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The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 52

Location:
Des Moines, Iowa
Issue Date:
Page:
52
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

Off 10 0 I IfJJ, mi LA Wj -J 4. Hvj LJ L.J Lj L.i A weekly section of nens and features from AnKerWnd communities north of Des Moines iBGiiBons vrni cimiSTOS spin Two school computer thefts cause security concerns 'Gingerbread house' lit up for holidays By PERRY BEEMAN "We're Just average people and we don have much money. We Just spend about $25 to $30 a year on the decorations," she said. The display is the product of over 30 years of collecting and building. Strain adding that "we may have missed a year when they announced the energy crisis." The Strains spend about $40 a season to illuminate the lights from Dec.

15 to New Year's Day, she said. Formerly they were on from Dec. 1 to Jan. 1, but energy costs forced the Strains to reduce the time. Joy said she has no idea how much money is invested in the display, although the lights now cost 20 cents each.

Luckily, vandals have steered clear of the Strains' Christmas scenery. The lights serve as the Strains' Christmas card to the country, she said, and their neighbor tunes in chatter about the lights via citizens-band radio voiced by truckers from throughout the country. "We do it for other people. People all over the U.S. go by, and it's been on the radio talk line," she said.

"I never send Christmas cards. I write 'Merry Christmas' In my front yard" instead, she added. large "Merry Christmas" greeting in their front yard and rooftop. "This is my Christmas," said Strain, 56, of the elaborate display at 5214 E. Twenty-ninth which has been known to truckers for years as the "gingerbread house "The truckers get a big bang out of it," she said, adding that the house looks like "a big ball of red fire" to occupants of cars driving on 1-35, NE.

Twenty-ninth or NE. Thirty-eight streets. After asking Strain where she lives, people often add, "Oh, you're the one with all those lights." A University of Northern Iowa student once told Strain that the house's bright star helped him find his way much like another star guided three men In New Testament times. "He was traveling on a really foggy night and couldn't see where he should turn off the highway," said Strain. "He clocked the time (he had traveled) by the star on top of our house to tell him when to get off the interstate.

He said if it weren't for the star, he wouldn't have found his exit." The star, as well as a plywood nativity scene, the "Merry Christmas" sign, the cross and some other decorations are homemade. Years ago, a Des Moines woman made a regular trip to the Berwick grocery. The store owner asked if the customer would take some food to an ill man, and she agreed. The suffering man was so grateful, he thanked the woman by giving her two ornamental stars. The gift fueled the woman's Christmas spirit, and provided the roots of an elaborate holiday display that beckons yuletide travelers driving down Interstate 80 By PERRY At least two Lake Country icbooU have discovered a by-product to the trend toward computer education theft.

Ankeny and Bondurant-Farrar ichooli have strengthened their security measures after losing computer equipment worth thousands of dollars, but they fear the safeguards may hinder the use of the machines. Ankeny bas lost equipment worth in two separate thefts, one in early November at the high school and the other Dec. 6 at Neveln Junior High School. The equipment included two Apple computers, the shell of another, and accessories. An Apple computer, a monitor and a printer worth a toUl of 4.000 were stolen from Bondurant Farrar High School last November.

Ben Norman, Ankeny administrative assistant, said the thefts spurred a new effort In the district's existing security program, in cooperation with Ankeny Detective Arnie Torath. "We've definitely enacted some security measures," he said. "We've spray-painted identification on them and engraved a universal identification number on them. "We've tried to make them less attractive to thieves) by spraying 'Ankeny Community Schools' on the side, and we've told the teachers and custodial staff to be aware of people around them." Norman, who said the thefts were the first since the district initially bought computers three years ago, said the best security may not deter criminals. "If someone wants to get In and get them end bust down a door, there's not much you can do about it." Bondurant-Farrar Superintendent Roger Ohde agrees.

