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I think it’s time for another singular cry from the wilds of rural Iowa: government, especially the federal government, is too complicated.
I am reminded of this each year when the tax forms arrive in the mail. Depending on your circumstances, property ownership, investments, etc., it could take you from now until the April 15th deadline to accurately figure out your taxes or to find a qualified tax professional to do them for you.
I still think the solution might be to eliminate the Internal Revenue Service and go to a national sales tax. But that’s an argument I’ve put forth before and may resurrect at another time.
I’ve commented on the health care debate in the past. But what’s bothering me this time is the sheer complexity of the bills before Congress now. Congress decided it would tackle health care reform and almost overnight, we had a bill of over 1,400 pages to consider. At last report, after some members of Congress successfully got sweet deals for their states or districts, we now have a bill that may be over 2,000 pages.
Has anybody outside of Washington had the courage to ask why? We seem to be living in an era of a camouflage of words and it’s only getting worse. This is not a Republican vs. Democrat issue, nor is it a Conservative vs. Liberal issue. By literal definition, a true conservative would want to simplify language in bills and communications coming out of Washington. Liberals, it would seem, would want to use even more words in bills and their reports home. But can it get much worse?
When the president or a member of Congress makes a lengthy statement of some sort, almost immediately the cable news channels assemble a panel of a half-dozen “experts” to interpret what we’ve just heard. Fewer words would seem to equal the need for fewer experts.
I’m convinced that many politicians are in love with the sound of their own voice. If you want a laugh sometime, tune in to C-Span some day or even some evening when Congress is in session. Sometimes you will see a member of the House or Senate giving some long, drawn-out speech. Quite often, if you look closely in the background, you will see a lot of empty seats. The speaker will act like he or she is addressing a stadium full of spectators, when the only other people in the chamber are staff members who must be there whenever the lights are on. But in order for the views of the speaker to be recorded in the Congressional Record, he or she must read the speech on the floor of the House or Senate.
Another glut of words.
A few decades ago, as a freshman in a college journalism class, I was stunned when our instructor walked to the blackboard and wrote in big letters: K.I.S.S. When the muffled laughter subsided, he added these words: Keep It Simple Stupid. In high school and college, when a teacher would assign a paper of 20 or 30 pages, I always wondered if they really read each of our submissions. I was tempted at times to slip in Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address just to see if anyone would catch it.
Sometimes I wonder if the same could be said of some of the legislation coming from Washington. How many members of Congress have read every word of those proposed health care bills? Maybe they should be tested on the contents of the bills they consider. If you can’t pass the test without any help from a staff member, you don’t vote on that bill. Fail a certain number of those tests and you’re sent back to your home state.
Word camouflage – does anyone have the courage to run a campaign against it?

January weather in Iowa might not seem like the best time for a sailing regatta, but members of Belle Plaine Cub Scout Pack 41 showed their sailing skills Saturday night at the American Legion.
Each year, the scouts host a pinewood derby, where they race small homemade cars on a sloped straightaway. This time, the scouts used the same principle as they maneuvered small homemade boats with small scales down a length of rain gutter that was filled with water. The rules were the boats could be propelled with wind power by the operator. No touching of the boat was allowed, except to right it if it should capsize.
Celebrity judges for the competition were Glenn Drahn and the Rev. Jim Campbell.
First place went to Divonni Jones. Isaac Brandt was second and Chris Malfese placed third. Brandt won the scouts’ award for boat design and Malfese received the judges’ design award.

The City of Belle Plaine has declared a snow emergency, effective at midnight tonight, through noon on Tuesday. Residents are reminded that they should remove their vehicles from city streets during that time period.

