News

Absentee ballot request period opens

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced the absentee ballot request period for the June 7 primary election is now open. Voters wishing to cast their ballot through the mail can submit their request for an absentee ballot. Iowa law allows a 70-day request period for absentee ballots.County...

Survey collecting information on deer and furbearers

Staff with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are currently conducting their annual nighttime spring spotlight surveys across the state, collecting information on Iowa’s deer and furbearer populations.The annual survey is conducted until mid-April in each county, beginning an hour after...

.410s can be used in turkey hunting starting July 1

The Iowa Legislature recently passed a law allowing .410s as a legal method to hunt wild turkeys. This new law will be effective beginning July 1, 2022, and DNR will develop rules to implement the new law.“This is just a reminder to our hunters that our seasons and regulations are set up to a year...

Commission approves more than 10 amendments to county solar ordinance

The Montgomery County Zoning Commission has taken the first steps towards modifying a hotly-contested ordinance for solar farms, which was approved by the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors at its Feb. 22 meeting.The commission met in regular session March 30 to discuss the potential changes....

Eminent domain objection letter approved by board of supervisors

Only a week after hearing public comment from area landowners speaking out against the use of eminent domain to use county land for the construction of the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors took action opposing eminent domain use as well.On the...

RO Board approves ’23 budget

The Red Oak School Board has finalized and approved its 2022-23 FY budget.A public hearing to discuss the budget proposal took place at the board meeting on March 28. No oral or written comments were received.Board secretary Deb Drey outlined key details from the budget. Expenditures in 2023 were...

Liljedahl reflects on past year as IPPA president

Essex native Dennis Liljedahl is reflecting on his successful tenure as president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association.Liljedahl has a rich history in pork production, operating a three-generation family farm based in Essex. The farm was once a farrow-to finish-operation, but has transitioned to...

Red Oak Fire named department of the year

The Red Oak Fire Department has been named the Iowa Firefighters Association’s Fire Department of the Year.The award, which was presented to the ROFD on March 19, is one of the highest honors given by the Iowa Firefighters Association. Red Oak Fire Chief John Bruce said it is given to a department...

Leftover ARP funds finalized

On Tuesday, March 22, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors has finalized a resolution allocating leftover American Rescue Plan Act funds for government use.Supervisor Donna Robinson said a number of counties have taken funding and put it to use in a number of ways.“There are some that used...

Pathogenic Avian Influenza confirmed in Page County

Page County Conservation and Public Health officials confirmed on Wednesday, March 23, the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the migratory snow geese population at Rapp Park in rural Shenandoah. This is not an uncommon occurrence for wild birds to have avian influenza; however, they want to make...