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Missouri River farmers offered advice on “reclaiming” flooded farmland

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Farmers along the Missouri River are getting advice on reclaiming their land from receding floodwaters. Crop specialists from Iowa State University and the University of Nebraska spoke Monday with farmers gathered at 20 computer linked sites in Iowa, South Dakota, Missouri and Nebraska. ISU Ag engineer Shawn Shouse,  says, in some cases, sand may be washed too deep over farmland to be moved. “In severe cases, if the sand is extremely thick, the cost of moving the sand may get to the point where you want to consider selective abandonment of small areas that have extremely deep deposits of sand – as opposed to moving that sand off,” Shouse said.

Aside from sand, farmers along the Missouri River are clearing flood debris from their land. Paul Jasa, with the University of Nebraska, advised farmers to get a cover crop on the barren land as quickly as possible this fall to restore the soil’s microbial activity. He noted, however, seeds for those cover crops are in short supply. Jasa said a lot of cover crop seeds that are normally available in the Midwest have been sent to drought-ridden Texas. For some farmers, Jasa said recovering the farmland to productivity may take another season.

(Radio Iowa)

VIRGINIA SPIKER, 97, of Atlantic (svcs 9-17-11)

Obituaries

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

VIRGINIA SPIKER, 97, of Atlantic, died Mon., Sept. 12th, at the Heritage House. Memorial services for VIRGINIA SPIKER will be held 11-a.m. Sat., Sept. 17th, at the Heritage House.  Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Visitation is open at the funeral home on Wed., Thu., & Fri. (Sept. 14-16), from 8am-5pm, with the family present from 5-7pm on Friday.

A private family committal will be held at the Grant Cemetery prior to the Memorial service.

VIRGINIA SPIKER is survived by:

Her son – Steven (Jennifer) Spiker, of Raleigh, NC.

and 1 grandchild

JOYCE E. RIGGS, 85, of Atlantic (svcs 9-16-11)

Obituaries

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

JOYCE E. RIGGS, 85, of Atlantic, died Tue., Sept. 13th, at the Cass County Hospice Center at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.  Services for JOYCE RIGGS will be held 10:30-a.m. Fri., Sept. 16th, at the 1st Baptist Church in Cumberland. Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family will be present from 5-6pm Thursday (9/15).

A private family burial will be held in the Atlantic Cemetery, prior to the service.

JOYCE RIGGS is survived by:

Her sons – Steven (Terri) Riggs, of Atlantic; Jim (Sue) Riggs, of Lewis, and Jon (Terry) Riggs, of Fairmont, MN.

6 grandchildren & 3 great-grandchildren.

ETHEL ROWEDDER, 90, of Irvine, CA, & formerly of Westside (svcs 9-15-11)

Obituaries

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

ETHEL ROWEDDER, 90, of Irvine, CA,  (formerly of Westside) died Wed., Sept. 7th, in Irvine. Funeral services for ETHEL ROWEDDER will be held 11-a.m. Thu., Sept. 15th, at the Ohde Funeral Home, in Manning.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 6-pm Wed. (9/14).

Burial will be in the Manning Cemetery.

ETHEL ROWEDDER is survived by:

Her daughters – Diane (Steven) Palmer, of Omaha, NE; & Patsy Velting, of Irvine, CA.

2 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, & other relatives.

Dry weather allows fall harvest to begin

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The condition of the state’s corn and soybeans crops have improved and dry weather has allowed the fall harvest to begin in Iowa. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey released his weekly update on the condition of the state’s crops Monday, saying one-third of the corn crop is mature. That’s behind 56 percent at this time last year but ahead of normal, which is 30 percent. Fifty-seven percent of the corn crop is in good or excellent shape; 28 percent fair and 15 percent poor or very poor. About half of the state’s soybeans are turning color, behind 70 percent last year and behind the five-year average of 63 percent. Sixty-four percent of the soybeans are in good or excellent condition with 12 percent being poor or very poor.

Missouri River flooding damage bills adding up

News

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Federal flood insurance has already paid out $43 million to help policyholders deal with the damage caused by flooding along the Missouri River even though the floodwaters haven’t fully receded. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says those payments went to people who live and work along the river downstream from the Garrison dam in North Dakota. That total includes payments made by Sept. 1, it will grow as more claims are submitted. FEMA is urging people to submit claims as soon as possible. This year’s Missouri River flooding officially began June 1. Massive amounts of water from above-average spring rains and snowpack have been flowing down the river all summer. The Corps of Engineers predicts the river won’t be back inside its banks until sometime in October.

Iowa group begins text tips for underage parties

News

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities in southern Iowa will begin a program where people with information about underage drinking parties can tip them off about the party with a text message. The “Text-A-Tip” program will use a text-only phone line for tips about underage parties. Officials with the Iowa State Patrol say by texting a message about the time and whereabouts of the party, people can remain anonymous.

The program is sponsored by the patrol, law enforcement agencies and school districts in nine Iowa counties, including Adair, Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Ringgold, Taylor, Union and Wayne counties. Authorities say they hope the program will help shut down underage parties and prevent injuries and death. The phone number where tips can be sent by text message will be 641-799-2277.

South Dakota man dies after being hit on I-80 in Council Bluffs

News

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Council Bluffs have identified the victim of Monday’s fatal semi-versus- pedestrian accident as a South Dakota man. 52-year old James Hoss, of Watertown, South Dakota, died at the scene of the accident on Interstate 80 eastbound, near the Manawa exit. Officials say Hoss was walking on the interstate when was struck by a semi being driven by 37-year old Sedrick Taylor, of Crestview, Florida.

The accident happened at around 1:10-p.m. Officials say while the incident remains under investigation, alcohol and speed were not believed to be factors in the collision. Instead, they‘re looking into the possibility Hoss may have intentionally walked into the path of traffic.

Women misses deer but rolls her vehicle

News

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

An attempt to avoid a deer in the road resulted in a rollover accident, and Clarinda woman being sent to the hospital over the weekend, for treatment of possible injuries.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office says 22-year-old Breanna Everett was taken by ambulance to the Clarinda Regional Health Center following the accident on 290th Street just west of the intersection with Wolf Avenue, in southeastern Page County.

Authorities say Everett’s 2004 Chrysler Pacifica was traveling west on 290th when it topped a hill and she noticed deer in the roadway. Everett lost control of the compact utility vehicle while swerving to avoid contact with the deer. The vehicle then entered the ditch and hit a tree on a fence line before rolling onto its top.

The accident happened at around 3:10-p.m. No citations were issued.

Assault arrest in Adams County

News

September 13th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

A Taylor County woman was arrested over the weekend on an assault charge in Adams County. Sheriff’s officials say 27-year old Carrie Sickels, of Lenox, was arrested Sunday evening, and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault.