Conservation Overlay

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Zoning Commission had to table action on a consideration of Zoning Map amendments to the County Zoning Ordinance Monday. A crowd estimated at some 500 residents were on hand to address concerns over the requirements for Conservation District Overlays. It now appears that the matter will not make it make to the Zoning Commission until sometime next year. Public Information meetings will be held to get more information out to those property owners affected. The Public Information Meetings were scheduled earlier in November. Information on the meetings is available here.

Baltimore Receives Leadership Appointment

BOONE, Iowa---Representative-elect Chip Baltimore has received a leadership appointment from Speaker-elect Kraig Paulsen. Baltimore has been named Vice Chairman of the House Commerce Committee. Baltimore will be serving his first term in the Iowa Legislature, representing the 48th District. He will also serve on the House Judiciary, Economic Growth/Rebuild Iowa, Local Government and Oversight committees.

Special Council Meeting

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone City Council will hold a special meeting Wednesday evening to continue working on Council Goals. The meeting is part of the series of meetings held to put together plans and the budget for the city. Discussion will include a review of the goals that were adopted a year ago and include topics like Economic Development and enforcement of Municipal Infractions.

Zoning Commission Expects Packed Meeting

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Plan and Zoning Commission meets Monday evening and will hold their meeting in the third floor courtroom at the court house. The courtroom was used last month to deal with the large crowd that wished to address a Conditional Use Permit issue for a 10-station Sport Clay Shooting Range in the Des Moines River Valley. Over a year ago, the Zoning Commission voted to recommend that Conditional Use Permit not be approved. The County Zoning Board of Adjustment did approve the permit. Residents from a rural subdivision near the Ledges State Park have opposed the business. The Zoning Commission will also consider the controversial Des Moines River Conservation Overly District.

Drainage Matter Considered by Supervisors

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone and Story County Supervisors will be sitting as Joint Drainage District Trustees Tuesday morning as they try to finalize a drainage district repair project. The whole issue deals with a drain that begins in Boone County and then enters Story County and travels through Ames. Repairs in the district were delayed for several months for a variety of reasons. Acceptance of the project requires both counties to agree on the work that was done.

Sign Up for January Program Underway

BOONE, Iowa---Over 40-participants have already signed up for a January program featuring Mark Wynn, internationally recognized expert on Domestic Violence. Wynn will be a presenter of 4-different topics during a appearance in Boone, January 21st. Alicia Cox, Boone County "ACCESS" Coordinator is handling sign-up and says the free conference will be filled on a first come first serve basis with those in living and working in Boone County getting a first chance to sign up. Open enrollment is expected in mid-December.

Travel Troubles

BOONE, Iowa---Thanksgiving travelers ran into a few problems Wednesday, when light rain turned to freezing rain, causing multiple accidents. Iowa State Patrolman Doug Cutts told KWBG that bridges iced over quickly late Wednesday morning. He said there was a serious accident on IA Highway 17 on the Des Moines River Bridge south of Madrid. The road was closed for several hours while emergency responders cleaned up the site. Cutts says motorists should remain cautious through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Building Purchased

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Hospital Board of Directors have approved purchasing the Boone County Family Medicine Clinic Building. The Board took action Tuesday evening following a formal public hearing. The clinic building has been privately owned. The hospital has been paying rent to house physicians in the building. The purchase price is $1.1-million and the sale is expected to be completed in early December.

City Still Pressing Construction

BOONE, Iowa---Boone City officials know there are few days left to complete this summer's construction, especially through downtown Boone. As of Wednesday, all the streets have been reopened. The most recent was 7th Street from Marshall to Tama. Boone City Administrator Luke Nelson says work is still be done to restore traffic lights and to complete some sidewalks. Nelson says work will continue as long as weather permits.

Patients and Income Down at BCH

BOONE, Iowa---October patient volume and revenue were both down according to the reports for the Boone County Hospital Board of Directors. Even though the numbers are down and trail budgeted amounts, the year to date bottom line is over $200,000 in the black. That is off the budgeted pace by just over $150,000. While the patients and income declined, so did the operating costs. Declines were led by a reduction in salaries and wages.

Teen Faces Sex Abuse Charges

BOONE, Iowa---A 16-year old Boone youth is being held at the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center in Eldora after being arrested on a Boone County warrant that cited multiple sexual abuse charges. Sheriff Ron Fehr says the arrest was made Tuesday afternoon following an investigation. According to Fehr, all the charges are alleged to have occurred with an unrelated 7-year old child and took place at various times since last January. Bond for Edward Babbitt is set at $50,000.

