 |
 |
08/10/2009
IOWA NEWS
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Crews are clearing trees and debris after thunderstorms downed power lines and caused damage in central Iowa. .
Some areas reported large hail and winds up to 70 miles per hour this weekend.
Hardin County was hard hit as about 3,000 people lost power. Hardin County Sheriff Tim Smith says two people suffered minor injuries.
Gov. Chet Culver declared made an emergency disaster proclamation for Hardin County.
A National Weather Service meteorologist says the thunderstorms were among the stronger ones this season.
The weather service issued severe thunderstorm warnings Sunday across parts of the state, including Adair and Fremont counties. IOWA-HISTORIC HOTEL
Iowa group to renovate Frank Lloyd Wright hotel
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Frank Lloyd Wright enthusiasts are claiming victory in their effort to restore the architect's last standing hotel.
The Park Inn Hotel in Mason City is a northern Iowa landmark that has fallen apart over the past few decades.
It was designed by Wright and completed in 1910 and has been used as a hotel, apartments and even a strip club.
It fell further into neglect while city officials searched unsuccessfully for a way to maintain the historic structure.
Now a private group has taken over the effort in a planned $18 million restoration.
The hotel is last remaining of six designed by Wright after the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo was demolished in 1968. The Park Inn Hotel will have 20 suites when it reopens to the public in early 2011. SANFORD-MERITCARE
Health system merger could expand services
FARGO, N.D. (AP) Executives planning a merger of the two largest health systems in the Dakotas say it could mean expanded medical services.
Fargo's MeritCare and Sanford Health of Sioux Falls, S.D., hope to compete the merger by the end of the year.
The combined network would serve about 2 million people in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa.
MeritCare already has land south of Interstate 94, on Fargo's western edge, that has been in reserve for development. Emergency room services and the Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo are among its facilities needing more space.
Executives are talking about starting work in five years on a new facility, at an estimated cost of about $300 million.
Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com SHOOTING ARREST-IOWA
Iowa man faces attempted murder in bar shooting
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Authorities say a Cedar Rapids man faces attempted murder charges after he allegedly shot a man outside an Iowa City bar.
Eighteen-year-old Bernard Butler was arrested outside Los Cocos Bar around 1 a.m. Sunday. It was unclear whether he had an attorney.
Police say he allegedly shot another man outside the bar after a fight in the parking lot.
Authorities say the man was transported to an area hospital and treated for a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Information from: The Gazette, http://www.gazetteonline.com/ IOWA SEWER GREASE
Grease a costly problem to cities and businesses
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Tighter rules on the amount of grease restaurants can release into sewers could be a costly problem for small businesses struggling to make ends meet.
The Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority has issued $11,230 in fines to area businesses in the past three years, including a $200 fine to Urbandale restaurant Mama Lacona's.
The restaurant's owner, Jim Lacona, says the cost of the improvements could force him to close.
If the restaurant doesn't make the improvements, Iowa could risk millions of dollars in federal grants and could face fines.
Local officials say they will be forced to close the restaurant if improvements aren't made.
Installing the grease collectors typically costs about $30,000.
Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
© 2002 Associated Press.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
