Page 8 The Advocate News (Wilton-Durant, Iowa) Thursday, January 17, 2013

OpiniOn
Dog that refused to die now Facebook sensation
n our Jan. 3 issue, I wrote about social page titled Buck Needs Bucks for his Buckmedia, namely Facebook and Twitter, shot Injuries. She began the page to tell Bucks heroic and the presence the Advocate News has story of survival as the dog who refused to die developed on both. To some, Facebook may be seen as fun and and to ask for help with the medical bills that games. Perhaps thats true. But for all the bad Buck was sure to incur. The page went viral in a matter of days and and time wasting that can come from Facebook, such as Jacob Cox-Brown, the Oregon teen- funds have been rolling in at a staggering rate! ager who was charged with failure to perform One report I read said that the site had 18,000 the duties of a driver after a Facebook post likes and had raised more than $10,000. Today, the page has more than 48,000 likes in which he talked about hitting a car while and I can only imagine how much money has driving drunk, there is plenty of good. On Thanksgiving, I devoted my column to been generated. Buck is getting great care and Laura Brammeier, a former WHS classmate Tami has been continuously posting videos and photos during his surgeries and friend who is battling and recovery. The big task brain cancer. Thanks to is helping Buck with his a Facebook page in her eyes, where pellets were honor, I was recently able also found. Ive tried to to view a MRI image contact Tami through her revealing that the cancerpage and am still awaitous area in Lauras brain ing a response. Im sure has gotten smaller since By Derek Sawvell shes been flooded with December. messages as every time Another interesting story about the possibilities of social media she posts information or photos it is liked and appeared in Sundays Quad-City Times. It commented on by thousands! Ive included a photo from the site of Buck was about Clifford Boyson, 66, who with the help of a seven-year old boy, an iPad and and Tami, not long after he was found and Facebook, was able to meet his sister Betty taken to the vet. I watched a video of Tami speaking from the Boyson Billadeau, 70, for the first time. The brother and sister were given up for site where Buck was found and she said dogs adoption as young children in Chicago and love unconditionally. Youll never find anyone Clifford was unaware he even had a sister until or anything that loves you like a dog. Why he was a teenager. He launched a letter-writing would you injure something like that? I couldnt have said it better myself. Anycampaign 10 years ago to every Boyson he could find in the Chicago area but made no one with dogs can relate. All they want to do is love you. Thank God Buck finally found a headway. Enter Eddie Hanzelin, a seven-year old good home. Im captivated every time I watch whose parents rent an apartment to Boyson. a video of Buck because that tail of his wags Upon hearing Cliffords tale, he did a quick and wags every time he gets attention, even Facebook search and found Betty in a matter if it is in the vets office! For Buck to have a of moments! The brother (from the QC area) tail-wagging spirit after all the recent trauma and sister (who came from St. Louis) were is remarkable! Tami and that little guy are able to meet for the first time recently in genuine heroes! Stay tuned. Davenport. *** As touching as that was, nothing pulled at my heartstrings harder than the story of Did she say what I think she said?In the Buck, a three-year old dog who was abused midst of the NFL playoffs over the weekend, and left to die in Texas before receiving much there was also a Miss America pageant in Las Vegas. I tried to flip to the show every needed love and care from mere strangers. The dog was in a garbage bag tied to a fence once in awhile when the NFL games were post and was found by a resident of Conroe, at commercial and each time I did, I would Texas Jan. 5, when he was driving by and saw notice that Miss Iowa, Mariah Cary, kept the bag moving. Upon opening the bag, the making the cut. dog took a few steps and collapsed, covered Cary, 21, Miss in its own blood. Muscatine 2012, made According to reports, the dog had been shot it to the finals and was in the face, head and neck area, either with bird named fourth runnershot from a shotgun or perhaps multiple shots up (fifth place). from a pellet gun. He had been left to die for The Burlington naat least 10 hours in the overnight cold. tive and student at The man who found him called Tami Au- Mount Mercy in Cegustyn, a local animal lover who is known in dar Rapids dazzled in the area for rescuing animals in despair. the swimsuit portion Miss Iowa She rushed the dog to a veterinary clinic, and did an impressive Mariah Cary where he began days of emergency care. Upon tap-dance routine in finding that he had been shot in the face, she the talent portion. The aptly named him Buck and began a Facebook winner, Miss New York Mallory Hytes Hagen,