By Jeff M. Brown
“Some tortures are physical and some are mental, but the one that is both is dental” – Ogden Nash
Scrape, Scrape, Scrape…
My jaw muscles were killing me. They were so tired. “We’re giving her all she’s got, Captain, but she can’t take much more of this,” they cried. The situation was making me so uncomfortable it was all I could think about. I wanted to close my mouth. Gosh, I wanted to, but, of course, I couldn’t, because the dentist had his fingers in it. He was hard at work cleaning out the last six months worth of plaque I failed to remove myself with my toothbrush. Scrape, scrape, scrape…
How could I have been so lazy? I should have brushed more often, I thought. I firmly resolve from this point forward to brush and floss my teeth after every meal and snack and Chiclet for the rest of my life, so help me God. Scrape, scrape, scrape…
I need to get my mind off my aching jaw muscles. What should I do? I know, I’ll count the ceiling tiles. One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Okay, this isn’t working. Not even a little. I know, I’ll wiggle my toes to try to burn off some of the excess energy I seem to have. Wait, I’m already wiggling my toes and I didn’t even notice. Heck, I’m wiggling my feet and legs too. This isn’t working either. Now what? Scrape, scrape, scrape…
I need to find my happy place. That’s it, Jeff, go to your happy place. Okay, what exactly does that mean? I don’t think I have a happy place. If I do, then I’m not aware of it. I better find it right now before I have a panic attack. Think, Jeff, think. I’m picturing a nice green field of clover and grass and flowers. The sun is out and there are white fluffy clouds drifting in the breeze. Oh, look, there’s a cute little bunny hopping around without a care in the world. There’re no predators for him to worry about in this field. It’s okay, buddy, you’re safe here, here with me in my happy place. But wait, who’s that? It’s an intruder. I don’t believe this- it’s a white-coated dentist! He has a dental implement and he’s chasing the poor bunny with it. Run, bunny, run! Scrape, scrape, scrape…
I squirmed in my chair. Ouch, that hurts. Watch where you’re poking that thing, Mr. Dentist, because, oh God, I think I’m going to gag. Control yourself, Jeff. Wiggle your toes. Wiggle your feet. Count the ceiling tiles again. Run Mr. Rabbit. Happy place! Happy place! I have to use every means at my disposal because I absolutely, positively, without a doubt in the world, DON’T WANT TO PUKE.
Scrape, scrape, scrape…
The dentist finally removed his hand from my mouth and my jaw clamped firmly shut. The nausea went away and the sweet relief my muscles felt was so good I thought I died and went to heaven. “Jeff,” said the dentist, as he sprayed some water in my mouth with his ADA approved garden hose. “I’m happy to report that you don’t have any cavities.”
Thank goodness, I thought, as I swished away my worries. I could hardly handle the cleanings. I don’t know how I’d ever deal with an actual procedure in my mouth that required more time and drilling and pain and, most importantly- self-control.
“However,” he said, as he yanked off his latex gloves, “I recommend that you have your wisdom teeth pulled.”
HAPPY PLACE! HAPPY PLACE! HAPPY PLACE!

By Coach Bob Yilek
A double dual on Tuesday night with two bigger schools was good experience for us. Even though we did not come out on top we felt we made progress and wrestled much more aggressive. We gave up 12 points with the two forfeits and lost both duals by 10 points each. We are winning more matches then our opponents but need to make up for the 12 free points we give away.
Both Grinnell and Marshalltown have some good kids and wrestled them the well. We are focusing on individual improvement and we feel the majority of them are doing that as we get ready for the conference tournament this Saturday. We will need to have all 13 wrestlers wrestling at their best.
Belle Plaine 32 Grinnell 42
Winners included: Zakk Buch, Jack O’Brien – fall, Cody Chekal – decision, Kurtis Osipchack – Technical fall, Reed Petersen – fall and Jeremy Ellis – fall

Belle Plaine 30 Marshalltown 40
Winners include: Zakk Buch – fall, Lance Hinschberger – fall, Jack O’Brien – Major decision, Blake Chekal – decision, Chad Olson – Technical Fall and Reed Petersen – fall
Louisa Tournament
229.5 Davenport Assumption
208 West Delaware
175.5 Louisa Muscatine
95 Belle Plaine
81 West Liberty
76.5 Wapello
62 Mediapolis
56 Dyersville Beckman
55 West Burlington

Once again we wrestled short handed with some sickness . Wrestling with just nine guys we managed to come home with a 4th place finish with some really good teams. Davenport Assumption is rated 3rd in 2A, West Delaware is 5th and Louisa is in the top 10 of 1A. Then you add the many rated wrestlers competing and this was a great tournament. We had two champs, a third place finisher and five others who placed in the top six. A good effort but we need all guys to contribute and score points for us. We are wrestling better but need to keep fighting for six minutes.
Champions: Zakk Buch had two pins to win his title, Jack O’Brien had two pins and a good 5-0 decision over a very good opponent form Dyersville. The same kid Jack bet 2-0 last year so we made progress this year. Lance Hinschberger had a tough match in the semis but had three pins on the day to finish third. Cody Chekal and Reed Petersen both finished 5th with two pins each.
Junior varsity compete in the Mid-Prairie Tournament. The last tournament of the season for the junior varsity so it is called our JV State. We had one champion and one runner-up.
Scott Wheeler 1st; Trelys Mitchell – 2nd; Brent Wheeler – 4th
This week, the Plainsmen host English Valleys and Lisbon on Wednesday and the SICL Conference tourney Saturday.

