Controversy, Cruelty and Cats: North Iowa Town in Uproar

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by Linda Thieman

On Monday morning, February 20, 2006, Joel Kolker, manager of Kiefer Built Trailers in Kanawha, Iowa (Hancock County) stood in front of a meeting of approximately 120 employees and announced that he was going to take care of Kiefer’s cat problem.  Kolker allegedly said that if he could not trap the cats live during a two-week time period beginning that day then he would “trap them dead.”

Kiefer Built Trailers is a large company, producing in the neighborhood of forty animal transport units a week, although they shut down production during the night.  That is precisely when the cats come out to play.  For some undetermined time, a large number of feral cats and their kittens have been calling the Kiefer factory home.

The cats “aren't hurting anyone,” said one Kiefer employee.  “I wish [Kiefer] would just leave well enough alone.”  But it appears that that is not going to happen.  Kiefer began trying to live trap the cats on Monday with little success.  Apparently, the traps they were using were too small and the cats would walk into the traps, take the food and back out again.  One Iowa member of the Humane Society, a keeper of feral cats herself, had requested of one of the owners, Joyce Mattson, to be allowed to measure the traps, but was allegedly rudely rebuffed.  Mattson also refused to disclose what kind of food she was using in the traps.

There is some concern about how the traps are being handled.  According to a Humane Society document, live traps that are improperly set can become death traps.  Burrs and sharp edges need to be clipped or filed down.  Food/bait placed in traps in metal cans will cause tooth and foot injuries.  Traps need to be checked frequently in order to prevent other injuries such as nose rubs and facial lacerations.  If night trapping is going on at Kiefer Built and temperatures in the factory fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, that in itself is considered inhumane treatment.

One local involved in the uproar alleges that owner Mattson claimed that if the live traps were not effective, she intended to poison the cats.  The poisoning of animals causes a slow, agonizing death and is illegal in Iowa. [Iowa Code 481A.58]

At this point, one of Blog for Iowa’s readers – an employee at Kiefer Built – contacted us.  The employee remembered reading about Blog for Iowa’s recent informal association with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and asked for our help.  BFIA contacted PETA and within two days, PETA had assigned Cara Stutzman, a Cruelty Caseworker, to the case.

Blog for Iowa informed Stutzman that locals were in contact with the Animal Rescue League in Des Moines, so Stutzman contacted the ARL and they agreed to pick up and relocate the live-trapped cats.  (Whether Kiefer will cooperate in this regard remains to be seen.)

Stutzman also spoke with Kolker, the manager at Kiefer Built.  Kolker told Stutzman that he would not poison the cats and that he would send her a letter at the beginning of next week stating as much.  He also told her that he knew a local farmer who was willing to take the cats.

According to many first-hand reports, those who have contacted Kiefer Built about the plans for trapping the cats have met with a less-than-cooperative spirit.  Because of this, there are still many in the local community who question whether or not Kiefer Built will follow through on plans to avoid animal cruelty.  It is the wish of these community members to make this situation known publicly in hopes that outside pressure will help ensure that no animal cruelty takes place.

If you would like to help, you can write a Letter to the Editor about this situation.  Please be respectful yet concerned.  You can send your letter to the following local newspapers via email:


Globe Gazette in Mason City
(the biggest paper in the area)
Joe Buttweiler, Editor
joe.buttweiler@globegazette.com


The Garner Leader and Signal
(Garner is the county seat; this paper is a weekly)
Rebecca Peter, Editor
gleader@trvnet.net


The Kanawha Reporter
(the hometown paper; goes to press once a week)
(the office is closed until Monday, Feb. 27)
Click here to use a webmail form.


Britt News-Tribune
(a local weekly)
Angie Johannsen, Editor
editor@brittnewstribune.com

 IOWA'S WATER WOES

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Last Sunday, February 12th, the headlines of the Des Moines Register read: 'NO CLEAR SOLUTIONS TO STATE'S TAINTED WATER'

This article by Perry Beeman/Register staff writer goes on to say that recreation and more businesses would come to the state if we had better water quality.

"Many IOWA rivers are seriously polluted - dying before their time- and environmental rules that would force a massive new cleanup effort promise to affect IOWAN's pocketbooks, river outings and fishing trips…

"Rules passed in January by state environmental regulators - after eight years of debate - set new limits on pollutants such as bacteria, which can threaten the health of people and animals; and AMMONIA, WHICH IS TOXIC TO FISH AND AQUATIC PLANTS…

"…state lawmakers began discussing a bill that would block the changes.  The rules come THREE DECADES AFTER THE 1972 FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT DEMANDED THAT ALL RIVERS BE PROTECTED FOR RECREATION AND AQUATIC LIFE, UNLESS STUDIES SHOW THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.  Since that act became law, IOWA has bowed to pressure from city sewage-treatment operators who maintained the changes would cost too much.  Consequently, the state IS ONE OF THE LAST IN THE NATION to protect waters so they are 'fishable and swimmable,' as required."

