(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reports there will be a countywide burn ban in Cass County effective at noon today (Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024) and until further notice. There are currently 27 active countywide burn bans in Iowa.

Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, Guthrie, Adair, Mills, Monona, Crawford, Carroll and Greene are other area counties with active burn bans in place.

Kennon says a burn ban does NOT prohibit the following:  supervised, controlled burn for which a permit has been issued by the fire chief of the fire district where the burn will take place, the use of outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills, properly supervised landfills, or the burning of trash in incinerators or trash burners made of metal, concrete, masonry, or heavy one-inch wire mesh, with no openings greater than one square inch.

Please contact Mike Kennon (712-254-1500) or your local fire chief if you have further questions on the subject of open burning.

Iowa Code Section 100.40 Marshal may prohibit open burning on request.
1. The State Fire Marshal, during periods of extremely dry conditions or under other conditions when the state fire marshal finds open burning constitutes a danger to life or property, may prohibit open burning in an area of the state at the request of the chief of a local fire department, a city council or a board of supervisors and when an investigation supports the need for the prohibition. The State Fire Marshal shall implement the prohibition by issuing a proclamation to persons in the affected area. The chief of a local fire department, the city council or the board of supervisors that requested the prohibition may rescind the proclamation after notifying the state fire marshal of the intent to do so, when the chief, city council or board of supervisors finds that the conditions responsible for the issuance of the proclamation no longer exist.
2. Violation of a prohibition issued under this section is a simple misdemeanor.
3. A proclamation issued by the state fire marshal pursuant to this section shall not prohibit a supervised, controlled burn for which a permit has been issued by the fire chief of the fire district where the burn will take place, the use of outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills, properly supervised landfills, or the burning of trash in incinerators or trash burners made of metal, concrete, masonry, or heavy one-inch wire mesh, with no openings greater than one square inch.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Cass County ISU Extension say the anticipation is building for this year’s National 4-H Week, during which millions of youth, parents, volunteers, and alumni across the country will celebrate everything 4-H. Cass County 4-H will observe National 4-H Week this year by showcasing the incredible experiences that 4-H offers and highlighting the remarkable 4-H young people in our community who work to positively impact those around them. October 13th the community is welcome to join the Cass County 4-H Clubs with carnival games and learn more about 4-H at Fall Fest on the Fairgrounds from 2:00-4:00pm.

The 2024 National 4-H Week theme is Beyond Ready, which celebrates the program’s dedication to building a generation equipped for the future while being met where they are today. This year, 4-H is focused on helping youth be ready to lead, ready to serve, ready to build, and ready to conquer.

4-H believes that young people, in partnership with adults, can play a key role in creating a more promising and equitable future for youth, families, and communities across the country. Through hands-on learning experiences in areas such as agriculture, communication and the arts, leadership and civic engagement, healthy living, and STEM, 4-H members are equipped with the skills they need to be Beyond Ready and make a difference in the world.

Katie Bateman, County Youth Coordinator with Cass County Extension, says “We equip youth with skills for the future while meeting them where they are today. Through 4-H, we offer opportunities and experiences that shape youth into their full, authentic selves, enabling them to shine both now and in the future.”

In Cass County, more than 300 4-H youth and 50 volunteers from the community are involved in 4-H. For over 100 years, 4‑H has inspired families, shaped careers, and impacted communities. For more information on the Iowa 4-H Youth Development program, please contact the Cass County Extension office or visit the Iowa 4-H website at www.extension.iastate.edu/4h.

Today:  Sunny with a high near 81. East northeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight:  Partly cloudy with a low around 47. North northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday:  Sunny with a high near 74. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday:  Sunny with a high near 89. Windy, with a south southeast wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Sunday:  Sunny with a high near 74.

Monday:  Sunny with a high near 73.

(Radio Iowa) – A top official with the U-S E-P-A says the agency is still reviewing a petition by an environmental group asking for federal authorities to take over enforcement of clean water laws from the Iowa D-N-R. The Sierra Club of Iowa petitioned the E-P-A in July, claiming the state is failing to stop harmful levels of nutrients from reaching waterways. Bruno Pigott, who leads the E-P-A Office of Water, says if the agency agrees enforcement in Iowa is falling short, state authorities would have a chance to change course before federal regulators step in.

Pigott highlighted projects the E-P-A is helping fund in Iowa to improve water quality, including a 348-million dollar upgrade to the Cedar Rapids wastewater system.

He discussed the petition on the Iowa Public Radio program “River to River.”

