Pictured are Keith and Laurie Luettjohann, owners of K&L Foods and T&T Liquor, with a new check out wide-screen monitor and terminal behind them. Sigourney News-Review 24.SEP.08 Since the Luettjohanns purchased the Sigourney grocery store nearly 5½ years ago, they have invested quite a bit into the building and by association the surrounding communities and citizens. The most recent investment was new terminals at the check out stands. These new wide flat screens remind customers of personal computer screens. Several customers have commented about how easy they are to read. “The new trend in the grocery industry is 14 digit UPC labels. Our old cash registers could only read up to 12 digits,” said Keith. “There are also new federal guidelines for grocers to be complaint with regards to customer personal information transmitted for electronic purchases.” The new terminals are equipped with the most secure system on the market, which according to Keith, “This allows our customers to feel secure when using their credit or debit cards to make grocery purchases.” [More]

Sigourney News-Review 24.SEP.08 With the departure of Keokuk County Information Technology/HIPAA Director, Jerry Denniston, the County is exploring the various options open to them in an effort to provide County employees the best possible IT service and security for the most economical cost. On Mon., Sept. 22, Supervisors approved the termination date for Denniston as Fri., Sept. 19, but his actual last date of work was Sept. 5. Denniston left voluntarily according to Board of Supervisors Chairman, Richard Denny. During the previous Board meeting on Sept. 15, Denny reported that while he and the County are not allowed to talk about the circumstances surrounding Denniston’s departure, he would love to and stated, “I have never been put into a situation like this one, where I can’t defend myself.” [More]

Pictured above with “Oscar” (front and center) is Mike Wagler (left), the new proud owner of the Keokuk County Expo Grand Champion Steer along with Klint McDowell (right), the 4-H member who raised “Oscar” from a calf and McDowell’s Grandfather, CD Huffman of Keoco Auction at the Sale Barn in Sigourney. Auctioneer and Sale Barn owner, Justin Abell was not available for the photo. Sigourney News-Review 18.SEP.08 For the second year in a row, Klint McDowell of Riverside 4-H Club has won the Grand Champion Steer at the Keokuk County Expo. The 2008 winning steer was “Oscar” weighting in at 1.420 pounds. “Oscar” recently went up for auction with Justin Abell of Abell Auction and the Sale Barn at the mic. With six bidders on the hook, Abell was able to get $1.50 per pound for steer from Mike Wagler, owner and operator of Wagler Motors, Inc. in Sigourney. According to CD Huffman, this is a strong premium over current market prices. The other five strong contenders were: Jim Eversmeyer of Keokuk County Implement, Chuck Cassens of Cassens Mill, Bob Stump of Libertyville Savings Bank/Steve McDowell of Fairfield Pest Control, Harry Durflinger of Kirksville, Mo. and CD Huffman of Keoco Auction. [More]

Merle Lane (left) of the Sigourney Kiwanis presented a $125 check to Becky Berg (right) of the Keokuk County Girl Scouts and Leader of Troop 438 and 573, Co-Leader for 515. Berg said the Girl Scouts plan to use the Kiwanis donation to help girls participate in Scouting which normally may not. Lane also noted Kiwanis donates the same amount annually to the Cub Scout program in Sigourney.

Lavonne Bloem (left) of Keokuk County Hospice Auxiliary presented a check for $5,870 to Sue Hendricks (right) a Keokuk County Hospice staff member. The check represents the proceeds from the pie contest and auction held this past July third.

Bloem was one of the pie bakers for the contest; her submission was a delicate French Silk pie. She is also very involved with KC Hospice Auxiliary.

The purpose of the Auxiliary is to raise monies that help provide care to terminally ill patients. A call can be make to 641-622-2541, if a person has questions about becoming a member of the Keokuk County Hospice Auxiliary.

