Page 8 The Advocate News (Wilton-Durant, Iowa) Thursday, May 31, 2012

OpiniOn

Goodness gracious snakes alive!

U
pon hearing the news that a seven-foot snake may be loose on the north edge of Wilton, I have to admit I wasnt sure what to think. Its not everyday you get a call like that. Never a dull moment in these towns! I received a call about it on Tuesday night, May 22. As is the case with any tale, it seemed to get a bit taller. By Wednesday morning, as I was walking to the post office, I saw a KWQC news van driving around downtown Wilton. It stopped at Jeffs Market and a camera crew began setting up. I didnt see news reports that night but my guess is that they interviewed people coming in and out of the market. Plus that location is right across the street from city hall and the police station and Ive heard that chief Tim Leathers got some face time. My thought all along was that the snake was probably in the owners home, especially when I was told it was albino (white and yellow in color, see page 1). I decided to turn to our AN Facebook page and ask our followers about the snake. Within 30 minutes, we received posts about the snakes possible whereabouts and a post saying it had been found. Surely it had, as city hall confirmed with me that it was found in the house. The next obvious question was simple was there an ordinance on the books prohibiting the ownership of a Burmese Python? Yes. I found out where the owner lived and made an educated guess as to who it was. Then when I learned her name, I knew Id have no trouble getting to meet and talk with her. Ive known Colleen Steiner for many years. She and I worked together at Rural Housing Institute (RHI) in Wilton in 2001. All it took was a trip to her home and she instantly remembered me. Before I knew it, she was inviting me inside to see the snake. As I entered the room where it She located to Wilton to be a member of the was kept, I saw the large cage where it spends local workforce. She has kids in school and most of its time. Colleen was very respectful and courteous, has fallen in love with the school system. By always asking before she did anything. She all accounts, shes a law abiding, tax paying citizen and our town asked if I wanted to see benefits from the fact it. Then when we were that she chose to live in front of the cage, she and work here. asked if I wanted her However, had she to take it out yes I known that there was did. an ordinance on the Before I knew it, books prohibiting her there was Raistlyn, having a pet snake, all seven feet of him, By Derek Sawvell she probably wouldnt on the bed a mere foot have moved to town. or two from me. Let me interject here and say that I really do not have After eight years of owning her python, shes a fear of snakes. Wouldnt make me want to now looking for a new permanent home for own one, but as Ive told several people who him. She doesnt want to leave Wilton, a town cant believe our page one photo, hes more shes happy to call home. She doesnt want afraid of me than I am of him, Im sure of to take her kids out of a school system that they love. it. When she thought her snake may have been The only thing I was afraid of is that I knew that when I took a picture, the camera missing, she didnt have to tell anyone. And would flash. I asked her if she thought that upon finding it two days later, nobody would would bother him. When she said no, I clicked have been the wiser. She was proactive. She away. He was pretty photogenic, as he had no went right to the police. When they couldnt find the snake in the home, she went to her problem looking into the camera! Colleen has two daughters who like to neighbors. What does she get for that? Everyone in have friends over. She also has two cats in the house. The fact that she had a snake was town and on Facebook is now calling her the not a secret. She said that her daughters have snake lady. Im not saying the city should change its friends that loved to come see the snake. She ordinance. It exists, in part, to protect us from also had neighbors that liked to see it. Yet not all neighbors knew she had it and instances just like this. Pets get away even I would suspect that upon hearing it was po- from the most responsible of owners. While I tentially loose, some may have been a bit dont believe the snake would have attacked panicked. Ill stop here and let you read our another living thing (unless it was missing news story that begins on page one for weeks and had to eat) it still provides a In the end, I told Colleen that she was a perceived threat to neighbors who have small victim of merely doing the right thing. You pets or a legitimate fear of snakes. have to remember, she didnt think she was This is just small town gossip at work. breaking any laws. Colleen is everything we The story moved faster than her snake could should want in a citizen when we think about slither. Instantaneously, people in town were growing our communities. thinking I dont want that thing in my back

Case in Point

Raistlyn the Burmese Python is shown above, wrapped around a tree limb in his cage inside Colleen Steiner's Maurer Street home. The cage is six feet tall, three feet wide and two feet deep.
Photo by Derek Sawvell

yard. Colleens fun, bubbly personality is the kind I would wish all neighbors had. She will comply with the citys wishes and once again, life will go on. I just hope Raistlyn finds a good home with another caring owner.

