The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 167

CeateiGrimesIVoqduardGraager AROUND TOWN IOWA'S MOST AT WN Wednesday November 8, 2000 ECONOMICAL i FOOD STORIS We're in here! Sljf Des flloincs Agister On The Web to spies nop its image "We're trying to give all our neighborhood parks an DesMoinesRegister.com For profiles of central Iowa communities, go to DesMoinesRegister.com homes Changes to North Karen Acres will include updated play equipment, a volleyball court and a renovated basketball court. equipment, a sand volleyball court, a renovated basketball court and a bike trail extension between Douglas Avenue and Dellwood Drive. A line of trees between the park and the apartment complex will create a buffer. The playground equipment will have a boat theme. Creating themes is a trend that will show up in more Urban-dale parks in the future, Harms said.

By MADELAINE JER0USEK REGISTER STAFF WRITER Urbandale, la. Improvements to North Karen Acres Park will begin this month. The park at Douglas Avenue and Elm Drive is outdated and has had something of an identity problem, said Jeff Harms, an urban planner for the City of Urbandale. Because the 8-acre park adjoins the Ambassador West Apartments, people think the park is part of the apartment complex, Harms said. "It's great that the apartment residents use it, but we want other people to want to use the park, too," he said.

Neighbors worked with city leaders and architect Brian Clark to create a park that fits the neighborhood's needs. The new park will feature updated playground 1 raise money lor camps Bless the beasts and the Crusader dedicated to helping disabled Evelyne Villines, 70, a high-profile advocate, was given an award last weekend for her continued devotion. By RAENELLE KW0CK REGISTER STAFF WRITER Evelyne Villines has spent 35 years helping people with disabilities across the nation. Thanks to a pacemaker she received in June, the Des Moines woman, 70, should be able to continue her good works. Villines was just the kind of person the company that manufactures Villines her pacemaker was looking for when it created its Full Life Award earlier this year.

She is among 10 people from the United States and six from other countries who will receive the Medtronic Full Life Award in New Orleans this weekend. All recipients who were selected received life-saving medical technologies that allowed them to regain the ability to serve others and the community. Villines, who had polio at age 3 and had 14 surgeries as a child, has been a nationally recognized advocate for people with disabilities for more than three decades. She has been appointed twice by President Clinton to the Committee for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled. She has raised money for many disability causes, including a summer camp in Wyoming.

For 20 years, she was on the board of directors for National Industries for persons who are Severely Handicapped, an organization that established an award in her honor in 1994. She has given motivational speeches in every state but Rhode Island, has been involved with various United Way campaigns, and was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame in 1994. "We really wanted to find people who would be See VILLINES, Page 11 1 -i, i. 'i Ji 9 fey identity, he said. The 100,000 project will be complete next spring.

Future improvements could include a playground for small children and a pic nic shelter at the south end of the lot. Reporter Madelaine Jerousek can be reached at (515) 284-8394 or lerousekmnews.dmreg.com 5S "You don't go into public service expecting to be recognized," Emily Rogers said. "At the same time, you want to recognize those people who have given so much of their time and passion to the city. My father-in-law was one of those people, and he's certainly deserving." Jack Rogers said parks issues were a particular interest of his during his tenure. Rogers said he helped establish zoning codes that asked developers to set aside money or land for future parks.

Rogers also argued for more power and independence for the parks board. 1 ROBERT NANDELtTHE REGISTER Promoted: A 150-year-old burr oak on the north side of the Wallace House in Sherman Hill has been named the state's millennium landmark tree. Old oak garners special status Millennium Green plants trees in every state and recognizes historical ones. By MELISSA MYERS REGISTER STAFF WRITER The tree in the west-side yard of the Wallace House Foundation looks much like every other Iowa burr oak tree in November. Only a few dry leaves cling stubbornly to the branches as brisk fall winds try to tease them to the ground.

But the 150-year-old oak tree at 756 16th St. is also unique. A simple terra cotta plaque from Washington, D.C., proves it. Representatives of the White House Millennium Council and the United States Department of Agriculture presented the Wallace House Foundation and members of the Henry Wallace family with a plaque on Oct. 31 designating the tree as the state's millennium landmark tree.

Every state will have such a tree as part of the Millen nium Green project, said Ja cob Kitewaard, project director. Millennium Green, spearheaded by Hillary Rodham Clinton, was created with the goal of placing new trees in every state and recognizing historical trees. One hundred trees were donated to every state, and the project culminates in December or January when we will plant a millennium tree on the White House lawn," Kitewaard said. Jean Wallace Douglas, daughter of Henry A. Wallace, said the tree has historical significance because the Sherman Hill property where was planted was once the home of her great grandfather, Henry Wallace.

