Today's Local News

Grassley on Obama speech

Posted: Friday, June 5th, 2009 at 4:35 am

A U.S. Senator from Iowa is hopeful President Barack Obama's call for a peace accord with the Muslim world is a success. Republican Chuck Grassley says it's a relationship that's been strained for far too long. While Grassley, and other U-S leaders are hopeful Obama's message spawns more dialog, Al-Jazeera reports mixed reactions from the Arab World. Grassley says any amount of insight the east and west can give each other is a step in the right direction.

MP hires asst. business manager

Posted: Friday, June 5th, 2009 at 4:35 am

The current business manager at Mid Prairie schools will be getting some new help in the coming months. Cindy Steege of the Solon School District was hired during a special school board meeting to become the new assistant business manager at Mid Prairie. Superintendent Mark Schneider cited her professionalism, initiative, and communication with the public and faculty as big selling points. He says Steege is already familiar with the system at Mid Prairie because Solon uses many of the same software programs they do.

Engineering is Elementary

Posted: Friday, June 5th, 2009 at 4:34 am

Today (6/5) marks the last day of a special event taking place at Lincoln Elementary in Washington. This week, the school paired up with the U of I College of Engineering to teach kids the ways in which engineering principles can be used in daily life. The project has been running all this week for 3-4 graders in the Washington School District. While today marks the end of Washingtons session, Ed Raber with the Washington Economic Development Group says similar programs will be held in Wellman, Kalona, and Riverside.

Kalona rockers at Hamakua this evening

Posted: Friday, June 5th, 2009 at 4:34 am

Hamakua Place youth center in Washington is having a free concert this evening (6/5). Center Director Deb Bodensteiner says the show will feature Kalona based Christian rockers The Ransom Project, as well as the Washington Faith Baptist Band. The show starts at 8:00 pm. Bodensteiner also says they'll be be kicking off a new program Tuesday (6/9) of next week at 7:00 pm called The Venturing. She says it's a young adult division of Boy Scouts, designed to help young people mature become responsible adults. For more information contact Hamakua Place.

One injured after Riverside crash

Posted: Thursday, June 4th, 2009 at 5:19 am

One person sustained minor injures after a two vehicle car crash in Riverside last night. 911 records show a vehicle driven by Jesse Fry of Muscatine failed to yield at the intersection of in front of the Travel Mart, and collided with Charles Scheer of Cedar Rapids. One of the two was transported to University Hospitals in Iowa city. It's unclear at this time which one. 

Car dealer talks about auto bankruptcies

Posted: Thursday, June 4th, 2009 at 5:18 am

A local car dealer says the restructuring of Chrysler and G-M shouldn't have a big impact on his business. Tom Buckwalter, with Buckwalter Motors in Wellman says concerns were high at first, but subsided when a formula for how the restructuring would work was developed. Buckwalter says he's keeping a closer eye on fuel prices. He says that often has a larger impact on the used car business. 

Washington Schools to receive $147K

Posted: Thursday, June 4th, 2009 at 5:18 am

Washington Schools are getting more than $147,000 in federal stabilization money. The funds are being allocated through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The money is earmarked for improvements in teacher effectiveness, establishing pre-k to college data systems and gearing classes more towards college and career preparedness. Washington Schools could receive an additional $760,000, if the funding is approved by the federal government. 

Dispute over airport runway continues

Posted: Thursday, June 4th, 2009 at 5:18 am

Washington City Council members are again seeking public input on a possible land acquisition that would accommodate a new runway at the airport. Mayor Sandra Johnson says that would entail purchasing farmland from the Berdo family. There has been an ongoing legal dispute between the city and the Berdos. Public comment on whether tax payer money should be spent on the roughly 60 acre parcel of land will be taken at the July 15 council meeting. 

Program explores Iowa Underground Railroad

Posted: Thursday, June 4th, 2009 at 5:17 am

The Johnson County Senior Center recently received a grant to host a seminar on Iowas participation in the Underground Railroad. Questions surround Iowas involvement in the 1800s movement which helped escaped slaves find their way to free northern states and Canada. The seminar looks to answer questions such as whether or not Iowa participated at all, how the slaves were concealed from their pursuers, and whether or not some of these hideaways exist today. The seminar will be held on June 9 and is sponsored by Humanities Iowa.

Wild Edibles

Posted: Thursday, June 4th, 2009 at 5:17 am

Healthy nutrition may be found right outside your door. Naturalist Pam Holz with the Washington County Conservation Board says there are many common Iowa plants that, if prepared properly, provide an excellent source of nutrition. She says things such as thistles and dandelions, while commonly seen as a nuisance, are actually quite healthy. Holz says knowing what is healthy and what isnt is important should an emergency be encountered in the wild. Holz says more can be learned about nature nutrition at the Wild Edibles Program on June 27 at Marr Park.