Archive for: August 2008

[caption id="attachment_140" align="alignnone" width="360" caption="Ribbon Cutting Ceremony"][/caption]

Kalona Elementary School Principal Jim Cayton, left, was joined by students and teachers, including Kerri Bell, at right, August 18 for the official ribbon cutting ceremony noting completion of Phase I of the playground improvements at the school. A legion of volunteers installed the rubberized red and green playground covering earlier this month. The same

By Mary Zielinski
Kalona’s Planning & Zoning Commission wants Kalona to consider a 28E agreement with the county, not extend city services into the city’s two-mile jurisdiction, Wes Rich, P & Z vice-chairman told the council Monday.

By Mary Zielinski
The Kalona Community Center will be repaired in stages, starting with the exterior siding, the council decided Monday.
“I think we can keep it under the $100,000 state cap,” said City Administrator Doug Morgan, referring to the legislated spending limit that permits cities not to have formal bidding.
Morgan said that specifications will be prepared, probably with the assistance of Al Varney of Ament, Inc. Ament did preliminary plans for a total renovation/remodeling of the Center.
Varney had prepared an estimated cost breakdown for just roofing and siding work for the building. The total for residing and reroofing the entire building was $354,494. There was an additional $88,623 figured for general contractor overhead and profit line.

by Mary Coblentz
Action taken Monday by the Wellman City Council, in a four to one vote, will send two chickens out of town - permanently. The chickens, which reside on 3rd Street in Wellman, were the source of a complaint by another 3rd Street resident.
City attorney Dan Kitchen told the council that a city ordinance states there is no poultry allowed unless the council gives permission. He said, “I’m not pro- or anti-chicken. The ordinance says no unless you say yes.”

As of August 19, there was a total of 44 inmates in the Washington County Jail with 10 males, three females, and 30 conract inmates. Sine August 15, here were eight incarcertions and 11 releases. Total income from …

A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Lake Darling lodge complex is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 27 at Lake Darling near Brighton. The complex includes the four seasons lodge and beach house. Refreshments will be served …

There will be a Washington County Fair Evaluation meeting Wednesday, August 20, at 7 p.m. on the fairgrounds in the Fairboard upstairs meeting room. 4-H members, parents, leaders, superintendents, committee members, and Fair Board are encouraged to attend. …

Jean M. Bidwell, 83, died Saturday, August 9, 2008, in Poudre Valley Hospital, Fort Collins, Colorado, following a long illness.
A memorial service was held Saturday, August 16, 2008, in Harbor of Hope, FMC, Fort Collins, with Pastor Paul McGraw officiating. Memorial donations may be directed to the American Cancer Society of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, Fort Collins. Friends may send condolences to the family at bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.

1935 - 2008
Thomas L. Allen, 72, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Saturday, August 9, 2008, in Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, following a lingering illness.
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, August 23, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. in Peterseim Funeral Home, Kalona, Iowa, with Pastor Beth Miller officiating. Visitation is Saturday, August 23 from 12:30 until the service time. Burial will be at a later date at Fairview Cemetery, Kinross, Iowa. Condolences may be sent to www.peterseimfuneralhome.com.

Willa Esperanza Siemens-Rhodes, 618 S. Fifth St., Goshen, Indiana, died at 8:22 a.m. Monday, August 11, shortly after being born at home. She had Trisomy 18 genetic disorder.
Surviving are her parents, Mitchell and Heidi Siemens-Rhodes; two brothers, Theo and …

There will be new metal roofs installed on Buildings one and three at the county owned Orchard Hill complex.
The Washington County Board of Supervisors Tuesday accepted the bid of $19,585 each from Duwa Roofing & Construction, Wellman, for the …

By Mary Zielinski
Despite a recent projection from the Iowa Department of Education (DE), the Mid-Prairie School District is financially sound with an anticipated $1.1 million unspent balance for fiscal 2008-09.

The figure includes both federal and state grant funds of which the former apparently were not counted by the DE when it made its four-month projection, Business Manager Doug Slaubaugh told the board at its Monday meeting.