors those who
have struggled against the stateʼs second-leading cause of death. The non-profit group has teams pitch
tents for the night, and each is asked to have a member always circling a track; cancer never sleeps.
“A big part of it is just being around others,” said Barbra Kamer, 42, who beat breast cancer once and
now works for the cancer group that sponsored the walk. But she faces a new test as she wages
another fight against the same diagnosis.
Cheryl Valenta, spokeswoman for the cancer group said about 1,200 people participated in the circling
ritual. Last year Relay had 110 teams participate, and it raised more than $284,000.
Team COE-aliton against cancer brought the school mascot and the Walgreens team wore red. All hit
the asphalt pavement at the Kirkwood walking trail. The 14-hour event began at 7 p.m. Friday and lasted
through the night into Saturday morning.
Ellen Becker, 54, a survivor, of Newhall, said she was walking to raise awareness for people who have
fought cancer, and also to raise money for research. Her sister, Sally Koch, 49, also of Newhall, stood
beside her along the way. She wore a T-shirt that read, “I wear pink for my sister.”
The two sisters walked a lap just before 7 p.m. They kept vigilant eyes on luminaries that sparked the
night. Candles were put inside sand-filled bags, and were lighted to remember real people all lost to
cancer. Cancer caused the death of about 6,300 Iowans in 2008, according to a report by the Iowa
Department of Public Health.
After they finished a beginning loop Becker and Koch wandered into a sea of people clustered before a
sound-stage where The Jodie Foster Connection was playing. “Iʼm just glad Iʼm here,” said Becker.
As for Kamer, she plans to keep walking the trail of life. Another Relay is scheduled for next Friday in
Johnson County. “The tears and emotions will really come out next week,” said Kamer, of Coralville.
The American Cancer Society's 2010 Linn County Relay

for Life, held at Kirkwood Community College, began
on the evening of Friday, June 4, 2010 and lasted until
the morning of Saturday, June 5, 2010. (Christopher
Barbra Kamer (pictured) joined around 1,200 people

who came to the 2010 Linn County Relay for Life.The
American Cancer Society event took place around the
Kirkwood Community College walking trail on June 4-5,
2010. (Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News)
Around 1,200 people came to the 2010 Linn County

Relay for Life.The American Cancer Society event took
place around the Kirkwood Community College walking
trail on June 4-5, 2010. (Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia
Group News)
The American Cancer Society's 2010 Linn County Relay

for Life, held at Kirkwood Community College, began
on the evening of Friday, June 4, 2010 and lasted until
the morning of Saturday, June 5, 2010. (Christopher

This entry was posted in health, human interest and tagged 2010, American Cancer Society, Kirkwood
Community College, Relay for Life. Bookmark the permalink.
Door to door agents selling security system receive

complaints, says police department
Updated at 5:54 p.m.
Stuart Dean, a spokesman for APX Alarm said that his company took all complaints seriously and that
the the Utah-based company would work to remove agents that misrepresented their city approved
licenses as an an endorsement by the Police. “It does us no good to have agents that are
misrepresenting us,” said Dean, whose company has previously been recognized by J.D. Power and
Associates for their customer service.
Dean said that his company managers were doing everything they could to prevent independent agents
who sell their security alarms from misrepresenting their city certification.
Police Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said no formal report against APX was filed with the city by anyone. But, she
said that she had kept note of people who called to complain about aggressive sales practices.
Updated at 4:57 p.m. on Friday, June 4, 2010.
The Police spokeswoman also said a complainant told her that an APX agent said the cityʼs Police Chief
endorsed the system. Hamblin said that was not the case. Stuart Dean, a spokesman for APX was
unavailable for comment this afternoon.
Previous Post
Over the past month about 12 people have filed complaints with the Police Department against a
door-to-door security system company whose agents have been knocking doors across the city, Sgt.
Cristy Hamblin, a Police spokeswoman said.
Hamblin said independent door-to-door agents were selling security systems for APX Alarm, a
Utah-based company. One man bought a product from an APX agent and later wanted out of the
contract agreement, said Hamblin.

