Washington County Budget

Washington County plans on spending a little more than $20-million in the upcoming fiscal year. The board of supervisors approved the 2009-2010 budget at this mornings meeting. The tax levy will increase by nearly five percent. Board Chairman Jim Miksch says even though its a bigger increase than previous years, it was necessary to stave off future fiscal problems. He also says economic times have been better locally than other parts of the country, and world.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office is one of more than 200 Iowa law enforcement agencies taking part in a special Traffic Enforcement program, or

The Washington County Sheriff's Office is one of more than 200 Iowa law enforcement agencies taking part in a special Traffic Enforcement program, or STEP. The enforcement is scheduled to run from March 12 to the 17, and is designed to encompass the Saint Patrick's Day weekend. Washington County Chief Sheriff's Deputy Darren Dennler says his agency will be out in increased numbers looking for speeding and O-W-I violations.

Caring for fruit

If you've considered or have planted black berries, raspberries, apples, pears, peaches or other fruits, you've probably wondered if you should be spraying, pruning, or doing any of a number of tricks that solve fruit growing problems. Gary Bickmeier, Keokuk County Extension Education Director says for answers to these and other questions, you should attend the Fruit Tree & Brambles Care and Selection Clinic Thursday, March 12th. The program has been moved to a new location due to wet grounds, it will now be held at the Expo in Sigourney at 5:30 pm. Tickets are available from any Keokuk County Master Gardener or by calling the Extension Office at 800-515-2680 or 641-622-2680.

Wet weather affecting travel

Water on the roadway caused the closure of Highway 99 just east of Wapello at the Wapello Bridge yesterday. It also affected Highway G62 until it climbs east toward X61 in Louisa County.Staci Griffin, Director of Louisa County Emergency Management, says, they strive to stay ahead of rising water and close the roads, but residents are reminded not to drive into standing water and call authorities if they see rising water on neighborhood roadways.

Daffodil Days

Daffodils for the American Cancer Society were delayed. Kierstan Peck, Community Relations with the American Cancer Society says the truck with the daffodils left Washington state early this week and is scheduled to be in Iowa City tomorrow. She says this means that the daffodils will be available for pick up or delivery in most areas on Friday. Peck says if Friday does not work, you may be able to pick up your flowers on tomorrow afternoon. For information give her a call at 319.653.3768

Washington County Supervisors approve budget

Washington County plans on spending a little more than 20-million dollars in the upcoming fiscal year. The board of supervisors approved the 2009-2010 budget at this mornings meeting. The tax levy will increase by nearly five percent. Board Chairman Jim Miksch says even though its a bigger increase than previous years, it was necessary to stave off future fiscal problems. He also says economic times have been better locally than other parts of the country, and world.

IMS advances at state

Washington County's Board of Supervisors is expected to approve next year's budget this morning. County Auditor Bill Fredrick says road work continues to be one of their biggest expenses. He says they have had to carefully balance what the county needs, with what citizens can afford. The board of supervisors will meet at 9:30 this morning in the Washington County Courthouse.

IMS advances at state

The IMS boys basketball team has advanced to the semi-final round of the state tournament. Yesterday IMS beat Ventura 62-46. If you missed the game or would like to relive it you can head to kciiradio.com and click on radio plus. So now IMS will be back at Wells Fargo Arena on Thursday to play Rock Valley. Rock Valley beat Villisca 77-49. Thursday's game between IMS and Rock Valley will be at 12:15 pm for the right to play for the 1A championship.

Washington Schools looking to save money

The Washington School District is looking to trim its budget in the upcoming fiscal year. Superintendent Dave Sextro says they have been able to make some cut backs by offering early retirement, and then leaving some of those positions vacant. Sextro says they make every effort to make cuts that won't directly affect students. Spending reductions, and the budget for next year are just a few of the items on the agenda for tomorrows school board meeting.

Floodwaters damage local roadways

Heavy rainfall over the past few days is taking its toll on local roadways. Washington County Engineer David Patterson says between ten and twelve locations had to be barricaded in places where floodwaters covered the road. He says the extent of the damage won't be known until the waters recede. The National Weather Service doesn't expect that to happen until late this tomorrow.

Louisa Flooding

Louisa County Officials have closed County Road H22, known locally as the K Road indefinitely to keep water on the west side of the temporary levee that crosses that roadway. Kathy Vance with the ISU Extension says crews built the levee up another 5 feet over the last few days making it impassable to traffic, but better for water control and it is holding the water back from the Oakville bottoms. Vance says the County Engineer and emergency management personnel are keeping an eye on Highway 99 east of Wapello.

Kalona Flooding

The rivers have started to rise because of the weather over the past few days. The National Weather Service forecasts major flooding along the Iowa River in Wapello, Lone Tree and Columbus Junction, as well as at the English River near Kalona. Kalona Mayor Jerry Kauffman says over the weekend the English River did crest and spilled over the roads but no major damage was done. Kauffman says some homes got some water in their basements and the water had started to pool in spots downtown, but as soon as the rain stopped the water receded.

Kalona gearing up for tourist season

Tourism Season is coming soon and a lot of places are getting ready. Nancy Roth with the Kalona Historical Village says they stay prepared all winter long. She says their tourism season usually starts in early April. Roth says they dont have too much to do to get ready. She says they will start opening the buildings that were closed for the winter in late March when the weather starts to stay warmer. Roth says the village still attracts tourists throughout the winter but the busiest part of the season is around June and July and during Kalona Days.

