92.7 KTWA FM
News & Information

Local News | State News | National News | Global News

Local

Area Fire Departments Receive Federal Funds

 

Four area fire departments in southeast Iowa will share in more than 1.5-million dollars in Fema Funds. 

 

Iowa Republican Senator Charles Grassley has announced the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded competitive grants totaling 1.4-million dollars to Iowa Fire Departments through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Operation and Safety and Vehicle Acquisition Programs.

 

Grassley says “day in and day out, firefighters put their lives on the line for the good of the community”.  He says “it’s important that firefighters have the necessary equipment and training to help keep the community safe”. 

 

The Birmingham Fire Department will receive more than 91-hundred dollars while the Fairfield Fire Department will receive more than 32-thousand dollars. 

 

In addition, the Stockport Volunteer Fire Department will receive more than 56-thousand dollars and the Milton Fire Department will receive more than 120-thousand dollars.  

Area targeted for the next Winter Storm

 

The Ottumwa area could be blanketed with up to ten inches of snow or more by Tuesday evening as another winter storm takes aim on the state.

 

 

A strong upper level low dropping down the Missouri River Valley today will result in a prolonged period of moderate to heavy snowfall north and east of its track.  Much of central and eastern Iowa will see anywhere from 7 to 10 inches of snow by Tuesday.  A Winter Storm Warning will remain in effect until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday evening.

 

Snowfall rates are expected to increase sometime Monday morning followed by moderate to heavy snow well into the night tonight especially toward Waterloo and Ottumwa.  The snow is not expected to diminish to lighter snow at those locations until Tuesday morning. Snow accumulations through Tuesday should vary from 7 to 10 inches. 

 

Winds will not be a problem until Tuesday morning after the passage of a cold front.  Northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph can be expected by that time.  Visibility will diminish significantly due to blowing snow as winds increase.

 

Travel will become increasingly challenging for the area today due to snow covered roads and especially Tuesday. 

 

The storm has already resulted in some schools closing or closing early this Monday afternoon.  

Iowa Company introduces new equipment to fight Snow

 

Officials have unveiled a piece of equipment that will be used in battling Iowa’s snow.  Landscapes By Design has introduced what they call the Snow Dragon. 

 

The Slater, Iowa based company handles snow removal for large commercial areas.  Officials say the Snow Dragon is like a large hot tub, a diesel powered generator that heats water to spray over the snow as it’s added to the trailer. 

 

In a matter of minutes it can melt a bucket load of snow and handle around 30 tons of snow per hour.  The Dragon comes with a price tag of 250-thousand dollars.

Ottumwa City Council approves new Budget Cuts

 

The Ottumwa City Council has approved another round of cuts in the proposed 2010/11 city budget. 

 

During a work session Thursday evening at City Hall, the council approved 45-thousand dollars in additional cuts.  City Administrator Joe Helfinberger says the new cuts will include administrative costs due to two administrators who will retire during the next fiscal year resulting in the saving of almost 16-thousand dollars. 

 

Helfinberger says the city will be able to save another 17-thousand, 500 dollars by not purchasing an investigative vehicle for the police department.

The City Administrator says all of the cuts he has proposed are realistic. 

 

Councilmen Bob Myers and Mitch Niner expressed some concerns over deferred purchases of equipment.  Niner said he was concerned that after a time there would be too many deferrals and it would take some time to catch up on needed equipment.  Mayor Dale Uehling said because the city has a good replacement program it allows the city some deferrals and flexibility. 

 

During a discussion of the budget cuts, Helfinberger says the city has budgeted 200-thousand dollars for Bridge View Center instead of 250-thousand dollars requested.  Councilman Brian Morgan suggested the city might help in booking events at Bridge View Center in an effort to bring more revenue in.  Councilman Bob Meyers reminded his colleagues Bridge View Center was coming off of a poor economic year. 

 

A public hearing on the 2010/11 budget is set for March 7^th.

Ottumwa School Board to consider Trail system for Evans

 

A proposed trail system for Evans Middle School will come a step closer to reality when the Ottumwa Board of Education meets this evening (Monday evening) at 6:00 p.m. at the Administrative offices at 422 McCarroll Drive.

 

The board will consider a recommendation that the school district award a contract to Turner Concrete Construction Inc. after they submitted the best bid price of 39-thousand, 850 dollars for the project.

 

Also during this evening’s meeting, the Board is expected to ratify a contract for a contract for secretaries in the school district.  And the Board is expected to approve the school calendar for the 2010-11 school year.

Ottumwa Schools announce Plans to make up Snow Days

 

The Ottumwa Community School District has announced plans of how it will make up snow days as a result of numerous storms this winter. 

 

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jon Sheldahl says the schools will make up one snow day on Friday March 19^th.  He says this will be a regular student contact day with students being dismissed at 3:00 p.m.  Sheldahl says “this was previously scheduled as a professional development day for teachers. 

 

If there are no more school cancellations this year, the last student attendance day for Ottumwa students will be Saturday June 5^th.  Schools are allowed to attend on Saturday if there are only five attendance days during one calendar week. 

 

The professional development day will be made up at the end of the school year

Pulitzer Prize Nominee to speak in Ottumwa

 

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman Pulitzer Prize nominee and one of the world’s leading experts on interpersonal aggression and violence will be in Ottumwa giving his presentation entitled “Lessons from Jonesboro, Littleton, and Vietnam:  How kids are Learning to Kill and Learning to Like it”.  The day long seminar is being hosted by Region 5 of the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

 

The seminar will be held on Thursday February 25^th, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Bridge View Center.  The event is free of charge through a grant from the federal Department of Homeland Security.  Lunch will be provided.

 

This event is open to the public, and will be of special interest to school officials, law enforcement professionals, emergency responders, health and social service professionals, military personnel and public officials.  All attendees must pre-register.  For more information about Col. Grossman, the event and a link for registration log onto www.cityofottumwa.org

State

518-million dollars in unpaid fines could Help Iowa

 

A record 518-million dollars in unpaid court fines that grows every month, could provide a source of revenue to help Iowa weather one of its worst budget crunches. 

 

Tens of thousands of Iowans owe the state fines for offenses ranging from speeding to murder.  But persistent problems with collections, combined with budget cuts to the court and justice system make the fines harder to collect according to state officials.  

Iowa Senate panel approves sports betting in Iowa

 

A panel of state senators has signed off on a bill to allow sports betting in Iowa, but backers admit the odds of such wagering being legalized in the state is a long shot. 

 

First the federal government would have to lift a ban on sports betting.  The bill under consideration at the statehouse would allow betting on professional sports only, not college games with bets to be placed at the 17 state licensed casinos in Iowa. 

 

According to Senate President Jack Kibbie the state could use the revenue from the gambling taxes that would be collected on wagering.