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Thursday, January 12,2012 The Lone Tree Reporter Page3
MLK Day
Sullivan's Salvos
Next Monday marks the federal
holiday celebrating the birthday
of the Reverend Doctor Mar-
tin Luther King Junior. I am so
pleased that our country has cho-
sen to honor this great man, and I
hope ybu enjoy the hdliday in his
name.'
We often hear about Christians
who feel that Christmas has lost
its ineaning, union members who
feel that way about Labor Day,
and Veterans who feel the same
about Veteran's Day. I fear that
this could be happening to MLK
Day as well.
America has come a long way
since the 60s, and overt racism is
now typically (but certainly not
always) frowned upon. We still
have a long way to go, however.
Unfortunately, Johnson County
is home to plenty of racists. The
Press Citizen was all too pleased
to offer them a forum for 7-8 years,
too. MLK's work- our work - on
racial issues is far from done.
I just finished reading "The
New Jim Crow" by Michelle Al-
exander. This book should be re-
quired reading in Johnson Coun-
ty. Why Johnson County? Because
despite our "liberal" credentials,
we incarcerate African Ameri-
cans at the HIGHEST rate in Iowa!
Johnson County is about 85%
white, and 6% African American.
Yet we incarcerate African Ameri-
cans at several times the rate of
whites. Juvenile Court involve-
ment occurs at a rate of NINE
times the rate of whites. How can
we possibly accept these dispari-
ties?
We need more discussion on
race. But it is even more impor-
tant that we remember that King
was a radical in many ways.
America grudgingly accepted ra-
cial reforms because they were
less dangerous to the status quo
than the other issues King cham-
pioned. King took seriously the
Biblical teachings that the love of
money is a sin, and that rich men
will not be welcomed into Heaven.
He proposed seismic changes to
the political and social structures
that exist in America. In addition,
King was adamantly anti-war.
To the status quo, he was the
most dangerous man in the world.
They were happy to grant him
concessions on Jim Crow if they
could maintain their financial
and military might. The fact that
he kept pushing on th6 Biblical
teachings regarding greed meant
he was destined to die. He was too
big a threat.
Take some time this week to
read some of the great books that
are out there on Dr. King. More
importantly, take some time to
read the things he wrote himself.
And Happy MLK Day!
Mr. Bloom Vs. Mr. Bohr
Thus far, I have followed the
whole Steven Bloom controversy
from a distance. My family has
lived on the same spot of ground
since before Iowa became a state.
I am a very proud eighth-gener-
ation Iowan. Needless to say, I
found Mr. Bloom's piece offensive.
I just didn't think it was worth re-
sponding. Until now.
I stop to wipe away the tears as
I write this. A good friend of the
family passed away two weeks
ago. Let me tell you the story of
Don Bohr.
Don grew up on the family farm
bast of Sutliff (very near my fam-
ily). He lost his mother at a very
young age. Don played sports, but
could never fully commit due to
the obligations of the family farm.
As an adult, Don married a won-
derful woman and had three great
kids. He always wanted his own
farm ground, but that was never
to be. So Don spent over 30 years
as a tenant farmer. He was a good
one, too - he took very meticulous
care of those farms. It was said
that he never walked by a weed
without pulling it!
Life was mostly hard work. It
was tough to make a go of it. Soon
there were no farms left to rent,
and Don had to go to work as a se-
curity guard at the UI. Each of the
kids had their share of problems.
Nothing was easy.
But overall. Don was pretty
much like every other guy his
age. He had a good life. Don en-
joyed simple pleasures. He loved
a cold Pepsi. He adored his grand-
kids. Don loved to fish, loved the
Hawkeyes, loved country music,
and lovedto hunt. He hunted
every chance he got. In the end,
it was skin cancer that got him -
undoubtedly a result of all those
hours outside.
Basically" Don Bohr is the guy
Steven Bloom wrote about. Here
is the part Steven Bloom does not
understand: the world would be a
better place if it were full of Don
Bohrs.
Don was kind, gentle, caring,
considerate, friendly, and hard
working. He was no dummy, ei-
ther. This may sound crazy, but I
know that if I had made some out-
rageous request of Don - sked for
a kidney" or his life savings - he
would have given it to me.
I remember once when I was
going through a particularly
rough time at work. I met Don at
Sutliff, and he leaned in close.
"They're really giving it to
you in the paper, huh?" he asked.
"Yep", I sighed. Don said, "Screw
'em. We're all here for ya'."
OK - Don didn't say, "Screw
'em." But this is a PG newsletter.
The point is. I knew that he RE-
ALLY meant it. He wanted to see
a local boy make good. He had a
quiet pride in his place and his
people. More importantly, when I
needed someone, he was there. It
was that way my whole life.