IMS Boys Basketball Team At State Tournament

The IMS boys basketball team makes their return to the state tournament in Des Moines today. IMS is playing Ventura, who is making their first trip to the state tournament in school history. Ventura is a town of about 700 people 14 miles west of Mason City. As for IMS, their last two trips, in 05 and 07, they reached the finals and lost close games. You'll be able to hear the game right here on the one to count on KCII. The game is scheduled to start at 2 pm.

Farm Bureau Concerned About County Secondary Roads

The Washington County Iowa Farm Bureau is hoping find a solution to improving county secondary roads. Regional Manager for the Iowa Farm Bureau Jerry Anderson says the conditions of these roads are not very good primarily because they were built to handle limited traffic and vehicles from the 50's and 60's. Anderson says today there is more traffic and heavier vehicles. The Farm Bureau recently held a workshop with county officials to discuss some possible solutions. Now Anderson says the plan is to survey members to identify which solution they favor, and work with supervisors to take action along those lines.

Lincoln Literacy Night Thursday

Lincoln Literacy Night is coming to Lincoln Elementary Thursday night. One of the organizers and Lincoln Teacher Linda Shields says this is for parents and children. She says they will have four informative sessions going on for parents. Those include how to motivate kids to read, fun ways to improve your child's vocabulary, bullying, and what programs are offered at the library. The kids will take part in games and story time. The parents will have time to go to two of the sessions so they want to choose the two they find most beneficial. Lincoln Literacy night will be Thursday from 6-7:30 at Lincoln Elementary.

College Planning Night

Seniors are preparing for college. Mid Prairie High school is holding a College Prep night tonight at 7pm. School Councilor Sarah Kos says they are brining in people from around the state to allow the seniors and juniors to ask questions and learn what to expect in college. Kos says it is geared mainly towards seniors but juniors are welcome to attend as well. The Prep night will be tonight at 7pm at the Mid Prairie High School

Souper Bowl Supper Next Monday

You are invited to a Souper Bowl Supper and it has nothing to do with football. The Second Annual Souper Bowl Supper will be held in the cafeteria at Washington High School next Monday. There will be a variety of soups and all the trimmings and drinks, prepared by the high school Nutrition and Fitness class. The soups will be served in handmade ceramic bowls made by the Ceramics and Sculpture classes. The proceeds go to Washington HACAP. You can purchase tickets in advance for $6. The Souper Bowl Supper is next Monday from 4:30 to 6:30. You can call 653-2143 for ticket information.

Daffodil Days Delayed

The American Cancer Society Daffodil Days is scheduled for this week with daffodils scheduled to be delivered in many locations tomorrow. Kierstan Peck, Community Relations with the American Cancer Society says because of poor weather conditions out west, the daffodil delivery has been delayed. She says at this particular time, they do not have the revised truck schedules. As soon as she receives this information she will let everyone know. Peck says she is not expecting to receive any deliveries until at least Thursday or Friday.

Riverside City Council

The Riverside City council is meeting tonight. On the agenda there will be an open public hearing on the 2009-2010 budget estimates. The council will ask for any oral or written objections and then finish with a resolution to approve the budget estimate. The council will meet at the city hall at 5pm.

IMS Boys Basketball Team At State Tournament

The IMS boys basketball team makes their return to the state tournament in Des Moines tomorrow. IMS is playing Ventura, who is making their first trip to the state tournament in school history. Ventura is a town of about 700 people 14 miles west of Mason City. As for IMS, their last two trips, in 05 and 07, they reached the finals and lost in close games. You'll be able to hear the game right here on the one to count on KCII. The game is scheduled to start at 2pm.

Souper Bowl Supper

You are invited to a Souper Bowl Supper and it has nothing to do with football. The Second Annual Souper Bowl Supper will be held in the Cafeteria at Washington High School next Monday. There will be a variety of soups and all the trimmings and drinks, prepared by the high school Nutrition and Fitness class. The soups will be served in handmade ceramic bowls made by the Ceramics and Sculpture classes. The proceeds go to Washington HACAP. You can purchase tickets in advance for $6. The Souper Bowl Supper is next Monday from 4:30 to 6:30. You can call 653-2143 for ticket information.

Preparing for College

Seniors are preparing for college and Mid Prairie High School is holding a College Prep night tomorrow at 7pm. School Councilor Sarah kos says they are brining in people from around the state to allow the seniors and juniors to ask questions and learn what to expect in college. Kos says it is geared mainly towards seniors but juniors are welcome to attend as well. The Prep night will be tomorrow at 7pm at the Mid Prairie High School.

Kalona Days

Kalona Days are being put together; this years theme is celebrating the 130th birthday of Kalona. Festival Director Dave Finley is now accepting applications for food vendors, arts & crafts vendors, as well as groups, organizations and businesses that wish to have a booth or display at this 2 day event. Organizers are constructing what may be the largest quilt cake of its kind in America. For information or a vendor application please call the Kalona General Store 319-656-3535.

Business Manager Clarifies Superintendent's Contract

The Washington Community School District's Business Manager wants to clarify the latest superintendent's contract approved by the school board. The board approved keeping Interim Superintendent Dave Sextro on for one more year at around $124,000, which is the same value of the contract the district had with previous superintendent, Dave Schmidt. District Business Manager Jeff Dieleman says this year's contract pays Sextro around $93,000, but the district pro-rated the contract because Sextro started in late August and he had some unpaid vacations scheduled. So while the value in the latest contract appears higher, Dieleman says it's actually the same contract.

