NEWS BRIEFS: Dog park forum set; Heat warning continues; more

Dog park forum set Tuesday

A public forum focusing on the proposed dog park in Fairfield is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Fairfield City Hall Council Chambers.

Discussions are planned, and questions will be taken.

Excessive heat warning continues 

The excessive heat warning issued by the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities is in effect until 7 a.m. Sunday.

Afternoon and early evening temperatures in the middle to upper 90s, with high humidity, will create heat index values of 105 to 115 through Saturday, and uncomfortably warm and humid conditions will continue through Saturday night.

The dangerous heat and humidity increase the risk of heat-related illnesses. The weather service advises people to drink plenty of water, stay in air-donditioned rooms, stay out of the sun and check on relatives and neighbors.

People who need relief should call the Jefferson County Law Center at 472-4146 for information.

A cold front is expected to move through the region Sunday ending the long stretch of excessive heat.

Board says ex-principal could not be effective

MOUNT VERNON AP) ? The Mount Vernon School Board says a former principal who quit over giving mild birthday spankings to his students didn?t commit any acts of unprofessional behavior requiring a complaint to state education officials or anything illegal, but enough damage was done.

Washington Elementary principal Terry Eisenbarth resigned earlier this month. Parents complained after learning he would call students to his office on their birthday for spankings.

The school board in a statement says its law firm conducted an investigation and while it and other agencies, including police and the county attorney, did not find that Eisenbarth committed any illegal acts, he ?could no longer be as effective? as the board expected.

The board says under those circumstances, Eisenbarth agreed to resign.

Boat ramps re-opened at Saylorville Lake

DES MOINES (AP) ? The Army Corps of Engineers has re-opened the Lakeview and Sandpiper boat ramps at Saylorville Lake.

High water had forced the closing. Corps data showed the lake?s water level was roughly 35 feet higher than normal.

Corps officials say lake conditions may be hazardous because of submerged facilities and floating debris. Boaters are urged to obey all buoys and avoid boating between them.

Tubing for natural gas linked to fires

DES MOINES (AP) ? A flexible tubing for natural gas has been linked to at least 24 house fires in the Des Moines area since 2007.

Officials said the tubing is vulnerable to damage from lightning. The officials say thousands of homes could be at risk.

The yellow corrugated stainless steel tubing has been around since the 1990s, often used instead of black, threaded piping made of iron. Until last year there was no requirement that installers bond and ground the yellow tubing. Manufacturers say the tubing is safe when installers follow manufacturer instructions.