Latham Draws Concerned Crowd

BOONE, Iowa---Iowa Congressman Tom Latham held a public meeting for constituents Tuesday at the Boone City Hall. A crowd expressed concern and outrage at some of the things being done at the federal level. Latham says the town meetings have been similar, because people are concerned and afraid about what's happening. He says people don't like the changes that Congress has pushed through and the manner in which it was done. Latham faces a challenge from Democratic Candidate Bill Maske in the November General Election.

Real Estate Exchange

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on a resolution to enter into a Real Estate Exchange Agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad. The process began with the plans by the Union Pacific to make some improvements in the rail yard on the east side of Boone. Part of the work will require getting onto county right of way.

Farm Progress Show Traffic

BOONE, Iowa---There were no reports of any serious problems but for many, the traffic for the Farm Progress Show was certainly an issue. Many people traveling through Boone County Tuesday morning discovered it wasn't just a leisurely drive. Just getting through the traffic to the Farm Progress Show to some up to a half hour. Sheriff Ron Fehr and Boone Police Chief Bill Skare have been cautioning the motoring public to consider alternate routes during the run of the Farm Progress Show.

Sewer Rehab Progress

BOONE, Iowa---This week is one of the deadlines Boone City officials are looking at to consider the progress on this year's sanitary sewer rehabilitation work. H&W Construction is currently on Tama Street and will soon look to move on to 8th Street which will create a number of issues. All year, the City Council has been concerned about the progress, realizing the work is substantially behind schedule. City Administrator Luke Nelson says one of the important dates will be Wednesday, September 1st. He says the Council has insisted that all streets be paved before the end of the season.

Cipperley-Price Heads Humane Society

BOONE, Iowa---Linn Cipperley-Price has been named the new Executive Director of the Boone Area Humane Society. She began her duties a week ago. Cipperley-Price is a graduate of Iowa State University and is a registered Veterinary Technician. She has been the owner and operator of "Spoiled Rotten Pets" near Paton, Iowa. Cipperley-Price replaces Lori Bonnell who has been Acting Executive since the resignation of Rick Carlyle earlier this summer.

Farm Progress Show

BOONE, Iowa---Many details are being hastily completed for the 2010 Farm Progress Show, held east of Boone on the grounds of the Central Iowa Expo. Officials don't go into specifics on attendance numbers but expect visitors from more than 40-states and 50-countries over the three-day event. The 2010 show marks the second time the event has been held on it's Iowa permanent site. The other permanent location is Decatur, Illinois. Locally, Sheriff Ron Fehr and Boone Police Chief Bill Skare are encouraging commuters to consider alternative routes to avoid the high traffic areas.

"Y" Building to be Donated

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Hospital Board of Directors has approved moving ahead with the transfer of ownership of the building housing the Boone County Family "Y". Boone County Hospital acquired the building over 20-years ago. Five years ago, the Hospital began leasing the building the "Y" of Greater Des Moines to house it's Boone County operations. The Board has approved a stipulation that should the "Y" of Greater Des Moines consider selling the building, the Hospital will have a right of first refusal.

More Downtown Work

BOONE, Iowa---Boone City Administrator Luke Nelson said this week that more work was going to be done on the site of a downtown demolition project. Fire damaged buildings were removed, but sidewalks were damaged in the process. Nelson says Majors Construction was the successful bidder to fix the damage and has quickly moved in to take care of problem. He says the city still hopes to get the site looking better for Pufferbilly Days.

Motor Tour to Visit Boone

BOONE, Iowa---The Iowa Lincoln Highway Association 2010 Motor Tour kicked off on the eastern side of Iowa this year and will end Sunday on the west side of the state. This year, the group will overnight in Ames, Saturday night, but will pay a visit to Boone for the Lincoln Highway Transportation Show. A "Bring What You Drive" show is being held in Boone and is sponsored by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, the Tall Corn Auto Club, the Iowa Lincoln Highway Association and the Boone County Historical Society.

Emergency Repairs

BOONE, Iowa---Boone Public Works Director John Rouse says heavy rains earlier this month caused quite a bit of damage below the street surface at 8th and Benton Streets in Boone. Rouse says he knew earlier there was a smaller problem that would be addressed with the on going sanitary sewer project, but heavy rains this month changed the situation. He says the storm sewer needs to be repaired right away, which will mean some travel limitations at the busy intersection. Rouse says the work should be completed and traffic returned to normal on Saturday.

