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Paddlers are being recruited to help haul trash out of the Boone River

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Volunteers are needed in north-central Iowa this weekend to help clean up a stretch of the Boone River. In years past, they’ve hauled out everything from water heaters to wagon wheels. They’ll be clearing out debris from the waterway on Saturday as a group, according to Brian Stroner, with the city of Webster City, who’s organizing the Boone River Clean-up.

“We’re going to be on the river for about four to five hours,” Stroner says. “We’re going to provide food and drink, some T-shirts. We’re also offering a self-guided clean-up to where people can go at their own pace. We’ll have dumpsters available at the 7-B canoe access, also at Briggs Woods.”

Hamilton County Conservation naturalist John Laird said since the first clean up of the river in 2007, volunteers have collected a range of interesting items. “We’ve found all kinds of things,” Laird says. “We’ve found couches, washing machines, washers, dryers, cars, car parts, old safes.”

Hamilton County Conservation Board photo

They had planned to clean a stretch of the Des Moines River in Fort Dodge this weekend, but the plans were called off due to the high water levels. The Boone is one of Iowa’s most scenic rivers.

Learn more about the weekend cleanup at the Hamilton County Conservation Facebook page. Volunteers are to meet at Briggs Woods Shelter #1 at 7:30 AM on Saturday.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

EPA oversight ends of Marengo property where recycling plant exploded

News

August 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S Environmental Protection Agency has ended its oversight of clean-up at the eastern Iowa recycling facility that exploded in late 2022. Asphalt shingles were being recycled at the C-six-zero plant in Marengo. Twenty employees were injured and part of Marengo had to be evacuated when the plant exploded. Six months later, after delays in the timeline for clean-up, state officials asked the federal government to start overseeing the removal of contaminated water and soil from the site.

Marengo fire (file photo)

Officials in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will review the E-P-A’s final report and determine if the company should do more hazardous material clean up. The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined C-six-zero nearly one-hundred thousand dollars for 15 safety violations. Three employees and an investor who was touring the plant at the time of the explosion also have sued the company.

The State of Iowa has sued the company, as well, seeking one-and-a-half MILLION dollars to cover the cost of cleaning up contaminated water.

Posted in News |

Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors Celebrate with Green Leaf Tobacco & Vape

News

August 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by the staff of Green Leaf Tobacco & Vape on Thursday, August 1st, 2024. The Ambassadors gathered to welcome the new business to the community with a ribbon cutting.

Green Leaf Tobacco & Vape officially opened in the Hy-Vee Plaza in June of 2024. Dee Hill-Borger, store manager, has lived in Exira and farmed for 14 years, and made the switch to specialized retail soon after the store opened. Dee shared with the Ambassadors about the vast amount of learning that came with the position and shared she has enjoyed working with the staff and customers to bring a little bit of sunshine to people’s everyday life.

Green Leaf Tobacco & Vape has over 40 retail stores throughout Iowa and Minnesota that specialize in products to help people. Whether that is hobby products such as vapes, cigars, cigarettes, loose tobacco, or CBD products. The store also carries a large variety of leisure products such as incense, lighters, handbags, water pipes and more. The staff is very knowledgeable about the products and encourages potential customers to visit the store to ask questions to better understand the inventory. The staff expressed gratitude towards the community for making them feel welcomed to the area. Green Leaf Tobacco & Vape are open Monday- Sunday from 9AM-9PM.

Ambassadors (Left to Right): Nina Welter, Kelsey Beschorner, DeeDee Kalny, Lana Westphalen, David Kalny, Krysta Hanson, Gene Reed, Kathie Hockenberry, Dee Hill-Borger, John Bricker, Dolly Bergmann, Shy Canfield, Graydon Schmidt, Kevin Littleton, Jeremy Butler, Anne Quist

Green Leaf Tobacco & Vape is located at 1610 E 7th Street Atlantic.

Posted in News |

Iowa police nab Wisconsin fugitive who’s been at large almost 30 years

News

August 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa/Wisconsin Radio Network) – A felon who walked away from a Madison, Wisconsin halfway house in 1994 has been captured in Iowa.  Seventy-one-year-old George Hartleroad was convicted of rape in Chippewa County in 1983. Several weeks ago, Hartleroad was busted in West Des Moines, for not having a rear reflector on his bicycle. Police say he first gave a fake name, eventually gave his real name, and cops quickly learned he was on the run.

In body-cam footage, a police officer is heard saying, “We don’t know if Wisconsin wants you yet or not,” and Hartleroad replies, “Yeah, you will want me.” Turns out, the state of Wisconsin -does- want him. Hartleroad is now in the Dane County jail. By the way, in West Des Moines, the locals knew him as Homeless Greg.

