Slain couple's estate sells for $1 million

The estate of a southeast Iowa couple killed by their son has been auctioned off to seven buyers for nearly one million dollars. Sandra and Michael Bentler, and their three daughters we're killed in 2006 at their home in rural Bonaparte. Their son Shawn was convicted of the slayings in 2007. The 445 acre estate was divided into seven tracts of land. One included the Bentler home and 28 acres of surrounding land. State law prohibits those convicted of murder from benefiting from their victims' deaths.

Redbrick School becomes museum

A new museum to the area's country schools has been established just outside Washington. Carlton Mangold, with the County Historic Preservation Commission, says the Red Brick School House was one of nearly 150 that once operated in Washington County. Mangold says about eight thousand dollars was donated to renovating the Red Brick School House. He says a great deal of historical items were also given to the effort. There will be an open house the last weekend in September.

Mt. Pleasant woman injured after rollover

A Mt. Pleasant woman was hospitalized last night after a crash on a Henry County road near highway 34. The Iowa State Patrol says 79 year old Sarah Hassenfritz lost control of her SUV near 260th and Nebraska Avenue when she entered the road ditch causing the vehicle to overturn. They say she was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash. Hassenfritz was taken to Henry County Hospital, and later transferred to University of Iowa Hospital. The State Patrol says the accident remains under investigation.

Miller House considered for Natl. Historic Places

The Washington City Historic Preservation Commission is lobbying to have a piece of property added to the National Registry of Historic Places. The commission is meeting tomorrow (8/26) at 7:00 at the public library to review nomination papers. Individuals who are curious about the National Register of Historic Places nomination process are encouraged to attend.

Northey to visit SE Iowa

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey will be swinging through the area next week. He's hosting town meetings at the Farm Bureau Offices in Washington and Sigourney. Northey will also attend an event recognizing Iowa football coach Hayden Fry in Coralville. All of the visits are set for Friday September fourth. He'll be in Coralville at 10:00 am, Washington at 1:00 pm and Sigourney at 3:00 pm.

AGTRAI this weekend

The annual Ainsworth Antique Tractor Ride is this weekend. Organizer Paul Tobin says the cross-county ride will take participants from Ainsworth, to Columbus City, and back again through the country. He says while the ride is the main event, its also an opportunity for Ainsworth residents to celebrate their community.

CJ Woman named to Natl. Auxilary post

A Columbus Junction woman recently participated in a national VFW conference in Arizona. Kathy Schreiber of the Riverside Auxiliary 6414 traveled to Phoenix where she began her role as National Veterans and Family Support Director. The Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW nationally raised over $2.5-million to fight cancer and support research. The convention was held earlier this month.

IMS grad receives ag award

An IMS graduate recently received one of the nations highest agricultural awards. Jocelyn Marner is the daughter of Ken and Mary Marner and a 2009 graduate of Iowa Mennonite School. Marner received the DeKalb Agricultural Accomplishment Award after taking eight semesters of agricultural education at IMS. She joins more than 160,000 students who have won the award nationwide.

Grassley talks about "bipartisan" healthcare effort

A key player in the ongoing healthcare debate is Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. Grassley is a ranking minority member on the Senate Finance Commitee, and has been a leading voice in the "Gang of Six." Grassley has countered claims that he's abandoned a bi partisan healthcare bill. He says "three Republicans and 58 Democrats is not bipartisan"

Satellite voting this week

Voters in the Washington School district have to chance to vote ahead of next month's election at three locations this week. County Auditor Bill Fredrick says voters can cast absentee ballots from 3:30 to 7:00 tomorrow (8/25) night at the Lincoln Elementary Gym, and from 4:00 to 7:30 at the Stewart Gym. There will be another polling place from 4:30 to 9:00 this Friday at Case Field during the Demon football home opener.

M-P meet the candidates night

Mid Prairie School Board candidates will be taking questions during a forum this . Education Association President Karri Bell says four candidates will compete for three vacancies on the board, and this process will help voters make the best choice for them. Bell says they hope people will leave the meeting knowing all candidates want to make a better school and community. The meeting is at 6:30 Thursday (8/27) night in the high school.

Architects selected for Washington School facilities

The Washington Facilities Committee has selected three design firms for the proposed school bond issue. School Board Secretery Jeff Dieleman says OPN Architects of Cedar Rapids, DLR Group of Des Moines, and SVPA Architects of West Des Moines have all been chosen to be reviewed for the plan, which would build a new high school and convert the current school into the new junior high.

Many schools starting this week

Students in Washington are heading back to the classroom this week. Police Chief Greg Goodman wants to remind people to be more alert, especially during the mornings and afternoons. Washington, Mid Prairie and Saint James all start classes this Wednesday (8/26). Lone Tree, Winfield Mount Union and WACO all start today (8/24). Highland starts tomorrow (8/25). Sigourney and Keota begin Thursday (8/27).

Farm storage loans available

Changes are coming to Iowas Farm Storage Facility Loan program. State Farm Service Agency Director John Whitaker says with the changes, producers of certain crops will be able to get financing to upgrade storage facilities. He says participants must pay a down payment of 15 percent and the maximum loan amount is $500,000.

Circle of Support

The Washington County chapter of Circle of Support meets tonight. United Methodist Church Pastor Julie Poulson says the group got started in Washington earlier this year. She says it's their goal to end poverty. Poulson says everyone is welcome at these meetings. Tonight's starts 5:30 at the United Methodist Church in Washington.

Men's Fun Day

The Washington Chamber of Commerce's annual Men's Fun Day is this Wednesday. Chamber Executive Director Tim Coffey says it will be a day of golfing, socializing and fundraising. The day starts at the Washington Golf and Country Club with a two person best shot golf outing. Tee times are available between 9:00 and 4:30. Coffey says there's a social hour at 5:00 followed by dinner. He says proceeds will help fund the chamber scholarships.

911 Sup. talks about emergency texts

The first ever emergency text message was sent this month in Iowa during a test in Black Hawk County. Washington County 911 Supervisor Cara Sorrells says it's the next logical step in emergency communications. Sorrells says the desire to be able to send text messages stem from campus shootings, and other situations where a person can't actually talk on a phone. Sorrells attended the test in Black Hawk County as part of her duties as president of the Iowa National Emergency Number Association.

Pheasant count completed

A local wildlife expert expects the pheasant population to be down again this year. Don Pfeifer with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says part of that is to blame on harsh weather, and diminishing grassland. Pfeifer just got done with the DNR's annual pheasant count. The numbers are expected to be out soon. The first day of pheasant hunting is October 31.

Ag land assessments unchanged in Washington County

Many counties in Iowa have seen a jump in the assessed value of farmland. Washington County Assessor Lil Perry says that's not the case here. She says the reason for increases elsewhere comes from state equalization orders. She says her office applied those at the beginning of the year. Perry says ag land assessed values increased by 46-percent this year, but she expects the rollback to be in the 30-percent range

Absentee voting available

The Washington County Auditor is encouraging residents to vote early for the upcoming school board election. Bill Frederick says people will have the option to vote absentee by using satellite polling locations around town in the coming weeks. He says polling locations will be setup beginning next Tuesday at Lincoln and Stewart Elementary and later at Case Field during a football game. Frederick says the his office is accepting applications for absentee ballots by mail if residents are unable to go to the polls.