ELVIS BIRTHDAY
ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL
Elvis Presley would have celebrated his 80th birthday today. Co-stars remember the “King of Rock and Roll” in a feature about him on page 14 of today’s paper.
Creston native Jeff Hundley had a front-row seat for the unveiling of college football’s new playoff system. He was the chief operating officer of the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Read more about his experience on page 9A.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015
Businessmen opposed to city’s franchise fee Brian Haines with Ferrara Candy Company tells Creston City Council the proposed fee could put “six figure” dent in company’s budget. ■
By KYLE WILSON
CNA managing editor kwilson@crestonnews.com
Two businessmen voiced their opposition Tuesday evening to the 5 percent franchise fee currently being proposed by the city of Creston. This fee — first discussed by Creston City Council in December
— would be implemented on all electric and natural gas customers inside Creston city limits. Brian Haines with Ferrara Candy Company told the council Tuesday evening that his company is opposed to the franchise fee. He stated his company currently gets an exemption on their gas and electric under the 1-percent local-option sales tax found on Al-
liant Energy bills. But, if the city “gets rid” of the local-option sales tax and implements a 5 percent franchise fee — which is what’s being proposed — Haines said that could make a “six figure” dent in their budget that’s already been finalized. Mike Tamerius, co-owner of Precision Optical, also voiced concerns Tuesday stating this fee would cost his business between $6,000 and $8,000 annually. Other industrial/commercial properties within city limits that are heavy users of gas and/or electricity include CHS, Bunn-O-Mat-
ic, Walmart, Hy-Vee, Fareway and Vanmark. Tamerius and Haines felt this franchise fee would affect commercial and industrial properties the most. Keith Sherman with Alliant Energy told city officials Wednesday that — in Creston — this franchise fee would affect residential, industrial and commercial properties evenly with about 1/3 of the fees being collected from each. Also opposing the franchise fee in writing were Matt Somers, John Barkalow, Sharon Irelan and Florence Avazin. There was no written correspondence in favor of the
FLU PRECAUTIONS By BAILEY POOLMAN CNA staff reporter
bpoolman@crestonnews.com
This winter, influenza has hit particularly hard. But, local schools and day cares have taken precautions to prevent the spread of the influenza virus throughout the area. “We haven’t noticed an influx in attendance as a result of the flu at this point,” said Creston Middle School Principal Brad Baker. “Of course, we have only been back since Monday.” The flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. It’s contagious and affects the nose, throat and lungs. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, achy muscles, headaches and fatigue. Robin Sevier, Union County Public Health nurse, said it’s hard to expect what kind of season flu will bring. “It varies,” Sevier said. “We never know from year to year what to expect. We just kind of prepare for a heavy year or a light year, and I think so far we’ve had a heavier number of cases.” Staff at Creston Middle School have attempted to prevent the spread of flu by disinfecting door handles, sinks and other common places kids touch. “We are talking to our students, just making sure they’re washing their hands when they go to the bathroom or touching common places,” Baker said. “Our custodians are disinfecting ... door knobs, just common
County eliminates bounty for gopher feet By JAKE WADDINGHAM
CNA associate editor jwaddingham@crestonnews.com
CNA photo by KYLE WILSON
This sign is posted on the front door at I Think I Can Daycare Center.
