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The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the courthouse to amend the current year budget, for increased expenses of $447,858.The largest increases in the FY2013 county budget are $375,000 in roads and transportation and $120,000 in public safety and legal services.This leaves a projected $2.7 million total fund balance at the end of this fiscal year, June ...

Jefferson County Board of Supervisors discussed snow removal with county engineer Scott Cline at today?s board meeting and feasible ways to track where secondary roads crews had plowed and where they would be at various times after a storm.?I fielded some calls last week, and I know I wasn?t the only one, about county road maintainers and where they were and when they would get to a specific road,? said superviso...

ELDON ? Cardinal Community School District Superintendent Joel Pedersen is happy to share the news that last year?s high school graduates, the Class of 2012, ranked the highest in the school?s history with a 98.51 percent four-year graduation rate.?This represents 66 out of 67 students,? said Pedersen. ?We will always welcome students back even though it may take more than four years to graduate.?This is a huge ...

A student?s interest in growing a better crop in the family garden led to a bee-keeping course Monday evenings in February at Fairfield Middle School.FMS science teacher Cory Klehm and his family sell their garden produce at Fairfield?s Farmers Market and sixth grader Reese Klehm became interested in learning more about bee pollination and garden production.?At one of the Farmers Market days, Reese talked with ...

Jefferson County Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed today to ask county residents to vote on $1 million toward a new outdoor pool and gym to be built in Fairfield, and approved giving $3,000 to Fairfield?s RAGBRAI executive committee.Last week, the supervisors listened to members of the pool and gym task force and discussed financing options with the board?s financial advisor.The best funding option seemed ...

A local Executive Committee has formed to plan and coordinate this summer?s visit of thousands of bicyclists spending the night in Fairfield July 26, the final overnight stop of the 41st Register?s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.?RAGBRAI sets the guidelines of committees, and we are following their schedule,? said Terry Baker, assistant director of Fairfield Iowa Convention and Visitors Bureau. ?They?ve ...

Members of the new outdoor pool and gym task force came to today?s Jefferson County Board of Supervisors meeting to learn about the board?s options of financial support to the project.Last week, the supervisors had discussed holding a vote among residents in the unincorporated areas of Jefferson County to approve a half-million dollars to help build a new outdoor pool at O.B. Nelson Park and a new gym with ...

Education is a hot topic in the Iowa Legislature this session, Sen. Mark Chelgren told participants at Saturday?s Legislative Breakfast hosted by Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce.?It?s a challenge,? he said. ?The governor has a plan how to run our schools to change and improve, and it comes with a $2 million-plus price tag.?I personally don?t like the plan,? said Chelgren, an Ottumwa resident representing ...

The Fairfield Police Department reports a citizen contacted the police at 5:51 a.m. today to report a body found in the parking lot at Wagon Wheel Apartments.Captain Dave Thomas said an elderly female was found dead, with no suspicious marks and is presumed to have died of natural causes. An investigation is underway.A name has not been released as notification is ongoing to family members.

The Jefferson County Fair Board plans to continue working with sponsorships, keep a free front gate for the annual county fair, and has plans for capital improvements to the fairgrounds.Jared Schultz, treasurer of the Jefferson County Fair Board brought an annual report and proposed budget request to the county supervisors? Monday meeting.?Our sponsorship program really helps in years when fair attendance is ...