DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Staffers in the Iowa Legislature are starting some of the tasks associated with adjourning the session, even though lawmakers are not close to concluding the budget process. Student pages in the Iowa Senate were organizing boxes in the chamber Tuesday for members to pack up desks. As per tradition, they also stacked the boxes up to the balcony until they collapsed.

Friday will mark the last day for lawmakers to receive daily expense payments, as well as the final day of work for many clerks and pages in the part-time Legislature. But lawmakers in the Democratic-majority Senate and Republican-controlled House have not reached a compromise deal on the state budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1st.

Officials with Iowa State University’s Theatre Department report an ISU student from Walnut, Breanna Kixmiller, was recently awarded the $1,000 Frank E. Brandt Production Scholarship.

Breanna Kixmiller (photo submitted by ISU)

Breanna is a sophomore in Pre-Integrated Studio Arts and Performing Arts. She was scenic design assistant for this year’s spring musical, Les Misérables.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s office said Tuesday, it received many reports over the past several days about loud explosions or gun shots being fired. Authorities say the noises appeared to have originated in the northwest part of Guthrie Center. Late Monday night, officers were able to pin point and identify the source of the explosions.

Guthrie Center Police Chief Rod Pavelka, says Rose Acre Farms is using a device intended to keep the migratory birds away from their water treatment lagoons due to the Avian Flu spreading closer to the County. This device uses propane and fires off a burst, which is essentially a small explosion. The location of the device is high enough on the hills behind Rose Acres that the sound travels easily into town and echoes off of our many metal buildings.

Pavelka says the device will primarily be used during dawn and dusk periods  during the day. These explosions pose no danger to our citizens, but are a minor irritation from the noise. The explosions are fairly random, but are harmless.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports deputies arrested 41-year old Lisa Jennifer Holtz , of Westboro, Mo., Monday, at the Page County Courthouse. Holtz was taken into custody on a Page County Warrant for charges of unauthorized use of a Credit Card, and Theft in the 4th Degree. Holtz was unable to post the $2000.00 bond and is currently being held in the Page County Jail.

Also on Monday, an arrest warrant was issued for 59-year old William Alfred Hale Jr., of Shenandoah. The warrant, issued by the Page County District Court, charges Hale with Forgery, Identity theft under $1000.00, and Theft 4th Degree. Hale had failed to appear for sentencing in the District court on April 27th and was arrested at 809 Vista in Shenandoah that same day. He was transported to the Fremont County courthouse for sentencing in the District Court. Hale was sentenced to two 5-year prison sentences to run concurrently, and ordered to be transported to the Oakdale Medical Classification Center for intake into the Iowa Prison System.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The first dog flu case in Iowa has been confirmed in Sioux City. Dr. Kyoung-Jin Yoon with the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Iowa State University says samples from a sick dog treated at the Perry Creek Animal Hospital are believed to be the latest strain of canine flu, H3N2. He says the specific strain hasn’t yet been confirmed.

The virus has swept the Midwest in recent weeks, sickening more than 1,000 dogs and killing five between January and March. Dr. David Ray, the veterinarian who first treated the sick dog April 20 in Sioux City, says the owners reported his health was improving as of Monday. He says about half of animal clinics in the area have reported dogs with flu-like symptoms, including fever, nasal discharge and a dry cough.