THE INDEPENDENT DAILY NEWSPAPER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COMMUNITY SINCE 1868 The Daily Iowan FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2006 WWW.DAILYIOWAN.COM 50¢ ECO-FRIENDLY YARDS Special session opens BY DEAN TREFTZ THE DAILY IOWAN Legislators are making a midsummer trip back to Des Moines to deal with Gov. Tom Vilsack’s veto of a bill limiting the grip of eminent domain. A special state legislative session will convene today to address Vilsack’s May 2 veto of the much-discussed emi- nent-domain bill, which would restrict govern- ments’ ability to acquire the private property of Iowa residents. One option legislators may have at their dis- Vilsack posal is to override the governor veto by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Sen- ate, which last occurred in 1963. SEE SESSION, PAGE 3 Aaron Hall Homgren/The Daily Iowan Software designer Fred Meyer cups a flower blossom in his organic vegetable and herb garden in his backyard on Thursday. Meyer’s backyard is the first stop on Poll shows the inaugural Backyard Abundance Tour, initiated by Meyer, which will take place Saturday from 1-3 p.m. For six weekends this summer, a different home will open its yard to Iowa City residents to promote ideas for more ecologically beneficial yards. divided GOING AND GROWING GREEN Fred Meyer replaced his bland, high-maintenence grass lawn Iranians BY DANNY VALENTINE with living, breathing, self-sustaining mini ecosystems. THE DAILY IOWAN He is just one of a growing number of residents using this technique. While fiery rhetoric has been flying between Iranian officials and major inter- BY MATT SNYDERS growing number of über-gardeners who ecological improvements and how yard care; far-reaching environmen- national powers about THE DAILY IOWAN have replaced bland, high-maintenence this helps the environment.” tal benefits abound. the country’s fledgling grass lawns with living, breathing, self- The first yard on display: Meyer’s own “I take out my trash about once a nuclear program, the There’s a wily scoundrel of a chip- sustaining mini ecosystems. organic vegetable and herb garden. month,” he noted. “The bulk of my garbage voices of Iranian citizens munk in Fred Meyer’s garden. It scur- Fred Meyer is so devoted to ecologi- “I originally began converting it into goes into bins to be used for compost.”Such have garnered little ries about, ravishing the gardener’s cal yards that this past spring he what it is now about three years ago,” he efficiency encapsulates the goal of Back- attention. prized golden raspberries. Lurking founded a group dedicated to the eco- said, wading through a maze of waist- yard Abundance: to improve the local envi- A poll released Thurs- day of 810 Iranian among the berries, the rodent con- friendly pasttime. Starting Saturday, high oregano, zucchini, cauliflower, and ronment through small lifestyle changes. adults by Reader’s sumes the juicy morsels at its leisure. Backyard Abundance members will garlic plants.“I designed it to be sustain- And these small changes have Digest/Zogby Interna- But Meyer wouldn’t have it any showcase their lush yards in the 2006 able. It requires less work than a grass immediate perks, as well. Meyer, still tional offers a new Mousaviraad other way. Yard Tours, sponsored by New Pioneer lawn, which you have to mow.” exhibiting the literal fruits of his labor, dimension to the UI doctoral “He does some crazy things, but he Co-op and Thai Flavors. Every two Because he utilizes a moisture- offers samples of tangy sorrel leaves, nuclear debate — what student and does a lot of good things, such as aer- weeks or so for the next two months,a locking layer of straw and compost, he spicy nasturtium flowers, and citrusy the general population research assistant ating the soil,” he said. “That’s what different “lawn” will be toured. doesn’t even need to water his 50-x- lemon balms. The healthy foliage is thinking. an ecosystem is all about.” “The point is not about planting a 50-square-foot vegetable mecca. But tastes raw, natural, and wholesome. To 41 percent of Iranians polled, Meyer, a 36-year-old software designer, huge garden,” Meyer said. “It’s about the low-maintenance factor is not the and wife Erica are just two among a teaching residents how to make biggest draw to this unique mode of SEE GARDEN, PAGE 3 SEE IRAN, PAGE 3 Kinnick emergency plan to be tweaked BY ANDREW BASSMAN the post-9/11 era — underscores Kinnick’s plan SPECIAL TO THE DAILY IOWAN the need for an emergency evacua- tion plan for the Hawkeyes’ newly for such It is an overcast, warm, and renovated landmark. windy September Saturday morn- But drills to test such a plan emergencies as ing at