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AROUND NORTH IOWA
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HAMPTON: The area has been plagued by burglaries...
FOREST CITY: The fire chief says the local fire station is "tremendously obsolete"...
LAKE MILLS: Several citizens complained to the city council about the placing of new sidewalks...
WORTH COUNTY: The latest round of donations was made from casino profits.
--Manly received $91,000 for park lighting, sidewalks and a shelter house.
--Kensett received $90,000 for a community center.
--Boland received $82,000 for a historic schoolhouse cultural center.
--Northwood received $74,000 for improvements to the new aquatic center and public works equipment.
--The Northwood VFW received $73,000 for its facility.
--Fertile received $53,000 for its city hall project.
--The county food bank received $15,000.
HANCOCK COUNTY: June Brady has been appointed as the new county recorder. She has worked in the office since 2004 and will serve until the next election at the end of 2010. Brady replaces Sandra Brunsen who recently retired. Tracy Marshall of Klemme was hired to fill Brady's old job.
BUFFALO CENTER: The school district's enrollment is down eight students from last year, to a total this fall of 511.
NORTH IOWA: Towns across the area were included in a list of 41 Iowa communities that will share $94 million in federal disaster money to repair damage caused by flooding in 2008. The grants include:
--Ackley: $1.3 million for sanitary sewer repair and a flood basin;
--Alden: $1.4 million for sewers;
--Britt: $443,000 for sewers;
--Clear Lake: $2.4 million for sanitary sewers and 17,000 square yards of pavement;
--Humboldt: $3 million for sanitary sewers;
--Lake Mills: $956,000 for storm sewers;
--Leland: $311,000 for sewers;
--Livermore: $500,000 for sanitary sewers;
--Manly: $1.1 million for storm sewers;
--Mason City: $4.5 million for sanitary sewers;
--Rockford: $385,000 for storm sewers;
--Sheffield: $693,000 for sewers;
--St. Ansgar: $375,000 for drainage repairs;
--Wesley: $688,000 for storm sewers and a flood basin.
GARNER: Former resident and 1998 high school graduate Terese Ann Lynch was murdered November 11 in Des Moines by her estranged husband. Lynch had served three tours of duty with the Iowa National Guard and was a veteran of the war in Iraq. She had obtained a restraining order against her husband last month, but he kidnapped her from a store and took her to his apartment where he shot her in the face. He has a long criminal record.
HAMPTON: The area has been plagued by burglaries. Many of the thefts occurred in homes that had been left unlocked. A 19-year-old man was arrested, and he confessed to three of the robberies. But many other crimes are unsolved. Police reminded citizens to lock their homes and cars, and they asked people to report suspicious activities.
CLEAR LAKE: After months of searching for a new school superintendent, the school board decided to ask Mason City if the two districts could share the top position. Clear Lake needs to cut $650,000 from its budget, and Mason City must cut $2 million from its budget.
FOREST CITY: The fire chief says the local fire station is "tremendously obsolete" and it's time for a new one. The first effort to raise money will be a soup supper. The chief admits that with the current economy, it could be a long time until a new building is constructed. The estimated price tag is $3 million.
NORTHWOOD: After months of inconvenience, U.S. Highway 65 from here to Manly reopened last week.
CLARION: Heartland Museum would like to add a new 225 x 100 building to its facility to house several new exhibits and a large community room. The project has a price tag of $1 million.
HAMPTON: The Main Street group is applying for a grant to build an enclosed ice skating rink in the downtown square. It was also announced that famous singer Simon Estes will be giving three concerts in town next March.
LAKE MILLS: Several citizens complained to the city council about the placing of new sidewalks that lead to the school. The city is working on a project to install "safe" sidewalks that will encourage more students to walk to school. The affected residents complained about the "hardship" of snow shoveling, and added that older people can't shovel snow and will have to pay to have their sidewalks cleared.
EAGLE GROVE: A young, white, Morman couple has adopted three black children from Michigan. The new mom and dad, both in their 20's were having difficulty conceiving children, so they decided to adopt.
FOREST CITY: Official school enrollment dropped more than anticipated this fall. There are 120 fewer students in the district. Last year's graduating class was 107. This year there are only 62 kids in kindergarten. The change means the district will lose $700,000 in state aid in addition to the budget cuts ordered by the governor.
WORTH COUNTY: Local 4-H members will be busy traveling to national 4-H conventions. One young lady will travel to Washington D.C. in March, and five others will travel to Atlanta later this month. The five make up a large share of Iowa's 22 total delegates.
CERRO GORDO COUNTY: The banks in Meservey, Thornton, Rockwell and Swaledale have a new name. First State Bank of Thornton (with offices in other towns) was purchased by First State Bank of Nora Springs last year. Now, First State Bank of Nora Springs has merged with First State Bank of Riceville and First Security Bank. All the offices, which are owned by Cedar Valley Bankshares of Charles City, will be called First Security. Other towns involved include Manly, Dumont, Aredale, Marble Rock, Rockford and Ionia.
BRITT: A recount of votes from the November 3 city election almost changed the outcome for one seat on the city council. Dwight Leerar lost his seat to Mike Ostercamp by a vote of 310 to 307. Leerar asked for a recount, hoping to change the tally. But in the end, two more votes for Ostercamp were discovered, expanding the difference to five. Leerar still lost.
FOREST CITY: Pilot Knob Lutheran Church was ruined by fire on July 4, 2000. After months of discussions, the congregation decided to rebuild across the road. A church member donated the land, and insurance provided $300,000. So members of the congregation raise some more money and got a loan for the rest of the $600,000 needed. The new church was dedicated in November 2002, and the mortgage was repaid earlier this month. The arsonist who set the chuch ablaze has never been caught.
HUMBOLDT: The police chief has been placed on an unpaid 30-day suspension while being investigated by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation. Little official information has been released about the chief's problems, except that it has to do with allegations involving the misuse of driver's license and/or criminal history information. The city council has appointed another officer as interim chief.
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©Belmond Independent 2010
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