West Des Moines Police Dept. photo

Posted in News |

Few historic round barns remain in Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – There’s been a dramatic decline in the total number of barns in Iowa over the past century and it’s estimated fewer than 75 in the extremely rare round design remain. Wayne Frost of the Iowa Barn Foundation says most of the round barns in the country were built between 1900 and 1920.  “There was some work in early 1900, some of it at Iowa State and other universities that linked a round barn to maybe being more efficient and less expensive to build,” Frost says.

By 1925, though, Iowa State Extension warned against round barn construction due to the expense of materials and how difficult it was to find carpenters with the skills needed to complete the complicated designs.  “If you look across our landscape, every barn we have is different,” Frost says. “Even every round barn is different. Oftentimes they would have a silo in the center of it.”

2021 photo of a Hardin County Round Barn (Iowa Barn Foundation Facebook post)

Round barns are so rare now that dozens are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There’s a 94-year-old round barn on the Plymouth County Fairgrounds in Le Mars. At this month’s State Fair, the Iowa Barn Foundation is building a small barn inside the Agriculture Building on the fairgrounds to promote their work. The group raises money and awards grants to people who are working to preserve barns on their property.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

More progress in SW Iowa town that suffered direct hit from big twister

News

August 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – There’s another sign of recovery for Greenfield following the May 21st tornado. The Adair County Health System announced it will reopen parts of the hospital in Greenfield on August 12th. The hospital has been closed since the tornado and administrators say substantial repairs have been made and they will start moving out of the Nodaway Valley Elementary School that has been their base of operations since the storm.

The Emergency Room and Medical/Surgical Inpatient Services areas are still being rebuilt and will not be open. The E-M-S garage and house were destroyed by the tornado and they hope to have those rebuild by the summer or fall of 2025.

Posted in News |

CADCO comments on impending Atlantic Manufacturing plant closure

News

August 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Cass-Atlantic Development Corporation (CADCO) today (Friday), issued a statement on social media, with regard to the announcement made Thursday, about the impending closure and elimination of about 60 jobs at an employer in Atlantic.

The statement said “As many of you have heard, Myers Industries will be closing their doors in December of this year. We are very disappointed to hear the news, but it was a corporate decision.[Neither] The County, City nor CADCO was approached regarding any concerns or issues. Once the building is available, CADCO will do everything in our power to market this building for either a business expansion or possibly new business to our community. The work has already begun.

Atlantic will bounce back, like we always do! “

Posted in News |

(UPDATED) NW Iowa baseball team bus destroyed by fire on I-80 near Earlham Friday morning

News

August 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The bus carrying Sioux City’s minor league baseball team caught fire early this (Friday) morning on its way to a game in a Chicago suburb. J.D. Scholten, a 44-year-old who’s been a replacement pitcher for the Sioux City Explorers since July, said the team was awakened at 3 a.m.

Photo on Facebook by J.D. Scholten (public viewable image)

“It wasn’t like a panic or anything. It was just like, ‘Hey, guys. We’ve got to get off the bus,’” Scholten said. “Then we look up and there’s all this smoke in the back and by the time we got out there was a mass of flame behind the bus and I think the firefighter told some of the guys we were within minutes of the flames coming inside the bus.”

Sioux City Explorers pitcher J.D. Scholten posted a photo of the bus fire on his Facebook page this morning.

Scholten said everyone on the bus got off safely, but some of the players’ gloves were left behind and got torched. The bus was near Earlham, just west of Des Moines, when it caught fire and Scholten said the town’s fire crews were on the scene quickly. “These are volunteer guys. They came out and took care of things very quickly,” Scholten said. “Pretty impressive.”

The Sioux City Explorers won a game in Lincoln, Nebraska last night and were about a third of the way to Geneva, Illinois, when the bus caught fire on Interstate-80. Another bus picked up the team at about 5:30 and they made it to their destination before lunch. The Explorers play the Kane County Cougars at 6:30 tonight.

Posted in News |

2 western Iowa teens to show their steers at the annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show during the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 10th

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State Fair is quickly approaching and the anticipation of the annual Governor’s Charity Steer Show is building. The Iowa beef cattle industry is again partnering with the governor in this fundraising event to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. Hundreds of fairgoers will attend the August 10 event, featuring youth, industry supporters, local celebrities, and of course, steers. Each steer is exhibited by a local youth representative and a guest celebrity selected by the sponsor of the steer. Twenty-four steers will be shown this year. Along with Gov. Kim Reynolds, we have other notable celebrities showing this year ranging from industry favorites to college. The Governor’s Charity Steer Show is sponsored by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) and the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC).

