(UPDATED; Radio Iowa) – More than a dozen Iowans are helping to fight wildfires in three other states this month as part of a nationwide partnership program. Ryan Schlater, a fire specialist with the Iowa D-N-R, says six Iowans are rotating in groups of three to west Texas, where the Dempsey Fire has scorched thousands of acres of forests. Another two-person Iowa crew is fighting wildfires in Colorado. “We have six that are in Alaska on a 20-person hand crew, which is mixed in with Missouri Department of Conservation and the Mark Twain National Forest folks,” Schlater says, “and they will be there for 21 days.”

Should a wildfire break out in Iowa this week, Schlater says there’s no cause for concern that our state is being left shorthanded while these firefighters are elsewhere. “A lot of them are county conservation board employees who may take vacation. We have very few Iowa DNR folks who actually go,” Schlater says. “We service basically any Iowa citizen who’s interested and able to go on wildfires. We get them trained. We put them through a physical fitness test, and then they’re eligible to go on national fires.” The fire program that provides “mutual aid” between states has been sending Iowa’s wildland firefighters to national incidents since 2006, but Schlater says it’s rare other states sends crews to Iowa.

Via Texas Park & Wildlife at Texas.gov

“We are very blessed in Iowa here,” he says. “We have around 900 volunteer fire departments across the state. And if you think about it, we have a road pretty much every mile in most places, some places it may be more, but a road is a perfect firebreak. Also, we have good access to most of our lands where wildfires start.” The Iowans on the firefighting teams go through at least 40 hours of training before their first assignment abroad, and even then, they’ll be paired up with much more experienced individuals.

“There is risk, obviously, with with any fire,” Schlater says, “but we have a lot of safety measures in place that we try to adhere to and keep everyone safe and bring them home.” Schlater says all of the slots are filled for this year’s firefighting program, but they’re already signing up volunteers for next year. Learn more here:
www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Forestry/Fire-Management 

(Radio Iowa) – Before hitting the hay tonight (Wednesday), Iowans should be sure to check out the July “supermoon,” what promises to be the biggest and brightest of the year. Peter Geiger, editor of the Farmer’s Almanac, says tonight’s gem in the sky is known as the “Buck Moon.” Geiger says, “That’s because the velvety antlers of the male deer that start to sprout in the springtime, by the time we get to July, they’re pointed and they’re hardened.”

Geiger says the moon may appear to be a bit larger tonight as this is the month in which it’s closest to the earth.  “In reality, whether it’s 2,000 miles closer or less isn’t going to make a difference in what you see,” he says, “but I think because your weather is going to be very good, you’re going to see a very bright, illuminated moon.”

Tonight’s “supermoon” is also known as the “Hay Moon” after the July hay harvest, and the “Thunder Moon” in correlation to this month’s typical storms. If clouds do block your view tonight, there will be another “supermoon” on August 11th, what’s known as the “Sturgeon Moon.”

(Radio Iowa) – Inflation in June hit a record peak above nine percent and Iowa educators expect more students will arrive at school next month without adequate supplies. Beth Hanson is an elementary school teacher in Lake Mills. “We’re seeing a lot of kids who just need that assistance,” she says. “not just monetarily, but socially and emotionally, needing all those things.” Hanson says classroom performance can be diminished if a student feels ashamed or shunned because of what they don’t have. “You do a lot of talking, you look into their situation. We a lot of times will even talk to families, see what they need,” Hanson says. “Sometimes we may not even know what they need until we start talking to the right people and I think that’s what’s important.”

Like most schools, Lake Mills offers assistance from a variety of sources — including from teachers like Hanson. “The other day I bought a pair of shoes for a little girl who had never owned a pair of sandals,” Hanson says. “…She was so excited about a pair of sandals.” Connor Kem, the principal at Lake Mills Elementary, says the district has its own assistance fund and a list of other resources for families who are struggling to make ends meet. “Now you are really thinking about gas, groceries — all of those things that are a really hierarchy of need many times just because you’ve got to get to and from,” Kem says, ” and you’ve got to have things available at home for your kiddos.”

During the last school year, nearly 41 percent of Iowa students qualified for free or reduced-price lunches at school. Some schools and teachers are using this week’s Amazon Prime Day — when many items are significantly cheaper — to buy supplies and other items for students.

(Anita, Iowa) – The CAM School Board, Monday evening, acted on approving several matters. Before he provided KJAN News with a recap of the Board’s actions, shared CAM/Nodaway Valley Superintendent Paul Croghan congratulated the CAM Cougars Baseball Team for clinching the Substate final in Class 1A, Tuesday night.

The senior class for the CAM Cougars played in their 4th Substate Final of their 5 year careers on Tuesday night. For the first time those seniors tasted victory in that game with an 11-1 win over Ogden in 5 innings of play. CAM improved their record to 26-2 on the season and will head back to the state tournament for the first time since 2017. The Cougars will play in the 1A Quarterfinals on Monday in Carroll. We’ll have coverage on KJAN.

Mr. Croghan said the CAM School Board, Monday, approved a few resignations and several contract recommendations.

Croghan said they’re still missing a Special Education and Math Teacher, an Elementary position. Like other districts that are searching for help to fill their staff positions, the CAM District is finding the application pool is limited. He said the attempt to fill some of the positions isn’t because they aren’t trying, and he credits the Administrators for finding unique ways to bring those candidates to CAM.

In other business, the CAM School Board renewed the District’s agreement with Anita Daycare.

And, they approved an agreement with four other school districts, for Girls Wrestling.

The Board approved putting one of the District’s older buses up for sale, and the purchase of a Chevy Malibu through Deter Motor Company, in Atlantic, for $19,258. Their final order of business was to approve sharing agreements with Nodaway Valley, for Human Resources, Building & Grounds, SBO (School Business Official), and Superintendent.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department reports two prisoners at the jail in Council Bluffs were served with warrants, Tuesday, and one person turned themselves-in on a warrant. Authorities say 69-year-old Keith Leon Dyson, of Council Bluffs, was served with a warrant for Violation of Probation. He is being held in the Pott. County Jail on $29,000 bond associated with numerous drug charges. 27-year-old Tyler James Woodruff, of Council Bluffs, was also served with a Felony warrant for Violation of Probation on Forgery charges. Bond on the warrant was set at $10,000.

And, 38-year-old Christina Joy Raymer, of Council Bluffs, turned herself-in to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday morning. Raymer was wanted on a warrant for Child Endangerment. Her bond was set at $2,000.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will hold a Special Meeting at 10-a.m. Friday, July 15th in their Board Room at the Courthouse, in Red Oak. During the meeting, te Board is expected to hold an interview with a finalist candidate for Montgomery County Auditor/Commissioner of Elections, in what will likely be a closed session, in accordance with the Code of Iowa. The person appointed will conduct the duties of that position until the seat appears on the November 8, 2022, General Election ballot.

Montgomery County Auditor Stephanie Burke resigned at end of last month, to accept the school business official/board secretary’s position with the Stanton School District. Her last day in office was on June 30th.