Fairfield News

Cardinal Middle School sixth-grade students in Lyndsey Noe?s language arts class use their Kuno 3 tablets to practice their new spelling words earlier this week. ?We use our Kunos every day in language arts,? said Noe. Cardinal replaced its MacBooks with the Kuno tablets in September. Superintendent Joel Pedersen said the key reason for the switch is Kunos? Curriculum Loft. Curriculum Loft allows teachers to ...

Fairfield Police Department arrested Robert Ray Snyder, 57, of Ottumwa in the 100 block of South 14th Street at 2:27 p.m. Wednesday. He is charged with contempt of court and violation of a restraining order.

DES MOINES (AP) ? The state is closing a 200-bed mental health center at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, only 10 years after spending $26 million to build the facility.State Corrections Director John Baldwin said prisoners at the penitentiary?s Clinical Care Unit will be transferred beginning this spring as part of an efficiency and security initiative. The prison will gradually shut down after a ...

DES MOINES (AP) ? Reversing course on a controversial decision, the Iowa Department of Transportation said Wednesday it will issue driver licenses to young illegal immigrants allowed to remain in the county by a presidential order.?Today, those with status of deferred action childhood arrival can bring in their documentation and show they know how to drive, and go through the same process everybody else goes ...

Jefferson County Sheriff?s Office reports a vehicle deer accident at 1:13 p.m. Wednesday. Karen Lucile Karns, 62, of 1004 W. Briggs Ave., was driving a 1009 Nissan Versa north on Pleasant Plain Road and struck a deer in the road. Damages to her car are estimated at $4,500.

DES MOINES (AP) ? Peace activists called Wednesday for the Air Force to drop plans to establish a drone operation center in Des Moines.Waving signs that said ?No War Drones, Des Moines,? about 20 activists protested outside the Des Moines Air National Guard Base. The military plans to pilot drone aircraft at the base, now that the 21 F-16 jets based there will be removed.?The Air Force is now training more ...

DES MOINES (AP) ? The state teachers? union called Wednesday for lawmakers to approve legislation that would increase state aid to school districts for the coming school year.A staffer for the Iowa State Education Association told senators at a subcommittee meeting that one rural district would likely have to layoff teachers if lawmakers don?t increase aid to schools.?We?ve heard anecdotal evidence from one ...

DES MOINES (AP) ? House Republicans plan to try again to ban the rare use of public money to finance abortions for low-income women, lawmakers said.Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, said he and other House Republicans are holding preliminary talks on a proposal to prevent Medicaid reimbursement for any abortions. Last fiscal year, the state reimbursed 22 abortions at a cost of $19,402.?One dollar spent ...

Fairfield Fire Department investigated a gas smell at 4:42 p.m. Wednesday at 805 N. 10th St.Fairfield Fire Department investigated a gas smell at 4:42 p.m. Wednesday at 805 N. 10th St.

Unemployment in Jefferson County rose from 5.8 percent in November to 6.5 percent in December.According to Iowa Workforce Development figures, in November, Jefferson County had a labor force of 7,790, with 7,340 employed and 450 unemployed. In December, the county had a labor force of 7,540, with 7,050 employed and 490 unemployed. The Iowa Workforce Development figures show an increase in unemployment in Van ...

Fairfield Community School District preschooler Yaretzy Nunez puts the finishing touches on her Legos creation at Washington Elementary School this morning. The preschool classes are now operated by the school district after years of being run by the Fairfield Park and Recreation Department at the Roosevelt Community Recreation Center.

The Jefferson County Health Center Board of Trustees elected new officers at its monthly meeting Monday evening at the health center.Renee Rebling was elected to serve as chairwoman, while the former chairman, Bob Keller, was elected to serve as vice chairman. Merlin Miller was elected as treasurer.Trustee Julie Greeson had announced the list of officers recommended by the board?s committee, and the trustees ...