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Federal funds okayed for Iowa dairies hit by bird flu

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa dairy producers who’ve been impacted by bird flu can now apply for federal emergency funding. The USDA expanded its Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm Raised Fish Program to help cover lost profits from the virus. Dairy farmers are required to discard milk from sick cows to prevent the spread of pathogens.

Matt Russell, executive director of USDA-Iowa Farm Service Agency, says expanding the program supports dairy farmers and creates an incentive to get tested. Russell says, “Because if you are seeing some cows be sick and they happen to have H5N1, then this program kicks in and will provide some support for that loss of production.”

To be eligible for recovery assistance, Russell says producers need a positive test result from the National Veterinary Services Laboratories. “This is a support for farmers that are having decreased production because of H5N1,” he says, “but because it provides that support, it also creates that incentive for farmers to get tested.”

USDA photo

Russell says farmers with a positive test should contact their local FSA office to file a Notice of Loss. Payments are based on milk production averages for specific months.

America’s SBDC Iowa announces new Regional Director

News

July 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Iowa, has announced that Elizabeth Christensen is the new Regional Director for the Iowa Western SBDC at Iowa Western Community College, located in Council Bluffs. Elizbeth Christensen will advise and train entrepreneurs and existing business owners in Pottawattamie, Shelby, Harrison, Page, Mills, Cass and Fremont counties. Elizabeth started in early June and is excited to continue supporting western Iowa businesses.

“I am delighted to introduce Elizabeth Christensen as the new Regional Director for the Iowa Western SBDC and welcome her to our team,” says Lisa Shimkat, America’s SBDC Iowa State Director. “With her outstanding expertise, dedication to empowering small businesses, and exceptional skills, I am confident she will be instrumental in advancing our mission. Together, we will further cultivate innovation, growth, and prosperity in Iowa’s dynamic small business community.”

Elizabeth has worked with owners on marketing, processes, and growth in local small businesses for the last 20 years. Elizabeth was an undergraduate alumnus of the UNO Business Management School and is a 2020 graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Master’s in Entrepreneurship of Technology. As an undergraduate and intern with Omaha’s Sunbelt Business Brokerage, she learned the ropes prospective business owners consider as new operators and carried that message of tenacity into other areas of her life.

During those nascent years, she worked with several family-based businesses and a theater-based organization, and she got a taste for supporting sustainable practices, sustainable growth, and herding cats. Elizabeth moved into information technology project management after relocating to Arizona, but still serving a small business environment. She supported many small business owners in cloud transformation, IT security, network development, and implementation projects there.

As a PaaS project manager, she worked with over 120 American college and university administrative teams to implement a new transcript and diploma platform. Elizabeth supported personal friends and family through business ideation and startup phases, including business plans, financial projections, and identifying high-value business processes for their services. As a technology startup professional, she worked with various space startups in different phases, implementing solutions for their strategic growth, including managing stakeholders’ long-term project schedules and submitting for government SBIR/STTRs.

Elizabeth Christensen, Iowa Western SBDC Regional Director

Elizabeth returned to Council Bluffs in 2020 to raise a family near her parents and continues participating in the community with economic development and business projects. Her hobbies include chaos gardening, being a patron of the arts, and raising her toddler, whom she adores.

America’s SBDC Iowa is an outreach program of Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business and the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations. Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 3410 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, Hotline 515-294-1222, email eooffice@iastate.edu.

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, America’s SBDC Iowa has 15 regional assistance centers located strategically across the state. Since the program’s inception in 1981, the SBDC has helped Iowa businesses and entrepreneurs through no fee, confidential, customized, professional business counseling and practical, affordable training workshops.

For more information on America’s SBDC Iowa programs or services, call (515) 294-2030 or visit www.iowasbdc.org, https://www.facebook.com/AmericasSBDCIowa, or https://twitter.com/IowaSBDC.

Most county road closures now available on Iowa’s 511 website

News

July 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – July 2, 2024 – Road closures for counties that participate in the Iowa County Engineer’s Association’s 511 traveler information website can now be found on the state’s 511 system, 511ia.org, during large-scale disasters such as flooding or winter events.

To find the county information, visit 511ia.org, and choose the “County Closures” layer. County information will show up on the map in blue. County road closures are currently only available on the website but should be available on the Iowa 511 app soon.

Road closure information is currently available for 79 counties. To find counties participating in the 511 traveler information system visit https://shorturl.at/JkcV5.

Note that county information is input by the participating county, while information for state and U.S. routes is input by the Iowa Department of Transportation. You may see variety in the way data is shown on the map. If you have questions about individual county closures, please contact the contact listed in the event details when you click on the closure icon.

