City Elections in One Week

BOONE, Iowa---Municipal elections will be held in one week.  For Boone, none of the seats for Mayor or Council are being contested.  Two openings on the Park Commission don't even have candidates.  Meanwhile in Ogden, there are four candidates for three regular Council seats and two candidates are vying to fill an unexpired term on the Ogden Council.  There are races in Boxholm, Luther and also Pilot Mound.  County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Phil Meier says some are wondering about the new voting precincts.  Meier says they don't take affect until 2012.

Ogden Farmer Dies in Accident

OGDEN, Iowa---Boone County Sheriff Ron Fehr says 74-year old Richard "Dick" Shaw of Ogden was the farmer pronounced dead at the scene of a farming accident near Pilot Mound Saturday morning.  Fehr says a hose on an anhydrous ammonia tank apparently broke and caused huge toxic cloud that settled over the field.  Officials believe Shaw was overcome by the fumes.  Shaw's son Michael, 54, attempted to rescue his father and shut down the anhydrous tanks, but calm conditions allowed the cloud to stay over the field.  Four first responders were also treated for affects of anhydrous at the Boone County Hospital.

Farm Accident

PILOT MOUND, Iowa---A farm accident with the application of anhydrous ammonia has resulted in one death and hospitalized several others. Boone County Emergency Management Coordinator Dave Morlan says calm weather conditions were a real problem as the toxic cloud covered a large area and kept moving with the variable wind conditions. The operator of the tractor did not survive the exposure. One other is hospitalized in Des Moines and several first responders were or are being treated at the Boone County Hospital.

RAGBRAI Checks Awarded

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone RAGBRAI Committee continued the distribution of proceeds from this year's RAGBRAI visit to Boone. Earlier this week, over $3,300 was presented to the Boone Police Department of Shop With A Cop. Friday, Non-profits that applied for a portion of the money received their checks. $500 for the Boone County ABWA, $600 for the Boone Pioneer Senior Citizens Center and $300 for the First Baptist Church coffee house project. A fourth check for more than $3,600 was given to the City of Boone Fireworks Fund. Two foundations will also receive money, the Boone Parks Foundation and the Boone County Hospital Foundation.

Go Ahead Given For Project Manager

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Hospital Board of Trustees have set some parameters a project manager for the current Electronic Medical Records project. This week, the Board authorized hospital administrators to select someone that fits the parameters and get them started on the multi-million dollar project. Hospital CEO Joe Smith says interviews have been conducted with two firms and two additional will be interviewed. A selection is expected in the next couple of weeks. The project is expected to be completed in about 4 years.

Trick or Treating and Beggar's Night

BOONE, Iowa---Boone and Ogden residents will have Trick and Treaters visiting their homes on Monday, Halloween and Madrid will have Beggar's Night on Sunday due to a home football playoff game. Madrid residents are also encouraged to bring their children to the Madrid Home and the Cedars for Beggar's Night. In Ogden, residents can also participate in Trunk or Treat in downtown Ogden. As always, if you wish to have children visit your home, leave on the outside light. With mild weather conditions, law enforcement is also encouraging motorists to be aware of the extra pedestrian traffic.

City Continues Property Protection Program

BOONE, Iowa---Boone City Administrator Luke Nelson says the City is continuing it's support of the Property Protection Program for residents that want to make sure footing tile and sump drains are disconnected from sanitary sewer lines. This week, Nelson said the focus will be on making that assistance available to residents in the northeast part of Boone, the targeted area for the next phase of sanitary sewer rehabilitation. Nelson says the Council approved additional funds to provide assistance to more residents. Information on the program is available at the Boone City Building Officials Office.

Christmas Assistance Deadline Friday

BOONE, Iowa---The Salvation Army of Boone County will close the application process for Christmas Assistance Friday afternoon. Lt. Bill Rutledge says the application process has been underway nearly two weeks. He says the assistance, which will include food and toys, will be distributed in mid-December. Rutledge also says the Salvation Army will begin their Red Kettle Campaign in two weeks on November 10th.