City Council Approves Budget

The Washington City Council has approved their budget for the upcoming fiscal year and it will mean a little higher property taxes. After the council held a public hearing on the budget they passed it last night. According to City Administrator Dave Plyman for someone with a $100,000 home, they paid around $1700 in property taxes last year, about $560 of that was city property tax. He says if the home value was the same this year you'd pay around $600 in city property taxes. Plyman says the driving force behind the increase is a drop in money coming into the city from sales taxes.

New GPS System For County Engineers

The Washington County Engineer's Office is getting a new GPS system. County Engineer David Patterson says this will replace an older system they have which is about 10 years old. Patterson says this new system is not like the one you by at a department or the Garman GPS units, this is much more accurate, with as he puts it golf ball size accuracy. The new system will cost $22,500 and work with a new GPS network the state is activating. Patterson says the equipment is instrumental in their work.

Washington Y Director

Today is Washington Community Y Director Darren Pickles last day. Pickles is moving to Pennsylvania to run a brand new 45,000 square foot facility on 10 acres of land in the Lancaster metro area. Pickles says he wasn't looking to move and the opportunity just kind of fell on him. He says one of the toughest decisions he's had to make is to leave the Washington area, but the move will mean his family will be closer to friends and relatives in the east. Darren Pickles has been the director of the Washington Community Y since March 2005.

IMS Sports Trainer

One of the most important parts of playing sports is staying healthy. Eric Turner with Jet Physical Therapy says Chuck Miller is a therapist that goes to IMS to help with the sports department. Miller is an IMS Graduate and enjoys helping the teams out. Turner says the post season is very important to athletes and that they put a lot of pressure on themselves and that can cause unwanted injuries. Miller says he is hopeful for the IMS boys basketball team in the post season and hopes to see them go to the finals of the state tournament.

Kalona Elementary Super Kids

Kalona Elementary School has a program in place to help kids learn to become the best they can be. Principle Jim Cayton says its called the Super Kid program. He says it is a reward system for good behavior and good academics. Cayton says they have many prizes available from pizza slices to an iPod. He says the kids have been having fun with the program and are enjoying wearing the t-shirts that are black in color and have a big superman logo on the front. The program runs all year.

Winfield-Mt. Union School Board

The Winfield Mt. Union Community School Board will be meeting on Monday. On the agenda the board will be employee conduct and appearance and what is expected. The School Board will also be discussing the senior class trips and a shared wrestling program with New London. The School Board will be meeting on Monday at 6:30pm in the media center.

County Supervisors At State Workshop

Washington County Supervisors are off to Des Moines for a statewide convention. The Iowa State Association of Counties is putting it on. Washington Supervisor Chair Jim Miksch says there are various workshops and it's an opportunity to interact with other supervisors in the state, which sometimes can be as good as some of the workshops. Miksch says a couple of the workshops he feels will hit close to Washington will be one talking about alternative ways to fund county secondary road repairs and managing times when revenues are lower.

Federal Money Helps Move Up Paving Project

Some federal dollars coming from the stimulus package has Washington County doing a paving project on old 218 a little sooner than planned. Jacob Thorius with the County Engineer's Office says they anticipate receiving around $750,000 from the stimulus package. He says they will overlay old 218 or Vine Avenue with concrete from Highway 22 south to 160th Street which is about 4.5 miles. Thorius says originally the project was four years out but with this federal money they'll be able to do it this year.

Gambling Awareness Week

This is Gambling Awareness Week, and MECA of Iowa City is working to get information out about their services. Todd Morris works in the Gambling Treatment Division and he says Riverside Casino and Golf Resort has let them set up at their entrance this week to let people know what they offer. He says more often it's a loved one of a compulsive gambler seeking help than the actual person having the problem. Morris says you can find out what they offer by visiting their website www.mecaservices.com.

Direct Farm Payments Being Phased Out

President Obama's proposed budget for the USDA would phase out direct farm payments for operations generating more that half million dollars in revenue annually. Regional Manager of the Iowa Farm Bureau Jerry Anderson says direct farm payments are payments farmers received based on their production history for their crops. Anderson says while half a million in annual sales sound like a huge operation, last year with beans in the teens and higher prices it wouldn't take a huge operations to trigger that limitation. He says in years where prices are lower such as this year direct payments can help farmers not lose money. The savings from the cut would go to a child nutrition program.

Wind Energy Conference

There will be a Wind Energy Conference on Friday, March 20 at the Fairfield Fine Arts and Convention Center in Fairfield. Gary Bickmeier, Keokuk County Extension Education Director says in 2008, Iowa surpassed California to become the nations second largest in wind power generating capacity. Iowa State University Extension is presenting the 2009 Wind Energy Conference on Friday, March 20 at the Fairfield Fine Arts and Convention Center in Fairfield. To register for the 2009 Wind Energy Conference, contact the Jefferson County Extension office at (641) 472-4166. The cost is $20 per person and will be limited to the first 200 registrants.

Family Literacy Night

Kalona Elementary School wants to get the word out about the importance of children literacy. Kalona elementary held their Literacy night on Monday, march 2nd. Second Grade Teacher Kerri Bell says they had over 70 people attend and felt everyone had a great time. Bell says she had children coming up to her all night asking when they were doing it again because they had so much fun reading. Bell says it makes her proud to know the children still enjoy reading books.

