Monday, July 12, 2010

Parade Route

BOONE, Iowa---The 2010 Boone County Fair Parade will take a whole different route this week. The Thursday parade will begin at the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad, travel east on 11th Street to Meridian, then south to Industrial Park Road then east to the Boone County Fair Grounds. The Fair Board, working with Boone Public Safety officials, planned the new route to avoid on going construction and demolition in the downtown area. The parade is Thursday at 5:30 and will be followed by the Fair Queen Coronation at the Community Building on the Fair Grounds.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Economic Development

BOONE, Iowa---Discussions about the future look of Economic Development in Boone County continue to move ahead. The Boone City Council's Economic Development Committee has been pursuing ideas for a couple of months, since the announcement by City Economic Development Director Darrel Rensink that he'll retire at the end of the year. This week, the Boone County Board of Supervisors hosted a discussion with Boone, Ogden, Madrid, Boone's Future and others about the direction of Economic Development. Chip Baltimore, Vice-President for Boone's Future says the opportunity to move ahead is very inviting.

Little League Lease

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone Park Commission will hold a formal Public Hearing during their meeting Monday to consider a new lease agreement with Boone Little League. Due to a variety of reasons, the lease from several years ago was considered null and void and had to be redone. Part of the discussions centered around high utility bills in winter months, but both sides have agreed to a compromise on the matter. The Park Commission will meet at the Park Office but will be able to move to the Herman Park Pavilion if there's a large crowd.

Extortion Charge

BOONE, Iowa---Boone County Sheriff Ron Fehr says an 18-year old Ogden woman has been charged with extortion following an investigation by the Sheriff's Department. Fehr says the investigation began after a complaint from the woman's former boy friend after she attempted to get money from him claiming she needed an abortion. Cristina A. Hefler was arrested on a warrant by Boone Police. Fehr says the investigation revealed that Hefler was not pregnant and had received over $1,000 from the victim.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Dam Project

BOONE, Iowa---The City of Boone along with the Natural Resources and Conservation Service and the Iowa Department of Transportation are moving ahead with a project that will modify the low head dam near the Boone Water Works. The City is moving ahead because of settlement in a lawsuit over a drowning several years ago. A public meeting to explain the project will be held at the Boone City Hall Auditorium, Tuesday July 13th at 11:00 AM.

Municipal Band Festival

BOONE, Iowa---The 19th Annual Iowa Municipal Band Festival will be held at the Herman Park Pavilion in Boone Saturday. Director of the Boone Municipal Band, Dave Richardson says he thinks the Pavilion is a key to the success of the annual event. A big attraction this year will be the first time appearance of the Iowa Military Veterans Band. Municipal bands from Boone and Ames are the only two that have appeared in all the Festivals.

Economic Development

BOONE, Iowa---Representatives from the City of Boone meet Thursday with Boone County Supervisors and other County representatives to talk about Economic Development and a possible Economic Development Director. It was announced earlier this year that Darrel Rensink, the current Economic Development Director for Boone will be retiring. Since then, discussions have begun with other entities to determine the best was to fill such a position. Boone Mayor John Slight has said that city should have a point person for Economic Development.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Construction Delays

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone City Council has expressed a great deal of concern over the ability of H & W Construction to meet the deadline for completion of the first part of the third phase of the city's sanitary sewer rehabilitation project. Council Members discussed the issue during a regular meeting Tuesday evening. Boone Mayor John Slight says work is proceeding, but he agrees there's a concern about getting work completed in time. He says the the extremely wet June has created numerous problems.

Special Election

BOONE, Iowa---Residents in Boone's 4th Ward will be selecting a new City Council Member during a special election next Tuesday. Three candidates did file to be on the ballot, former Council Member Travis Stevenson, former Park Commission Member Steve McCoy and Boone Businessman Kevin Hicks. The three are looking to fill the unexpired term of Glen Thompson who resigned in early March for personal reasons. Voting next Tuesday will be held at the Ericson Public Library between 12:00 Noon and 8:00 PM.

