Patzels are new managers at Fairview Lanes
September 22, 2009
Mitch and Terry Patzel
The business reopened Friday, Sept. 18, after being closed for a short time, and bowling leagues were scheduled to start on Monday, Sept. 21. The full-service restaurant is also back in operation.
Women’s leagues are planned on Monday and Tuesday evenings, and men’s leagues will be Thursday evenings. The Patzels also hope to start a mixed league on Sunday evenings later this year.
See this week’s Albion News Print Edition for details.
Cedar Rapids Locker plans grand opening
September 22, 2009
Cedar Rapids Locker LLC will hold a grand opening celebration in Cedar Rapids this Saturday, Sept. 26, from 1 to 4 p.m. The locker has been reopened since June 2009. Brian Yosten and Maynard Pelster are partners in the business.
See the Albion News Print Edition for details.
Church improvements continue
September 22, 2009
St. Michael’s Church bell tower
Improvements are also underway at Zion Lutheran Church, where a new roof is being installed.
Perspectives
September 17, 2009
An exciting step forward
By Paul Hosford
It was quite the experience. A group of people from three local communities were assembled on the bridge spanning the moat at the Stuhr Museum listening to UNL Architecture professor Martin Despang’s 15 students explain their ideas for our future before they began their tour of the grounds.
It seemed appropriate that we examined each of these concepts on a bridge. We were not only bridging the past and the future but also bridging the generations.
Martin’s students are devoting a full semester to working with Boone County to generate new ideas for “pioneering the future.” Each has created a 3 foot by 2 foot four-panel graphic presentation that expressed 1) their initial impression of Albion, 2) something that was here but isn’t anymore, 3) something about the community that caught their attention, and 4) an innovative precedent from someplace else that could be adapted to this area.
Expressing ideas in visual form is the foundation of every architectural project. In this case the project is our community, and the displays showed images ranging from the combine demolition derby to the Dairiette, the Courthouse and the Gateway Theater. By the end of this semester, three-dimensional models will have evolved from these initial concepts.
The talent it took to create each display, coupled with the creativity of the underlying concepts, made them stand out as genuine works of art. One by one, the students stepped forward and explained why they had chosen the images on their intricate displays.
One young woman used something I had written — that the road to the future begins with a vision — as her starting point. She began her project with an image of an eye, the quintessential symbol of vision, and then proceeded to illustrate her own.
All the students’ visions were amazing and each demonstrated a genuine interest in our area. The students clearly appreciate that to move forward we must remember — and honor — our past. They spoke of such things as “intelligently integrating” new concepts and designs into our community. But they weren’t sentimental — one pointed out that the pioneer past was anything but the “Good Life.” There were droughts, prairie fires, locusts and blizzards. Another wisely pointed out that a balance must be struck between preservation and innovation, reminding us that clinging too strongly to the past will stop us from embracing the future.
One display focused on our values. Its creator was especially impressed by how community members on the students’ initial bus tour pointed to so many landmarks with an obvious sense of pride. She was also impressed with our traditional values, illustrated in part by the number of our churches. And most of all, she was impressed by our sense of trust, illustrated by the fact that we don’t have many stop signs in our downtown — she pointed out that we trust each other to “do the right thing” not only when driving but in many other areas as well.
The concept of sustainability came up repeatedly. Our area needs to sustain a viable population and conserve our natural resources. The concept of integrating new designs into the existing environment was also explored — building from local materials in ways that reflect this area’s characteristics.
The downtown was a primary focus; ways to redevelop the living spaces above our existing buildings were discussed by several students. Another student pointed out there were once many more trees in the downtown and suggested ways to “re-green” the area. Yet another showed how another community has created ornamental gardens in empty buildings.
Most of all, though, these bright and perceptive young people focused on the need for spaces that draw people together, especially to enjoy the arts. They are well aware that technology is isolating people. They have looked at our past and found example after example of people coming together to enjoy music (such as around the bandstand that once stood on the courthouse lawn) and would like to see that happen again.
The students understand that communities are made up of people, not buildings. But buildings serve the needs of communities and if properly designed, can do much to strengthen the ties among people by giving them places to gather.
There is much more than I can describe in this space. All 15 students’ designs will be on display soon in Albion at all four banks and City Hall. I would urge everyone to take a moment to view them — they are inspiring signs of things to come.
My Side of the Fencepost
September 17, 2009
Tort Reform discussion needed
By Jim Dickerson
I was asked the other day about my opinion on health care reform. It’s not an easy issue. I believe we could reach consensus on some changes in the American health care system that could benefit our society, but we can’t rush through the process.
I would agree that, overall, we have excellent health care in the United States. However, health insurance costs are shooting past the affordability level for many businesses and individuals. That is a primary reason for considering reform.
If we’re looking at comprehensive reforms in the system, and we’ve come to the conclusion that rapidly increasing cost is a big problem, then we should take a detailed look at all factors contributing to those costs. Malpractice cases, and malpractice insurance costs, are among those factors.