The person who took his school's equipment went to a lot of work. "It was definitely forcible entry. This person got up on the roof deck, totally smashed a window, smashed another window frame and broke a door Iduringj late-night." he said. Since that theft, the only one in three years of the school's computer classes, officials have installed heavier doors and locks and have continued stamping identification numbers on the machines. Both schools apparently were victims of someone who bad "shopped'' and knew what they wanted and where to get It.

In the most recent Ankeny case, police found no evidence of forcible entry, and the computer was kept In a locked room. Also, only part of one computer was stolen. Bondurant Farrar'! Ohde said that because a computer plus all the accessories were stolen, the thief at bis school "knew exactly what be wanted and had a market for it" Norman said the thefts remind him of a similar problem the school bad when citizens-band radios were first installed and subsequently stolen. Not all schools are losing computer equipment Dallas Center-Grimes Superintendent Gene Fokken said his school has avoided theft of computers for three years. None of the computer equipment stolen from Ankeny and Bondurant-Farrar had been recovered last week.

The losses were covered by insurance. Ohde and Norman wonder if the need for increased security will hamper education. "Like any educational tool, computers aren't much good if they're locked up all the time," said Norman. Ankeny Superintendent Keith Hopkins said at a recent school board meeting that the equipment may have to be stored in a room locked with a key held exclusively by one person. Ohde said security measures haven't restricted computer use yet, "but they may down the line.

Computers may become more commonplace, and we would like to put them in media centers, but they may be more open to theft." Ohde said more schools may have to Install electronic surveillance systems. year after year. The woman name even fits the season Joy. Joy Strain and her husband, Rolland, spend "a good week" every year stringing over 1,000 lights on their bouse and surrounding trees, and setting up a nativity scene, two Santa Claus displays, a cross and a Managers of Grimes complex a big hit with elderly tenants When Addie Perkins of Grimes was laid off from his Job of eight years at Parker Brothers Inc. In Des Moines, he decided to take on a new Job he had planned to pursue in retirement.

Perkins and his wife, Mae, became live-in managers of Prairie Village, a 40-unit apartment complex housing Eisenhauer to replace Haverland on Ankeny School Board 52 elderly residents at 317 S. Jacob St. The couple has been a resounding hit, and for his efforts, Addie was named Citizen of the Year last week by the Grimes recreation committee. I knew someday I would be iVf Jr switched to Terrace and Southeast elementary schools. The recommendation includes also the sale of the Neveln portables In 1986-'87, the construction of a swimming pool at the high school In 1991-'92 and the demolition of the 1919 building at Neveln and the Neveln shop building.

The 1960 north addition to Neveln would be used as a community education facility, and the 1967 south addition would be converted into the district's central office. seling Service board of directors and the Ankeny Community Theater board of directors. He belongs also to the Ankeny Rotary Club, the American Legion and the Chamber of Commerce. Eisenhauer is a graduate of the Drake University Law School, and has practiced law in Ankeny since 1975. He and his wife, Cynthia, have, two children attending Ankeny schools.

He took the oath of office Tuesday. The board discussed several plans .1 Larry Eisenhauer will replace Mark Haverland on the Ankeny School Board, board members decided Monday. The board also discussed phasing out Neveln Junior High School and the possibility of adding grade nine to the high school as part of the district's proposed five-year facility plan. Eisenhauer, 36, of 710 N.W. Ash Drive, was one of seven persons who submitted resumes for the partial term, which will run until the September election.

Haverland resigned earlier this month to prepare for a term in the state House of Representatives. Other candidates were Ron Fuller, 206 N.W. Beechwood Richard Gingery, 10131 NE. Twenty-fourth Court, Janet Huss, 1810 N.W. 10th Rodney Lein, 1114 W.

First Linda Livermore 1202 S.E. Rio Drive; and Joseph Stone, 1805 N.W. Pine Road. A member of the Handley, Berry Eisenhauer law firm, Eisenhauer has been active in community affairs as a member of the Ankeny Downtown Redevelopment Committee, a church finance committee, the Ankeny Coun IIIDEC retiring, and I didn't want to just retire and sit down," said Addie, 59. Perkins said he and his wife moved into one of the apartments with the idea they would someday manage it.

