Andrew Huck
Published: April 29, 2009

DUBUQUE – On Monday, April 27th Iowa made history by allowing same sex couples to apply for marriage licenses. The state normally requires a three day waiting period but some judges granted waivers allowing couples who received their licenses on Monday to get married that same day.

At the Dubuque County Courthouse Monday six couples applied for licenses in person and four of those couples were granted waivers to get married that same day.

LCTV interviewed the first couple in Dubuque County to get a marriage license.

“We wanted to get married be the first ones in Dubuque to break history,” exclaimed Kentanindra Scarver.

Kentaindra Scarver and Veronica Spann moved from Chicago seven months ago but never believed they would one day be able to get married.

“We were thinking about the many ways faith works and this is one,” said Scarver.

The couple got married on Monday and is planning a big celebration with their family this weekend.

“Our families are very excited my sisters my family knows hers too,” said Scarver.

Representatives from OneIowa were on hand to offer support and give flowers to the couples applying for licenses.

“We’re here to answer questions and direct people where they need to go and celebrate along with them,” said OneIowa Representative Tyler Dague.

Tyler is proud of the impact today will have on his life.

“It makes me hopeful for my future just because I would love to share my life with someone and I would love to have the right to do that when I’m ready, said Dague.

Kentaindra and Veronica are glad to call Iowa home.

“We earned it equal rights, equal opportunity, and I’m just so glad that Iowa has acknowledged that,” said Scarver.

While a few people stopped by to offer their support there was no visible opposition or protests in front of the courthouse.

Here are a few useful links about gay marriage in Iowa and Dubuque County:
Dubuque County Recorder’s Office
OneIowa

Andrew Huck can be contacted at Andrew.Huck@lctv13.com

Andrew Huck
Published: April 27, 2009

DUBUQUE—Today was the first day that same sex couples in Iowa could obtain a marriage license. The Dubuque County Courthouse saw little traffic compared to other counties in the state. At the end of the day six couples applied for marriage licenses in person and seven more submitted their applications through the mail. Four of the six couples who applied in person were granted a waiver by a judge and were able to get married today. The wavier eliminated the three day waiting period.

Molly Menster and Tina Sio became one of the ten that received their marriage license today. Both Menster and Sio were interviewed by LCTV after the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the same sex marriage ban earlier this month. The couple was overjoyed when they were finally able to receive their license and planned to celebrate by going out for ice cream.

Representatives from OneIowa were on hand with flowers and to offer support for all of the couples coming to the courthouse today.

There were no protestors or opposition to gay marriage outside of the courthouse today.

Look for a complete story on From the Boulevard live at 7:00pm Wednesday and online at LCTV13.com.

Andrew Huck can be contacted at Andrew.Huck@lctv13.com

Andrew Huck
Published: April 15, 2009

DUBUQUE — Spring is here and as the temperatures begin to warm up you will start to see more bicycles on the roads. Iowa bikers hoped to begin this season with some new laws passed that would require drivers to take more precautions when encountering them on the road.

While the bill passed the Iowa Senate it remains stalled in the House unlikely to pass this session. Mark Wyatt, the head of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, sent an email to LCTV13 describing the details of the proposed law. They can be read on our blog.

Local cyclists are disappointed that the bill will not become law this season including Dubuque cyclist David Hartig who spends hours riding his bike.

“We ride three to five times a week,” says Hartig.

As President of Chain Reaction Cycling Club he enjoys mostly positive experiences with drivers on the road.

“Our experiences are good most people acknowledge us, they’re friendly, and they wave,” explains Hartig.

Other cyclists have had different experiences.

“Several of my friends have been hooked into the ditch, been hit by mirrors, been flipped off, been caused,” describes Hartig.

“I’ve been hit a lot of my friends have been hit by cars sometimes it’s by accident,” says Brain Walsh owner of Free Flight.

Brian offers these tips to help you stay safe when riding your bike on the street.

“The first thing you have to have is a helmet, the next thing you need to do is be visible, be seen so dress in bright color clothes, and stay in places where people would expect to see you, and then obey the laws yourself,” says Walsh.

Drivers need to be on the lookout for cyclists on the road.

