Local News

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings where local staff will provide updates on recently completed hunting and trapping seasons, discuss possible changes to rules and regulations, and address other topics as requested.

Locally, the Iowa DNR will be at Decorah City Hall, 400 Clairborne Drive, Decorah, on Feb. 27. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.

“We want people to come out, listen to the seasons reviews, ask questions and hear directly from our staff,” said Todd Bishop, chief of the Iowa DNR’s Wildlife Bureau. “Part of the meeting will be devoted to discussing potential rule changes and collecting feedback as we work through the rules process.”

By Pam Reinig
Register Editor

Ten minutes into the February 3 caucus, Brian Bruening got the first inkling that he was in for a long night. Bruening, who is a precinct chair and also chair of the Clayton County Democrats, opened a newly created election app on his smartphone to enter the number of participants who turned out at his precinct.

He was kicked out of the app seconds after logging in.

“I got a ‘restart app’ message but when I tried to do that, nothing happened,” Bruening said.

Bruening’s experience played out across most of Iowa’s 1,700 precincts. It seems nobody was able to get the app to work. In the days leading up to the caucus, instantaneous results were promised but in the end, results trickled in. Nearly four days would pass before an official tally was announced.

Several years ago, Iowan Kelly Campbell found himself in a classic good news-bad news situation. The good news: Through her work, his wife had earned a free vacation. The bad news: Campbell wasn’t sure they had extra funds for the additional expenses they might accrue on their trip.

In hopes of earning some extra cash, Campbell, who was a stay-home dad, applied for a temporary job with the U.S. Census Bureau. The bureau was ramping up for its 2000 count and needed thousands of “enumerators” nationwide. Paid training, a flexible schedule and great pay appealed to Campbell. The experience was so positive that he stayed with the bureau and today works with them as a partnership specialist.

The Clayton County Sheriff’s Office was recognized for 35 years of appreciation from the National Child Safety Council.  The Clayton County Sheriff’s Office will once again be providing child safety and drug education materials for all children, preschool and older, as well as their parents.