On Thursday August 22nd, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office arrested two people. 43-year old Matthew Desher of Corning was arrested and charged with aggravated assault (with weapon) after he walked into a Hy-Vee store and threatened an employee with a knife. He is being held on $2,000 bond.

Also arrested Thursday was Tara Squibb of Corning on a warrant from Union County. She is being held on $300 bond.

On Wednesday August 21st, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office executed two search warrants in Villisca. The first being at 113 N 4th Avenue around 9:00-a.m. 41-year old Chad Jason Rittgers of Villisca was arrested and charged with three counts of delivery of methamphetamine. He is being held on $50,000 bond. Also arrested was 38-year old Misty Marie Herring of Villisca. She was charged with child endangerment and is being held on $2,000 bond.

As a result of the second warrant at 609 East 8th Street at approximately 3:20-p.m., 35-year old Jill Currin of Villisca was arrested and charged with criminal mischief/4th, possession of methamphetamine, and additional pending drug charges. Currin was held on $1,000.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Department of Human Services Child Protection Division.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A prayer leader at the Islamic and Culture Center Bosniak in Des Moines has pleaded not guilty to sexual abuse charges. The Des Moines Register reports that 40-year-old Nermin Spahic waived his right to an initial appearance and entered the plea yesterday. Johnston police arrested Spahic last week after a 42-year-old woman and her 18-year-old daughter told police he had abused them during a religious ritual at their home.

OSAGE, Iowa (AP) – Police say they’ve received multiple reports of a person entering unlocked houses uninvited in the northern Iowa city of Osage. Police say people have reported finding a person in their house, or a person walking into the house unannounced without knocking. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the incident has happened about half a dozen times in the past few weeks.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A report by the country’s five largest mortgage providers says Iowa homeowners have received nearly $40 million in relief through a national settlement. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said in a news release yesterday that the report by an independent monitor shows more than 1,100 homeowners in the state have received money under the national mortgage settlement.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – The Federal Aviation Administration is awarding a nearly $2 million grant to the Dubuque Regional Airport. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports U.S. Representative Bruce Braley announced the grant yesterday.

Due to strong demand from Iowa farmers, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced today that an additional $1 million in cost share funds have been made available to help farmers implement nutrient reduction practices. Farmers have already submitted applications for the initial $1.8 million in funding that was made available on Aug. 8 for water quality practices.

“We are extremely pleased by the overwhelming response we have received from farmers and believe this shows their commitment to water quality,” Northey said. “Farmers are matching all these funds, so they are putting up at least $1.8 million of their own money to implement these voluntary, science-based practices to protect water quality.”

The practices that are eligible for this funding are cover crops, no-till or strip-till, or using a nitrification inhibitor when applying fertilizer. Any farmer not already utilizing these practices can apply for assistance. Farmers are only eligible for cost share on up to 160 acres.

The cost share rate for farmers planting cover crops is $25 per acre and for farmers trying no-till or strip till is $10 per acre. Farmers using a nitrapyrin nitrification inhibitor when applying fall fertilizer can receive $3 per acre.

Farmers can contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District office to apply.

To date, more than 700 farmers in 85 of the 100 Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Iowa have applied to participate in the program. Farmers have submitted applications for 71,023 acres of cover crops, to use nitrification inhibitor on 4,019 acres, 770 acres of no-till and 466 acres of strip-till.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship received $3 million in one-time funding to support statewide science-based water quality practices over the next five years. After today’s announcement the Department will have made $2.8 million available to support these practices this fall.

The 2013 Meals from the Heartland Annual Hunger Fight, the nation’s largest volunteer food packaging effort, is scheduled to begin Wednesday, August 28 at 9 a.m. at Hy-Vee Hall, downtown Des Moines. Packaging will take place daily through Saturday, August 31.

Meals from the Heartland has the goal of packaging at least 5 million meals during this four-day event. Meals packaged during 2013 are provided to children and families in need internationally as well as locally. Prior shipments have been distributed to Iowa, New Mexico, Haiti, South Africa, Honduras, El Salvador, Philippines, and many other countries.

Meals from the Heartland’s soy-based meals are made of U.S.-grown rice, soy protein from Midwest soybeans, dried vegetables and vitamins. Each package assembled at the event feeds a family of 6.

Over 15,000 Iowans starting as young as 5 years old, and ranging through all ages, will volunteer to package meals at Hy-Vee Hall throughout the four-day event. Training is provided to each volunteer. Time slots are still available, and registration can be completed online at www.mealsfromtheheartland.org.

Hy-Vee Hall is full of fun, energy, teamwork and excitement during this four-day event. On Wednesday evening, August 28th, over 1,100 high school students will package meals exclusively during the DuPont Pioneer Student Challenge.

Financial contributions to Meals from the Heartland are greatly appreciated to help purchase the raw materials for the packaging. Contributions may be made online or at the event, and are tax-deductible.

Free parking will be available to event volunteers on the north side of Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center (formerly Vets Auditorium). Volunteers are also encouraged to bring canned goods and fresh produce to support Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) food pantries.

Meals from the Heartland is a Des Moines based 501c3 organization. Online registration, donations and information on Meals from the Heartland can be found at www.MealsfromtheHeartland.org.