KWBG HEADLINES ON APRIL 6, 2010

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone City Council selected Boone business owner Kevin Hicks to join them on the City Council. Hicks, was one of three to express interest in being appointed to the Council. The Council made its decision with a secret ballot. Former Councilmember Travis Stevenson was second in polling and Steve McCoy, a long time member of the Park Commission was third. There could still be a petition submitted calling for a special election which the Council had hoped to avoid.

BOONE, Iowa---Boone County officials were a little surprised by a Department of Human Services decision to made the Boone office a part-time office. DHS reorganization this week had the Boone County office and 22-others become part-time. There are 42-fulltime offices remaining in the state. Boone County is the 24th largest county and has had a higher volume of clients that some of the counties that will remain fulltime. The service change is slated for July 1st.

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Hospital is appealing a decision to have their skilled nursing unit closed. The decision was initially made by staff at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Kansas City. The decision was just made this year, and Joe Smith, Boone County Hospital Chief Executive Officer says the appeal to Washington could take several months.

From the Associated Press:

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) - A sendoff ceremony will be held on Sunday in Boone for about 65 Iowa Army National Guard soldiers being sent to Kosovo on a peacekeeping mission. The soldiers are with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation, which flies and maintains UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Des Moines police say a 25-year-old man is charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of his 23-year-old wife. A police spokesman says officers found Randi Gilmore dead of a gunshot wound Monday afternoon in the rental home she shared with her husband, Donte Gilmore, and three children.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - An Iowa man now faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of possessing child pornography in a federal court. Thirty-year-old Kyle Conry of Dyersville entered the plea in Cedar Rapids yesterday.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) - Fort Dodge will pay city employees who want to attend rally to support a casino, but not those against it. Mayor Matt Bemrich and City Manager David Fierke said Monday that those workers will have to take time off. They cited a resolution approved by the council last month supporting the casino, saying paying employees is part of that support.


(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)