The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 16

REPORT if? The Des Moines Register ST Wednesday, April 13, 2005 Page 3B QUOTE OF THE DAY "I've always wanted to say this: Vroom, vroom!" Rep. Danny Carroll, a Grinnell Republican, asking the House chamber to approve a bill allowing a Newton racetrack to keep state sales tax money. ON THE WEB Legislature: www.legis.state.ia.us Governor: www.governor.state.ia.us Register: DesMoinesRegister.comsession Iowa Fact Iowa, incorporated: Iowa had 949 incorporated places, such as cities, in 2003, and 1,660 townships in 2000, according to census data. SENATE 25 123 25 BBS Ph: (515) 281-3371 HOUSE tmsssi 51 ISWl 49 Ph: (515) 281-3221 Republicans Democrats Switchboard TODAY BRIEFS 'I I J' JlJJlMIt LEGISLATIVE Septic regulation: The Iowa House is expected to consider House File 834, a bill aiming to increase regulation of septic haulers. Debate is scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m.

Mock bill: Gov. Tom Vilsack will either sign or "veto" mock legislation, prepared by students who have been involved in the Capitol Project, an educational program at the Statehouse. The event is at 8:30 a.m. in the governor's formal office. WATCHDOG a Republican from Grinnell who steered the bill through debate.

"This is an opportunity to change that." Rep. Jamie Van Fossen, a Republican from Davenport, said the speedway would Vilsack had asked lawmakers this session for $39 million to improve early childhood programs, but House Republicans approved spending only $12 million. The governor plans to meet with Sen. Nancy Boettger, R-Harlan, and Sen. Frank Wood, D-FJdridge.

While Republicans hold a 5149 edge in the House, the Senate is tied at 25-25. Vilsack believes a more generous package will likely emerge from that chamber. Property tax panel develops sharing plan A special bipartisan panel assembled by Gov. Tom Vilsack to revamp the state's property tax system has so far failed to reach a consensus, but it has come up with an incentive-driven plan to encourage cities, counties and school districts to share services. The panel also has looked at having the state assume responsibility for K-12 school funding as one way to spur property tax relief.

A separate idea would tie commercial and industrial property to rates set for agricultural and residential properties. Farm and residential properties currently are linked to a rollback system that some believe keeps them artificially low. House Speaker Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, said all of the proposals still are on the table. Senate approves Vilsack's appointees The Iowa Senate backed several of Gov. Tom Vilsack's appointments or reappointments to top state government posts Tuesday.

The Senate unanimously backed the appointment of John Norris, Vilsack's former chief of staff, to the Iowa Utilities Board. Also confirmed were Judy Jeffrey, director of the Department of Education; Walter Reed director of the Department of Human Rights; Michael Tramontina, director of the Department of Management; and former regent David Neil, Vilsack's choice to be state labor commissioner. Reappointments approved included Anita Walker, director of the Department of Cultural Affairs; and Jeff Vonk, director of the Department of Natural Resources. Governor to bargain on education issue Gov. Tom Vilsack said Tuesday he will meet with legislative leaders in the next week or so about his early childhood education initiatives, marking the first serious bargaining on the issue.

"This is a critical period of time," Vilsack said. "The Legislature will begin in earnest discussions of the budget and the structure that will support these youngsters." grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation and $4 million in grants and loans through Vision Iowa's Community Attraction and Tourism program. The CAT review board is scheduled to discuss the application today at its regular meeting. A previous effort to get a $20 million Vision Iowa grant for the project failed. On Tuesday, House opponents questioned whether the measure was a corporate handout and if enough was done to ensure the state was getting a good return.

Critics also have questioned whether the measure creates a bad precedent for future tax incentives. Gov. Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, has voiced concern and said he preferred the project seek assistance through the CAT program. "We are not an investment firm," said Rep. Rob Hogg, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids.

'We shouldn't be investing directly in businesses like this." House File 840, approved by an 81-18 vote, now moves to the Senate, where a companion bill has already received a committee endorsement. How to reach state lawmakers during the legislative session: Senators: Call (515) 281-3371. Representatives: Call (515) 281-3221. E-mail: A list of legislators and their contact information is on the Web at www.legis.state.ia.us. Mailing address: State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319.

Governor's office: Call (515) 281-5211; write to Governor's Office, State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319; or send e-mail from the Web site www.governor.state.ia.us. General legislative information: Call the Legislative Information Office at (515) 281-5129. Sioux City care site fined in resident's death Hallmark Care Center had recorded no dehydration in a resident who later died of kidney failure. By CLARK KAUFFMAN REGISTER STAFF WRITER A Sioux City nursing home fined $5,300 by the state after one of its residents died of kidney failure. According to state records, the unidentified resident of Hallmark Care Center was transferred to a hospital Dec.