Case in Point

"Buck," a courageous three-year old mix-breed dog from Texas was put in a garbage bag and left to die when the bag was hung from a fence post. He was in the bag overnight until a passing motorist saw it moving and stopped to help. He had also been shot in the face with bird shot. The motorist contacted Tami Augustyn (right) who immediately took Buck to the vet and began caring for him on his long road to recovery. She began a Facebook page (Buck Needs Bucks for his Buckshot Injuries) which instantly went viral, accumulating 48,000-plus likes and raising thousands of dollars.
Photo courtesy of Facebook/Buck Needs Bucks

also did a tap-dance routine. One of my flips arrived just as Cary was selected to answer the question from one of the judges. It was about her thoughts on two states (Colorado and Washington) recently voting to legalize recreational use of marijuana and whether she thought that was the right direction for the nation. She gave what I could tell was a very rehearsed answer implying that she thought it should only be used for medicinal purposes but ended by saying it should only be used for recreational and medicinal uses. I, like everyone else watching, had one of those did she just say what I think she said moments. It was an honest slip. You get 15-20 seconds with the cameras rolling to say your answer and it all happens so fast. The slip is what is defining her night at the moment and it ensured that she wasnt going to win the competition. However the lasting effect should be that Miss Muscatine did a great job of putting Miss Iowa back into the finals of the contest. *** NFL playoffsAfter last weeks divisional

playoff picks, Im now 8-0 this postseason with predicting games. Perhaps I should quit while Im ahead. I can remember last season when I told a friend of mine that it would be interesting to see a Harbaugh Super Bowl. Brothers Jim and John Harbaugh coach the San Francisco 49ers (Jim) and Baltimore Ravens (John). While it wasnt much of a reality last season, I see it as quite possible this year. For me, it comes down to quarterback play. Can Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco continue to win playoff games when he NEVER throws passes to the left side of the field? Normally I would say NO WAY, but with an inspired defense as Ray Lewis recently announced his retirement, perhaps theres enough magic left to carry Flacco one more time. Can 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick have another dual threat performance like the jaw-dropping night he had last week against the Packers? I think he can. Conventional wisdom would select Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to both win at home this week, but my heart says Ravens and 49ers.

What to do with budget surplus

Editor: (With regard to) the $1 billion budget surplus, use half of it on roads and bridges, and keep the gas tax the same, (No 10-cent increase that has been talked about.) Also, help small towns with updating their water and waste water systems that the DNR is requiring. Rich Harmsen Durant

City of Durant website up and running

By Paulette Theobald
of the Advocate News

It was announced at the Jan. 14 Durant council meeting that the citys new website is up and running. Designed by assistant city clerk Kathy Keese, the site features various permit applications, department and council member contact information, past council minutes, general information about city events and much more. She did a really good job on it, said city operations officer/clerk Deana Cavin of Keese. Residents are encouraged to visit the site at www.cityofdurantiowa.com.

Durant City Council

Engineers Report Steve Thompson, vice president of MSA

Professional Services, was present and indicated that he will be attending upcoming meetings. City engineer Jake Ehmke has taken an engineering position in his home state of Wisconsin. We want to make sure the citys needs are being met, said Thompson regarding ongoing and upcoming projects. He said he will be working closely with various city personnel on the Safe Route to School project, the waste water treatment facility project, including outstanding waiver signatures and the required SUDAS (Statewide Urban Design and Specifications) project. Thompson said he will meet with individual council members to get their vision and expectations for moving forward with the various upcoming projects. He reported on the application process for a program offered by the DNR (Department of Natural Resources)

for return of a portion of interest paid on the citys loan for the waste water sewer project that would be earmarked for future storm water upgrades Department Update Police chief Doug Cook reported that police sergeant Brad Longletts standard new employee probation period is complete. He has gone over and above, said Cook of Longlett. He is a valuable tool for our department. Officer Rafeek Yassin is scheduled to attend a seminar related to safety around high pressure gas lines. Longlett will be attending training covering police response to mass shooting incidents. Public works director Al Olderog reported that a fuel tank was replaced on the large snowplow at a cost of $1,200. He is obtaining prices for seat cover replacement on the F-150

vehicle. Community center director Linda Vorwald reported a fire alarm phone glitch at the center that is being resolved. She said that extensive cleaning of the center is underway. Cavin provided council with a packet of detailed job descriptions for public works employees, police department personnel, community center employees and the deputy clerk. Cavin updated the previously written job descriptions with input and suggestions from department heads and council members. Council approved a resolution adopting the job descriptions. Mayor Report Annual mayoral reappointments were

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DURANT COUNCIL