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.