Fairfield News

IOWA CITY (AP) ? The University of Iowa will shoot a documentary on the demolition of its flood-damaged Hancher Auditorium as officials work to make sure the school gets federal funding to replace the historic building.The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is paying for the building's replacement, requires the documentary as part of a preservation law that aims to mitigate the loss of tearing down a ...

DES MOINES ? Iowa?s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped for the third consecutive month in May, falling to 4.6 percent.The current rate is down from 4.7 percent in April, and 5.3 percent in May 2012. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent in May from 7.5 percent in April.?The Iowa job market picked up momentum in May, as businesses added more jobs than anticipated,? said Teresa ...

Weaton elected ABI officerLori Weaton, director of business development for Agri-Industrial Plastics in Fairfield, was recently elected as secretary of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry?s Executive Committee.Weaton?s term is began July 1.In addition to her involvement with the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, Weaton serves as president of the Fairfield Economic Development Association and ...

MONTROSE (AP) ? Firefighters from three departments have spent more than four hours battling a blaze at a former junkyard in southeast Iowa.The Daily Gate City reports that crews from Montrose, Jackson Township and Des Moines Township fought the fire from about 12:45 a.m. until about 5:30 a.m. Monday. The blazing material included about a 1,000 tires on rims.No injuries have been reported.Montrose Fire Chief ...

While law enforcement and railway officials have confirmed a train accident Saturday evening resulted in one fatality, they are remaining mum about the identification of the victim and details of the incident.According to Amy McBeth, regional director of public affairs for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, a train struck and killed a woman on the train track at approximately 6:10 p.m. Saturday.Authorities ...

As if contending with drought, high temperatures and flood conditions weren?t enough to make an Iowa farmer?s job difficult, there may soon be an even greater threat to crops in the state ? the superweed.Labeled a superweed because it grows faster, produces more seed, and is almost completely resistant to herbicides, Palmer Amaranth already is posing a huge challenge for cotton and soybean farmers in the south. ...

Before Thursday?s fireworks display, many residents took a dip in Bonnifield Lake to cool off from the hot summer sun.

About a dozen members of the Jefferson County Alcohol Consumption Task Force attended the county supervisors meeting Monday to show support of a proposal for the county to adopt a social host ordinance.?I looked at examples of other counties? ordinances,? said Assistant County Attorney Pat McAvan who drafted the ordinance. ?I included language about controlled substances and prescription drugs in ours. Alcohol ...

Officials at Alliant Energy are warning customers that a string of scam phone calls targeting utility customers that began just before Christmas is continuing this summer.Ryan Stensland, spokesperson for Alliant Energy, said the company is again receiving complaints from customers who report receiving phone calls that threaten electric service disconnection and ask them to purchase a prepaid card. These complaint...

Jefferson County is closing Brookville Road from Elm Avenue to Carnation Boulevard for bridge replacement.The county is replacing the bridge with a twin reinforced concrete box culvert. The road will be closed at the bridge and only be accessible to local traffic from both ends.The road will close July 11 and remain closed for six to seven weeks. The public is asked to find an alternate route for that time period.

MUSCATINE (AP) ? Three banks in eastern Iowa are planning to merge this summer, so they'll be able to offer customers services at eight locations.The owner of Central State Bank of Muscatine, Freedom Security Bank of Coralville and Kalona and West Chester Savings Bank of Washington announced the merger on Tuesday.Central Bancshares Inc. says the merger should go smoothly because all the banks use the same ...

Fairfield?s population just received an incredible, free gift.June 21-23 we had the opportunity to enjoy fabulous, free entertainment during four days. More than 50 groups provided entertainment during Fairfest 2013.During my 30-plus years in Fairfield I have never experienced anything like this. The outdoor stage was out of this world fabulous. The sound systems and the sound engineering were impressive and ...