See TREE, Page 8 attorney "It's a very great honor to be recognized in this way," Rogers said. "IVe always believed in the parks. It's touching to me to be remembered there." The naming continues a tradition of naming public areas in West Des Moines after public servants. E.P. True Parkway is named after a former city manager.

George M. Mills Civic Parkway is named after the city's former mayor and current Polk County supervisor. Reporter Daniel P. Finney can be reached at (515) 284-8503 or finneydnewe.dmreg.com 7'J V- 6l Valley seniors are semifinalists West Des Moines, la. Ten Valley High School seniors have been named as 2000 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.

They are: Alexander Black, Bill Gongol, Kristin Graefe, Jason Kratzer, Russ Leino, Katherine Mabuce, Kavita Narayan, Mark Naylor, Andrew Pratt and Vanessa Raba. National Merit semifinalists in Iowa represent the top half of one percent of graduating seniors. Pump Girls to sing at benefit Sunday West Des Moines, la. The Pump Girls, a music group of three girls with juvenile diabetes, will perform at a benefit at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Hy-Vee Conference Center, 5820 Westown Parkway.

Proceeds will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Miss America 1999, Nicole Johnson, will be present. Tickets may be purchased at Des Moines-area Hy-Vee stores and Drug Town pharmacies, benefit sponsors. Cost is $5 for the first family member and $1 for each additional family member. Schools Johnston Middle School students help special education students during physcial education classes.

Page 4 Sports A buoyant spirit has allowed swimmer Katie Meade, 17, to triumph over Down syndrome. Page 7 Coming Up The need for English language instruction in Des Moines schools is skyrocketing. This year the district added eight schools to the list of facilities that teach English as a Second Language. Reach Us Bu Telephone: Content Editors, Anne Carothers-Kay, 284-8246 Deb Belt, 284-8198 Delivery, 284-8311 Advertising, 284-8043 Fax (news): 286-2504 Mail: Around Town, P.O. Box 957 Des Moines, IA 50304 E-mail: atnews.dmreg.com by a participant in the Heart Variations on a theme: These snowmen cards were created by Katie Nielson (card on the right) and Chelsi Pool.

Sales let Heart Connection offer free programs to children with cancer Children: This card, made Chelsi is 12 Nielson mm Pool By AMANDA PIERRE REGISTER STAFF WRITER eart Connection camp is more and more fun every fill year tor Pool, who years old and battling lymphoma She sings karaoke, rides horses and participates in arts and crafts projects. She took one of her art projects very seriously in the midst of all the fun. Even in the midsummer heat she thought of a snowman and snowflake holiday card design, hoping to warm people's hearts. Katie Nielson, 15, also drew a card with a snow theme. She drew the card five days after surgery, determined not to let her brain stem tumor hinder her artistic ability.

Summer camp officials chose Chelsi and Katie's card designs, plus three others, out of about 150 to sell for this year's card fund-raiser. Proceeds will benefit the camp for children with cancer. "I hope most of the people like the cards," Chelsi said. The annual card program was started eight years ago to give more children a chance to spend a week in July at camp. There is also a week-long camp in August for See CARDS, Page 9 Cards for sale Heart Connection sells holiday cards designed by children starting at $10 for 20 cards.

The cards may be viewed on the Internet at www.childrenscancerprograms.com and ordered by phone at (515) 243-6239 or toll free at (877) 535-7802. Pavilion named for former city t3 attorney from 1962 until his retirement in 1996. Rogers left the city during a difficult time. There was a scandal over expense reports filed by council members. A bitter election race arose.

Rogers retired from more than 30 years of employment with little fanfare. His daughter-in-law sought to correct that. She went to the city's parks and recreation board and asked if a shelter or something could be named after him. The board decided to name the new pavilion at Railroad Park after Rogers. A plaque was dedicated in his honor Friday.

Wast Des Moines honors Jack Rogers, a parks advocate. By DANIEL P. FINNEY REGISTER STAFF WRITER West Des Moines, la. Emily Rogers' father retired a few years ago, and they gave him a big party. Friends, family and colleagues showed up to wish her dad well in the next phase of his life.

The celebration got Rogers thinking about her father-in-law, Jack Rogers. Jack Rogers worked part time as West Des Moines city it, SIT 4 ROBERT NANDEUTHE REGISTER Parks advocate: The West Des Moines parks board named the new pavilion at Railroad Park after Jack Rogers, who was city attorney from 1962 to 1996..