Connections Area Agency on Aging, dedicated to keeping the senior population safe amid COVID-19, says they offer frozen and shelf-stable meals that will be delivered to a senior’s door. The meals can be ordered in increments of 5 and delivered on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Care packs are also available which includes toilet paper, paper towels and other non perishable food items. There is a suggested contribution of $3.75 per meal, all Connections AAA consumers are given the opportunity to contribute towards the goods and services they receive.

If you are or know of a senior in need of meals, please contact the Connections Area Agency on Aging office at: (800) 432-9209. All items will be prepared and delivered out by individuals using face masks and gloves and utilizing the 6-foot distance rule.

The latest State of Iowa Drought Monitor information shows parts of nine area counties are in an Extreme Drought, while parts of several adjacent counties are in a severe-to-moderate drought. The dry conditions cover nearly two-thirds of the State, with eastern Iowa the least affected, with what is being called “Abnormally dry” conditions. Counties in an Extreme Drought include all of Audubon and Carroll Counties, 90% of Greene and Guthrie Counties, and about one-third of Cass, Dallas, Shelby and Crawford Counties. Portions of Calhoun, Sac and Boone Counties are also impacted by an Extreme Drought.

In Counties affected by an Extreme Drought:

• Pastures are dry; producers sell cattle; crops are tested for toxins; crops have pest infestation
• Seasonal allergies are worse; farmers are stressed about high feed prices
• Trees drop leaves; acorns are underdeveloped
• Warm water leads to fish kills; streambeds are low to dry

(More info. at https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?IA)

The Atlantic FFA Chapter was named the Reserve Champion Team, Monday, in the annual Iowa FFA Horse Career Development Event held at Prairie Rose Arena. FFA Advisor and Ag Education Instructor Eric Miller said the Atlantic FFA Chapter team included: Craig Becker, Carli Henderson, Taylor McCreedy, and Aspen Niklasen. Miller said team member Taylor McCreedy placed 4th, Craig Alan Becker placed 7th, Carli Henderson placed 13th and Aspen Niklasen placed 21st overall in the individual contest.

Left to right: Craig Alan Becker, Taylor McCreedy, Aspen Niklasen, Carli Henderson. (Photo submitted)

Craig Alan Becker said, “I really enjoyed the opportunity to go to a contest with some other members of our chapter. As a team, we were really happy with our results from the day. I also really appreciate the effort made by the FFA association to make sure we could make this day possible”

The team also took home 1st place in the Reasons and Questions class with McCreedy placing as the top individual for the day. “It was a great experience and I’m thankful we had the opportunity to compete. McCreedy said, earning a runner up team finish was awesome and shows we’ve worked hard to compete with the best FFA teams in the state.”

FFA teams from 10 chapters participated in this year’s Career Development Event designed to provide the student an opportunity to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of Equine Science. The 38 individual contestants evaluated halter and performance classes. They also answered questions over the classes and gave oral reasons to explain their placings. A written examination was included along with a team problem solving competition.

The Iowa FFA Horse Career Development Event was made possible with support from Farm Credit Services of America through the Iowa FFA Foundation. The Horse Career Development Event was coordinated and held at the Prairie Rose Arena in Elkhart, Iowa. The official judge was Sierra Hagedon of Marshalltown, Iowa. She was assisted in reasons taking by Shianne Votora, Camryn Norton and Sierra McCullough. Horses were provided by Kyle DeFreece Show Horses, Hockenson Quarter Horses and Terra Gait Stables.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Police in Creston, Wednesday night, arrested 21-year old Logan Houg. The Creston man was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $5,000.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) — The State Board of Education meeting Wednesday included a discussion about online teaching. Board member Mike May of Spirit Lake questioned how well teachers are prepared. “I think most people would agree that in March we weren’t prepared for what happened. For whatever reason, no one anticipated anything like this would happen. It’s reasonable to assume the department couldn’t have anticipated this would happen — no one could have,” May says. “We weren’t ready. And consequently, from March to June, very little learning took place.” May, who is a former teacher, questioned how the situation has changed since then. “How have we prepared teachers to be ready….teaching is an art — but how have we transitioned? What difference have we made in terms of their ability to deliver online?,” he asked”

The online learning was optional once the governor shut down the schools for the year in the midst of the pandemic. The Department of Education’s Amy Williamson says they were immediately working with teachers. “You know we made sure that we provided a substantial amount of resources to support teachers in that process — and that’s what lives in those return to learn modules, different training supports for offering a different kind of learning, and how to sort of even address public health circumstances,” Williamson says. Williamson is the Chief of the Bureau of School Improvement and says the situation now is very different. “Because it’s no longer voluntary — so it isn’t really an option anymore to not be successful. The professional development offered for teaching online through the A-E-A’s, some of the tools that we are providing will make teachers be better prepared for this as well,” according to Williamson.

May still has his doubts. “I’m skeptical that we are really prepared to be effective online teachers or instructors,” according to May. “And I think some of what you say is true. I think in some places we are — but I am not sure that that’s ubiquitous.” Williamson says teachers won’t stop learning. “I certainly think it’s going to be a process. It’s going to have to continue to get better as we go,” Williamson says. “But I think what you identified is that where can we make sure that if we feel our districts are falling short we can support them. To make sure that we are offering the resources to them so that they can get better — because that will be important.”

May reiterated that he was not trying to place blame on anyone for not being prepared for the big change in teaching methods. He says he is going on what he has heard from teachers and he could be behind in knowing how prepared schools are for a new era of teaching.

(Updated 9:17-a.m., 8/6) – Fort Dodge police said a man wanted on first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of his estranged wife was captured today (Thursday). Police said Justin Hurdel was captured after officers were called to the area of Quail Avenue/P59 and Nelson Avenue, an area just north of the junction of Highway 20 and County Road P59. According to police, a K-9 unit helped officers track Hurdel to a nearby shed, where he was taken into custody without incident.

Police said Hurdel was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained prior to his arrest. He will be charged with first-degree murder in the death of his estranged wife, 38-year-old Maggie Hurdel, who was found with a gunshot wound in the garage of a home in the 500 block of South 19th Street in Fort Dodge Wednesday. Neighbors said the couple lived in separate homes just two streets apart. One neighbor said they saw Justin Hurdel speed away after the shooting.

Police in Red Oak, Wednesday afternoon, were called to the Fareway Food Store in Red Oak, to review video for a theft that took place on July 30th. While reviewing the video, it was noticed that the suspect in the incident just happened to be in the store. 23-year old Amanda Kathleen Lunsford, of Red Oak, was placed under arrest for Theft in the 5th Degree, since the items she allegedly stole were valued at under $200. Lunsford was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.