Jump to News

AREA NEWS

MAHASKA COUNTY ROAD CLOSURES

EVELAND ACCESS

G71 FROM JAMES TRAIL TO KIRBY AVENUE CLOSED INDEFINITELY

RIVER ROAD FROM OLD HIGHWAY 92 TO GALESTON AVENUE

SMOKE VILLE NO ACCESS

 


 

THE MAHASKA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MET MONDAY  MORNING.  THE BOARD APPROVED TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE TO THE BELL TOWER . A MEMBRANE PROBLEM IS CAUSING  MOISTURE BUILD UP UNDER THE BELL .  THE SECONDARY ROADS INSURANCE GRIEVANCE WAS NEXT.  THE GRIEVANCE WAS SETTLED IN LATE JULY BUT THE LANGUAGE AND INTERPRETATION OF THAT LANGUAGE IS STILL IN QUESTION.  NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS TOPIC.

 

THE BOARD RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM  EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR JAMEY ROBINSON ON A VEHICLE.  THE REQUEST WAS FOR A VEHICLE THAT WOULD BE GIVEN TO HIM FROM PAUL DEGEEST TO BE USED TO TRANSPORT HIM TO MEETINGS AND TRAININGS.  THE BOARD DIDN’T HAVE ANY FINANCIAL INFORMATION ON THE REQUEST AND HELD OFF ON ACTION.  THE BOARD APPROVED THE FINAL PLANS FOR THE EVELAND BRIDGE PROJECT.  THE PROJECT WILL HAVE BID LETTING IN NOVEMBER AND THE PROJECT WILL BEGIN IN THE SUMMER OF 2009.  THE PROJECT COULD TAKE AROUND 8 MONTHS TO COMPLETE AND THE OFFICIAL COMPLETION DATE WILL BE SET IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

 

THE BOARD DISCUSSED WITH COUNTY ENGINEER JERRY NUSBAUM ABOUT A TEMPORARY 4 WAY STOP AT MERINO AND 220TH STREET. THE STOP IS A PART OF A DOT DETOUR FOR THE US 63 UP RR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT. THE BOARD APPROVED THE TEMPORARY STOP.

 

FINALLY THE BOARD APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF A SNOW BLOWER. THE BOARD RECEIVED 4 BIDS AND CHOSE THE 1 STAGE BLOWER FROM FAIR  FOR 89,425.


MONDAY NIGHT THE CITY COUNCIL MET AT ITS REGULARLY SCHEDULED TIME. .

FIRST SHERRY VAVRA FROM MCRF

GAVE THE MCRF QUARTERLY REPORT; SHE BRIEFLY LISTED SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT WENT ON THIS SUMMER AT THE LACEY COMPLEX LIKE THE SUMMER LITTLE LEAGUES, SOCCER TOURNAMENT WHICH INCLUDED 33 TEAMS COMING TO THE LACEY COMPLEX TO PLAY,. THE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOFTBALL CLASSIC WHICH VAVRA SAID WAS THE BIGGEST IN THE STATE, WILLAM PENN SOCCER CAMP, AND THE LACEY ADVISORY BOARD SUPPORTED CANCER AWARENESS BY SELLING BRACELETS AT THE GAEMES. VAVRA ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE PARKING LOT BY THE BASEBALL DIAMONDS AT THE LACEY COMPLEX IS COMPLETE. A FEW OTHER ITEMS THAT VAVRA MENTIONED WAS THAT MAHASKA COUNTY CONSERVATION WAS PLAYED A ROLE AT THE COMPLEX BY BURNING ALONG THE TRAILS FOR PRAIRIE GRASS AND NOW MCRF IS LOOKING TO PUT TOGETHER A YOUTH CONSERVATION BOARD. AND FINALLY, VAVRA DISCUSSED THAT MCRF HAS HELPED THE BEACON COMMUNITY GET NEW PLAY GROUND EQUIPMENT.

ANOTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA WAS THE 2ND READING FOR THE ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2.64 AIRPORT COMMISSION TO ELMINATE SECTION 2.64.120 LOCAL COUNTROL OF MUNICPAL AIRPORT. THIS ITEM WAS VOTED WITH VOTES 4 TO 3 WITH THE 3 VOTES AGAINST COMING FROM JIMMY CARTER,WES WILLS AND JANET VANDERBEEK.

A 2ND READING WAS APPROVED FOR ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH NO PARKING IN BIKE LANES ON SOUTH H STREET. JIMMY CARTER SAID THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THAT STREET WANTED PARKING DUE TO HOLIDAY SEASONS WHEN FAMILIES WOULD BE COMING OVER AND WOULD NEED A PLACE TO PARK AND ASKED IF BIKE LANES WERE NEEDED ON BOTH SIDES. LORI SMITH SAID THAT THERE JUST WASN’T ENOUGH ROOM FOR TWO BIKES ON ONE BIKE LANE.

ANOTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA WAS THE 2ND READING FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 8.20 WEEDS TO ADD APRIL 15 AS DATE BY WHICH GRASS AND WEEDS MUST BE CUT AFTER PROVIDING 7 DAYS NOTICE THIS ITEM WAS APPROVED. ALSO, A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD FOR A RESOLUTION LEVYING SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AGAINST PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR WEED CUTTING WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL LAST NIGHT.

