BRIEFLY Dean Jewelers to open new location

BRIEFLY

Dean Jewelers to open new location

Studio coming soon: Dean Jewelers is opening 10 a.m. Nov. 23 at their newly renovated Charles City location on the corner of Main Street and Kelly Street, a sign posted on the door announced this week.

“We look forward to serving you here in our all new state of the art Jewelry Design Studio,” the sign read. “We are very excited to continue to be part of Charles City and the surrounding communities.”

Dean Jewelers representatives could not be reached for comments by presstime.

Iowa health department says soy plant emissions not a threat

DES MOINES (AP) — The Iowa Department of Public Health says residents and businesses near a Des Moines soy processing plant face no health threat from the facility’s emissions.

The Des Moines Register reports that a study was conducted following complaints about an Archer Daniels Midland plant in northeast Des Moines. The plant is one of the top producers of hazardous pollutants in central Iowa, and is expected to increase its emissions as it expands production.

The state completed an independent health consultation that evaluated the maximum levels of the compound hexane that will be emitted. The analysis showed levels will remain well below those known to impact human health.

Jeff Witte, a neighborhood association president in the area, says the consultation gave some residents peace of mind.

Sioux City airport board endorses United Airlines as carrier

SIOUX CITY (AP) — The Sioux City Gateway Airport Board of Trustees has endorsed United Airlines’ bid to replace American Airlines as the airport’s only carrier.

The Sioux City Journal reports that United and American are competing for a two-year federal contract to fly at least 13 routes per week between Sioux City and Chicago O’Hare International Airport. United asked for a subsidy of about $324,000 per year, while American requested $1.26 million annually.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is taking public comments on the two proposals through Dec. 7. The airport board’s support for United’s proposal likely will weigh heavily in the federal agency’s deliberations. The contract will be awarded early next year.

Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott says the city council will back the airport board’s decision.

Iowa Board of Education dissolves Farragut School District

FARRAGUT (AP) — A southwest Iowa school district has been dissolved after officials say it had been operating with a negative balance and sub-minimal educational standards.

The Des Moines Register reports that the Iowa Board of Education voted to close the Farragut School District Wednesday.

State officials say the district had a five-year period of deficit spending that was approaching $1 million.

The state’s School Budget Review Committee erased $900,000 in debt in January, almost 40 percent of the district’s budget, to give the district a clean slate.

Officials say the school district still ended this past school year $90,000 in the red.

School district leaders had told the board that it needed just one more year to finish implementing changes and consolidated measures. School Board President Jenny Varellas said closing the district should be a local board decision.