Andy Hallman

Thursday night was a perfect night for a farmers market. The weather had been in the 90s and even 100 at a few of the recent markets, but Thursday?s market was notably cooler than that. No one appreciated the mild weather more than Dalton Sorrells. Dalton is the son of Cara and Brett Sorrells, and he was at the market selling chocolates and candy.It must be said that Dalton?s candy was no ordinary candy. ...

The Washington City Council has chosen Brent Hinson of Garner to be its new city administrator. The council interviewed Hinson and four other candidates Saturday during a closed session. Upon entering open session, the council voted unanimously to select Hinson. Hinson will begin work Oct. 17.The five finalists for the position met at the Washington Free Public Library Friday afternoon for a meet-and-greet ...

The public can meet the five finalists for the Washington City Administrator position this afternoon. The Washington Free Public Library will host a meet-and-greet today from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Washington State Bank meeting room on the second floor.The five candidates all have experience as city administrators. Candidate Deborah K. Nier is the former city administrator of Marengo, Ill. Danny L. Gifford is the ...

Rebecca Skow loves her classes so much that they have become her hobbies. Skow makes ceramic vases, bowls and cups and had them on display Thursday at Washington?s Farmers Market. She also displayed the decorative glass pieces she made.Skow was raised in Winfield but has lived in Washington for 14 years. She is now enrolled in a community college where she studies fine arts. She uses the kiln at the college to ...

The Washington Municipal Band held its final concert of the year Thursday. The band finished its second year on the new bandstand and its 79th overall. Band director Tom McNamar said the crowds were great this year, in part because the bandstand and Central Park in general are so attractive.?We have averaged 200 to 250 people per concert,? McNamar said. ?We have a very loyal crowd base, and we love to see them ...

Patrick Hazell performed as a ?one man band? for the Thursday Night Live Entertainment in Washington?s Central Park.

The intense summer heat has taken a toll on corn but the beans have withstood the high temperatures rather well. Iowa State University Crop Specialist Jim Fawcett said that, with a few more rains this month, the bean crop should be a good one for area farmers.Fawcett said the year did not begin especially well for beans as it did last year when spring temperatures were very high. This year?s spring, and ...

The storm that descended upon Washington early Sunday morning was so strong that it blew a dugout at Stewart Elementary School into the street. City crews responded later that day and pushed the debris out of Fourth Avenue and onto the grass where the eastern-most dugout of the east diamond once stood. A group of volunteers got together Wednesday afternoon to take apart the dugout and haul it away.Washington ...

Some business owners in Washington?s downtown area have seen a rise in illegal dumping in their dumpsters. Mary Patterson is the landlord for two apartments above the Bryson Block Building on the west side of the square. She said the illegal dumping in her trash bins near the alley is overwhelming.Patterson said her renters produce one bag of trash per apartment per week. She said the rest of the Bryson Block, ...

The state of Iowa is moving toward a new 9-1-1 system that will allow people to send text, picture and video messages to dispatchers. According to a press release from Stefanie Bond, the public information officer of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division, the state is in the initial stages of a project known as ?Next Generation 9-1-1? which will be Internet based.Iowa Homeland Security ...

Washington County HACAP is experiencing a high demand for the food in its food pantry. Washington County HACAP Operations Manager RenElla Crawford said many of the people who come to HACAP are unemployed, and a growing number of them are over 55 years old.?We?re seen more people that we haven?t seen before,? said Crawford.Crawford said she often refers the applicants for the food pantry to federal food ...

A band of young and local musicians has won the honor of performing at the Iowa State Fair next week. The group is known as ?The Starbolt Band? and consists of Adam Todd, his brother Nick Todd, Adam Guy and Kaylie Horak. The band will perform at the fair Monday at 3:30 p.m. on the Budweiser Stage, which is on the west end of the grand concourse. Starbolt will also perform at the Old Threshers Reunion on Sept. ...

The state of Iowa is moving toward a new 9-1-1 system that will allow people to send text, picture and video messages to dispatchers. According to a press release from Stefanie Bond, the public information officer of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division, the state is in the initial stages of a project known as ?Next Generation 9-1-1? which will be Internet based. Iowa Homeland Security ...

This summer?s oppressive heat has caused local corn to mature almost a month sooner than normal. Iowa State University Crop Specialist Jim Fawcett said the corn in southeast Iowa is showing signs of ?denting,? which refers to the divot left in the kernels at the end of the ear.?You see divots in the kernels that are exposed because the heat is causing it to dry and shrink,? Fawcett said. ?We?re experiencing ...

Washington?s square was alive with music, food and games all day long Saturday for Main Street Washington?s ?Celebrate Washington.? Main Street director Amy Vetter said she was happy with how the event went and happy that the crowd was steady throughout the day.?We had a really nice variety of musical acts,? said Vetter.Vetter said she was pleased to have 26 artists for the art show in Central Park. She ...