Turkey Steak Meal

Iowa Mennonite School's Alumni Association, along with the Optimist Club of Washington Township, will prepare and serve a turkey steak meal on Saturday, March 14. Jane Miller with IMS says this is an annual event that both groups work together on. She says Proceeds from the meal will benefit the many programs of both groups. Miller says they will be serving Grilled Turkey Steak, baked potato, toss salad, dinner roll, homemade desserts and water or coffee. Tickets are available from members of both organizations, as well as from IMS 9th-grade students. Adults are $7.50; students are $5.00 and preschool and under are free.

Lower Sales Tax Revenue Means A Rise In City Property Taxes

The Washington City Council has a public hearing on their proposed city budget for the upcoming fiscal year. City Administrator Dave Plyman says since the casino has been operating the money the city gets from the casino has gone to capitol projects, and money from sales taxes has been used to offset property taxes. Plyman says with lower money generated by sales tax, and with the city allocating money from the casino to needed capitol projects, there will be an increase in what residents pay in property taxes under the proposed budget. Tonight's public hearing on the budget is part of their regular meeting which begins at 7pm at the public library.

Brighton Township Trustee Vacancy

Washington County Supervisors want to hear from the existing Brighton Township Trustees before making an appointment to fill a current vacancy. There are three seats and Supervisor Chair Jim Miksch said at yesterdays supervisors meeting that the two trustees haven't been able to recommend someone to be appointed to fill the vacant seat. Mike Murphy expressed strong interest in being appointed at the supervisor meeting this morning but supervisors want to talk to the two current trustees first to see if they can't agree on a recommendation. The vacancy exists because no one filed to run for the seat in the last election.

Washington Guard Member Meets Senator Harkin

A Washington High School student was among a group of Iowa National Guard members who recently met with Iowa U-S Senator Tom Harkin. Michael Cavin was among those who paid a visit to the Senator's Washington D.C. office. Harkin told the group he was very proud of the young men and women have chosen to serve Iowa and the United States with great pride and commitment. Harkin added it was great to meet with them and share some his own stories as veteran. Michael Cavin is currently a senior at Washington High School.

Washington After Prom Committee Seeking Donations

Washington High School After Prom preparations are underway. After Prom Committee Chair Brenda Fishback says the committee is seeking donations to be used for door prizes at the event. She says whether it is video games, gas cards or gift cards to eating establishments there are lots of great ideas. Fishback says you can donate money and the organizers will use it to purchase a prize. Donations can be dropped off to Eastern Iowa Chiropractic.

Kalona Trail System

Washington County Engineer David Patterson appeared before the Kalona City Council to present plans for a trail system from Kalona to Richmond when the Kalona City Council met Monday. Patterson noted that the Washington County Trails Plan and the Kalona Comprehensive Plan both call for a pedestrian/biking trail connecting Kalona and Richmond. Patterson will also report on the study, which the city helped fund, on retrofitting and upgrading the old English River Bridge that is now closed.

Hunter Safety Course

A Louisa County hunter safety class will be offered on Thursday, March 26, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 28, from 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. at Langwood Education Center. Katie Hammond with the Louisa County Conservation says students must attend both classes in order to become certified. The course includes classroom lessons as well as live fire and shooting demonstrations. Iowa residents born after January 1, 1972 and nonresidents born after January 1, 1967, must satisfactorily complete a hunter education course in order to obtain a hunting license.

Purple Martin Workshop

A workshop/seminar on attracting Purple martins will be held Saturday, March 28, beginning at 9:10 A.M. at the CAM Iowa Clothing Center, 1005 Nutmeg Ave in Kalona. Jim Walters is one of the coordinators and says the purple martin is one of our most wanted songbirds since a well-maintained colony brings joy to any neighborhood. Martin populations are rebounding across North America as people put up improved housing and learn proper monitoring techniques. There will be a $2.00 registration fee and lunch will be available at the site. The event will be held Saturday, March 28 at the CAM Iowa Clothing Center in Kalona.

Washington Sheriff Moves to Jail

The Washington County Sheriff's Office has completed their move to the new jail. There was thought they may have had to delay the move a couple of weeks to finish getting systems such as phones set up but in a release yesterday, it was announced the relocation is complete. The sheriff has said he wants to be based at the jail to be able to quickly respond to problems that may come up. The phone number to reach the sheriff's office will remain the same.

Washington Band Stand Renovations

Renovation work on the Washington bandstand on the square could begin in August. City Parks Board Member Don Pfeiffer says that is dependent on the amount of money the board is able raise. He says they have secured a $130,000 grant from the Riverboat Foundation and they'd need to raise around another $170,000. Some of the things they want to do include replacing the tiered stage with a flat stage and improve acoustics. Pfeiffer says they plan to begin fund raising events very soon and hope to have enough before summer starts to be able to begin work in August.

County Supervisor Meeting

Washington County Supervisors will look at quotes for roadway painting at their meeting today. The Washington County Engineer's office will present the quotes to supervisors. They will also consider an equipment purchase to be used on county secondary roads, fill a Brighton Township Trustee position and get a structural report on the English River Bridge. The Supervisors' meeting starts at 9:30am in the basement of the courthouse.

Edible Insect Program At Marr Park

Most Americans don't eat insects but there is program on Saturday talking about the many people around the world that do. According to Marr Park Naturalist Pam Holz the United States and Europe are the only places that don't eat insects. Holz says they are putting on Bug Banquet: Edible Insects, a program that talks about just what the title describes and the nutritional value. It will be Saturday at 1:00 pm at the Conservation Education Center at Marr Park. The cost is $3.

