FPAC LIVE STREAM

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Fairfield Fire Department Capt. Tim Terrell douses a smoldering couch late Sunday afternoon at a 604 N. Court St. house fire. No one was home when a neighbor reported the fire shortly before 4 p.m. Chief Ralph Hickenbottom said the fire started in the living room and was pretty much contained to the one room except for smoke and water damage. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to Hickenbottom.

The Feb. 17 public hearing on Cypress Villages’ petition for incorporation has been postponed.

A strong winter storm dropping out of Canada combined with another winter storm coming out of the southern Rockies will merge over the Midwest to bring widespread snowfall today, tonight and Tuesday.

The Fairfield Community School District’s regular monthly meeting is set for 7 p.m. today in the Fairfield High School Commons.

Blaine Silvers, left, and Kyle Jeffrey said they were making a castle this morning as the children at Pence Elementary School seemed to be thoroughly enjoying their recess in the snow. Other children were involved in making a snowman, rolling in the snow, playing ball or swinging.

“School buses are the safest mode of transportation on the road,” said Verlin Vos, inspector for the State of Iowa Department of Education, shown above checking the tires and suspension of a Fairfield Community School District bus. “If there is ever a problem [that shows up in the inspection], we trust the district to keep that bus off the road until repairs are made.” School bus inspection took place this morning at the district bus barn, with Vos and a highway patrolman doing the check of all the buses. Vos said he handles the tires, suspension, emergency exits, brakes, etc. while the patrolman checks out the lights, stop arm and other electronics. Fairfield district transportation director Fred McElwee said the buses are inspected twice a year, once before school starts and again about halfway through the school year.

As Fairfield continues its efforts to stop sanitary sewer overflows and upgrade the entire system, sewer rates will soon be due for another increase — this time, roughly 20 percent.

Former Ottumwa business owner Rodney Vernon Thorne received a15-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to making a false statement to a financial institution.

On Thursday, February 11th the Center on Sustainable Communities will bring their entire team to visit Fairfield, Iowa.

On Thursday, February 11th the Center on Sustainable Communities will bring their entire team to visit Fairfield, Iowa.