October 1:

• Frank Greiner of Atlantic (winner)

October 2:

• Julie Rasmussen of Exira (winner)
• Karen Bateman of Atlantic

October 3:

• Tebra Reynolds-Haupert of Atlantic (winner)
• Zakyah Hull of Jeffersen
• Linnea Murphy of Lewis
• Jolene Roecker of Atlantic

October 4:

• Kristin Osay Waddell of Atlantic (winner)
• Jeannie Feltner of Omaha

October 5:

• Billie Butler of Atlantic (winner)
• Bill Larsen of Brayton
• Steve Mortensen of Omaha

October 6:

• Carly Halverson of Coon Rapids (winner)

October 7:

• Denise Finnell of Atlantic (winner)
• Brandon Lamp of Atlantic
• Ann Butler of Atlantic
• Jean Petersen of Exira
• Chrissy Wood of Atlantic

October 8:

• Nam Ly of Atlantic (winner)
• Dane Paulsen of Exira
• Michele Hackwell of Exira
• Pam Jones of Red Oak

October 9:

• Connie Wiechmann of Lewis (winner)
• Dee Beebensee of Atlantic
• Nadine Howell of Exira
• Axel Waters of Levine, AZ

October 10:

• Marlene Jensen of Atlantic (winner)
• Terri Smith of Atlantic
• Mike Meuer of Atlantic
• Bertha Schroeter from Exira
• Gwen Weirich of Lewis

October 11:

• Vickie Asberry of Exira (winner)
• Stacie Linfor of Atlantic
• Aiden Reeves of Atlantic
• Cindy Kilworth of Exira

October 12:

• No Birthdays Submitted

October 13:

• Wanda Sornson of Elk Horn (winner)

October 14:

• Kevin Hinners of Elk Horn (winner)
• Noel and Neal McMichael of Audubon
• Ruth Meyer of Atlantic
• Tyler Thomas of Atlantic
• Bella Sorensen of Griswold
• Paulette Boldt of Audubon
• Lisa Paulsen of Exira

October 15:

• Jan Brehmer of Atlantic (winner)
• Teagen Petersen of Massena
• Becky Martin of Audubon
• Chelsey Muhlbauer of Oakland
• Melissa Sarsfield of Atlantic
• Holly Brenton of Atlantic
• Elijah O’Connor of Omaha
• Jennifer McEntaffer of Atlantic

October 16:

• Andrea Riesgaard of Exira (winner)
• Lilly Barber of Wiota
• Dude Schrader of Algona

October 17:

• Austin Eden of Atlantic
• Ron Owen of Audubon
• Benjamin Gavin of Griswold

October 18:

• Darla Casady of Atlantic (winner)
• Julie Scott of Hamlin

October 19:

• Tony Schmidtke of Atlantic (winner)

October 20:

• Donnis Schwanke of Atlantic (winner)
• Becky Randeris of Audubon
• Ants Kommes of Exira

October 21:

• Carol Thompson of Exira (Winner)

October 22:

• Britni Olsen of Audubon (Winner)
• Piper Roland of Atlantic
• Kasey Coolidge of Avoca

October 23:

• Dennis Ballou of Exira (winner)
• Pansy Hoffman of Cumberland
• Vicki Brown of Atlantic

October 24:

• Tate Hill of Exira (winner)
• Gary Riesgaard
• Judy Lauridsen of Exira

October 25:

• Gentry Waters of Atlantic (winner)
• Emma Hagedorn of Audubon
• Connie Steffen of Griswold

October 26:

• Bernie Kilworth of Brayton (winner)

October 27:

• Randy Thompson of Exira (winner)

October 28:

• Morgan Kirchner of Atlantic (winner)

October 29:

• Hayden Larsen of Audubon (winner)

October 30:

• Janice Fancher of Audubon (winner)
• Donna Hopkins of Atlantic
• Connie Griffen of Lewis
• Evan Kelly of Griswold
• Janie Fancher of Audubon

October 31:

• Erin Casey of Atlantic (winner)
• Ruth Heilig of Elk Horn
• Rod Christensen of Atlantic

(Radio Iowa) – State climatologist Justin Glisan confirms September is at the top of the record list after recording just seven-tenths of an inch of precipitation.

He says it was a warm one as well.

Glisan says the early outlook for October doesn’t show much change from September.

He says it doesn’t look like we will make up the lost precipitation from September anytime soon.

The State Fire Marshal’s website shows burn bans in 16 counties due to the dry conditions.

(Radio Iowa) – The deadline is later this month for grocery stores and small food processors in rural Iowa to apply for large state grants to help make themselves more marketable to consumers. Cynthia Farmer, senior policy associate at the Center for Rural Affairs, says the grants are for up to 25-thousand dollars each, which could be especially beneficial for small-town groceries.

Farmer says rural grocery stores are the backbone of many Iowa communities, but they’re facing a host of significant challenges. Those include supply chain troubles, food price inflation, and competition from big box super-stores in nearby towns.

The Rural Innovation Grant Program is being offered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and applications have to be submitted by October 25th. Farmer says a 50-percent cash match is required to take part, so for a rural grocer to get a 25-thousand dollar grant, they’ll have to put up at least 12-thousand-500.

The program has 200-thousand dollars allotted. To qualify, applicants must be located and incorporated or authorized to do business in Iowa, operate in a community of 20,000 or fewer people, and not be in a community contiguous to a city with a population of 40,000 or greater.

(More info. at iowaeda.com/center-for-rural-revitalization/rural-innovation-grant)

Today:  Sunny with a high near 81. Breezy with a south southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Tonight:  Mostly clear with a low around 44.

Thursday:  Sunny with a high near 80.

Friday:  Sunny with a high near 75. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday:  Sunny with a high near 92. Windy.

Sunday:  Sunny with a high near 73. Breezy.