GOMERS

NO BIDS: Just as Cedar Rapids City Council members launch the Paving for Progress street repair and replacement project, contractors are proving scarce. Two street construction projects were shelved last week because no companies made bids for the work. Two others attracted bids significantly over the city's pre-bid estimates.

Experts say contractors already are busy this season, but the shortage may be temporary, as companies from other areas are attracted to the available work. Let's hope they're right.

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ABSENTEE LANDLORDS: With one final training scheduled for today, more than 200 Cedar Rapids landlords had yet to complete a course required by the city's new nuisance abatement initiative. As of last week, only about half of them had registered for the training, city staff told Cedar Rapids City Council members. Those who don't comply could have their permission to rent property suspended or denied.

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ITCHY SWIM: A pesky parasite is causing swimmers in several Iowa lakes to complain of itchy welts. The condition is nothing serious, but certainly inconvenient. Officials have received complaints from swimmers at Crystal and Black Hawk lakes in Northern Iowa, and expect the condition to show up at Storm Lake, the Iowa Great Lakes and beaches at other natural lakes. They caution against swimming in marshy areas or areas with aquatic plants and recommend limiting time in the water and towing off immediately post-swim.