BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) — The reward for information into the disappearance of a University of Iowa student has doubled to $2,000, thanks to a pledge from the power utility in the woman’s hometown. The FBI, state and local investigators have been searching for 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts since she was last seen jogging in her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa, the evening of July 18.

Brooklyn-based TIP Rural Electric Cooperative announced Saturday that it will match a $1,000 standing reward for information that leads to the discovery of Tibbetts’ whereabouts or to an arrest and conviction in her disappearance.

The utility has also set up a hotline where anonymous tips on the case may be left. The cooperative says information called in to 800-452-1111 will be shared with the Poweshiek Sheriff’s office.

The Annual Local Food and Farm Celebration will be held Saturday and Sunday August 4 & 5th at farms near Atlantic and Elk Horn. The event is being held for the third year for local communities to experience the diversity of agriculture in the region. It offers a chance to experience the farms, meet the farmers and allow the kids to get up close and personal with soil, veggies and animals.

You are welcome to bring your family and friends to visit farms north and west of Atlantic. Farms include organic and conventional practices including vegetable fields, fruit trees, and row crops. The tour also includes beekeeping and livestock. The event is free!

Visit the farms between 1:00pm and 5:00pm. Each of the farms will offer guided tours at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00, but come any time. Produce or other goods may be available for purchase. Displays and food-related activities may be part of the respective open house events. If you’re curious about your food or just looking for a fun family outing, you are invited to the third annual Local Food and Farming Celebration, August 4 & 5th, 1 PM-5 PM.

Farms participating include:

Alan and Linda Robinson – featuring Beef

Harrisdale Farmstead – Fruit, vegetable and permaculture practices

Rolling Acres Farm – Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), organic vegetable, greenhouse and high tunnel production

Pace Poultry and Produce – Vegetables and poultry

Kevin Petersen – Organic Row Crop

Danish Countryside Wines and Vines  – Grape production and wine fermentation

Brun Ko Farm  – Pastured beef and pork production

Exhibits include:

DezaRae Farms – Goat milk products and goats

Natural Resource Conservation Service – Soil Health

Smith Generation Farms  – Cover crops

Wallace Foundation

The farms are located between Atlantic & Elk Horn, along Hwy 173 & Littlefield Drive. Look for a map in the event photos and, on August 4th & 5th, look for signs along the Highway.

Democrat Senate candidate for Iowa House District 20, Warren Varley, of Stuart was at the Cass County Fair, Saturday. Varley, a local farmer and attorney who ran unopposed in the June Primary Election, will face a challenge from Greenfield Republican candidate Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II in the November 6th General Election. Sorensen defeated Dodge Perrigo in Republican primary election. Both men hope to succeed retiring District 20 Representative Clel Baudler. District 20 covers Adair, Guthrie, the northeast part of Cass and a section of Dallas Counties.

Warren Varley

Varley has over 25 years of experience as a main street businessperson in Stuart and has served as president of Midwest Partnership and Stuart Enterprise for Economic Development. He says he’s concerned with the direction the Iowa Legislature is taking the state in, with regard to economic development, and especially public education. He says it’s crucial to the future of our children, and as an economic development tool. A more pro-active approach to public education, he says, is to get students who aren’t interested in a four-year college education, engaged in becoming skilled workers in the trades industry.

He says there is a shortage of worker housing in the state, and there needs to be an investment in the infrastructure to make workers available and attract jobs. He says Iowa is losing businesses because they want to expand, but don’t have the workforce to do so, and therefore are unable to do so. Varley says he wants to focus the legislature’s attention to developing rural Iowa, because the population shift to the urban areas means they have the power to change rules, and rural areas need to “Punch above our weight,” and have a strong advocate in the State Legislature.

He says there is too much extremism on both the State and Federal level, and not enough decision making down the middle of issues. Varley says he wants to go back to the time when Iowa was more like when his dad was in the legislature, and Bob Ray was Governor, when there was a lot more working across party lines, cooperation and moderation. He says “I think I represent that.”

His father, Andrew Varley served as a Republican legislator for 12-years.

IA House District 20

Activities at the Cass County Fair continue today, in Atlantic. On the schedule:

7:30-a.m. Swine Show (Indoor Show Ring)

10:00-a.m. 4-H Exhibits Open (Community Center)

10:00-a.m. Poultry Show (Poultry Barn)

10:30-a.m. Dance Atlantic Performance

Noon-to 4-p.m. Decorator’s Showcase (Community Center)

The Noon Special today at the Foodstand is Windsor Chops, and don’t forget hot beef is sold each day of the Fair after 4:30-p.m. Other food can be found on the fairgrounds at the FFA Foodstand and Chuckwagon.

2:30-p.m. Pedal Tractor Pull (Community Center parking lot)

3-to3:30-p.m. Feeder Calf weigh-in

4:30-p.m. County Fair Church Service (Indoor Show Ring)

5:30-p.m. Cow/Calf Show (Outdoor Show Ring)

6:00-p.m. Feeder Calf Show (Outdoor Show Ring)

6:30-p.m. Horse Fun Show (Horse Arena)

7:00-p.m. All American Lunberjack Show (Grandstand)

Tomorrow’s line-up includes: The Beef Show & Beef Fitting Contest; Best of Iowa; Rotary Watermelon Feed; Building Awards; Parade of Champions; Grand Champion Beef Selection; Villa Dance Performance, and Youth Council Activity. The 2018 Cass County Fair concludes Tuesday morning, with the Livestock Sale.