IMS Concert

Come enjoy an afternoon concert of musical talent presented by Iowa Mennonite School students. The concert will be given on Sunday, March 8th at 3:00 p.m. in Celebration Hall at Iowa Mennonite School. This concert is a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and donations will be accepted at the door. Light refreshments will also be served.

Kalona Days

Kalona is gearing up for Kalona Days, festival director Dave Finley is now accepting applications for food vendors, arts & crafts vendors, as well as groups, organizations and businesses that wish to have a booth or display at this 2 day event. Kalona will celebrate its 130th birthday during the festival with a parade, entertainment, contests, classic car show, dance and games for all ages. Organizers are constructing what may be the largest quilt cake of its kind in America. For information or a vendor application please call the Kalona General Store 319-656-3535.

Low Income Energy Assistance

Alliant Energy is reminding qualified Iowa residents that they can apply for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds now through April 15. To obtain energy assistance, qualified utility customers can apply for LIHEAP funds until April 15, 2009. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. For more information on where or how to apply for LIHEAP funds, people can contact their local community action agency or visit www.dcaa.iowa.gov and click on Bureau of Energy Assistance.

New Doctor Coming To Washington

A new doctor is coming to Washington. Washington Hospital and Clinics says Dr. Lloyd Holm is moving here from Omaha. Dr. Holm is an OB/GYN and will practice at Women's Healthcare of Washington. He will replace Dr. Nathan Thomas who is moving to Texas in July. Dr. Holm has been serving as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska and will begin work in Washington in June.

IMS Boys Make State Tournament

The IMS boys basketball team has qualified for trip to the state tournament in Des Moines. Saturday night, IMS beat Prince of Peace out of Clinton 59-51. So now IMS will have to wait to see exactly when and who they will play next Monday. The activities association won't post the pairing until all of the sub-state games are finished. There are still four sub-state games that will be played this evening. Once the finals are in, the state will post pairings which will make it clear when next Monday, IMS will play.

Antler Measuring

Deer hunters interested in having antlers measured should bring them to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Southeast District Office on March 2 or March 4. Donald Pfeiffer with the DNR based in Lake Darling says measuring will be held today from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. The Southeast District Office is located in Lake Darling State Park, three miles west of Brighton on State Highway 1 and 78. If you would like to reserve a specific time between 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., please call 319-694-2430 for an appointment. Those not making appointments and others after 5:00 p.m. will be on a first come-first served basis. Allow 20 minutes for each antler set to be measured.

County Offering Historic Preservation Grant

Non-profit groups undertaking historic preservation projects in Washington County could be eligible for a grant from the county. The Washington County Historic Preservation Commission says they've been authorized to distribute $4000 to help with such projects. Projects that are eligible include those that involve securing, maintaining, acquiring, or retaining historic sites, structures, or artifacts that are at least 50 years old and have significance to the county. Grant applications are due March 15th. If you would like more information you can call 653-3879.

Talley's Folly Coming To Washington

The Old Creamery Theater Company is bringing a production of Talley's Folly to the Washington Community Theater in mid March. According to the group Talley's Folly is a charming story about one evening in the courtship of two unlikely lovers. Performances will be March 13th and 14th and March 20th and 21st with start times at 7:30 each evening. For tickets you can call the box office at 653-5175.

Armenian Program at the Kalona Public Library

There will be a program at the Kalona Public Library about Armenia and its culture, songs, music and language. Youth Services Librarian, Marissa Tartaglia says the main goal of Armenia: the Sleeping Beauty is to teach American children about Armenia: culture, language, music and art. The classes will be taught by two foreign exchange students from Armenia, Arevik Torosyan and Armen Sahakyan. This is a 6-week program starting March 7th and ending May 2nd, every Saturday from 10:30am to 12:00pm at the Kalona Public Library.

Midwest Regional Orchestra Festival

Iowa Mennonite School will be hosting the Midwest Regional Orchestra Festival March 20-22. Marcia Miller with the Lower Deer Creek Church says host homes are needed for the approximately 80 students attending from Bethany Christian in Goshen, Indiana and Central Christian in Kidron, Ohio. She says if you are willing to host anyone, or would like further information; please contact Paul Davidson at 319-668-8041. Please let him know by March 9, indicating how many boys or girls you would be able to host. Host families are asked to provide two breakfasts, sack lunch on Saturday, and lunch on Sunday as well as taking the youth to worship with you.

New Doctor Coming to Washington

A new doctor is coming to Washington. Washington Hospital and Clinics says Dr. Lloyd Holm is moving here from Omaha. Dr. Holm is an OB/GYN and will practice at Women's Healthcare of Washington. He will replace Dr. Nathan Thomas who is moving to Texas in July. Dr. Holm has been serving as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska and will begin work in Washington in June. 

Talley's Folly

The Old Creamery Theater Company is brining a production of Talley's Folly to the Washington Community Theater in mid March. According to the group Talley's Folly is a charming story about one evening in the courtship of two unlikely lovers. Performances will be March 13th and 14th and March 20th and 21st with start times at 7:30 each evening. For tickets you can call the box office at 653-5175.

IMS Culinary Arts Class

The IMS Culinary Arts class is opening a student-run restaurant called "Saveurs du Monde" which will run for six weeks featuring a different international cuisine each week. This Wednesday will feature French Cuisine with a menu of Quiche Lorraine, French yogurt, fruit tart, and a croissant for the price of $6.00. Please call the office to make your reservation by Monday. Serving begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. 

