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Iowans warned to be on guard for invasive, tree killing beetle

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 18th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are familiar with the emerald ash borer and the green insect’s threat to our foliage, but we’re also being asked to be on guard for another insect that’s equally as lethal to a much wider variety of trees. Rhonda Santos, a spokeswoman for the U-S-D-A, says Iowa homeowners should examine their trees for the Asian longhorned beetle and report any clues they find about the invasive pest.

“Now is the best time to look for and report the signs of the Asian longhorned beetle in your backyard and in your neighborhood,” Santos says. “This wood-boring beetle attacks many types of trees and is a threat to our shade trees, recreational areas and our forest resources.” Unlike the emerald ash borer, the Asian longhorned beetle likes to feed on a host of trees, including: ash, birch, elm, sycamore, maple, buckeye, poplar and willow. The bug has distinct markings and leaves behind a series of holes and other signs in trees that make it quick to identify.

Asian Longhorned Beetle (USDA photo)

“The beetle is easy to recognize with their black and white antennae, shiny black body with white spots, and six legs,” Santos says. “The beetles create round holes and scars in the tree bark, sawdust-like material around the tree, and can cause branches to fall.” The beetle is not native to the U.S. and has few-to-no natural predators. Santos encourages Iowans to take five minutes and give your trees a close inspection for those round holes or sawdust.

Santos says, “If you see these signs, take photos and capture the suspicious insects to help the USDA with identification.” The beetle was first spotted in the U.S. in New York in 1996 and spread quickly. It’s one of a group of invasive pests and plant diseases that costs the nation some 40-billion dollars each year in losses to trees, plants, and crops. For more information or to report the insect or tree damage, visit www.asianlonghornedbeetle.com.

Rebuild continues for Grinnell College football

Sports

August 18th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

The rebuilding effort of coach Brent Barnes at Grinnell College gets ready for year two with today’s (Thursday’s) start of practice. The Pioneers had their first full season since 2018 a year ago. The 2019 season was shut down after three games due to lack of numbers and the entire 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID. Grinnell finished 2-8 last season.

Rebuilding the roster was the first chore. The Pioneers are still young but Barnes expects a roster of more than 55 players to open practice.

Barnes says the Pioneers are still a young team but gaining experience.

Barnes has recruited nationally to restock the roster and says it reflects the student body at Grinnell College.

The Pioneers open the season at home on September 10th against Monmouth College.

Iowa’s Cooper DeJean on his versatility

Sports

August 18th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

Iowa sophomore Cooper DeJean is not sure what position will eventually be his home on defense. The former OABCIG star has spent time in preseason working at corner, safety as well as the cash position, a hybrid linebacker/safety position for the Hawkeyes.

DeJean has been working on special teams as a return specialist and also as a holder on field goals and PATs.

DeJean says the limited experience he got last year was a plus.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says DeJean will make an impact wherever he plays.

The Hawkeyes open September third at home against South Dakota State.

Cross Country: 2022 State Qualifying Sites Announced

Sports

August 18th, 2022 by Jim Field

Sites for the 2022 IHSAA and IGHSAU state qualifying meets for all four classes of cross country are now available.

Team assignments and meet information for each site will be released the week of October 10.

With adjusted dates for postseason cross country, Class 4A and Class 3A meets will begin at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19. Class 2A and Class 1A meets will begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 20.

The state meet in Fort Dodge is split over two days, with 1A and 2A racing on Friday, October 28, following by 4A and 3A races on Saturday, October 29.

Scheduling between state qualifying and the state meet is to accommodate IGHSAU regional volleyball dates.

The IHSAA and IGHSAU do not charge admission for state qualifying meets.

2022 STATE QUALIFYING MEET SITES

CLASS 4A Wednesday, October 19

  • Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln
  • Dubuque, Senior
  • Indianola
  • Marshalltown
  • Pleasant Valley

CLASS 3A Wednesday, October 19

  • Glenwood
  • Humboldt
  • Pella
  • Washington
  • West Delaware, Manchester

CLASS 2A Thursday, October 20

  • Monticello
  • Oelwein
  • Pella Christian
  • Shenandoah
  • Unity Christian, Orange City

CLASS 1A Thursday, October 20

  • ACGC
  • Cascade
  • Central Decatur
  • Central Springs
  • Regina, Iowa City
  • Ridge View
  • South Hardin
  • Southwest Valley

STATE MEET

Class 1A—Friday, October 28

Class 2A—Friday, October 28

Class 3A—Saturday, October 29

Class 4A—Saturday, October 29

Griswold man arrested on a warrant in Montgomery County

News

August 18th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a Cass County (IA) man was arrested at around 6:10-p.m. Wednesday, east of Elliott. Authorities say after a traffic stop was conducted, it was determined the driver of the vehicle, 25-year-old Caleb Schaaf, of Griswold, was wanted on a Warren County warrant for Eluding. Schaaf was arrested and held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

And, at around 6:30-p.m., Wednesday, 25-year-old Daisy Walker, of Red Oak, was arrested in Red Oak, on a Montgomery County warrant for Theft in the 3rd Degree. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley, Thursday 8-18-2022

Weather

August 18th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

Today: Partly cloudy. High 86. S @ 10-15.
Tonight: P/Cldy w/scattwered showers & thunderstorms. Low 65. S @ 5-10.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy to cldy w/scatt. Shwrs & tstrms. High 80. NW @ 10-15.
Saturday: Mo. Cldy w/scattered showers/thunderstorms. High 78.
Sunday: P/Cldy. High 82.

Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 85. Our Low this morning, 56. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 87 and the Low was 68. The Record High on this date was 111 in 1936. The Record Low was 40 in 2012.