Gas leak at Solon golf course

SOLON — Fire and utility crews responded
to a gas line leak at the Lake MacBride Golf
Club in Solon yesterday afternoon. A pipe
was hit during construction of a temporary
clubhouse, said Tracy Hufford, owner and
manager of the club. Six or eight people
were evacuated from a garage nearby but
golfers on the course were not affected,
A MidAmerican Energy Co. truck (far right) responded said Hufford.

to a gas leak at Lake MacBride Golf Club in Solon, on
Thursday, June 3, 2010. (Christopher Pratt /
SourceMedia Group News.) The small natural gas leak, Hufford said,
would only set construction back a few
hours.
Last month an early morning fire ravaged the courseʼs clubhouse.
The Iowa One Call Program is designed to ensure safe excavation of underground gas lines.

This entry was posted in Disaster and Accident and tagged gas leak, Iowa State University, Lake Macbride,
SourceMedia Group. Bookmark the permalink.
Update: Two killed in Monticello crash

Updated at 11:00 p.m.
MONTICELLO – An Amish woman from Missouri and the man who was driving her family to a wedding
were both killed in a one-vehicle rollover accident north of Monticello on Wednesday.
Susan Miller, 46, of Keytesville, Mo., was pronounced dead a few hours after the accident at Jones
Regional Medical Center. The driver, James Dowling, 58, of Moberly, Mo., was pronounced dead at the
scene of the accident, according to a press release from the Jones County Sheriffʼs Office.
Dowling was driving the family of five to Wisconsin when he lost control of his northbound pickup on
Highway 151 about a half a mile north of Rock Road.
The womanʼs husband, Enos Miller, 46, along with Katie Miller, 10, and Benjamin Miller, 6, were taken to
Jones Regional Medical Center for care. This evening they were no longer listed as patients there.
Emanuel Miller, 18, was flown to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. His condition
wasnʼt available this evening.
None of the six victims were wearing seat belts, according to the sheriffʼs department.
MONTICELLO — Two people were killed in a one-vehicle rollover accident north of Monticello around
8:20 p.m. on Wednesday night.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. A female passenger was taken to the Jones Regional
Medical Center in Anamosa, where she died, according to the Jones County Sheriffʼs Office.
Four other passengers were also taken to the hospital. One was flown to the University of Iowa
Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City to receive care for unknown injuries. Three others were taken to the
Jones County Regional Medical Center. Their conditions have not yet been released.
The driver, a 58-year-old Missouri man was transporting a family of five to a wedding in Wisconsin,
according to the sheriffʼs office. The accident occurred on the northbound side of Highway 151 about
half a mile north of Rock Road. None were wearing seatbelts, according to the sheriffʼs office.
The names and ages of those involved in the accident have not been released and the sheriffʼs office
continues to investigate.
The vehicle involved in a fatal rollover on Highway 151 is lifted from a ditch on Wednesday, June 2, 2010.
(Christopher Pratt/ SourceMedia Group News)

This entry was posted in Disaster and Accident, traffic and tagged accident, Anamosa, Highway 151, Jones
County, Jones County Sheriff's Office, Monticello, SourceMedia Group, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Bookmark the permalink.
Man arrested by police for inappropriate contact with girls

CEDAR RAPIDS — Larry Sexton, 52, was arrested yesterday by the Police Department for indecent
contact with a 10-year-old-girl, and also for showing obscene pictures to a teenage girl. Sexton was
taken into custody after police came to his residence with a warrant, according to a media release from
the department.
He remains in the Linn County Jail on a $13,000 cash only bond.
Larry Sexton, 52, was arrested by the

Cedar Rapids Police Department on
Wednesday, June 2, 2010.

