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Corning man arrested on drug charges, Friday

News

July 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s deputies in Adams County, Friday, arrested William Scott Davis, of Corning, on numerous drug charges. Davis was taken into custody on three Counts of Possession With Intent to Deliver On Certain or Real Property, and three Counts of Failure To Affix Drug Tax Stamp. He was being held in the Adams County Jail.

William Davis

William Davis

Egg prices reach 10-year lows as production outpaces demand

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Eggs have gone from record high prices at the height of the bird flu crisis last year to the cheapest prices in a 10-year span. It’s because young hens are laying lots of eggs, boosting supply, but demand hasn’t come back as strong. Countries that stopped accepting U.S. eggs last year have haven’t resumed imports and companies that make pancake mixes and bread learned to cook without as many eggs.

Three weeks ago, Midwest wholesale egg prices hit a 10-year low of 55 cents a dozen. The record wholesale price was $2.88 a dozen in August 2015. Marcus Rust, CEO of the nation’s second largest egg producer, Rose Acre Farms, says the marketplace will resolve the supply and demand issues in time.

Body recovered from Missouri River near mouth of the Platte River

News

July 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say a body has been recovered from the Missouri River. Cass County (Nebraska) Sheriff William Brueggemann says a fisherman found the body Thursday afternoon near the mouth of the Platte River.
The body was later identified as that of a 42-year-old Omaha resident, Tim Mohr. An autopsy has been ordered.

Farmland Values Continue Steady, Gradual Decline

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, NEBRASKA – A steady but gradual decline in farmland values continued into the first half of 2016 across the states served by Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica). Iowa has experienced the greatest decline in average farm values – about 20 percent since the market’s 2013 peak. Nebraska and South Dakota farmland has declined by a more modest 12.5 and 4.8 percent respectively during the same period.

untitledDemand for farmland also is down. Public land auctions declined 8 percent in the first six months of 2016 compared to the previous year. This percentage includes public auctions in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming, as well as Kansas, where FCSAmerica works in alliance with Frontier Farm Credit to monitor farmland values.

Across the five states, lower farm incomes and per-acre profitability continue to put downward pressure on farmland values. Unlike last year, when a strong livestock market led to increased demand for pastureland, values on both pasture and cropland are generally down in 2016. This reflects lower commodity prices for grain as well as cattle.

Twelve-Month Change in Value

State Cropland Pasture
Iowa -5.7% -1.8%
Kansas -0.9% 0.8%
Nebraska -4.7% -2.2%
South Dakota -3.2% -3.1%
Wyoming 1.1% 20.8%

The fall in commodity prices has outpaced the rate of decline in farmland values and FCSAmerica continues to forecast a soft landing for agriculture as the current market correction brings supply and demand back in line.

Below is the average change in benchmark farm values, with the number of benchmark farms appraised in each state noted in parenthesis:

State Six Month One Year Five Year Ten Year
Iowa (21) -4.0% -5.6% 19.6% 139.4%
Kansas (7) -2.0% -0.2%    
Nebraska (18) -4.5% -4.4% 68.5% 212.3%
South Dakota (23) -3.6% -3.5% 79.1% 208.3%
Wyoming (2) 7.8% 10.6% 35.8% 67.7%

Trends in farmland values:

IOWA: Fourteen benchmark farms declined in value during the first six months of 2016, while seven showed no change. The average sale price for cropland has reached a 5-year low, but average land quality continues to be at historically high levels.

About Farm Credit Services of America Farm Credit Services of America is a customer-owned financial cooperative proud to finance the growth of rural America, including the special needs of young and beginning producers. With $25 billion in assets and $4.4 billion in members’ equity, FCSAmerica is one of the region’s leading providers of credit and insurance services to farmers, ranchers, agribusiness and rural residents in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Learn more at www.fcsamerica.com.

Boil Order issued in Carson

News

July 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Residents of Carson are being asked to boil their water used for consumption until further notice. The City issued the boil order this (Friday) morning, when a chlorine pump malfunctioned at the city’s water plant. For more information, contact Carson City Hall at 712-484-3636.

Pickup hits cow on the road in Union County

News

July 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A black cow valued at $1,500 died, after it was struck by a pickup truck Thursday night, in Union County. The Sheriff’s Office says 25-year old James Coverdell, of Osceola, was traveling north on Highway 169 just before 10-p.m. Thursday, when his 1995 GMC truck struck the cow, which was on the roadway. The pickup sustained $1,500 damage during the incident. The cow was owned by Brett Weis, of Afton.