Women dies after her five dogs attack her in Clay County

News

August 18th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Clay County Sheriff says a woman died earlier this week near the driveway to her home after being attacked by her Great Dane dogs. The Clay County Communications Center originally received a 9-1-1 call Monday afternoon from a person believing he had come across a motorcycle crash on a county road near Rossie , about 12 miles south of Spencer.

The caller told dispatchers he could see a person in a nearby ditch but was unable to get close because of a group of large dogs near the person. Deputies with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office determined it was not a crash and the person in the ditch — identified as 43-year-old Mindy Kiepe — had died from injuries caused by the five dogs that were all determined to be hers.

All five of the animals were euthanized following the investigation.

Bohannan blasts Congresswoman Miller-Meeks’ votes on infrastructure, computer chip bills

News

August 18th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Christina Bohannan of Iowa City, the Democratic candidate in Iowa’s new first congressional district, says political extremism is a grave threat to the country. “I’ve always believed in a two-party system. I always believe that debate and compromise make us better and stronger, but what we have right now is not debate and compromise,” Bohannan says. “What we have right now is extremism and chaos.”

Bohannan is challenging Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who is seeking a second term in the U.S. House. During a speech on the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair, Bohannan criticized Miller-Meeks for voting against bills providing more federal funding for infrastructure projects and subsidies to spur domestic U.S. production of computer chips.

“Those were bipartisan bills, OK? They are going to build roads and bridges, they’re going to solve supply chain problems and they’re going to create good jobs for years to come,” Bohannan said. “Even Chuck Grassley supported these bills because he knows how good they’re going to be for Iowa.” Bohannan was elected to the state legislature in 2020 after defeating a long-time incumbent from Iowa City in a Democratic Primary. Bohannan says that shows she’s willing to stand up to her own party when necessary.

“We all agree on a lot of what we need to do,” Bohannan says. “The problem is that politics are getting in our way.” A spokesman for the Iowa Republican Party says Miller-Meeks stands up for Iowans against the Biden Administration’s reckless agenda and her re-election puts the G-O-P one step closer to firing Nancy Pelosi.

Axne says new IRS agents will track down federal taxes that high income owe, but haven’t paid

News

August 18th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne says the package of energy, tax and health care proposals President Biden signed into law this week shows what she and other Democrats could accomplish if they keep control of congress. Republicans have blasted the bill for adding 87-thousand employees to the I-R-S over the next decade. Axne, who is from West Des Moines, says it will increase oversight of tax returns from big corporations and Americans who report an annual income above 400-thousand dollars.

“I think most of you are like me. You don’t even remotely fall into those categories,” Axne says, “so it’s time those folks started paying their fair share because everyone on Main Street Iowa is doing their fair share.” Axne says tax avoidance among corporations and high-income Americas is a big issue. “Because right now $160 billion in taxes goes unearned into our country’s coffers that would help all of you with our schools and with our roads and with our health care,” Axne said.

Axne made her comments Wendesday on the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. She is running for a third term in the U.S. House against Republican Zach Nunn, a state senator from Bondurant. Nunn says individual Iowans and businesses will be unfairly targeted. “It’s not a good time to be an Iowan or a small business owner,” Nunn says. Nunn spoke last weekend at the Register’s Soapbox at the Fair. Nunn says congress should adopt the kind of tax cuts that he voted for in the Iowa legislature.

“When we look at what’s going on in Washington today, we see a very different model for how government is the only solution,” Nunn says, “and the people have no voice.” Iowa’s new third congressional district includes the Des Moines metro, stretches to the Missouri border and includes the cities of Ottumwa and Creston.

Atlantic City Council approves Weitzel’s Class-C license

News

August 17th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, approved a Class-C Liquor License for Weitzel’s Restaurant, for the effective dates of July 15,2021 to July 14, 2022. Their action – albeit late – came after the Council received confirmation from the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) that restaurant owner Jake Weitzel had dramshop endorsement. Dramshop laws are intended to protect the general public from harm or loss due to over service of intoxicated patrons on a licensed premises. Dramshop insurance is a precondition to holding and maintaining an Iowa liquor license.

During their meeting on August 3rd, the Atlantic City Council refused to take action on issuing the Liquor License, when Councilman Dana Halder complained about the lack of upkeep on the property, with weeds growing in the parking lot and the condition of the property itself.

Councilman Gerald Brink said during that same meeting, that he understood the restaurant “was closed down by the State.”

During last night’s (Tonight’s) City Council meeting (8/17), City Clerk Barb Barrick told the Council that when the ABD found out the Council failed to approve Weitzel’s license, the ABD sent Jake Weitzel a letter that stated the City of Atlantic had disproved the license, and that he may appeal that decision, which he did on August 11th. In the meantime, his application is considered to have been “timely filed.” Weitzel was appealing the Council’s lack of initial action, due to the following factors he cited in his letter of appeal to the ABD Administrator:

Weitzel said he could not find a notice regarding his property, but Barb Barrick says the City has proof a notice was sent to him in June. Jake Weitzel went on to say in his appeal letter, that Councilman Dana Halder and “Another council member falsely accused me of being shut down by the Department of Inspections and Appeals, and used that as another reason for denial of my liquor license.”

Councilman Halder, during the latest Council meeting, denied he ever mentioned Weitzel’s had been shut-down. Councilman Pat McCurdy said didn’t recall Halder saying the restaurant had been closed down by the State. The next step is a phone hearing between the ABD, Mr. Weitzel and representatives for the City of Atlantic.

Mayor Grace Garrett reiterated that the City is enforcing the Code on businesses and residences, with regard to property upkeep.