Andy Hallman

The Fairfield City Council voted 4-2 Monday to pass the second reading of an ordinance to rezone the former Nelson Nursing Home on West Taylor Avenue from R-2 to R-3.The change would allow the building?s developer, John Kuster, to turn it into an apartment complex capable of housing 19 units.The four yes votes came from Michael Halley, Tony Hammes, Martha Rasmussen and Jessica Ledger-Kalen. Daryn Hamilton and ...

Fairfield was scheduled to welcome the Carson and Barnes Circus to town this weekend, but now Eldon will have that privilege.Circus performers will entertain area residents with a show at 2 p.m. and again at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Wapello County Fairgrounds near Eldon. The show was originally to take place at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds that day, but the circus moved its shows to the Wapello County Fairgrounds...

RICHLAND ? The Richland Fire Department will be able to purchase a new grass fire truck thanks to a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.The grant is for $71,250, which is roughly the cost of a new grass truck. Richland Fire Chief Mitch Ehrenfelt said the grant comes at the right time because the department?s current grass truck has quite a few miles under its hood.Ehrenfelt and the 25-member fire ...

The city of Fairfield soon will undertake major renovations of the wastewater treatment system that will require it to obtain access to private property or in some cases to obtain the property itself.To educate the public about the scope and length of this access, the city will hold a public open house from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at city hall. Written comments may be submitted to the office of the City Clerk at ...

PACKWOOD ? Pekin?s softball season came to a close Wednesday night in its 8-3 defeat at the hands of West Branch.The loss also marks the end of another era for Pekin. Pekin head coach Bryan Marlay decided to make this season, his 26th on the diamond, his last.?This is the last high school game I will coach,? Marlay said. ?I?m going to be a parent and watch my own kids play. I have two young daughters who will ...

Leanna Miller prepares a plate of pasta during FAIRfest Saturday in Fairfield. Miller was working at one of several street vendors that lined North Main Street that weekend.

Lynn Neff, right, samples Barb Grijalva?s vegetables Wednesday at the Fairfield Farmers? Market in Howard Park. Grijalva was selling potatoes, pea pods, arugula, lettuce and other greens.

Ira Roffel, left, speaks about Fairfield?s Quiet Zone June 8 at Howard Park. Roffel was instrumental in raising donations for the Quiet Zone, which went into effect in the fall. Pictured from left are others who helped institute the Quiet Zone such as Bill Blackmore, Fairfield city councilor Michael Halley and Fairfield Mayor Ed Malloy.

Ron Hardin, left, speaks with Liza McClure Wednesday at the Fairfield Farmers? Market about the tomatoes he grows in his garden in Mount Pleasant. Hardin said Wednesday was the first time he had been to the market in Fairfield this year.

The Fairfield community, along with the rest of the United States, celebrated Flag Day Friday.Wagon Wheel Senior Housing hosted a Flag Day ceremony Friday morning in its parking lot. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2271 auxiliary president Joyce Countryman presented a flag to Wagon Wheel site manager Becky Jaeger and the Wagon Wheel residents.Jaeger put the flag on a light pole north of the building during the ...

Dallas Grijalva, left, combines mint and lemonade to create ?mintade,? which she sells at the Fairfield Farmers? Market. Grijalva sold her concoction Saturday to Sheri Hasty, center, and her son, Ryan, who are from Des Moines and who were in town for Fairfield 1st Fridays Art Walk and the power wagon rally.

A group of Fairfield residents is helping inmates sharpen their public speaking skills.Betty and Fred Krueger volunteer at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison where they help prisoners run a Toastmasters program.The Toastmasters club in the maximum security prison is run just like any other Toastmasters club on the outside. The prisoners give speeches on prepared topics, practice extemporaneous speaking ...

The city of Fairfield may be interested in selling Logan Apartments.City Administrator Kevin Flanagan suggested the city make the sale at Monday?s city council meeting. Flanagan said it made sense at one time for the city to own affordable housing but times have changed. He said he would rather see Logan Apartments under private ownership.Flanagan said the city should shift away from owning low-income housing ...

The senior class of Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment will graduate at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.Commencement exercises are in the Henry Ogden Clark Auditorium in Fairfield. A reception follows the ceremony.The commencement guest speaker is Dr. Peter Swan. Swan is the Minister of Communication of the Global Country of World Peace.The graduating class consists of seven girls and 12 boys.The commencement ...

Drew Bergquist, left, makes a successful sales pitch to Mary Cathryn Olsen, who bought some of his asparagus May 29 at the Fairfield Farmers? Market in Howard Park.