Simple does not mean stupid,
and simple does not equate to bad.
Simple can be very, very good.
Don Bohr was a simple man. He
was also very, very good. His is the
Iowa story that needs to be told.
TIF on TV
In case you missed the recent
forum on TIE it is available on
the web. See City Channel 4 for
details.
DID YOU KNOW? Iowa has
more libraries per capita than any
other state. (Source: Susan Craig,
Iowa City Public Library.)
Anyone interested in learning
more about County government
should take a look at the County
website- www.johnson-county.
com.
As always, feel free to contact
me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@'
mchsi.com. I look forward to serv-
ing you!
Rod Sullivan
Johnson County Supervisor
Neuzil Listening Posts
Hot Topics Discussion: Legisla-
tive Impacts on County Govern-
ment
Terrence Neuzil, member of the
Johnson County Board of Super-
visors, will hold his "Government
and You" Listening Posts in Janu-
ary at several, locations through-
out the County. The hour-long lis-
tening posts provide residents an
opportunity to discuss local, state
and national government issues
in an informal setting.
Each month during the listen-
ing posts, citizens also can learn
and discuss a hot and emerging
issue that Johnson County is
facing. In January, the Hot Top-
ics Discussion will be on how
changes in Iowa laws in the up-
coming Legislative session could
impact Johnson County govern-
ment. Iowa Legislators and the
Governor are expected to address:
Mental Health and Adult Human
Service Administration Redesign,
Commercial and Industrial Prop-
erty Tax Decreases, Tax Incre-
ment Financing (TIF) Reform and
Road Use Tax Fund and Gas Tax
Increase.
Residents interested in learning
more are encouraged to attend. A
list of dates, times and locations
include:
er.
Thursday, January 12th, 4pm
at the Board of Supervisors Of-
rice, 2nd Floor Johnson County
Administration Building, 913 S.
Dubuque St. Iowa City.
Friday, January 20th, 7:30am at
Brueggars Bagels, 404 1st Avenue
in Coralville
Friday, Januaryifi7th, ll:45am
at the Iowa City - Johnson Coun-
ty Senior Center, 28 South Linn
Street, Iowa City; front lobby/din-
ing area.
For more information, please
call 356-6000.
Friday, January 6th, 11:45am at
Kava House, 122 2nd St. in Swish-
Girls basketball vs WMU & Pekin...
Continued... from page 1
from the free throw line to lead
her team. Maggie Schmidt had
10 points in the loss with a 4-8
shooting effort including one
three-pointer. Junior guard Ella
Feldman had six points and six
assists and sophomore forward
Kennedi Warson came into the
game to lead her team with eight
rebounds.
Lone Tree 67,
Pekin 51 "
The Lady Lions turned things
around just three days later,
shooting an incredible 26-52 from
the field (50 percent) as a team in
their 16-point win over the Lady
Panthers at Pekin on Friday, Jan-
uary 6.
Ella Feldman led her squad
with an incredible 22 points on a
7-9 Shooting effort from the field
(1-1 from three-point range) and
7-8 from the free throw line.
Sophomore Madelyn Flemr
put in 16 points on 7-14 shooting
and 2-2 free-throw shooting. She
had an all-star night also leading
her team with five rebounds and
seven assists.
Maggie Schmidt was 6-9 from
the field to finish with 12 points
and led her team with five steals
in the win.
The Lady Lions got eight
points from Cara Chamberlain,
five from Elyssa Mills, and two
each from Avery Edwards and
Abbie Schmidt,
Photograph by J. Quigley / Digital Images Photography
Lone Tree's Ella Feldman makes a quick three-point jumper
during action against the Pekin Panthers on January 6, 2012.
January is Radon Action Month
Five out of seven
Iowa homes have
elevated radon
level
Governor Terry Branstad will
formally declare January as
"Radon Action Month" in Iowa
with a proclamation signing on
Thursday, January 5. Radon is an
odorless, colorless, tasteless gas
that causes no immediate health
symptoms, but long-term expo-
sures may cause lung cancer. It
comes from the breakdown of
uranium in soil. Simple test kits
can reveal the amount of radon
in any building. Buildings with
high levels can usually be fixed
with simple and affordable vent-
ing techniques.
According to the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency, one in
15 homes across the U.S and five
out of seven homes in Iowa have
an elevated radon level. Radon gas
seeps into a house the same way
air or other soil gases enter: from
the soil around and under the
home; through cracks in the foun-
dation, floor or walls; through
hollow-block walls; and through
openings around floor drains,
pipes and sump pumps. Radon
has been detected in new and
old homes, and in homes with or
without basements. Test kits are
simple to use and may be obtained
from Johnson County Public
Health. Test kits cost $4 if picked
up at the Health Department of-
rices at 855 S. Dubuque Street or
$6 ff it is mailed. To order a test
kit call Johnson County Public
Health at 319-356-6040. For more
information about radon, call the
American Lung Association at
800-383-5992. Licensed measure-
ment and mitigation specialists
are listed at www.idph.state.ia.us/
.............
