Coralville Courier

Structure Fire at 3205 East Court Street

At 1057 hours, the Iowa City Fire Department received a report of a structure fire at 3205 East Court. A next door neighbor reported seeing the fire on the rear of the single story ranch style home.

On arrival, the first arriving fire company reported heavy black smoke pushing from the home and from around the eves of the roof. A large amount of fire was found on the rear of the house on the deck and spreading to the interior of the building through the eves.

Fire crews knocked down the exterior fire and then made an interior attack through a set of patio doors on the rear. A search of the home found no occupants, but a small black dog did escape when fire crews opened the rear doors. The dog was uninjured and Iowa City Animal Control was contacted to care for the dog. The dog was turned over to family members on their arrival.

Crews had to pull an extensive amount of ceiling to gain access to the fire that had spread to the attic. Crews also gained access to the attic through a scuttle hole in the garage and by opening the roof near the chimney at the peak of the roof.

The fire was brought under control in approximately 30 minutes. Crews were on scene for approximately 3 hours completing salvage and overhaul.

The home sustained extensive smoke, heat, fire and water damage. The home owned by Dennis and Bonnie Doyle received an estimated $75,000 damage.

The Iowa City Fire Department was assisted by the Iowa City Police and Animal Control, Johnson County Ambulance, West Branch and Coralville Fire Departments, Mid American Energy and Red Cross.

A call back of all Iowa City Fire Department personnel and mutual aid from Solon, Tiffin, and North Liberty maintained emergency response capabilities at the three fire stations in Iowa City.

There were no injuries and the fire remains under investigation at this time by the Iowa City Fire Department.

Iowa City Public Library Debuts New Web Site

On July 1, 2009, the Iowa City Public Library launched its newly redesigned Web site to the public, offering easier navigation and better organization of the content Johnson County residents have said they seek out most frequently.

The Library Web site was last redesigned in 2004, to coincide with the opening of the new building that was finished that same year. It is now five years later and, though the physical walls of the Library space remain intact, the virtual walls of the Library Web site were beginning to show signs of design fatigue.

In February 2008, the Iowa City Public Library commissioned a usability study of our site to identify areas that users found difficult to use, or information that was difficult to find. Volunteers were recruited to come to the Library and be videotaped performing a list of tasks using the Web site. Hand motions and search strategies were then analyzed for each subject.

Another set of volunteers was recruited to participate in an exercise called "card sorting." Participants are presented with a stack of cards with each card listing a particular task or piece of information found in the Web site. Each user then sorts the cards into what they consider to be relevant groups. These groupings are then statistically correlated and the consensus groupings are used to form the nucleus of a Web site navigational scheme.

Navigation was one of the weaknesses revealed by the usability studies. Users found there was a lack of navigational consistency from page to page and that some services were difficult to locate. The new navigation scheme will be consistent and constant throughout the site.

In addition to developing a new navigation structure, a Web site design committee consisting of Library staff from all departments worked for over a year to reorganize and rewrite content that conformed to these design principles:
1. Provide shorter, clearer pages for easier readability, and less scrolling.
2. Convey a warmer, more human experience tied to the Library's own environment.
3. Create a wider, shallower site so more pages are accessible via fewer clicks.

Recognizing that no Web site is ever really finished, we at the Library are confident this new design will provide us with the means for structured growth into the near future. Search it, explore it, and let us know what you think.

Just a few highlights from ICPL's new Web site
(Explore our new site at icpl.org)

Books and More
• Book reviews and reading suggestions
• List of books, videos and music added this week and maps of collection locations
• Downloadable books
• Books clubs and reading programs

Reference and Research
• Improved access to online databases

Library Newsroom (http://newsroom.icpl.org/)
• Library news
• Press releases
• Event photos

Road Construction - Fourth Avenue and A Street

IOWA CITY, IA. -- Weather permitting, beginning on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, Fourth Avenue, from Court Street to A Street, and A Street, from Fourth Avenue to Third Avenue, will be closed to thru traffic during the hours of 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. This closure is to facilitate the removal of speed humps along these sections of roadway. Access will be maintained for residents along Fourth Avenue and A Street. It is anticipated that normal traffic will resume by the end of the day on Friday, June 17th.

