News

U.S. Rep. Dist. 1 recount shows minimal change in votes

Published by admin on Wed, 12/04/2024 - 11:21am

     On Wednesday, Nov. 27, incumbent Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks was declared the winner of the U.S. Representative District 1 race.

   Following the Nov. 5 election, Democrat Christina Bohannan filed for a recount due to the closeness of the race, a difference of 802 votes.

Performance results for district show both positives, negatives

Published by admin on Wed, 12/04/2024 - 11:17am

   A website that delves into the performance of schools within the Monticello Community School District, and any other district in the state, for that matter, is available and easy to use for the public.

   MCSD Curriculum Director Robyn Ponder took a deeper dive into that website (iaschoolperformance.gov) to present recent district testing results, both positive and negative, to the Monticello School Board at its Nov. 25 regular meeting.

County road program hearing, schedule proposed

Published by admin on Wed, 12/04/2024 - 11:16am

     Jones County Engineer Derek Snead proposed his Five-Year Road Construction Program public hearing for Monday, Dec. 23, at 8 a.m.

   (The Board of Supervisors will take official action to set the hearing during their Dec. 3 meeting.)

   During the Nov. 26 Jones County Supervisors meeting, Snead and Assistant Engineer Todd Postel presented their proposed construction program to the board.

Supervisors favor Migrant Inclusion Group, capital improvements with ARPA funds

Published by admin on Wed, 12/04/2024 - 11:06am

     The Jones County Supervisors have until Dec. 31, 2024, in which to commit their remaining $284,000 in federal ARPA funds.

   Dec. 31, 2026, is the deadline for expending the funds.

   The county was initially awarded $4 million in ARPA funds.

Migrant Inclusion Group requests ARPA funds for ESL technology

Published by admin on Wed, 12/04/2024 - 11:05am

     As Dec. 31 fast approaches, the Jones County Supervisors have until the end of the year to commit roughly $284,000 remaining of ARPA funds.

   Funds then have to be expended by Dec. 31, 2026.

   With that in mind, Mary Melchert and Keith Stamp, both of Monticello, met with the board during their Nov. 26 meeting to request $4,000 of those ARPA funds to help purchase technology for the non-profit Jones County Migrant Inclusion Group.

Vote Yes Committee is celebrated at meeting

Published by admin on Wed, 12/04/2024 - 10:44am

   A vote by the Monticello School Board to accept the abstract of votes for the recent passage of the bond issue for a new elementary school also became a celebration of the Vote Yes Committee that helped make it happen.

   Four members of the committee were on hand at the board’s Nov. 25 regular meeting to receive congratulations, and certificates of appreciation, from Superintendent Brian Jaeger.

Coalition requests county opioid settlement funds

Published by admin on Wed, 12/04/2024 - 10:40am

     Jennifer Husmann, project coordinator with ASAC (Area Substance Abuse Council), and members of the Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition, were present during the Nov. 26 Jones County Supervisors meeting to request funding from the county's opioid settlement fund.

   Husmann requested $8,750.71 of the roughly $120,000 remaining in the fund.

Snead to be county’s temporary ADA coordinator

Published by admin on Wed, 12/04/2024 - 10:33am

   County Engineer Derek Snead followed up his discussion during the Nov. 19 Jones County Supervisors meeting regarding the county's ADA transition plan with action on appointing an ADA coordinator, which was on the board's Nov. 26 agenda.

   "We’ve been talking about our Title VI policies and assurances," noted Snead.

   While he hasn't reached out to smaller counties in Iowa, similar to Jones County, as to how they handle ADA compliance, he said larger counties have actual departments for this type of work.

Jones Co. Jail cells shut down by inspector

Published by admin on Wed, 11/27/2024 - 11:58am

     It has become apparent that a new Jones County Jail is on the horizon…

   During the Nov. 19 Jones County Supervisors meeting, Sheriff Greg Graver and Jail Administrator Sarah Tate met with the board to discuss the recent jail inspection, which led to shutting down three cells due to much-needed repairs and maintenance.

   “The first topic is going to be the three cells that the inspector shut down. The second topic to discuss is that the jail does not meet the needs of the staff and the inmates,” noted Tate.

U.S. Representative Dist. 1 recount begins in Jones Co.

Published by admin on Wed, 11/27/2024 - 11:53am

     Democrat Christina Bohannan, a candidate for U.S. Representative Dist. 1, which includes Jones County, requested a recount following the results of the Nov. 5 General Election. Bohannan trails incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Republican, by 800 votes.

   This means each county within the 1st District (there are 20 counties) must recount all of the ballots from every precinct within those counties.

   County Auditor Whitney Hein explained the recount process during the Nov. 19 Jones County Supervisors meeting.

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