Crop Insurance

BOONE, Iowa---Producers get a new look Crop Insurance Program this year. The new Common Crop Insurance Policy has been rolled out and now producers need to educate themselves. Steve Johnson, ISU Extension Farm Management Specialist will present "Crop Insurance Decisions and Marketing Strategies" Thursday in Ogden. The presentation will include a panel discussion with insurance representatives. The Ogden Ag Marketing Club is sponsoring the program. It begins at 6:30 PM at the Leonard Good Community Center in Ogden.

Sledding Hill

BOONE, Iowa---The majority of the Boone City Council would not be interested in restoring the sledding hill in McHose Park at this time. The sledding hill was closed following a multi-million dollar lawsuit that still has yet to be settled. Part of the action is closing the sledding hill. The Boone Park Commission conducted a community survey last year and discovered that residents that responded called for the reopening of the sledding hill and the skate pond during the winter months. Council representatives are expected to meet with Park Commission members to address the matter.

Annexation Negotiations

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone City Council has voted 5-to-2 to negotiated an agreement between the Council and several businesses in the Boone Industrial Park regarding possible annexation. The Boone Industrial Park was identified in an annexation study as a possible area for annexation. Businesses have testified before the Council that such action would certainly cost the city jobs if not the businesses themselves. The annexation study is yet to be completed, but the majority of the Council would like to see what can be worked out with the businesses. Any proposal would go through legal review before being presented to the Council at their next meeting.

Facility Planning Continues

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone School Board will continue discussing facility needs for the Boone High School. A smaller, working committee has been meeting with the DLR Group to continue putting together possible plans for the district. At this point, the School Board has seriously considered a project that would include an addition to the High School and then extensive demolition and remodeling of the existing structure. No definite decisions have been made yet, but could be within the next couple of months.

Conservation Overlay Issue

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Board of Supervisors will once again have a discussion about the Conservation District Overlay issue. The Board will be meeting with Boone County residents Brian Burge and possibly others Wednesday. Burge and a number of others attended the recent County Zoning Commission meeting with the understanding that the Commission would be taking action on the numerous petitions that had been submitted to the Supervisors. The matter had not been published on the Commissions agenda and is expected to be on the agenda for the February 28th meeting. A bigger problem could be the location of the meeting. Several hundred people could possible attend and comment on the issue.

Wind Chill Advisory

BOONE, Iowa---The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Advisory for the KWBG listening area from late Monday until mid-day Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to drop to -10 or -15 by Tuesday morning. Even with light winds, Wind Chill is expected to be -20 or -25 which is a dangerous category. Frostbite and hypothermia can occur in a short time. Conditions are expected to remain dry.

School Board to Hearings on Demolition

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone School Board will hold two public hearings during their Tuesday meeting to address the proposed demolition of two vacant former elementary school buildings. The only offer that had been received was not finalized, so the process to proceed with demolition was begun. A more accurate cost for demolition has been made available for Board consideration and it exceeds the original estimates. The Board has repeatedly held the position that the buildings would be demolished if an appropriate use, benefiting the neighborhoods and the community could not be found.

City Considers Consulting Contract

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone City Council will again consider a contract for consulting services with the Washington D.C. based Russ Reid Company. The City has used the company for the past few years to try an garner federal appropriations for projects, especially the Corporal Snedden Drive Overpass Project and the on going sanitary sewer rehabilitation project. Last fall, the Council approved an arrangement with former Economic Development Director Darrel Rensink for consulting services, including lobbying the Congressional Delegation. Since then, representatives of the Russ Reid Company made an offer to continue working with the city at a reduced rate.

Boone Revitalization Plan

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone City Council will see more detailed information about the proposed "JumpStart Boone Urban Revitalization Plan" Monday. The Council's Economic Development Committee will work with the details prior to the City Council meeting at 7:00. The plan is being designed to promote new construction and improve economic conditions in both the residential and commercial areas of the community. The focus will be on making tax abatement's available for qualifying projects.

Pilot Mound Fire

PILOT MOUND, Iowa---A Pilot Mound family lost their home to fire Thursday. According to county records the home is owned by Vicki Robinson. The first call was received by Boone County Communication at 9:17 AM. That fire was contained, but the home received smoke and water damage, so the family found somewhere else to stay. Then the fire rekindled Thursday evening and continued until early Friday morning. Multiple agencies assisted the Pilot Mound Fire Department. There were no injuries and the cause remains under investigation.

