Murphy wants transparency, no open partisanship in state auditor's office

Jon Murphy The man who oversaw federal stimulus spending in Iowa says that experience — monitoring the flow of about $2.4 billion into the Hawkeye State from over 80 federal programs — has helped prepare him to be state’s auditor.

Rhea guiding the young flock at Pleasant Ridge

GLIDDEN — It took years for Brandon Rhea to realize, but he was built to be a small-town pastor. The Waverly, Ill., native is filling the new position of youth pastor at Pleasant Ridge Community Church.

SL Garage Sale to ring up aid for sister parish in Haiti

Members of St. Lawrence Catholic Parish take this relationship of being a sister parish to heart. So when members of the Carroll church knew members of their sister parish, Our Lady of Lourdes, at Laborde, Haiti, were hurting from the earthquake that devastated the Caribbean island nation in January, their hearts went out to the Haitians.

Edge 2 opens second store in Westgate Mall

The Graphic Edge has opened a second retail outlet for its products in downtown Carroll’s Westgate Mall. Sales at the apparel and athletic product company’s flagship store, Edge 2, Sportswear Outlet, 510 N. Carroll St., proved to be so strong, and so tied to Carroll High School, Kuemper Catholic High School and Iowa State University and University of Iowa products, that more space was needed to move clearance and bargain items.

Supervisors approve generator, temps for Ambulance Service

The Board of Supervisors on Monday approved the purchase of a backup generator for the Carroll County Ambulance Service station. Director Bill Fish said the service had successfully applied for grants from the Timmerman and Renze charitable foundations, being awarded $5,000 from each.

Pageant spotlights Dream girls

How big a hit was the inaugural Dreams Made True Pageant? Well, before that pageant had concluded organizers, contestants’ parents and others were enthusiastically talking about the event getting bigger and better in future years.

Colleagues recall Lewis Rich as smart, hard-working supervisor

Lewis Rich never did anything without giving maximum effort. Contemporaries also remember Rich, a Carroll County supervisor from 1973-92 who was laid to rest today, as a caring and studious official who got things done.

Supervisors amend budget, hear concerns about sewer

Council OKs engineering for muni club remodel

Carroll City Council members Monday night unanimously directed staff to proceed with initial engineering studies for a planned remodeling project at the municipal golf course. About a dozen advocates of the golf course turned out at the council meeting to support that estimated $125,000 project — which they would like to see completed during the current construction year.

Manatt to Obama: 'Start going to church'

AUDUBON — A former chairman of the Democratic National Committee says President Obama should start being more public about his family’s church attendance to puncture challenges to his Christian faith from political opponents.

Headstrong is building east of Carroll Sparky's

Headstrong Hair Design in Carroll is getting a new location, a new owner, and most likely, a different name. All in the same year.

Dreams Made True will give contestants royal treatment

Crowns and sashes will be awarded to winners in the first Dreams Made True pageant in Carroll on Saturday. But for all the contestants, they can look forward to receiving a lot of pampering. The pageant is open to contestants ages 5 through 25 and is specifically for contestants who have special medical needs.

FRG working to ease deployment for families

Being separated from a loved one an entire year is stressful enough, let alone knowing that spouse, parent, child or sibling will be in a war zone. Keepers of the Flame, the family readiness group for the Carroll National Guard Unit, is helping soldiers’ families prepare for a deployment to Afghanistan, which starts in nine short days.

Campbell: King disrespects democracy with snub

AUDUBON — Democratic congressional candidate Matt Campbell of Manning Tuesday night renewed his challenge to opponent U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, to debate in a formal, televised setting — something King has not done with a balloted opponent as a sitting member of Congress. Earlier in the week, Campbell approached King at a town hall meeting and asked for a debate. On Tuesday, during an event at Taylor Hill Lodge, the Audubon farm of former Democratic National Committee chairman Charles Manatt, Campbell told the Daily Times Herald that debates between major-party candidates for offices are central to representative government. “It’s why competitions are held,” Campbell said. “It’s no different than why sons and daughters go out and play games and football games. You never know. He needs to respect the process. I think the debate is a cornerstone of American democracy. Someone from the party of Lincoln should recognize that.” For his part, Manatt grew up in Audubon and went on to substantial success in business and the law in California and Washington, D.C.. He served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1981 to 1985. On Tuesday, Manatt’s fund-raiser for Campbell drew contributors from across western Iowa.

Scam letters being delivered in Carroll

At least three Carroll residents have been targeted by a financial scam in the past week. One of those to receive a too-good-to-be-true offer in the mail was a Carroll police officer. “It appears there’s a push in this area,” said Capt. Mark Heino.

Farm writer joins the ride, loves the view

For farm journalist Clayton Rye, a good-natured jab at tractor drives turned into a knockout view of the lush rolling hills of west-central Iowa. Rye, who farms in Worth County, north of Clear Lake, and is a columnist with the Fort Dodge Messenger’s Farm News, found himself last month driving in a line of 84 antique tractors participating in the eighth annual Manning Tractor Drive.

Wind turbines to boost tax take by $1 million

Carroll County and local school districts are expected to pull in about $1 million in property taxes by fiscal year 2017 from the two wind-power farms now in the county. And there could be more turbines added soon, a MidAmerican official said. (1 comments)

Students train for wind-energy careers

The wind turbine maintenance courses at Des Moines Area Community College in Carroll have really taken off, and technology resource director and professor Jack Thompson says that the growth in the industry is not going to be slowing down anytime soon.

Kara Rowedder highlights new hires for CCSD

Kara Rowedder, a five-year veteran elementary educator with the Jefferson-Scranton Community School District, highlights a list of new hires for the Carroll Community Schools. Carroll School Board members Monday approved the hiring of Rowedder for a first-grade teaching position at Fairview Elementary School beginning this coming academic year. She taught first grade for one year, and second grade for the past four years.

Tardy in Carroll schools? Don't blame the clocks

Students won’t be able to point to faulty or inconsistent clocks in the Carroll Community School District as excuses for popping into class tardy as the first bells ring in the new academic year.

District looks to add middle school bleachers for football season

If the Carroll Community School District gets the go-ahead nod from the City of Carroll — its co-owner of the middle school soccer and football fields — elevated bleachers could be in place by football season this fall.

CCSD approves 3.8% teacher salary, benefits hike

Carroll Community Schools officials and its teachers’ bargaining unit met halfway on salaries for the coming year. Literally. (1 comments)

Computer Concepts doubling in size

Computer Concepts of Iowa is doubling the size of its downtown Carroll business. The expansion and remodeling at 503 N. Main St. is nearing completion, said owner and founder Adam Schweers.