Oelwein child doing fine after choking incident

OELWEIN –The day after a police officer dislodged a marble from a two-year-oldʼs throat the child wants
to be a policeman, says Nicole Pingree, the childʼs mother.
Yesterday, the officer, Jay Tommasin, put his arms around Talyn Yearous and a marble was soon
dislodged. “He positioned his neck and it rolled right out,” said Pingree, of Oelwein.
Pingree said the officer saved her sonʼs life and that Tommasin was her biggest hero. Today Talyn was
riding his Thomas the Tank Engine bicycle and playing with his two siblings.
His mom said that Talyn was doing well. “He is perfectly fine. He bounced right back. It was pretty
traumatic at first.” In an e-mail the Oelwin police chief said this was the fifth lifesaving action by police
officers in the past eight years.
Talyn Yearous, 2, of Oelwin, was choking when an

Oelwin Police Officer cleared his throat of a Marble, on
Tuesday, June 1, 2010. (Image courtesy of Nicol
Pingree)

Linn County changes weather siren policy

Updated at 9:46 p.m. — Every county has a different system for alerting the public of severe weather,
said Mike Golberg, spokesman for the agency. Goldberg said the new policy means sirens will be
sounded for severe weather storms that have winds greater than 70 miles per hour or golf ball size hail,
previously they went off only for tornado-like conditions, said Goldberg.
The Linn County Emergency Management Agency has slightly tweaked its system for alerting people of
severe weather. The system can now be activated in only some parts of the county while not in another.
Another change is that the sirens can also be sounded for severe thunderstorm warnings. The sirens
are used to promote situational awareness. People should tune to their local broadcast media for more
instructions when they hear the alert system.

This entry was posted in Disaster and Accident, weather and tagged emergency, emergency management, Iowa
State University, Linn County, weather. Bookmark the permalink.
Dysart Man Dies in Motorcycle Crash

Posted May 30, 2010 2:57 am by Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News
TAMA COUNTY – A Dysart man was killed in a motorcycle accident on Saturday night at the intersection
of Highway 21 and 210th Street in Tama County, according to a report by the Iowa State Patrol.
Michael Tarrance, 41, was traveling southbound on Highway 21 when he went into a ditch and was
ejected from the vehicle. The Minimal Crash Report said Tarrance wasnʼt wearing a helmet.

This entry was posted in Disaster and Accident and tagged deadly crash, motorcycle crash, Tama County.
Bookmark the permalink.
Opening day crowd enjoys Bever Pool

Posted May 29, 2010 6:29 pm by Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News
Bever Pool is open, and itʼs just in time for the steamy days that define summer in Iowa.
“The poolʼs just a good place to cool off and chill out in the summer,” says Julian Good-Jones, 13, as he
uncrumples a picture of Andrew Jackson to pay his way into Bever Pool.
Prior to the pool opening at 1 p.m., a crowd lined up outside the doors of the city park. The temperature
bubbled up near 80 degrees and the line to get in was deep. “Itʼs taking forever,” said Jones, as he
snaked forward to the cool waters of the eight-year-old facility.
“Weʼre 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. After only two
hours the attendance had surged. At 2 p.m. Hamilton said 396 people had already come in by 2 p.m.
In a town ravaged by a devastating flood this pool has become a place that puts people at ease. For the
Clark family, sliding down waterslides, cannonballing of the diving board and plain-old sunbathing is part
of the complete aquatic experience. Deb Clark said she brought her twin boys, Darren and Caleb, all the
way across town to enjoy the nice day. The mother caught sunrays while the twins splashed around and
dove into the pool. Darren said his favorite part was the one meter diving board. He buckled his knees
for a quick instant just before smacking the water. Then he freestyled to the side of the pool so the next
in line could follow.
The brothers canʼt wait for school to end because then their swim routines are like a religion. “We come
three times a week,” said a dripping Caleb.
The boys couldnʼt agree on exactly how many days of school were left. Darren, older by a minute, said
nine. Caleb said eight. Either way, they know where one can beat the Iowa heat, the pool.
Bever Pool, 2700 Bever Ave. SE is open until August 22. The other outdoor public pools open Saturday,
June 5. Admission is $3.75 per day and season passes are available. Hamilton says the cityʼs pools are
financed with money from patrons and some property taxes.