Supervisors Consider Mitigation Plan

BOONE, Iowa---After several months and a number of public meetings, the Boone County Board of Supervisors considered approval of the new Multi-Jurisdictional Hazardous Mitigation Plan. The plan is a compilation of plans for the unincorporated part of Boone County and all the cities in Boone County. All the cities in the county will be asked to also adopt the new plan. The County Emergency Management Board did adopt the plan in late October.

Suspect Trys to Elude Deputy

BOONE, Iowa---Boone County Sheriff Ron Fehr says a Deputy attempted to make a traffic stop Sunday evening on US Highway 30 west of Ogden. The driver of the vehicle decided to flee from the Deputy, and ended up headed south on "C" Avenue. It just so happens the road dead ends at 250th Street. Fehr says the suspect turned and the Deputy had to ram the vehicle. 40-year old William J. Phipps of Stratford now faces charges of Operating While Intoxicated, Eluding, Speeding, Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device and Open Container. Phipps was taken to the Boone County Jail.

Chase and Drug Arrest in Boone

BOONE, Iowa---Boone Police, with help from a Boone County Deputy, took a 37-year old Carroll man into custody Sunday evening about 9:00. Duane Russell Conroy attempted to run from Boone Police but was stopped in the 800-block of Jefferson on the city's west side. Conroy was wanted on a Carroll County warrant but faces additional charges of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Tax Stamp Violation and Attempting to Elude. He was being held in the Boone County Jail.

17th Habitat Home Dedicated

OGDEN, Iowa---Habitat for Humanity of Boone and Greene Counties celebrated the dedication of their 17th home Sunday in Ogden. The Tony and Brianna Schelle home is the fourth located in Ogden. Maggie Stone, Family Programs Chair for Habitat noted that it was only a year ago the Schelle's were selected to be the partner family. They along with their four daughters, Maddie, Abbie, Emma and Lily will be moving in upon completion. The home is located at 520 NE 4th Street in Ogden. Pictures of the dedication are available on the KWBG slide show.

Street Construction

BOONE, Iowa---Boone City officials says several streets have been opened this week, including the intersection at 8th and Benton Streets. However, more work is still planned and the traffic signal at 8th and Benton is still not operational. The intersection at 8th and Benton will be controlled with a 4-way stop sign. Also opened up is Tama Street between 7th and 8th Streets. City Engineer Wayne Schwartz has said even though streets are opening, they are still construction zones and some lane closures and other delays may be experienced while weather permits.

Habitat Dedication

OGDEN, Iowa---Habitat for Humanity for Boone and Greene Counties will hold a formal dedication ceremony Sunday afternoon for the groups 17th home. The dedication will be held at 520 NE 4th Street in Ogden, the fourth home built in Ogden. Tony and Brianna Schelle have worked along with their children to help complete this home. Erich Kretzinger, Executive Director of Habitat in Boone and Greene Counties, says the family is required to invest a minimum of 300 hours on the project. He says homes are then sold to the family with a zero interest mortgage. He says no home is ever given away. The public is welcome to attend the dedication Sunday afternoon at 3:30.

Force Board New Members

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County FORCE Board has been awarding grants in Boone County since 2003. Alan Beste is President of the Board which used to be the Boone County YMCA, says the average annual donations are usually about $38,000 to $40,000. New members were welcomed to the FORCE Board this week. They include Meredith Nerem, Cody Bowers and Everett Johnson. Agencies interested in receiving an application for grant funds should contact Sara Behn at 433-8470 or by e-mail sbehn@boonecountyhospital.com.

DMACC Enrollment

BOONE, Iowa---Spring semester enrollment is underway on the Boone Campus of Des Moines Area Community College. Provost Tom Lee said Thursday that the number are just slight behind the numbers from last spring. But, he pointed out that there was a double digit increase in both head count and credit hour enrollment last spring. Lee says he believes spring semester enrollment will be similar to this fall, possibly up slightly but not a double digit percentage increase.

Street Work Progresses

BOONE, Iowa---Contractors are very busy in Boone as they try to get street work completed. The Boone City Council this week pushed engineers to try and get the work done by Friday or as soon as possible after that. Boone Mayor John Slight said earlier this week that getting traffic signals completed might take a little longer. Slight says the Council has consistently said that all street work needs to be completed this fall.