Branstad touts development partnerships, praises Carroll

Terry Branstad says public-private partnerships and a governor who emphasizes business development are the keys to righting Iowa’s economic ship. Speaking at Carroll on Wednesday, the Republican gubernatorial hopeful also gushed about Carroll County, calling it an example of how Iowa can solve its employment and fiscal problems.

Saddle club's camps cultivate and educate

The new Carroll County Saddle Club wants to put some giddyup into people’s enthusiasm for horses. “One of our goals is to educate about horses and cultivate equine lovers in the community,” said Lois Potthoff, treasurer and communications director of the club, which formed last September.

King: Don't expect much from Congress this fall

AUDUBON — Iowans might be calling for deficit reduction and a repeal of “Obamacare,” but don’t expect any developments in Congress this fall, according to U.S. Rep. Steve King. “Everywhere I go it’s the same thing. It’s debt and deficit number one,” King told The Times Herald. (2 comments)

Message in a bottle sails to an improbable outcome

It was with visions of far-off lands and deserted islands that 11-year-old Kelly and 15-year-old Jody Mescher concocted the idea to send off a message in a bottle from their home farm near Halbur. The Nishnabotna, though not a raging river at this locale, was a means for them to send out a request for that pen pal from across the seas.

Carroll County State Bank opens new building Monday

Carroll County State Bank on Monday will open its 21,500-square-feet, three-level new building, dramatically reshaping a highly visible tract in the city’s central business district. The bank opens for business at the new location just to the east of the long-standing spot at 8:30 a.m., Monday. Full banking services will be operational as Carroll County State Bank has been in a transition period for months.

Water Carnival to showcase Lake View improvements

LAKE VIEW — This weekend’s 57th annual Black Hawk Lake Summer Water Carnival not only will feature parades, a fireworks show and  carnival games and rides, but visitors will also be able to view a couple of recent major projects. The city this spring completed a makeover of downtown with a streetscape project. The nearly $1 million project includes new street, sidewalks, benches, streetlights and bike racks. (1 comments)

Commission approves design contract for new landfill cell

Solid Waste Commission Executive Board members on Tuesday awarded a contract to Foth Infrastructure & Environment to design a new cell at the Carroll County Landfill. A five-acre cell to be constructed in 2011 will be the fourth and largest cell built in the western expansion area at the landfill. Other cells, each 3 to 3.5 acres, were opened in 2002, 2006 and 2009.

CEA, school district to vote on new contract

Last minute negotiations have paid dividends for the Carroll Community School District and the Carroll Education Agency as they reached tentative agreement on a contract for the 2010-11 school year Wednesday and called off arbitration that was scheduled for Friday morning. “Yesterday morning a tentative agreement was reached,” said CCSD superintendent Rob Cordes. “We knew we were close Tuesday night, but there were just some of the fine details that needed to be worked out.”

Sac County's McClure enjoys 'greatest job'

SAC CITY — Kenneth McClure says he loves every day of his job as sheriff of Sac County. “I think I have got the greatest job in the whole world,” McClure said. McClure was elected to office in January 2004 and is currently in the middle of his second full term as sheriff.

Glidden group completes mission to Arkansas

Church mission trips aren’t intended to be fun, and Grace Baptist of Glidden’s recent week at Blytheville, Ark., was no exception. Eleven Youth Group members from Grace Baptist and four chaperones worked their tails off at New Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church.

Carroll teachers, authorities see texting law as crucial

There are plenty of ways in which a driver can become distracted while on the road. Text messaging is among the most common — particularly among younger demographics. This common activity that has been an integral part of daily communication is now against the law to do while driving.

Probation, community service ordered in embezzlement case

A Lidderdale man who embezzled $81,385 from his family’s farm business received a suspended prison sentence Monday. Mark Oliver Wenck, 30, had pleaded guilty to stealing checks, forging signatures on them and cashing and depositing them at his bank. The thefts from Wenck Farms occurred between June 2009 and April. At sentencing Monday in Carroll County District Court, Carroll County Attorney John Werden said he agreed with a presentence investigation recommendation that Wenck be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. During questioning by judge Gary McMinimee, Wenck said he stole the money to support a gambling habit he’d hoped would cover child support and other bills. “Had you ever thought about adjusting your lifestyle a little bit, downsizing a little bit, so you don’t have so many bills?” the judge posed. “Yeah, I need to,” replied Wenck. While on the stand to offer testimony, Wenck said he’s attending Gamblers Anonymous and doing work for his father and as a part-time carpet installer in the Des Moines area.

Lakers donate $25,000 to build basketball court

The next time you see Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant soaring for a dunk on television’s TNT, you may want to take a rooting interest. And, yes, that goes for you, too, Celtics fan. Showtime — the style of basketball branded by Magic Johnson’s 1980s Lakers — is coming to Carroll. For real. (1 comments)

Findley hitting the road hard for AG race

If Brenna Findley is unable to unseat seven-termer Tom Miller in the Iowa attorney general’s race, it won’t be for lack of effort. The 34-year-old farm-raised, home-schooled attorney says her greatest hurdle is name recognition.

Low oxygen level found in fatal Coon Rapids well

Authorities believe a Coon Rapids husband and wife who died after being overcome in a water well were killed by oxygen deprivation. Jamie Eyberg, 36, lost consciousness Saturday while working in a service well across the street from his home. Ann Eyberg, 34, succumbed while helping her husband.

Council rejects tennis bids, throws lifeline to project

Carroll City Council members Monday night rejected bids for a proposed tennis complex in Graham Park as too expensive and sent engineers back to the drawing board to seek a more-affordable alternative. The end result: a project the council identified as a priority last August for completion in 2010 is now indefinitely delayed.

Kari Lengeling turns daunting diagnosis to dinner menus

Kari (Auen) Lengeling, of West Des Moines, never had the desire to become a great cook, but a medical diagnosis almost a year and half ago, forced her to experiment in the kitchen.

Family reunion features long-distance connection

After almost eight years of correspondence, five years of planning and nearly 26 hours of travel, Rainer Vonnahme of Paderborn, Germany, was finally able to meet his cousins and other American relatives face-to-face for the first time this past weekend at the second Vonnahme family reunion. “Eight years ago I searched the Internet,” said Vonnahme, “and found my name in the U.S., and it was Marvin. I wrote him a letter because I knew that everybody whose name is spelled like mine is a cousin of mine.”

Supervisors buy ambulance, move funds

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved replacing an ambulance that was totaled in a crash two months ago. Emergency medical technician Sheryl Stoolman was killed and paramedics Bob Genzen and Wendy Baker seriously injured when the Carroll County Ambulance Service rig collided with a semi-trailer at Beaver on May 13. The critically ill patient they were transporting to Des Moines also died in the wreck.

