w/ Chris Parks
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.9MB)
Subscribe: RSS
The Creston Police Department reports one arrest and an incident of vandalism on Tuesday. At 2:29pm Officers arrested 22-year-old Brandon Tull of Creston on a Union County Warrant for Violation of No Contact/Protective Order-Contempt. He was booked in to the Union County Jail on $300 bond.
Also at 8:00am on Tuesday a resident at 604 North Birch Street in Creston reported that sometime during the night someone had vandalized her home with eggs. The damage was estimated at $30.
The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest on Tuesday of 21-year-old Tyler Austin Sowers of Clinton on a warrant for Violation of Probation. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $10,000 bond.
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 20, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is expanding its payment options to now accept debit cards and Automated Clearing House (ACH) debit. These paperless payment options enable FSA customers to pay farm loan payments, measurement service fees, farm program debt repayments and administrative service fees, as well as to purchase aerial maps.
“Our customers have spoken, and we’ve listened,” said Bill Northey, USDA’s Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. “Finding ways to improve customer service and efficiency is important for our farmers, ranchers, producers, and forest landowners who work hard for our nation every day. Now, our customers can make electronic payments instantly by stopping in our offices or calling over the phone.”
Previously, only cash, check, money orders and wires were accepted. By using debit cards and ACH debit, transactions are securely processed from the customer’s financial institution through Pay.gov, the U.S. Treasury’s online payment hub.
While traditional collection methods like cash and paper checks will continue, offering the new alternatives will improve effectiveness and convenience to customers while being more cost effective. In 2017, the average cost to manually process checks, a process that included navigating multiple systems, cost USDA more than $4.6 million. The expanded payment options will cut the time employees take processing payments by 75 percent.
“At USDA, we’re focused on modernization to improve customer service,” said Northey. “If half of our customers use these new payment options, we’ll see a $1 million savings in one year. These new payment methods are one part of a much larger effort to expand options for our customers, as well as to make our services more effective and efficient.”
Today’s announcement marks the beginning of a multi-phased roll-out of new payment options for USDA customers. Ultimately, payment option flexibility will be extended to allow farmers and producers to use debit cards and ACH debit payments to make payments for all FSA programs, including farm storage facility loan repayments, farm loan facility fees, marketing assistance loan repayments, Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) administrative fees and premiums and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) fees.
To learn more, contact your FSA county office, visit farmers.gov, or download the “Make Your FSA Payments Instantly” fact sheet.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man has been convicted of second-degree murder for the shooting death of a Des Moines resident.
Polk County District Court records say a jury found 47-year-old William Burton III guilty last week. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 2.
Authorities say Burton shot 39-year-old Cory Channon on Jan. 9 last year at Channon’s home. Burton and Crystal Purdy had gone there to confront Channon about a gun Burton thought Channon had stolen from him.
Purdy pleaded guilty last September to burglary and conspiracy and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
LEON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say that for the second time in four days, an Iowa cemetery has been the target of vandalism.
The Des Moines Register reports that the last case happened at a cemetery in Leon, a town of fewer than 2,000 people about 70 miles (112.65 kilometers) south of Des Moines.
A post on the city’s Facebook page Monday showed gravestones toppled and damaged in Leon Cemetery, as well as damage to structures and statues at an adjacent veterans’ memorial.
Last week, police in the eastern Iowa city of Manchester reported that nearly 30 gravestones were damaged in the city’s Oakland Cemetery.
Police in both cities are asking the public to report any information on the vandalism.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Dexter Fowler was focused more on his team getting a win rather than his own production.
Fowler hit a bases-loaded double and drove in four runs, leading the St. Louis Cardinals past the Milwaukee Brewers 9-4 on Tuesday night in the second game of the series between NL Central contenders.
“It’s awesome to win games like this,” Fowler said. “Any time you get division wins against a top-tier team in your division, that’s a plus.”
Tyler Webb (1-1) earned his first major-league victory with one-third inning of work in his 79th career game. He struck out pitch-hitter Ben Gamel on four pitches. Six
Cardinals combined to throw 170 pitches in the game.
The Cardinals have won nine of their last 11 games, while the Brewers have lost six of their last eight. St. Louis remained in first place by a half-game over the Chicago Cubs, who beat San Francisco 5-3. Third-place Milwaukee is four games back.
St. Louis broke the game open with a four-run sixth against three Milwaukee relievers. Jeremy Jeffress (3-4) loaded the bases. Alex Claudio came in and struck out Kolten Wong. Junior Guerra entered and walked Harrison Bader, who was recalled earlier in the day. After striking out pinch-hitter Matt Carpenter, Fowler hit a 3-2 pitch into short left field that fell between three Brewers for a double and a 5-2 lead.
“That was a huge play play,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “I knew it had a chance and that it was falling fast. We got the carousel going. And we kept adding on from there.”
The Brewers believed the ball should have been caught.
“That was a tough ball to get to but I think we need to make that play,” Milwaukee shortstop Orlando Arcia said. “I think that was the play of the game. If we make that play, everything changes. Somebody has to call that ball.”
Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell agreed.
“Fowler just hit it between our guys,” Counsell said. “We didn’t catch the ball and they scored a bunch of runs. Three guys going for it and nobody could get to it.”
Wong hit a two-run single in the seventh, making it 7-2. The Cardinals added two more runs when Fowler and Tommy Edman drew bases-loaded walks.
Milwaukee went ahead 2-1 in the sixth. A two-out, run-scoring single by Eric Thames off reliever John Gant was charged to rookie Ryan Helsley, who pitched 1 1/3 innings.
Gant allowed back-to-back singles by Hernan Perez and Orlando Arcia for the second run before giving way to Webb.
Yadier Molina drove in the Cardinals’ first run, scoring Marcell Ozuna in the fourth. St. Louis then loaded the bases with two outs. Lane Thomas hit for starter Michael Wacha but flew out to center.
“That’s life in the National League I guess,” Wacha said. “You don’t know how many opportunities you’ll get in a game and that was his decision to make. Obviously, I was feeling good out there.”
Wacha struck out five, allowing three hits and a walk in throwing 73 pitches.
Milwaukee scored its final two runs in the eighth.
UP NEXT
Brewers: Adrian Houser (5-5, 3.76) Houser is 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA in three career games against St. Louis. His April 22 start this season in St. Louis resulted in a 13-5 in which Houser went four innings, allowing five runs on nine hits, including two home runs.
Cardinals: Adam Wainwright (9-8, 4.33) has nine career home victories over the Brewers are his most against any opponent and his 16 wins overall against Milwaukee are tied for tied for first (with Cubs) for his most wins against any opponent.
Skyscan Forecast Wednesday, August 21, 2019 Dan Hicks
Today: Partly to mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms. N @ 10-15. High 76.
Tonight: Decreasing clouds. N @ 5. Low 56.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. E @ 5-10. High 78.
Friday: Partly cloudy. High 82.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 85.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (611.1KB)
Subscribe: RSS