As we can all surmise, attaining cleaner water will take time, new ideas, and MONEY.  "…90 % OF THE POLLUTION IS COMING FROM FARMS AND YARDS UNREGULATED BY THE NEW RULES….

"…'ignoring this duty is not an option', IOWA DNR DIRECTOR JEFF VONK wrote to lawmakers last month before the legislative session began.

"THE RULES WOULD AFFECT ANIMAL CONFINEMENTS AND FEEDLOTS, SOME OF WHICH FACE LEGAL ACTIONS FOR FISH KILLS AND STREAM POLLUTION THAT OCCURRED DURING THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, VONK SAID.  The rules would not affect grain farms and other agriculture operations…"

SUSAN HEATHCOTE is one of nine appointed by the governor to sit on the state's ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMISSION.  She " began pushing the state eight years ago to revise its standards to comply with the Clean Water Act, the linchpin of the Federal government's river-cleaning apparatus."

It will take an act of our state legislature to start to fix this.  Maybe federal grants can be obtained.  So start with your legislator to insure the state of IOWA starts to uphold the Clean Water Act.  In Eastern IOWA, you can contact SENATOR FRANK WOOD, D-ELDRIDGE at frank.wood@legis.state.ia.us or he can be called at 515-281-3371.  Senator Wood is co-chair of the Senate sub-committee that is debating Senate Study Bill 3069.  It proposes to block most of the new rules.  Also co-chairing is Senator Mary Lundby, R-Marion, who can be contacted at mary.lundby@legis.state.ia.us

To view the entire bill, go to www.legis.state.ia.us

For information on the rules approved by the IOWA Environmental Protection Commission, see www.iowadnr.com

If you would like to read the entire Des Moines Register article, see www.DesMoinesRegister.com

Now don't forget …and remind your loved ones, too… CPR:
CONSERVE/PARTICIPATE/RECYCLE

  Help bring Air America Radio to the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Corridor

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Hey, radio fans, are you tired of Rush Limbaugh and the right wing lies, distortions, and propaganda every time you turn on the radio for news?  

Well, you are not alone and now you can do something about it.  You can help bring sane, reality-based, progressive talk radio to the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City area.  If you live in or near the IC-CR Corridor area, please visit our online petition where there are already almost 200 names!  Here is a sample of the lively, enthusiastic comments from signers:  

Isn't it about time for a progressive radio station in the IC/CR corridor??

We need more voices, more points of view — and facts.

I'm sick of RWWs having all the air time.

We desperately need progressive radio in Cedar Rapids to offset the malicious right wing stations.

I listen to Air America online, and will definitely tune in daily when it hits the airwaves in Iowa City. This is the place, and the time is now! Be the savvy station that brings progressive radio to our area!

We have too much corporate radio now.

Oh, please! We're starved for a progressive perspective on radio airwaves. I no longer listen to any local station (except KUNI-NPR) because they just make me sick.

PLEASE bring PR to this area. PUHLEEZE!

Just have enough power to reach to Des Moines please.

I think this is a great idea and probably will make money for any station that makes such a change.

I listen to NPR at WSUI Iowa City and would like to have an Air America station there too, so they could enjoy the same wonderful programming we have in Davenport.  

The Quad Cities already has an Air America Radio station at Davenport, IA - WKBF-AM 1270.  If they can do it, we can do it!  Click here to sign the petition  and add your own comment.

Listen to Air America Radio online.

Click here or click on Blog for Iowa's Fight Media Bias sidebar (on the left) to download the flyer called "How to Bring Air America Radio to Your Local Community" and get started!  [in Word doc format]

Click here for the original post on Dailykos

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If you would like to be part of organized media reform efforts in Iowa, please consider joining Iowans for Better Local TV or RapidResponseIowa.

  
Report on Health Care Lobby Day in Des Moines

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by Caroline Vernon
contributions by Karen Metcalf

On February 7th, many health care advocates from across the state came together in association with Democracy For America, Democracy For Iowa and Iowa For Health Care for their first joint Health Care Lobby Day.

Among those in attendance from the Quad Cities were none other than yours truly, Caroline Vernon, Alta Price, Karen Metcalf, and Bev Strayhall. Although we are each connected to the larger groups mentioned above, we are also active members of Progressive Action for the Common Good Health Care Forum. Like Iowa For Health Care, our main goal is to promote quality, affordable health care for all. 

Although we did not address the larger goal of obtaining good coverage for everyone, the purpose of our visit to the Statehouse was to engage our legislators on three very important pieces of legislation:

Increase in the cigarette tax:

Research shows that increasing the tax by $1/pack would stop 4700 young people in Iowa from starting. This translates into better health and substantial savings in health care costs from tobacco-related illnesses.

