The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday) announced residents of Carroll County have the opportunity to attend FREE weapon’s classes that are needed to provide you with certification for your Permit to Carry, and which acts as a permit to purchase a firearm. If you already have a permit to carry, you do not need to take a refresher course unless you feel it would be of value.

Sheriff Kenneth Pingrey says the class is available to residents of Carroll County, ONLY, and will be held on the following dates/times:

• Saturday, Jan. 19th at 8-a.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 12th at 7-p.m.
• Saturday, March 2nd at 8-a.m.
• Thursday, April 4th at 7-p.m.

Persons wanting to attend one of the classes must present a current driver’s license or ID card. For more information, see the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page or call the non-emergency line at 712-792-4393.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque financial cooperative is finalizing plans to spend about $37 million to redevelop an iconic building in the city’s historic Millwork District. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that Dupaco Community Credit Union wants to acquire and transform the property widely known as the “Voices building” into the cooperative’s new operations center. Dupaco officials are also proposing office space for additional tenants and amenities for the community.

The five-story building once served as a local manufacturing hub but has remained vacant and underutilized for decades. Dupaco Chief Marketing Officer David Klavitter says the project would allow the cooperative to honor its origins. He says the building sits in the same neighborhood where 10 meatpackers started the group in 1948. Dupaco officials say the restoration project could begin early this year.

Firefighters from Kimballton, Elk Horn and Audubon responded to a barn fire Thursday afternoon, a couple of miles east of Kimballton. Former Kimballton Fire Chief Bill Allen told KJAN News the call came in at around 3:38-p.m., from the farmstead at 1170 Highway 44. Allen said the home owner was conducting a controlled burn in a pit, when some of the embers apparently flew up and caught the roof of the barn on fire. Kimballton crews arrived first on the scene and were able to obtain a quick knock down of the flames.

They then entered the barn and put out some smoldering hay that was in the loft. Allen says there really wasn’t much structure damage, thanks in part to the slow start the fire had. Crews were on the property for about two-hours. No injuries were reported.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday for the trial of a man accused of a Davenport slaying. Scott County District Court records say 37-year-old Deondra Thomas has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and weapons possession by a felon. Officers sent to check a report of gunshots on the morning of June 9 found 46-year-old Jason Roberts suffering from bullet wounds. He was pronounced dead later at a hospital. Police say witnesses identified Thomas as the shooter.

Officials with Windstream Communications report the company has deployed fixed wireless technology to deliver broadband speeds up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps) to homes in Audubon and Greenfield.
Windstream says it is using fixed wireless technology as part of its participation in the FCC’s Connect America Fund initiative, which is designed to support network upgrades in rural areas that would otherwise not be economically feasible. Fixed wireless is not a mobile service. Pole-mounted antennas transmit a broadband signal to receivers at each eligible customer’s home or business. The performance of a fixed wireless connection is comparable to wired solutions.

Brad Hedrick, president of Windstream operations in Iowa, says “Fixed wireless technology is an alternative to traditional cable networks that enables Windstream to deploy broadband service more quickly and cost-effectively in rural areas.” Hedrick said also, “We know customers want faster speeds, and we are committed to delivering them.”  Across Iowa, Windstream has invested $28 million in infrastructure improvements so that households in a dozen cities and communities can now enjoy faster internet speeds.

To inquire about availability of fixed wireless, visit Windstream.com on the web.