Appearing Nude Not A Crime There

Dear Ann Landers: I read the following in the Des Moines Register and cannot figure it out. Here’s the story:

“Indecent exposure charges against a man wearing only makeup, a wig, high heels and an unzipped sweater in a Hiawatha, Iowa, convenience store were dropped after the county attorney decided no law was violated.

“The man entered the HandiMart early Wednesday. When he headed for the store’s rest room, the clerk noticed the man was wearing no clothing below the waist. She called the police.

“The man returned from the rest room, made an effort to pull down his sweater and cover his genitals and then poured himself a cup of coffee. He opened his purse, paid for the coffee, told the clerk, ‘Sorry about this,’ and scurried away.

“Hiawatha police stopped the Peachtree City, Ga., man’s car in Cedar Rapids a short time later and charged him with indecent exposure. Eight hours later, charges were dropped.”

Ann, why were the charges dropped? That man was clearly guilty of breaking the law. Or is indecent exposure a common, everyday occurrence in Hiawatha? I’d like to know. - Mrs. J.E. in Clinton, Iowa

Dear Mrs. J.E.: We called Denver Dallas in the Linn County attorney’s office in Hiawatha, Iowa. He said appearing nude in public is not sufficient cause to charge someone with indecent exposure in Iowa.

Dallas said the man may have been mentally disturbed and should not have been arrested in the first place.

Dear Ann Landers: My son and his two teenage children visited us a few months ago. The 15-year-old daughter slept in our den by herself.

A few weeks after their visit, we went into the den to retrieve a very expensive bottle of vintage French champagne that we had stored in that room along with several bottles of wine. The champagne was not there. We searched the entire house and could not find it.

No one else has had access to that room since the grandchildren were here. We feel terrible about our suspicions but recall quite clearly that our granddaughter expressed a special interest in unusual and pretty liquor bottles.

We love our granddaughter a lot and believe it would be an injustice if we didn’t talk to her about this. (We intend to talk to our son as well.) Please suggest how we should handle it. - Concerned Grandparents in Spring Hill, Fla.

Dear Concerned Grandparents: It is apparent that you are certain your granddaughter took the champagne. Confront her in a matter-of-fact manner without being accusatory.

She needs to be told first that champagne can be highly intoxicating. From there, lead into the importance of being completely truthful. Tell the young lady if she learns this lesson now, at age 15, the experience will have been a valuable one.

Dear Ann: You ran a Burma Shave slogan recently. It reminded me of one I recall from my youth.

Spring has sprung,

The grass has riz

Where last year’s

Careless driver is. - G.H., Purchase, N.Y.

xxxx