Armenia: The Sleeping Beauty

There will be a Program at the Kalona Public Library about Armenia and its interesting culture, songs, music, language, and other fun stuff. Youth Services Librarian, Marissa Tartaglia says the main goal of Armenia: The Sleeping Beauty is to teach American children about Armenia: culture, language, music and art. The classes will be taught by two foreign exchange students from Armenia, Arevik Torosyan and Armen Sahakyan. This is a 6-week program starting March 7th and ending May 2nd, every Saturday from 10:30am to 12:00pm at the Kalona Public Library.

Home Foreclosure

State Representative Larry Marek is backing a plan to prevent foreclosures on Iowa homes. Four proposed bills deal with the subject. One would make it illegal for bankers or brokers to mislead borrowers or make false statements. They also would not be able to charge fees for loans that don't materialize, or accept undisclosed compensation for their service. Another bill would mandate that homeowners are given the number to a foreclosure hotline at the beginning of a foreclosure. Finally the foreclosure on homes of military reserve member or their family while serving on active duty would be prohibited.

Washington School Facilities Consultants

Washington Community Schools is in the process of having their facilities reviewed by a consultant, who intends to provide the district with a recommendation, most importantly the high school. Board President Eric Turner says these two consultants have been working with the Iowa School Boards Association, and have reviewed other districts for the association. He says the Washington board felt their services would be useful, so the consultants are carefully looking at all of the district's facilities as well as past plans presented to voters. Turner says in the end they will provide the board with a concise recommendation concerning buildings in the district.

Kalona Rec Center

The Kalona Rec Center may have received some damage this winter with the snow and melting ice. Todd Fitzsenry the Parks and Recreation Director says there may have been a leak into the building from the roof that has caused some damage to the racquetball courts. Fitzsenry says he has spoken with the Kalona City Council and they are aware of the problem and will be working on getting a builder to look at the building and see what can be done.

Disaster Area Taxes

Special income tax benefits apply to many who were affected by the natural disasters in the Midwest last summer. Phyllis Zalenski, Family Resource Management Specialist with the Iowa State University Extension says even those who did not suffer direct property losses may be eligible for tax benefits. Some counties are eligible for all the tax provisions while others are eligible only for some of the tax benefits. The best thing is for people to consult a tax expert and to always ask questions.

IMS boys move to sub-state

The IMS boys basketball team has made it to sub-state. IMS beat Central City last night 62-51 in the district final game. They next will play Prince of Peace for the right to go to Des Monies and play in the state tournament a week from Monday. Prince of Peace is 19-5 while IMS is 23-1, their only loss was to 3A Keokuk. Tomorrow's sub-state game will be played at Cedar Rapids Prairie and will start at 6:30pm.

Water Shop Open House

The Water Shop in Kalona has been growing and they have decided to show the public what they do. Co-Owner Audrey Miller says they are holding the open house to show their appreciation for the support that they have received from the area community and to give them an opportunity to see the facility and what they have to offer. The open house is Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Home Shopping Extravaganza

If you missed out on saving with the Home Shopping Extravaganza, you'll have another chance but the times will be very different. KCII is returning to the air with our radio auction and items will be starting at 60% off. The auction will be Saturday morning from 7:30-9am, then there will be a break for the Coaches Corner, and then back on the air from 11am-12pm. You can also join us on Monday from 8am-12pm.

National Award To Washington For Blood Drives

The organization, America's Blood Centers is presenting a national award to the City of Washington. Iowa Blood Drives Bi-Monthly Civic Sponsorship Rotation puts on blood drives in the community throughout the year to generate donations for the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center. Yale Jarvis coordinates the drives. He received a letter from America's Blood Centers saying Washington is going to be awarded the 12th Annual National Humanitarian Service Award. The award recognizes a civic group that has encouraged the spirit of volunteering.

Sheriff's Office Move Delayed

The Washington County Sheriff's Office will soon be relocating to the new jail but their moving plans have been delayed slightly. Sheriff Dunbar says they were hoping to be moved out there last week. Dunbar says the person that is helping switch systems, such as the phones, has been ill and if he can't make it out this week, the office may have to wait a couple more weeks for the move. The sheriff says the main purpose for the move is to be able to quickly address problems that may come up at the jail.

New Chamber Director Starting Friday

The Washington Chamber's new director will start on the job Friday. The chamber board announced last week they had hired Tim Coffey. Coffey has been running a fund raising consulting firm in Washington primarily working with non-profit groups. He says as he takes the position he wants to work closely with WEDG and Main Street Washington to market the city in a higher visibility way. He also would like to make the benefits of being a chamber member more visible, with the hope of increasing membership.

Former Keokuk Resident Accused Of Murder In Missouri

Missouri officials have charged a former Keokuk County resident with first degree murder in the death of his roommate who also used to live in Keokuk County. According to Daviess County Sheriff Officials, Carlos Sarmiento is accused of killing Lance Davis. Keokuk County Sheriff Jeff Shipley says both men used to live in Keokuk County about two or three years ago.

Attorney Generals Warns Of Phishing Scams

The Washington Chamber of Commerce has recently circulated a warning issued by the Iowa Attorney General's Office warning of various phishing scams going around the state. Bob Brammer with the Attorney General's Office says these scams primarily involve email or text messages. He says they all are seeking personal information from you such as social security number or credit card number. Brammer says legit companies don't ask for such information in email. He says the only time you should be asked for your credit card number, is if you have gone to a website, selected items to purchase, and are closing out the purchase. Finally Brammer says while many times you may hear of individuals being scammed, small businesses should also be cautious.

