News

One driver injured in three-vehicle accident

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 9:07am

     A three-vehicle accident took place on Wednesday, March 12, at around 10:52 a.m. near the intersection of S. Cedar Street and E. Grand Street.

County road contract rock letting, March 25

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 9:05am

     During the March 11 Jones County Supervisors meeting, the board approved a request for bids for contract rock. The letting will take place on Tuesday, March 25, at 10 a.m.

   “It’ll be very similar to what last year’s quantities were,” noted County engineer Derek Snead, “a mix again of roadways, either 400 or 800 tons per mile.”

   The 800 tons of rock per mile will predominately be used on those roads that are wider, heavier traveled, and/or had surface stabilization treatment (magnesium chloride) in the past.

Potential government shut-down impacts sewer plant project

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 9:04am

     Due to a potential federal government shut-down and the elimination and reduction of several federal government agencies recently, a payment to the contractors on the Monticello Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project is up in the air.

   The Monticello City Council held a special meeting on Monday, March 10. On the agenda was the 10th pay request from Bill Bruce Builders, Inc. out of Eldridge, Iowa, in the amount of $216,552.06.

Council, supervisors discuss solid waste-related legislation

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 9:03am

     This article pertains to information shared at both the March 10 Monticello City Council meeting and the March 11 Jones County Board of Supervisors meeting.

   The Monticello City Council held a special meeting on March 10. Council member Dave Goedken, who is a liaison to the Jones County Solid Waste Management Commission, updated the council on some recent legislation concerning solid waste collections that made it out of the legislative funnel in Des Moines.

Final defendant sentenced from Anamosa drug investigation

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 8:52am

     On March 10, Matthew Ian Hutchins, Anamosa, was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison for the offense of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of Iowa Code Section 124.401(1)(c). Hutchins is the last defendant to be sentenced for charges stemming from an intensive drug distribution investigation that began at the end of October 2023, and led to arrests on drug-related offenses for all of the residents of 1000 E. First St. in Anamosa, on Aug. 30, 2024.

Soil test, contract amendment approved for Public Safety Facility

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 8:45am

   During the March 11 Jones County Board of Supervisors meeting, the board took action on two agenda items related to the future Public Safety Facility in Anamosa.

   They approved a geotechnical evaluation contract with Chosen Valley Testing, Inc., with operations in Iowa, to perform a soil-boring test on the land that the county purchased for the facility. The cost of the test is $5,625.

Downtown fire impacts several businesses, residents

Published by admin on Wed, 03/12/2025 - 9:21am

     “If you were here yesterday (Saturday, March 8) it was completely full. Now there's nothing. The Honeybee is OK. I just want you to focus on Denise's (Zirtzmans and Ardusers) family and the Payne family, the other businesses. I was just getting started, but we still have other businesses to worry about,” shared Sarah Lagunes-Kraus, owner of The Honeybee Boutique.

Not everyone on board with proposed county wage increases

Published by admin on Wed, 03/12/2025 - 9:18am

     Several Fiscal Year 2026 budget items were touched on during the March 4 Jones County Supervisor meeting.

   The board held a budget work session on Feb. 28 and approved the wages for elected officials and non-union county employees for budgetary purposes only. The official increases will not be set until the FY2026 county budget is set and adopted in late April.

Vote to eliminate land grants voted down by council

Published by admin on Wed, 03/12/2025 - 9:18am

     An item on the Feb. 17 Monticello City Council agenda that was tabled failed to seek enough votes to go through during the March 3 meeting.

   Council member Dave Goedken asked that a discussion and possible action concerning land grants be placed on the Feb. 17 council agenda. After much discussion that night, any action was tabled, pending further information.

Winter road conditions play role in accident

Published by admin on Wed, 03/12/2025 - 9:15am

     A two-vehicle accident took place on March 4 at 7:15 a.m. on Highway 38 and River Road, just outside of Monticello.

   According to the report from the Iowa State Patrol, Esdras Perez Velazquez, 31, of Monticello was driving a 2010 Chrysler Sebring northbound when he lost control due to the winter weather and road conditions. Perez Velazquez slid into the southbound lane where he struck a car driven by Cathy Lueck, 65, of Dyersville. Lueck was driving a 2020 Chevy Colorado.

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