WHS Baccalaureate Services

Baccalaureate services for Washington High's class of 2009 are a week from today (5/17). The Christian worship service is open to all family and friends of the senior class. Several seniors will be involved in the praise band, vocal choir and puppets. Anyone who has pictures of the graduates' faith experiences, and would like to share them to during the ceremony's video show, should contact Lynette Sievers by the end of the day today.

BOS Preview

Washington County Supervisors will appoint a weed commissioner at this week's meeting. Auditor Bill Fredrick says this person will be in charge of controlling noxious plant life this summer. The supervisors will also make an appointment to the Board of Health. Several road related items are also on the agenda, including contracts for culvert projects and surface overlays on Vine Avenue, and establishing a bid letting date for the annual fuel contract. The meeting starts at 9:30 am this Tuesday in the lower level of the Washington County Courthouse.

Home School Fundraiser

Mid Prairie's Home School Assistance Program is hosting a fundraiser at Barnes & Noble in Coralville on Saturday May 16th. Community Supporters can make purchases in the store from 9 am to 10 pm on that day and the program will receive a percentage back for supplies for our Lending Library. They will be hosting two events that are free and open to the public that evening. 6:00 PM will be a fun game night with prizes and at 7:00 PM they will have a Pajama Story time. Attendees are encouraged to wear pajamas to the event. Staff teachers will be reading stories and doing activities while sipping hot chocolate samples from the Barnes & Noble Cafe.

Graduation Thoughts

This is the time people are thinking about high school graduation. Washington County Sheriff Jerry Dunbar says Remember the thoughts that ran through our minds; we all realized we were now considered adults, high school was behind us, and the world was laid at our feet. He says these new graduates have the same thoughts. Dunbar says when you meet one of these new graduates, take the time to give them a firm hand shake, look them in the eye, and sincerely wish them well. Its up to all of us to give these leaders of our future the confidence and support they need to be successful.

Severe Weather in SE Iowa

A series of severe thunderstorms moved through Southeast Iowa last night, bringing heavy rains, quarter sized hail, and winds in excess of 60 miles per hour. KCII received reports of a semi trailer being blown over in Keokuk County, and damage to a sign on Highway 218 in Washington County. The KCII Severe Weather Action Team went on the air just before 7:00 last night, and finished coverage a little after 8:00 when the warning expired.

Corn Country Cruisers open 2009 season

The Corn Country Cruisers are having their first cruise night of this season this evening on Washington's Downtown Square. Organization member Ken Linmeyer says it will be meet the pros night. He says they'll have representatives from Mid America Engine Builders, King's Hot Rod Shop and Papa Clutch Customs. The cruise night runs from 5-9 this evening in downtown Washington.

Help Washington letter carriers stamp out hunger today

Washington letter carriers are collecting donations for the "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive this morning (5/9). Carrier Andy Miller says they're asking residents to put non perishable food items outside their house to be picked up along with the mail. This is the first year Washington has participated in the campaign. Miller says after they collect the food, they'll take it to the post office to be weighed. After that it heads to local food banks.

Sheriff's open house

Washington County residents are invited to get a look at the new sheriff's office again today. Sheriff Jerry Dunbar says he wants to give them a chance to see the facility that was paid for with their tax dollars. The public is invited to the open house. It goes from 9:00 am to noon today (5/9)

Free food stand literature at Extension

Community festival season is just around the corner, and the Washington County Extension Office wants to make sure food stand operators are ready. The extension's Nancy Adrian says selling a variety of food and beverages can be an effective fundraising activity, however organizers and workers need to be aware of certain regulations. She says the extension office has the publication "Food Stand Operations-What you Need to Know" available for free. To obtain a copy, contact the extension office.

WCHC offers breast cancer seminar

Washington County Hospital and Clinics is having a free breast cancer public forum Monday. Dr Terri Howes from the Iowa City Cancer Treatment Center, Dr Abbie Thrower from Cancer Care of Iowa City and WCHC Radiologist Dr. Douglas Boatman will discuss breast cancer treatment and diagnosis. There will be a question and answer session. The seminar is this Monday afternoon from 1:30 to 3:00.

MP Baccalaureate

The Mid Prairie Baccalaureate Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 20th at 7pm. Scott Swartzendruber with the Kalona Mennonite Church says there will be many presenters and music for the seniors. He says the senior band and Choir will perform special music for the graduates and families. He says this service is sponsored by the council of Mid Prairie Churches.

Market sheep and goats weighed in

Washington County 4-Hers and FFA members this month weighed in market sheep and goats for the 2009 Washington County Fair on Saturday,. 4-H/Youth Coordinator Kati Peiffer says a total of 45 kids weighed & tagged a total of 259 head of sheep. This is a slight increase from last years numbers at weigh-in.She says Eighty-one sheep were nominated for the Iowa State Fair through retinal scans and two head were nominated for Ak-Sar-Ben through DNA hair samples

State funding cuts for higher ed

The governmental relations director at Kirkwood Community College says using federal stimulus money to backfill state funding cuts for higher education could come back to haunt lawmakers. Steve Ovel says legislators reduced the base state funding level. He says that essentially gives them until 2011 to find new sources of revenue.

4-H safe in wake of restructuring

A local ISU Extension official says area 4-H programs aren't in jeopardy as his agency undergoes a restructuring. Gene Mohling is the education director for Washington and Johnson counties. He says there is no reason to worry, because 4-H groups won't be affected. He says many groups that rely on the extension office won't be impacted.

Water Tower Park plans move forward

Plans for the development of Washington's Water Tower Park are moving forward. Parks Superintendent Tim Widmer says using the area for athletics is still possible, but not on a large scale. He says that won't be a threat to the park's green space, or an existing visioning plan. Widmer says they continue to level off the area, and remove chunks of buried concrete.

Washington starts engineering on new sewer plant

The city of Washington will borrow about $780,000 for a phase of engineering on the new wastewater treatment plant. The money is being borrowed interest free through the Iowa Finance Authority. Mayor Sandra Johnson has expressed frustration because they can only obtain such loans for the engineering phases of the project, not construction.

Kalona paving projects

Kalona is undertaking some paving projects this summer. The city council has awarded contracts for the paving of 10th street and F Avenue, and a new sidewalk from J Avenue to K Court along the West side of 6th street. West Liberty based All American concrete was awarded bids for the two projects. The city council is postponing repairs to the Kalona Recreation and Community Center.

Sheriff holds open house

Washington County residents are invited to get a look at the new sheriff's office today. Sheriff Jerry Dunbar says he wants to give residents a chance to see the facility that was paid for with their tax dollars. The public is invited to the open house. It goes from 1:00 pm to 7:00 today, and again from 9:00 am to noon tomorrow (5/9).

Circle of Support starts up Washington branch

A fairly new service organization is starting a Washington chapter. United Methodist Church Pastor Julie Pouslon says the Circle of Support group is aimed at ending poverty. She says its part charity, and part mentoring. To find out more, plan to attend the Circle of Support meeting this Tuesday (5/12) at 7:00 at the United Methodist Church.

Positive Parenting

Louisa County's Iowa State University Extension service is offering several positive parenting seminars this summer. All courses are free and open to the public. The Keck Memorial Library will host "Off to a Good Start," kindergarten readiness program for families with children ages 3-5. Classes are every Monday evening from 5-6, at the library in Wapello. They run May 11 through June 29.