Page County Sheriff’s report, 7/2/24

News

July 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Clarinda, Iowa) The Page County Sheriff’s Department has issued a report on arrests occurring from June 19th through the 30th. Those arrested are as follows:

6/19/2024: Seth Martin Kuipers (45) of New Market Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for ineligible to carry weapons; Darrion Michael Dale Foster (22) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for violation of probation. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office at the Pottawattamie County Jail.
6/20/2024 Aaron Scott Kincheloe (47) of Leander Texas. Booked into the Page County Jail for harassment, disorderly conduct and public intoxication.
6/21/2024: Inez Nicholas Lunz (59) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for enticing a minor. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office; Sherry Danette Young (46) of Polo Missouri. Booked into the Page County Jail for theft; Merlin Glenn Lininger (51) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.
6/22/2024: Christian Lyle Lauritsen (27) of New Market Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for OWI; Jody Ann Berry (62) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a prescription drug.
6/23/2024 Justin Allen Sickler (45) of Council Bluffs Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for theft.

6/24/2024 Lesley Ann Wright (45) of Sidney Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for assault on persons in certain occupations (X2). Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.
6/25/2024: David Allan Charles (61) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for theft; Justin Allen Sickler (45) of Council Bluffs Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for violation of probation; David Dale Morelock (38) of Farragut Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for theft; Rodney Eugene Allely (56) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for reckless use of fire and interference with official acts.
6/27/2024: Cody Dean Nevada Carlson (33) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for harassment and contempt of court; Zachary Lynn Sherlock (47) of Quitman Missouri. Booked into the Page County Jail for contempt of court; Demica Nicole Parrish (30) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for domestic abuse.
6/28/2024: Shanna Dawn Hernandez (45) of Omaha Nebraska. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance; Cindy Joe Gray (44) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance (X2); Lowell Richard Wilcox (54) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and drug tax stamp violations.
6/29/2024 Merlin Glenn Lininger (51) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.
6/30/2024 Rachelle Dawn Hunt (52) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for an outstanding warrant. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.

A charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Three Cyclones Named to Preseason All-Big 12 Team

Sports

July 2nd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State defensive back Jeremiah Cooper, wide receiver Jayden Higgins and do-it-all tight end/fullback Stevo Klotz have been named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Football team as voted upon by media representatives who cover the league.

Cooper, a First Team All-Big 12 selection a year ago, returns to lead the talented Cyclone secondary. The El Paso, Texas native started 11 games in 2023 and finished second in the Big 12 and sixth nationally with five interceptions. He tallied 45 tackles and ranked fourth nationally in passes defended per game (1.4).

On the offensive side of the ball, Higgins – an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection last season – spearheads an exciting ISU wide receiver room. Higgins made a sizeable impact in his first season as a Cyclone with a team-best 983 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 53 receptions. The South Miami, Fla. native averaged 18.5 yards per catch, the seventh-best single-season average in school history and was second in the Big 12 averaging 75.6 receiving yards per game.

Klotz, a Second Team All-Big 12 fullback in 2023, returns to the Cyclone offense as one of the league’s best blockers. He paved the way for the Cyclone tailbacks in all 13 games last season, making six starts. The Chaska, Minn. native also showed he has soft hands when the ball gets thrown his way, hauling in seven receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Iowa State, which returns 18 starters from a year ago (nine offensive, nine defensive), was picked sixth in the Big 12 Preseason Poll behind the favorite, Utah, and Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Kansas and Arizona.

Football season tickets are on sale now. Seven home games, including games against Kansas State, Texas Tech and UCF, starting at $299. Order now at: https://bit.ly/24FBSeason

To view the full Big 12 Preseason Team, click here.

2024 Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll

  1. Utah (20) – 906
  2. Kansas State (19) – 889
  3. Oklahoma State (14) – 829
  4. Kansas (5) – 772
  5. Arizona (3) – 762
  6. Iowa State – 661
  7. West Virginia – 581
  8. UCF – 551
  9. Texas Tech – 532
  10. TCU – 436
  11. Colorado – 400
  12. Baylor – 268
  13. BYU – 215
  14. Cincinnati – 196
  15. Houston – 157
  16. Arizona State – 141

First-place votes in parenthesis.

Iowa T&F | Hawkeyes Close 2023-24 Season

Sports

July 2nd, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Hawkeyes Close 2023-24 Season

University of Iowa track and field concluded its outdoor season at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 7. Five Hawkeyes qualified for the final stage in Eugene, Oregon.

