NEWS BRIEFS: Assessor's office conducting inspections; Birmingham woman may have fallen in river; more

Assessor?s office conducting inspections

Jefferson County Assessor?s Office staff will be conducting inspections of every Fairfield home beginning this week.

Assessor Sheri Blough Neff said her staff will be walking around homes, taking pictures and attempting to inspect inside when possible to note any changes. She asks that residents respond to tags left behind by inspectors when the occupant is away.

Staff will not enter homes where a babysitter or children are alone.

Blough Neff said the general review will go toward the 2012 assessment. She expects the process will take through October or November.

A walking review of Fairfield homes was last conducted five or more years ago.

Birmingham woman may have fallen in river

KEOSAUQUA ? Recovery operations are under way in Van Buren County, where an elderly woman is believed to have fallen into the Des Moines River.

Kathryn Ruth Schafer, 88, of Birmingham was reported missing at 6:47 a.m. Tuesday. Her vehicle was located near a boat ramp near her family?s Kilbourne home along the Des Moines River.

Volunteers from the Douds Fire Department, Keosauqua Fire Department, Bonaparte Fire Department and Iowa Department of Natural Resources are assisting the Van Buren County Sheriff?s Office with the search.

New Iowa laws include one for ?Purple Heart Day?

DES MOINES (AP) ? New Iowa laws include tougher restrictions on boater drivers who drink and motor vehicle drivers who text.

The Des Moines Register is reporting that more than 90 new laws take effect Friday, the first day of the state?s budget year.

There will be fines instead of only warnings for vehicle drivers caught texting.

People driving boats now face the same blood-alcohol limit as motor vehicle drivers in Iowa: 0.08 percent. The boater limit had been 0.10 percent.

The new law allowing hunters to shoot at mourning doves takes effect Friday, too, but the proposed 70-day season, if approved by regulators, won?t begin until Sept. 1.

Under another new Iowa law, each Aug. 7 will be ?Purple Heart Day,? honoring the men and women who have been killed in military service.

Limits imposed at Lake Macbride beach near Solon

SOLON (AP) ? Authorities intend to limit the number of people who can cool off at the Lake Macbride beach near Solon in eastern Iowa.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the limits on vehicles and visitors will be enforced on days when the temperature is expected to reach 80 degrees or above.

The department says the new policy takes immediate effect and will be enforced over the holiday weekend. Once the 250-space beach parking lot is full, people will be turned away.

Officials say the limits are being imposed for safety. The policy will help keep access lanes open for emergency vehicles.

The restrictions won?t affect the southside campground, fishing ramp or other parking lots.