Drug Drop Off

BOONE, Iowa---Boone County will once again hold another Drug Drop Off event, Saturday from 10:00 until 12:00 at the police departments in Boone, Madrid and Ogden. Kelly Wooden, Boone County Project SAFE Coordinator has said the Drug Drop Off event has proven to be a success locally. Residents have a safe way to dispose of unused and expired medications. The Drop Off accepts prescriptions, over the counter medications, vitamins, supplements and unused and expired pet medications.

Ogden School Addition Progressing

OGDEN, Iowa---The Ogden High School addition and renovation project has been moving ahead very well according to Superintendent Bill Roederer. Roederer attributed the progress to the weather, which has allowed the contractor to actually stay outside and do work that was expected to be addressed next spring. A big part of the work is for the cafeteria at the High School. There will be additional class room renovation as well.

City Acquires Property for Water Tower

BOONE, Iowa---Acquiring the property is one thing, building a new water tower on the southwest side of the city is another. Over the past couple of City Council meetings, the Council accepted applications for voluntary annexation of property near the corner of Park Avenue and Marion Street. Altogether, the City obtained just over three acres for less than $30,000. A water tower on the southwest side of the city is expected to improve water pressure for the area, which could lead to additional residential development. Roy Martin, Superintendent of Utilities, has targeted such a project for several years.

RAGBRAI Proceeds Being Distributed

BOONE, Iowa---Organizers for RAGBRAI in Boone hoped the event would more than break even and if that was the case, additional proceeds would be doled out to a variety of community agencies and activities. The first of seven distributions was held Monday when Cody Bowers of the RAGBRAI Finance Committee presented a check for $3,359.62 to the Boone Police Department Shop With A Cop program. The Shop With A Cop program was selected because of it's strong community support and the opportunity it makes available to children.

Municipal Elections

BOONE, Iowa---Boone County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Phil Meier says some voters are apparently misunderstanding the recent action taken by cities and the county to establish new voting precincts. Meier emphasised that the any change does not take affect until January 15th, 2012, next year. He says the municipal elections in two weeks will use the same voting locations as they have in the past. The most recent change for voting in Boone was the move in the Boone 4th Ward from Franklin Elementary to the Ericson Public Library. Only Boone and Madrid have multiple precincts.

School Board To Set Bond Sale

BOONE, Iowa---In what will be the first of a series of bond sales to finance the renovation of Boone High School, the School Board will be taking action Tuesday to set the sale of Sales Tax Revenue Bonds yet this calendar year. The sale is actually planned for November and will be finalized prior to the end of the calendar year. The District is limited on the amount of debt that can be sold in a calendar year. The Sales Tax Revenue Bond sale is about $5.5 million.

"Y" Reopens

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Family YMCA was finally able to open for business Thursday afternoon, but staff members point out the facility is not completely recovered from a fire last Friday. The fire was confined to a basement office, but did cause quite a bit of smoke and water damage. Many of the upper levels were reopened, but the pool, weight room and aerobic fitness room are still being cleaned up. Several programs are being rescheduled and will continue as soon as possible. On going information about the work to recover from last week's fire is available through the "Y"s website.

Guard Conducts Boss Lift

BOONE, Iowa---Several business representatives from central Iowa participated in a "Boss Lift" by the Iowa National Guard Wednesday, all part of the renewed effort to recognize the Iowa Employer Support of Guard and Reserve. The ESGR orientation was held at the Aviation Support Facility in Boone and included a flight on a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. Becky Coady told those on hand that of the 2,800 members of the guard that recently returned from Afghanistan, about 700 are currently unemployed and their effort was to help reduce that number.

Consent Order

BOONE, Iowa---Boone Mayor John Slight says he will be signing a consent order with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources regarding the City's on going sanitary sewer rehabilitation work. The Boone City Council approved the document for signing this week. The new order was amended at the City's request. Four years ago, Slight refused to sign the original consent order that included penalties for failing to make improvements under the DNR timetable. The new consent order waives the penalties.