Kinnick Stadium. The crowd aren’t scheduled to take place is roaring, the band’s instruments until after four home games into are blaring, students are scream- tornadoes or the fall season. ing. But in the distance, a huge “We have thought about this and funnel cloud barrels toward the terrorist attacks still other related issues and are in the stadium. The PA sounds: “A torna- needs to be tested. do is heading toward the stadium. process of creating an Emergency We are starting an emergency Operations Manual that would Drills are not evacuation. Please proceed calmly cover all types of emergencies spe- to the nearest exit.” cific to Kinnick Stadium,” said Lt. scheduled to take Though this has never Shawn Sharp, the head of stadi- happened at Kinnick, a storm last um-security operations for the UI place until after year did prompt the evacuation of police. “We are currently studying Iowa State University’s Jack Trice several different manuals from Ben Roberts/The Daily Iowan other universities, using them as four home games Stadium. That event — along with Fans wave “Blackout Saturday” towels as the Iowa football team takes the F-2 tornado that ripped templates and guides for the into the through Iowa City in April, and development of ours.” the Kinnick Stadium field before the kickoff in the game against Michigan the perceived increase in the on Oct. 22, 2005. The Hawkeyes’ 23-20 overtime loss ended their 22- football season. possibility of terrorist attacks in SEE KINNICK, PAGE 3 game home winning streak. DEERE IN THE LIGHTS SUNDAY IN NO SHAME, NO INDEX 90 32 C Zach Johnson, who was born in THE PARK GAIN Arts 5 © © 8 Iowa City, is atop the leaderboard The City Park will celebrate Sam Knutson and Shame Train Classifieds Partly cloudy, Crossword 7 68 20 C after the first day of the John Deere 40% chance of 100 years of “parkitude” this are chugging into the Mill with a Opinions 4 T-storms Classic. 8 weekend. 2 hot new album. 5 Sports 10 2 - The Daily Iowan - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, July 14, 2006 NEWS IOWA CITY CITY PARK The Daily Iowan Volume 138 Issue 29 100 years of frolicking BREAKING NEWS STAFF Phone: (319) 335-6063 Publisher: E-mail: [email protected] William Casey. 335-5788 The City Park is 100 years old. On July 16, it will celebrate Fax: 335-6184 Editor: CORRECTIONS Meghan Sims. .335-6030 Managing Editor: Call: 335-6030 its centennial with amusement rides, music and plenty of food. Margaret Poe. 335-5855 Policy: The Daily Iowan strives for Metro Editors: This event was pushed back because of bad weather. accuracy and fairness in the reporting Lee Hermiston. 335-6063 of news. If a report is wrong or mis- Mason Kerns. .335-6063 leading, a request for a correction or a BY BRITTNEY BERGET Opinions Editor: clarification may be made. Laura Michaels. .335-5863 THE DAILY IOWAN PUBLISHING INFO Sports Editor: From horse-drawn carriages The Daily Iowan (USPS 143.360)is Dan Parr. 335-5848 to skateboard ramps, City published by Student Publications Inc., Tyson Wirth. 335-5848 Park has seen plenty of E131 Adler Journalism Building, Iowa Arts Editor: Charlie Moran . 335-5851 changes — 100 years’ worth. City, Iowa 52242-2004, daily except Saturdays, Sundays, legal and universi- Copy Chief: On July 16, the park will cele- Beau Elliot. .335-6030 ty holidays, and university vacations. brate its centennial, during Design Editor: Periodicals postage paid at the Iowa which park-goers can see amuse- Brittany Volk. 335-6030 City Post Office under the Act of ment rides, music, and food. Photo Editor: Originally scheduled for June Congress of March 2, 1879. Laura Schmitt. .335-5852 10, the celebration was pushed SUBSCRIPTIONS Web Editor: back because of bad weather. Call: Pete Recker at 335-5783 Tony Phan. .335-5829 While Iowa Citians rarely E-mail: [email protected] Business Manager: need for a reason to celebrate, Subscription rates: Debra Plath. .335-5786 Mike Moran, the city’s recre- Iowa City and Coralville: $20 for one Advertising Manager: ation department superintend- semester, $40 for two semesters, $10 Cathy Witt. .335-5794 ent, said the park’s rich history for summer session, $50 for full year. Classified Ads Manager: provides a heck of an excuse. Out of town: $40 for one semester, Cristine Perry. .335-5784 “It’s been a historical spot $80 for two semesters, $15 for summer Circulation Manager: Pete Recker. .335-5783 for citizens to gather over the session, $95 all year. Day Production Manager: years, and that’s why we’re cel- Send address changes to: The Daily Heidi Owen. .335-5789 ebrating,” he said. Iowan, 100 Adler Journalism Building, Night Production Manager: And while the park has its Iowa City, Iowa 52242-2004.