The Cass County 4-H program hosted their annual 4-H County Convention awards program on Sunday, November 11 at the Cass County Community Center. The event, which recognized achievements from the 2017-2018 4-H year, was organized by the 4-H Youth Council and Youth Action Committee. At County Convention, members and leaders of thirteen 4-H clubs in Cass County were present on stage to receive recognition. Record book project awards were announced and recognition was given to members who did outstanding project work throughout the year. Local club leaders were recognized for their service to the 4-H program. Leaders receiving 5 year awards include: Dana McConnell, Jan Steffen, Tarah Anderson, Jeff Anderson, Eva Jensen, Windy Smith, Chris Schroder, Laura Freund and Christy Casey.

Special recognition was given to the Benton Franklin 4-H Club for their exceptional community service projects, and Bear Grove Blazers 4-H Club for their promotional activities during National 4-H Week. Many clubs were also recognized for herdsmanship at fair, clubs who contributed to the Endowment Fund, and club officers were also recognized for their excellent work. “This was a great event for 4-Hers to receive recognition for their accomplishments,” stated Shelby Van Horn, Cass County Youth Coordinator.

Every year Cass County 4-H gives out three special awards. This year’s distinguished service award went to Oathoudt Farm Supply. Receiving an Honorary Member award was Marcy Dorsey and receiving the 4-H Alumni award was Shane Smith. We appreciate what these supporters have done and will continue to do for the Cass County 4-H Program. “This year 21 Clover Kids who have completed 3rd Grade and moved into 4-H. A Clover Kids Graduation ceremony to recognize those members, and help them transition into the 4-H program. This is our second year of this event taking place and we are thrilled to have so many young members excited about 4-H!” said Van Horn.

The program ended with the installation of the 2018-2019 Cass County Youth Council. 4-Her’s serving on the council include: Claire Smith, Katie York, Eric Plagman, Mitchell Williamson, Nathan Behrends, Aly Brockob, Grace Clay, Craig Alan Becker, Carli Henderson, Emily Plagman, Haley Becker, and Jacob Rattenborg. Following the celebration, treats were provided for the parents, relatives, friends and 4-H supporters who attended this celebration and recognition event for Cass County 4-H members and leaders.

Cass County Democratic Party Chair Sherry Toelle said today (Friday), that food donations from the Cass County Democratic Party’s Food Drive have been delivered to the Anita Food Pantry and Cumberland’s Care & Share Food Pantry. Pam Miller and Mary Kay Greenwalt accepted the donations on behalf of their organizations. Toelle says “I want to thank the community for once again supporting the Food Drive. You always come through for the needy in Cass County.”

Pam Miller from the Anita Food Pantry

Mary Kay Greenwalt from Cumberland

FAIRBANK, Iowa (AP) — Developers of three northeast Iowa wind turbine towers have lost another round in their battle to keep them up or rebuild them. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that a three-judge Iowa Supreme Court panel rejected the developers’ appeal Wednesday. The justices let stand a July 11 decision by their colleague, Justice David Wiggins, to affirm a district court’s decision.

The 450-foot-tall (137 meters) towers were erected in 2015 just east of Fairbank. They drew opposition from housing developers and neighboring homeowners who believed the towers would be detrimental to the city. Fairbank City Council members filed a lawsuit that said Fayette County issued construction permits without following zoning ordinances.

The developers have been taking down the turbines under a court-ordered deadline of Dec. 9 .

(Radio Iowa) — The fees for hunting, fishing and trapping licenses in Iowa will soon increase. A legislative committee has given final approval to the license fee increases, which were proposed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources staff. Bruce Trautman, the acting director of the Department of Natural Resources, says “Generally speaking, it’s about a 17 percent in those fees, so it’s a modest increase that is certainly going to cover some of our critical needs we have within the wildlife bureau, the fisheries bureau and also our conservation officers.”

It’s been 15 years since the state license fee for fishing was raised, as Republican lawmakers have vowed NOT to raise state taxes OR fees. So…Iowa legislators recently handed over authority to D-N-R staff to set hunting, fishing and trapping license fees. The fees go into the state’s Fish and Wildlife Fund and are used on staff salaries and to do things like improve wildlife habitat and run the state’s fish hatcheries. Trautman says the new fees won’t take effect until next year. “If we don’t have any reductions in the number of licenses — when you raise something, you take a bit of a risk (and) there might be a few folks dropping out — we’re anticipating about a $4.5 million increase,” Trautman says.

There’s been a growing reliance on FEES to run the D-N-R. The amount of GENERAL state tax dollars budgeted for the agency is less than half of what it was a decade ago. Sporting groups lobbied for the increase in hunting, fishing and trapping license fees for several years.

Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office report an inmate serving time in the Pott. County Jail for 2nd Degree Theft, was served Tuesday, with a warrant out of Douglas County, NE. 28-year old Richard Paul Stechenfinger, of Omaha, was presented with the warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice. He was then returned to the custody of Corrections Staff. Bond on the Theft charge was set at $5,000. He was also being held without bond, on the Fugitive warrant.

A man being held in the Pott. County Jail for probation violation and for placement in a Residential Corrections Facility (RCF), was presented with a warrant Thursday, for Violation of Probation. 20-year old Darius Javion Hudson, of Council Bluffs, was then returned to his cell. Bond for the second probation violation was set at $10,000.

