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GOVERNMENT
Circus tent raising starts busy Essex Labor Day weekend
(Essex) -- Essex will resemble a circus--and sometimes a zoo--this weekend. New events join the old in the annual Essex Labor Day Celebration. Friday's events include two performances of the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Essex Community Development Director Tess Nelson tells KMA News the public is invited to watch tent raising activities at the circus site--the Essex High School football field on Highway 48--at 9:30 a.m.
Shen pool slide decals honor Grace Johnson
(Shenandoah) -- When Shenandoah's outdoor swimming pool reopens next summer, patrons will notice a special tribute to a special young lady. Renovations continue at the Wilson Aquatic Center, which was closed this swimming season due to the city's water issues and the need for repairs. Contractors recently completed repairs to the pool's water slide. As part of the refurbishment, the words "Do good like Grace" are inscribed on the slides in honor of Grace Johnson. The Shenandoah High School senior and pool lifeguard died in a one-vehicle accident in Fremont County three years ago this month. Shenandoah Mayor Roger McQueen praised the memorial on KMA's "Morning Line" program earlier this week. McQueen credited Skyler Fuller with the idea, and Signs and Shines Decals with the design.
Pumping season underway at Riverton WMA
(Riverton) -- With slightly improved river levels, Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials have been pumping water into the Riverton Wildlife Management Area. That's according to Iowa DNR Wildlife Biologist Matt Dollison, who says pumps are currently running along both the East and West Nishnabotna Rivers, delivering some much-needed water into the management area's marshes--just in time for the teal and mourning dove openers on Sunday. Last year, initial construction delays on the Spring Creek Outlet replacement followed by low river levels along the West Nishnabotna ultimately forced the DNR to hold off on pumping into parts of the area until earlier this year. But, this time around, Dollison says the pumps resumed at the beginning of the "typical pumping season" on August 15th.
Page County board awards contract to replace Essex North Bridge
(Clarinda) -- After multiple years of planning, Page County officials have backed plans to replace a large bridge north of Essex. During its regular meeting Thursday night, the Page County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved awarding the contract to A.M. Cohron and Son, Inc. of Atlantic, to replace the Essex North Bridge for just over $2.8 million. Plans call for constructing a 454-foot long and 30-foot wide bridge on D Avenue over the East Nishnabotna River. County Engineer J.D. King says A.M. Cohron and Son's proposal was the lowest of four bids the Iowa Department of Transportation received on the project, which came in well under the engineer's estimate.
Sidney council tables action on adding utility billing clerk
(Sidney) -- Sidney officials are looking for better ways to disperse the clerks' workload at city hall. During its regular meeting earlier this week, the Sidney City Council ultimately tabled action on a job description and placing an ad for a new utility billing clerk in city hall. Currently, city hall is staffed by City Clerk Elease Cowles and Deputy Clerk Brenda Benedict. However, Sidney Mayor Justin Shirley says the possibility of adding a new clerk came about to potentially better spread out a growing workload for office staff.
Absentee voting still available for Clarinda PPEL referendum
(Clarinda) -- Clarinda school officials say there's still time to vote absentee in next month's special election on a physical plant and equipment levy. Page County Auditor Melissa Wellhausen says more than 20 absentee ballots have been returned for the September 10th vote on the 10-year levy totaling $1.34 per thousand dollars valuation. Though the mailing deadline has passed, Wellhausen says the district's patrons may still vote absentee in her office in the Page County Courthouse.
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