News

Montrose, IA – Montrose is making its case to be named one of Iowa's Great Places. The statewide initiative, which was created earlier this year, provides communities the chance to enhance themselves with some help from the state. Montrose is one of more than 140 vying for a spot as one of the three Great Places pilot projects. The community hopes to recieve some help with its riverfront improvement project, but Mayor Ron Dinwiddie says the project will move forward no matter the state's decision.

Macomb, IL – The manager of Illinois' Entrepreneurship Center Network came to Macomb to outline help available for those wanting to start or build a business. Jaime Viteri says the state is working to create one place for entrepreneurs to go for help. He says the state wants more businesses to start up and become successful. Viteri says the most common need is technical help, although the state also gives guidance with marketing, attracting capital and other needs. The centers also offer referrals for help with developing a business plan.

Keokuk, IA – Keokuk Mayor Dave Gudgel says he has a rare form of cancer. He found out about the diagnosis last week and is now taking medication to battle the disease. Gudgel says he will continue to do his job and he plans to run for reelection in November. Gudgel is serving his second two-year term as mayor. He received 70% of the votes to defeat four other candidates in 2003. Gudgel declined to say what type of cancer he has, but says it was caught in the early stages. Listen to reporter Jason Parrott's interview with Gudgel by clicking on the audio button above.

Keokuk, IA – Keokuk's mayor has announced that he has cancer. Dave Gudgel says he found out about the diagnosis last week. He will not name type of cancer, only saying that it is a rare form. Gudgel said he wanted to make the information public so people know what is going on. He says he will stay on as mayor and plans to keep his name on the November ballot for another two-year term. He will be on a regimen of medication.

Keokuk, IA – A coaliton of Lee County's elected leaders says one county supervisor should take personal responsibility for a budgeting mistake and leave office. The group, which includes the county attorney, auditor, recorder, sheriff and treasurer, says recent statements made by Supervisor Bob Woodruff are not true. The coalition says Woodruff should resign because he has failed to live up to his agreements and failed to tell the public the truth. The mistake involves about $400,000 in state aid Lee County did not receive for its Mental Health and Disabilities Fund.

Macomb, IL – The State of Illinois wants the Go West bus system to start charging a fare. State grant money helps support the system. Revenue from fares would allow the state to reduce the amount it needs to spend on it. The proposed fare would be 25-cents in Macomb. For routes outside the city the fare would be one-dollar. Students from Western Illinois University would not be charged a fare because they already pay a fee to support the system. The fare would not be implemented until next summer. The average weekly ridership for Go West is about 36,000 when school is in session.

Augusta, IL – The Village of Augusta is receiving a $74,000 Brownfields grant to assess a partially collapsed downtown building. Board president Sean Eifert says the board has also been told it's been targeted to receive money from a pool of fines paid to the EPA. Eifert says that money would provide what the village now cannot afford -- demolition of the old store building. He says the building collapsed about three years ago, but the owner did not have insurance, so the structure has not been removed.

Keokuk, IA – The Lee County Board of Supervisors has voted to create three larger rural voting precincts by combining several groups of smaller ones. County Auditor Anne Pedersen says the move should not have a major effect on how her office handles elections. The proposal calls for Cedar, Marion and Franklin townships to form one precinct, while Denmark, Washington and Green Bay townships combine into another. The third precinct would include Des Moines, Charleston and Van Buren townships.

Cartrhage, IL – Carthage aldermen approved two water main projects. City Clerk Katherine Graham says the jobs will be bid soon and repairs should be completed this summer. She says there were two breaks within a week, placing the work on an emergency basis. She says the city will try to shift allocations to cover the cost.

Rushville, IL – An open house in Rushville Sunday afternoon will show off restoration of a cabin in Scripps Park. The cabin was originally built for a caretaker for "The Virginia." That's the community building given to the city by the Scripps newspaper family. Restoration Committee member Bebe Reisch says it took more than $45,000 in donations to restore and furnish the two-bedroom cabin. She says a second cabin was used by members of the Scripps family when they visited Rushville. Reisch says the committee hopes to have the second cabin restored next year.