Syngenta looks at Grundy County Rep says decision is over a year away
By ADAM HARRINGA Editor Grundy County could be in the running for a new corn production facility.
After the county was in serious contention for a Monsanto plant (which is being built in Independence), Syngenta Seeds Inc. is now considering Grundy County for a corn production facility.
However, a spokesperson with Syngenta said they are in the very early stages of their timeline, and they have not begun to narrow their search yet. The spokesperson said they anticipate being able to announce a location in mid-2009, with a facility completion date in 2010.
Although many community members are eager for Syngenta to choose Grundy County, Melanie Kirkpatrick, Director of the Grundy County Development Alliance, said they realize nothing is definite, and said Syngenta is looking at other states as well as other counties. [MORE]
Nick Buseman lights the fireline with the headfire in the background at Grundy County Lake last week.
Prairie burn!
By KEVIN WILLIAMS Grundy County Conservation Director On Tuesday, April 29, the Grundy County Conservation Board held an exciting public program at the prairie area at Grundy County Lake.
Gabe Demarest, intern for the past few months, presented information on the history of prairie fires including excerpts from a document written by E.H. Beckman and his pioneer accounts of a prairie fire in Grundy County in October, 1856. Next, Demarest explained how fire benefited the native prairies and why it is used as a management tool on prairie restorations like the one at the lake.
All the while, Cole Anderson and Nick Buseman, Grundy County Conservation personnel were lighting the backfire along the north side of the 20-acre section to be burned. A backfire creates a buffer area that halts the spread of the fire into other areas. The pioneers used backfires to protect around their farmstead when they saw wildfires approaching. [MORE]
By ADAM HARRINGA Editor The ground was just too saturated. That was the consensus among several city officials, who said that the roughly four and a half inches of rain last Thursday night, a record snowfall this winter and 11 inches of rain in less than a month contributed to the flooding and sewer backup problems last week.
According to the National Weather Service's site at the Grundy Center Sewage Treatment Plant, Grundy Center received 4.43 inches of rain Thursday night and early Friday morning.
With Thursday's rainfall, Grundy Center faced several water problems. Streams became ponds, numerous roads were under water and countless homes faced water damage as rising water found its way through cracks in foundations and the sewer system backed up after it was overloaded with rainwater.
In an attempt to try and alleviate the problem, city workers and the fire department pumped water out of the sanitary sewer system into the storm sewer. City workers could be seen on numerous corners Friday, pumping water out of the sewer system to keep water from backing up in citizens' homes. [MORE]
By ADAM HARRINGA Editor Grundy Center - Whether you smoke or not, the new Iowa smoking law will affect you.
Governor Chet Culver signed House File 2212 the Smoke Free Air Act into law on Tuesday, April 15, making Iowa the 14th state in the nation to pass a statewide smoking ban that includes restaurants, bars and workplaces.
My goal is to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation, which is why I am proud to sign the Smoke Free Air Act, said Governor Culver. This is a bill which reflects commitment and compromise; passion and practicality. Today, we are locking arms, putting partisan politics aside and joining together with one common purpose: to build a healthier Iowa. [MORE]