That day came quicker than expected. The Perkinses handle routine maintenance of the building and yard, and help restore apartments for new tenants. But it's the "extracurricular" activities they take part in that inspired the residents to write a long nomination letter picking the Perkins family for the citizen award. Since only one person can be chosen, they decided on Addie. The letter told of Addie picking up groceries, medicine or laundry for residents, volunteering to change tires and offering to drive residents to medical appointments.

"Mae and Addie answer our emergency buzzers, sometimes barefooted and in their night clothes," the Mae and Addie Perkins Tenants remember Addie pushing them in a wheelchair to get around construction on the parking lot last summer so they could get transportation to appointments or to go shopping. They also laud his habit of providing birthday and anniversary cakes, the Perkinses' monthly potluck dinner and funeral receptions they organize. Mae is admired for the 10 pumpkin pies she made for Thanksgiving, Addie for delivering pieces to 24 residents who couldn't leave their apartments for the celebration. "I think it's great I love to help people," said Addie, adding he was surprised by the award. He said the job was welcome after an abrupt end to his job as a machine operator at Parker Brothers.

"I just enjoy the whole thing. The people here are so nice," he said. "If I had to retire and do nothing I would climb walls." Before working at Parker, Addie worked at Beaver Valley Canning Co. in Grimes for 11 years. The Perkins family moved to Grimes in 1961.

He was active in preparation for the Grimes Centennial last year and has been active in church affairs. Mae, who works at the post office, shares most of the duties and has primary responsibility for records. In his spare time, he bowls and golfs, although he said he takes neither sport seriously. The residents of the complex take the Perkinses' work very seriously. also for reorganizing the district's facilities.

It delayed action on the five-year facilities plan until the Jan. 3 meeting. Under a recommendation from Superintendent Keith Hopkins, little would change before 1989-'90, except minor remodeling and a cutback in the number of elementary classes due to declining enrollment. Hopkins recommends that students in ninth through 12th grades attend the high school beginning in the 1991-'92 year, with grades seven and eight at Parkview, and Northwest Elementary's fifth- and sixth-graders Switching bets How compulsive gamblers band together and stake their futures on lucking their habit. Page 6.

Unusual neighbor Vantarg W. Vopipjack of Jerka, Iceland, nominates as Neighbor of the Week a fat, bearded man who's busy this time of year. Page 3. residents wrote. REGISTER PHOTOS BY LARRY E.

NEIBERGALL Controversy over destroyed bridge renewed in Johnston 1 4' Sfflmm. closed mm fill Iff feflwll iwif If asked the Johnston City Council at several recent meetings to fix the bridge. Fox, Harding, and Shirley Tolsdorf, of 6850 N.W. 100th also say the closed bridge's absence means longer trips to Ankeny, Grimes and West Des Moines. And there's the principle of the thing, Fox said.

"We're just standing on the principle that it was there and we want it back." Although officials once talked of rebuilding the bridge, and a $16,000 insurance settlement was received, money has been a problem. Johnston officials have said it would cost Polk County and the city a total of BRIDGE Please turn to Page 5N-LC Several rural Johnston residents have renewed an old controversy involving a destroyed bridge on N.W. Eighty-Sixth St. near Camp Dodge. They want the bridge replaced.

A few years ago, a vehicle slammed into the bridge, damaging its supports, said Charles Harding who lives nearby. Vandals later set the bridge on fire, causing extensive damage to the span, which crosses Beaver Creek near a settlement called Herrold. Residents of the area fear that eight families who live along a mile-long stretch between the closed bridge and an existing span that crosses Little Beaver Creek farther south would be stranded should that bridge be destroyed, leaving no exit from the area. John Ashley "Should the bridge go out on the south, eight families would be isolated from rescue," said Marilyn Fox, one of the residents who have The closed bridge over the Beaver Creek. GOLF TENNIS RACQUETBALL BOWLING CLOTHING rcEa Brunswick Edge J.G.

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Pages Available:
3,433,144
Years Available:
1871-2024