Exhibitors from western Iowa include Claire Pellett from Atlantic, and her steer “Magic.” They are sponsored by the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association and ISU College of Veterinary Medicine. The animal will be shown by Celebrity hosts Dr. Dan Grooms & Dr. Stephen G. Juelsgaard, Dean of Veterinary Medicine at ISU. And, Ryan Brenner of Mapleton, and his steer “McEars” will appear during the event. They are sponsored by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. The animal will be shown by celebrity host Stan Nelson, ICPB President.

“The Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show showcases the good that can be done by one industry when producers, industry supporters, and community namesakes collaborate,” said Jenna Smith, ICA member services and Governor’s Charity Steer Show co-chair. “The cattle industry is full of people that care and it is an honor to work with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, who provide a crucial service to families in need.”

The Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show has been held since 1983 and has raised over $5.1 million for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa since the show’s inception. Last year the show raised more than $500,000, the third year in a row that the fundraising record has been broken. Funds are raised through online donations, sponsorships, and an auction of steers following the show. All money raised benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, located in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City. These three houses have served over 55,000 families from all 50 states and 62 foreign countries. Families from all 99 counties in Iowa have benefited from the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa too.

If you are interested in supporting the Governor’s Charity Steer Show, consider donating online or attending the show/auction to contribute. The Governor’s Charity Steer Show is being held in Pioneer Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday, August 10 at 4:30 p.m. For additional information about the Governor’s Charity Steer Show or to donate, visit www.iowagovernorscharitysteershow.com.

2024 Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show Participants

  1. Sponsor: Iowa Beef Industry Council & Iowa Cattlemen’s Association
    Celebrity: Kim Reynolds
    Exhibitor: Alexa Fitzgerald | Tipton, IA
    Steer:Ritz
  2. Sponsor: Crawford County Cattlemen and Nor-AM Cold Storage
    Celebrity: Gov. Adam Gregg
    Exhibitor:Calli Korner | Schleswig, IA
    Steer: Smokey Bear
  1. Sponsor: Davis County Beef Promoters
    Celebrity:Mercedes Northup, TV Personality
    Exhibitor: Layne White | Blakesburg, IA
    Steer: Budder
  1. Sponsor: Mahaska County Cattlemen & Friends
    Celebrity:Mike Eisele, President, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
    Exhibitor: Baylen Brink | Oskaloosa, IA
    Steer: Rocco
  1. Sponsor: Iowa Farm Bureau
    Celebrity:Brent Johnson, President, Iowa Farm Bureau
    Exhibitor: Lilly McClure | Dallas Center, IA
    Steer: Buddy
  1. Sponsor: Dee Zee, Inc. (The Quality Truck Accessory People)
    Celebrity:Megan Hindman, Clinical Assistant Professor at ISU College of Vet Med and Iowa State Fair Vet
    Exhibitor: Blayne Beaty | Russell, IA
    Steer: Jimmy
  1. Sponsor: Iowa Bankers Association
    Celebrity:Jeff Angelo, iHeart Radio Personality/WHO Radio
    Exhibitor: Emma Norman | Searsboro, IA
    Steer: Whopper
  1. Sponsor: Volunteer Boards of Iowa Ronald McDonald House Charities
    Celebrity:Kale & Falisha Nelson, Family utilized the Siouxland House
    Exhibitor: Lily Schulenberg | Aurelia, IA
    Steer: Ned
  2. Sponsor: Eastern Iowa Ronald McDonald House and Quad Cities McDonald’s
    Celebrity:Cole The CornStar from CornStar Farms, YouTube & Social Media Influencer
    Exhibitor: Izzie Birker | Garrison, IA
    Steer: Sir-Loin
  3. Sponsor: Central Iowa Ronald McDonald Houses and Des Moines Area Independent Owner Operators
    Celebrity:David Robers, Owner J&D Restaurants, DBA McDonald’s
    Exhibitor: Kaylynn Murty | Tama, IA
    Steer: Mulligan
  1. Sponsor: Siouxland Ronald McDonald House and Siouxland Area McDonald’s Operators
    Celebrity:Colin Newell, Former Iowa State University Lineman & Current Farm Bureau Representative
    Exhibitor: Jacob Ringkob | Moville, IA
    Steer: McMister
  1. Sponsor: Friends of Floyd County
    Celebrity: Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
    Exhibitor: Brennan Ruzicka | Marble Rock, IA
    Steer: Peaches
  2. Sponsor: Monroe County Cattlemen & Supporters
    Celebrity: Mark McCully, CEO, American Angus Association
    Exhibitor: Cheyenne Houk | Blakesburg, IA
    Steer: The Business
  3. Sponsor: Iowa County Beef Supporters
    Celebrity:Dawn Driscoll, Iowa State Senator
    Exhibitor: Georgia Klingner | Williamsburg, IA
    Steer: DJ Boots
  4. Sponsor: Foster and Evelyn Barkema Charitable Trust and Friends of Franklin County Cattlemen
    Celebrity:Chip Flory, Host of AgriTalk
    Exhibitor: Lucy Wibholm | Dows, IA
    Steer: Ronnie
  5. Sponsor: Iowa Junior Hereford Association
    Celebrity:Audi Crooks, All Big 12 Center for Iowa State University Women’s Basketball
    Exhibitor: Lainey Harre | Gilman, IA
    Steer: Hilton Storm
  6. Sponsor: Benton County Cattlemen and Local Supporters
    Celebrity: Tim O’Connell, 3X World Champion Bareback Rider
    Exhibitor:Reagan Burmeister | Rowley, IA
    Steer: French Fry
  1. Sponsor: Iowa Corn Promotion Board
    Celebrity:Stan Nelson, Iowa Corn Promotion Board President
    Exhibitor: Ryan Brenner | Mapleton, IA
    Steer: McEars
  1. Sponsor: Johnson County Cattlemen and Reeve Farms
    Celebrity: Levi Paulsen, Former University of Iowa Lineman
    Exhibitor:Olivia Allen | Tiffin, IA
    Steer: Willy
  1. Sponsor: Jackson County Cattlemen and Friends of Jackson County
    Celebrity: Brenna Bird, Iowa Attorney General
    Exhibitor: Addysen Felderman | Bellevue, IA
    Steer:Maverick
  1. Sponsor: Iowa Veterinary Medical Association and ISU College of Veterinary Medicine
    Celebrity: Dan Grooms, Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University
    Exhibitor:Claire Pellett | Atlantic, IA
    Steer: Magic
  2. Sponsor: District 20 Cattlemen’s Associations
    Celebrity: David Carr, 2X NCAA Champion Wrestler and Associate Director of the Cardinal & Gold Collective
    Exhibitor:Kate Totemeier | Columbus Junction, IA
    Steer: ZZ
  1. Sponsor: Iowa Premium, A National Beef Company
    Celebrity: Tom Gavin, Father of Brogan Gavin
    Exhibitor:Brogan Gavin | Lansing, IA
    Steer: Johny 
  1. Sponsor: ServiTech, Inc.
    Celebrity:Ryan Hassebrook, ServiTech President & CEO
    Exhibitor: Addy Schaa | Kamrar, IA
    Steer: Cooper

