MONTGOMERY – Montgomery County voters interested in voting absentee for the November 8 General Election may file requests for absentee ballots with the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office starting August 30, 2022.

Due to legislation changes, the time period to request absentee ballots has been reduced from 120 days to 70 days. The new legislation also has shortened the number of days that the Auditor’s Office may have ballots available for absentee voting. Voters now have 20 days to vote absentee either by mail or in-person rather than 29 days.

Voters wishing to receive a ballot by mail for the General Election will need to complete an absentee ballot request form and return it to the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office, 105 E Coolbaugh Street, PO Box 429, Red Oak, before 5 p.m. on October 24th. Voters are reminded that due to recent legislation changes, the ballot must be returned to the County Auditor’s Office before the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on November 8th to be counted.

In-person early voting in the Auditor’s Office and mailing of ballots will begin October 19th.

Absentee ballot request forms can be found on the Montgomery County website at www.montgomerycountyia.gov or on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website at https://sos.iowa.gov. They may also be requested by calling the Montgomery County Auditor’s office at 712-623-5127.

For more information about the 2022 General Election, contact the Montgomery County Auditor’s office at 712-623-5127 or visit the county website at www.montgomerycountyia.gov.

Today (Thursday) is 8-1-1 awareness day to remind you to call that phone number if you plan on any digging on your property. Iowa Utilities Board spokesman, Don Tormey, says the observance happens now because it’s — August 11th — or 8-1-1.

He says any type of digging requires a call — it doesn’t have to be a major project with excavators.

Tormey says there are all types of lines buried across the state, from sewer lines to fiber optic lines that each pose problems if they are cut.

Not only do you face a potential danger from hitting something underground, you can face fines for not calling before digging. Get more information at iowaonecall.com

Last weekend’s showers dumped up to seven inches of rain on parts of Iowa, while many areas stayed dry, but even with the scattered downpours, drought conditions persist over wide sections of the state. Angie Rieck Hinz (REEK HINES) is an Iowa State University field agronomist and says that’s typical and it’s bringing a drastic variation in crop conditions statewide.

Rieck Hinz is touring parts of north-central Iowa to inspect crops and says the drought isn’t keeping insects away from the fields.

Soybean aphids are problematic for some growers, while soybean gall midges are being found for the first time this season in three more counties: Kossuth, Humboldt and Webster. Rieck Hinz says a few crop diseases are thriving in the heat.

A new report is expected later this (Thursday) morning from the U-S Drought Monitor. Last week’s map shows more than 60 of the state’s 99 counties in some form of drought, with 13 northwest Iowa counties in either severe or extreme drought conditions.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs has selected 11 Iowa arts, culture, history and humanities organizations to participate in its first Iowa Culture Leadership Cohort program.

The two-year program runs now through June 30, 2024, and is designed to help participants build leadership skills and increase organizational capacity in areas including operations, sustainability and programming. The program is jointly administered by two department divisions, the Iowa Arts Council and State Historical Society of Iowa, and will address challenges these organizations face by providing training, networking and technical assistance.

“We’re pleased to establish the Iowa Culture Leadership Cohort as a skill-building program to help cultivate Iowa’s next generation of arts and cultural leaders,” Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Chris Kramer said. “Our goal is to offer training and resources so organizational leaders can successfully run the museums, arts centers and other cultural institutions that drive tourism and experiential learning in their communities across the state.”

Although some of the participating organizations are in larger cities, the program will also help nonprofits in rural areas, where arts and culture can play an especially vital role in economic and community development.

Thirty-five organizations applied to participate in the pilot program, which is designed to primarily serve small and mid-sized organizations. The following 11 groups were chosen to participate:

Council Bluffs, Historical Society of Pottawattamie County
Des Moines, After School Arts Program
Forest City, Winnebago Historical Society
Fort Madison, Fort Madison Area Arts Association
Grinnell, Grinnell Area Arts Council
Iowa City, Public Space One
Maquoketa, Maquoketa Art Experience
Oskaloosa, George Daily Auditorium
Oskaloosa, Mahaska County Historical Society
Swedesburg, Swedish Heritage Society Foundation
Winterset, Madison County Historical Society

For more information about the Iowa Culture Leadership Cohort program, visit iowaculture.gov.

