Slater News

Boone County deputies may have been outnumbered Friday night, but with the help of some eyes in the sky they were able to find dozens of underage drinkers at a party just northwest of Slater.

6:45 a.m., Slater, Ia. - The polls hadn't yet opened on this epic Election Day and yet the talk in the voting line already was salty. Sure, Iowa is accustomed to extra time in the spotlight thanks to our first-in-the-nation caucuses. But make no mistake that after our extended wooing as a crucial swing state -- with $12 million reportedly spent for each of our measly six electoral votes -- we're ready to trudge to the finish line of this campaign. And so voters waiting to file into the log cabin -- yes the log cabin -- in Slater south of Ames sprinkled the occasional expletive into their stories of weariness with TV attack ads, junk mail outlining blueprints for middle class security and, above all, relentless phone calls. One woman remarked how she had been so frustrated by no fewer than 13 political phone messages upon returning home one day that she dutifully wrote down every number and called all of them back in retaliation. 20121106-073805.jpgSlater's log cabin in Nelson Park in the center of town doesn't date back all the way to President Abraham Lincoln's 19th century boyhood in Kentucky. But it was built in 1937 in the FDR-World War II era, hewn from native hardwoods from nearby Polk City. A giant American flag hung above the fireplace as poll workers wrangled with the new laptop computer and scanners. Raleigh Altenhofen was the first in line because he "wanted to beat the line." The 34-year-old Department of Transportation employee said that he had made up his mind months ago in this presidential election but preferred to keep his choice to himself. He sipped coffee and chatted about the election before casting his vote: 8 a.m., Berkley, Ia. - The first hour of voting inside the county maintenance shed in the tiny Boone County town of Berkley saw 28 ballots cast. "That's good for Berkley," said Democratic poll worker Ilene Sheeder, who predicted a total of 150 votes would be tallied for the day in this site that serves Union and Peoples townships as well as the town. "Maybe I should say 125," she reconsidered, "because a lot of people have already voted." Fellow worker Mary Weaver explained that the voting table and booths had been set up where the snow plow usually was parked. By 8:15 a.m., five people were voting at once in view of the red Boone County dump truck and pickup truck. Democrats Sheeder and Weaver were balanced with Republican workers Jim and Robin Frantun. Also keeping an eye on proceedings: Republican poll watcher David Roberts of Rippey sat in a chair with a Styrofoam coffee cup gripped in his left hand and six numbered sheets spread out in front of him that listed all the registered Republicans in the precincts. He also boldly proclaimed his affiliation with his ballcap: The Green Bay Packers. Election 2012: Voting begins in Iowa log cabin, maintenance shed 7:38 AM, Nov 6, 2012 | by Kyle Munson | Comments Categories: Iowa Politics Insider, Kyle Munson A A 6:45 a.m., Slater, Ia. - The polls hadn't yet opened on this epic Election Day and yet the talk in the voting line already was salty. Sure, Iowa is accustomed to extra time in the spotlight thanks to our first-in-the-nation caucuses. But make no mistake that after our extended wooing as a crucial swing state -- with $12 million reportedly spent for each of our measly six electoral votes -- we're ready to trudge to the finish line of this campaign. And so voters waiting to file into the log cabin -- yes the log cabin -- in Slater south of Ames sprinkled the occasional expletive into their stories of weariness with TV attack ads, junk mail outlining blueprints for middle class security and, above all, relentless phone calls. One woman remarked how she had been so frustrated by no fewer than 13 political phone messages upon returning home one day that she dutifully wrote down every number and called all of them back in retaliation. 20121106-073805.jpgSlater's log cabin in Nelson Park in the center of town doesn't date back all the way to President Abraham Lincoln's 19th century boyhood in Kentucky. But it was built in 1937 in the FDR-World War II era, hewn from native hardwoods from nearby Polk City. A giant American flag hung above the fireplace as poll workers wrangled with the new laptop computer and scanners. Raleigh Altenhofen was the first in line because he "wanted to beat the line." The 34-year-old Department of Transportation employee said that he had made up his mind months ago in this presidential election but preferred to keep his choice to himself. He sipped coffee and chatted about the election before casting his vote: 8 a.m., Berkley, Ia. - The first hour of voting inside the county maintenance shed in the tiny Boone County town of Berkley saw 28 ballots cast. "That's good for Berkley," said Democratic poll worker Ilene Sheeder, who predicted a total of 150 votes would be tallied for the day in this site that serves Union and Peoples townships as well as the town. "Maybe I should say 125," she reconsidered, "because a lot of people have already voted." Fellow worker Mary Weaver explained that the voting table and booths had been set up where the snow plow usually was parked. By 8:15 a.m., five people were voting at once in view of the red Boone County dump truck and pickup truck. Democrats Sheeder and Weaver were balanced with Republican workers Jim and Robin Frantun. Also keeping an eye on proceedings: Republican poll watcher David Roberts of Rippey sat in a chair with a Styrofoam coffee cup gripped in his left hand and six numbered sheets spread out in front of him that listed all the registered Republicans in the precincts. He also boldly proclaimed his affiliation with his ballcap: The Green Bay Packers. With no restaurant in town, let alone any apparent business, an Election Day buffet of grapes, cheese, saltine crackers and M&Ms was arrayed on the shop table next to the wrenches, vice grip and oil can. When 79-year-old Robert E. Johnson walked inside the shed to vote, Weaver greeted him with a hearty, "You're our second Berkley person! This is good!" Johnson, who has lived in Berkley since 1964 and still proudly heats his home with a wood-burning stove, was unafraid to broadcast his vote. "I think Obama's on the right track," Johnson said, "but you don't get everything done at once." He couldn't believe how easily the political pollsters had discovered his cell phone number this year. After voting, Johnson was ready to get on with the business of the day: working on his Case 580 backhoe tractor. The city needed to borrow it to install snow fence. "The young guys do that now," Johnson said.

SYNGENTA COMPLETES MAJOR EXPANSION AT ITS SLATER, IA, PARENT SEED PRODUCTION FACILITY Oct.

Fire crews from at least four departments were called out to three separate fires in Story County Friday morning.

3 -- Police investigated a report of sexual abuse. 1100 block of East First Street, Sept.