No one injured during fire at Mendota Agri-Products

Employees of a Mendota business that was badly damaged by a fire will have a better idea of what’s going to happen with their jobs today.

Fire fighters were called to Mendota Agri-Products just after 11 yesterday morning. The 19 employees that were working when the fire started made it out safely.

Owner John Mahoney says everyone did what they needed to do. Yesterday he said he planned to hold an employee meeting today. He wasn’t sure yet how bad the damage was.

Services Set For Killed Ottawa Soldier

Funeral services for an Ottawa soldier killed in Afghanistan won’t be local.

Visitation for 35 year old Sgt. Chester Hosford is this Sunday at Wise Funeral Home in Hastings, Minnesota while his funeral and internment is Monday afternoon at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Hosford lived recently in Ottawa after he trained at the National Guard center in Marseilles. He was originally from Minnesota.

No Money Yet For New Central School

Short of leaving with check in hand, Ottawa Elementary Superintendent Craig Doster says a meeting this week with FEMA officials went about as well it could.

Doster says FEMA’s regional director agreed that building a new Central Elementary School away from the river is the way to go. He also thinks the district has met damage estimate requirements that FEMA wants when paying towards a new school.

Doster filed an appeal three weeks ago to FEMA’s initial decision not to give money towards a brand new school. By law, FEMA officials must now decide on the school’s appeal within 90 days. Doster thinks an answer will come before that.

Restaurant Debris Finally Being Removed

Nearly seven months after the fire, debris is finally getting picked up at the Green Mill Restaurant site in Ottawa.

Contractors are expected to start taking the debris out Monday. Weather permitting, the cleanup should be done within the week.

The Green Mill and Sun Loan Company at the corner of West Madison and Columbus Streets burned to the ground on a chilly December 21st. Rubble has been fenced in at the site ever since.