Radon Seminar

PILOT MOUND, Iowa---The third in the series of Home Owner Maintenance Education Programs will be held in Pilot Mound on Tuesday evening, February 8th. Boone County Sanitarian Mike Salati will give a presentation on Radon. The last program in Boone drew several dozen residents. Salati says if people could see or smell the Radon gas more would be addressing the problem. There's no charge for the seminar and no registration is required. The program will be held at 7:00 PM at the Pilot Mound Community Room.

Boone Fire Seeks Paid On Call Staff

BOONE, Iowa---Last year, three dozen people signed up to try the Boone Fire Department's Paid On Call program. 10 received their certification. Fire Chief Justin Adams says that applications are currently being taken to expand the Paid On Call force. Adams says everyone is busy and by building a bigger On Call force, there will be more people available should the need arise. Applications will be taken until the end of the month. He says those that meet the guidelines will begin training this spring. Applications are available at the Boone Fire Department at 923 8th Street or here.

Ogden Budget Hearing Set

OGDEN, Iowa---The Ogden City Council has set the public hearing on the 2012 Fiscal Year Budget for their March meeting, March 1st at 7:30 PM. City Administrator Donovan Olson reviewed budget options with the Council Wednesday. Staff recommendations made adjustments in both the Special Revenue and Expenditures and in the Proprietary Account. The actual levy for the city will be up slightly from the current fiscal year, going from $15.08 per thousand valuation to $15.11.

Bike Ride to Rippey

PERRY, Iowa---The 34th Annual BRR-Bike Ride to Rippey will be held this Saturday, no matter what the weather conditions. Fortunately, after blizzard conditions and a fourteen below temperature Thursday morning, conditions are more promising for Saturday. Riders will gather in Perry and will depart at 10:00 Saturday morning for the original winter bike ride. Those that have held off on registering because of the weather, can register on site Saturday morning. The ride begins at the McCreary Community Building in Perry.

Business Program Comes to Boone

BOONE, Iowa---If you've had this idea for a business, but just aren't sure what you need to do to get it off the ground, help is on the way. Dave Cook of Boone is working with the Boone County Philanthropy and Entrepreneurial Development Project. Part of the effort is making available the "First Step Fast Trac" program through the Boone Campus of DMACC. Cook says even existing business owners, looking to expand, can make use of the program. Cook says he's available to provide information and registration is being handled by DMACC. The Thursday evening class begins March 22nd.

Hospital Weapons Policy

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Hospital Board of Trustees have approved the implementation of an updated weapons policy. Hospital Chief Executive Officer Joe Smith says the Board took the action during their meeting in January. The hospital has had a weapons policy in place since 2004. Smith says there is security for weapons in the emergency room, but most of the time, they simply ask anyone with a weapon to lock it in their vehicle if possible. Smith says appropriate notices will be placed at the entrances of the hospital.

Winter Storm

BOONE, Iowa---Emergency responders in Boone County did have to go out for a couple of calls, and were fortunately able to retrieve some people that tried traveling during Tuesday nights blizzard. Boone County Emergency Management Coordinator Dave Morlan says it took a little while to get to a few people. Morlan says east-west roads were the most difficult to negotiate, especially rural gravel roads. Boone received 3 inches of snow from 8:00 Monday morning to 8:00 Tuesday morning and an additional 3.8 inches of snow from Tuesday to Wednesday.

Blizzard Warning

BOONE, Iowa---Boone County Emergency Responders are encouraging all county residents to be extremely cautious overnight. Boone County Emergency Management Coordinator Dave Morlan has said that travel is not advised. He also says anyone that gets caught out in the weather might be there overnight. Blizzard conditions are expected to continue until at least noon Wednesday. Most activities locally have been cancelled or postponed. More information on the weather announcements is available at the KWBG Weather Threat Box.

RAGBRAI Organizational Meeting

BOONE, Iowa---Representative of the City of Boone and the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce are calling for volunteers to help organize and plan for the overnight visit from RAGBRAI. Over the weekend it was announced that Boone would be an overnight stop. An Advisory Committee is being established to start putting plans together. The meeting will be held at the Chamber Office on Tuesday, February 8th. Those interested in participating should contact the Chamber of Commerce at 432-3342.

Conservation Overlay

BOONE, Iowa---Boone County residents are still very concerned about a portion of the county zoning ordinance that deals with a Conservation Overlay. The portion of the code focuses on land considered environmentally fragile. The Boone County Zoning Commission formally accepted petitions Monday, asking for the section to be removed from the county ordinance and never addressed again. The petitioners have reportedly gathered more than 1,200 signatures. Tom Ross, Chair of the County Zoning Commission did say during the Monday meeting the Commission would hold there public hearing on the petition request at their February meeting.