Andy Hallman

Nightfall descends upon Washington to reveal a city illuminated by streets lights and, recently, Christmas lights. Pam and Steve Carter are among those who contribute to the city?s colorful night-time glow. The Carters live in the 1000 block of North Sixth Avenue, and have decorated their house inside and out for many years.    The Carters string lights in their home and in their windows which are easily visible

Representatives of the Riverside History Center asked for money from the Riverside City Council Monday night. After much deliberation, the council voted down a motion to give the group $10,000. Councilors Ralph Schnoebelen and Rodney Waldschmidt voted for the motion while Betty Kaalberg, Kevin Kiene and Todd Yahnke voted against it.    Phil Richman and Mary Jane Stumpf spoke on behalf of the history center. They

St. James Catholic Church in Washington offers Mass in Spanish to a growing number of Spanish-speaking parishioners. At Christmas time, the church puts on a special service for its Spanish speakers called ?Las Posadas.? Las Posadas is a nine-day festival which began in Spain and is now celebrated chiefly in Mexico and Guatemala, lasting from Dec. 16 to Dec. 24. Each day corresponds to one month of Mary?s pregnancy

A group of Lincoln Elementary students loves to sing so much they?ll even wake up early to do it. Lincoln music teacher Julie Hill directs a group of about 60 young songbirds called the ?Sunrise Singers.? The Sunrise Singers go to school every Tuesday and Thursday at 7:20 a.m. to rehearse a list of songs, some of which are Christmas songs. The singers practice from September to November, and then in December they put

Nearly 200 families from Washington County were adopted this December through HACAP?s ?Adopt-a-Family? program. Thus far, 217 families have applied to be part of the program, and 190 were adopted. HACAP Operations Manager RenElla Crawford said her organization will give toys and other gifts to those families who were not adopted.?We want all kids to have some toys,? she remarked.This year as in the past few years,

The Washington City Council voted unanimously to spend about $40,000 to treat bacterial growth in two of its wells. The council passed the motion at its meeting Wednesday night.Water Plant Director Chad McCleary addressed the council concerning the two problematic wells. He said the bacteria in the wells are not a health concern to humans in the way that e-coli bacteria would be. However, he said the bacteria plug

The County E911 Board approved the purchase of about $122,000 in 911 equipment for the dispatch center at its meeting Tuesday night. The equipment is for receiving 911 calls, and was purchased from a company called Positron Power based in Montreal, Canada. The purchase occurred at a joint meeting with the County Communications Commission. Communications Supervisor Cara Sorrells said the cost of the equipment came in

The local chapter of the American Legion Riders has sent a shipment of care packages to U.S. troops stationed overseas. Richard Young, vice president of the American Legion  Legion Riders of Post 29, said the group has sent the packages for three years now.    The Legion Riders collect donated items at the ambulance barn in Washington. The riders put the items in boxes and then send them to deployed soldiers. In

The National Rifle Association (NRA) has released its goals for the 2011 Iowa Legislative session. One of the organization?s goals is to rescind the ability of county and municipal governments to control firearms. Under the NRA?s proposed legislation, the state government would have sole authority to regulate guns.    Local city councils, such as the Riverside council, have inquired about the possibility of banning

Ainsworth resident Lori Jo Bean was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter Monday afternoon by a jury of her peers. Bean was found guilty on the other six counts she was charged with, which were three counts of dependent adult abuse, one count of second-degree theft, neglect of a dependent person and nonsupport of a dependent adult. Bean?s sentencing hearing will be Feb. 14. In the interim, Bean is on supervised

The trial of Ainsworth resident Lori Jo Bean came to a close Friday morning. The prosecution and defense attorneys gave closing arguments before lunch, after which the jury deliberated the facts of the case. Bean is on trial for manslaughter in connection to the death of 78-year-old Joye L. Gentzler, who died Feb. 27, 2008. Gentzler was a dependent adult who was staying with Lori and Rodney ?Joe? Bean in Ainsworth at

The JOURNAL    The defense presented its case Thursday in the trial of Ainsworth resident Lori Jo Bean. Bean is on trial for manslaughter in connection to the death of 78-year-old Joye L. Gentzler, who died Feb. 27, 2008. Gentzler was a dependent adult who was staying with Lori and Rodney ?Joe? Bean in Ainsworth at the time.    Defense Attorney Eric Tindal called Craig Davis to the stand. Davis is an attorney in

The trial of Ainsworth resident Lori Jo Bean continued Wednesday with the testimony of Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation Special Agent Darrell Simmons. Simmons and Washington County Deputy Eric Holsapple interviewed Lori in March 2008. Bean is on trial for manslaughter in connection to the death of 78-year-old Joye L. Gentzler, who died Feb. 27, 2008. Gentzler was a dependent adult who was staying with Lori

The Washington Community Y has held Christmas parties for children since its creation in 1925. In the mid-1940s, the Y Women began a ?Children?s Christmas Bazaar? which continues to this day. This year?s bazaar is Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon on the third floor of the Community Y.    The bazaar is an opportunity for children to purchase gifts for their siblings and parents. The gifts are donated to the bazaar by

Wayland resident John Mitchell has made a difference in the lives of thousands of infants around the world. Mitchell owns MD Orthopaedics in Wayland, a firm that produces foot braces for children born with clubfoot. But Mitchell?s humanitarianism goes well beyond his company?s products. Mitchell has donated over $1 million to charity since his business began six years ago.    From a young age, Mitchell was