Flu activity increasing in Adair County Surveillance by the Iowa Department of Public Health and Adair County Public Health, and testing by the State Hygienic Laboratory indicate flu activity is increasing. The flu season typically peaks in February and can last as late as May. “If you have flu symptoms, help out your family, friends and co-workers by staying home to avoid spreading the virus,” said Adair County Community Health Coordinator Steph-
Please see FRANCHISE FEE, Page 2
supervisors
places kids walk by and touch. Just the main thing right now. And, we are going to continue that throughout the flu season.” The flu vaccine covers two strains of A and B influenza. The vaccine can be received until March. “It’s still a good idea to get vaccinated,” Sevier said. “With any vaccine, you can still become ill. But, the symptoms will be much less.” Sevier recommends following the three C’s when it comes to illness: cover coughs and sneezes, clean hands frequently and contain germs by staying home when ill. Along with Baker, Luanne Merrill, director of I Think I Can Daycare, said she and her staff are also taking precautions with the kids at the Please see FLU, Page 2
franchise fee. Creston City Council will continue discussions about the proposed franchise fee at their next meeting Jan. 20. The council will have the option during that meeting to set the franchise fee percentage at anywhere from zero to the state-maximum of 5 percent. Important to note: The only exemptions under the franchise fee will be city-owned properties. The first reading and vote is expected Jan. 20. This fee will need
anie Claussen. “It’s also important to remember to cover your coughs and sneezes, and clean your hands frequently to help yourself and others stay healthy.” In the last reporting week, the Iowa Influenza Surveillance Network indicated 130 influenza-related hospitalizations statewide, mostly among those aged 64 or greater. Several flu outbreaks have been reported in long-term care fa-
cilities, especially in central and western Iowa. The most common flu virus circulating is the influenza A (H3N2) strain, although four different strains have been identified. In years when A (H3N2) viruses dominate, the flu season tends to be more severe, with more hospitalizations and deaths. Based on United States Please see ACTIVITY, Page 2
The Union County Board of Supervisors decided to nix the bounty for gopher feet during Friday’s meeting at the Union County Courthouse. Union County Auditor Sandy Hysell said the program — which paid $1 for a front pair of gopher feet — had not been active in recent years. “I only found a handful of counties that still do it,” Hysell said. “If people were still taking advantage of the bounty, we would have kept it, but it hasn’t been utilized for years.” When Hysell started as auditor in 1989, she said one or two people would bring in large coffee cans full of gopher feet. She Hysell would count the pairs and give the customer a receipt. The last receipt she recalled was more than $10. Gophers, generally considered pests in North America, are small mammals that tunnel. The tunnels can disrupts commercial agriculture, garden plots and landscaping. The historical effort to control the gopher population with a bounty was also for safety reasons. Farmers and horses could injure a leg in a gopher hole. “It seems 40, 50, even 60 years ago, they were a real problem,” Supervisor Dennis Brown said. “To encourage people to get rid of them, the Please see GOPHER FEET, Page 2
Nation morns as France hunts for 2 suspects PARIS (AP) — Scattered gunfire and explosions shook France on Thursday as its frightened yet defiant citizens held a day of mourning for 12 people slain at a Paris newspaper. French police hunted down the two heavily armed brothers suspected in the massacre to make sure they don’t strike again. French President Francois Hollande — joined by residents, tourists and Muslim leaders — called
for tolerance after the country’s worst terrorist attack in decades. At noon, the Paris metro came to a standstill and the crowd that gathered near Notre Dame cathedral fell silent to honor Wednesday’s victims. “France has been struck directly in the heart of its capital, in a place where the spirit of liberty — and thus of resistance — breathed freely,” Hollande said. France’s prime minister said the
possibility of a new attack “is our main concern” and announced several overnight arrests. Tensions ran high in Paris, and police patrolled schools, places of worship and schools. Britain increased its security checks at ports and borders. Satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo had caricatured the Prophet Muhammad and witnesses said the attackers claimed allegiance to al-Qaida. One of the suspects
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on the run had a past conviction for recruiting jihadis to fight in the Mideast. Two men resembling the suspects robbed a gas station in northeast France on Thursday morning and police swarmed the site while helicopters hovered above. Officials said later the newspaper attackers were not there. Two explosions hit near mosques early Thursday, raising fears the deadly attack at Charlie
Hebdo would ignite a backlash against France’s large and diverse Muslim community. No one was injured in the attacks, one in Le Mans southwest of Paris and another near Lyon, southeast of the capital. But France’s top security official abandoned a top-level meeting after just 10 minutes to rush to Please see SUSPECTS, Page 2
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