Volume 136, Number 41 • Thursday, October 13, 2016
OFFICIAL PAPER FOR Franklin County City of Shef¿eld & West Fork School District Shef¿eld, Franklin County, IA
QUICK START LEADS TO WEST FORK ROUT OF NORTH BUTLER SPORTS: PAGE 10
FCEH OFFERS FREE WATER TESTS AND PROVIDES FUNDS FOR WELL MAINTENANCE $1 per copy
NEWS: PAGE 4
Upcoming Events
West Fork celebrates Homecoming Sen. Joni
Sheffield Lions Club observes Worldwide Week of Service in Sight
View more homecoming parade photos on Page 4
The Sheffield Lions Club will be observing Lions International Week of Service in Sight during the week of Oct. 10-16. The club’s project will be to place a box in the United Bank & Trust office, in Sheffield, to collect used eyeglasses. The public is invited, and urged, to place your used eyeglasses in this box on Thursday or Friday, Oct. 13 or 14. Sheffield Lions Club thanks you in advance for your cooperation.
The West Fork After Prom Committee will hold a Chili Supper from 5-6:30 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 14, before the final home game at the West Fork Football Field. The menu includes chili, chicken noodle soup and cinnamon rolls. The event is free will donation.
The October Franklin County Genealogical Society meeting will be Saturday, Oct. 15, at 10 a.m., at the Franklin County Historical Building Library, on the Franklin County Fair Grounds, in Hampton.
Members showcase 4-H at Funday Sunday Franklin County 4-H invites families to an afternoon noon of fun at Enchanted Acres, 1071 250 St., Sheffield, locatocated just two miles east of I-35 (exit 176) in rural Sheffield, ield, on Sunday, Oct. 16. 4-H members will be leading several veral activities that the public can join in on or watch. 4-H members will be leading Make-n-Take activities ities from 1:30-2:30 p.m., where youth can make simple fall crafts and snacks, followed with a Fun Fall $15 Chalhallenge Fashion Show at 2:30 p.m. Youth in grades 4-12 interested in joining 4-H may y do so at this event. The State 4-H Development fee off $100 per member will be waived by enrolling at this event.. For more information contact Jackie Dohlman, Counoun u nun ty Youth Coordinator, at Franklin County Extension, ionn , (641) 456-4811 or jackied@iastate.edu.
Erika Perkins and Travis Fekkers were crowned the 2016 Homecoming Queen and King. ZACH CLEMENS PHOTO
West Fork student receives citizens award A BY ZACH CLEMENS West Fork senior has earned the Outstanding Citizens Award rd for his actions in the aftermath of the recent flooding Sheffield has as received. Police Chief Sam Cain presented Josh Stevens, a senior at West Fork, Polic k, the award after Stevens found a dangerously low power line during the track rack athlete’s morning run around Sheffield. at It was a Mediacom cable line that was out on 7th and Thompson. on. Cain said he got a knock at his home at six in the morning, with h Stevens there to tell him of the danger. “[The power line] was right on Main Street, and it was so low I could have grabbed it with my hand,” Stevens said. “I saw these cars going by and I figured a tractor or semi coming by is going to take it down and cause a lot of damage.” With Stevens’ early alert, the police were able to redirect traffic, and Mediacom repaired it within an hour without any damage caused. Stevens stepping up is why Cain is commending him. “It’s a unique situation and he felt the need to come tell me that, and I really appreciate it,” Cain said. Stevens received a framed certificate for the Outstanding Citizens Award for going above and beyond as a citizen. “I was just looking out for the benefit of the town,” Stevens sa said.
WF Fall Vocal Variety Show ow The choirs of West Fork High School will present sent their Fall Vocal Variety Show on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m., in the north gym of the Sheffield Campus. Enjoy y an evening of great music and dancing.
West Fork 4-H members selling fundraiser items The West Fork FFA started their annual fruit, meat and cheese fundraiser. This year, MinnTex Citrus, out of Monticello, is contracting the products. A new item added to the fruit lineup is pineapple! The chapter is also selling cookie dough, frozen pizza and goodies along with West Fork tumblers through Harmison Hometown Fundraising. The chapter will be selling these items through Nov. 1. The chapter has set a sales goal this year of $30,000 worth of product. The funds raised will support chapter trips, National and State FFA Conventions, chapter t-shirts, apiary colony and the barn facility. MinnTex Citrus is making a special contribution this year in donation back to the FFA chapter. For each meat and cheese product sold, MinnTex will donate one dollar back to specifically help fund the Animal Learning Facility on the north end of town. If you would like to purchase items during this fundraiser, call Miss Bonzer at (641) 892-4160, ext. 1147, or you get in contact with a local FFA member.
Sheffield AA to meet The Sheffield Alcoholics Anonymous group meets each Tuesday evening in the Fellowship Hall of Zion St. John Lutheran Church at 8 p.m.