This entry was posted in human interest, weather and tagged Cedar Rapids, heat. Bookmark the permalink.
Model search comes to Cedar Rapds

Posted May 28, 2010 12:25 pm by Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News
Update at 3:26 — Anna Wolle, 13, is the new Fresh Face of Iowa. Anna said she is excited about being
pictured in a magazine like Vogue.
Mary Clarke, the model manager, called Wolleʼs mom on Friday to relay the news. “There are no travel
plans right, luckily Mary believes in taking things slowly,” said Anna Wolle.
“What we focus on with the fresh face contest is someone who can do the fashion editorial end of the
business,” Clarke said.
Wolle is an eighth grade student at Franklin Middle School and plans to attend Washington High School.
Cedar Rapids — The talent scout who discovered Ashton Kutcher at the Westdale Mall way back in
1999 was once again in the city looking for models.
Mary Clarke says thereʼs something charming about models that grow up in the heartland.
“We always find so many beautiful people here,” said Mary Clarke, the Iowa-born owner of Mother
Model Management.
Clarkeʼs contest dates back to 1994. Besides discovering the model and sitcom star Kutcher sheʼs also
helped launch the careers of models like Lindsay Lullman. Lullman was discovered by Clarke at a
shopping mall in Saint Louis.
Around 45 aspiring models came to Klikʼs Photography, 808 3rd Ave. SE, on Thursday and flashed their
grins to Clarke. Thereʼs reason to believe they could be the next fresh face. Clarke says corn-fed
Midwestern faces are recognized and appreciated all over the world.
Clarke said the next Fresh Face will be announced today.
Check back soon …

This entry was posted in arts, culture and entertainment, human interest and tagged Ashton Kutcher, Cedar
Rapids, contest, Iowa, search, Westdale Mall. Bookmark the permalink.

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Eastern Iowa News Now

What's Happening Now

Pizza store employees robbed with pellet gun

The scene was calm shortly after the holdup.

have his phone, wallet or car keys.

Mama Miaʼs closed early on Wednesday.

About Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News

Father: Son was dedicated to the Army

finding a job, but he decided that he needed something different.”

About Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News

This entry was posted in War. Bookmark the permalink.

Center Point flower shop flooded

back up and running by next week.

showers, dishwashers, etc.”

flooding like the one that happened today.

Nancy Krapfl, an employee of Center Point Floral and

About Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News

Owner takes steps to move forward after West Branch

have it complement a new structure to form the 1907 Winery.

National Register of Historic Places.

thatʼs been here (more than 100) years.”

Muckler. They had just had a meeting.

About Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News

Web site gives updates of injured airman

keep people updated on the condition of the airman.

head injuries in Germany.

for the day,” wrote Wisniewski Family.

Bank and Trust location.

Link to the Web site

About Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News

Two hotel heists in Cedar Rapids

if the heists were related.

About Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News

Minor-league ballpark tour comes through Cedar Rapids

Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday.

Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest.

itʼs the perfect marriage.”

throughout the summer.

younger brother past the ticket taker.

soon be on to another stadium.

Additional traffic cameras start ticketing at midnight

Cameras will be activated tonight at:

1st Avenue and 10th Street East

Cedar Rapids Red Light Cameras Find closest to:

1st Ave & 10th St NE

1st Ave & E/B 152 18 170 3/14/2010

1st Ave & W/B 680 108 788 3/14/2010

2nd Ave & N/B 159 15 174 3/14/2010

2nd Ave & N/B 97 2 99 4/1/2010

2nd Ave & W/B 492 31 523 4/1/2010

2nd Ave & N/B 38 1 39 3/14/2010

2nd Ave & W/B 34 11 45 3/14/2010

1st Ave & L E/B 11 0 11 6/2/2010

1st Ave & L W/B 16 0 16 6/2/2010

Edgewood N/B 205 13 218 4/25/2010

Edgewood S/B 224 8 232 4/25/2010

I380 N/B 879 0 879 6/12/2010

Mobile Various 881 51 932 3/19/2010

Washing machine brings fire crews to hotel

like burned wiring.

About Christopher Pratt/SourceMedia Group News

City bus fender bender

A city bus was involved in an accident on Thursday,