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Iowa corn lobby calls for passage of trade deals

Ag/Outdoor

October 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A group that lobbies for Iowa corn farmers is calling on Congress to quickly approve trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama. After President Barack Obama said the White House was close to sending the deals to Congress for final passage, the Iowa Corn Growers Association said Monday all three are needed to expand markets for farmers. The group said South Korea could become an important market for ethanol products, Colombia would stop importing so much corn from U.S. rivals and dropping U.S. exports to fast-growing Panama could rise. President Kevin Ross says it’s frustrating American farmers have lost market share while waiting for Congress. U.S. signed the deals under President George W. Bush but Congress never approved them, which gave the Obama administration the ability to renegotiate details.

Dry, windy weather ups fire risks in Iowa harvest

Ag/Outdoor, News

October 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa farmers are being urged to be careful as the harvest kicks into high gear. Dry and windy weather has increased the fire risk. Some law enforcement officials have asked farmers to stop harvesting until conditions improve. The weekly crop report on Monday shows 91 percent of the corn crop is now mature with 12 percent harvested for grain or seeds. Both are behind last year but ahead of the average. Fifty-eight percent of the corn is in good to excellent shape. Twenty-one percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, which is behind last year and the average. Sixty-five percent of the soybeans are in good or excellent condition. State climatologist Harry Hillaker says last week was the ninth week of the past ten with below normal precipitation.

GENE L. SCHMIDT, 83, of Anita (svcs 10-6-11)

Obituaries

October 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

GENE L. SCHMIDT, 83, of Anita, died Mon., Oct. 3rd, at his home. Funeral services for GENE SCHMIDT will be held 2-p.m. Thu., Oct. 6th,  at the Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Anita.

Visitation with the family is from 6-8pm Wed., Oct. 5th, at the funeral home.

Burial will take place at a later date.

GENE SCHMIDT is survived by:

His wife – Liz Schmidt, of Anita.

His Children – Rod (Jo) Schmidt, of Waukee; Kevin (Lori) Schmidt, of Des Moines; Greg (Diane) Schmidt, of Des Moines; Keri (Gene) Lehman, of Van Meter.

13 grandchildren & 1 great-grandchild.

Former Adair city employees plead guilty to theft

News

October 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A former Adair city clerk and her son, who worked for the street department, have pleaded guilty to stealing city funds. The attorney general’s office says 63-year-old Linda Nichols and 41-year-old Terry Nichols, both of Adair, pleaded guilty on Monday to first-degree theft. A charge of felonious misconduct in office was dropped. Each faces up to 10 years in prison. Sentencing is Nov. 14 in Adair County District Court. A state audit in May found $119,000 in questionable spending from 2007 through 2010. The attorney general’s office says the audit included amounts that can’t be proven to be stolen or weren’t stolen. Under a plea deal, the Nichols will pay over $83,000 in restitution plus another $5,000 for the audit.

Bluffs men and 1 other in Omaha killing, to stand trial

News

October 4th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska judge has sent the cases against three men charged with killing an Omaha man to Douglas County District Court for trial. Fifty-year-old James Asmus was found shot to death on Sept. 2 in a south Omaha garage. Jason Hanan, of Omaha, and Anthony Good Jr. and Corey Brooks, both of Council Bluffs, Iowa, are charged with first-degree murder and weapon charges. Online court records show Judge Sheryl Lohaus found probable cause and sent the cases to district court last Friday. All three men are being held without bond.

Iowa DOT plans to reopen I-29 in southwest Iowa later this week

News

October 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – Oct. 3, 2011 – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is reporting that it plans to reopen Interstate 29 later this week from the Missouri state line to U.S. 34 (exit 32) near Pacific Junction. Portions of this section of the interstate have been closed since June 15. An announcement with the day and time of the opening will be made as soon as a more precise determination can be made. Construction and repair work is ongoing at this time.

When the road reopens, temporary lane crossovers will be in place at mileposts 0.8 northbound and 3.2 southbound, near Hamburg. Two-way traffic conditions will be present between the crossovers and diverted into the southbound lanes. The crossovers are necessary until repairs can be completed to the embankment of the northbound bridge, which was damaged during the flooding.

