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. 

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 continuing preperations. Kalona Days Chairman Dave Finley says the organizational meeting for new and returning committee members is scheduled for Tuesday at 5:00 pm in the Kalona Chamber Building. Finley says this year's event will be June 19 and 20, in the streets of downtown Kalona in celebration of Kalona's 130th birthday.

Movie Night

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.

Legislative Briefing

State Senator Becky Schmitz and Representative Larry Marek are coming to Washington to update residents on issues state lawmakers are working on. The Chamber is putting on the Legislative update which will be in the county courthouse this morning at 10. If you can't make it, you can listen to KCII at 1pm as we will broadcast a recording of the update on the radio and online atwww.kciiradio.com

Parents as Driving Teachers

The Mid Prairie Home School Program is trying to get a bill passed through legislation. Home School Supervising Teacher Andrea Farrier says it looks like they have democratic sponsorship in both the house and the senate for parent-taught driver's education for home schooling families. She says things are not finalized yet but the bills have been submitted to LSA, and she is very hopeful about their potential to get out of the transportation committees and to the floor for debate.

Prevailing Wage

Two Washington County Supervisors went to Des Moines to voice their opposition to the prevailing wage bill. Supervisors Adam Mangold and Wes Rich left yesterday. Mangold says after reading the proposed legislation, his interpretation is that a wage would be set by the state from information they gather from workers around the state, and that would be applied to all projects in which state money is used. Mangold says he feels this will increase the costs of projects to local governments. Mangold says according to Iowa Republican Party officials, they believe State Representative Larry Marek from Riverside will be the deciding vote. Marek said last Saturday he planed to vote against, then this week it is Mangold's understanding he changed his mind. Now after talking to constituents again, Mangold believes Marek will vote against it. 

Stimulus Money for Education

Earlier this week Iowa Congressman Dave Loebsack reported to the Washington School District, they'd get around $500,000 from the stimulus package, but it may not be that simple. Interim Superintendent Dave Sextro says the Iowa Department of Education says that the money will be earmarked for title one education. Sextro says the department is urging districts to sit back and relax until they get final notification on how much will be coming. According to Sextro title one is a program that gives students who struggle with reading and math extra help to bring them up to their grade levels.

Tax Preparation Awareness

As you prepare your taxes this year, there might be a few credits you are able to claim that you might not have known about. ISU Extension Family Resource Management Specialist Mary Wienand says one you want to be aware of is the earned income credit. She says because people's situation may change, such a change may have put them within the requirements to be able to claim the earned income credit which can be worth as much as $4800. She also says some tax payers are unaware there is a $500 credit for childcare on your state taxes. Finally you might be eligible for free tax preparation assistance. You can learn more at www.irs.gov.

Read Across America

Students in Kalona Elementary School will join millions of their peers across the country to celebrate the ninth annual National Education Association's Read across America Day on Monday, March 2. Second Grade Teacher, Kerri Bell says NEA's Read Across America Day, which falls on Dr. Seuss's birthday, expects more than 45 million readers, both young and old, to pick up a book and read. Kalona Elementary Family Literacy Night will be Monday, March 2 from 6-7:00p.m. in the Kalona Elementary Media Center

Wellman House Fire

The investigation into a Wellman house fire has been concluded. The fire seriously damaged a home owned by Tim Hathaway. Wellman Fire Chief Jeff Fair says the home was engulfed in flames before they arrived on the scene. Fair says the home was so badly damaged there was no way to conclude what had started the fire. The home is considered a complete loss. He says the investigation has been closed.

Senator Grassley visits

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley held a town hall meeting in Washington, and talked a little about congressional efforts to address the economy. Senator Grassley says the government is not wanting to be in the bank investment business, so the hope is banks will buy back the stocks the government has purchased in the next two years. He says the government did something similar with Chrysler about thirty years ago. Yesterday's meeting was part of a bigger series of meetings Grassley is holding to gather input from constituents.