New street and avenue signs are being posted throughout Mower County as part of the 911 mapping system.

Thursday, March 16, 2000

New street and avenue signs are being posted throughout Mower County as part of the 911 mapping system.

According to Mower County Sheriff Barry J. Simonson, the first signs were posted in the Lansing Township area.

The signs complete a major overhaul of the county’s public safety communications system. No longer will communications dispatchers have to consult plat books and give general directions to the scene of an emergency.

Each resident and business in greater Mower County has been assigned a house/business number along a designated numerical street or avenue.

The hanging of intersection signs will complete the upgrading, which Sheriff Simonson said will be a "real plus for emergency responders."

Barn burns to ground

Rodney Lang lost a barn to fire late Wednesday evening.

According to a Mower County Sheriff’s Department report, the Grand Meadow Volunteer Fire Department was called to the Lang farm near the intersection of Mower County CSAHs No. 8 and 1 at 11:26 p.m. Wednesday.

When they arrived, the barn was engulfed in flames.

The Stewartville Volunteer Fire Department assisted Grand Meadow volunteer firefighters.

No livestock was in the barn, but Lang estimated his loss at $25,000.

The cause is unknown.

Runaways arrested

Three runaways from the Minnesota Sheriff’s Youth Program’s Austin Ranch School were apprehended in West Des Moines, Iowa Wednesday.

The trio of males ages 12-17 face second degree felony theft charges in connection with stealing two vehicles.

The runaways first stole a van in Austin and drove it to Britt, Iowa, where they abandoned the vehicle and stole an auto before proceeding to West Des Moines, Iowa.

Both vehicles were recovered and returned to their owners, according to an Austin Police Department report.

Burglars take money

Persinger’s Equipment, Inc., 2001 Fourth Street NW, was burglarized Tuesday night.

According to an Austin Police Department report, thieves gained entrance by prying open a locked door.

Once inside, they took money from a cash register and a drawer.

The burglary was discovered by employees reporting to work Wednesday morning.