Don’t forget to look for a chainsaw artist, with carvings to be sold after the Parade of Champions Monday evening. Ride wristbands will be on sale this afternoon, and don’t forget there’s lots of great food available, including at the Fair Foodstand, where the Noon Special is Lamb or Ham balls.

Democrat Iowa Senator and Lieutenant Governor candidate, Rita Hart, paid a visit to the Cass County Fair Saturday afternoon. Hart, the running mate of Gubernatorial candidate Fred Hubbell, sat down with reporters after visiting with residents, to discuss what she’s hearing are concerns from Iowans. She said people are concerned about healthcare, its affordability and accessibility, and they’re particularly upset about the privatization of Medicaid which has caused a lot of people to “fall through the cracks.”

Senator Rita Hart

Hart, who was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2012, and re-elected in 2014, said she’s used her position as District 49 State Senator to intercede for people that have not received the care that they need as a result of the decision to privatize Medicaid. She said also, a lot of providers that have not been paid as a fallout of Medicaid privatization. Those she’s spoken with want to see that move reversed, and get Medicaid back under state control.

Hart represents Clinton, as well as northern and eastern parts of Scott Counties. She said another issue of concern Iowans have spoken about, is the status of mental healthcare in the state. Other topics include rural economic development, concerns about the affects of the trade war, investment in education and about raising Iowans’ incomes. Hart has worked as a teacher for more than 20 years in the Calamus-Wheatland and Bennett school districts. She and her husband farm south of Wheatland and have lived there for over 30-years and raised their five children. The last six years she has served as the District 49 State senator.

She said the goal of the Hubbell-Hart campaign is to listen to people and putt their needs first. She said they will strive to turn the budget around and eliminate the deficit, as well as examine wasteful tax giveaways so the means can be found to invest in Iowa in “the right way.” Hart said as Governor, Fred Hubbell would be a good manager “at the helm, where the budget is concerned, as evidenced by his business background. His philanthropic endeavors, she said, is proof he cares about Iowans.

A traffic stop in Adams County at around 12:40-a.m., Saturday, resulted in the arrest of two women. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports during the investigation, the K9 “Baxo” was deployed on the vehicle and gave a positive indication to the presence of narcotics. Upon further investigation, Joleen Most was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Hydrocodone), and Possession of a Controlled Substance (Clonazepam). A passenger in the vehicle, Netosha Stalder, of Corning, was placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd Offense (Methamphetamine) and Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd Offense (Marijuana).

And, Friday night, Adams County Deputies arrested Michael Arthur, of Corning, for Disorderly Conduct.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:00 a.m. CDT

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Patrol says an 18-year-old woman has died after her car was hit by a train in southeastern Iowa. Television station KCCI reports that the crash happened just after 1 a.m. Saturday at a railroad crossing in Mount Pleasant. A report by the State Patrol says Lydia Johnson, of Brighton, tried to drive around crossing gates when her car was hit by a westbound train.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Des Moines are investigating after a bicyclist was killed in a hit-and-run crash. Police say the crash happened early Saturday morning. Witnesses tell police that 56-year old Darrel Ford, of Des Moines, crossed into an intersection against a red light and was hit by a sport utility vehicle. The bicyclist was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died. Police say the SUV left the scene, and investigators are asking the public’s help in tracking it down.

WASHINGTON, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa mother convicted in the starvation death of her toddler has been sentenced to 50 years in prison. The Des Moines Register reports that 30-year-old Ambrashia “Amber” Chrzan, of Wellman, was sentenced Friday. Chrzan was found guilty in May of child endangerment resulting in death after her 17-month-old daughter, Avery, was found dead in November 2016. The child weighed just 11 pounds.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines woman is fighting City Hall to protect the lush garden she has created along a parking strip. The Des Moines Register reports that Des Moines officials have asked 74-year-old Mary Farrell to cut back or remove the plants she has in the border strips near her home. City code says borders between the street and sidewalk can only contain grass or naturally occurring plants.

One person is dead following an accident at a Poweshiek County wind farm, Saturday, According to a spokesperson for Blattner Energy – the company build wind turbines for MidAmerican Energy – a crane operator died at the site. Additional details were not immediately available.

The company is cooperating with local authorities and OSHA in the investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Des Moines are investigating after a 56-year-old bicyclist was killed in a hit-and-run crash. The crash happened early Saturday morning. Witnesses tell police that the bicyclist crossed into an intersection against a red light and was hit by a sport utility vehicle. The bicyclist was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died. He was identified late Saturday afternoon as Darrel Ford, would had lived in Des Moines for about a year, after moving from Texas.

Police say the SUV left the scene, and investigators are asking the public’s help in tracking it down. Police say the vehicle was a newer model, red SUV and will likely have damage to its windshield and front end on the driver’s side.

An accident early this (Saturday) morning in southeast Iowa’s Henry County has claimed the life of a young woman. The Iowa State Patrol reports 18-year old Lydia Danielle Johnson, of Brighton, who was wearing a seat belt, was driving a 2005 Ford Focus northbound on N. Iris Street in Mt. Pleasant at around 1:10-a.m., when she crossed the railroad tracks and was struck by an approaching train. Authorities say the crossing gates were down and lights were flashing to indicate the approaching locomotive. Johnson tried to drive around the gates when her car was struck broadside by the westbound train. The car came to rest northwest of the railroad crossing, while the train stopped on the tracks.

Johnson was transported by Med Force Air Ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where she died from her injuries.

(12:40-p.m.)