Archive for March, 2009

WHS Speech team headed to state

Posted: Friday, March 20th, 2009 at 4:53 am

Three members of the Washington High School Speech Team will be competing in the All-State Individual Speech showcase later this month. Andrew Schneider will be performing radio news, While Brian Langr and Nolan Bread will compete in storytelling. An all state performance is the highest individual speech award in Iowa. Breard and Langr also received All-State honorable mentions for their acting performances. The All-State contest will be held March 30 at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.

WJH Band awards

Posted: Friday, March 20th, 2009 at 4:53 am

Washington Junior High band students recently earned high marks in two major contests. In the large group concert band competition in Ottumwa, they received an overall rating of one, which is the second highest score on a scale of eight. Band members also recently participated in the solo and ensemble night. Members played as duets, trios or quartets. There were three elementary solos, and and two junior high solos. 7th grade pianist Madeline Hora, 8th grade clarinet player Keri Murphy and elementary clarinet player Cathy Meserole received the title of Oustanding Performers.

Kalona Playground Committee receives more money

Posted: Friday, March 20th, 2009 at 4:52 am

The Kalona Playground Improvement committee is receiving donations from many area businesses. Jan Knebel with the committee says she received a call from the Iowa City Wal-Mart. She says they are giving the playground project a check for $1000. Jan will be going to their morning meeting next Tuesday, March 24th to receive the check. Knebel says the donations helps to bring them closer to their goal of a fun and safe playground for all the kids in the community.

IMS to host concert

Posted: Friday, March 20th, 2009 at 4:52 am

IMS will host the annual Midwest Regional Mennonite Orchestra Festival this weekend. IMS Principle Tony Miller says the Festival is comprised of Bethany Christian, Central Christian, and Iowa Mennonite and will culminate with a concert Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Miller says each individual orchestra will perform a selection, followed by the Festival Orchestra combining all schools together. An offering will be taken to help defray festival costs.

Purple Martin workshop

Posted: Friday, March 20th, 2009 at 4:51 am

A workshop-seminar on attracting Purple martins will be held next Saturday, March 28, beginning at 9:10 A.M. at the CAM Iowa Clothing Center, 1005 Nutmeg Ave in Kalona. Jim Walters is one of the coordinators and says the Purple martin is one of our most wanted songbirds since a well-maintained colony brings joy to any neighborhood. He says martin populations are rebounding across North America as people put up improved housing and learn proper monitoring techniques. There will be a $2.00 registration fee and lunch will be available at the site. The event will be held next Saturday, March 28 at the CAM Iowa Clothing Center in Kalona.

Washington Schools to receive stimulus money

Posted: Thursday, March 19th, 2009 at 7:45 am

The Washington Community School District is getting almost $140,000 dollars in Title I funds from the Economic Recovery package. According to a release from Senator Tom Harkin's office, the money can be used to hire teachers and teacher assistants, provide tutoring, create school computer labs, fund parent involvement activities, purchase instructional materials, host professional development for teachers and create pre-kindergarten classes. In all, Iowa schools are expected to receive more than $50 million in stimulus money. Washington Schools could see their slice of the pie as early as this month.

Sigourney students put stimulus money to work

Posted: Thursday, March 19th, 2009 at 7:45 am

The Sigourney Schools are helping students to learn about starting and operating their own business. Superintendent Todd Abrahamson says they received money from the Harkin new construction grant. He says they will be opening Keokuk County Career Academy for high school juniors and seniors, and interested adults next fall. Abrahamson says they have a lot of students that are well on there way to becoming successful entrepreneurs. He says they already have one student who has developed and patented a product that has a company from West Des Moines looking at it and working with the student.

Washington Co. Attorney looks to cut down on paperwork

Posted: Thursday, March 19th, 2009 at 7:41 am

The Washington County attorney wants to cut down on paperwork. Barb Edmondson says her office will begin utilizing a computerized case management system. Edmondson says aside from being able to access local files more easily, it will also enable her to better communicate with other counties as well as police departments and other public agencies. She also says it will have a rather sizable startup cost but feels it will save money in the long run. Edmondson also says its hoped that one day every county in Iowa will participate in the program.

Washington Council tables outdoor liquor request

Posted: Thursday, March 19th, 2009 at 7:40 am

The Washington City Council wants some more time to consider a liquor license request. Cafe Dodici would like to serve alcohol at tables located on the sidewalk outside the establishment. Council members decided they would like to table the request at last night's meeting. Cafe Dodici co-owner Lori Williams says she understands their decision. She feels the sort of outdoor cafe she wants to establish would be a great addition to Washington's down town area. City council members say they want to make sure it wouldn't obstruct traffic. Mayor Sandra Johnson says they have to be mindful about what kind of precedent allowing the measure might set.

Northey-Land Values

Posted: Thursday, March 19th, 2009 at 7:40 am

The Secretary of the Iowa Department of Agriculture says the recent decline in farm land values is probably a normal fluctuation. Bill Northey says property prices are locked up in a long term view. He says last summer's flooding probably didn't have much to do with the drop. Northey says the prices are impacted by yields, and the expense a farmer pays to utilize the land. To hear more from Northey tune in to KCII this afternoon at 1:00, and again at 6:00 this evening for a special edition agriculture news magazine.