News

County closes bridge on 145th Street

Published by admin on Wed, 12/13/2017 - 9:24am

     The Jones County Board of Supervisors approved the closure of a bridge over Mineral Creek located on 145th Street in Cass Township.

     During the Dec. 5 board meeting, County Engineer Derek Snead informed the board about the deteriorating structure.

     The bridge is located at a dead-end on a Level B road, providing access to just two different properties, one owned by the state. The bridge has been posted at a 3-ton load limit since 2013.

JETS rates to increase Jan. 1

Published by admin on Wed, 12/13/2017 - 9:22am

     At the start of 2018, the transportation rates for JETS will increase.

     JETS Manager Kathy Koerperich approached the Jones County Supervisors during their Dec. 5 meeting about increasing rates.

     “In the 24 years I’ve been here,” she said, “we’ve only raised the rates once.”

     One-way fares within cities in Jones County are currently set at $2. Koerperich is proposing to increase that to $3. One-way fares between cities in Jones County are set at $3; the proposed increase is $5.

JRMC to receive new mobile MRI unit

Published by admin on Wed, 12/13/2017 - 9:21am

     UnityPoint Health – Jones Regional Medical Center (JRMC) will be one of the first locations in Eastern Iowa to receive a wide-bore mobile MRI unit.

     A wide-bore mobile unit is unique because it offers a larger opening for patients. The new trailer will be at JRMC three days per week. The MRI unit will be operational at JRMC later this month.

Jones Co. opts out of opioid-related litigation

Published by admin on Wed, 12/13/2017 - 9:11am

     After the Jones County Supervisors received a letter from ISAC requesting the county join in litigation against pharmaceutical firms responsible for damages to the public in misrepresenting the safety of using opioids, the board is opting not to participate.

     During the Dec. 5 board meeting, Sheriff Greg Graver and County Attorney Phil Parsons spoke with the board, providing their take on the legal matter.

     Parsons said he contacted ISAC, as well as the research firm from Wisconsin behind the litigation.

Sheriff’s Office takes part in S.T.E.P.

Published by admin on Wed, 12/13/2017 - 9:09am

     The Jones County Sheriff’s Office participated in the Special Traffic Enforcement Program (S.T.E.P.). This program ran from Nov. 19-26.

The Jones County Sheriff’s Office issued:

     • 9 citations

     • 36 warnings

     • 4 felony arrests

     • 1 narcotic arrest

     • 16 motorist assists

     • 4 K-9 interdictions

     • 19 arrest warrants were served

The Sheriff’s Office also investigated:

     • 3 property damage accidents

     • 1 personal injury accident

Garage sale benefits Camp Courageous

Published by admin on Wed, 12/13/2017 - 9:08am

     The Second Annual Camp Courageous Winter Garage Sale opened Dec. 4 for business. Just as Camp Courageous has grown from 211 campers served during the summer of 1974 to over 7,000 individuals served with special needs year-round today, so has the Camp Courageous Winter Garage Sale, held in the camp’s heated main lodge.

Campaign helps empower teens

Published by admin on Wed, 12/13/2017 - 9:04am

     The Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC), in partnership with the Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition and local teens, began kicking off the “You Are More” campaign. During local focus groups, teens reported turning to substances to deal with things such as stress, anxiety, and depression. This campaign focuses on empowering youth to know they can reach out for help if they are feeling overwhelmed by the stresses of being a teenager.

Dec. 11 arraignment set in Covel case

Published by admin on Wed, 12/06/2017 - 10:25am

     After her Nov. 27 preliminary hearing, April Covel of Monticello was formally charged with homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter. The charges stem from a March 8, 2017 accident at the intersection of W. Washington Street and S. Cedar Street in Monticello. Covel was driving a van that hit 8-year-old Cassandra Rieken, causing her death.

     Covel’s next court date for arraignment is Dec. 11.

SAVE tax, other topics discussed at legislative forum

Published by admin on Wed, 12/06/2017 - 10:23am

     Three Iowa state legislators learned about the biggest issues facing educators, and school board members and superintendents from two school districts learned how difficult those might be to solve, during a legislative forum Monday, Nov. 27 at Maquoketa Valley High School in Delhi.

     The Monticello School board joined with the Maquoketa Valley board to discuss key topics with three Eastern Iowa legislators: state Sen. Dan Zumbach, Rep. Lee Hein, and Rep. Louie Zumbach.

Council discusses changes to recycling, spring street repairs

Published by admin on Wed, 12/06/2017 - 10:21am

     There could be some changes to city residential recycling.

     During the Dec. 4 Monticello City Council meeting, the council directed City Administrator Doug Herman to work with Republic Services from Peosta on contract negotiations for recycling services. Republic currently handles commercial dumpster pick up in Monticello. Republic would like to convert the current dumpsters to front-load and would replace them at their cost, no costs to the owners.

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