“Legally speaking and this is nothing new we’ve got a right to be on the road,” says Hartig

David has seen a change in attitude towards cyclists in recent years.”When I was a young guy I road my bike to school every day, not something I feel comfortable would feel comfortable sending a young person out to do anymore.”

There is one reason why cyclists want this bill passed.

“We just want to be protected to the same degree that I would be if I was in my car, says Walsh.

Here are a few useful links about cycling in Iowa:
Full text of bicycle bill
Iowa Bicycle Coalition
Iowa Rules of the Road Bicycle rules are located on page 54.

Andrew Huck can be contacted at Andrew.Huck@lctv13.com

Andrew Huck
Published: April 1, 2009

DUBUQUE — In September the United States Treasury Department launched the “Trouble Assess Relief Program” or T.A.R.P which is designed to help banks and financial institutions through the current economic crisis.

Billions of dollars has been given to banks to buy off their troubled assets or make them more viable. Heartland Financial USA, INC in Dubuque received T-A-R-P money in December but they are not one of the many banks in financial trouble.

“Heartland has survived and actually faired very well in this environment because of the diversification of our assets,” said Heartland Financial Executive Vice President, CRO, and COO John Schmidt.

On December 18, 2008 Heartland received 81.7 million dollars from the federal government. Heartland Financial operates sixty-one banks in eight states.

Dubuque Bank and Trust serves as their flagship bank.

“Dubuque Bank and Trust in Dubuque, Iowa last year had its best year and we expect it to have another good year this year,” explains Schmidt.

T.A.R.P funds were designed to improve the economy by giving money to successful banks, like Heartland

“They stimulate the economy by giving or making the investment to those banks that have the greatest potential to go out and make additional loans or go out and buy troubled banks,” explains Schmidt.

Dubuque Bank and Trust customers do not need to worry about their money.

“They can feel very comfortable whenever they put their money into Dubuque Bank and Trust that their money is going to be there for them. They also need to know that Dubuque Bank and Trust is there to make loans when they need a loan,” says Schmidt.

To find out if your bank received any T.A.R.P funds and any information about the financial stability plan visit www.financialstability.gov

Andrew Huck can be contacted at Andrew.Huck@lctv13.com

Andrew Huck
Published: February 20, 2009

DEKALB – The Northern Illinois University community gathered to remember the shootings that happened one year ago today.

Hundreds came to remember by writing messages, reading acts of kindness, and looking at the now vacant building where the shootings took place.

Greg Zanis, a local carpenter, made the crosses that stood on this hill. After the shootings the hardest part for him was taking them down.

“I came out a Saturday night around three in the morning it was just so hard to take them down,” said Zanis.

He returned with new crosses he made special for this day that he will give to the victims’ families.

Northern Illinois students Ashley Blair and Valerie Silverstein helped paint tiles that will be put together to make a memorial mosaic. Since the shootings Ashley always knows where her friends are on campus.

“We actually give each other our schedules so know I know what building they’re in and what time they’re in so if it happens again I know where they are and I don’t have to worry about them,” said Blair.

Valerie appreciates her friends and family more. “I don’t really take anything for granted anymore. I kind of live each day as it is and I appreciate my friends and family more who were there for me,” said Silverstein.

For Talal Alqahtani and Haitham Felemban, two friends from Saudi Arabia, the school has become a safer campus community over the past year.

“You can talk to anybody on the campus and share the moments,” said Alqahtani. “The campus is more secure than before and that is good for us as students,” adds Felemban.

Over the past year it is events like this candle light vigil that brings the student body together and keeps the Huskie spirit strong and the community cheering for the red and black.

Andrew Huck can be contacted at Andrew.Huck@lctv13.com

Andrew Huck
Published: February 11, 2009

DUBUQUE – Thirteen, that is the number of fire deaths in the State of Iowa so far for 2009 which is more than this time last year. While October is known as Fire Prevention Month, the winter months bring challenges for firefighters and more potential fire hazards. There are a few things that you should know about how to prevent a fire in your home.

Dubuque Fire Chief Dan Brown explains the challenges winter weather has on his department’s ability to fight fires.

“Any time we have these apparatuses [fire trucks] out there is always a problem with freezing and the hose lines freezing, you have to keep water flowing through them even if we’re not spraying them on the fire,” explains Chief Brown.

