Andy Hallman

The recent warm weather and frequent rain have been a boon for plants and the gardeners who tend to them. Shelia Gerot is a woman who knows a thing or two about gardening. She is the president of Washington County Master Gardeners and boasts an array of plants in the gardens that surround her country home. Gerot grew up in a household with six siblings who feasted on homegrown vegetables.    ?My mother always had a

Washington County has received a deluge of rain in the last week. Iowa State University Crop Specialist Jim Fawcett said that Washington County has received 21 inches of rain since April 1, which is 11 inches above normal. He said that more than 5 ½ of those inches came just last week.    Fawcett said that excess rain has given headaches to area farmers. He said the rains have saturated the soil and stunted the

Riverside residents are just days away from celebrating the 26th annual Trek Fest. Per custom, the event is held the last Friday and Saturday in June, which is this coming weekend. This year?s theme is ?Mirror Mirror,? named after an episode in the second season of the original Star Trek series.    Carol Riggan is the president of the Riverside Area Community Club, which is in charge of organizing the events for

The home of Jim Jeffries is adorned with intricate clocks, plaques and other artwork all made by the host himself. Jeffries, who resides in Washington, spends much of his free time in his garage and in his basement drilling, sawing and gluing together pieces of wood. Jeffries uses a scroll saw that can fit tiny blades ? no wider than the tip of a pencil ? whose fine teeth cut the wood so finely that sanding is often

Justin Hayes Sobaski, 27, of Washington, has pleaded guilty to committing assault causing serious injury against the late Barry Stout, formerly of Washington.    Sobaski made his plea Tuesday morning in the Washington County Courthouse. Under current Iowa law, assault causing serious injury carries a five-year mandatory sentence. However, the Iowa legislature passed a law earlier this year which removes that offense

The University of Iowa Children?s Hospital will soon receive a donation of more than $11,000. That was the amount of money raised by Walmart?s Washington branch in its ?Six week miracle campaign? which concluded Saturday. The money will go toward the pediatric dialysis unit in the Children?s Hospital.    Walmart office associate Holly ElFenniche said the donations will go toward creating the first children?s

Stan Chabal was honored Thursday afternoon for his 45 years of service on the Washington County Commission of Veteran Affairs. Chabal has announced that he will retire at the end of his current term. The Veteran Affairs Commission honored Chabal with a retirement party near the bandstand in Central Park during the Farmers market.    The two other commissioners, Terry Philips and Jeffrey Johnston, spoke at the event

Father?s Day will be celebrated all across the country this Sunday. Some Washington County residents have made special plans for the weekend. Allen Griggs, who lives in Dublin, nine miles west of Washington, said he goes to one event in particular every Father?s Day. That event is the Snake Alley Art Fair in Burlington.    ?They have an arts and crafts show on Father?s Day every year,? said Griggs. ?My wife and I

A Main Street Washington event planned for August occupied the Washington City Council at its regular meeting Wednesday night. Main Street Director Amy Vetter had informed the council at an earlier meeting that her organization had planned a downtown party for Aug. 7 titled ?Celebrate Your Senses.? The council voted to approve the request for the party with the exception of the location of the proposed beer tent,

The Washington County Hospital and Clinics reported Thursday morning that its phone and internet lines do not work. Hospital Foundation and Marketing Director Kathleen Brinning said the hospital has in place two cell phone lines to call in order to get in touch with hospital services:For the Emergency Room, dial 319-461-7107For any other hospital related concerns, dial 319-461-0025Mercy Medical Clinic also

The Washington County Board of Supervisors voted to defer the approval of a contract with the Washington County Ambulance Service at its regular meeting Tuesday morning. Washington County Ambulance Service put in a bid for $150,000 to supply ambulance services to the county. The county would still be responsible for supplying the ambulances. Supervisor Steve Davis said that a few loose ends need to be tied before the

Washington?s downtown was alive Saturday night with the sound of cars and people bustling about. Main Street Washington held its event known as ?Spring Forward and Savor Washington? that night. Nine businesses in the super-square had a special signature dish that they sold for $3.    Linda Lou?s Diner participated in the Savor Washington event for the first time Saturday. Linda Lou?s Diner is located on East Second

Washington?s Central Park was alive Thursday night with a farmers market, free popcorn and the first municipal band concert of the summer. The night was also noteworthy because the new bandstand was dedicated. Mayor Sandra Johnson spoke at the dedication, which was a time to honor the work that went into not only the bandstand but the entire downtown enhancement project.    Johnson thanked the dozens upon dozens of

The city of Kalona has learned that it will receive a $108,000 grant from the state as part of its downtown revitalization project. The money will go to purchasing the bricks for the ?quilt blocks? which will be installed in Kalona?s downtown sidewalks.    Lori Mostek owns a business in Kalona and was the person who hatched the idea of putting in the quilt blocks. Mostek volunteered to be on the downtown

Turnout at Tuesday?s primary election in Washington County was above average for a non-presidential election year. Just under 18 percent of active, registered voters cast a ballot in either the Democratic or Republican primary elections. The turnout for the 2006 primary election was 12 percent, and in 2002 it was just 11 percent. Turnout in presidential election years is typically higher. In 2008, the turnout was 15