We found broad bi-partisan support for this proposal, particularly if the revenue generated by the tax is allocated specifically to health care. While the Senate last year approved a cigarette tax hike, the effort has been blocked in the House because House Speaker Christopher Rants, (R) - Sioux City, says he won't allow debate.

Rants sponsored a political organization, Iowa Leadership Council, that received more than $60,000 from tobacco companies. The "Rants For Statehouse Committee" also received over $4,000 from big tobacco and yet Rants insists these generous contributions have nothing to do with the fact that he refuses to allow this proposal to come to the floor for debate! Yes, ladies and gentlemen,  the "culture of corruption" has come to Iowa! Evidently, Rants really expects folks to believe this nonsense!

During our early morning press conference, Sara Swisher of Iowa For Healthcare declared, "Speaker Rants needs to answer to the people who provide health care and he needs to answer to Iowans. He should kick the habit and kick it now instead of taking big bucks from tobacco." Sara was joined by the group mascot, Mr. Buttman, who was weilding a fistful of  "Tobacco Bucks for Speaker Christopher Rants".

ACTION: Click here to download your own "Tobacco Buck For Rants," make single-sided copies on lime green paper, cut them apart and distribute them at every legislative forum, townhall meeting and community event you attend!

Over a dozen Republican legislators have also encouraged Rants to allow debate on this issue, to no avail. It was stressed that Sioux City residents would hold the most weight with Rants, so if you are a SC resident or if you have friends or family who are, please encourage them to contact House Speaker Chris Rants, urging him to "do the right thing" by allowing debate on this very important issue:

E-mail: Christopher.Rants@legis.state.ia.us
Home Address: 2740 South Glass Street, Sioux City, IA, 51106
Home Telephone: 712-274-8874

According to Iowa For Healthcare, polls show that at least 70% of Iowans support a $1 increase of the tax. Governor Vilsack has proposed boosting the tax by 80 cents per pack.

Fair Share For Health Care Legislation:

Maryland recently passed a similar bill, by the same name, which passed over the veto of Governor Ehrlich. This legislation has been introduced to the Iowa legislature by Senator Joe Bolkcom and others in a bi-partisan effort to hold large corporations accountable to their employees and the communities in which they operate. It forces the very largest employers (about 5 companies in Iowa) to allocate a fixed percentage of their revenue for employee health care costs, either by providing them with health care coverage directly, or by paying directly to the State Medicaid budget, since many of these employees make so little that they, or their children, qualify for Medicaid.

According to an Iowa Department of Human Services 2004 report, the two largest employers in Iowa, HyVee and Walmart, each have hundreds of employees who meet this low-income criteria. HyVee, the largest employer, had 361 employees on Medicaid, while Walmart, the 2nd largest employer in the state, had over 800 employees on Medicaid. As you know, Medicaid funding has been threatend by huge budget cuts on the federal level which will affect the states ability to fund this program so it is imperative that we mandate large profitable corporations to pay their fair share for health care! 

Whistle-Blower Protection For Health Care Workers:

Many nurses and other health care workers were in attendance advocating for this key piece of legislation to insure that all health care workers are comfortable reporting unsafe practices without fear of being fired or punished in some way by their employer. Various personal accounts of such incidents were shared with legislators, citing examples of being ostracized or fired for speaking out. There seemed to be broad support for this legislation. Our hope is that this will pass this legislative session. ACTION: Please contact your legislators and urge them to support this key protection for our invaluable health care workers.

Quality Affordable Health Care for All -  by 2010:

PACG Health Care forum Leader, Karen Metcalf, reflected on the progress made that day, "It was a very productive day for those of us who went, not so much because we were able to change legislators' minds, but because we learned a lot about the political process and the exercise of political power in the state. Although we did not specifically deal with the macro goal of getting coverage for everyone, each of the three pieces of legislation, in it's own way, does address a micro issue and, if passed, would certainly be a step forward, rather than backward, as so much legislation seems to be these days."

Many grassroots organizations across the state are actively advocating for quality, affordable healthcare for all. The prestigious Institute of Medicine (IOM) called for the U.S. to implement universal health care by 2010. According to the January 14, 2004 report, 43,000,000 Americans are uninsured (a conservative estimate), and lack of health insurance causes 18,000 unnecessary deaths each year in the U.S. Eighty percent of the uninsured are members of working families; while a quarter of U.S. workers are not offered health insurance at all, and few Americans can afford to buy the expensive individual policies.