Risk Management class for Pork Producers
Volatile agricultural mar-
kets, high input costs and rising
amounts of capital for farm op-
eration has driven the importance
of effective risk management for
pork producers.
Iowa Pork Producers Associa-
tion, Iowa State University Ex-
tension and Outreach and the
Iowa Pork Industry Center of-
fered regional seminars for Iowa
pork producers and allied indus-
try representatives followed by
a series of in-depth small group
workshops for those interested in
additional information about day-
to-day swine risk management
decisions.
Workshop sessions began in
December and go through April.
Washington County Extension
will be a host site on Jan. 10 from
1 to 3 p.m. The workshops will
allow group discussion, risk man-
agement experts to address specif-
ic topics on line and a chance for
participants to use the risk man-
agement concepts in a real time
marketing simulation and devel-
op and risk management plan for
their operation.
Risk management specialist
Ron Plain, Lee Schulz. Shane
Ellis, Chad Hart and Steve Meyer
will interact with workshop par-
ticipants via web connection.
Homework assignments will help
participants know their feed cost.
total cost and crush cost. A fee Of
$20 per person will be charged to
help offset the cost of an account
for the market simulation. PleaSe
contact Tom Miller at 319-653-4811
or email tmiller@iastate.edu for
additional information.
Farmland Drainage Workshop January 30
A January workshop will exam-
ine various aspects of farmland
drainage. The workshop will be of-
fered Jan. 30 at Big Ed's Firehouse
in New Hampton. The program
begins at 9 a.m. and will adjourn
at 3:30 p.m.
"We are offering this farmland
drainage workshop due to the
overwhelming interest in a De-
cember workshop on this topic,"
said Kapil Arora, an agricultural
engineer with Iowa State Univer-
sity Extension and Outreach.
The morning session will focus
on drainage design concepts, eco-
nomics and the long-term benefits
of tiling. The afternoon session
will include discussions on drain-
age maintenance issues, compli-
ance with USDA-NRCS require-
ments, discussions on controlled
drainage, bioreactors and manag-
ing drainage water quality with
wetlands.
Speakers include Iowa State
University Extension Ag Engi-
neering Specialist Kapil Arora,
ISU Extension Farm Manage-
ment Specialists Kristen Schulte
and Kelvin Leibold, ISU Associate
Professor of Ag Engineering Matt
Helmers, USDA-NRCS Specialist
Bruce Atherton and John Baker,
attorney for the Iowa Concern
Hofline.
Iowa State University Extension
and Outreach, industry partners
and the United States Department
of Agriculture - Natural Resourc-
es Conservation Service, sponsor
the program.
Registration information is
available online extension.iastate.
edu, or call ISU Extension and
Outreach in Chickasaw County at
641-394-2174.
Loebsack to Hold Office Hours
Congressman Dave Loebsack
will have a member of his staff in
Southeastern Iowa for open office
hours. Jared Hershberger, Loe-
bsack's District Representative
covering Southeastern Iowa, will
be at the following locations. Con-
stituents are urged to come in to
discuss job creation and economic
development, in addition to other
issues and concerns.
Thursday, January 5
Muscatine City Hall
215 Sycamore Street
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Thursday, January 12
Muscatine City Hall
215 Sycamore Street
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Wednesday, January 18
Washington Chamber of Com-
merce
205 West Main Street:
10:00 AM -12:00 PM
Thursday, January 19
Muscatine City Hall
215 Sycamore Street
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Columbus Junction City Hall
232 2rid Street
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Thursday, January 26
Muscatine City Hall
215 Sycamore Street
10:00 AM - 12:0(3 PM
West Liberty City Hall
409 North Calhoun Street
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
*e s]erger wl!t be. o,.h. 1!;
0rk with individuals ?
Ang difficulty with a
g0erl-.
me't agency, have suggestions for
Dave, or would just like to share-
their concerns. Members of the,
public are invited to attend. Her:
shberger holds regular ofrie¢
hours throughout Southeasterr£:
Iowa .....
If
you are unable to attend bh£
have a concern to share with tl:
Congressman, please call our d:
trict office toll-free at 1-866-914-
IOWA (4692).
mrs
Nit*ce 1901
www.fmbankonl ine. corn
LoneTree 6294222 • Nichols 723-4412 • Iowa City 341-5900
Telephone banking 1-877-226-5366