16. Earlier that day, the staff at the home wrote in the resident's file that there were no "signs and symptoms of the worker. Dm Heights Care Center of Shenandoah was fined $6,000 for allegedly creating an imminent danger to residents. A female resident of the home wandered away from the facility the morning of Jan. 22.

She was found by a passer-by who saw her lying on an ice-covered sidewalk behind a snowbank near the home. The resident was wearing only a nightgown, with no shoes. Westmont Care Center was fined $300 for allegedly failing to preserve residents' dignity. A younger resident with cerebral palsy complained that workers seemed irritated with him after he Kid But opponents questioned if it is a good idea to allow the proposed Newton racetrack to keep $12.5 million in sales tax. By TIM HIGGINS REGISTER STAFF WRITER A sales tax break for the owners of a proposed Newton speedway continued to cruise through the Legislature, with approval Tuesday from the Iowa House.

The group proposing the $70 million auto-racing track, US. Motorsport Entertainment would be allowed to keep up to $12.5 million of state sales tax generated during the venue's first 10 years. Supporters said the measure was a risk-free way to help create a tourist attraction that will draw up to 40 percent of its visitors from out of state and help the struggling community of Newton bounce back after recent layoffs at Maytag Corp. "We don't have a lot of venues to cause Iowa to be a destination for tourism," said Rep. Danny Carroll, dehydration." The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals alleges that hospital records show the resident arrived there suffering from "acute dehydration" and kidney failure.

The resident died after admission, with the cause attributed to kidney failure, poor food intake and weight loss. State inspectors allege Hallmark Care Center failed to monitor the resident, provide sufficient fluids, and identify and respond to the resident's recent weight loss. Other recent actions against Iowa care facilities include: Ravenwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Waterloo restaurant the House of Bricks on the corner of East Sixth and Grand. Wilson's partner is Nancy Wilson, his ex-wife. Neither of them thinks that's a problem.

They own two other places one in Perry, one in the Madison County town of Macksburg. They're moving Bricks from Merle Hay to an old medical supply shop on the east side. J.C. is one of those folks who are genuinely excited about the growth in the East Village. "We looked everywhere and then we found this.

What a perfect spot for us. Just look at it." The place is still a mess, all torn up. There are folks working everywhere painting, laying the floors, building the bar, the stage and the kitchen. The plan was to have it open this Thursday bring April Marc Russell. Des Moines broke a 1944 record of 1.38 inches with 2.02 inches of rain on Monday.

Iowa Falls saw more rain Monday than it had in years 76 years, to be exact. Russell said the city had the most rain in the state, 2.7 inches, shattering its 1929 record of 1.34. The record-breaking rainfall caused Iowa rivers to swell, but not flood. Russell said Tuesday that the Des Moines River was high southeast of Des Moines, and the Iowa River was high at Marshall-town, but all of Iowa's rivers will stay within their banks. only get the money if it generates tax E' dollars.

"We are not just putting money out for a project and crossing our fingers, honing that it will happen," he said. Carroll Newton supporters were excited about the move. "We are one step closer for getting it to the governor," said Newton Mayor Chaz Allen, who said the project will help jump-start other economic development in the region. The group estimates the track will generate $1.1 million in state sales tax receipts annually and an additional $2.3 million in sales tax revenue each year from other nearby businesses, which will not be part of the tax rebate. In addition to the tax rebate, U.S.

Motorsport is seeking a $5 million was cited, but not fined, for failing to protect residents from abuse. A state inspector was at the home Jan. 31 when she heard a resident yell, "Ow! Quit it!" The inspector looked down a corridor and saw a worker at the home grabbing at a resident's arms while her left heel was on top of the resident's right foot. The worker seemed startled at the sight of the inspector and appeared flustered when trying to explain that she was simply trying to feed the resident ice cream, according to inspection reports. The matter was reported as a case of suspected abuse, but the home allegedly failed to investigate or separate the resident and shop, bar rolling night, but the two of them ran headfirst into the city bureaucracy.

Now it's going to happen in stages. First there's a bar with live music. In time, he's looking at serving lunch and, at some point, dinner. But that might take time. "The city keeps coming by to check up on us and what we're doing.

It's expensive and it takes time, but I suppose it makes sense in terms of safety, that sort of thing. They told us we needed more.bathrooms." It's not like having the street in front of your business closed, but it's still tough. Rob Borsellino can lie reached at (515) 284-8363 or rborsellinodmreg.com lawn mowers "There's not going to be any flooding," he said. "In fact, our precipitation is pretty much over." The state saw scattered showers Tuesday, but the forecast is for dry weather with 6frdegree highs through Friday, Russell said. Edwards said he received a flood of calls Tuesday morning from businesses wanting to sign lawn-care contracts.

