It doesn't seem possible it is already a year since the great Postville raid when Federal gendarmes descended on the town and arrested 400 "criminals". A kangaroo court was set up at the Waterloo Cattle Congress facility where justice was melted out.
    The stories that were written about how the trials were conducted sounded like the manner in which local problems were handled in the old west. Like a scene from an old movie, the judge rode into town and court was set up in the local saloon. According to the script, the suspect was given a fair trial and then hanged.
    The effect of the raid has had a disastrous effect on Postville. The town population has been cut by about 25 percent. A large number of store fronts on Main Street are vacant and many landlords who were charging the Hispanic tenants exorbitant rent now have vacant houses. 
    Agriprocessors, a kosher meat packing plant, is the business that was raided and fallout from the raid has also involved ownership and plant management.
    Abraham Rubashkin, owner and president, and Sholom Rubashkin, vice president, have been indicted on numerous federal charges including document fraud, bank fraud, harboring aliens for profit and money laundering. They also face 9,311 counts of child labor violations. Both men are awaiting trial on both state and federal charges.
    Apparently when someone can retain high priced legal counsel, kangaroo courts are not a consideration.
    Efforts are now underway to sell the plant and reopen it. Postville residents hope and pray for a quick resolution of the problem so life can return to normal.