Exit 1, Iowa Highway 333 to Hamburg; and exit 10, Iowa Highway 2 to Nebraska City, will remain closed after I-29 reopens. Iowa 333 has sustained flood damage; and now that the water has receded, the Iowa DOT will be able to perform a more thorough assessment of the roadway. Iowa 2 sustained substantial damage due to the flooding and must be repaired. The goal is to restore traffic on these roadways as quickly as possible.

Four arrests reported in Cass County

News

October 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests over the past week. On Friday (Sept. 30th), 37-year old James Leroy Chelf, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of Driving Under Suspension. Chelf was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled guilty the following day and was released.

On September 27th, 25-year old Ashley Renee Dewitt,  of Griswold, was arrested by sheriff’s deputies on three charges of Theft in the 5th Degree. Dewitt was taken to the Cass County Jail where she pled guilty and was also released the following day. And, 31-year old Matthew Bernard Steffens, of Wiota, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registry. Steffens was taken to the Cass County Jail where he posted $5000 bond and was released.

On September 25th, 25-year old Jared Wayne Pelfrey, of Elkins, Arkansas, was arrested in Cass County, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Pelfrey was taken to the Cass County Jail where he posted $1000 bond and was later released.

Accidents reported in Cass County

News

October 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday) released a report on recent accidents. On Saturday (Oct. 1st), deputies responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident on 590th Street. Officials say a 2002 Honda CRV owned and driven by 58-year old Rebecca Lynn Klein,  of Belton, MO, was southbound on Highway 173, when her vehicle was struck in the rear by a 2011 Honda owned and driven by 55-year old Laura A. Richardson, of Raymore, MO. A total of four people  were transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Damage from the accident amounted to $7,500. No citations were issued.
On Thursday (Sept. 29th), Cass County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on Buck Creek Road. Authorities say a 2008 Dodge Durango owned and driven by 38-year old Tawnya Juanita Brooks,  of Atlantic,  was traveling south on Buck Creek Road when Brooks lost control of the SUV, which entered the west ditch and hit a culvert. The woman refused transport to the hospital. She was subsequently cited for Failure to Maintain Control. The damage to her vehicle was estimated at $4,000.

On September 24th, a two-vehicle accident was reported to have occured on 750th Street, about  one-half mile north of Glendale Road. Sheriff’s officials say a 2011 Ford F-150 Super Cab driven by 26-year old Alexis Arturo Hernandez, of Crane, TX, was northbound on 750th Street when it crossed the center line and collided with a 1998 Ford F-150 pickup, owned and driven by 44-year old Jeffrey Allen Baker, of Earlham. No serious injuries were reported.  Damage from the crash amounted to $3,500. The sheriff’s department says Hernandez was cited for Driving on the Wrong Side of Two-Way Highway.

And, on September 23rd, a single-vehicle accident occured on 690th Street in Cass County, about one-quarter of a mile north of Cumberland. Officials say a 2007 Hyundai Tiburon driven by 16-year old Cole Daniel Johnson, of Cumberland, was traveling south on 690th Street, when the car left the road and entered the east ditch before hitting a tree. An unidentified passenger in the car was injured, and transported to the Cass County Hospital by Cumberland Rescue. Damage to the car was estimated at $15,000.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 3RD

Trading Post

October 3rd, 2011 by admin

FOR SALE:  Deep freeze, chest type, measures 41″ long, 22″ wide, 34″ high, its white and just like new.  $400.  Hitachi reciprocating saw CR 13 V, like new $125.  243-6772

WANTED: 32″ color tv. 243-3396

Reminder: meeting Tuesday night to discuss Kimballton Post Office

News

October 3rd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Concerned citizens want to remind residents of Kimballton and Elk Horn about a meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) night in Kimballton, regarding the possible closure of the Kimballton Post Office. The meeting takes place from 7-until 9-p.m at the Kimballton Town Hall.

The residents of Kimballton recently received letters explaining the possible closure. The letter included a questionnaire residents can fill out, along with information about the declining workload and revenue the Kimballton office has experienced. Post Office officials will be at Tuesday’s meeting to answer any questions citizens may have.

If a decision is made by USPS to close the Kimballton location, residents may opt to request their mail be delivered to the Elk Horn post office. A form is also available at the Kimballton Post Office to request rural delivery service. Postal Service officials say while the Kimballton Office is being studied, it does not necessarily mean the office will end up being closed.

Other southwest Iowa post offices being studied for possible closure include Brayton, Cumberland, and Lewis. A meeting about the possible closure of the Cumberland post office was held last Thursday evening.