School Stimulus

It appears the removal of the school construction item in the economic stimulus package Congress has been working on, has a direct impact on Washington. Iowa U-S Representative Dave Loebsack plans to visit the Washington School District at ten o'clock Tuesday morning. Interim Superintendent Dave Sextro says his understanding is that Loebsack was going to discuss the spending of around $800,000 the district was going to get as part of the package, but that was removed. Sextro says Loebsack still plans to visit and discuss green schools and green construction.

Keota School board looking for a change

The Keota School Board is talking about a change in superintendents. Board President Jared Lyle says they have been talking to different school districts about sharing a superintendent and last week met with the Mid Prairie board president and vice president about the possibility of sharing a superintendent starting with the 2009-10 school year. Mid Prairie Superintendent Mark Schneider says this is strictly a discussion item at this time. Schneider says this will be on the agenda for the next board meeting on Monday, February 23rd.

Paws and More Micro-chipping

Paws and More is encouraging you this Valentine's Day to keep your pet close to your heart with a micro-chipping event. A micro-chip with your contact information is implanted just under the skin around the neck of your pet and can be scanned to retrieve contact information. The micro-chipping is being offered for $25, which is a reduced rate. You can stop by Paws and More behind Casey's today, tomorrow, or Sunday between noon and four. No appointment is needed.

Speech All-State

The Washington High School Speech Team is sending three events to the All-State Speech Festival in Ames a week from Saturday. Speech Coach Jan Gallagher says you have to score high at a state competition to be invited. She says they received all-state recognition before but have never been invited to perform at the festival. Gallagher says they are going to put on a performance for residents next Thursday at 7:30pm in the high school auditorium to raise money for the trip.

IMS Singing Valentines

IMS Students are selling singing valentines on Saturday. Kristen Brenneman with IMS says the students travel around the area such as Wellman, Washington, Iowa City, and other communities, singing valentines to people. She says they have been doing this for over 5 years. For those interested you can call IMS at 319-656-2073 and speak with Mary Lou. The cost to sing to a single person is $35 and to sing to a group of people is $65. They'll be singing from 8am to 4pm.

County Engineer Award

The Washington County Engineers' office has received recognition from the Iowa Concrete Paving Association for a recent project. County Engineer Dave Patterson says it was for an overlay project they this past summer on old Highway 218 north of Highway 22. Patterson says they replaced a deteriorating asphalt road with a nice concrete overlay. He says they were also able to add paved shoulders. He says a team reviewing projects around the state deemed it the Best Concrete Overlay Award.

Keokuk County Salt supply

Keokuk County salt supplies are looking fine. Keokuk County Supervisor Ernie Griener says they were prepared this year. According to Greiner the Keokuk County Highway department had over 700 tons of salt ready. Griener says they should have plenty for the rest of the season.

On Demand Audio

Washington Page
7:30 a.m. & 12:55 p.m. Mary Wienand, ISU Extension
Listen to the interview on the Radio Plus page.

In Touch With Southeast Iowa
12:50 p.m. Darrel Hysler, US Census Bureau
Listen to the interview on the Radio Plus page.

News Photo Archive

School Budget Cuts

The Washington Schools Interim Superintendent is advising the board cut $612,000 from the budget. The recommendation comes after the district went $63,000 over it's spending authority last fiscal year and in the midst of anticipated cuts coming from the state. Interim Superintendent Dave Sextro says going in they wanted to stay away from cutting teachers that had direct student contact. The district will have six early retirements at the end of this school year, under this proposal those positions would either not be filled or the anticipated salary would be lower. Also the custodial staff would be reduced and some services contracted out. Sextro has asked the board to act on the recommendation at their March board meeting.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Washington High School is hosting parent/teacher conferences this evening. The conferences will be held in the varsity gym. Parents can pick up their student's schedule and mid-term grade cards at the door. Parents are encouraged to visit with each teacher. The parent/teacher conferences will be from 4:30-8pm this evening in the high school gymnasium.

Washington County Riverboat Foundation Grants

Washington County Riverboat Foundation has posted application for their spring grants. Executive Director Jim Logan says they anticipate a large number of applications judging from their past experience. He urges first time applicants to refer to their website for guidelines as to what they are looking for and the actual application. He says they can only award grants to truly non-profit groups or governmental bodies. Applications will be due April 10th.

Work Release

Washington County intends to seek bids for work to complete the area of the jail that will house their work release program. The area was in the original design plans but the county held off including it in the actual construction because they wanted to make sure they were within the $5 million approved by voters. Sheriff Dunbar says the program allows inmates to serve jail time but leave during the day to go to work. Those inmates pay $50 a day in cash up front to be apart of the program and are checked up on during the day.

Mid Prairie Drama Performance

Mid-Prairie drama students are just back state competition and will be putting on a performance for the public. Mid Prairie Drama Director Tamara McClintock says she felt they did very well at the competition and they have decided to put on a show free for the public. McClintock says the production is tonight at 7pm at Mid Prairie High School.

Washington County Empowerment Board

The Washington County Empowerment Board is having their meeting Thursday, February 26th from 4:30-6:00pm at the Kalona Library. Washington County Empowerment Coordinator Tasha Beghtol, says empowerment is a statewide initiative that provides local funding for programs to benefit families with children as old as five. Again their meeting is on Thursday, February 26th from 4:30-6:00pm at the Kalona Library.

Keokuk Board of Supervisors

The Keokuk Board of Supervisors are looking at the budget for the next fiscal year. Supervisor Ernie Griener says the board spoke with Sheriff Jeff Shipley and the Keokuk County Highway Department about their budgets for the 2010 fiscal year. The board also spoke with County Recorder Melissa Bird and a S.T.I representative about remote access technology to improve services of the county offices.

On Demand Audio

Washington Page
7:30 a.m. & 12:55 p.m. Pastor Bob Wallenberg
Listen to the interview on the Radio Plus page.

In Touch With Southeast Iowa
12:50 p.m.
Listen to the interview on the Radio Plus page.

News Photo Archive

County Salaries

Washington County Supervisors have approved the Compensation Board's recommendation for county elected officials for next fiscal year. The recommendation leaves the supervisor salaries unchanged at just over $33,000. The other officials would get a 3 1/2 % increase. The increase applies to the County Attorney, Auditor, Recorder, Treasurer, and Sheriff. That would take effect July first.

County Road Solutions

How to keep county gravel roads in good shape? That was the focus of a recent public work session requested by local members of the Iowa Farm Bureau. County Engineer Dave Patterson says one of the big issues is higher traffic, but the county is not seeing a rise in funds coming in. Patterson says in talking with area residents some suggest ways of generating more funds such as implementing impact fees for new developments or different types of registration fees for vehicles or a secondary road assessment district.

School Board Meeting

The Washington School board will receive a recommendation on budget cuts at their meeting tonight. Interim Superintendent Dave Sextro says the board will receive an update on the Governor's latest budget cuts. Sextro says he will present his expenditure reduction recommendation to the board for the consideration. The board will also act on a contract that would have Sextro stay on as interim superintendent for one more year. The meeting is tonight at 7pm.

Paws and More in Kalona

More area residents will have the option of contributing a dollar a month to Paws and More through their water bill. This is an opt in program that already exist for Washington water users. Angie Talbot with Paws and More says she went to the Kalona, Wellman and Riverside city councils and asked if they could establish a similar program in those cities. The three councils approved the request and residents will now have an option to make the donation to Paws and More.