Iowans with disabilities are urged to register to vote now

News

July 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Some 315-thousand Iowans are of voting age who also have a disability. With the national political conventions starting next week, Iowans with disabilities are being urged to register to vote. Rik Shannon, project manager for the group Iowans with Disabilities in Action, says there’s a disparity between Iowans who vote and Iowans with disabilities who vote.

“In the last presidential election in 2012, that gap between the rate at which voters with and without disabilities turned out was about 5.7%,” Shannon says. “It was even a little higher in Iowa, up to about 6.3%.” According to research from Rutgers University, had people with disabilities voted in the same numbers as able-bodied people in the last presidential race, another ten-million votes would have been cast. This is National Disability Voter Registration Week and Shannon says he wants to make sure the voices of Iowans with disabilities will be heard at the polls in November.

“We’re really hoping to use this campaign to raise awareness of people with disabilities about the importance of engaging in the 2016 election,” Shannon says. “Getting them registered to vote is just the first step in becoming a voter.” Iowa does offer same-day voter registration, meaning, people can register at their polling places on Election Day, but Shannon says people should sign up now instead.

“It eliminates some of the hassles and some of the time that it takes to register on Election Day,” Shannon says. “You do have to jump through a couple of extra hoops. People may have some difficulty producing the proper identification or proof of residence. That’s a whole lot easier to do if you register early.” You can register to vote at the Iowa Secretary of State’s website: sos.iowa.gov. Iowans can also register at county auditors’ offices, driver’s license stations, D-H-S offices and other state agencies serving people with disabilities.

(Radio Iowa)

2016 Audubon County Fair Queen is crowned

Ag/Outdoor, News

July 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Audubon County Fair continues through Sunday, in Audubon. Thursday evening, 2015 Fair Queen Tess Albright passed the crown on to Molly Armentrout, who was named the winner of the 2016 Audubon County Fair Queen contest. Molly is the daughter of Tim and Tracey Armentrout, of Audubon. Molly told KJAN her older sister Rebecca Grabel persuaded her to try for the crown and title.

‘Becca was the Audubon Fair Queen about eight-years ago. Molly said also she also wanted to get involved in a new way, because she hasn’t been in 4-H, so she wanted to step out of her “Comfort zone,” and learn a little bit more about agriculture that she doesn’t already know.

Molly is in the green dress

Molly is in the green dress. Thanks to Cassie Irlmeier for the photo.

The path to the stage and her crowning included interviews last week with the Queen candidates. Molly said she just tried to be herself during the interviews, and answer the questions as best as possible. She said she stumbled over the question “If you could have dinner with any person living or dead, who would it be?,” but in the end, it all worked out ok. Molly says she plans on attending Iowa State University after the State Fair Queen Competition. She prefers ISU because it’s closer to home, and because her sister attended the college. At ISU, she’ll study English and Secondary Education.

1st runner-up in the Queen contest was Kaitlin Schultes, the daughter of Chris and Shandy Schultes, of Audubon. Kaitlin will be a Senior at the Audubon High School during the 2016-17 school year. She says she has plans on attending college after graduation, but she’s not sure where that will be at this time. Kaitlin said even though she didn’t think she would enjoy the process of competing for Fair Queen, it turned out to be better than expected.

And, the 2nd runner-up honors went to Taylor Nielsen, the daughter of Robert and Christy Nielsen, of Hamlin. Like Molly Armentrout, Taylor said participating in the Fair Queen contest brought her out of her “Comfort Zone.” Taylor would like to attend college to become a Veterinarian, because she loves animals and wants to make sure they stay healthy and happy.

(Podcast) KJAN 8-a.m. News, 7/15/2016

News, Podcasts

July 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

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

Play

Accident in Red Oak Thursday evening

News

July 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

One person was transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital by private vehicle, Thursday evening, following a collision at the intersection of W. Joy and N. Broadway Streets, in Red Oak. Authorities say 34-year old Brandon Strunk, of Red Oak, complained of ringing in his ear, possibly the result of a side airbag deployment.

Strunk was traveling south in a 2007 Honda Civic, when his car was hit on the driver’s side rear door by a 2007 Chevy Impala. The Impala was driven by 17-year old Ryan Green, of Red Oak. Green told Police he stopped at the intersection headed westbound, but due to the sun being in his eyes, didn’t see the Civic. A witness told Police Green did not properly stop at the intersection before proceeding into it.

The impact spun Strunk’s car around 180-degrees. Damage from the crash amounted to $15,000. Red Oak Police issued Green a warning.