Andy Hallman

The United Methodist Church in Washington hosted a dinner and dance for mentally challenged adults Friday night. The church?s junior high and high school youth groups put on the event. Methodist Church minister Jim Stiles said he would like to turn the dinner and dance into a yearly tradition. The church served the guests chicken, rice, green beans, salad, brownies and sherbet. Ron Canny said the food was ...

A Washington man got onto the roof of Stewart Elementary School Sunday afternoon at about 5:30 p.m. Police responded and requested that the fire department bring a ladder to the school so that he could climb down. Upon helping the man to the ground, the police discovered that he had an outstanding warrant and proceeded to place him, Justin Kyle Lough, 21, under arrest.Lough had an outstanding warrant in Keokuk ...

Washington was a very different place in the 1940s. There were 19 grocery stores in town, and no one knew them better than Ezra ?Easy? Jones. Jones delivered bread to nearly all the grocery stores in town, and did so on a daily basis. He delivered bread for Colonial Baking Company for 11 years, and has many stories from his experience.Jones was born in 1921 and raised in Novinger, Mo. He joined the Civilian ...

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Carol Riggan of the Riverside Area Community Club (RACC) spoke at the Riverside City Council Tuesday about the planning underway for the 28th installment of TrekFest, which is June 29-30. Riggan asked the council to pay for about $1,600 in TrekFest related expenses such as port-o-potties, paying someone to clean the bathrooms and paying for law enforcement.Mayor Bill Poch said he didn?t think the council could ...

Washington Police Sergeant Lyle Hansen recently stepped down from his position as investigator, a position he held for over 20 years. Hansen did not retire but instead returned to work as a patrol officer. He essentially swapped positions with Sergeant Shawn Ellingson, who was promoted to become the new investigator.Hansen was born and raised in Washington. He graduated from high school in 1979 and shortly ...

The proposal to build a splashpad in Riverside has elicited strong feelings among many of the town?s residents. Some of those residents shared their feelings at Tuesday?s city council meeting. The council chambers were packed to the gills. People were lined up into the hallway and into a side room because there was not enough space for them in the chambers. Everyone who wanted to speak on the splashpad was given ...

The Washington City Council met Tuesday night in the Washington Free Public Library to discuss its 2012-2013 budget. The council voted to approve the budget for publication with a few modifications. The public hearing on the budget will occur at the council?s next meeting on March 7.The proposed budget includes a $1 per $1,000 property tax increase, bringing the city?s tax rate to $15.98 per $1,000. Washington ...

The Washington City Council met Tuesday night in the Washington Free Public Library to discuss its 2012-2013 budget. The council voted to approve the budget for publication with a few modifications. The public hearing on the budget will occur at the council?s next meeting on March 7.The proposed budget includes a $1 per $1,000 property tax increase, bringing the city?s tax rate to $15.98 per $1,000. Washington ...

The Washington County Board of Supervisors heard an update on the Washington County Fair from members of the Washington County Fair Board at its meeting Tuesday morning. Board chairman Jim Miksch asked the fair board members if there were any areas of improvement they wished to talk about. Fair board treasurer Jarrod Horning said the board would add another road that enters the fairgrounds near the camping area ...

RIVERSIDE ? Riverside Mayor Bill Poch has vetoed a resolution to hold a public hearing and a bid letting on the proposed splashpad on March 5. The Riverside City Council passed the resolution last week on a 3-2 vote. Poch announced in an e-mail Monday night that he would veto the resolution and gave several reasons for his decision. Poch said that he believed the splashpad was not in the best interests of the ...

Love is something that has never been in short supply at the household of Mick and Julie Murray of Wellman. Mick, 47, and Julie, 46, died in a car accident Saturday and left behind four children. Bill Fiordelise, who is married to Julie?s sister Beth, has known Mick and Julie for a few decades dating back to when he, Beth and Julie attended a youth group together in Maryland.Bill is from a small town in Maryland ...

Melanie and Chris Shelman, pictured here, were among the many people who enjoyed the Kiwanis AM?ers Spaghetti Dinner and Ice Cream Social at the Washington Junior High School Wednesday night. The Builders Club, made up of junior high students, helped the Kiwanis AM?ers by waiting tables.

The Washington City Council met in special session at the Washington Free Public Library Wednesday night to discuss its 2012-2013 budget. Several of the departmental heads were in attendance to discuss their portion of the budget. The councilors will discuss the budget again at their meeting Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m.Washington Police Chief Greg Goodman said he did not need to replace a squad car for the ...