Carroll Man Sentenced After Boone Arrest

DES MOINES, Iowa---37-year old Duane Russell Conroy of Carroll was sentenced in U.S. District Court this week to 170 months in prison and 8 years of supervised release following imprisonment. Conroy was arrested in Boone in November 2010 and plead guilty to charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The case was investigated by the Central Iowa Drug Task Force, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Boone Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Burning Hours Extended

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone City Council, on a 4-to-3 vote, approved making it more convenient for Boone residents to be able to get home from work and burn yard waste in the fall. The Council approved extending the hours of open burning until 7:00 PM. The ordinance adopted in 2000 set the hours from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM. The Council was presented with a petition with a few dozen signatures asking that no change be made in the time for open burning.

Supervisors Discuss Program for Drainage Districts

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Board of Supervisors will be meeting with Don Reefer during their regular meeting Wednesday to discuss a rotation program for brush and weed control in Drainage Districts. Reefer specializes in control brush and weeds that clog waterways, creating expensive clean outs. Several recent clean outs in Boone County dealt with trees and tree roots affecting drains. The Board's discussion will be about a 3-year rotation of a brush control program for Boone County Drainage Districts.

Library Board Seeks Two Members

BOONE, Iowa---Barb Rardin, Director of the Ericson Public Library told the City Council this week, that two board members are departing after several years of service to the community. Roberta Reideler and Don Shaw were last appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2008. Trustees are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Council.

Final Equalization Order

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Assessors Office will be a pretty busy place for the next couple of weeks.  Late last Friday, the County received the 2011 Final Equalization Notice for Boone County.  The notice is the result of an appeal of a 23% assessment increase on commercial and industrial property.  Boone County Assessor D. Kevin Burggraaf says over the next week, notices will be prepared and will be sent out, offering commercial and industrial property owners a chance to appeal any increases.  The order also requires that all Commercial and Industrial properties go through reappraisal, for the 2013 assessment year.

Amended Consent Order

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone City Council is hoping to be able and give consideration to an amended Consent Order from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.  The Consent Order requires that the City continue to deal with sanitary sewer issues.  The Council has already agreed to continue work but had some issues with language that said there would never be another sanitary sewer back up in the community.  Council Member Gary Nystrom noted that this past summer, parts of Dubuque received 14-inches of rain which would most certainly cause sewer back up.

Banner Covers Damage

BOONE, Iowa---Residents will see a new banner on the front of the Boone Police Department, replacing a banner that touted RAGBRAI's visit to Boone earlier this summer.  The banners cover damage to the from a summer storm that occurred earlier in July.  Already, the City Council has been appraised of the situation and will be considering some other options.  Water damage to the covering has forced the discussion of removing the covering a considering restoration of the building front.  City Administrator Luke Nelson told the Council earlier this summer that such a project would help promote some of the City's downtown revitalization efforts.

Fire Damages YMCA

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone Fire Department spent a number of hours late Friday night and early Saturday putting out a fire at the Boone County Family YMCA. Officials report that the fire originated and was essentially confined to the office area of the facility. The damage was considered extensive. There are also reports of quite a bit of smoke and water damage. The Boone County Family YMCA, part of the Y of Greater Des Moines is closed. Off site activites are still scheduled. The cause remains under investigation.

Burning Hours Could Be Extended

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone City Council will be considering a request to extend the hours of open burning of yard waste. Currently, City Code sets the burning time from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Earlier this month, Council Member Gary Nystrom called for an amendment to the ordinance because most people that work aren't able to get home to burn their yard waste. However, the Council does have the authority to extend the hours by resolution and will consider doing that Monday. If approved, the change could go into affect right away. The original dates and hours were set by ordinance in 2000.

Two from Sacred Heart Honored

SIOUX CITY, Iowa---Two Boone residents were honored recently during the 15th Annual Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sioux City. Doris Riesselman, 4th grade teacher at Sacred Heart received one of four Excellence in Education Awards and William Richter the head custodian at Sacred Heart received the Good Shepherd Award. The awards were presented by Bishop R. Walker Nickless.

Humane Society Open House

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone Area Humane Society Annual Open House will be held Sunday afternoon at the shelter at 228 West 16th Street. The Open House will be held from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM and offers the public a chance to see the shelter and get questions answered about the operations. There's no charge to attend, and there will be door prizes. Memberships will also be available. The Annual Membership meeting was held last Tuesday.

High School Renovation Timeline.

