Archive for July, 2009

The class of 2009 at Central College has raised nearly
$2,000 for limestone benches to go on the green roof of
the new Education and Psychology building. 122 members of
the class raised the funds, exceeding the challenge from
the presidents office to match $1,700 and achieve
participation by 40% of the class.

The Knoxville Public Library Friends of the Library
booksale is taking place August 13th from 1 to 7 p.m. and
August 14th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the library.
Residents are encouraged to help for the sale by donating
books in good condition by August 12th.

Beginning this weekend, visitors to Lake Red Rock will get
a week off from paying day use fees. This will include
boat ramps at Whitebreast, South Overlook, Marina Cove and
Howell Station and the beach at Whitebreast. The U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers is waiving day use fees in an attempt
to encourage visitors to use the recreation areas. The day
use fees at Red Rock will be waived from August 1st
through the 9th.

Knoxville Hospital & Clinics is hoping to become the first
hospital in Iowa to become a Baby Friendly Hospital.
Hospital spokeswoman Katrina Nelson says being a Baby
Friendly accredited hospital means that a new mother has a
better chance of establishing breastfeeding successfully
and going on to exclusively breastfeed their baby for a
longer period of time. She says the hospital is working to
meet standards by the World Health Organization to attain
the Baby Friendly status in the near future.

Visitors from all around the world make Pella a
destination every year to take in the sights and enjoy the
local businesses. Bonnie Verberg, Director of the Vermeer
Mill and Pella Historical tells KNIA/KRLS News in the
08-09 fiscal year, guests from every state but Maine and
nearly 40 total countries worldwide signed their
guestbook. Verberg says an emphasis on vacations close to
home has boosted in-state tourism, as well as day trips to
Pella from residents of surrounding cities.

Tuesday Pleasantville Fire Department, Knoxville Rural
Fire Department, and Marion County Sheriffs Deputies
responded to a controlled burn that was not called into
the Marion County Sheriffs Office. Sheriff Ron Goemaat
says residents need to call the Sheriffs Office before
burning leaves or other wood products. He says residents
should call 828-2220 to let dispatch know that a burn is
taking place, and not an emergency fire.

The addition of traffic lights at the intersection of
Washington and West 3rd in Pella is a matter of weeks
away. Thats according to Pella Public Works Director Denny
Buyert, who says the contractor for the project recently
notified the city of plans to begin work in the second or
third week of August. The intersection is currently
controlled by a four-way stop sign placed in the center of
the roadway.

As the Knoxville VA Campus continues its transition to Des
Moines, the newly-restructured Knoxville VA Taskforce is
continuing its regional outreach. Knoxville Mayor Harv
Sprafka says members are focusing on developing
relationships with health-programs at area universities,
and updating Congressman Leonard Boswell next month on
plans for a Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, or C-BOC.

Tuesday marked the initial payment of funds from the
latest disbursement phase of Governor Culvers I-Jobs
program, which included the payment of $17,519 to the
community of Monroe. Knoxville and Pella were awarded
approximately $75,000 and $96,000, respectively. The funds
are intended to help create jobs, strengthen the economy
and improve the states roads and bridges.

After hours without water service since Tuesday morning
due to a construction mishap which affected a 16-inch
water main, water was restored to the 3M Plant in
Knoxville by 11 p.m. Tuesday. 3M Plant manager Greg Couves
says the plant re-opened for the night shift in full
operation. Water service to Knoxville Estates and other
parts of the city was restored early Wednesday morning.