During the winter many people rely on space heaters to help heat their homes but if you use them there are a few safety reminders.

“Space heaters should not be plug into extension cords should be directly into a receptacle [outlet], careful not to over load, and then do not leave them unattended; if you leave the room or go to bed at night shut them down,” says Brown.

The most important tip is to have working smoke detectors in your house but there is something about smoke detectors you need to know.

“If they are over ten years old they probably need to be replaced and if you look at your smoke detector they will have a date on them,” says Brown.

Beginning April first a new law goes into effect requiring all new residential construction to have a dual sensor smoke detector installed, which uses two sensors to detect both fast and slow moving fires.

These are important reminders after the amount of fires in Dubuque at the end of 2008.

“December was a very busy month for the fire department here in Dubuque for structure fires,” explains Brown.

The Dubuque Fire Department also asks for your help in clearing snow from around fire hydrants. If there is a hydrant on your property the department asks that you clean a path around it, this will give firefighters quicker access during a fire.

Andrew Huck can be contacted at Andrew.Huck@lctv13.com

Andrew Huck
Published: December 3, 2008

DUBUQUE — The face of the Catholic Church throughout the world is changing. The decline in the number of priests is requiring members of the parish communities to play a larger role in faith formation.

A few weeks ago I took a look at the status of vocations to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. This week I took a look some of the challenges facing the parish communities and how the faithful are being called on to respond in the second part of my series Angles of the Archdiocese.

Monsignor James Barta Serves as the Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Dubuque. He has experienced the changes in the role of Catholics at mass.

“Fifty years ago it was a little bit more Jesus and me. I went to mass because it was good for me. Well now you go to mass because this is the community worshiping God together,” says Monsignor Barta.

The church is actively promoting adult faith formation and involvement in the parish but there are challenges still remain.

“It’s a challenge to get people to participate you want them to, you don’t want them to make the mistake of saying this is all I need to do,” explains Monsignor Barta.

The shortage of priests has opened up opportunities for the laity to become more active participants in their parish.

“To rely on the laity more not as an emergency measure but rather recognizing that this is what the laity always should have done,” adds Monsignor Barta.

Vocation Director Father David Schatz explains the importance of sharing your time and talents in service to the church.

“That’s the richness of life is when you find the needs of the church, the needs of the world, and your gifts fit,” says Father Schatz.

Parish involvement ranges from assisting at mass as a liturgical minister to serving on parish councils. Opportunities for faith formation exist all throughout the Archdiocese of Dubuque to find out more information contact your parish.

Andrew Huck can be contacted at Andrew.Huck@lctv13.com

Andrew Huck
Published: November 12, 2008

DUBUQUE – Catholic Dioceses throughout the United States have been struggling with vocations to the priesthood in recent years, but is that trend the same here in the Archdiocese of Dubuque? To find out I talked to the Director of Vocation Awareness for the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Father David Schatz.

Father Schatz believes that vocation begins at mass.

“Through the celebration of the Eucharist that moment when Christ comes to us fully present, doing that well will help us to understand how close God wants to be to us,” says Father Schatz.

Currently there are fourteen men in the Archdiocese preparing for the priesthood; these young priests will be called to serve in the coming years as older priests begin to retire in greater numbers.

“It’s an opportunity of calling to something new we see all the different ways that leadership has come forward, young people, a new generation see this, and are responding,” explains Schatz.

Priests in the Archdiocese will be assigned to various parishes after their ordination where they will share their many gifts with the faithful.

“The priesthood is a gift and it keeps giving and your gifts are called out of you,” adds Schatz.

Father Schatz is hopeful for the future of priestly vocations and the Catholic Church.

“I don’t think it’s a measurement of numbers,” says Schatz. “I witness as I go around our diocese that the Holy Spirit does not abandon people and I know that’s true in my own life.”

If you would like to learn more about vocations within the Archdiocese of Dubuque contact Father David Schatz.

Archdiocese of Dubuque – Office of Vocations
www.arch.pvt.k12.ia.us
563-556-2580 ext. 281
DBQCVO@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us

Andrew Huck can be contacted at Andrew.Huck@lctv13.com