Page 4 - Clear Lake Mirror Reporter E-Edition 12-2-2015
P. 4
Opinion Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter
Page 4 • Dec. 2, 2015
REMEMBER WHEN Amanda Ragan
25 Years Ago State Senator
November 1990
An unusual number of fires in 515-281-3371 or 641-424-0874
the Ventura area has officials inves- amanda.ragan@legis.state.ia.us
tigating the possibility of an arsonist
in the area. The Ventura Fire Depart- CLHS wrestlers, 1965 As we move toward the 2016 session, the careful budget-making strategy
ment has responded to approximately adopted by the Legislature will allow us to maintain our investments in expand-
14 separate fires, usually blazes in A host of lettermen led the Clear Lake High School wrestling team in 1965. The team began its second year of wrestling ing Iowa’s middle class in all 99 counties. This includes affordable higher educa-
ditches, since Nov. 21, according to in 1965. The Lion lettermen are front (L-R): Gary May, Dave Henn, Gene Baker, Doug Bitker and Robbie Tibbitts. tion, 21st Century job training and a good education for our schoolchildren.
Ventura Assistant Fire Chief Darwin Second row (L-R): Jack Anderson, Rick Miller, Duane Schlichting, Dave Erickson and Larry Otten. Standing behind That’s because we balance the state budget in a fiscally responsible way. Un-
Avery. He added that rural residents the team is Head Coach John Klaudt. der Iowa law, we never budget for more than 99 percent of what the state takes
have also informed officials that they in, and often significantly less. We use a cautious approach to determining how
have put out small fires in their farm much to spend by looking at recent revenue estimates of a nonpartisan panel of
areas. experts.
The City of Clear Lake is consid- Each year, at least one percent of the state budget goes into savings ac-
ering a new ordinance that will treat counts, which include a cash reserve fund and an economic emergency fund.
stray cats similar to dogs. The ordi- This is the money that gets us by in hard times, such as an economic recession
nance, recommended by Police Chief or a natural disaster. We currently have more than $700 million in our reserve
Dan Jackson, states cats must be vac- funds, the largest amount in state history.
cinated against rabies and may not Iowa’s approach to budgeting wins widespread praise:
run free. If stray cats are picked up by • Based on a comprehensive review of data, 24/7 Wall St. rates the 50 states
police officers, owners will be fined. by how well they’re run. In its most recent study, Iowa ranked number four in
Cats will not need to be licensed or the nation. Among our state’s attributes: low debt, a strong credit rating and a
wear a collar. Until the ordinance is- well-managed budget.
sue is decided, the police department • Iowa consistently earns a Triple A credit rating from Standard and Poor’s.
will continue to loan out its five live This top rating means the state of Iowa has an “extremely strong capacity to
traps with the provision that whatever meet financial commitments” in full and on time.
is caught must be brought to the po- • Iowa’s rainy day funds equal about 10 percent of the state budget and are
lice. among the strongest in the country, according to the Tax Foundation.
The Reverend Daniel Krumrei, • Iowa is one of only eight states to receive an “A” grade from the U.S. Pub-
pastor of the Christian Church, Clear lic Interest Research Group because we make it easy for Iowans to see how their
Lake, is training at Fort McCoy, Wis. tax dollars are spent.
with the Iowa National Guard 209th
medical unit in Iowa City. Krumrei Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) of November we have received .96” Lake over the weekend. Rain was fol- GUEST EDITORIAL
will serve as the unit staff chaplain. Designation by the Residential Sales of precipitation. On the morning of lowed by sleet and heavy winds which
The unit has been ordered to Saudi (RS) Council of the Realtors National Nov. 12, the temperature dipped to made travel by auto all but impos- Eat healthy while on a budget
Arabia. An interim pastor is being Marketing Institute, affiliated with 12 degrees. sible. About six inches of snow fell.
sought. the National Association of Realtors. Stinehart Implement’s annual Drifts were two feet deep in front to By JoAnn Bartusek, Cerro Gordo Coun- with leftovers to find ways to incor-
Corporal Michael P. Barragy, a Molinsky and Day are owner/brokers John Deere Day will be held at the Moeller’s, P.G.E., and Williams and ty Iowa State University Extension and porate them into meals and snacks be-
member of the 2nd Battalion, Delta of Triad Realty, 801 Main Ave., Clear Clearview Roller Rink. Free lunch McGowans Hardware. Outreach fore they are no longer safe to eat. Use
Battery, 14th Marine, a reserve unit Lake. and prizes are planned. Clear Lake Auction Co. had 13 When grocery prices go up, it fruit in smoothies, put leftover veg-
based in Waterloo, Iowa, will report Returning letter winners for Bottle-tossers and marksmen steer stolen Wednesday night. Loss may not seem possible to eat healthy etables in pasta, or use leftover meat
to active duty Nov. 29. On or before the Clear Lake High School wres- with rifles and shotguns are proving is estimated at $800. The thieves are foods while on a budget. However, in a stir fry.
