Trick-or-treat hours set; more

Correction: Johnson not on Richland City Council

In the article ?Packwood looks at sharing Richland?s part-time law officer? published Wednesday on the front page of The Fairfield Ledger, Larry Johnson was misidentified.

Johnson is not a member of the Richland City Council. He is a candidate for the Richland City Council in the November election.

Trick-or-treating hours announced

Several area communities have set official trick-or-treat hours.

In Packwood, trick-or-treaters can stop in for a free dinner from 5-6 p.m. Oct. 29 at the community building and then hit the streets to trick-or-treat from 6-8 p.m.

Richland?s trick-or-treat hours will be from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 30. Lockridge has its trick-or-treat hours set for 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Libertyville?s trick-or-treat hours are from 5:30-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Fairfield?s is from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Birmingham and Keosauqua have trick-or-treating set for 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Panel backs gas tax increase to fund road work

ANKENY (AP) ? Iowa should raise the state?s gasoline tax by 8 cents to 10 cents per gallon and increase new vehicle registration fees to collect up to $280 million annually to fund road repairs, a special committee recommended Wednesday.

Supporters of the plan say that funding level would let officials fix the worst roads.

The panel, which was appointed by Gov. Terry Branstad, also recommended that the state review the gasoline tax every two years. The state?s 22 cents per gallon gasoline tax has not been increased since 1989. One cent goes toward cleaning leaking underground tanks, while the other 21 cents pay for road work.

The recommendations, which include raising new vehicle registration fees from 5 percent to 6 percent of the purchase cost, will be sent to the state?s Department of Transportation, which will decide what it seeks from the Legislature.

Sen. Tom Rielly, D-Oskaloosa, who heads the Senate Transportation Committee, said he?ll push the higher gasoline tax effort when lawmakers convene in January.

Republican Rep. Dave Tjepkes of Gowrie, who heads the House Transportation Committee, said he?ll also press the effort, but other key lawmakers were more cautious and some conservatives warned against pushing an election year tax increase.

West Des Moines wins honor for best-tasting water

 DES MOINES (AP) ? Compared with contest samples from nine other Iowa municipalities, West Des Moines has the best-tasting water in Iowa flowing through its pipes.

The city water was honored Wednesday at the American Water Works Association Meeting in Des Moines.

Association contest judges rated water samples from 10 Iowa municipalities for odor, taste, aftertaste and appearance.

Des Moines Water Works general manager Randy Beavers says water flavor depends on where it comes from and the treatments it undergoes on its way to fountains and faucets.