Temporary stop sign; SOFIA grant; more

Temporary stop sign to help control fair traffic

The city of Fairfield will be setting up a temporary four-way stop sign on Burlington Avenue near the fairgrounds and the new Walmart June 26 through July 2.

Fairfield Police Chief Julie Harvey explained the temporary stop sign will help accommodate the extra foot and vehicle traffic in the area during the Greater Jefferson County Fair.

The stop sign will be used only during heavy traffic periods for events drawing large crowds.

?All citizens in the area are asked to slow down and use extra caution in the area during this time,? said Harvey.

Uniformed police and reserve officers also will be present for traffic control. Citizens are asked to be patient with the officers and be aware that drivers may be routed a couple of blocks out of their way to facilitate traffic flow.

Grant supports SOFIA Italian festival event

Society of Fairfield Italian Americans has received a grant award of $1,500 from Humanities Iowa, a state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, in support of a project called Italian Culture Master Series: Italian Folk Music And Dance.

The project begins at 7:30 p.m. today at Cafe Paradiso. The first presentation is on Italian Village Dancing with master teachers Celest DiPietropaolo and Marie DiCocco.

For more information, go to www.festivaliniowa.com/zampognaseries.php.

Mild winter boosts Iowa?s pheasant population

DES MOINES (AP) ? Iowa should see an increase in its pheasant population this year, thanks to the mild winter and warm spring.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says its nesting forecast predicts the population will increase by more than 40 percent.

Wildlife biologist Todd Bogenschutz says it would be the first statewide increase in more than six years.

He says the pheasants will be able to expand and reoccupy grassland habitats where they?ve been depleted by five severe winters.

Bogenschutz says a roadside survey in August is the best gauge of the pheasant population. He says during the past 50 years there have been weather conditions similar to this year about six times, and the average increase in pheasant populations during those years was 42 percent.