Dec. 1 the unit will leave for Camp tling program are: Kurt Vala, Shawn they can hit the big signs providing thought to be professionals. eating healthy on a budget is possible 5. Shop smart. Check the unit
Le Jeune, North Carolina, and around Zimmerman, Chad Whitecotton, information for the state’s interstate Mason City and Clear Lake Rail- when following a few tips. price on items and compare brands to
mid-December, for Operation Desert Ryan Ruppert, Mike Andrews, Sean highway travelers, stated the Iowa way have begun preparation work for Five tips to save money while eat- get the best value. Use unit prices to
Shield. Corporal Barragy is the son of O’Hare, Andy Hansen, Jay Barragy, State Highway Commission. Crews the ice harvest. They seem to think ing nutritiously: not only compare brands and product
Joe and Mary Barragy, of Clear Lake, Jason Skinner, Mark Deike, Jason Sal- have been busy for several weeks, re- the lake will freeze over again. 1. Look for deals and sizes but also to compare forms of a
and a 1983 graduate of Clear Lake ge, J.T. Turnbull, Jesse Kaiser, Jason placing, washing and spraying a pro- The town fishing dock has been plan your meals! Plan your food like fresh, frozen, and canned.
High School. Stoke. tective clear coating over the sign faces removed, but several private docks are meals around weekly ad Visit the ISU Extension and Outreach
Miss North Iowa, Tammy Bul- and repairing damage. still in. specials and what you have Spend Smart. Eat Smart. website
lington, received a scholarship to the 50 Years Ago Playing at the Lake Theater is on hand in the refrigerator, (www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsav-
Joffrey Ballet School in New York November 1965 Betty Davis, in “The Nanny.” 100 Years Ago freezer, and cupboards. ings) for more information on unit
City. Clear Lake experienced a 20-day November 1915 2. Buy in season. Sea- prices.
Dean Kolinsky and Larry Day, dry spell according to M-R weather 75 Years Ago J.D. Minimum is now shipping sonal produce often costs Source: Choose My Plate Tip
local realtors, have been awarded the statistical L.S. Knutson. In the month November 1940 about 1,200 pounds of dressed poul- less and has better taste. Sheet: Eating Better on a Budget,
A severe blizzard struck Clear try each day. Visit snap.nal.usda.gov/ www.choosemyplate.gov/ten-tips-eat-
I’ve had trouble sleeping ever This morning at 7 a.m., one of the nutrition-through-seasons/ ing-better-on-a-budget
since I heard a disturbing story on Your Cat Would foreigners on the paving gang stabbed seasonal-produce to find
the internet news site, Buzz60. The Kill You If the Bulgarian boss in the arm, inflict- out which foods are in season.
story sited research suggesting my cat ing an awful wound, from which he 3. Schedule a day to cook. Cook
would kill me if it was bigger. And the It Was Bigger fainted in a few minutes from loss of large batches of your favorite recipes
researchers made this claim without blood. The quarrel arose over wages. to portion out and freeze for quick-fix
ever having met my cat. By Guest Columnist Dorothy Rosby Several young people enjoyed a meals throughout the week. For easy
But it isn’t just my cat. It’s yours wiener roast along Lime Creek Satur- recipes to freeze, order the cookbook
too, if you have one. According to Mostly though, it’s hard to be- her. day night. Healthy in a Hurry—14 Main Dishes
the story, if house cats were the size lieve this critter, who’s curled up at my Finally I tried science. A friend B.G. Richardson, one of the earli- for Now or Later from the ISU Ex-
of, say, golden retrievers, they would feet, is plotting my death right now. recommended I try a calming collar est settlers of the county passed away tension Online Store (store.extension.
all be offing their owners. Researchers He might be plotting yours though. and a plug-in diffuser both of which at his home near Hanlontown. iastate.edu).
compared domestic cats to their larg- He’s embarrassingly inhospitable to contain pheromones like the ones Corn in the field around Clear 4. Get creative. Make it a game
er, wild relatives at the Bronx Zoo and visitors. He doesn’t roar like his large mother cats emit. The pheromones are Lake is selling for $1 per acre. Who-
found many characteristics in com- cousins, but he hisses and growls in a supposed to deter destructive behavior ever heard of such a condition before
mon, including insecurity, anxiety, very unwelcoming way. I assure my by helping cats relax. We tried both in this part of Iowa?
aggression, dominance, and impul- guests that it’s because he’s a fraidy cat, the collar and the diffuser, but the cat
siveness. Big deal. You find those same and that he’s never hurt anyone—yet. continued to hiss at the visitors. The
characteristics in every high school I want my visitors to feel wel- rest of the family purred like kittens
lunchroom in America, and that’s a come—most of them anyway. So I though.
fairly safe place to be. set out to put everyone at ease, start- I haven’t given up. Sebastian does
There’s only one time when I’m ing with the cat. Tuna is one of Se- warm up to guests after a while, a re-
pretty sure my cat, Sebastian, wants to bastian’s favorite foods, so I suggested ally long while. I’m just not sure we
do me in, and that’s on those rare oc- to some of our visitors that he might want all of our company to stay as
casions when I give him a bath. Thank be friendlier to them if they dabbed a long as it would take him to warm up
goodness it’s not necessary very often. little tuna juice behind their ears and to them.
I figure the only reason I’m still here is on their wrists, like you would with a In the meantime, we have a
because cats are generally self-cleaning fine perfume. friendlier pet: Mr. Tweeters the ca-
mechanisms. They objected, and, now that I nary. And if anyone has motive for
think about it, that might have been murder, it’s him. We had Tweeters for
a wise decision. If I ever meet one of three years before we got the cat. I’m
Sebastian’s large relatives, like a lion or sure he remembers fondly the good
leopard, I don’t want to smell like an old days when there was no cat leering
antelope either. at him or dozing on top of his cage.
Next I suggested that one of our I wouldn’t blame him for plotting a
brave guests feed him his kitty treats. little revenge of the canary. It’s a good
He ate the treats, and then he hissed at thing he’s not the size of a golden re-
triever.
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