BOONE, Iowa---Tom Penney with the DLR Group, Architect for the Boone High School renovation project, says their group will be very busy trying to stay on schedule with the Boone School District project. Penney says the first part of the work, including concept design, is expected to be completed by December 1st. He told the School Board this week that he hoped to go out for bids in June and see construction begin in August 2012. The early projection for completion is August 2015.

Trail Users Affecting Residents Near Madrid

MADRID, Iowa---Residents along QF Lane, west of Madrid, near the High Trestle Trail Bridge have enjoyed the use of the recreational trail but have been having some problems because of the trails location. During construction, it was suggested that a small, gravel parking lot be constructed there to allow handicap accessibility to the bridge. It turns out that quite a few people like parking there and the vehicles have ended up on QF Lane, making the road impassable. Residents have asked the Boone County Supervisors to make some changes to help, including setting speed limits. Recently, vehicles parked on the road blocked a combine from getting to a field for harvest.

Salvation Army Begins Christmas Signup

BOONE, Iowa---The Salvation Army in Boone County will begin taking applications for Christmas assistance next week. Lt. Bill Rutledge says families and individuals needing assistance will be able to stop at the Salvation Army Office Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 9:00 AM until 3:30 PM and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 Noon until 6:30 PM. He says a picture ID will be needed and social security numbers for each member of the family along with proof of address. The application deadline is October 28th.

Utility Committee To Review Wind Energy Proposal

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone City Council's Utility Committee is prepared to review an ordinance dealing with small wind energy conversion systems. The ordinance has been sitting for some time as the city waited to see if there was any interest in the community. The most recent issue was the size of the lots, initially limited to one acre. Since then, some questions were raised and the Council directed the matter back to the Utility Committee at their last meeting. The Utility Committee meets at the City Hall Wednesday at 4:00 PM.

Supervisors to Meet With IT Committee

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Supervisors will be meeting with the County's IT Committee during their meeting Wednesday to the future direction of the department. Since the resignation of Bob Duncan earlier this summer, the Supervisor have been investigating what direction to take for the Department. Do they continue as is, make changes and if so what kind of changes. The IT Committee is made up of several different departments and has been reviewing information collected from a number of sources. Increased digital demand is putting pressure on the Supervisors to make some decisions.

Park Commission Approves Tree Removal Bid

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone Park Commission has approved a bid for the removal of more than 30 street trees over the next several months. The Commission awarded the contract to Rex Schell Tree Service of Boone for a bid of just under $18,000. John Rouse, Parks and Public Works Director, says the work is all over the community and is part of the regular work done to remove diseased, dead or dying street trees. A lower bid was received from David Chapline of Ogden, but the Commission members opted for the bid from Schell.

Boone Parks Sledding Hill

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone Park Commission is expected to bring up the sledding hill issue at their next meeting. The sledding hill was closed following a lawsuit against the City and others after a woman was seriously injured. Part of the discussion next week is expected to deal with pursuing legislation that would remove the liability if certain things were done to make the hill safer. The discussion about the legislation came up last year, but with the settlement of the lawsuit and the agenda of the legislature, the matter was dropped. The Park Commission meets Monday evening at the City Park Office.

Start Somewhere Walks

BOONE, Iowa---Quite a few people participated in the Start Somewhere Walks held in Boone County Friday. The HyVee-Fareway combined walk drew nearly 140 participants that walked from HyVee to downtown Boone, down Story Street to the Gigglin' Goat, which was the former Fareway Store in Boone, then back to HyVee. Another large walk locally was at the Boone Campus of DMACC, a walk which included several participants from the Boone County Family YMCA. There was a walk organized in Ogden which drew a nice turnout and many schools also participated.

Trains Continue to Run

BOONE, Iowa---Union Pacific Railroad Locomotive Engineers are part of nearly a dozen different rail unions that were poised to strike Thursday night following a 30-day cooling off period. A Presidential Emergency Board of appointed and intervened to keep rail traffic rolling for another 60-days, 30 to review and recommend a contract settlement and another 30-day cooling off period. 97% of the voting members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen voted to authorize a strike.