Fifteen area students to represent DHS and WHS

STATE DELEGATES

continued from page 2

the County Council. Ashlyn Kessler was selected by the Walcott Legion Auxiliary. The daughter of Jim and Ann Kessler, she is a student at Durant High School where she is on the volleyball, basketball and track teams and is a member of the student council and the National Honor Society. Emelie Knobloch was selected by the Durant Legion Auxiliary. She is the daughter of Tedd and Kristine Knobloch and is on the track and volleyball teams at DHS, is active in drama and is a member of choir. Whitney Wolf is the daughter of Scott and Christine Wolf. She will represent the Durant Legion Auxiliary at Girls State. A student at DHS, she is on the track and cross country teams, is active in drama and is a member of the National Honor Society. Kendell Veach is the daughter of Jennifer and Troy Schlapkohl and Krissy and Randell Veach. A student at Wilton High School, she is on the cheer squad, is track manager and is a member of FFA and FCCLA. She was selected by the Wilton American Legion Auxiliary. Boys State Christian Anthony is the son of John and Sierra Anthony and Sheilla Shriver. He was selected to attend Boys State by the Wilton American Legion. A student at Wilton High School, he is on the cross country and track teams. Aaron Bartenhagen is the son of Matt

and Rhonda Bartenhagen. He was selected to attend Boys State by the Durant American Legion. A student at Durant High School, he is on the football, wrestling and baseball teams and is in choir. Adam Bartenhagen was selected by the Durant American Legion. The son of Matt and Rhonda Bartenhagen, he is a student at DHS and is on the football, baseball and basketball teams, is in chorus and a member of the Student Council. Ben Friederichs is the son of Roger and Janet Friederichs. A student at DHS, he was selected by the Walcott American Legion. He is on the cross country and track teams, is a member of band, FFA and 4-H. Logan Lafrenz was selected to attend Boys State by the Bennett American Legion. The son of Jeff and Dawn Lafrenz, he is a student at DHS, where he is on the football, basketball and baseball teams, is a member of the student council and the National Honor Society. Andrew Merschman is the son of Tim and Lori Merschman. He was selected to attend Boys State by the Durant American Legion. A student at DHS, he is on the golf and football teams and is active in choir and band. Zechariah Smith is the son of Jerry and Robin Smith. A student at WHS, he was selected by the Wilton American Legion to attend Boys State. He is on the wrestling team. Tyler Tribble is the son of Jeff and Linda Tribble. A student at DHS, he was selected to Boys State by the Bennett American Legion. He is on the football, track and basketball teams.

DHS students go to Boys StateThese young men from Durant High School will be attending Boys State June 10-15 at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa. The delegates and the American Legion units they represent are as follows: (front row) Logan Lafrenz (Bennett), Aaron Bartenhagen (Durant), and Adam Bartenhagen (Durant); (back row) Tyler Tribble (Bennett), Andrew Merschman (Durant), and Ben Friederichs (Walcott). Photo by Barb Rochholz

DNR director resigns

(DES MOINES) Gov. Terry E. Branstad has accepted the resignation of Roger Lande as the director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The resignation is effective, May 25. The governor thanked Lande for his service to the state of Iowa, and for leading the Department of Natural Resources through two legislative sessions these past 16 months. Roger Lande is a great Iowan and has always responded to the call to service whenever asked, said Branstad. Whether it be leading this important department during this current term, or helping me bring IPSCO Steel and hundreds of great jobs to Iowa back in the 1990s, Roger has always accepted the challenge. I wish Roger well in his next endeavors and look forward to continuing to work with him and his wife, Sarah, in our efforts to further and strengthen our relationship with our Chinese friends and trading partners, concluded Branstad. Branstad says he will name Landes successor on a future date.

Atalissa City-Wide yard sale June 2

Atalissa residents will hold the annual Atalissa City-Wide Yard Sale on Saturday, June 2, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch specials in town will be available at The Old University. Stop, shop and eat in Atalissa!