Five boys from Belle Plaine, ages 10-14, were named local champions of the
2010 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship and have earned the right to
compete at the district level. The “Father Edward S. Flynn” – council 8479 in Belle Plaine
sponsored the local competition at the BP High School on Sunday. All youngsters ages 10 to 14 were eligible to participate.
Knights of Columbus youth director, Evan Hrabak said, “We only had 13 kids come out to shoot this year. All were boys. We hope to have some girls back to competenext year.” Hrabak would like to thank the kids for participating, their parents for supporting the kids and the local Knights that were able to help run the event.
Champions this year include: Joe Eichhorn (10), Brant DeMeulenaere (11), Jacob Ehlen (12), Trey Squiers (13) and Chase Bryant (14). Each contestant was allowed 15 free throw attempts in the contest. Ties were settled by successive rounds of five free throws per contestant until a winner emerged. (Numbers in parenthesis indicate age, not free throws made)
Each of these winners will compete in the district competition to be held on Sunday, February 7th at 2 p.m., at the Belle Plaine High School gymnasium, each with an eye toward moving on to the regional, state and international levels.

Jan. 15, 3:02 a.m. – Police were called to 1004 Eighth Avenue Apt. 1, for a verbal domestic dispute. No charges were filed.
Jan. 16, 8:45 p.m. – A dog was reported running loose in the 900 block of 12th Street. It was returned to its owner at 702 15th Street.
Jan. 16, 9:35 p.m. – Residents at 1502 Third Avenue filed a harassment report. The matter is under investigation.
Jan. 16, 9:50 p.m. – Police recovered several outdoor holiday decorations that had been discarded at the city parking lot. Anyone missing these decorations should contact the police department.
Jan. 17, 1:39 a.m. – Ambulance assist in the 900 block of Sixth Avenue.
Jan. 17, 5:56 p.m. – Alan Jones, 1307 Seventh Avenue, Apt. 2, reported the theft of cash. The incident remains under investigation.
Jan. 18, 11:18 a.m. – Alan Jones reported harassment at Country Foods.
Jan. 18, 1:20 p.m. – No charges were filed as a result of a verbal domestic dispute at 605 11th Street.
Jan. 18, 5:55 p.m. – Police assisted the Benton County Sheriff’s Department at the scene of a car-deer accident in the 1200 block of 77th Street Drive.
Jan. 18, 9 p.m. – Derek Wandling, 37, 702 15th Street, was arrested at his residence for outstanding Benton County felony warrants from 1996 for probation violation.
Jan. 19, 1:37 p.m. – Ambulance assist in the 600 block of 11th Street.
Jan. 21, 11:54 a.m. – Brian Rigler, 19, Belle Plaine, reported that two subjects in a vehicle had shot at him at 402 Seventh Street. Upon questioning, Rigler allegedly admitted that there were no subjects and that he possessed a firearm with intent of harming another individual. Officers seized a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun at the scene and charged Rigler with going armed with intent, a Class D felony, carrying a concealed weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor and filing false reports, a serious misdemeanor. He was taken to the Iowa County Jail.
Jan. 22, 2:40 a.m. – Ambulance assist in the 1400 block of Fourth Avenue.
Jan. 23, 2:40 a.m. – Ambulance assist in the 1400 block of 12th Avenue.
Jan. 23, 3:30 a.m. – Police responded to 605 11th Street for an elderly female who had fallen in her home. She was not injured.
Jan. 23, 7:56 p.m. – Officers assisted a motorist at Casey’s.
Jan. 24, 8:59 p.m. – Ambulance assist at 7850 11th Avenue Trail.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Belle Plaine Schools will close at 1:30 p.m. Monday and all activities scheduled for Monday night have been canceled due to the bad weather.

Approval of a modified grading process for advanced placement classes, purchase of a vehicle, employment of a part-time employee and review of a portion of board policy were items on the agenda Friday afternoon as the Belle Plaine Board of Education met. The meeting had been postponed from the usual Wednesday date because of bad weather.
Students taking advanced placement (AP) courses, currently in history and government will be graded on a five-point scale starting immediately. The AP course offerings could be expanded to biology and math next year.
Currently, Belle Plaine students are graded on a four-point scale, with an A grade required for the four points. But AP teachers asked the board to adopt the five-point scale for those courses, so that students who might receive a B in a tougher advanced placement course would not be penalized on their overall grade point ranking. Students would earn five points for an A grade in advanced placement courses, four points, for a B, etc.
While some board members questioned the timing of the implementation of the change, the measure passed.
Superintendent Bill Lynch asked the board for approval to purchase a used pick-up truck for the maintenance department. Following some discussion, he was given approval to purchase a vehicle for up to $20,000.
The board also approved the creation of a four-hour per week part-time position at the high school for a homework assistance program. The employee would be available one hour per day, four days per week after school to assist students with homework concerns. A similar program already exists at the junior high level, Lynch said.
Much of the meeting was devoted to the review of the 200 series of board policy. The board reviews its policies on a regular basis, every few years. The 200 series concerns board elections, code of ethics, meeting procedures, etc.