Parks committee recommends $125,000 muni clubhouse upgrade

The Carroll Parks, Recreation and Cultural Advisory Board Monday recommended a $125,000 remodeling and addition plan for the municipal golf course. “If you’ve been out there, you know it’s long overdue,” said parks board member Tom Farner. “It’s been that way since my dad was mayor.”

School district, CEA face arbitration date

For the Carroll Community School District and the Carroll Education Association (CEA), Thursday passed without an agreement on teacher contracts for the 2010-11 school year. But as the deadline for presentation of final proposals for arbitration, it did move both parties one step closer to a settlement. With public arbitration scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, July 16, at the Carroll High School media center, these offers represent the end of the negotiation process.

Autopsy results awaited for Coon Rapids well deaths

COON RAPIDS — Guthrie County authorities are awaiting autopsy results for a rural Coon Rapids couple who were apparently overcome by toxic gas in a water well on Saturday. Jamie Eyberg, 36, went to check or work in a well across the street from his home at 1675 Chestnut Road sometime Saturday afternoon or evening, according to Guthrie County Sheriff Marty Arganbright.

Lowe's looking 'very hard' at Carroll

A top official with a North Carolina development-and construction company involved with siting over 200 Lowe’s stores nationwide said this morning the home- improvement Goliath won’t come to Carroll without more financial incentives from the city. “That’s basically how it’s working now,” said Shane Vannoy, vice president of commercial management for Jefferson, N.C.-based Jemsite Development-Vannoy Construction. (4 comments)

A heartfelt connection in Project America Run

How does Mike Ehredt maintain his 30-miles-a-day, 5-minute-mile pace on his Project America Run honoring U.S. military-service members who have lost their lives in the Iraq war? “I probably have anti-freeze in my blood,” Ehredt says of coping with weather that has ranged from frosty in Wyoming to brutally hot and humid in Iowa. (1 comments)

Carroll County receives $745,000 through I-Jobs

Carroll County and its cities have received a total of $745,000 in funding through Gov. Chet Culver’s state economic-stimulus program known as I-Jobs. The biggest beneficiary in the I-Jobs program locally is Glidden, which received $287,500 for a storm-water project.

Glidden dedicates veterans monument

Glidden’s prominence in American military history will never be forgotten. The community can boast to being home of Pvt. Merle Hay, the first U.S. casualty of World War I; and Enola Gay Tibbets, whose son Col. Paul Tibbets named a B-29 after his mother and dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, in World War II.

Carroll's Gary Mart hunts 'smartest animal in woods'

During his decade of black bear hunting in Minnesota 2005 is a standout year for Gary Mart of Carroll. It was in that year that Mart, a Cardinal Financial professional and former Carroll Rotary Club president, harvested the largest recorded black bear in Minnesota — 560 pounds.

Carroll reading 'Dragon Tattoo'

There is a series of books flying off the shelves at the Carroll Public Library this summer. Well, technically they’re not even flying off the shelves, considering as soon as one is returned it is swooped up by the next eager person on the waiting list.

Chamber takes lightning bolt, sustains minimal damage

The turret on the historic Carroll Depot — now home to the Carroll Chamber of Commerce — was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm sometime late Sunday  or early Monday.

Clausen makes case to DOT for 4-laning of 30

STORM LAKE – Population and businesses in the U.S. 30 corridor have grown at a faster rate than on any other major highways in the state, Carroll City Manager Gerald Clausen told the Iowa Department of Transportation Commission Tuesday. Clausen, representing the statewide U.S. Highway 30 Coalition, spoke at a DOT meeting at King’s Pointe in Storm Lake. The coalition’s chief mission is to promote the full four-laning of U.S. 30 in Iowa.

'Victory ride' delivers message of hope

Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Laura Wulf of Deloit took the first step of her journey when she walked into Deb Dieter’s office at the St. Anthony Diabetes Center in Carroll. She now takes what she has learned from that first leg of her journey and began another on Thursday to spread her life-affirming message around the country on a six-week motorcycle ride.

Cayler helps cities hire police chiefs

It’s only fitting that Iowa’s longest-serving police chief helps other communities select theirs. For about 15 years, Carroll chief Jeff Cayler has participated in “assessment centers” to choose chiefs for a dozen cities and assist others in promoting officers. Cayler began by serving as one of three chief assessors in the process and now leads the effort, as is the case now for the City of Tipton.

'Regular guy' Kolars bends convention to bring Bible to life

Pastor Ben Kolars of Central Christian Church of Carroll offers something different to the Carroll area with nontraditional services applicable to life. The church was formed in 1998 but found a permanent location in a new facility on Highway 30 East near the Carroll Country Club. Before then the church would meet at the Carroll 5 Theatres and the Conservation Education Center at Swan Lake State Park. Kolars is happy with the new location. (1 comments)

'Twilight' saga packs Carroll 5 Theatres

The Carroll 5 Theatres just hours ago recorded one of the busiest Tuesday nights it its history. The premiere of “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” brought 636 moviegoers out early this morning for three midnight screenings. This means that an equivalent of 6 percent of the city’s population was at the Carroll 5 Theatres last night watching shirtless Jacob (Taylor Lautner) and sparkling Edward (Robert Pattinson) duke it out for the love of Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart).

Manning Plaza's comfort care suite inspired by art

The inspiration that led to the metamorphosis of one of the standard care rooms at the Manning Plaza Nursing Home into a comfort care suite was aptly derived from a beautiful butterfly print. “Actually, the picture is what started the whole theme of the room,” said Mindi Boyle, director of social services at Manning Regional Healthcare Center. “The Ohdes liked that picture.”

Disabled Carroll woman says she faces obstacles, harassment downtown

A 47-year-old Carroll woman confined to a wheelchair because of neck and spine problems told the City Council Monday night that crossing streets and traversing the downtown area can be treacherous for disabled persons. BJ Adams of 514 N. Court St., the Courtview Apartments, said people parking cars in Carroll often interfere with intersections she needs to cross streets.

CADC celebrates 25 years as engine for area growth

The Carroll Area Development Corp. this week marked its 25 anniversary as an engine of job and commercial growth in Carroll County and the surrounding areas. Current members and past leaders met for a luncheon and historical perspectives at the Carrollton Centre.

School board approves sharing agreement for transportation director

Research conducted by the administration of the Carroll Community School District into the comparable salaries of transportation directors in like-sized districts was presented to the CCSD Board of Directors during a special meeting Monday afternoon.

DNR official: Library plan 'poster child' for land rehab

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources official who played a key role in freeing the former General Electric property in Carroll for re-use says a developing plan to rehabilitate blighted or underutilized land south of the railroad tracks for a new public library is a  “poster child” for the possibilities of brownfield redevelopment. “This is one of the best projects I’ve seen come before me in the last five years,” Mel Pins, a DNR executive officer and coordinator of the Iowa Brownfield Redevelopment Program, told the Carroll City Council on Monday.

