Center Point News

Elvin Mackerman, 75, owner of the Peony Garden in Center Point, is tired. His life's love and work -- cleaning the rows of peonies, showing off the luxurious blooms at the annual Memorial Day open house, dividing the plants and sending them off to buyers in the fall -- has begun to wear him out.

Linn County Sheriff's Department officers investigate a Chevrolet sedan that was driven into the median on Interstate 380 southbound, just north of the Boyson Road exit in Hiawatha, Friday after a several-mile high-speed chase.

On Wednesday, a Dickinson County judge informed Appletree Preschool and Daycare that an injunction had been filed, permanently keeping its owner from providing child care in Iowa.

One person is dead and another is injured following a motorcyle accident in Linn County.

Nicholas Joseph Vance, 21, of 1624 Park Towne Place No. 3 in Cedar Rapids was arrested for drunken driving at 1:02 a.m. Sunday, Jun.

Earl Ray Reid, 87, of Urbana, Iowa, and Yuma, Ariz., died Sunday, May 24, 2009, at Life Care Center of Yuma following a lengthy illness.

Drew Frericks, 34, of Swisher, was taken to the hospital Sunday after he was thrown from an all-terrain vehicle he was operating near Center Point, the Linn County Sheriff's Office said.

Three people were hurt and two 18-year-olds were thrown from a car during a rollover accident just west of Center Point on Tuesday.

Stephan Peterson, 41, of Center Point, was taken to the hospital tonight after he lost control of his motorcycle along North Center Point Road north of Toddville, the Linn County Sheriff's Office said.

Adam Davenport, 22, of Toddville, was taken to the hospital this afternoon after the car he was driving left the road and went into a shed, the Linn County Sheriff's Office said.

Below is the election summary report for the Local Option Sales Tax: Center Point YES 287 NO 112 Hiawatha YES 599 NO 155 Marion YES 2813 NO 1620 Robins YES 567 NO 93 Walford YES 16 NO 7 You must be logged in to rate this story.

In Linn County most cities voted yes for the local option sales tax in March but it didn't pass in Hiawatha, Center Point, Marion, Robins and Walford.

On Tuesday, parts of Linn County will vote again on a similar local option sales tax in Center Point, Hiawatha, Marion, Robins, and Walford.

No injuries were immediately reported after the twister touched down at about 4:53 p.m. east of Center Point and west of Central City.

For some people, running a marathon is on their life's "To Do" list. After 44 marathons, one eastern Iowa man has decided to run longer than he ever has, hoping to save others from the same disease that claimed his father's life.

Weather officials believe a tornado touched down this afternoon in Linn County, causing damage to farm residences and destroying campers at a campground.

U.S. Rep. Steve King is downplaying speculation he'll run for governor next year, saying his statewide activities are aimed at mobilizing people around conservative issues he supports.

The upcoming Linn County revote on the local-option sales tax hearkens back to my days in elementary school when you could have a vote on some subject and if you didn't like the results all anyone had to do was declare a do-over and keep on having do-over votes until finally the desired outcome was achieved.

Asphalt resurfacing on I-380 in Cedar Rapids will cause lane closures beginning Tuesday, the Iowa Department of Transportation said Friday.

Atirica Dempsey, 20, and three passengers in her vehicle were taken to St. Luke's Hospital Wednesday morning after she lost control along Interstate 380 near Center Point.