The Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development invites you to attend the 27th Annual meeting of the Wallace Foundation, on Tuesday, March 6th, at the Learning Center located at the ISU Armstrong Research Farm near Lewis.

The program will begin at 9:30 AM. Featured speakers are Steve Johnson, ISU Farm Management Specialist speaking on ”Riding the Ag Cycles” and Dave Swenson, ISU Economist speaking on “An Overview of Iowa’s Economy and the Growth Challenges Rural Areas Face.”

A complimentary lunch will be served at 11:30-a.m., followed by the annual business meeting at 12:45-p.m.

The Armstrong Research Farm is located 12 miles southwest of Atlantic on Highway 6, half a mile south on 525th Street, and a half mile east on Hitchcock Avenue; or 13 miles east of Oakland on Highway 6, half a mile south on 525th Street, and half a mile east on Hitchcock Avenue.

For more information contact the Wallace Foundation at 712-769-2650 or raelynb@iastate.edu.

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) — A former councilman of a northeastern Iowa town has pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing two young girls. The Sioux City Journal reports that the former Sac City councilman, 76-year-old Gary Hansen Sr., entered a written plea Thursday in Sac County District Court to four counts of second-degree sexual abuse. Police say Hansen had sexual contact with two girls who were then under the age of 12 in 2009 and 2010. Police say one of the victims was about 6.

Hansen served on the Sac City Council until 2015, when he lost a bid for re-election. Hansen’s attorney, Jason Rieper of Des Moines, says his client plans to fight the charges at trial, although they “are reviewing our options.”

TOWN OF BLUE MOUNDS, Wis. (AP) — Sheriff’s officials say a woman who was killed while walking in a southern Wisconsin town was from Iowa. And, so was the driver of the car that struck her. Thirty-year-old Chelsea Oakley, of Anamosa, Iowa, died early Thursday when she was struck while walking along Highway 151 in the Dane County Town of Blue Mounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office said Friday the 34-year-old driver is from Dubuque, Iowa. Investigators say there was no relationship between the victim and driver and that they were not traveling together.

The crash investigation is ongoing.

A reminder that on March 6th, 2018 Adair County will hold a Special Election for the issuance of a bond to construct a Courthouse Elevator. Auditor Mindy Schaefer reports the Bond would be not to exceed $650,000 making the total project not to exceed $1,250,000. Meetings will be held in all the Cities in Adair County to answer any questions and to demonstrate the need for the new elevator. (View the latest conceptual drawings for the Courthouse Elevator Project here:

Revised 3D for SHPO[7887]

The meetings are scheduled as follows:

February 15, 2018 at Bridgewater Town Hall at 6:00 p.m.

February 15, 2018 at Fontanelle Library at 7:00 p.m.

February 22, 2018 at Adair County Courthouse Courtroom at 7:00 p.m.

February 22, 2018 at Orient City Hall at 6:00 p.m.

February 27, 2018 at Stuart Legion Hall at 7:00 p.m.

February 28, 2018 at Adair City Hall at 6:00 p.m.

PRIMGHAR, Iowa (AP) — A northwestern Iowa man has pleaded not guilty to charges in a fatal 2016 all-terrain vehicle crash. The Sioux City Journal reports that 27-year-old Garrett Crowl entered the written plea Thursday in O’Brien County District Court. He’s charged with two counts of vehicular homicide — one of operating while intoxicated and the other while driving recklessly.

Investigators say Crowl was driving an ATV recklessly while under the influence of marijuana on July 30, 2016, when he lost control in a recreation area near Sheldon and crashed into a tree. His passenger, 25-year-old Shaleah Donavon, died. Crowl’s trial is set for April 17.

A traffic stop Thursday in Pottawattamie County resulted in the arrest of a man on a drug charge. 33-year old Taylor James Reed, of Omaha, was arrested at around 8-p.m. for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Authorities seized into evidence, 27.5-grams of a green leafy substance identified as marijuana, and a multi-colored container with green wax, and two pipes. A woman from Council Bluffs turned herself-in to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office, Thursday morning. 26-year old Kaitlyn Elise Peabody was wanted for Violation of Probation. She was booked into the Pott. County Jail.

22-year old Shawn Richard Ellis, of Council Bluffs, turned himself-in the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office Thursday morning. He was wanted on warrants for 5th Degree Criminal Mischief, and Felony charges of Willful Injury/aggravated assault, along with Domestic Abuse Assault and Violation of Probation. Ellis was turned over to jail staff. Thursday afternoon, a warrant was served on a woman already booked into the Pott. County Jail. Authorities said 52-year old Julie Ann Guy, of Council Bluffs, was served with the warrant for Violation of Probation and then returned to the custody of jail staff.

A man from Nebraska, also being held in the Pott. County Jail, was served with a warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice. 34-year old William J. Odinas, of Omaha, was served and then returned to his cell. And, a Wisconsin man was arrested Thursday for Criminal Trespass with Injury, and Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree. 25-year old Justin Tyme Rocha, of Beloit, WI., was taken into custody for causing an estimated $1,000 damage to the front entry door, window and bathroom vanity at a residence in the 500 block of Brady Street, in Minden. Odinas was booked into the Pott. County Jail.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced today (Friday) it has received a $100,000 Farm to School Support Services Grant from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to host an Iowa Local Food Day on October 11, 2018, as part of National Farm to School month. Mike Naig, Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture said “We continue to see growing interest from both the schools and the farmers in incorporating locally grown produce in school meals. We are excited to get this additional funding to help scale-up efforts focused on increasing the amount of locally grown food served in school breakfasts and lunches. This food day celebration will help prepare growers to sell to schools and assist schools in accessing locally grown items.”

With the grant funding, the Department is working to: build a support network for schools interested in using local foods; aid food service directors in making local procurements; work with growers interested in selling produce to schools; partner with Summer Food Service Programs (SFSP) as a starting point for farmers to work with schools; and allow Farm to School activities to expand beyond fruits and vegetables.

The Department is also helping to host the 2018 Iowa Farm to School Conference on June 29th at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny.  Conference attendees will have the opportunity to share ideas, resources and successes to help grow the farm to school and farm to early care and education movement in Iowa.

Farmers or schools interested in participating in Farm to School efforts can contact Tammy Stotts with the Department at tammy.stotts@iowaagriculture.gov.

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

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

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CORYDON, Iowa (AP) — Wildlife biologists have confirmed a deer killed by a hunter in south-central Iowa suffered from chronic wasting disease, marking the first confirmation in a wild deer hunted outside of northeast Iowa. The disease attacks the brains of deer and elk and is always fatal. No human cases have ever been recorded. The deer was killed Dec. 5 in Wayne County.

Iowa wildlife biologist Terry Hainfield says the confirmation of the disease was disappointing, but not surprising. He says officials are “increasing number of CWD positive deer in northeast Iowa and from our neighboring states.” The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says it is waiting for test results from deer recently hunted in Allamakee and Clayton counties.

The fatal disease first appeared in a wild deer herd in Iowa in 2013.