Mid Prairie Home School

The Mid-Prairie Home School Supervisors are talking to the state lawmakers about Home School Drivers ed. Superintendent Mark Schneider says he hasnt really studied the issue too much yet. Schneider says he has a lot of faith in the home school department and believes that they would not be going after something if it didn't have merit. Schneider says the home schooling teachers at Mid-Prairie are some of the best he has worked with.

Fruit Tree & Brambles Clinic

Wondering how to get the most out of fruit trees? Keokuk County Extension Education Director Gary Bickmeier says they have a clinic coming up that covers just that. He says the Fruit Tree and Bramble Care and Selection clinic will look at several things including how to properly care for fruit trees. The program will be March 12th at 5:30 at Marie Atwood's across from the Sigourney John Deere. The cost is ten dollars and to register you can call 800-515-2680.

Sextro Contract Renewed

The Washington School Board President says the district's interim superintendent's work and help dealing with the district's budget was key in the board's decision to keep him another year. Board President Eric Turner says he feels many are pleased with Interim Superintendent Dave Sextro's performance in his first year in the district and Turner feels he's brought some trust back to the district. Sextro was hired at the beginning of the school year for one year after Dave Schmitt resigned in August.

Mourning loss of employee

The Riverboat Casino and Golf Resort is mourning the loss of one of their employees. Spokeswoman Sharon Haselhoff says Tina O'Leary of Lone Tree had been a dealer at the casino since they opened and a model employee. Haselhoff says the casino wants to extend their deepest sympathies to family and friends of Tina O'Leary and her tragic loss will be felt throughout the company. O'Leary was the victim of a murder suicide in Lone Tree over the weekend.

Work Release Area at Jail

Washington County Supervisors have approved putting the project to build the work release area of the county jail out to bid. The supervisors have had the item on their agenda the last couple of weeks but wanted to get a few questions answered, primarily if additional work would affect warranties on equipment and systems in the current facility. After receiving a report that it wouldn't be a problem they approved a bid letting for March 24. The work release area and a covered drop off area were in the original plans but the county wanted to get the main facility constructed first and then make sure there was enough money approved by voters for the add-ons.

Demon Basketball

The Washington Demon girls' basketball team saw their season come to an end last night, one game short of the state tournament. Last night in Fairfield, the Keokuk Chiefs beat the Demons 44-36. Demon Head Coach Phil Long says he felt his team left all on the floor and that's what he wanted. It is the furthest the Demons have been in the post season tournament since they last qualified for state in 2002. This was the first Regional Final team Phil Long as taken as head coach and comes in his fourth season.

Mid Prairie Honors Retirees

The Mid Prairie School Board honored the teachers that are retiring at the end of the school year. At the board meeting on Monday, 4 teachers were presented a plaque for their outstanding achievements and years of service to Mid Prairie. Being honored were Special Education teacher Mr. Dalton, who has been with mid prairie for 11 years; Librarian Mrs. Conway, who has been there for 22 years; and Reading Teacher Mrs. Shellady and Band Teacher Mrs. Curtis who have both been with Mid Prairie for 31 years.

Public Library Programs for kids

The Washington Public Library has a few programs coming up for local little ones. Story time for preschool readers will start next Tuesday at 9:30. Wee Read for toddlers with an adult will be Tuesday at 10:30. Also the library will put on Create Your World a creative writing club for writers K-5th grade which begins next Wednesday at 4:00 pm. And for a little older kids, the Scribblers Club, a teen creative writing club for 6th-12th graders begins Monday at 4:00 pm. You can register at the Washington Public Library's front desk.

Story Times

During the month of March, on Wednesdays from 10:30-11:00am in the childrens area of Kalona Public Library, the Youth Services Librarian Marissa Tartaglia will be holding story times for preschoolers. Tartaglia says story times help build early childhood literacy skills through listening, finger plays, rhymes and songs. The story time themes for March are as follows: Dr. Seuss, Leprechauns, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Fairytales & Knights. Melina Lagios. Also a guest librarian at the Kalona Public Library will conduct the March 18th story time in honor of the 40th Anniversary of Eric Carles, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. For additional information, contact Marissa at 319-656-3501.

Washington Man One Of Two Found Dead In Lone Tree

The body of a Washington man was one of the two bodies found in a Lone Tree home over the weekend. According to the Johnson County Sheriff's office 51 year old Timothy Mellinger of Washington died of a self-inflicted gun shot wound in a murder suicide. The other body discovered was that of 39 year old Tina O'Leary who died of asphyxiation. The Sheriff's office and Iowa DCI say Mellinger and O'Leary were involved in a relationship that ended around Thanksgiving last fall. They suspect Mellinger killed O'Leary and then took his own life.

Highway 22 Road Work

Roadway patching today will reduce Iowa 22 to one lane in the city of Riverside, according the Iowa Department of Transportation. The patching project is set to run from Iowa 1 to U.S. 218 and be completed by late this afternoon. Flaggers will be in place to assist motorists through the work zone.
The Iowa DOT urges motorists to caution in the area, obey flagger instructions and posted signs, reduce distractions and always wear seat belts.