ALSO, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY CODE CHAPTER 10.48 PARKING REGULATIONS REGARDING SCHOOL LOADING AND UNLOADING ZONES AT WEBSTER SCHOOL WAS DISCUSSED. THE AMENDMEBT WILL PROHIBIT OTHER CAR PARKING SO THAT BUSES CAN PICK UP AND DROP OFF KIDS. THIS ITEM WAS APPROVED.

AND FINALLY, A SECOND READING WAS APPROVED FOR THE VACATION AND SALE OF THE NORTH – SOUTH PORTION OF THE ALLEY ADJACENT TO 209 NORTH MARKET STREET BY THE CENTRAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

 

 

 

 STATE NEWS

PROFESSOR-FONDLING

Search continues for missing UI professor

 

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - The search continues for a missing

University of Iowa professor accused offering better grades for

sexual favors.

Arthur Miller, of Iowa City, was reported missing Wednesday

morning. Authorities used his cell phone to track his car to a

local park, prompting a six-hour search, and lockdowns at nearby

schools.

The search for Miller was to resume Thursday morning. Also

missing is Miller's high-powered rifle.

Iowa City police Sgt. Troy Kelsay says Miller is not

considered a threat to anyone but himself, but because he and the

gun haven't been found, a public risk still exists.

Miller made a phone call to The Gazette on Tuesday, saying

he feared his reputation was ruined and that the university

ignored his 23 years of service on the faculty in its

investigation.

 

 

CHILD SLAYINGS

Judge to review satanic bible in child slaying case

 

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - A judge will review a satanic bible

and an affidavit from a satanic high priest as he determines

whether prosecutors can refer to satanism in the trial of a Sioux

City man accused of killing his two stepdaughters.

Lawrence Harris Sr. is charged with two counts of

first-degree murder in the January slayings of his 8- and

10-year-old stepdaughters.

Prosecutors say he was practicing satanism and that the

killings were part of a ritual from a satanic bible.

Harris' attorney, assistant public defender Michael

Williams, says prosecutors are seeking "shock value" and that

they are trying to link what Harris says and does to satanism.

Trial is set for Oct. 14.

 

 

FATAL FREEWAY CRASH

West Des Moines man dies near Coulter in crash

 

COULTER, Iowa (AP) - A West Des Moines man has died in a

northern Iowa hit-and-run crash on Interstate 35 near Coulter.

The Iowa State Patrol says 64-year-old Thomas Barker

stepped out of his car just after 11 p.m. Wednesday after a

single-vehicle crash. Barker was then hit by a truck and killed.

The state patrol says the truck, which was hauling

chickens, continued south on I-35. Police later seized a

tractor-trailer rig in West Des Moines. The truck was driven by

Gordon Budt of Cook, Neb.

The matter remains under investigation.

 

 

BUS STOP BEATING

Arrest made in bus stop beating in Sioux City

 

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - A Sioux City man accused of beating

and robbing a high school student at a bus stop last year has

been arrested.

Justin Miller was charged Wednesday with first-degree

robbery and assault while committing a felony. Police say a tip

led to Miller's arrest.

Police say Miller attacked Bryan Hill as he waited for the

school bus last October and stole his Gameboy.

Hill, a student at North High School, was punched and

kicked to the point of losing consciousness. Hill, who was 14 at

the time, suffered serious head injuries and spent several days

in the hospital.

 

 

 

DEAD DOGS DUMPED

Woman accused in dead dog case released from jail

 

GRAND ISLAND, Neb., (AP) - An Iowa woman accused of dumping

dead or dying dogs in a cornfield near Grand Island is out of

jail on bond.

Denise Withee, of Mapleton, Iowa, is charged in Hall County

Court with five counts of cruel neglect of animals. She was

released from jail on Tuesday after posting bond, and ordered to

live with her sister in Hastings.

The five dogs were among animals left in the field in late

July or taken from Withee when she was arrested at a motel.

Authorities say the dogs died of dehydration, diseases

and/or malnutrition.

Withee's preliminary hearing is Oct. 30.

She also faces charges of animal abuse and abandonment in

Iowa.

 

 

 

AP-EARNS-HORMEL

Hormel 3Q profit falls 9 pct on input costs

 

NEW YORK (AP) - Hormel Foods says its fiscal third-quarter

profit fell 9 percent as higher meat, fuel and other input costs

hurt the business.

For the three months ended July 27, the Austin, Minn.-based

maker of Spam and other food products says it earned $51.9

million, or 38 cents per share. That compares with a year-ago

profit of $57.4 million, or 41 cents per share.

Revenue is up 10 percent to $1.68 billion, up from $1.52

billion during the same period last year.

Thomson Reuters says analysts expected earnings, excluding

one-time items, of 39 cents per share on revenue of $1.62

billion.

In Iowa, Hormel has production plants in Algona, Knoxville

and Osceola.

 

 

AP-EARNS-HEINZ

Heinz 1Q profit rises 11 percent

 

NEW YORK (AP) - H.J. Heinz says its fiscal first-quarter

profit rose 11 percent, fueled by double-digit sales growth in

North America and Europe.

For the three months ending July 30, Pittsburgh-based maker

of Heinz ketchup says it earned $229 million, or 72 cents per

share. That compares with a year-ago profit of $205.3 million, or

63 cents per share.

Revenue is up 14 percent to $2.58 billion, up from $2.25

billion during the same period last year.

Thomson Reuters says analysts had expected earnings of 66

cents per share on revenue of $2.46 billion for the quarter.

In Iowa, Heinz has factories in Cedar Rapids and Muscatine.