Good morning, Charles City area readers. It’s Thursday, Oct. 20. Here’s what’s news locally.

1.WEATHER — Today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Northwest wind 6 to 13 mph. Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low around 30. West wind around 7 mph. (Extended Forecast)

2. WHO BOUGHT THE CHARLES CITY KMART BUILDING?

Carlinda Limited Partnership purchased the roughly 10.5-acre property and nearly 96,000-square-foot building that used to be the home of Kmart in Charles City. It’s been sitting vacant since 2018.

Carlinda’s registered agent is Paul A. Rottinghaus of New Hampton, the owner of Zip’s AW Direct, which sells “automotive towing equipment, industrial hauling solutions and service bodies, including a wide variety of new and used tow trucks, wreckers, industrial and car carriers, multi-car haulers, industrial trailers and related equipment,” says the company website.

Carlinda, headquartered in Charles City, paid $1.03 million at auction for the property, with the sale closing as of Aug. 1, 2022.

Carlinda also owns ag land in the Charles City area as well as the former Sherman’s Nursery property.

Plans for the property are still developing. KCHA posted an interview with Rottinghaus.

3. STATE BOUND RUNNERS — Two Comets have qualified for the State Cross Country Meet: Sophomores Xander Graeser and Nick Williams. (Full story)

4. BURN BAN IN EFFECT FOR FLOYD COUNTY —The ban includes Charles City, but does not prohibit recreational or cooking fires within Charles City city limits,” says a post on the City’s Facebook page. “Extra precautions are required for anyone having a recreational fire within the city limits of Charles City, to include a wire mesh to surround the fire pit and also includes a lid to protect from embers leaving the pit.

“The burning of leaves within the city limits CONTINUES to be prohibited, per city ordinance. If you have any questions, please contact the CC Fire Dept at 641-257-6313.”