Jump to full article: Omaha (NE) World Herald, 2008-12-24
Author: ELIZABETH AHLIN WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Intro: Lake View lives another day.
A controversy over anti-tobacco billboards featuring this small northwest Iowa town was resolved when Lake View leaders complained and state officials listened.
Lake View Mayor John Westergaard was aghast last month when he realized Lake View had been featured as part of a statewide marketing campaign sponsored by Just Eliminate Lies, or JEL, a youth-led anti-tobacco group that works with the Iowa Public Health Department.
The billboards feature an ominous message, one that shines a light on the estimated 1,200 people who die from tobacco-related illnesses in the United States each day.
"Lake View. Tobacco can kill this town in 1 day," the signs read.
This month, the Public Health Department shocked Westergaard again. The Lake View signs have been replaced. . . .
Most of the complaints he has received have been over the lack of communication between state officials and town leaders prior to the billboards being erected. "That was an oversight on our part. We didn't feel the message was controversial."
In the future, the agency will work with town leaders before bringing such an ad into the community. But it will continue to launch new anti-tobacco campaigns in Iowa.
"Big tobacco is in your town already," Buttermore said, referring to advertisements at local convenience and grocery stores. "Nobody is raising a fuss over those signs."
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Quotes from this article:
Lake View. Tobacco can kill this town in 1 day.
JEL's anti-tobacco sign featuring Lake View, IA (pop: 2100) created a big fuss.
Big tobacco is in your town already. Nobody is raising a fuss over those signs.
Garin Buttermore, the JEL youth coordinator, referring to advertisements at local convenience and grocery stores.
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