It is important that each of us continue to do whatever we can to address this issue of healthcare for all. Because we believe health care is a right, not a privilege, the PACG Health Care forum has championed the "Lend A Hand For Health Care" initiative, collecting 18,000 handprints to represent those people who die every year. We have already acquired handprints from Governor Tom Vilsack, Lt. Governor Sally Pederson, US Congressman Leonard Boswell, various state legislators, and our very own Chariman Howard Dean. Outreach to faith groups and other community organizations is under way in an effort to expedite and complete this project by year's end.  If you would like more information on how you can assist in this effort contact Karen Metcalf at karencadfael@aol.com or go to our website, www.qcprogressiveaction.org. Once we meet our goal of 18,000 handprints, our hope is to take them to the statehouses in Des Moines and Springfield and then to Washington DC to display them as close as possible to the Capitol Building! Can you manage to get a visual on that?!

I would like to thank everyone at Democracy For America, Democracy For Iowa, and Iowa For Health Care for sponsoring a great lobby day in Des Moines! Special thanks for all the hard work of Kirsten Running, Chris Bonfig, Sally Simpson and all the other dedicated staff at Iowa For Healthcare for helping to make this a first class event. And to Sara Swisher, kudos for her grace in leadership!

 This Week in Media 

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PATV.TV

You Don't Know What You Got Til' It's Gone...

Public Access Television is facing a number of battles in the House and Senate. 

Today, February 13, is the last day for submitting your concerns to the FCC.

Click here to submit your letter.

Click here for a complete listing of pending legislation.

The telephone companies want to do away with local video franchise agreements between local municipalities and video providers.  Local video franchising agreements are the mechanism by which municipalities ensure that cable and telecommunications companies doing business within the community are accountable to the local public interest.

Video franchise agreements are also the only mechanism that protects and ensures the existence of Public Access TV channels.  We must ensure that local municipalities have the authority to require local video franchising.

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If you would like to be part of organized media reform efforts in Iowa, please consider joining Iowans for Better Local TV or Rapid Response Iowa.

  What You Can Do To Ensure Reliable Elections in Iowa

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OpEdNews

Last Thursday, Blog for Iowa asked you to contact your state representatives in Des Moines to demand verifiable elections in Iowa.   Today, we are asking Blog for Iowa readers to help pass HR 550 in Washington.  Please pass this on to everyone you know,  regardless of party affiliation or (non-affiliation), who think Democracy is a good thing.  There are 161 co-sponsors to date, none so far from the great state of Iowa!  Let’s get after the people who are supposed to be representing us to co-sponsor this bill that will ensure Democracy lives to see another election.  

PASS H.R. 550 / VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS

By Allen L. Roland, PhD

One bill - H.R. 550 - could be the most important bill your Representative co-sponsors this year.

The "Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act" (H.R.550) is the "gold standard" of voter verifiability legislation, requiring not only voter-verified paper records but also mandatory manual audits to confirm that voting machines are working properly.

The voter-verified paper record is the "bottom line" ~ without it we can't have reliable elections. This bill continues to gain momentum, with 156 Republican and Democrat co-sponsors to date, but more co-sponsors are needed. More than half of the states already have enacted voter-verified paper record requirements, but to protect all votes we need this bill.

You can help: please make sure your Representative co-sponsors H.R. 550 immediately.

Take action - click here to contact your local newspaper or congress people

Click here for the story at OpEdNews

Click here to check out a great new non-partisan blog, Iowa Voters for Open and Transparent Elections

Click here for more information.

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Voting reform and media reform go hand in hand.  If you would like to be part of organized media reform efforts in Iowa, please consider joining Iowans for Better Local TV or RapidResponseIowa.

Iowans for Voting Integrity and IowaVoters.org, together with VoteTrustUSA have launched a citizen action in support of verifiable elections in Iowa.

Last year the Iowa Senate unanimously passed SF 351, a bill that would require that all voting machines in Iowa provide a voter verified paper record that can be used in audits and recounts to confirm the accuracy of vote totals.

More than half the states in the nation have adopted this common sense safegaurd. The bill has not been addressed yet by the Iowa House. Your Iowa State Representative needs to hear from you!

Please provide the requested information and the following email will automatically be sent to your state legislators urging them to support SF 351. For more information click here.

Click here to email your Iowa legislators.

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Dear [Official's Title and Name will be inserted here]:

I am writing to urge your support of SF 351, a bill that would require that all voting machines in Iowa provide a voter veriified paper record that can be used in audits and recounts to confirm the accuracy of vote totals. SF 351 passed the Iowa Senate in a unanimous vote but has not yet been addressed by the Iowa House.

The federal Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Congressional Research Service have recently issued reports warning of serious flaws in electronic voting systems. The simple solution of adding a paper audit trail has been recommended by the Carter-Baker Commission and interest groups from all sides of the political spectrum.

More than half the states in the nation have adopted this common sense safegaurd. Iowa voters deserve the same confidence in their elections. This common sense safeguard will provide Iowans greater confidence in our elections.

Sincerely,

[Your name will appear here.]