Last Chance to Take Advantage of the Friends of the Perry Public Library Book Sale Today
The Friends of the Perry Public Library are hosting their second quarterly book sale of 2015 this week.
A variety of items, including books for two dollars or less, CDs, audio books and DVDs will be available for purchase.
The sale continues Saturday from 10am-2pm.
All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to support library programs.
For more information, call 465-3569.
Thirteen Dallas County Dispatchers Handle Between 250 and 300 Calls Per Day
As National Telecommunicators Week continues, today we take a look at how things work in the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office communications center.
Director Terry McClannahan has been with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office since 2008 and started his current position in June of last year. He says their department currently has 13 dispatchers that handle between 250 and 300 calls per day, though there are plans to add one part time and one full time position in the next fiscal year, starting in July.
He says dispatching is a unique job that requires a special type of person, stating that the process of hiring someone is one thing, then they have to go through at least six months of training.
McClannahan says no two days are alike and the dispatchers never know who, or what, is on the other end of the line when they pick up the phone.
“We get what you call ‘butt dials’ all the time, and in our business, that could be somebody needing help that just can’t talk. So we stay on those lines as long as possible and go the extra mile to send responders, and sometimes it can save a life.”
As for when to call 9-1-1, McClannahan says “If it’s an emergency to you, it’s an emergency to us but we don’t know that until we talk to you.” He says they have a lot of lines and while they are busy, this is what they’re hired to do.
McClannahan says the dispatchers he works with are his “heroes every day.” Adding that they “really do an exemplary job here for Dallas County with the limited resources that they have.”
As we’ve mentioned, voters in Dallas County will have the opportunity to vote on a referendum to build a new facility for the Sheriff’s Office this August. McClannahan says they really need a new facility and he hopes residents will support the necessary expansion.
Portions of P48 and F59 to Close Monday
A heads up to Dallas County residents, portions of P48 and F59 will be closed starting next week.
According to the Dallas County Road Department, Henningsen Construction is expected to start the paving project Monday, weather permitting.
During construction, the road will be closed with barricades and access will be provided for local traffic only. Crews will need the full width of the road to work, similar to when they did the second layer of paving last fall. Because of this, residents may only have access from one direction at times. Once the paving is done, crews will work on the shoulder of the road and the highway will remain closed to through traffic until the project is completed.
Anyone with questions can call the Dallas County Road Department at 993-4289.
Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Dallas County
News that many have dreaded for quite some time has come… the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been found in another Iowa county, this one in our own backyards.
According to the Department of Agriculture, the invasive beetle was positively identified in a residential tree, in the southeast corner of Dallas County. A local arborist contacted state officials about a suspect ash tree and upon investigation, identifiers found characteristic galleries, recent woodpecker activity and live larvae.
Considered to be one of the most destructive tree pests ever seen in North America, the EAB kills all ash tree species.
Dallas County is the 21st County in Iowa where the Emerald Ash Borer has been confirmed. A statewide quarantine was issued in February of 2014 and remains in effect. This means hardwood firewood, ash logs, wood chips, and ash tree nursery stock cannot be moved out of Iowa into non-quarantined areas of other states.
According to the Department of Agriculture, the window for preventative treatment of ash trees is now through mid-May. Anyone who lives within 15 miles of a known infestation is encouraged to have a landscape or tree service company bid on work to protect their healthy ash trees.
Raccoon River Valley On Track for Normal Precipitation Levels
Last week ended on a wet note and this weekend could also bring additional precipitation to the Raccoon River Valley.
According to the National Weather Service, Jefferson received 1.43 inches of rain since our last report. Perry saw just over half an inch and Guthrie Center received just over a quarter of an inch.
So far this month, Guthrie Center has received the most precipitation with over 2.5 inches. Just under 2.5 inches has fallen over Jefferson and Perry has received just 1.5 inches.
Normal precipitation totals for the month of April are between 3.37 and 3.76 inches.