(Atlantic, Iowa) – Linda and the late Larry Shafer, of Cass County, will be inducted into the 2022 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday, August 21. Ninety-seven Iowa counties are participating this year and have selected 131 inductees for their outstanding service and dedication to 4-H. Inductees or their surviving family members will be presented a certificate as they are introduced on stage. Linda and the late Larry Shafer will be recognized at 1:30p.m. A reception will follow the presentations.

Linda and the late Larry Shafer have been supporters of the Cass County 4-H Program and Cass County Fair for many years, having daughters Jennifer and Amy in fair in 4-H and FFA.  Linda was a Judge’s Helper during static exhibit judging for many years both while Amy was in 4-H and with her granddaughters more recently.  She also was the Grove Township contact for food stand donations from 1998 to 2012 and again from 2015 to 2019.  She donated her time calling township citizens for donations of food to help keep the food stand stocked.

Some of Linda’s favorite memories and friendships stem from her work in the food stand.  Anytime there was a need, she was ready to put on a name tag and help out.  She remembers cutting hundreds of pies, dishing up salads, and washing many many dishes with the late Wray McDermott with that old dishwasher! Larry was always willing to provide any equipment that was needed and to take the night guard shifts.  One of his favorite fair memories that his daughters have heard “a few times” was when he was on duty with other dads who didn’t have livestock at home.

A steer had gotten loose, and they left it until they found Larry and made him catch it.  The girls don’t remember him ever being terribly proficient with it but he did carry a lasso behind the pickup seat. Most recently, Linda has helped daughter Jenny in the static exhibit area on judging day and has been a sponsor of several poultry trophies that she’s been able to witness her granddaughters receive on show day. Linda says fair week is one of the best weeks of the year.  She enjoys seeing friends and watching Cass County’s youth learn so much through the opportunities and fun available to them through 4-H and FFA.

Counties select inductees for their exceptional work in contributing to the lives of 4-H members and the overall 4-H program, said County 4-H Youth Coordinator, Katie Bateman. Many inductees served as club leaders, youth mentors, fair superintendents or fair board members, Iowa State University Extension county council members, county youth council members, fair judges, financial supporters, chaperones or ISU Extension staff members. The inductees have demonstrated dedication, encouragement, commitment and guidance to Iowa’s 4-H’ers through the years.

“Iowa 4-H volunteers and staff greatly impact our youth and this is one way we can recognize them for their remarkable service and commitment,” said Tillie Good, staff and volunteer development manager, Iowa 4-H Youth Development. The Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame was initiated in 2002 to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of 4-H. A summary of previous honorees will be on display at the 2018 Iowa State Fair in the 4-H Exhibits Building.

Information about previous inductees to the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame also is available on the Iowa 4-H Foundation website, organized by year and by county. Go to http://www.iowa4hfoundation.org/ and select “Recognition.”

(Atlanta, Georgia) – Officials with Megamillions report there was one winning ticket for the numbers in Friday’s nights drawing for an estimated $1.28-billion dollar prize. It was bought in Illinois, but it wasn’t immediately known if there was one winner of the prize or a group of people chipping-in to win. The winning numbers were: 13-36-45-57-67, Mega Ball: 14.

The jackpot was the nation’s third-largest lottery prize. It grew so large because no one had matched the game’s six selected numbers since April 15. That’s 29 consecutive draws without a jackpot winner. The $1.28 billion prize is for winners who choose the annuity option, paid annually over 29 years. Most winners opt for the cash option, which for Friday night’s drawing was an estimated $747.2 million.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302.5 million. The next drawing on August 2nd is for at least $20-million. Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game is coordinated by state lotteries.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Judging activities for the 4-H & FFA Sheep Show kick-off today’s (Saturday’s)  events at the 2022 Cass County Fair, beginning at 8:00-a.m.  The Herd Dog Trials are slated for 8:30-a.m.. There’s a Open Shot Archery fundraiser from 9-a.m. until 4-p.m., a Pet Show at 10, followed at 11-a.m. by the Meat Goat & Dairy Goat Show. Working Exhibits, Extemporaneous Speaking, and educational presentations will be held at Noon. Ride a mechanical bull all-day today, and grab some great food from the FFA Foodstand, Foodstand or Chuckwagon. Today’s featured meal is Ham Balls or Lamb.

This afternoon at the Cass County Fair, Judging of the Livestock begins at 3-p.m.  Youth get a chance to cool-off with the Youth Water Fights at 4, and the day’s activities conclude at 6-p.m., with the Tractor Pull contest. Looking ahead to Sunday, the day begins with the Swine Show and 7:30-a.m., and a Tractor Ride at 8:30-a.m. A Tractor display will be featured from Noon until 3-p.m., and there’s a Pedal Tractor Pull beginning at 2:30-p.m., Sunday.

For the complete schedule of events, click on the image below (it will enlarge):

(Corning, Iowa) – A traffic stop west of Corning, late Thursday morning, resulted in an arrest. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Saturday (today), said 31-year-old Philip Dean Reed was taken into custody at around 11:30-a.m. on Highway 34, near mile marker 64. Reed was found to be in possession of marijuana, and charged with Poss. of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense.

**”Any potential criminal charges identified above are merely allegations, and any defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.“

(Story County, Iowa) – One person died and two others were injured, Friday evening, when an ATV and a pickup truck collided head-on, southwest of Cambridge, in Central Iowa. According to the State Patrol, a 2022 Polaris ATV operated by 29-year-old  Spencer Alan Pote, of Maxwell, was traveling south on 570th Street at around 6:45-p.m.  A 2003 Ford F-150 pickup driven by 17-year old Chase Thomas Kratz, of Ames, was traveling north on 570th.