Calkins Halloween Hike Hardin County Conservation, in cooperation with Friends of Calkins Nature Area, will be hosting the annual Calkins Halloween Hike on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 5-8 p.m. The event is free to attend, but there is a freewill donation for the meal. The event will also feature a multitude of concurrent activities, educational opportunities, prizes and snacks as well. Activities will include: Trick or Treat Trail (wear your costumes), Ghoulish Games (yard games), Spooky Stories in the Tipi, Prairie Maze, Hayrack Rides, Costume Contest, Owl Pellet Study, Face Painting, Fireside S’mores, Creepy Critters Call (641) 648-9878 or email at calkinsnatureareahccb@gmail.com for more details.
IN THIS ISSUE: Opinion ........................................page 3 Community News ...................page 4-5 Public Notices .............................page 8 ClassiÀeds ....................................page 9 Sports ........................................page 10
BY ZACH CLEMENS s part of her yearly visit to all 99 Iowa counties, Sen. Joni Ernst made a trip to Franklin County by visiting Latham Hi-Tech Seeds in Alexander recently. Latham HiTe c h S e e d s president and vice president, Ernst John and Shannon Latham, and chief financial officer Chris Latham gave Ernst a tour of the facilities and discussed how small businesses can continue being successful.
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West Fork After Prom Fundraiser supper is Oct. 14
October FC Genealogical Society meeting
Ernst visits Franklin County
Josh Stevens (left) was presented with an Outstanding Citizens Award by Sheffield Police Chief, Sam Cain (right). ZACH CLEMENS PHOTO
Sheffield City Council discusses Public Works Projects, progressive dinner BY ZACH CLEMENS he Sheffield City Council had their regular meeting on Oct. 10 and discussed different public works projects among other topics. There will be no tree trimming at the cemetery, as there has not been a quote obtained, so the Council will wait till next year to approve that. The Council received two bids to repair the pump house; both bids were around $7,800 with labor and materials included. The Council discussed the possibility of taxing a portion of the new West Fork Wellness Center, if and when they get a physical therapist in it. City I’d work with Clerk Katy Flint advised the the [Shef¿eld Council that it is up to them if community they place a tax on the business club and or not. Some Councilmen, like Shef¿eld Mike McKee, said they felt the betterment Council should just leave it alone club] for this, and not tax them, as it would not because we be very much revenue. are going Councilman Jim Hegarty said that he was torn, as it was a busito receive ness so they should not get any backlash for special treatment. this. Who The Council will discuss this would have matter at a later date when a insurance physical therapy business is acon this thing tually in place. anyways? A bid to add dashes on Gilman St. from Casey’s General Store to the corner where it RON SIMMONS, councilman curves and turns into South Lincoln. It would be approximately $100 to complete the project. A motion to go ahead with the project was approved unanimously. Permits to allow hunting within city limits were approved by the Council and reviewed by Police Chief Sam Cain.
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See COUNCIL: Page 4
An early morning fire destroyed The Sacred Heart Parish Center on Jan. 12, 2016. Water from fire hoses quickly turned to ice on the minus 4-degree day. FILE PHOTO
Sacred Heart Parish discusses new build An architect is hired to design the new center BY ZACH CLEMENS acred Heart Parish in Rockwell had a congregational meeting on Oct. 5 to discuss, as a group, what the new church center should be used for. Sacred Heart’s community center was lost to a fire at the beginning on the year, and during the summer the structure was removed to make way for a new building to be erected. “Nothing was actually decided, it was more of an informational meeting to talk about the architect and what the church wants to see done with the building,” said Tim Nuehring, a member of the building committee tasked with finding a new architect and getting work started. About 30 members of the parish attended, and they discussed their opinions on what the new building should be used for. There was talk about having it for community use and for religious education. The past center was used to hold community outreach events, religious educations groups, and where a lot of fundraisers were held for the parish. The parish has retained Waggoner and Wineinger Architects out of Mason City for the project. The firm has been in business for over 90 years and has worked with a number of other churches in designing structures for them, including Newman Catholic schools, according to their website. Nuehring said the building committee will meet this week to further discuss the new center and move forward with the project. The new build is funded because the archdiocese out of Dubuque has comprehensive insurance on the building.
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See ERNST: Page 4
Franklin County F Planning and Zoning recommend Zo approval of urban renewal plan ur amendment BY ETHAN STOETZER he Franklin County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that the county supervisors approve of the amendment to the 2015 CoOp Urban Renewal Area/ Urban Re Renewal Plan with NEW Co-Op, cit citing permissions in the land use plan plan. T The Franklin County Comprehen hensive Land Use Plan states: “… Em Emphasis has been on working with exi existing value-added groups, development of value chains and working to develop quality systems to ensure food safety and accountability…” Administrator Russell Wood explained that NEW Co-Op would be taking the raw product of corn and soy, from Iowa, and modifying that product in to something new, thus adding value to the initial product. The feed mill would then count as value added agriculture, Wood said. NEW Co-Op currently has an urban renewal area/plan signed with the county, for its facility at the corner of Highway 3 and Wright Ave. The Co-Op is asking for the plan to expand by 10 acres, and be given clearance for tax rebates. NEW Co-Op is expecting to invest $23.5 million in the new feed mill, adding between 12 and 15 jobs. Previous concerns with the project were the noise level, but after gathering information from the mill in Litterdale, it was identified that the mill would not be producing excessive noise. All equipment would be contained in the building, and be regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational safety and Health Administration.
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