Thanks to mom, Allison Sporrer a baking whiz

Baking with family has been a tradition in Allison Sporrer’s family for as long as she can remember. She credits her love of baking to her mother, Trudy Wittmaack, of Carroll, whom she describes as a “wonderful cook.” She has fond childhood memories of preparing holiday goodies and other treats with her mother.

As Relay rolls, Carroll County selected for cancer study

Drew Hodges was only 20 years old when he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma the day before Thanksgiving, but he dedicated the rest of his life to raising money to help find a cure for cancer. “He spent a lot of time working toward raising money toward cancer research,” said his mother, Kathy Hodges. “He believed in Relay for Life, he believed in research.”

Storm stays, rebounding economy boost hotel tax

When the final numbers are in Wednesday Carroll City officials will see a 5 percent increase in hotel-motel tax collection this fiscal year, City Finance Director Laura Schaefer said. In the fiscal year ending June 30, the city will have collected $204,404 compared with $195,105 for the previous fiscal year.

Carroll homes selling faster than last year

Carroll homes are moving off the market and into the hands of buyers more quickly this year than in 2009, according to data from local realtors’ Multiple Listing Service. In 2009, the average number days on the market for a single-family home was 101 compared with 81 so far for 2010. That said, the average sales price for a home fell by 2.3 percent from 2009 to 2010 to this point, going from $110,966 to $108,366.

CHS team makes contest history

Oh baby, did this Carroll High School History Day contest team nail it. Seniors-to-be Maria Bohling and Julia Evans brought home fifth-place honors out of scores of entries in the senior-level (grades 9 through 12) group-exhibit at National History Day competition held June 13-17 at the University of Maryland  in College Park.

Haunting 'Restrepo' jars us through soldiers' war weary eyes

From May 2007 to July 2008 journalists and filmmakers Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger embedded themselves with the men of Battle Company of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, 2nd Battalion in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley. The valley was widely considered the most dangerous posting in the war. (1 comments)

City tackles $2.4 million in summer street work

Some significant street work in Carroll is now under way with more to start soon. In total, the city has scheduled $2.4 million worth of street work to start this summer with contracts that could take completion of some elements into the fall. “It’s a busy construction season for us, probably more street work than we’ve had for a few years,” said Public Works director Randy Krauel.

Teacher contract negotiations may be headed to arbitration

Negotiations between the Carroll Community School district and the Carroll Education Association on salary and benefit packages for the 2010-11 school year continue. “They are not yet settled, yet, we have set a date for arbitration,” said superintendent Rob Cordes.

Reynolds brings his tool chest to Auburn

AUBURN — Ed Reynolds can’t help it. Collecting is in his blood. He’d been interested in antiques most of his life, especially old hand tools, and began collecting during a 30-year career in the Air Force.

Hand-pouring phase slows trail work

With the current pace of construction, paving of the Sauk Recreation Trail between Maple River and Carnarvon should be completed by late August or early September, according to Carroll County Conservation director Mark River. Jasper Construction of Newton is pouring concrete to pave nearly 13 miles of trail between Maple River in Carroll County and Carnarvon in Sac County.

Filmmakers documenting Lakers' Carroll landing

A documentary film crew led by a father-son tandem prominent in the Los Angeles media interviewed several Carroll residents Monday about the Minneapolis Lakers emergency landing here 50 years ago.

Tough grandma Conlin not looking for popularity

Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate Roxanne Conlin makes it clear she’s not seeking Bill Clinton-like affirmation for herself, and an estimable career as an attorney and advocate, in the November election. “I wouldn’t strive for popularity,” Conlin said. “That’s not high on my list.” (2 comments)

Carroll infantrymen depart for war

As Carroll bid safe journey to its soldiers Sunday, the troop who wanted most to leave had probably the largest group of supporters wishing he’d stay. Nearly a thousand attended a sendoff ceremony for Carroll’s National Guard unit, which has been activated for its second deployment to Afghanistan in six years. (1 comments)

Rapid growth prompts expansion at Puck Custom Enterprises

According to Ben Puck of Manning, if necessity is the mother of invention, then the need for efficiency must be the father. Puck, who has incorporated an efficiency theory into a lifetime of agricultural pursuits has used it once again to become an industry leader in drag hose manure application. And he, his wife Kathy  and their four children, Jeremy Nancy, Mary and Danny recently celebrated another chapter in the family business with the grand opening of a newly constructed facility for Puck Custom Enterprises (PCE).

Carroll County buys all-wheel-drive grader

Offered a lower bid of $264,439, the Board of Supervisors on Monday bought an all-wheel-drive motor grader for the Carroll County Secondary Roads Department. County engineer Dave Paulson reported that Ziegler Cat of Des Moines had reduced its quote $17,000 by adding a five-year full warranty valued at $7,000 and an allowance of $10,000.

CCSD sets goals for students' improvement on yearly tests

Since receiving the results of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) and Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITEDS) assessments at last month’s board meeting, developing the school improvement goals for the 2010-11 school year has become a priority for the Carroll Community School District and the Board of Education. In fact, CCSD superintendent Rob Cordes told the board at Monday night’s monthly meeting that development of the annual goals is one of the most important jobs the board faces each year.

CCSD's Reiter to add to transportation duties

Carroll Community School District transportation director Tom Reiter will be holding an even more diversified position beginning next year. Last school year, Reiter and the district entered into an agreement with the Ar-We-Va Community School District for sharing of the transportation director’s duties. In this agreement one day a week would be devoted to Ar-We-Va and the other four to CCSD, with Ar-We-Va providing 20 percent of the director’s weekly salary.

Big day in Sac County with U.S. 20 groundbreaking

SAC CITY — Northern Iowa economic-development and business leaders will join federal and state officials in celebrating a groundbreaking today for the beginning of the four-laning of U.S. Highway 20 across Sac County. The official start is today for a five-mile stretch of federal roadway from N28 on the Sac County-Calhoun County line to N14, one mile east of Sac City. It’s the first phase of the full county four-laning that’s part of a broader effort to see that all 305 miles of U.S. 20 is four-laned across Iowa.

Packed house expected for Guard unit sendoff

A huge crowd is expected for Sunday’s farewell program for Carroll’s National Guard unit. About 100 members and soldiers attached to Company A, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry will be departing for a deployment to Afghanistan. The Iowa Army National Guard will conduct a sendoff ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Carroll High School gym. The public is invited.

OUR FAMILY FAVORITES

If you would like to share your family’s favorite recipes, or know someone with western Iowa ties who we should feature in an upcoming article, please send an email to Jane Lawson at janeyburns@yahoo.com describing recipes and the stories behind them.