The Patrol says due to the dust cloud from a previous, non-contact vehicle, the vision of both drivers was obstructed, resulting in the collision. Spencer Pote died at the scene. Kratz, and a passenger in one of the vehicles, 37-year-old Travis Scott Petersen, of Nevada, were injured in the crash. Both were transported to Mercy Hospital, with Peterson taken by medical helicopter, and Kratz transported by Story County Rescue.

The accident remains under investigation.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – A Council Bluffs Police Officer on Patrol Friday afternoon in the area of S. 16th Street & 3rd Avenue, observed a stolen 2008 Porsche Cayenne SUV with Nebraska license plates. The vehicle accelerated and rammed the front end of the police cruiser before continuing southbound. A short chase ended when the suspect, 41-year-old Steven Dale Bascue, of Council Bluffs, lost control of the SUV. The vehicle struck a 2011 Ford F-150 at S. 21st & W. Broadway. The driver of the Ford complained of pain but refused medical attention.

Steve Dale Bascue

Bascue bailed out of the Porsche and ran on foot for a short while before being apprehended. Bascue faces numerous charges, including Felony Assault and Theft in the 1st Degree.

(Harlan, Iowa) –  The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports they will be hosting a Defensive Tactics Class on Tuesday August 9th, 2022, from 3:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., at the Harlan Community High School wrestling room. The target audience for this training will be high school to college age women. The class is free.

Authorities will offer similar training which will be more community focused in the future but at this time would like to focus on this age group. Any female within this age group is invited to join in this event. Participants will be asked to sign a waiver prior to the start of class. Any participant under the age of 18 will need a guardian to sign the waiver upon arrival. Pre-registration is not required. 

Participants are asked to wear clean athletic clothing and socks as shoes will not be allowed on the mats. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says “We look forward to being able to bring this class to the young women of our community in hopes it helps keep you safe.”

This is what the waiver looks like

(Modale, Iowa) – Deputies in Harrison County who were searching for a man wanted on outstanding warrants from Council Bluffs and Omaha, found their man, but he wasn’t arrested without incident, Thursday evening.  Harrison County Sheriff Brandon Doiel reports Deputies arrived at a residence in Modale at around 7:49-p.m., acting on a tip 29-year-old Lucas Sales would be there. As they arrived, Sales was seen in the driver’s seat of a car that was in the driveway of the residence.

As a Deputy approached the vehicle on foot, Sales immediately attempted to elude law enforcement, and struck the Deputy with his vehicle, causing minor injuries to the Deputy. A vehicle pursuit began, with Sales traveling through the City Limits of Modale and then westbound on 270th Street.

Lucas Sales (Harrison County S/O photo)

The pursuit traveled down several rural gravel roads northwest of Modale, and eventually entered back into the City Limits of Modale, and continuing southbound on Austin Avenue. The Iowa State Patrol arrived at that time and assisted in the chase. It was about then, that Sales allegedly displayed a handgun and began firing several rounds at pursuing law enforcement officers (None of the officers were hit). Sales eventually lost control of the 2006 Subaru Impreza he was driving.

After the vehicle entered the south ditch at the intersection of Austin Avenue and Highway 30, Sales was taken into custody without further incident. He suffered minor injuries resulting from the accident, and was transported to CHI Missouri Valley Hospital for treatment, and once medically released, was transported to the Harrison County Jail. Lucas Sales was being held on a $35,000 bond on charges that include: Assault with a Deadly Weapon; Attempt to Commit Murder; Eluding Law Enforcement, and Reckless Driving Violations.

Agencies assisting during the incident include: The Iowa State Patrol; Modale 1st Responders; Missouri Valley Rescue and Mondamin Rescue.

(Radio Iowa) – Negotiators with the United Steelworkers have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for 950 workers at the Bridgestone-Firestone factory in Des Moines. Bridgestone-Firestone makes tires for tractors and farm implements. The current contract for four-thousand workers at the company’s factories in Iowa and four other states expired at 11 last night (Thursday night).

Employees are still at work and union members will vote on the new contract proposal soon. A statement posted on the United Steelworkers’ Facebook page doesn’t share details, but said there are solid breakthroughs and significant gains in the contract offer.

(Radio Iowa) – Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion says she opposed the bill that provides federal subsidies to boost semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S. for a number of reasons. Hinson and other Republicans who voted “no” on the bill say it could wind up supporting U.S. companies that do business in China.  “The final product really was a gigantic corporate subsidy that not only will help fan the flames of inflation, but it will support our adversaries there through that loophole and drag our economy down,” Hinson says. “…I’m hopeful we will take back the House. We have another package that we are working on and hope to bring to the floor in the new congress.”

Two dozen House Republicans voted for the bill, but Hinson and the two other Republicans from Iowa voted against it.  “As is often the case here in Washington, D.C. with these massive packages, the way I saw this, the final product that we voted on strayed far from the original intent of the legislation,” Hinson says. Hinson’s General Election opponent, Democrat Liz Mathis of Hiawatha, says Hinson voted to continue our dependence on China rather than invest in manufacturing jobs here at home.

Democratic Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines supported the bill. Axne says semiconductor chips are critical to the production of cars, computers, and other electronic goods and boosting U.S. production will address shortages and end reliance on China for the chips.