Schmitz Stance On Prevailing Wage

State Senator Becky Schmitz says she supports the idea of state lawmakers passing a prevailing wage bill. Such a bill would require workers on projects funded by state dollars, be paid by the typical wage for the area identified by the state labor department. Schmitz says this practice is used in many cases today when the state uses federal money on projects and will be used when stimulus package money comes to Iowa, so it's not an out of the box proposal. Schmitz said at a weekend town hall meeting in Washington that she'd vote for such a bill. However, Schmitz says since it couldn't pass in the House, it is highly unlikely they'll spend time introducing such a bill in the Senate. Opponents of prevailing wage have expressed concern about being forced to pay a higher wage, could drive up governmental project costs.

County Supervisors

Washington County Supervisors will again consider bidding out the project to build the work release area of the county jail. The area was included in the original plans, but the county held off to make sure there was enough money in what voters approved to build the work release area. Now that they are comfortable there is a enough money they plan to bid the project. However, supervisors have held off approving putting the job out to bid because there have been concerns about how much responsibility the original builder would have and if warranties will be affected if additions are made. The supervisors meet this morning at 9:30.

Teacher In-Service

You probably know how your child spends a teacher in service day, but what about their teacher? One of the ways Washington Community School District has used in-service days this year to implement a standard practice for teachers in the district designed to improve student reading comprehension. District Curriculum Director Veta Thode says some of these include stating what will be covered in the class, writing it on the board, reading to or with students, and giving very detailed explanations not assuming prior knowledge of a subject. Thode says these are non-negotiable practices that apply to all teachers.

Wellman Water Supply

The Wellman water supply is getting a make over. City Administrator Dave Ross says everything seems to be going well in getting the new reverse osmosis system put in. Ross says they are working with H.R. Green Company and getting all the details worked out and they should have a construction date set very soon. Ross says that even though the water bill will rise to pay fore the system it is worth it in the long run, he says the water people will receive is cleaner and healthier than it has ever been.

Demons Girls Basketball Team in Regional Final

In local sports, the Washington Demon girls basketball team will play the Keokuk Chiefs tonight for the right to go to the state tournament next week. The Demons reached the Regional Final round after beating Mount Vernon on Saturday. Tonight's game was originally scheduled to be played at Iowa City Regina, but the state has moved the game to Fairfield, and will start at 8-pm instead of 7-pm. You'll be able to hear the game on KCII we'll be on the air around 7:45 with the pre-game show. You can also listen to the game at www.kciiradio.com .

Kalona Elementary Playground Projec

The Kalona Elementary School Playground Improvement Committee is conducting a Caseys Partnership Card fundraiser from March 2nd to March 27th, Jan Knebel, Playground Improvement Chairperson sa

Marek Votes No Prevailing Wage

A state lawmaker from Washington County ended up being the deciding vote in the house on the prevailing wage bill in. The bill would have required a wage set by the labor department be used on projects involving state money. The wage would be based on the average wage in the area. Representative Larry Marek says he wasn't pressured to vote for it as much as some reports suggest. He says in the end he represents the people in the county and the district and received input from numerous people against it so he voted against it Friday. The bill failed on a 50-50 vote. In addition to the input from constituents, Marek was also concerned the bill would increase the costs of several large projects coming up in the county. Marek made his remarks at a legislative briefing on Saturday in Washington; you can hear that briefing at kciiradio.com

County Budget

The budgeting process is continuing for Washington County Supervisors. Supervisor Wes Rich says going in they decided to give county employees a 3.5% salary increase except for the supervisors themselves. They also asked that departments keep their budgets to around the amount they had this fiscal year and not to go over 1.5%. He says they have not reached a bottom line point yet, they have still been working on budget work sessions, but the process will be coming to a close soon.

Underage Drinking Law

State Lawmakers are considering legislation comparable to Washington's ordinance that makes it illegal to knowingly allow minors to consume alcohol on your property. County Attorney Barb Edmondson says one thing being looked at is altering the state law that makes it illegal to provide alcohol to minors to also make it a crime to knowingly allow minors to consume on your property.

Military Academy Appointments

Congressman Dave Loebsack is looking for area students interested in attending one of the military academies. Representative Loebsack says there is a shortage of mid-level career officers in the armed forces. The only way a student can attend one of the academies is through congressional appointment. You can find information about applying for a nomination at Representative Loebsack's website, www.loebsack.house.gov

Kalona Days

Kalona Days are being prepared. Kalona Days Chairman Dave Finley says the organizational meeting for new and returning committee members is scheduled for tomorrow at 5:00 PM in the Kalona Chamber Building. Finley says this years event will be presented on June 19 20 in the streets of downtown Kalona in celebration of Kalonas 130th birthday.

New Geothermal System

The WACO School District is still getting a new geothermal system installed. Superintendent Greg Ray says the system was supposed to be completed by the New Year. He says the construction process has been hit with many obstacles such as weather. Ray says he has spoken to the school board and informed them that the system should be installed by the end of the year and will be able to activate the system by the beginning of the next school year.

Movie Day

The Kalona Library will be holding a movie night this Thursday. Youth Services Librarian, Marissa Tartaglia says when schools are cancelled or get out early they like to hold activities at the library to give the kids something constructive to do. She says in conjunction with the early-out on Thursday the 26th, the Kalona Public Library will be showing the movie Wall-E from 1:30pm to 3:10pm.

Underage Drinking Law

State Lawmakers are considering legislation, comparable to Washington's ordinance, that makes it illegal to knowingly allow minors to consume alcohol on property. County Attorney Barb Edmondson says one law being looked at is altering the state law that makes it illegal to provide alcohol to minors and to also make it a crime to knowingly allow minors to consume alcohol on property.