The Official Results of the Regular School Election as was conducted on Tues., Sept. 9 follow:

Sigourney
Sigourney Community School District, Director District #2 did not receive a petitioned candidate, but two residents stepped forward as Write-In Candidates. Bill Tremmel and Kenny Gretter.
• Tremmel received 1 vote on election day and 1 absentee vote for a total of 2 votes.
• Gretter received a total of 16 votes, all were cast election day.
• District #2 also received a scattering of 1 vote.

SCSD, Director District #7 had Larry Alderson running for another term unopposed. He won the election with 4 votes cast the night of the election. These votes totaled the 23 voters voting in the Regular School Board Election for the SCSD. [More]

Jack and Joyce Barnett were presented with a plaque honoring their dedicated service to the Delta Volunteer Fire Department. Sigourney News-Review 10.SEP.08 Submitted by Hilda Souer of Delta The weekend’s weather for the annual event with “Delta Days – ‘Bridging’ Together” as it’s theme, was ideal. It began with the annual ‘Covered Bridge Run’ on Saturday morning, and concluded Sunday morning with the special Dedication Service for the Replica of the Covered Bridge. Delta Days was Sat., Sept. 6 and Sun., Sept. 7. 15 registered for the ‘Covered Bridge Run’; Talon Munger, Delta was the winner of the trophy in the class for Fastest 1 mile runner for ages 12 and under. Lana DeGroot of Oskaloosa won the trophy for Fastest Female Runner; Christopher Welch of Albia won Fastest Male Runner. [More]

On Wed., Sept. 3 Trooper Rick Diephuis of the Iowa State Patrol attempted to stop a Jeep Cherokee for a stop sign violation. The driver refused to stop and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit continued through Martinsburg and up several gravel roads toward Hayesville.

During the pursuit two bags were thrown out of the vehicle. The pursuit ended after the vehicle went off into a ditch.

The four occupants, Thomas Jay Tollenaar, 39, Jammie Allsup, 47, Joshua Helmick, 26, and Kristen Leggett, 25, all of Ottumwa, fled on foot. Two of the subjects (Helmick and Leggett) were arrested that evening and the other two were arrested at a later date.

The two bags that were thrown out of the vehicle contained precursors in the manufacture of meth as well as a mobile meth lab. The four subjects were charged with several counts in the manufacture of meth. The Division of Narcotics Enforcement was called in to clean up the mobile meth lab.

Tollenaar was also charged with Eluding as well as several Traffic Violations.

Pictured left to right is Garry Deitrich of Ollie on the Independent ticket, Ron George of Keswick on the Independent ticket, Tom Hadley of Delta on the Republican ticket and Jeff Shipley of What Cheer on the Democratic ticket.

KC Sheriff Candidates Speak Out About What They Will Do If Elected To Office

The 2008 race for Keokuk County Sheriff has expanded to four candidates. The Democratic candidate is Jeff Shipley, What Cheer; he won the primary election in June over Ron George, Keswick by 403 votes. The Republican candidate is Tom Hadley, Delta; he won the primary election unopposed. The other two candidates have entered the race on the Indpendent ticket: Ron George, Kewsick and Garry Deitrich, Ollie. Each candidate answered the same 10 questions.

The questions were:
1) How do you feel about citizen deputies?
2) Does Keokuk County have a drug problem? (Is Meth still prevalent?)
3) What would/is the priority of your administration? (Ex: writing tickets, following drug leads)
4) What kind of programs would you like implemented in Keokuk County?
5) Do you feel Keokuk County needs special teams? (Ex: SWAT, posse)
6) What is your experience in law enforcement?
7) What is your educational background?
8) How important is cooperation between law enforcement entities?
9) What do you feel is Keokuk County's biggest issue or trouble spot?
10) What do you plan to do to improve or eliminate the situation in #9?

To read the answers to these questions and learn more about the four Keokuk County Sheriff Candidates, contact the Sigourney News-Review for a copy of the Wed., Sept. 3, 2008 print edition at 641-622-3110 or via email at signred@lisco.com.