Hospital Revenues

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Hospital Board of Trustees have learned that the new fiscal year started out in the black, but not quite as well as originally hoped. Financial performance in July was affected by lower patient revenue, due to lower numbers. Pretty much all numbers were under the budgeted amounts including both revenue and expenditures. Net income was over $63,000, but was below both the budgeted amount and the amount for July 2009.

Traffic Study

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone City Council's Public Safety and Transportation Committee may consider a traffic study to take a look at traffic patterns around all school buildings. The Committee was approached by the School District again this week to install additional stop signs at the intersection of 1st and Benton. The Committee has refused similar requests in the pasts, but this time agreed that there are other matters to consider. Since the School District has closed two buildings and moved classes to new locations, it was felt that a complete look at the traffic patterns might be helpful in addressing grid lock.

Visioning Meeting Held

BOONE, Iowa---A large group of Boone citizens gathered at the Boone City Hall Auditorium Monday to hold a visioning meeting for the City of Boone. The meeting was organized by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and was facilitated by Linda Howard of the Iowa Great Places program. Howard says she was pleased with the work of those who showed up for the meeting, which sets up the next steps for the community, an action plan, implementation, focus groups and plan development. No second meeting is set at this time.

Bridge Vote

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Board of Supervisors have decided to seek a vote of the public to determine the fate of the Wagon Bridge located west of Boone. The current structure over the Des Moines River is closed to vehicular traffic. During the March flood, a large tree hit the structure causing an estimated $800,000 in damage. The Supervisors are proposing a $6-million bond issue to remove the old bridge and build a new on to meet current specifications. The vote will be included in the November General Election.

Storm Damage Reassessment

BOONE, Iowa---Boone County Emergency Management Coordinator Dave Morlan says the Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to return for a quick reassessment of storm related damage in Boone County. In the past couple of weeks, several additional properties have been added to the list. Morlan says the first time damages were assessed, there were not enough individual properties to be considered. He says inspectors will limit their investigation to property that was destroyed or received major damage.

Hit and Run Driver Apprehended

BOONE, Iowa---The driver of a pickup involved in a hit and run accident with a high school girl last Thursday as been arrested. Boone Police Chief Bill Skare says officers were able to track down the vehicle and Saturday afternoon, filed charges against 29-year old William Austin Carlin, Junior of Boone. Charges included failing to leave aid and information at the scene of the accident, failing to yield to a pedestrian, no valid Iowa Drivers License and no proof of insurance. Carlin was taken to the Boone County Jail. The case has been turned over to the Boone County Attorney.

Farm Progress Show

BOONE, Iowa---In another week, thousands of visitors will be headed to the Farm Progress Show east of Boone. Police Chief Bill Skare is asking residents, especially those that commute to Ames and Des Moines, to plan for their morning and afternoon trip. Skare says he's asking people to use South Story Street to US Highway 30 in the morning and in the late afternoon and early evening. He says doing so will help avoid some of the heavily traveled local roads.

Bond Vote

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Board of Supervisors will take formal action to put the matter selling bonds to replace the Wagon Bridge west of Boone to a vote of county residents. The matter was first brought up by Supervisor Tom Foster during a public hearing held by the Supervisors to consider the closure of the bridge to vehicular traffic. The matter is in the agenda for the Supervisors to consider, Tuesday afternoon. The proposal would include removal of the old bridge, construction of a new bridge and related roadway. Early estimates for a new bridge were about $4-million which did not include removing the old bridge.

Driver Still Sought

BOONE, Iowa---Boone Police Chief Bill Skare says his department is still seeking the driver of a pickup involved in a hit and run accident by the Boone High School Thursday morning. Skare says the pickup was a black early to mid-90's Nissan, possibly with some damage to the front drivers side bumper. The driver was described as a white male, early 30's, short dark hair and a goatee. Sierra Owen sustained bumps and bruises and a possible knee injury from the accident.

Visioning Meeting

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce will be the host for a "Visioning Meeting" Monday at the Boone City Hall. Chamber Executive Director Richard Baker says he's been staying in touch with representatives of the Iowa Great Places program for two-years and he thinks the time is right to take the next step to obtaining Great Places recognition. Baker says to do that, community members will need to participate in the Monday session. He says it will begin at the City Hall Auditorium at 6:30 PM.