THE NEWSPAPER THAT SERVES ALL DECATUR COUNTY
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USPS 310-140 LEON, IOWA 50144, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 P.O. Box 580, 111 NW. 2nd, Leon, IA 50144 E-mail: JRNEWS@GRM.NET VOLUME 91 - NUMBER 34
GENERAL ELECTION
Ballot Requests, Tracking Your Ballot and How to Cast Your Ballot As of September 18, the Decatur County Auditor’s Office has received nearly 800 absentee ballot requests for the November 3 General Election. Voters need to submit ONLY ONE Absentee Ballot Request Form; requested ballots will be mailed starting October 5. You may track your request/ballot by visiting the Iowa Secretary of State’s website or via the “Track your Absentee Ballot” link on the county’s website: www. decaturcountyiowa. gov. The Auditor’s Office must receive your request for a mailed absentee ballot by 5:00 p.m, Saturday, October 24. In person absentee voting also begins on October 5 and is available during regular business hours until 5:00 p.m., Monday, November 2, including
TWO SATURDAYS: October 24 (8am-5pm) and October 31 (9am5pm). Voters who vote absentee in person are required to provide proof of identity. The absentee precinct is the Auditor’s Office at the Decatur County Courthouse. On Election Day, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. All voters will vote at their normal polling place, with the exception of voters residing in Van Wert, Weldon, Franklin Township and Long Creek Township, who will vote at the Barnum Community Center in Decatur City. Sample ballots for the General Election are now available for viewing on the county’s website: www.decaturcountyiowa.gov, as well as the list of election day polling places and other election-related information.
Council Says 'No' to Speed Enforcement Program The Leon City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, September 14 and topping the agenda was discussion about a speed enforcement program for the city. The Council had invited representatives from Blue Line Solutions to the meeting to discuss the program in more depth. The program would have consisted of photo laser equipment that would be used in areas of town to help reduce the number of speeding vehicles. The equipment would capture a photo of the speeding violation and after approval by the Leon Police Department a citation would be issued by mail. This program would be at no cost to the City. The fee from the citations would be split with the City and Blue Line Solutions. The discussion continued for nearly an hour and was met with opposition from several members of the community that were present for the meeting. Some concerns
that were expressed by those present included: making people upset; may run people out of town; businesses may hurt because people will go elsewhere. In addition, the council had received two letters, one from a business and another from a concerned citizen, also citing their opposition to this program. Council member Jon Erb made a motion to approve the program, but it died for lack of a second. It was then moved by Councilman Cody Cooper to deny the implementation of the program and it was seconded by Councilman Keith Hinds. The roll call vote was 4-1 – Cooper, Hinds, Sue Kelly, and Dan Moffet voting aye, while Erb voted nay. In other business, the Council voted to not participate in the Employee Social Security Tax Deferral program and approved seven demo grants for dilapidated homes/ structures in the city; and tabled discussion of chickens that are lo-
Westview Provides Hugging Booth for Residents
Marletta Warren and husband Charles embrace at the Hugging Booth.
Pictured back from left – King Candidates: TJ Fallis, Carter Tesch, Haden Leymaster, Chance Bly and Avery Marvin. Front from left – Queen Candidates: Carleigh O'Dell, Emily Cornell, Molly Stewart, Lyndsey Dale and Carlee Hamilton.
CD Homecoming 'Breaking The Norm' Central Decatur School is midstream in their homecoming activities this week. "Breaking The Norm" is this year's theme everyone will be building their excitement around. The school's student council, along with the help of the cheerleaders, planned many activities that began Monday and will continue through Friday evening. Business windows were painted around town by the Student Council this past weekend. Each day of the week is being celebrated with a different theme: Wednesday is Mathletes vs. Athletes; Thursday is Essential
cated at 1206 S. Main. The council also addressed complaints from Tom Clark, Marvin Zach and John Marker regarding the road conditions of Cedar Ridge. After a discussion during the Citizen Opportunity to Address Council part of the meeting, the Leon City Council will make a request that a meeting be set up with the Leon Country Club Board to discuss drainage from the road to begin making improvement plans. Mayor Jason Weir appointed Kimberly VanDyne to the Leon Library Board.