And, on Thursday, a traffic stop by the Iowa State Patrol resulted in the arrest of 24-year old Nicholas Daniel Andersen, of Omaha. Andersen was transported to Pott. County Corrections by a Sheriff’s Deputy, in connection with a Pottawattamie County warrant. Andersen was booked into the jail on the warrant.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s unemployment rate has dropped slightly to 2.4 percent in October, the lowest in the state in more than 18 years. Iowa Workforce Development released the figures Friday, showing the unemployment rate had fallen from 2.5 percent in September. Iowa’s unemployment rate was the nation’s second lowest, behind only Hawaii’s 2.3 percent rate. Iowa’s rate was the lowest since March 2000. The national unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in October. There were an estimated 41,200 unemployed Iowa residents in October, and 1,647,100 people held jobs.

Following a job loss in September, businesses in Iowa returned to hiring in October and added 3,900 jobs. This monthly gain more than offset a loss of 2,100 jobs last month and leaves the state up 21,800 jobs compared to one year ago. Private sectors again were responsible for all of the gain this month. Government shed 1,000 jobs following another loss of 3,600 last month and now trails last year’s mark by 1,800 jobs. Much of this loss stems from the state government level (-1,300 jobs). Overall, seven of the ten private super sectors added jobs and only three lost jobs.

Leisure and hospitality added the most jobs in October in Iowa (+2,100). Arts, entertainment, and recreational industries provided most of the added employment (+1,300). Many of these gains were due to special events bolstering staff levels in amusement and recreational industries. Construction also continued expanding this month, adding 1,600 jobs. This is now the ninth-consecutive month of job growth for the construction sector. Manufacturing grew in October in both durable and nondurable goods factories and gained 1,100 jobs. The only losses for this super sector occurred in April and May when a combined 200 jobs were pared. On the other hand, retail trade continued its struggles this month, paring 500 jobs. The super sector was lifted by usual hiring in transportation, warehousing, and utilities. This has been true throughout 2018 with transportation, warehousing, and utilities gaining 4,500 jobs annually. All other super sector losses this month were small and limited to education and health services (-300), professional and business services (-200), and other services (-100).

Annually, Iowa remains up 21,800 jobs following the October hiring. Manufacturing is now up 9,000 jobs to lead all sectors. Durable goods factories have been responsible for a majority of that growth (+6,100). Construction projects have been strong in 2018 and continued well into the fall this year, leading to a gain of 6,300 jobs over last October. Losses are light annually and limited to other services (-1,800).

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is using a pesticide to eliminate fish from a Des Moines lake as part of a decade-long effort to improve the waterway. The Des Moines Register reports that rotenone was applied Tuesday to the south side of Easter Lake to remove common carp and gizzard shad. A department release says residents and animals should avoid contact with the water during treatment. It will take a couple days for the chemical to dissolve into flowing streams, and possibly weeks to dissolve in nearby ponds and the main lake. The release says public areas will be closed until further notice.

Mark Flammang is a DNR fisheries management biologist. He disputed concerns last month regarding studies that linked the pesticide to Parkinson’s Disease. Flammang says more research indicates rotenone is safe.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation report the Interstate 29 northbound on-ramp from Virginia Street in Sioux City, will be closed from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Nov. 18, weather permitting. The temporary closure is need to place an overhead sign truss. Motorists wanting to go onto northbound I-29 in Sioux City, will utilize Gordon Drive through Wesley Parkway to Interstate 29 north.

NEW YORK (AP) — Jennie-O-Turkey is recalling more than 91,000 pounds of raw turkey in an ongoing salmonella outbreak. The recall is the first tied to an outbreak the U.S. Department of Agriculture says is widespread. It has resulted in one death and 164 reported illnesses in 35 states. Regulators did not say how many of those people were exposed to Jennie-O products. They say additional products from other companies could be named as their investigation continues.

The products being recalled include 1-pound packages of raw, ground turkey and were sold nationwide. They had a use-by date of October, but could still be in freezers. Regulators say the product should be thrown away. Salmonella in food is estimated to be responsible for 1 million illnesses a year, with symptoms including vomiting and stomach cramps.

This image provided by Hormel Foods Corporation shows the production code information on the side of the sleeve of Jennie-O-Turkey that is being recalled. Jennie-O-Turkey is recalling more than 91,000 pounds of raw turkey in an ongoing salmonella outbreak. Regulators say additional products from other companies could be named as their investigation continues. The products being recalled include 1-pound packages of raw, ground turkey and were shipped to retailers nationwide. Regulators say the product should be thrown away and not eaten. (Hormel Foods Corporation via AP)

The Audubon County Engineer and Secondary Roads Department reports, Saturday morning Mortensen Construction plans to move a large crane across Pheasant Ave just south of 170th St in Audubon County. Crews hope to have the move completed by noon, and have the road back open. Because they have to place material, boards & crane mats and remove them before the road opens again however, it could vary the time frame for re-opening the road by a little bit.

Flagers will be present, and a detour set up to help traffic get around the work, but you should note the detour is on rock roads. Officials urge you to “Please plan ahead,” and if weather does not cooperate Saturday, the move will be postponed to Monday, instead.