Flash Flooding

BOONE, Iowa---Heavy rain closed a number of rural roads in northern Boone County Wednesday morning. Boone County Emergency Management Coordinator Dave Morlan says "P" Avenue, three and a half miles north of Boone was covered by water for several hours. The Boone County Engineer's Office reported several gravel roads also topped by water. The National Weather Service reported an estimated 3-inches of rain in less than 2-hours on already saturated ground.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Buidling Demolition

July 6, 2010

BOONE, Iowa---Many Boone residents have been waiting to see when and if three fire damaged buildings in downtown Boone would be demolished. Well, the work began Monday afternoon. Boone City Administrator Luke Nelson had said the work was delayed when the City was asked to apply for additional, unspent Neighborhood Stabilization Grant Funds to help cover the cost of the demolition.

Ogden Demolition

July 6, 2010

OGDEN, Iowa---The Ogden City Council will consider the proposal to demolish a couple of buildings in their downtown. The City recently acquired a building owned by Daryl Johnson. That building and an adjoining building are targeted for demolition because of extensive structural damage.

Fireworks Delayed

July 6, 2010

BOONE, Iowa---Boone's annual 4th of July fireworks display was a day late, but still drew a very large crowd. Hundreds gathered on the south side of the city Monday evening for the delayed show. Rain Sunday prohibited the contracted company from setting up the display. There was a little drizzle Monday, but that didn't affect the show. The collected nearly $5,000 in donations from residents, businesses and by turning in pop cans to pay for a share of the show.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

July 4, 2010

Because of the forecast of continued rain, Mayor John Slight has postponed the City of Boone fireworks display. The rain date is scheduled for Monday, July 5th at dusk. Fireworks will be fired from the south edge of Boone.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Story Street Remains Closed

July 2, 2010

BOONE, Iowa---A plan to have Story Street opened this weekend is not going to work out. Boone officials had hoped construction of the sanitary sewer rehabilitation project that closed the intersection of Story and 6th Street last weekend, would be far enough along to be open. The construction site has been plagued by the wet weather from last weekend. In addition, demolition of three buildings in downtown Boone is expected to begin Monday, but City Administrator Luke Nelson has said the contractor hopes to keep the street open.

US Highway 30 Project

July 2, 2010

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Board of Supervisors will consider approval of a Preconstruction Agreement with the Department of Transportation for the planned reconstruction of US Highway 30 from near the junction of Iowa Highway 17 to University Boulevard in Ames. The preliminary portion of the project will begin later this summer with the construction of crossovers between east and west bound lanes. Reconstruction of the highway is expected in 2011.

Fireworks Weather

July 2, 2010

BOONE, Iowa---If Mother Nature decides to have her own fireworks display Sunday night in Boone, Mayor John Slight says the planned fireworks show will be moved to Monday evening. Slight says the rain date was put into the contract several months ago. At this time, weather models indicate a good possibility of thunderstorms Sunday and Sunday evening.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Fireworks Fundraising

July 1, 2010

BOONE, Iowa---Boone businesses and residents have stepped up in an effort to put on this year's 4th of July fireworks display. As of Thursday, nearly $5,000 has been turned in to the city hall to help cover the $10,000 cost of the fireworks display. About a third of the money raised has come from Boone Mayor John Slights campaign to collect pop cans with the proceeds to go to fireworks. Slight has said anyone willing to make donations can still do so. He says any amount over and above the cost of the show will go toward next years fireworks display.

Boone County Naturalist

July 1, 2010

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Conservation Board has a new County Naturalist. Emily Klein was formally approved as a Boone County employee earlier this week. Klein begins her duties immediately for the Conservation Board. She is a native Iowan, growing up on a farm near Grinnell. She received her Bachelor's degree from Iowa State and a Masters from Florida Atlantic University. Klein says she's worked in Florida, Texas and Illinois but says it feels good getting back home in Iowa.

Supervisors Meeting

July 1, 2010

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Board of Supervisors have held their first meeting of the new fiscal year. The Board holds two-such meetings each year, one for organizational purposed after the first of the calendar year and the second at the beginning of the fiscal year. The Thursday meeting did include approval of the appropriations for the new fiscal year and also salaries and wages for the new fiscal year. Several appointments were also confirmed.

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