Andy Hallman

The Washington City Council talked at length about its goals for the next two years at a work session Wednesday. The councilors met in the Washington Public Library, where Jeff Schott of the Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Iowa guided them through a long-term plan for the city.The council was one of three entities to set goals for the city. One was the city staff and the other was a focus group ...

U.S. House of Representative candidate John Archer visited Washington Wednesday morning to speak with constituents and to make his sales pitch prior to the Nov. 6 general election. Archer, a Republican, is running against Democratic incumbent Dave Loebsack for Iowa?s second congressional district seat.?With 13 days left before the election, we?ve been to all 24 counties several times,? Archer said. ?Just to make ...

Total ? 40Treatment ? 1Male section ? 13Female section ? 1Work release ? 1Holding ? 1Special needs ?0Contract inmates ? 23 ArrestsTyler Devin Myers, 21, of Ollie, was arrested Monday morning in the 1000 block of East Washington Street in Washington for second-degree burglary.Anthony Lee Ossman, 20, of Washington, was arrested Monday night in the 200 block of North Marion Avenue in Washington for ...

The Washington County supervisor candidates faced off for the last time Monday before the Nov. 6 election. The candidates met in the Kalona Chamber of Commerce building, where they answered written questions from the audience for about an hour and a half.Just as in their debate in Washington on Oct. 16, Monday?s debate touched on the issue of the Richmond lagoon. Joel Huber of the Farm Bureau, which sponsored ...

The weather during the growing season was less than favorable for Iowa?s crops this summer. Nevertheless, farmers and agronomists have been surprised by how high some of the yields are in spite of the extreme heat in July.Iowa State University farm management specialist Jim Jensen works in Henry County and he said the corn has done better than just about everybody expected.?The corn yield is better than ...

The Washington Free Public Library is now accredited, which means it will get more money from the state. Along with the additional money comes added responsibility and accountability. Library director Debbie Stanton said she was thrilled to learn the library had become accredited. The accreditation is valid for three years at which time it will have to be renewed on June 30, 2015.The library can expect at least ...

The campaign ethics charges against Priscilla Marlar and Custom Impressions have been dismissed. According to the Iowa Courts Web site, Washington County Attorney Larry Brock motioned to dismiss the charges today and the dismissal was accepted by Judge Joel Yates.Marlar was charged with unlawful receipt of a monetary campaign contribution from a corporation and unlawful use of campaign funds. Custom Impressions ...

The campaign ethics charges against Priscilla Marlar and Custom Impressions have been dismissed. According to the Iowa Courts Web site, Washington County Attorney Larry Brock motioned to dismiss the charges today and the dismissal was accepted by Judge Joel Yates.Marlar was charged with unlawful receipt of a monetary campaign contribution from a corporation and unlawful use of campaign funds. Custom Impressions ...

Not guilty verdicts were returned today for two Washington County men on trial, Jack Seward Jr. and Bob Yoder. Yoder's trial concluded Thursday afternoon. The jury deliberated for about 15 minutes before delivering its verdict.Seward's trial concluded Tuesday but his verdict was sealed until the conclusion of Yoder's trial. After Clerk of Court Julie Johnson's read Yoder's verdict, Judge Joel Yates informed ...

Bob Yoder testified Wednesday that he did not realize it was illegal to transfer money from his campaign to a political action committee. Yoder has been charged with unlawfully transferring campaign funds relating to an incident in May when he transferred $1,400 to Free County.The last witness in the trial was called Thursday morning and the prosecution and defense attorneys gave their closing arguments this ...

The 12-person jury in the trial of Jack Seward Jr. went into deliberation Tuesday afternoon at 2:15 p.m. Once the jury reaches a verdict, it will be placed in a sealed envelope and revealed only after the conclusion of the trial of Bob Yoder, which starts Wednesday.

A verdict was reached in the case of Jack Seward Jr., of West Chester, who is charged with unlawfully receiving a campaign contribution from a corporation. The 12-member jury reached their verdict Tuesday afternoon after it heard closing arguments from both sides earlier that day. The verdict was put in a sealed envelope and will not be made public until the conclusion of Bob Yoder?s trial, which began Wednesday ...

The trial of Jack Seward Jr. began this afternoon in the Washington County Courthouse. Seward is charged with one count of Unlawful Receipt of a Monetary or In-Kind Campaign Contribution from a Corporation, a serious misdemeanor. The jury pool gathered at the courthouse at 9:30 a.m. The jury was chosen just before lunchtime and the trial began at 1:15 p.m.Seward is represented by attorney Barbara Edmondson of ...

?This year, there will be ?haves? and ?have nots,?? said Iowa State University field agronomist Virgil Schmitt.Schmitt was referring to the high variability in corn yields that have been reported in the state. Most of the Midwest was in a drought over the summer. Some farms received rain while others barely got a drop. Schmitt said he is noticing a wide range of yields in his district in eastern Iowa.The land ...

Self-reliance is very important to Melanie and Tom DeVore. The DeVores don?t need to go to the grocery store very much because they grow or hunt for most of the food they eat. They have been sharing their produce and baked goods, and their way of life, at the Washington Farmers Market for the past three years.Melanie specializes in the baked goods while Tom tends to the garden. Melanie said that the market may ...