CHS senior's star burns bright in video game world

There are some people who have a knack for certain skills and activities; Reggie Miller had the jump shot, Peyton Manning has touchdown passes. Brandon Hansen, 17, of Carroll, has Halo — the wildly popular XBOX and XBOX 360 game, in which he is currently ranked 200th in the entire nation and has previously been ranked even higher than that.

Study: I-JOBS stimulus created 7,000 new jobs

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An economic stimulus plan pushed by Gov. Chet Culver has created more than 7,000 new jobs since the program began, according to a study released Wednesday. The plan, dubbed I-JOBS, called for the state to borrow more than $800 million for flood recovery and infrastructure repair. It was approved by the Legislature after record flooding and has funded nearly 1,700 projects, the report showed.

Lakers players plan return to celebrate landing

Two former members of the Minneapolis Lakers are planning to attend a fall commemoration of the professional basketball team plane’s emergency landing here a half century ago — and there’s strong indication that more players and team executive Jeanie Buss will travel to Carroll as well.

Youths are offered RARE opportunity

Ah summer. Time for kids to kick back, relax and forget as much of the knowledge they acquired over the school year as possible. Even many parents might admit to being guilty of this as well. Well, Carroll High School student Adam Smith, 17, wants kids to change up that same-old summer routine. Smith, whose father, Ed Smith, is the vice president and chief financial officer of St Anthony Regional Hospital, and mother, Vicki Smith, is an accountant for Devansoy, is asking Carroll’s youth to be “RARE” this summer. And by that he means he is encouraging local fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders to “Read and Run Everyday” this summer.

Figure 8 racing season opens Saturday with new grandstand

COON RAPIDS — Fans at the Carroll County Fair Figure 8 Races will have extra elbow room this season. The fair board has constructed a new grandstand, adding a thousand seats on the north side of the fairgrounds track.

Mayor: City's website should 'sell' Carroll

Carroll Mayor Jim Pedelty now has the city council’s support for a plan to dramatically improve the city’s website. As it stands, cityofcarroll.com is, in Pedelty’s words, a “functional” site without much punch or pizzazz. (1 comments)

St. Paul Lutheran showcasing 125 years of history

For many people, trying to wrap their minds around the concept of 125 years is pretty difficult to do. That is exactly why the idea was born for a visual representation of what that time span can encompass and it has been used as a launching point for two special upcoming celebratory milestones for St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carroll. “I am a visual person and if you tell me 125 years, it goes right over the top,” said congregation member Shari Toft. “I thought we should see the 125 years, and it just grew from there.”

Major U.S. 30 corridor work starts Monday

Construction on a key piece of the Corridor of Commerce project is expected to start mid-morning Monday, bringing with it some major temporary changes to traffic flow on U.S. 30 and some major north-south city streets in the center of Carroll. “This is going to be a little bit frustrating for drivers in general,” said Carroll Police Chief Jeff Cayler.

Thicke looks to promote wind, value added ag for farming community

Francis Thicke says the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture should be full of big ideas. And this Fairfield-area Democrat is traveling the state — with a freshly published 124-page book in hand, “A New Vision for Food and Agriculture” — detailing a smorgasbord of ideas from a lifetime in agriculture.

Carroll man, 23, dies while tubing

SAC CITY — A Carroll man is presumed to have drowned after being injured while tubing on the Raccoon River on Tuesday. The Sac County Police Department said James Greenlee, 23, was hurt while tubing with Justin Baker, 23, of Carroll about 9 p.m. The injury wasn’t specified in a press release. The men exited the river at a bridge in the 200 block of Main Street in Sac City. Baker left to retrieve his vehicle and when he returned, Greenlee was gone. Authorities conducted a foot search Tuesday night. The search resumed Wednesday morning with assistance by dive teams from Carroll, Denison and Dickinson County as well as the Sac City Police Department, Sac County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Greenlee’s body was found Wednesday afternoon downstream from where he was last seen, according to Sac City Police Chief John Thomsen. The incident remains under investigation.

Northey urges farmers to tout Iowa agriculture

LIDDERDALE — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey on Wednesday asked Carroll County farmers to spread the word about Iowa agriculture. “We take for granted just because it’s so familiar, and it’s always been here,” Northey told an audience of about 150 at the 92nd annual meeting of the Carroll County Farm Bureau.

U.S. 30/Griffith Road signals expected in 2011

One of the long-running local public-works issues is expected to be off the planning charts and functional by the fall of 2011. City officials have approved an engineering-services contract for traffic signals at U.S. 30 and Griffith Road, a key intersection in Carroll’s eastern commercial corridor. What’s more, funding is lined up for the work.

Celebration of life turns into hairy deal for Locks of Love

How do you celebrate a gift of 10 more years of life with the outlook for many more healthy years in the future? For Kari Knievel, who 10 years ago received her diploma from Kuemper Catholic High School shortly after undergoing months of treatment for chronic myelogenous leukemia, her heart goes out to those who today are engaged in similar battles for their lives.

Double celebration in Manning: Kinderfest and all-school reunion

Believed by the organizing committee to be the oldest children’s celebration in the United States, Manning’s 127th annual Kinderfest promises to be anything but run of the mill. This year, a joint effort with the Manning Alumni Association (MAA) is allowing the community to build a weekend-long celebration around the traditional children’s day.

County mulls a return to all-wheel-drive motor graders

Carroll County is considering buying two all-wheel-drive motor graders. County engineer Dave Paulson made the suggestion at Monday’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors. Paulson said the county’s fleet of 15 graders is aging, with several nearing 12,000 hours of use, the point when engine and transmission breakdowns can be expected.

City looks to get tough on tall grass, weeds

Driven by escalating problems with unsightly properties owned by absentee landlords, the Carroll City Council Monday took the first step to give police expanded powers to deal with so-called “nuisance” houses. The council unanimously passed the first of three necessary readings of the city’s nuisance ordinance. A key addition will be provisions allowing police to get involved when grass grows taller than 8 inches and weeds hit 12 inches on developed property. (2 comments)

Swan Lake generates nearly $10m

Swan Lake State Park pulled 107,500 visitors and generated $9.7 million in economic activity in 2005, according to the Iowa Parks Foundation. “That is something to the local economy,” said Kent Sovern, executive director of the Iowa Parks Foundation.

City eyes 6% sanitary sewer hike

Carroll City Council members Monday will consider a proposal to increase the sanitary sewer rate for next fiscal year 6 percent — followed by another 6 percent the following year. In total, the rate would go up 12.4 percent from today to June 30, 2012.

