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Area Fire Departments Receive Federal Funds
Four area fire departments in southeast
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
A strong upper level low dropping down the
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
The Slater,
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
A public hearing on the 2010/11 budget is set for March 7th.
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
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jon Sheldahl says the schools will make up one snow day on Friday March 19th. He says this will be a regular student contact day with students being dismissed at
If there are no more school cancellations this year, the last student attendance day for
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 25th, from
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
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
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
According to Senate President Jack Kibbie the state could use the revenue from the gambling taxes that would be collected on wagering.