  • Sophomore Mike Stein became a first-team All-American in the men’s javelin. Stein threw 72.81 meters (238′ 10″) to place seventh in his debut at Hayward Field.
  • Senior Paige Magee qualified in the women’s 100 hurdles, finishing 13th with a personal-best and Iowa program record of 12.88 in the finals. With the second-team finish, Magee closes her outdoor career as a six-time All-American.
  • Senior Jordan Johnson closed his Hawkeye career as a second-team All-American, placing 16th with a toss of 56.74 meters (186′ 2″) in the men’s discus.
  • Junior Rivaldo Marshall qualified in the men’s 800 meters with a third-place time of 1:46.96 at the NCAA Regionals in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
  • Senior Austin West was an NCAA qualifier in the men’s decathlon for the fourth time in his career.
  • Seven Hawkeyes returned to Eugene, Oregon, for the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials from June 21-30. That delegation included Magee (women’s 100 hurdles), Stein (men’s javelin), West (men’s decathlon), senior Gratt Reed (men’s 110 hurdles), senior Kat Moody (women’s discus) and senior Kalen Walker (men’s 100 meters).

HAWKEYES AT THE OLYMPICS

Fourteen Hawkeyes competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials, including seven members of this year’s roster.

  • Brittany Brown (’18) qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 21.90 personal best in the women’s 200 meters. Brown is Iowa’s 26th Olympian.
  • Other top finishes included senior Austin West taking sixth in the men’s decathlon, a 12th-place showing in the women’s discus for senior Kat Moody and seniors Paige Magee (100 hurdles) and Kalen Walker (100 meters) reaching the semifinals.
  • Abroad, senior Austin Kresley became Mexico’s national champion in the men’s 100 meters. Freshman Daniela Wamokpego took eighth in the women’s triple jump at the French trials.

UP NEXT

Athletics events at the 2024 Paris Olympics will be held between Thursday, Aug. 1, and Sunday, Aug. 11.

Practice rounds continue at the John Deere Classic

Sports

July 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Practice rounds continue at the TPC at Deere Run heading into Thursday’s start of the John Deere Classic in the Quad Cities. Defending champion Sepp Straka says it is a market that takes great pride in hosting a PGA Tour event.

Straka says it will take a low score to successfully defend his title.

Red Oak woman arrested on a Theft charge

News

July 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report 68-year-old Sheryl Lynn Franzen, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 10:22-a.m. today (Tuesday), for Theft in the 5th Degree. Franzen was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

Nate Heise on his transfer from UNI to Iowa State

Sports

July 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Nate Heise says the chance to play on a bigger stage is why he decided to transfer to Iowa State. Heise spent the past four years at Northern Iowa and led the Panthers in scoring at 13-and-a-half points per game this past season before making the decision to enter the transfer portal.

Summer workouts are underway in Ames and Heise is trying to carve out a roll on a team that has its top four scorers returning from a team that made it to the Sweet-16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Heise says his experience has helped with the transition.

Heise says the chance to join a team that will likely be top five in the preseason polls was intriguing.

Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger felt Heise was a good fit for the program.

Otzelberger feels Heise will be a factor at both ends of the court.

Sioux City residents express frustration with how flooding was handled

News

July 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Residents of the Riverside neighborhood in Sioux City expressed frustration with the city’s flood response at the city council meeting. Susan Bart was the first to speak at Monday’s meeting. “Where we’re our city leaders when we’re in time of need? I am flooded out I got three lots along the Big Sioux in my backyard,” She says. “I’m flooded out and I had a sewer leak prior to the flooding. On Sunday, MidAmerican turned off my gas, so they were well aware of what was going on. Yet no sirens, no nothing.” Steve Kurally was awake and started warning neighbors as the floodwaters rose. He says they could have used more warning from the city.

“I don’t know who is in charge of that, but that really could have been used some improvement. I’m not here to, by no means to criticize anybody I think in the city, they came a long way through that flood. I mean they were working diligently trying to build the temporary levees and man and the pumps and all of that,” he says. Bonnie Whitlock was emotional as she talked about he flood damage. “I’ve lost two cars. I’ve lost my babies pictures and everything if I would have had some warning, I could have gotten that stuff up,” Whitlock says. “I’ve lost everything in my home. All my drywall is gone. All my flooring is gone. My furniture, my appliances, everything is gone. My husband and I are just retired.”

Mayor Bob Scott says he will meet soon with City Manager Bob Padmore to discuss what happened in Riverside and how they can move forward. “Let’s just say that I’ve told Bob that after this quiets down with his staff in a couple of weeks we need to have a real sit down and talk about what we did,”Scott says. “I think we were in denial that river was going to go as high as what did unfortunately it just kept rising and rising.”

Scott said he expected to be back out at the flood scene today (Tuesday)