Staiert started kids on education journeys

After 37 years of teaching, 36 of which have been as a kindergarten teacher at Fairview Elementary in Carroll, Linda Staiert can’t walk down school hallways, or even the streets of Carroll, without being greeted by a current or former student or the parents of the same. “When you are walking the streets of Carroll, no matter where you are, they will say, ‘Hi, Mrs. Staiert.’ And I will always ask how school is doing or what they are doing now,” she said of her former students. “There is always that bond that you have, and it is a bond that I don’t think you can find in any other occupation.”

Democrats tab Muhlbauer to run for Iowa House seat

In a special convention Monday night, Manilla farmer and Crawford County Supervisor Dan Muhlbauer received the Democratic nomination for the 51st District Iowa House race.

Grassley still swinging for biodiesel credits

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, continues his efforts to pass an extension of the biodiesel tax credit. (2 comments)

CR-B students speak up on 'America's Role in the World'

National security, whether it be relative to our military, our economy or our environment, is on the minds of many people here at home and across the nation, and whether most people see it or not, it is also on the minds of youths in our communities. A major difference between the two groups is that the youth feel that they do not get the option of voicing their opinions on such weighty matters. But there are changes coming on that front as well.

U.S. Highway 30 to get new look in Carroll

U.S. Highway 30 in Carroll is expected to have a decidedly different look before the end of the year as the Corridor of Commerce revitalization moves to the federal route in earnest. Carroll City Council members Monday approved a bid of $907,000 from Badding Construction for Phase 5 of the Corridor project, which will include decorative paving centerpieces in the intersections of U.S. 30 and Main, Adams and Carroll streets. The plan also includes streetscape work and lighting consistent with the previous phases of the ongoing commercial corridor work.

Federal grant awaited for Carroll airport project

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 Godbersen-Smith Construction was the low bidder on both phases of building a taxiway parallel to the main runway at Carroll’s Arthur N. Neu Municipal Airport. However, the Carroll Airport Commission must now await the Federal Aviation Administration’s award of a grant for the project before officially awarding contracts to the Ida Grove company. Carroll airport officials said the FAA has given approval to proceed with the project. The expected FAA grant funds will pay 95 percent of the more than $1.4 million cost, with the City of Carroll paying the other 5 percent. When completed, the 35-foot-wide, concrete taxiway will parallel the main runway, which is 5,500 long and 100 feet wide. In the most recent action, Godbersen-Smith submitted the low bid of $594,241 to build the north 2,200 feet from the intersection with the crosswind runway.

Willey parish keeps alive Corpus Christi tradition

WILLEY — Father Tim Johnson of Holy Spirit Catholic Parish in Carroll is one of the busiest men in the county. He is one of the first people to arrive at any bedside or at the home of anyone in need in the area, and at this time of year, he is also preparing for a special traditional celebration in the adjacent St. Mary’s Parish in Willey, the Feast of Corpus Christi, which is a celebration of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Carroll Guardsmen leaving for Afghanistan on Aug. 1

Carroll will send her sons and daughters off to war in 19 days. A ceremony to bid members of the Carroll National Guard unit a safe deployment to Afghanistan has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, at Carroll High School. The Iowa Guard encourages the public to attend. (1 comments)

Hotel open in Lake View, interest in related land

LAKE VIEW — More than 700 people turned out Sunday afternoon for the grand opening of a new hotel in Lake View. The $1.3 million, 32-room Boulders Inn & Suites is part of a 10-acre development in Lake View south of U.S. 71 and east of Blackhawk Marine.

Changes made to sweeten success of Candy Classic

Funds generated by the annual Candy Classic Golf Outing benefiting New Hope Village have increased every year, although the number of golfers participating in the event has declined.

Iowa Democratic chair dismisses talk of problems

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The new chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party dismissed suggestions of angst within the party, arguing that while Republicans have been waging high-profile primaries, Democrats have been quietly building a formidable field organization that will pay off in November. Sue Dvorsky, of Coralville, took over the party this summer after former chairman Michael Kiernan stepped down for health reasons. As its leader, she faces a number of challenges.

Aquatic Center draws over 900 on 1st weekend of season

The Memorial Day weekend opening of the Carroll Family Aquatic Center drew total attendance of 915 — 300 Saturday, 200 Sunday and 415 Monday. Weather cooperated nicely on Saturday and Monday, with temperatures in the 80s and sunny skies. Sunday was cooler and windy, and the center closed early because of rain and thunder.

Kuemper considers proposal on varsity letters in trap shooting

Larry Greving and Royce Stangl, representing the Carroll County Trap Shooting Club, addressed the Kuemper Catholic School System Board of Education at their regular meeting on Monday, May 17, to request the consideration of trap shooting as a sport eligible for student lettering. Currently, Glidden-Ralston, Coon Rapids-Bayard, IKM-Manning, Kuemper and Carroll Schools have students that participate in the club, and CR-B, IKM-Manning and Glidden-Ralston have approved the sport’s participants to be eligible to receive a varsity letter.

Memorial Day program salutes veterans

Army Reserve Master Sgt. Carey Promes has served three tours of duty that have taken him to Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and he’s encouraged by progress he’s seen. Promes was one of the featured speakers at the Memorial Day program Monday morning at Carroll Cemetery.

CMS's last-day fun celebrates success of Mini Relay for Life

The last day of school for Carroll Middle School students was more than just fun and games. It was about giving something back while having a whole lot of laughs at the same time. CMS students held their first-ever Mini Relay for Life for American Cancer Society. But instead of walking, they modified the activities to include a morning filled with outside activities like dodge ball, kickball and softball and a healthful sack lunch. They also learned more about how to lead healthful lives and reduce the risk of cancer.

Nepple named Bomgaars Manager of the Year

Carroll Bomgaars leader Mark Nepple has been named Manager of the Year for the Sioux City-based chain of 59 stores. Nepple, 30, a Kuemper Catholic High School graduate and resident of Mount Carmel, earned the honor for the store’s continued strong performance and his role as a leader there, company president Roger Bomgaars said in an interview with the Daily Times Herald.

GOP cuts Democrats' voter-registration lead

DES MOINES (AP) —Republicans have narrowed the gap with Democrats in voter registration numbers in Iowa, a result of last month’s primary election.

Tucker helping with response to gulf spill

A Coast Guard reservist with Carroll-area ties is leading a cleanup sector for the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Chief Warrant Officer Rodney Tucker is one of 17 federal on-scene coordinators activated when the Coast Guard Reserve began heading the federal response to the spill. Each coordinator leads a staging area for monitoring, booming and cleanup operations.

Scholarships to remember Stoolman

The family of Sheryl Stoolman and the St. Anthony Foundation have established a memorial scholarship for students pursuing healthcare careers. Stoolman, a longtime emergency-room nurse at St. Anthony Regional Hospital and emergency medical technician for Carroll County Ambulance Service, died May 13 in a collision at Beaver while transporting a critically ill patient.