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

No major Iowa outbreaks but COVID-19 numbers are slowly rising this summer

News

August 2nd, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – While some states are reporting a tremendous summer surge in COVID-19 cases, the numbers are slowly rising in Iowa and are still considered moderate. Megan Meller, an infection preventionist at Gundersen Health System, says the Midwest has been spared any significant outbreaks, but new cases -are- being diagnosed at system facilities. “So in the region, we are starting to see an increase in COVID cases,” Meller says. “We’re seeing it in the outpatient side, but we’re also starting to see an uptick in hospitalizations due to COVID-19 as well.” In years past, it was common to see a rise in illnesses during the winter months when people are cooped up together, but the numbers usually drop during the summertime.

Meller says this upturn in COVID cases isn’t entirely unexpected. “Typically, we would see an increase in throat and respiratory infections in the winter seasons, but we’ve also seen them increase during the school year, especially at the start of the school year,” Meller says. “I think the summer, too, it’s all the travel, it’s people out and about.” Many Iowans may have to consult their COVID vaccine cards — if they can find them — to recall the last time they had a booster shot. Should we still be getting those COVID boosters? “There is a new strain of the vaccine coming out later this fall, so I would say if you can hold off and wait, I would wait for that new strain to come out,” Meller says. “However, if someone is immuno-compromised or they have underlying health issues, I think it’s worth a conversation with your doctor to figure out if should you get the current vaccine or wait until the fall.”

If you’re showing symptoms, Meller says it’s a wise move to take an at-home COVID test, though check the expiration date on the box, as some of those dates have been extended. “With August, we’re getting back into school time, no matter what, we are going to see a rise in colds and respiratory illnesses in general,” Meller says. “It’s really important during this time of the year, we always say to follow respiratory etiquette, cough or sneeze into your elbow. Make sure you’re washing your hands. And also try not to touch your face with dirty hands because that’s a really easy way that we can infect ourselves.” With the rise of rapid in-home tests, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services stopped requiring positive COVID-19 tests to be reported to the state in April of 2023.

Gundersen Health System has clinics in Calmar, Decorah, Fayette, Lansing, Postville and Waukon, and a hospital in West Union.

Posted in News |