Motorists are encouraged to take note of this construction work and to seek an alternate route during this time period. As always, caution should be exercised when traveling through all construction areas.

For the updated information on road construction in Iowa City, visit the City of Iowa City's website at
http://www.iowa-city.org/works/roadconstruction.asp

Independence Day Schedule for City Services

CORALVILLE, IA. -- City Hall and Police Administrative Offices, along with the Parks, Water, Wastewater, Streets, and Sanitation Departments will be closed on Friday, July 3.

The Coralville Public Library will be closed Friday through Sunday, July 3 through 5.

The Recreation Center and the Indoor Pool will be open normal business hours Friday, July 3. A schedule can be found at www.coralville.org. The Recreation Center and the Indoor Pool will be open noon to 5:00 pm on July 4 with restroom hours from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, and open normal business hours, noon to 6:00 pm, on July 5. The Coralville Community Aquatic Center will be open normal business hours, 11:00 am to 8:00 pm, the entire 4th of July weekend.

The Coralville Farmers' Market will be relocated to the Methodist Church parking lot on the northwest corner of 8th Street and 14th Avenue on Thursday, July 2, and Monday, July 6.

Bus service will observe a Saturday schedule on Friday, July 3. There will be no bus service on Saturday and Sunday, July 4 and 5. Regular service resumes Monday, July 6.

Trash and recycling for Friday, July 3, will be picked up on Monday, July 6. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will be picked up on schedule.

Traffic Detours for Fireworks Display

The Iowa City Fourth of July fireworks display will take place on Saturday July 4th. The fireworks will be launched from the University of Iowa's Hubbard Park. For those unfamiliar with the area, Hubbard Park is bordered by Jefferson St, Madison St, Iowa Av, and the Iowa River. The fireworks display will begin after the final band plays on Friday evening at the Iowa City Jazz Festival.

For safety reasons, certain areas and streets near the launch area will be closed to pedestrian and vehicular traffic due to the fireworks:
' July 3rd ' Hubbard Park will be closed to the public once the set-up begins and will remain closed until after the display;
' July 4th ' At 9pm the following streets will be closed and will remain closed until the conclusion of the fireworks display:
o Iowa Av between Riverside Dr and Madison St;
o Madison St between Washington St and Jefferson St;
o Jefferson St west of Madison St;
o Market St west of Clinton St.

Parking will be available in all of the Iowa City municipal parking ramps on July 4th. Persons attending the jazz festival or fireworks are encouraged to park in the municipal ramps or use alternate forms of transportation. Spectators should consider viewing the fireworks display from the west lawn of the Pentacrest.

Traffic delays are likely, especially immediately before and after the fireworks display. Motorists should plan additional time for travel to and from the area. Motorists should be especially attentive to pedestrian traffic.

Board/Commission/Committee Vacancies

IOWA CITY, IA. -- Board/Commission/Committee vacancies have been updated. All current vacancies are available at: http://www.iowa-city.org/icgov/apps/boards/vacancies.asp

Service Notice for the Iowa City Jazz Festival (July 3-5)

Iowa City Transit will operate a Saturday schedule on Friday, July 3rd. On Saturday, July 4th, we will provide free bus service on a regular Saturday schedule. There will be no bus service on Sunday, July 5th. For more information please contact Iowa City Transportation Services at (319) 356-5151 or visit us on the web at www.icgov.org/transit. Thank you.

Editor's Note:  How nice, taxpayers are subsidizing *free* bus service!  Are drivers not getting paid that day?  Does fuel replacement not cost anything then?  Are cleaning duties *free* that day?  Mechanical service needs at no cost?  Who needs a budget when everything is *free* right?