Horses dragged driver as he tried to stop rampage

BELLEVUE, Iowa (AP) — The buggy driver whose horses trampled spectators at this town’s Fourth of July parade had tried desperately to stop the rampage, clinging to the reins as the animals dragged him down the street, his family said Monday. Mardell Steines was in the buggy with his wife, Janet, his daughter-in-law, his 7-year-old grandson and his 5-year-old granddaughter Sunday when the horses bolted toward the end of the parade, injuring 24 people and killing Janet Steines.

Breda bank's green-space plaza welcomes visitors

BREDA — Bicyclists and walkers visiting downtown Breda on the newly paved Sauk Trail will be able to relax at the Breda Savings Bank’s new green-space plaza.  Breda residents already have been taking advantage of the comfortable, attractive space that was designed and built by Clausen Landscapes.

Addressing shortfall, CCSD raises meal prices

For the past four years, the nutrition program at the Carroll Community School District has been running at a deficit. Because of this, the board of directors must take a closer look at the cost of breakfast and lunch prices as well as the expenses associated with the nutrition program and find ways to cover the over $20,000 imbalance.

BP internal probe focuses on other companies' work

COVINGTON, La. (AP) — Oil giant BP said its internal investigation of the unchecked Gulf oil spill is largely focused on work done by other companies as a new government report Tuesday showed workers at the federal agency that oversees offshore drilling accepted sports tickets, lunches and other gifts from oil and gas companies.

9 early dismissals for AIW approved

A request for nine additional professional development days at the Carroll High School to use for Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW) staff training was a source of concern for some of the Carroll Community School District Board of Education members. “I struggle with giving up classroom instruction time, but I also see the benefit of AIW,” said board member LaVern Dirkx. “So, I guess you have to have a trade off. For one year, I am willing to experiment.”

CCSD tests improve, although math lags

It is not necessarily the reading and writing that need to be the focus of educational goals for the Carroll Community School District in the next school year, but the arithmetic instead. The spring test Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) and Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITEDS) for the district revealed that math was the one area in which the prior year’s goals were not met.

Body of Carroll drowning victim recovered at Okoboji

Funeral arrangements are pending for a Carroll man who drowned in West Lake Okoboji on Sunday. The body of Chad Lenz, 30, was recovered shortly after 1 p.m. Monday. Authorities said Lenz, who was boating with his wife and two children near Pike’s Point State Park, stopped their boat and jumped off about 1:30 Sunday afternoon to retrieve an article of clothing that had blown into the water. “We can clearly say that he did voluntarily jump from the boat, but that’s about all we’re going to be able to say at this time,” said Gary Owen, an officer with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, told The Spirit Lake News. Lenz wasn’t wearing a life jacket. Recovery teams, including divers from the Iowa Great lakes and from southwestern Minnesota, searched until dark Sunday and resumed at 6 Monday morning. Lenz’s body was found in 38 feet of water southwest of Pike’s Point, not far from where he entered the water, authorities said. Arrangements are pending at Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll.

Supervisors approve hiring 2 road workers

For the first time in about a decade, the workforce of the Carroll County Secondary Roads Department will expand. The Board of Supervisors on Monday approved a recommendation by county engineer Dave Paulson to hire two maintenance workers.

Carroll fifth-graders Speak Up at Rotary

Carroll Community Schools fifth-graders Monday taught the Rotary Club all about the correct use of cell phones, the perils of substance abuse and offered a few tips on farming and other issues. The students, part of the highly successful and long-running Speak Up program through RSVP, spoke during the Rotary’s Monday luncheon at the Carrollton Centre.

Lanesboro bar, storage building destroyed in early morning fire

LANESBORO — A downtown bar and an adjacent storage building were destroyed by fire early this morning. Lanesboro firefighters were dispatched to The Real McCoy at 1:15 a.m. on a report of flames emanating from the bar building at 206 E. Main St.

Carroll man presumed drowned at Okoboji

SPIRIT LAKE — Dickinson County authorities resumed a search this morning for a Carroll man believed to have drowned in West Lake Okoboji on Sunday. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Chad Lenz jumped from a boat to retrieve a piece of clothing that had blown into the lake. Lenz, who was boating with his wife and two children, wasn’t wearing a life jacket. The incident was reported at 1:36 p.m. A search was conducted until dark Sunday night and resumed at 6 this morning. Assisting at the scene were the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire/Rescue & Dive Team, South Central Dive Team of Trimont, Minn., Spirit Lake Fire Department, Okoboji and Milford police departments, Dickinson County Emergency Management and the DNR.

Carroll pulls $937,000 in Alliant rebates

From 2000 to 2009, residents and businesses in the city of Carroll collected $937,000 worth of energy-efficiency rebates for natural-gas service through Alliant Energy, company officials told the city this week.

Determination, cause propel Schons' extra effort for Relay

The challenge was great, but so was the determination to strike back against cancer. That attitude carried the 20 Schon family members and friends across the finish line Sunday, May 2, in the 33rd annual Lincoln (Neb.) National Guard Marathon and Half-Marathon.

KCHS awards diplomas to 70 Class of 2010 grads

Kuemper Catholic High School awarded diplomas to 70 seniors in the school’s 55th annual commencement ceremony Sunday afternoon. Featured speakers were valedictorian Brandon Boldt, son of Jeff and Barb Boldt of Carroll, who plans to study biology at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., and salutatorian Alex Wiederin, son of Mike and Julie Wiederin of Mount Carmel, who plans to attend the University of Iowa.

Lafferty Tuition Foundation has a close call in Legislature

The most important tuition funding program for Kuemper Catholic Schools, the Monsignor Lafferty Tuition Foundation tax credit program, was one of the programs that came very close to being reduced due to budgetary and proprietary concerns this year in the Iowa Legislature. “The overall story of the legislative session was the budget,” Tom Chapman, executive director of the Iowa Catholic Conference (ICC), told a group of Kuemper patrons gathered at the Bishop Greteman Center in Carroll on Wednesday.

King: Obama pressure on BP a 'shakedown'

U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, took to the national airwaves this week to attack President Obama for pressuring British Petroleum to create a $20 billion escrow fund to pay for damages related to the two-month-old oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, King’s Democratic opponent in the fall, Matt Campbell of Manning, strongly criticized the western Iowa Republican’s defense of Texas Congressman Joe Barton’s characterization of Obama’s meeting with BP officials as a “shakedown.” “I think Joe Barton was spot-on when he called it a ’shakedown.’ That’s part of this administration’s process,” King said Monday on the Laura Ingraham radio show. (1 comments)

Cityview: How To Cheat In School

A professor who is a nationally regarded expert on academic cheating explains some of the ingenious ways students cheat today.