Communications Upgrade Funding Discussed

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Board of Supervisors will need to make some decisions soon about funding options for the mandated upgrade in Boone County Emergency Communications. 911 Coordinator Rick Lampe and Emergency Management Coordinator Dave Morlan met with the Supervisors Wednesday and reviewed the current status of the narrow banding upgrade. Lampe says a system has been selected that would be upgradable and provide at least 98% coverage in the county. Depending on additional frequencies, the system could cost about $750,000.

Operation ReLeaf

BOONE, Iowa---Operation ReLeaf, a residential tree planting program, will wrap up in Boone County Thursday. The program involves Alliant Utilities, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Boone County Conservation Commission. Landscape trees have been made available at greatly reduced prices. Trees are being delivered to the Don Williams Recreational Area on Thursday and those that have purchased trees need to pick them up Thursday evening near the boat ramp and bait house at Don Williams.

Ogden Resident Proposes Volunteer Effort

OGDEN, Iowa---Ogden resident Dave Huntley told the Ogden City Council Tuesday that he and his wife would like to try and spur a volunteer effort to keep parts of the community cleaned up. Huntley said he and his wife would like to clean up at the shelter house in the park. He said he hoped his idea would spur others to voluntarily select spots to keep cleaned up. It worked for one Council Member, Margaret Liston said she would volunteer to clean the restrooms in the park.

Council to Consider Extending Burning Hours

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone City Council has voted 5-to-2 to bring forward an ordinance amendment that would extend the hours of open burning in the fall from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Boone Fire Chief Justin Adams had said the 5:00 time the fall is important to prevent colder air from trapping the smoke over the city, like smog. Council Member Gary Nystrom says the 5:00 time frame keeps people who don't get home from work later from burning their yard waste. The Burning Ordinance was adopted in 2000 after a number of residents petitioned to eliminate burning of yard waste altogether. The Council will consider the amendment October 17th.

Local Support Sought For CAT Grant

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad is getting closer to obtaining a Community Attraction and Tourism Grant for the State Economic Development Department. Fenner Stevenson, General Manager of the Boone and Scenic Valley says the grant is for the James H. Andrew Railroad Museum and History Center. He told the City Council the state wanted more local financial input and the Council approved adding $20,000 to the $10,000 already committed. The Boone County Supervisors will be asked Wednesday to match to contribution. The Supervisor had previously committed $10,000. Stevenson says about $800,000 has already been raised for the project.

New Police Officer Takes Oath

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone Police Department added another officer this week, as Ethan Bailey took the oath of office from Boone Mayor John Slight. Slight in turn asked Bailey's father, Ogden Police Chief Mick Bailey to present his son his badge as a Boone Police Officer. Bailey still needs to attend the Law Enforcement Academy and will be crossed trained, like other Boone officers to respond to fire calls as well. Director of Public Safety and Police Chief Bill Skare says the hiring of Bailey fills a void created with the recent resignation.

National 4H Week

BOONE, Iowa---Boone County 4Her's have a very busy week planned.  This week is National 4H Week and the local clubs are using it as an opportunity for a little fund raising.  4Hers will be doing a couple of "Tip Nights" at the Boone Pizza Ranch and also will hold a "Piled High Potato Dinner" at the Leonard Good Center in Ogden next Saturday.  4H leaders say the proceeds from the week will be put right back into the Boone County 4H program and will be used to help defray some of the cost to youth that participate.

Emergency Medial Dispatch

BOONE, Iowa---After nearly a year, the Boone County Communications Center has made great strides with Emergency Medial Dispatch.  The effort was begun as a way to improve emergency responses, both in timing and efficiency.  John DeLavergne, a Paramedic and member of the Boone County Hospital's Ambulance crew says a review of the records show a marked improvement in both categories.  DeLavergne says in excess of 94% of the calls used the proper protocol.  He says the percentage is very good.

No Injuries Reported in Head-on Collision

BOONE, Iowa---Boone County Sheriff Ron Fehr says no injuries were reported following a head-on collision on US Highway 30 in western Boone County late Sunday afternoon.  Deputies reported that 19-year old Lucas C. Johnson of Des Moines apparently fell asleep and crossed the center line, colliding with a vehicle operated by 63-year old Sharron K. Wiederin of Arcadia.  Deputies estimated damages at some $13,000.  Johnson was cited with failing to maintain control and underage possession of alcohol.