Since the COVID19 pandemic hit last March, Westview Acres along with many other nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Iowa, has had limited interactions between their residents and loved ones. Last week, Westview Acres was innovative in providing an opportunity for the residents with a hugging booth. Charles Warren is pictured at the left with his sweetheart, aka wife, Marletta, who is a resident at Westview Acres, enjoying this Hugging Booth. "These pictures are precious," stated daughter Charletta Durell. It was reported that Tiffany Harper and Tonya were the nursing home staff who made this available to families and that anyone can make an appointment in advance to visit their loved ones.
Honoring Class of 2020
Worker Day; and Friday is "Spirit Day" - Red and White. With the changes of the times, CD has new activities for the students. The traditional spirit boards and class skits are not included in the activities. Instead, each high school class, assisted by their sponsors, is responsible for creating a digital media poster, digital hype video or movie trailer, mascot statue with certain supplies provided, and t-shirt design expressing School Pride. The videos and statues are planned to be available for viewing Friday at the Homecoming game and during the
Assembly. The Student Council will also be selling t-shirts to the school and community of the top t-shirt winner design. Thursday evening, senior football jersey auction will begin at 6:30 p.m. Coronation of the King and Queen will follow at 7:00 p.m. ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD. This year's queen candidates include: Emily Cornell, Lyndsey Dale, Carlee Hamilton, Carleigh O'Dell and Molly Stewart. The king candidates include: Chance Bly, TJ Fallis, Haden Leymaster, Avery Marvin, and Carter Tesch.
53 Cases in County Recovered
21, 2 Adults (18-40) and 1 Older Adults (61-80).
Reported on Monday, September 21, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Decatur County Public Health reported having identified 60 total confirmed COVID cases in Decatur County with 53 cases totally recovered. The 6 new cases reported in the last week occurred on September 14, 1 Middle Age (41-60) and 1 Older Adult (61-80); September 18, 1 Older Adult (61-80) and September
Library Open for Regular Hours
On Monday, the Leon Public Library reopened with regular hours. An appointment is no longer needed to use the library. Regular hours will be Mondays 12:30 - 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays/Thursdays 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Wednesdays/Fridays 12:30 - 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Refer to this week’s In the Library Loop for further details.
Class attendants are: freshmen – Sam Boothe and Hadley Bell; sophomores – Gunnar Smith and Annika Evertsen; and juniors – Tyke Hullinger and Maggie Layton. The crown and football bearers are Paisley Allen and Corbin Thomas. On Friday, the student council will hold a tailgate lunch in front of the North Elementary and High School for students in grades 3-12. Following the pep assembly, the entire student body will be dismissed downtown to line up for the Homecoming Parade which will begin at 2:30 p.m. and follow the usual route. That night, the Central Decatur Cardinals will take on the I-35 Roadrunners beginning at 7:00 p.m. No homecoming dance for the middle school and high school students will be held this year. The introduction of this year's Homecoming Royalty will be around 6:45 p.m. During halftime of the football game Friday night will be performances by the Dance Team, Cheerleaders and Flag Corp. Halftime will conclude with the introduction of this year's honorees, the Class of 2020.
Fire Destroys Farmhouse
On Sunday afternoon, September 20, the Leon Fire Department was called to the farm home of Rick and Leslie Benda located at 23026 194th Avenue south of Decatur. Upon arrival, the firemen found a house fully engulfed in flames. Fueled by the wind, the fire was spreading to a shed located near the house where living quarters were located. The fire was battled for several hours. The firemen were able to slow the spread of the fire to the shed, but not before a portion of the south wall was heavily damaged by the fire. The house was a total loss and the shed, in addition the south side, sustained heavy smoke and water damage. The cause of the fire was not determined and no one was injured. Firemen from Lamoni and Davis City assisted the Leon Department. Crews remained on scene until nearly 6:00 p.m.