Fairfield News

An Iowa House candidate says a legislator running in the same district offered him a job if he?d quit the race.The Des Moines Register reports Jake Highfill filed a complaint Friday with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board and the Iowa House?s chief clerk. Highfill says Rep. Erik Helland offered him a job as a House clerk or working for a Republican candidate.Helland declined to comment Monday but ...

Republican congressional candidate Dan Dolan of Muscatine is double checking his campaign stops after giving his pitch to Democrats by mistake.On Saturday, Dolan arrived at the Monroe County Courthouse in Albia for a GOP convention. Turns out, county Democrats also were holding their convention in the courthouse and Dolan gave them his speech. Someone finally asked him if he wanted the Republicans.Dolan told ...

Iowa?s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 5.4 percent in January, offering further evidence that the recovery strengthened during fourth quarter 2011.The statewide jobless rate was reported at 5.6 percent in December and at 6.1 percent in January 2011. Meanwhile, the United States unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent in January.?The Iowa economy is improving,? said Teresa Wahlert, director of ...

A 40-year-old Ottumwa man has died after being burned in an accidental fire outside his home.The Ottumwa Courier reports that Scott Robinson died Sunday evening at an Iowa City hospital.Ottumwa Fire Deputy Chief Cory Benge says Robinson was attending a small recreational fire outside his home on Saturday evening when he added some gasoline out of a can. The additional gas exploded into flames that spread to ...

Iowa?s mental health system would be subjected to statewide standards, and six regional hubs rather than the state?s 99 counties would coordinate the services under an overhaul approved Monday by the Senate.The measure that cleared the Senate on a 32-18 vote seeks to ensure all Iowans get similar services. Services would still be done at the local level, but supporters said a regionalized approach to coordinating...

Most of us know about the emergency 911 telephone number but there are several similar shortcuts for other services not everyone knows about.The Federal Communication Commission has authorized the use of shortcut numbers but many are not highly publicized.Gov. Terry Branstad says he has established a website to list them.They include:211 - For community referral services including food, shelters, support ...

A gold 2001 Infiniti QX4 operated by a Fairfield man came to rest on its top in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 218 outside of Olds Monday afternoon. Judah Bolser, 27, of Fairfield was operating the gold SUV at the time of the incident. No name was listed for the one passenger in the Infiniti QX4. The Bolser vehicle had been traveling westbound toward the Saint Avenue Stop in Olds at the time of the accident. ...

When the birds sing, gather nesting materials and daffodils bloom, spring must officially have arrived although the calendar says it won?t begin until next Tuesday. Many daffodils around town are just about ready to burst forth in bloom, but this little patch was already in full flower this morning, while a nearby robin was gathering bits of grass for a nest.

Jefferson County Engineer Tom Goff will be reducing his hours to three days per week until the end of the fiscal year or a replacement is hired, whichever comes first.The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors discussed the hiring process this morning and made plans for Goff, supervisor Steve Burgmeier and county auditor Scott Reneker to collaborate on a job posting. Goff is retiring after 15 years as county ...

LIBERTYVILLE ? A new fire station and water tower are two of the changes Libertyville Mayor Darryl ?Jack? Davison foresees completed in the next two years.?I think we?ve got a pretty good spark,? Davison said. These projects have been in discussion and planning, and now it?s time to move forward, he said.A couple different locations for the fire station are under consideration, including the former Roto Fab. ...

Brady Gros, CEO of Harper Brush Works, receives financial assistance checks from the state of Iowa, city of Fairfield and the Fairfield Economic Development Association March 2. From left, representing FEDA is Tracy Vance; Gros; Rep. Curt Hanson representing the state; and Mayor Ed Malloy representing the city. This was from the approval of the assistance in September. Harper Brush received $160,000 from the ...

Daylight saving time will begin at 2 a.m. Sunday.Following the old saying ?Spring ahead; fall back,? all clocks should be turned ahead one hour.Clocks can be reset at bedtime Saturday night, upon waking Sunday morning, or, for sticklers, at 2 a.m. Sunday.A federal law, administered by the Transportation Department, specifies daylight saving time applies from 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March until 2 a.m. on ...