"After the rain, they know they'll need to be mowed," Edwards said. Reporter Elizabeth Owens can be reached at (515) 284-8065 or elowensdmreg.com New downtown coffee hit a few bumps, keep Woman cites abuse by father TRIAL, from Page 1 the Jefferson County Courthouse on Tuesday to hear the trial's opening arguments. But in bakeries, banks, convenience marts and the public library, Fairfield residents were quietly concerned. "People were pretty upset because you just hate to hear that. It's sickening," said Cris Soth, who works at Yummy 's Gourmet Cakes on the town square.

"There's plenty of gossip, but it doesn't come up in general conversation now because it's such a touchy, uncomfortable subject." The woman, now 19, testified Tuesday that she was forced to have sexual intercourse and perform other sex acts with her father several times a week, beginning when she was in seventh grade and increasing in frequency after her parents divorced. The teen lived with Smith when she was in high school. The Des Moines Register's policy is not to name sexual abuse victims without their consent. The woman declined to have her name appear in print. The woman testified she dropped out of college after one year at Iowa State University.

She now lives with her mother and works full time in an office. During opening statements, Jefferson County Attorney Tim Dille told jurors they would hear testimony about Smith's controlling behavior. Smith's daughter testified she studied hard as a coping mechanism and wasnt permitted to have a social life. The woman said Smith drove her to marching band events and didn't allow her to attend sleepovers or school dances. "When it was just the two of us, it was more like a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship," she said.

"Not only was it very uncomfortable, but it led to a lot of fear. You couldn't protest, you couldnt resist what was going on. I was grounded for not" performing a sex act. Smith's attorney, Steven Gardner of Ottumwa, emphasized the case's lack of physical or forensic evidence. He also pointed out that Smith's daughter was a stellar student and saxophone player who had neither exhibited behavioral problems nor told anyone of an inappropriate relationship with her father before she came forward in April 2003 a day after she'd had a heated argument with him.

Smith is scheduled to testify this week, Gardner said. was left in urine-soaked bedding for an hour. "They made it sound like I did it on purpose," the resident allegedly told inspectors. "How would they like to be young and dependent for everything?" Several homes were fined $100 to $200 each for allegedly failing to conduct required background checks on employees: Ravenwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Waterloo; Karen Acres Care Center of Des Moines; Careage Hills of Cherokee; Vinton Lutheran Home in Vinton; Cedar Manor in Tipton; Northcrest Community in Ames; and Cottage Grove Place, also known as the Club, in Cedar Rapids. stuff ROBERT NANDELLTHE REGISTER registrations set The donor drives are open to the public.

No appointment is necessary at any of the locations. Efforts to raise money to cover the cost of tissue typing for those who join the registry are under way. For each person who joins the registry, a lab charges $65 to perform the tissue typing. The Iowa Marrow Donor Program also accepts donations to help cover the costs of tissue typing. Information can be found online at www.iowamarrow.org.

Mir Kevin Drees, the director of animal care at Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, holds a pair of Nigerian dwarf goats. They were born recently following the arrival of the new parent goats as a trade-in at the zoo. B0RSELLIN0, from Page 1B Friday and Saturday night they've got live music. On Sunday, they're going to have stuff like poetry readings and then bring in other writers. They're serving coffee and smoothies.

They also have small eats, salad and quiche. Shepley said that as far as they can tell, the quiche hasn't discouraged real men from checking out the cafe. Construction workers are a part of the daily mix. This opening comes at the same time the Metro Market a symbol of what's right in the business community is struggling to survive. It also comes at a time when other parts of the city are coming alive.

J.C. Wilson is getting ready to open the doors of a bar and April showers By ELIZABETH OWENS REGISTER STAFF WRITER For Des Moines lawn-care businesses, this week's rain was a sign: Start your mowers. "The rain is just going to jump-start everything," said Shawn Edwards, a managing partner with A Lawn and Landscape. "The first big rain is always exciting because people need our lawn-care service." Rainfall records were broken in cities across Iowa on Monday, including Des Moines, Lamoni, Ames and Marshalltown, said National Weather Service meteorologist Marrow donor Three marrow donor registration drives will be held next week: Davenport: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday in the University Center at St. Ambrose University. The campus is located at 518 W. Locust St. Newton: 10 a.m.

to 6 p.m. April 20 at Des Moines Area Community College's Newton campus. The campus is located at 600 N. Second Ave. Iowa City: 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m. April 22 at the University of Iowa Community Credit Union, 825 Mormon Trek Blvd..