The Glenwood Police Department, Wednesday, said a woman was arrested Tuesday, for Driving While Barred. 42-year-old Sara Johnson, of Glenwood, was being held in the Mills County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

A man taking a dirt bike on a test ride at a high rate of speed Monday night in Guthrie County, and tried to jump over a farm terrace. In doing so, 19-year-old Sheldon Joseph Astley, of Coon Rapids, didn’t realize there was an ATV occupied by two females who were just on the other side of the terrace. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office said the dirt bike struck the ATV.

Astley and the ATV operator, 25-year-old Cristine Deanna Evans, of Coon Rapids, were ejected from their machines and collided in mid-air.  Astley was found underneath the dirt bike following the collision. Evans was near the ATV, on the ground. A passenger on the ATV, 17-year-old Chloe Einfred, of Coon Rapids, was checked by EMS personnel after she complained of neck and head pain. The accident happened near 1104 Grant Avenue, at around 8:10-p.m., Monday.

Astley and Evans suffered from suspected serious, incapacitating injuries. Authorities say the owner of the dirt bike transported Astley to the Guthrie County Hospital. He was later transported to Mercy One by LifeFlight. Evans was transported by ambulance to Bayard and then to Mercy One, by LifeFlight.

School bells will be ringing soon and many Iowa kids are already getting anxious or excited about returning to class. Anthony Wubben (WOO-ben), a social worker at Van Diest (DEEST) Medical Center in Webster City, suggests parents start readjusting their child’s internal clocks now to get them better prepared for early mornings.

Children who might be used to staying up until the wee hours during the summertime will have a difficult time catching the bus unless they start soon with an earlier schedule.

Wubben says it’s important that parents listen to their children after a day of classwork, as kids need a trusting adult with whom they can be open and honest.

He also suggests parents set up a meeting with the child’s teacher before school begins to get a firm grip on what to expect in the classroom.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says it’s time for the U.S. to provide more long range weapons to Ukraine.

In June, the U.S. shipped artillery rockets to Ukraine. Ernst supports sending more advanced guided missiles that can go longer distances.

President Biden released a billion dollars worth of military hardware to Ukraine this week. Ernst says without longer-range missiles, the war will drag on for years — and much of Ukraine will be destroyed.

Ukraine has been pushing for a shipment of U.S. missiles that can fly as high as 160-thousand feet and hit targets up to 190 miles away. President Biden has said the U.S. does not intend to provide Ukraine with weapons that could reach into Russian territory. Ernst says that’s risk averse and it’s time to take a more aggressive stance against Russia.

Russian forces occupy about 20 percent of Ukraine territory today, according to Ernst, and she says they’ll continue inching forward without a change in tactics. Ernst, a Republican who was in the Iowa National Guard, does not support sending U.S. troops into Ukraine, but has voted to provide the money so the U.S. remains the main supplier of weapons for Ukraine’s military.

The Corning Center for the Fine Arts will be hosting a natural basket weaving demonstration with artist Sandy Maxa on Saturday, August 20th. The demonstration will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and admission is free.

Sandy Maxa will show off some of the baskets she has created using materials gathered right here in Southwest Iowa. She was demonstrate one of the techniques that she employs to make a basket.

The Corning Center for the Fine Arts is located at 706 Davis Avenue in Corning.

ATLANTIC, IA – Produce in the Park is celebrating National Farmers Market Week Thursday, August 11, with one-dollar coupons for all kids age 12 and under who complete a farmers market scavenger hunt.

Coupons can be spent with any vendor at the park on August 11, including food trucks Little Green Trailer and Hungry Spartan Pizza. Little Green Trailer serves a variety of BBQ dishes along with Tropical Sno. Hungry Spartan Pizza will be serving single slices with various toppings, including special Double Cheeseburger.

Produce in the Park is funding the coupons to draw attention to the many benefits farmers markets provide communities. According to the Farmers Market Coalition, “For every dollar of nutrition
incentives spent on farm direct purchases, such as at a farmers market, it is estimated to result in a contribution of up to 3 dollars to the U.S. economy.” Farmers markets also spur entrepreneurship by serving as business incubators with low barriers to entry, and markets can increase produce consumption—a win for health.

Fresh, local produce at park this week includes tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, sweet corn, onions,
garlic, eggplant, peppers, and more. As always, customers will enjoy free live music, games, and other
activities. Vendors will also be selling local meat (chicken, beef, pork, and lamb), honey, farm-fresh eggs, popcorn, fresh-squeezed lemonade, pastries and desserts, and a variety of beauty products and crafts.