ISEA honors volunteers to local schools

The Lincolnway Uniserv unit of the Iowa State Education Association has honored men and women of the Carroll area who have dedicated their skills and their time to local schools.

Lidderdale plane crash victims remembered

Orlan Kellenberger constantly had the townsfolk of Lamar, Mo., scratching their heads. “People were always saying ‘What’s he up to now?’” said mayor Keith Divine. Kellenberger who with wife Mary died when their small airplane crashed outside Lidderdale on June 13, was involved in several successful businesses, and they had big plans for their adopted hometown in southwestern Missouri. (1 comments)

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

• CCSD’s Reiter to add to transportation duties • CCSD sets goals for students’ improvement on yearly tests • Rapid growth prompts expansion at Puck Custom Enterprises • Carroll County buys all-wheel-drive grader • Coon Rapids-Bayard Crusaders post 4-2 win at Panorama • Knights defeat Atlantic in Hawkeye 10 Conference game

Council steps up regulation of outdoor recreational fires

With outdoor fireplaces and pits growing in popularity, the Carroll City Council Monday took the final step to expand rules on recreational fires in the city. The council passed an ordinance regulating such fires on a 5-1 vote with Councilman Tom Tait in dissent.

Westside State Bank plans fall opening of new, larger bank

WESTSIDE — Motorists driving between Carroll and Denison in recent weeks have no doubt seen significant construction activity on the north side of U.S. Highway 30 in Westside. A major increase in assets over the last decade has led the Westside State Bank to begin building a new facility in that city scheduled for completion this fall.

Grassley says Congress will do what it can to prevent another major spill

As the environmental catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico continues to worsen two months after a British Petroleum well began spewing oil, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley on Thursday said the federal government will do what it can to ensure that such a spill never happens again.

Storms bring wind, hail, 2 inches of rain

A slow-moving thunderstorm Thursday night and a squall Friday brought more than 2 inches of rain as well as high winds and small hail to the Carroll area. No injuries or damage were reported, however.

Write-in votes cast in last week's primary

ABSENTEE BALLOTS: ARCADIA PRECINCT,CARROLL WARD 1,CARROLL WARD 2 and north half of Maple River Township,CARROLL WARD 3 and south half of Maple River Township, CARROLL WARD 4, EDEN PRECINCT, EWOLDT PRECINCT, GLIDDEN-RICHLAND PRECINCT, PLEASANT VALLEY-NEWTON PRECINCT, SHERIDAN-GRANT-JASPER PRECINCT, UNION PRECINCT, WASHINGTON-ROSELLE PRECINCT &WHEATLAND-KNIEST PRECINCT

The Collison catalyst

Construction is expected to start in September on a major addition and remodeling project at St. Lawrence Catholic Church that is financed by a spectacularly successful campaign with one local family providing a signature gift in the form of a donation of 80 acres of Carroll County farmland. Parish pastor Father Timothy Schott Wednesday completed some of the final paperwork on the donation from Richard and Mary Jane Collison and the Richard and Maxine Collison Family Trust.

KCHS students gain valuable lessons from Habitat work in Iowa

It is not where you go, but what you do that matters most, six Kuemper Catholic High School students learned from this year’s Habitat for Humanity mission trip. This year’s trip changed direction, instead of going from North to South, went from North to Northwest.

Lake City killings ruled murder-suicide

The three deaths at a farmhouse outside Lake City on Friday have been determined to be a double murder and suicide. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office said this morning that a joint investigation with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has showed Luke Schleisman, 20, shot his fiancée Paige Gallo, 19, and her friend Heather Campbell, 20, with a shotgun then turned the gun on himself. (1 comments)

Republican leader advocating Roberts as running mate

TREYNOR — A Pottawattamie County Republican leader is leading a petition drive and public-relations campaign aimed at getting Carroll Republican Rod Roberts selected as GOP gubernatorial candidate Terry Branstad’s running mate. “We’re looking to work on his behalf,” said Jeff Jorgensen of Treynor, a member of the Pottawattamie County Republican Central Committee.

Plane crash claimed lives of Missouri couple

The victims of a plane crash outside Lidderdale on Sunday have been identified. Orlan Eli Kellenberger, 64, and his wife, Mary Margaret Kellenberger, 64, both of Lamar, Mo., died when their Beechcraft A36 Bonanza lost power, crashed and burned, according to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

King says Obama favors blacks

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican congressman suggested that President Barack Obama favors blacks over whites, prompting a GOP candidate to cancel a fundraiser headlined by the Iowa lawmaker. (10 comments)

Workers, firefighters prevent major blaze at co-op

DEDHAM — Swift action by employees and volunteer firefighters averted a major elevator fire at the Dedham Co-op on Monday. Employees working at the co-op’s chemical facility observed smoke emanating from the roof of the company’s east elevator at 4:15 p.m., according to manager Roger Shaw.

Family cites domestic violence in deaths

LAKE CITY — Three days after discovering three young adults dead on an acreage southwest of Lake City, authorities have disclosed little more than the victims’ identities. The Calhoun County Sheriff’s office said it responded to a 911 call of a disturbance at 1631 400th St. about 1:30 a.m. and found the bodies of Luke Schleisman, 20; Paige Gallo, 19; and Heather Campbell, 20. (5 comments)

2 killed in plane crash near Lidderdale

LIDDERDALE — Carroll County authorities and the Federal Aviation Administration are attempting to learn the identities of a man and woman killed in a plane crash on Sunday. A single-engine Beechcraft A36 Bonanza sputtered, lost power, crashed and burned one mile west of Lidderdale about 5:40 p.m. Carroll County Sheriff Doug Bass said two bodies were recovered from the wreckage, which was strewn across several hundred yards of a muddy soybean field along Phoenix Avenue between 160th and 170th streets.

Carroll Farmers Market: New season, new location

Carroll Farmers Market organizers believe the market is on the right track for future growth. The farmers market opened for the season on Wednesday at its new location — under the canopy at Carroll Depot Centre, on Fifth Street, just west of downtown.

Harkin, Grassley differ on congressional role in football shuffling

Iowa’s two U.S. senators have expressed concern about possible conference realignment in college football that could knock Iowa State University out of the Big 12 and send the Cyclones searching for a less-prestigious athletic union. But U.S. Sens. Tom Harkin and Charles Grassley took decidedly different views this week on whether the federal government has any place in the shuffling at all.

Democrats touting Muhlbauer for House nod

Manilla farmer and Crawford County Supervisor Dan Muhlbauer has been tabbed by the Carroll County Democratic Central Committee to get the Iowa House District 51 nomination. Committee members made the selection this week, and Muhlbauer accepted after discussing with his family.

Daily Times Herald launching new Web site

The Carroll Daily Times Herald is in the process of updating its Web site, carrollspaper.com. (7 comments)