SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
July 27, 2013
Sullivan’s
Salvos 7/30/13
In this edition:
*Happy Anniversary!
*RIP Clayton Ringgenberg
*Mussel Paddle
*Back To School Help
*Stand Your Ground
*Swisher Fun Days
*Did You Know?
*Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary to
my wonderful wife, Melissa Fath. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed,
but I know I got a great deal here! Melissa is the best wife and mother a
person could ever hope for!
Happy Anniversary,
Honey! It has been a great ride!
I hope we celebrate many
more!
*RIP Clayton Ringgenberg
Johnson County lost
a real resource last week with the passing of Clayton Ringgenberg. I knew
Clayton through our church, and always regarded him as a very kind and decent
gentleman.
Unfortunately,
I had known him for several years before I learned of his illustrious
background: Clayton was the first director of the Iowa Legislative Research
Bureau, Director of the Iowa League of Municipalities, Chief of Staff for Gov.
Robert Ray, and retired as Director of the Institute of Public Affairs at the
University of Iowa. I wish I had asked his advice sooner!
In
addition to his public service, Clayton was active in many organizations. He
served as a Board Member of Grand View University and National Travelers Life
Company, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Advisor, Iowa City Charter
Commission, Iowa City Library Board and Foundation, Board of Control of
Athletics at the University of Iowa, Visiting Nurses Association, Iowa 2000
Task Force as well as many roles at Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church.
There are so many
people in Johnson County who are so incredibly smart and experienced. I wish I
had been wise enough to tap into this talent earlier. It serves as a good
reminder that our elders accomplished a great deal before we were on the scene.
Quite a resume, and quite a man. RIP, Clayton.
*Mussel Paddle
Freshwater
mussels might look like rocks, but they are living creatures that help keep our
rivers clean. Learn about these fascinating critters on a float trip on the
Iowa River Water Trail.
The
paddle will be held Saturday, August 3, from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. beginning
at Sturgis Ferry Park in Iowa City and ending at the Hills Access near Hills.
The event is free but registration is required and participation is limited to
twenty boats.
Mussel
expert Jennifer Kurth will be along to explain the natural history of what are
sometimes called freshwater “clams.” Participants should come prepared to get
wet and muddy during a hands-on demonstration of mussel surveys. Jennifer is a Natural Resource Biologist
with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and is currently in the midst of
a six-year statewide survey of freshwater mussels.
A
limited number of canoes and kayaks are available at no charge for participants
who don't have their own. The paddle is open to everyone but children under age
16 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration and additional information is
available at www.iowariverwatertrail.com or by calling (319) 645-1011. After
registration participants will receive a packet with detailed information about
the trip, including a map and shuttling instructions.
The
Iowa Water Trail is one of 19 official water trails in Iowa. This paddling trip
is cosponsored by Pathfinders RC&D, Johnson County Conservation Board and
the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
*Back To School Help
It is time once
again to fill backpacks with school supplies for needy kids!
The
Homeless Children’s Trust provides help for children who have been homeless and
need special assistance. Counselors from HACAP, the Domestic Violence
Intervention Program, the Shelter House and MECCA provide us with the names of
families in crisis. The program supplies school supplies, backpacks, socks and
underwear to children of all ages.
You
can drop off items at the Little Red Schoolhouses found at: All UICCU
locations, all CORE Fitness locations, all HACAP locations, all Walgreens
locations, Waterfront and CV Hy Vees, the Senior Center, Big K Mart, KCJJ, and
Hills Bank on Gilbert Street.
Supplies
will be sorted and packed in the backpacks on August 12th. We will
meet at 1:00pm at the HACAP Family Service Center at 367 Southgate in Iowa City.
Please come and volunteer your time.
HACAP
provides Head Start classrooms for 260 children, 52 transitional housing units,
heating assistance, employment counseling and other programs in Johnson County.
Any donations given in Johnson County are used for families in need in Johnson
County.
Checks
may be written to the Homeless Children’s Trust and sent to HACAP at 367
Southgate, Iowa City 52240. For questions or to sign up for volunteer work on
Friday August 9th Call Mary Larew at 337-2264 or Jeanne Nunley at 337-5765.
HACAP is a United Way Agency.
*Stand Your Ground
The
Trayvon Martin case occurred in part because of a REALLY stupid law – “Stand
Your Ground”.
Yes,
there are several other issues involved. I do not mean to minimize any of the
concerns over race and justice. As a matter of fact, I’ll write about them in
another edition of Salvos. But Stand Your Ground makes everything worse.
Under
Iowa law, you may carry a firearm, but you may only use it if there was no
other way for you to leave the situation. This is the way most state laws used
to read. It is common sense. We do not want individuals taking the law into
their own hands. In Iowa, if you use your gun, you had better get it right, or
the penalties will be severe. That is as it should be. Brandishing and/or
firing a weapon is a BIG deal, and it should be treated as such.
Stand
Your Ground laws allow the person carrying the weapon to serve as judge, jury,
and executioner. Make a mistake? Too late – someone is already dead. A civilian
should ALWAYS be required to retreat if possible.
This
has nothing to do with gun rights. Carry all the guns you want. This is about
gun responsibilities. Carrying a gun is one thing. Using it is a whole
different ballgame.
Stand Your Ground is just stupid. It invites deadly conflict. It
legalizes vigilantism. Statistics show that gun deaths are up in states that
have passed these laws. I hope Legislators in Iowa maintain the common sense to
keep Stand Your Ground out of our state.
*Swisher Fun Days
The
fine people of Swisher are holding their annual Fun Days this Friday the 2nd,
Saturday the 3rd, and Sunday the 4th.
Swisher
is a cool little town well positioned between Coralville/North Liberty and
Cedar Rapids. They have a great new coffee shop, a wonderful new library, and
older landmarks like Shelton’s Grocery and the Dance Mor Ballroom. There are plenty
of good people doing good things in this town!
So
get up to Swisher this weekend and have some fun!
*DID YOU KNOW?
HACAP stands for Hawkeye Area Community Action Program.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"Sullivan’s
Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief
update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages
come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the
whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise
mentioned.
If you do NOT
want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type
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If you know
anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail
me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 10:17 AM
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