Andy Hallman

Not many people in the world listen to the storms on Jupiter. Bill and Melinda Lord live in Washington County, and listening to Jupiter is one of their pastimes. Bill is the president of the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers, and Melinda is the treasurer of the club. They receive countless e-mails from astronomers around the world. The club then purchases radio equipment for these people to explore the final ...

The work of the Washington County Redistricting Commission has been put on hold owing to the city of Kalona?s challenge to the 2010 census figures. Kalona City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh told the commissioners at their meeting Monday that Kalona?s population is higher by perhaps 175 people than the Census Bureau?s figure of 2,363. Commission chairman Brian Hora said that would markedly change the districts the ...

The City of Washington is looking for a firm to remove the asbestos from the collapsed buildings at 207, 209 and 211 S. Marion Ave. At Wednesday?s city council meeting, City Administrator Rob McDonald told the councilors he had received a quote from one company to remove the asbestos. However, he said the quote was fairly high so he wants to wait until more companies bid on the project. He said he will discuss ...

Spectators to the June 29 game between Washington No. 4 and Kalona No. 1 witnessed a feat they will not soon forget. The two Cal Ripken League teams played a tight game the whole way. Washington trailed Kalona 4-3 with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but managed to load the bases. With the game on the line, Breyton McDole (pictured at bat) slugged a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for a game-winnin...

Washington County Sheriff Jerry Dunbar believes the proposed dispatch center at Orchard Hill may be overpriced by perhaps $100,000. In an interview Thursday, Dunbar said the dispatch center could comfortably fit in a 1,600 square foot building, which is 500 square feet less than the 2,100 square feet architect John Mahon planned for when making his cost estimates in January.In January, Mahon estimated the cost ...

This is not an illusion. An evergreen tree is growing within a maple tree. The trees are outside the home of Jim and Mary Redlinger, who live on Locust Lane in Washington. The evergreen tree appears to have grown from a patch of dirt and leaves at the intersection of the maple tree?s branches. It is now over three feet tall. Mary said she will keep the evergreen tree alive as long as possible by watering it and ...

Washington residents will soon see a dramatic increase in their utility bills. The Washington City Council voted 5-1 to approve the third and final reading of an ordinance to raise water and sewer rates. The vote occurred at the council?s meeting Wednesday night. Councilors Mike Roth, Merlin Hagie, Karen Wilson-Johnson, Fred Stark and Russ Zieglowsky voted in favor of the ordinance while Bob Shepherd voted ...

The Riverside City Council approved a 3 percent pay increase for its city employees Tuesday night, despite objections from councilor Ralph Schnoebelen that he didn?t have the information needed to make a decision.The council voted 4-1 in favor of the measure. Councilors Todd Yahnke, Kevin Kiene, Christine Kirkwood and Rodney Waldschmidt voted in favor, while Schnoebelen voted against the proposal.Six ...

The female singing group ?Just Us Girls? performed as the Thursday Night Live act Thursday night, sandwiched in between the farmers market and the municipal band.

A barn near Riverside was fully engulfed in flames Saturday afternoon. The Washington County Communications Center received a 911 call about a brush fire at 2440 180th St. at about 5 p.m. The caller indicated that the brush fire had gotten out of control and was beginning to catch the barn on fire. Fire departments from Riverside, Kalona and Washington responded to the scene. The barn was fully engulfed upon ...

Two unmanned kayaks were seen floating down the Skunk River near Brighton Sunday night. The Washington County Communications Center was notified. Brighton Fire and Rescue went out with its rescue boat that night and found the two kayaks. Washington County Sheriff Jerry Dunbar said Tuesday that the owner of the kayaks contacted the communications center Monday night and reported that no one was missing and that ...

A Kalona man has been charged with possession of methamphetamine. Roger A. Schropp, 45 years old, was charged with possession of the controlled substance after the Johnson County Sheriff?s Office served a narcotics search warrant on his residence in the 1400 block of Angle Road S.W. in Kalona on Thursday.Deputies allegedly found multiple items indicating meth was recently made at the residence. The items ...

Two vehicles collided on Highway 92 near Ainsworth Sunday, and four subjects were transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. At 11:35 a.m., the Washington County Communications Center received a report that one vehicle on Highway 92 was in a yard and another was blocking the roadway in the 2900 block.Emergency personnel arrived on the scene and learned that a 1998 Chrysler Cirrus was traveling...

The Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court spoke at a number of gatherings in Washington Thursday. Chief Justice Mark Cady addressed the Washington Rotary Club at noon before speaking at the Washington County Courthouse and finally at the Washington Free Public Library.Cady was appointed to the Iowa Supreme Court in 1998. He became the Chief Justice of the court on Jan. 1 of this year after the former Chief ...

The Environmental Protection Agency has just approved a rule that allows E15 ethanol to be sold to vehicles 10 years old or younger. Effective Friday, E15 retailers will also be eligible for a 3-cent per gallon tax credit for E15 ethanol.Monte Shaw of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) said retailers with blender pumps can take advantage of the new incentive now.?With the EPA in the process of ...