Dealing with the tort reform issue will take considerably more time than President Obama originally had in mind, but now the door has finally been opened. Debate seems to be getting started on this complex issue.
Personally, I believe that health care costs have been influenced over the years by the cost of malpractice insurance, the threat of malpractice suits and the high cost of settlements.
Aside from the possibility of setting limits on malpractice judgements, which has always been part of the discussion, there are some other interesting proposals making the rounds.
One of those would establish special “medical courts” — judges with medical expertise — to hear malpractice cases and determine settlements. Another proposal would use medical experts (or panels of experts) to weed out possible frivolous malpractice cases. Of course, adding another layer to the court system will likely increase health care costs.
Since tort reform is just one of a long list of related issues, I can understand why reforms have been slow in coming.
Like many other Americans, I have some trouble sorting through the rhetoric to determine truth and fiction. I have my doubts about some of the president’s statements in last week’s speech to Congress — especially his statement that his health care reform “would not add one penny” to insurance premium costs, to federal taxes, or to the federal deficit.
With all the details yet to be determined, and based on the track record of every federal program that has been signed into law in the past 80 years, I just can’t believe that.
We are proposing to add more than 30 million currently uninsured Americans to the system, make sure all pre-existing conditions are covered and pretty much guarantee that health coverage is available to all citizens. I don’t believe the federal government can accomplish this without increased cost to taxpayers and ratepayers, or increasing the national debt.
A lot has been said and written about the “public option” of government health coverage within the president’s reform proposal. There is legitimate concern that a public option would remove any profitability for private insurers and take them out of the picture, which would leave average Americans with one insurance option — the government plan.
Various proposals have been made to allow for both the private and public options, including cost “triggers” that would give citizens the option of using the government plan.
If the whole thing boils down to a public plan that is the most practical for the most Americans, it isn’t a large stretch to call that “Medicare for all.” Some have taken the next step and dubbed it “socialized medicine.” Hardly anyone likes the sound of that. It could mean rationed care and long waits for treatment.
At the same time, I believe there is an ongoing misinformation campaign on the internet. It has already played a large roll in convincing many people that “death panels” would be established to “pull the plug” on elderly people.
Various fact checking organizations have discredited this claim. This simply isn’t part of the legislation, but many people continue to believe it.
There is a provision for Medicare to pay for VOLUNTARY end of life counseling sessions for people who are facing terminal illness.
In conclusion, I don’t see the need for a big rush to pass a reform bill within the next month or two. Congress and the Obama Administration need to think this whole thing through, build consensus and come up with a workable plan. It’s too important to rush.
September 16, 2009
Dean R. Score
Dean Robert Score, 77 of Glenwood, IA, died at the Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA on Sept. 2, 2009. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at Hertz Funeral Home, Glenwood, IA. Interment was in the Glenwood Cemetery.
Keith E. & Anna M. Jewell
Keith, 89, of Norfolk, died on Sept. 5, 2009 at Faith Regional Health Services following a traffic accident.
Anna, 84, of Norfolk, died on Sept. 7, 2009 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, IA following a traffic accident on Saturday.
Funeral services were held on Friday, Sept. 11 at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Albion. Revs. K.F. Kaleuati and James Brewer officiated. Burial was held in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Albion. Family asks that memorials be given to the United Methodist Church of Albion.
Condolences may be sent to www.levanderfuneralhome.com.
Fern M. Rankin
Fern Mae Rankin, 97, of Spalding, died Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, at Friendship Villa in Spalding. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Andrew Community Church, Spalding. Rev. Ray Avidano will officiate. Burial will be in the Dublin Cemetery, Primrose. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. prayer service.
Florence M. Keeshan
Florence Mary Keeshan, 93, formerly of Albion, died Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009 at the Mid-Nebraska Lutheran Home in Newman Grove. Funeral services were held on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Albion. Fr. Stanley Schmidt officiated. Burial was held in St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to www.levanderfuneralhome.com.
Glen G. Walters
Glen Gene Walters, 34, Densmore, KS, died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009 at Norton County Hospital in Norton, KS.
Lady Cardinals 2nd In Boone Central Volley Invite
September 16, 2009
Bygland, Beckwith team for block
After a slow start, the Cards found that positive spark, winning two matches and placing second in the competitive meet.
“I was really happy how the weekend went,” commented Boone Central Coach Erin Eickhoff. “The girls worked really hard. It was great to see that moment when everything just clicked.” Read more
Top 10 GICC Tops Cards In Soggy Grid Tilt
September 16, 2009
Anderson dives for first down
The Crusaders, ranked 9th in Class C1 by the Omaha World-Herald, and the Cardinals sloshed through one-and-a-half scoreless quarters in a steady rainfall. Footing was good on the stadium’s newly-installed artificial turf, however, and as the moisture abated in the second period, G.I.C.C.’s air attack revved up.
With balls and hands less wet and slippery, Central Catholic QB Casey Wiens hooked up with split end Michael Houdek for a pair of TD strikes just prior to halftime for a 21-6 Crusader lead that swung momentum to the side of the hosts. Read more
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