 

Third year of Rummage in the Ramp gets underway

"Rummage in the Ramp" is quickly becoming one of those don't-miss summer events in Iowa City, and this year promises to be the best one yet, with more donations expected than ever before, and an increased number of sales hours for people to shop the bargains. Rummage in the Ramp 2009 will be held from Sunday, July 26 through Sunday, August 2 on the lower level of Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, between Burlington and Washington Streets.

Donation and sales hours will be scheduled to run simultaneously this year, during the following times:
Sunday, July 26 - Friday, July 31: Noon to 8 p.m.
Saturday, August 1: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, August 2: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Donations of kitchen and other household items, furniture, clothing, beds and bedding, books, toys, small appliances in good working order, and non-perishable food items will be accepted, and are tax-deductible. For a small fee, volunteers will also provide a pick-up service for donors who do not have a truck or vehicle to bring furniture or other donations to the ramp. Information on that service will be available in mid-July on the City's Rummage in the Ramp website.

Computers and other electronics, such as televisions, stereos, and game systems, will be accepted, but will require a $5 donation fee. The fee will be used to cover the recycling costs of these items if they do not sell or are not in working condition at the time of the sale. While all efforts will be made to ensure proper working order, any electronic items purchased at the sale will be sold "as-is," with no guarantees for the buyer.

Rummage in the Ramp is a donation and re-use sale organized by the City of Iowa City to help reduce the volume of furniture and household goods that are hauled to the curb or dumpster each summer as students move out of their apartments. The event encourages people to donate, rather than throw away, their still-usable furniture and other household items. The items are then sold at bargain-basement low prices, ranging from $1 to $20. Proceeds from the sale are divided among local nonprofit organizations that help staff the event.

Last year, Rummage in the Ramp diverted about 19 tons of reusable materials from the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center, and raised about $9,000 for local nonprofits. In its first year, the event raised $4,000, and was named the Iowa Recycling Association's "Recycling Project of the Year."

Local businesses are also being offered an opportunity this year to help sponsor the 2009 event with donations to help cover expenses, such as advertising, volunteer support, signage, printing, and table rental. By helping defray these costs, sponsorships will help increase the amount of money that is directed to the nonprofit organizations affiliated with the event. Three levels of sponsorship are available: Gold "Reduce" Sponsorship: $100 or more; Silver "Reuse" Sponsorship: $50 - $99; and Bronze "Recycle" Sponsorship: $1 - $49. Sponsors will be recognized on event signage and other print materials. Contact Karl Burhop at 356-5234 or e-mail karl-burhop@iowa-city.org for sponsorship opportunities.

For more information on the Rummage in the Ramp event, visit the website at http://www.icgov.org/rummageintheramp or contact the City's Recycling Coordinator, Jennifer Jordan, at 319.887.6160 or email jennifer-jordan@iowa-city.org, or Neighborhood Services Coordinator Marcia Bollinger at 319.356.5237 or marcia-bollinger@iowa-city.org.

Editor's Note:  Why are taxpayers funding a Neighborhood Services Department?  Seriously, why is this department necessary?  Send Taxpayer-funded-paycheck-Coordinator Marcia Bollinger an email asking why:  marcia-bollinger@iowa-city.org

Iowa City Fire Department Urges Fireworks Safety

The Iowa City Fire Department wants to remind citizens that, while fireworks are a time-honored part of Independence Day celebrations, people and property are negatively impacted each year by their careless use.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2007, hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 9,800 people for fireworks related injuries:

• 56% of the injuries were to the extremities and 36% were to the head
• 49% of the injuries were burns, while 29% were contusions and lacerations
• 42% of those injured were under the age of 15; the risk of injury for children aged 5-9 or 10-14 was two-and-a-half times as for the general population
• Sparklers, fountains, and novelties accounted for 36% of fireworks injuries.

