Burn Ban Begins Friday

BOONE, Iowa---Boone County will join the majority of Iowa counties with a ban on open burning, effective Friday, August 3rd at 8:00 AM.  The ban is issued by the State Fire Marshall, but done at the request of Fire Chiefs in Boone County.  Emergency Management Coordinator Dave Morlan says conditions in Boone County vary greatly from one corner of the county to another.  The ban will be in effect until further notice.  About two thirds of the state's counties have a ban on open burning.

Boone County Woman Injured In Fire

BOONE, Iowa---Boone County Sheriff Ron Fehr has reported that a 46-year old rural Boone County women was injured Wednesday while burning off her garden.  Brenda Frank apparently suffered burns to her legs and arms.  Fehr reported that fire was out when a deputy arrived at the scene.  The Ogden Fire Department and Boone County Ambulance were at the scene.  An Air Ambulance from Des Moines was reportedly dispatched.  Little additional information has been made available.

Summer Lunch Program Could Continue Next Year

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone Summer Lunch Ministry came together very quickly at the end of the school year.  The program offered free lunch during the summer to Boone children from 1-to-18.  Organizers would have liked to have more children participate, but it was only the first year.  Lavonne Schearer says the churches responded and worked well and a number of businesses and other groups also volunteered time.  Barb Veal says the authorization to conduct the program was for five years.  After this year, organizers and other church representatives will determine if they should continue to offer the program next summer.

County Does Well on Fine Recovery and Restitution

BOONE, Iowa---Boone County has performed well in the recovery of fines and restitution.  Even though the rate is about 18-percent is pretty good when many others have even lower rates.  County Attorney Jim Robbins says the recently completed fiscal year saw collections of $197,000.  Boone County received $65,000.  Robbins says that the county received over $65,000 of the total.  The cost of the project was $44,000.  Earlier this year, the success of the program was questioned by the Supervisors, who had not received any information on collections.

Habitat Busy This Summer

BOONE, Iowa---Erich Kretzinger, Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity of Boone and Greene Counties, says the hot dry weather has actually benefited Habitat volunteers.  Kretzinger says there have only been a few occasions where volunteer work days had to be cancelled because of rain.  He says the house construction project in Boone County is ahead of schedule and the repair projects for the Helping Hands Program  in Greene County.  Kretzinger says work is now beginning on trying to acquire a site in Boone for next years house build.

County Recognized for Best Practices

BOONE, Iowa---A week ago, during a meeting of the Boone County Supervisors, Boone County was again named a Best Practices Member by the Iowa Municipalities Workers' Compensation Association.  Boone County was one of the first IMWCA members to earn the distinction and the recent presentation marked the third consecutive year Boone County was recognized.  The Boone County Safety Committee uses the proceeds to enhance the County's safety programs.