Local groups getting geared up for Trails Mediathon

Sun May 13 2007
Posted May 13, 2007
6,899

By CINDY TOOPES Courier staff writer OTTUMWA — In today’s world, $2.79 isn’t much. As Ottumwans found out Friday, that amount won’t even get you a gallon of the “cheap” gasoline. But, I’m not writing about capitalism and fossil fuel today. Trails and alternative transportation have my attention. Last Friday I called Kim Hellige, president of the Wapello County Trails Council, about the group’s plans for National Bike to Work Week, which is now underway. She reminded me the Trails Mediathon is 8 a.m.-noon Saturday. The council’s goal is to raise funds for completing the trails along the Des Moines River. Kim said they’re working on two grants, which require matches totaling $67,000. One way to make a large task manageable is to break it down into parts and Kim had an idea about that. She estimated Ottumwa’s population at 24,000 and divided that into $67,000. The answer is $2.79 per person. “That’s maybe a trip out for [burgers and fries],” Kim said. “It’s definitely cheaper than a gallon of gasoline.” Local dollars will be used to leverage larger sums of money “so we can get a bigger bang for our buck,” she added. Funds generated during the past 18 months will finish the trail along the north levee, from Market Street to the Gray Eagle Preserve. The next piece will be the south loop around the John Deere plant to Mary Street, then follow the levee to the Bridge View Center. After that, Kim said the next section will be from downtown to Turkey Island. Trails are an “investment in our community” and another economic development tool,” she added. “And, anyone can use the trails. There are no barriers,” Kim said. Sponsored by the Ottumwa Courier, KMGO/98.7, KLEE/1480, KOTM/97.7, and KELR 105.3, the Trails Mediathon live broadcast will begin 8 a.m. Saturday. Those who can’t deliver funds to the radio stations may want to mail a check for the Wapello County Trails Council in care of the Chamber of Commerce, 217 E. Main St., Ottumwa, Iowa, 52501. Mark Smoot, council vice president, hopes Ottumwans will ride their bicycles to work this week, especially on Friday, as part of Bike to Work Week activities in Iowa and across the nation. “The purpose is to encourage people to try bicycle commuting, increase cycling awareness and promote a healthy alternative form of transportation,” Smoot said. From 6-9 a.m. Friday, energizer stations for the city’s Bike to Work Day will be set up at the Skateboard Park and John Deere Ottumwa Works. Volunteers from the Trails Council and John Deere will have drinks and snacks available to bikers. In addition to the Trails Council, sponsors of Friday’s event include Ottumwa Regional Health Center, South Ottumwa Savings Bank, Riverside Cyclery and Clif Bar, a company that makes Mark’s “favorite energy bar” and donated “a whole bunch” for the community event. Common Grounds, a downtown coffee shop, has donated a gift certificate for the first rider at each station, Mark said. Starting at 5 p.m. Friday, the Trails Council will offer another way to donate money — “Tips for Trails: Celebrity Bartenders” at the Tom-Tom Tap, which will be smoke-free for that night only. Outdoor seating will be available. Here’s the 5-10:30 p.m. celebrity lineup: 5 p.m., Mike Carpenter, Paul Zingg; 5:30 p.m., Chad Wolbers, Becky Helgerson; 6 p.m., Maureen Shay, Janet Richards; 6:30 p.m., Randy and Julie Zorn; 7 p.m., Ted Breidenbach, Jared Beard; 7:30 p.m., Tom Stewart, Dan Nieland; 8 p.m., Pam Kaupins, Marcia Stam, Linda Reed; 9 p.m., Vaughn’s Chad VanNess and Clemons’ Jerrod Grant; 9:30 p.m., Laurie Appleget, Peggy Shaw; 10 p.m. Steve Siegel, Mike Petersen; and 10:30 p.m., KTVO-TV’s Jill Kasparie and Anthony Miller. As Mark said, more bicycles on the road means better air quality and less wear and tear on the roads. If more people join the bikers, our community could get healthier. “We want to show [bicycling] is a good alternative,” Mark said. “Ottumwa is small enough, you can get around by bicycle from one end to the other in 15-20 minutes.” For information, contact Mark at 641-226-0749 or visit the council’s Web site (go to www.wapellocountytrails.com). All this information is giving me ’70s flashbacks. I had a lot of dreams then and still loved my bicycle. Now that the affair is flaring up again, I hope my knees can take it! See you on the trail. Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com.