In 2006, the NFPA reports fireworks caused an estimated 32,600 fires, including 1,700 structure fires and 600 vehicle fires. These fires resulted in 6 civilian deaths, 70 civilian injuries and $34 million in direct property damage. More fires are reported on Independence Day than on any other day, and fireworks account for half of those fires.

The Iowa City Fire Department reminds residents that public fireworks displays are the safest alternative to view fireworks. Professionally produced public displays are established under a controlled setting, subject to safety regulations, and monitored by public safety personnel. Iowa City will hold such a display on Saturday, July 4, 2009. Again this year, the launching of the fireworks will be from Hubbard Park near the Iowa Memorial Union. The show begins at dusk and will be visible from the downtown area.

The Fourth of July can be an exciting and fun holiday; please make safety a priority.

Loebsack fails 2nd District voters - AGAIN

By Mike Thayer

Liberal Dave "Do Nothing" Loebshack did it again, he voted how Speaker Nancy Pelosi wanted him to.  Loebshack went partyline parrot and voted yes on HR 2454 - the American Clean Energy and Security Act - more accurately called an energy tax.

Commonly referred to as the 'Cap and Trade' bill, the measure sets a cap on the total amount of carbon that can be emitted, forcing companies to buy permits to emit CO2. The cap gets cranked down over time to reduce total carbon emissions.  The corporate costs of buying these expensive permits will be passed to consumers.

The bill plays on the fear and myth of human caused global warming and Loebshack is playing the role of stooge in a liberal grab for more power and control over our lives.  There's nothing 'clean' about this bill, it's a scam, a shameless tax hike - and Loebshack voted for it.

Does Dave even KNOW how to think for himself?

Never mind that the earth's temperatures started flat-lining in 2001 and our planet has entered into a cooling period huh Dave?

Never mind that the number of scientists skeptical of human caused global warming (HCGW) is swelling, a number over 700 - or 13 times the scientists who wrote the supposed HCGW consensus. 

According to the Heritage Foundation, the carbon tax bill will cost the economy $161 billion in 2020, which is $1,870 for a family of four.   The year 2020 is used as a benchmark of sorts, as the bulk of the bill's restrictions kick in AFTER 2020.  The extra energy costs to a family of four rises to $6,800 by 2035.

There's no way Loebshack read this bill.  The base bill is 1200 pages long, was only made available this last week, receiving 'consideration' with just three hours of general debate.  To complicate matters further, another 309 pages of amendments were added on Friday morning, the day of the vote.  There's no way Loebshack read this bill and effectively considered the bill's impact to Iowans. 

Try reading Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged (1000 pages) in less than four days while maintaining your regular schedule, unexpected things come up, distractions occur and see just how much of that book you DON'T get read.  Oh, and read the 509 page sequel the morning your book report is due.  What kind of grade do you think you'd get?

In the House Energy Committee, Republicans offered three amendments before the bill went to the floor: one to suspend the program if gas hit $5 a gallon; one to suspend the program if electricity prices rose 10% over 2009; and one to suspend the program if unemployment rates hit 15%. Democrats defeated all of them.  Loebshack helped kill common sense.

Loebshack doesn't know if this bill is going to hurt 2nd District farmers - but he voted yes in support of it anyway.

Loebshack doesn't know if this bill is going to hurt small businesses in the 2nd District - but he voted yes in support of it anyway.

Loebshack doesn't know just how much the utility bills for voters in the 2nd District are going to skyrocket - but he voted yes anyway.

Loebshack seems to forget that he is an employee of the people.  He has voted with a majority of his Democratic colleagues 96.5% of the time during the current Congress according to the Washington Post voting record database.   He wasn't sent to Washington to be a parrot, he was sent to there to represent the people of Iowa's 2nd District.  His voting record is anything but properly representing the good people of southeast Iowa.

Loebshack has failed 2nd District voters - AGAIN!

Write the failing Congressman and tell him he screwed up:  http://loebsack.house.gov/contactform/