The Grundy Register
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Thursday, November 26, 2015
Serving Grundy County since 1928
Grundy Center, Iowa
www.TheGrundyRegister.com
Volume 91 – Number 48
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Schutz outlines school district facility needs
GRUNDY CENTER — The Grundy Center Community School District’s facilities are in critical need of repair. That was the message sent by Grundy Center Community School District superintendent Jerry Schutz last Wednesday as he outlined the District’s long-term facilities plans. Schutz outlined needs, focusing primarily on safety and security of the buildings as well as replacing worn out physical plant items. Among key items he discussed were HVAC units in the secondary building, 58 of which he said will need to be replaced within the next five years, as well as lighting in the Elementary parking lot, motion sensors in the elementary hallways to turn lights on and off, and the possibility of secondary exits from classrooms that would be used if a security incident required evacuation. There was also talk of replacing lighting in the secondary auditorium, installing a security card system at the secondary building, replacing audio/visual equipment in both buildings and what would need to be done if the District sees enough growth that it requires more space. Many other minor repairs were also discussed, some of which have already been implemented. “Just realize that these repairs aren’t sexy — they are significant safety and security issues,” Schutz said of the list. Funding for the projects would come from PPEL and SAVE money, which the school is not permitted to use on general expenses such as salaries and utility costs. Board President Ron Saak asked Schutz how much money the District should be saving from SAVE and PPEL for its future needs. “Enough that you can cover emergencies if they come up,” Schutz said. Another lengthy discussion about facilities regarded the purchase of a scoreboard for the football and track stadium. Athletic Director Rollie Ackerman said the current scoreboard is worn out and can no longer be repaired. During the recently-completed football season, there was enough damage to the board that it was difficult of the visitor’s score to be read. Ackerman proposed the purchase of what he described as a middle of the road scoreboard costing approximately $75,000. That See SCHOOL BOARD page 6
What’s Happening
Presidential candidate Carly Fiorina (R, Virginia) speaks at Saturday’s Grundy County Republican Ronald Reagan Dinner. (John Jensen/The Grundy Register photo)
Fiorina talks of shrinking size of government
Mayor Brian Buhrow presents retiring Grundy Center Police Department Captain Terry Oltman was a plaque in appreciation of 24 years of full-time employment with the city. (Courtesy photo)
Long-time Grundy Center officer says final goodbye By JOHN JENSEN The Grundy Register GRUNDY CENTER — One of the most familiar faces in the Grundy Center Police Department has called it a career. More than 35 years after first working as a reserve police officer, Terry Oltman officially retired with a gathering at City Hall last week. Oltman began as a reserve officer in October, 1980 and came onto the
department full time in November, 1991. “I just loved being in the reserves,” Oltman said. “I just loved dealing with the people and the excitement.” A Grundy Center native, Oltman said he has enjoyed working in his hometown with people he has always known. “You make a few enemies but a lot more friends,” he said.
Oltman said he had mixed emotions Wednesday — sad to leave a job that he has enjoyed for 24 years but excited about the future. “I’m excited to not be in the position of authority any more, not have that hanging over my head, but I’m going to miss it,” he said. “It’s going to be different watching somebody else run all over the city all day instead of me but I’ll find
something to do with my time.” Police Chief Doug Frost, who has worked with Oltman throughout his career, called the day bittersweet. “It went fast,” he said of their time working together. “It’s sad that he’s going. I wish he’d stay but I understand.” Oltman has worked every See OLTMAN page 6
Village of Lights celebration set for Saturday GRUNDY CENTER — Grundy Center’s Village of Lights Festival is set for Saturday in and around the downtown area in conjunction with Small Business Saturday. The highlight of this year’s festival will be a new Magical Forest at the Courthouse lawn. Christmas Trees donated by the Kruse Christmas Farm will be lit with more than 15,000 lights for the event. The lights will be lit at 5 p.m.
as Santa Claus arrives. Returning to the festival this year are the popular stories with Mrs. Claus and holiday movie. Mrs. Claus will be reading stories at 11 a.m. at the Kling Memorial Library. Following that, children will have the opportunity to write their Letters to Santa Claus. Those desiring it will also get a return letter in the mail. Stylish Living will host cookie
decorating from noon to 2 p.m., and at 2 p.m. the Center Theatre will host a free showing of “Christmas Vacation.” The Grundy Center Kiwanis Club will serve soup from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Manly’s, and Matt and Johna Schildroth will provide live Christmas music at the Courthouse Gazebo from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Following the lighting of the Magical Forest, and grand prize
balloon drop at 5 p.m., Santa will make his way to the GNB Insurance building, where he’ll visit with children from 5:15 to 7 p.m. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available from 5 to 7 p.m. A complete schedule of events is inside today’s Grundy Register. Events are sponsored by the Grundy Center Chamber of Commerce as well as local businesses.
Thursday, November 26
Happy Thanksgiving
Grundy Center Community Thanksgiving Community Center 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, November 28
Small Business Saturday Grundy Center Village of Lights See story in today’s paper for details Complete schedule inside Monday, November 30 County Board of Supervisors Courthouse • 9 a.m. Tuesday, December 1 Friends of the Library Holiday Coffee 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Rebels take Class A state football crown!
Gladbrook-Reinbeck players celebrate their first-ever state football championship at the UNI-Dome last Thursday. The Rebels defeated Akron-Westfield 52-20 to become the first Grundy County team to win a football championship since Grundy Center won the Class 1A title in 1988. Read about the Rebels’ state championship on today’s sports pages. (Patti Rust/The Grundy Register photo) The Grundy Register, P.O. Box 245, Grundy Center, IA 50638 Phone: (319) 824-6958 • Fax: (319) 824-6288 • E-mail: publisher@gcmuni.net, registerads@gcmuni.net, editor@gcmuni.net
By JOHN JENSEN The Grundy Register DIKE — Presidential candidate Carly Fiorina (R, Virginia) spoke of the need for the federal government to run like a business Saturday as the keynote speaker at the Grundy County Republicans’ Ronald Reagan Dinner. Fiorina said this is a pivotal time for the United States. “The truth is that the hopes and dreams of Americans are being crushed,” she said. “They are being crushed by a government that has grown so big, so powerful, so complicated, so inept and so corrupt and professional political clans that won’t do anything about it. Those are harsh words, but I will tell you that 75 percent of the American people not think that the federal government is corrupt. “There is no doubt that the federal government favors some over others, and there is no denying that the government favors the wealthy, the powerful, the big and the wellconnected,” she said. Fiorina added that more people are unemployed and no longer looking for work than there have been at any time in U.S. history. One reason for this, she said, is the demise of small businesses. “New businesses, family-owned businesses, small businesses create two-thirds of the new jobs in this country, and guess what is happening now? We are destroying more of them than we are creating,” she said. “That’s why we have an economy where not enough people are working, because we’re not creating enough jobs. And we’re not creating enough jobs because we’re crushing the creators.” Fiorina also talked of the need to reduce the size of government, noting that the government has not repealed a regulation since the Reagan administration. “In fact, we haven’t done a top-tobottom review of regulations in 50 years,” she said. One of the key points of Fiorina’s speech was about tax reform. She suggested that the current 73,000page tax code be simplified enough that it will fit on a mere three pages. She also said the government must do away with many of its rules. “We can’t be a nation of rules,” she said. “I will roll back all of the rules that President Obama rolled out. “If we don’t, as citizens, take our government back, this government is going to continue to crush See FIORINA page 6