The Ankeny-based Casey’s convenience store chain is buying more than 60 stores in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Casey’s announced it has an agreement to purchase 63 stores from the E-G group that operate under the Mini Mart and Certified Oil names. The company says the sale is expected to close later this year pending regulatory approval.

Casey’s is the third largest convenience store chain in the country with more than 25-hundred stores in 16 states. The company released a three-year plan at the end of June that said they want to add 350 stores by the end of their 2026 fiscal year by building new stores and acquisitions.

(Radio Iowa) The Iowa Lottery is preparing to add another option to Powerball tickets that has proven popular in other states. Lottery spokesperson Mary Neubauer says it’s called the “Double Play” option.

The Double Play option is separate from the regular jackpot pool.

It will cost an extra dollar if you want to add it when you buy your ticket. Neubauer says they don’t know the exact date for rolling out the new option.

The state Lottery Board recently approved the plan to move ahead with the Double Play option in Iowa.

Republican presidential candidates Tim Scott and Asa Hutchinson have used appearances at the Iowa State Fair to tout widely different proposals to deal with immigration issues. Scott visited a border crossing at Yuma (YOO-muh), Arizona, earlier this month.

Scott says as president he’d declare fentanyl a public health emergency in the U-S and have Border Patrol agents turn away all migrants. In addition, Scott would restore a Trump Administration policy called “Remain in Mexico.” It means all asylum seekers would be required to wait in Mexico for the U-S court hearing on their asylum application.

Former Arkansas Governor Asa (AY-suh) Hutchinson was in charge of border security during the George W. Bush Administration. He says the U-S has to partner with Mexico’s government to go after the drug cartels.

Hutchinson is also proposing what he describes as a state-based program for work visas.

The federal government currently grants work visas to immigrants and most visas are the result of a business sponsoring a worker seeking a visa. Hutchinson says there’d still be a federal role in security screening under this proposal, but states could be a partner to determne the number of visas they need and for what occupations

(Radio Iowa) The 200-mile long land formation known as the Loess (LUSS) Hills which comprises much of Iowa’s western border is subject of a new collaborative book. “On Common Ground: Learning and Living in the Loess Hills,” was created by a celebrated list of writers, naturalists, artists and others who were assembled in the region for a single weekend. One of the project’s contributors and the co-editor is Brian Hazlett, a biology professor at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City.

This diverse group of people from near and far toured the beautiful naturescape of western Iowa in September of 2021. One person lives in a forest on the East Coast, another hails from the deserts of Arizona, and many had never before been to western Iowa.

The hills were carved millennia ago by glaciers, and the land formation is unique to our hemisphere, with only an area of China being similar in its composition. Plus, western Iowa is the best place to see what this land may’ve looked like before it was settled by pioneers.

Hazlett says it’s been a thrill to see this book published and he sees this format as being something that could have a wider scope.

Book release events are planned August 24th at Briar Cliff University, and August 26th at Book People bookstore in Sioux City. The 242-page book is now available and is being published by North Liberty-based Ice Cube Press.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office released details on three recent arrests.

On August 14^th, 2023, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 19-year-old Phillip Germann of Atlantic on charges of Public Intoxication and Minor in Possession of Alcohol.  Germann was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release.

Also on August 14^th the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 38-year-old Tiffanie Newcomb of Logan on warrants for Criminal Mischief 4^th Degree and Harassment 3^rd Degree. Newcomb was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held.

On August 11^th, 2023, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 31-year-old Nicholas Anderson of Atlantic on charges of Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct.  Anderson was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors are scheduled to meet for a regular session on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. in their boardroom at the Adair County Courthouse.

On the agenda are reports from County Auditor Mandy Berg about elections and real estate deputy new hire. They will also hear a Veteran’s Affairs report and a report of activities from County Engineer Nick Kauffman.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Atlantic High School (AHS) Alumni Smackdown Committee, Atlantic Fire & Rescue, and Atlantic Parks & Recreation, are pleased to announce “Smack Down After Dark” this Saturday, August 19^th.

The event will take place at Sunnyside Park with a beer garden, organized by the Atlantic Fire Department, and food vendors beginning at 5 PM. Food vendors include: Zemog’s, Pim’s Thai, Atlantic Hy-Vee and Hungry Spartan Pizza. The Classic Rock band “On the Fritz” will play from 8 PM – 10 PM on the Band Shell. The event will be free admission to everyone.

The 9^th Annual AHS Alumni Smackdown Tournament will be held the morning of August 19^th. The event will take place at both Nishna Hills Golf Course and Atlantic Golf & Country Club. To learn more about the tournament or to register, visit www.atlanticiowa.com.

Stay up to date on the latest information regarding Smackdown After Dark by ‘liking’ the event page on Facebook or visiting the Community Calendar on www.atlanticiowa.com.

The Cass County Conservation Board is holding a “Terrariums- Make & Take” program at the Campground Shelter at Cold Springs Park in Lewis on Saturday August 26^th at 2:00 p.m. Participants will be building closed Terrariums. Everything needed will be provided for a suggested donation of $10, limited class size of 10 terrariums.

Call 712-769-2372 to sign up before Thursday, August 24th.

The Cass County Conservation Board is sponsoring a “Breakfast with the Birds” Program at Sunnyside Park, Camblin’s Addition Shelter in Atlantic on August 19th at 9:00 a.m. Cassie Wendl, Educator at S.O.A.R. Saving Our Avian Resources, will show and discuss several of her permanently injured birds and will hopefully have one that is fully recovered and ready to release back into the wild.

The event is open to the public and a free will donation will be accepted. Donations help support raptors and conservation education.

Continuing the upward streak, the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show exceeded the previous year’s fundraising total donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. This year’s event raised $501,000. Including this year’s donations, the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show has raised almost $5.5 million since the event’s inception in 1983.

All money raised benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, located in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City. These three houses have served over 55,000 families from all 50 states and 62 foreign countries. Families from all 99 counties in Iowa have benefited from the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa.

This event, hosted by the Office of the Governor of Iowa, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, and Iowa Beef Industry Council, is another example of the care the beef cattle industry has for our state, rural communities, and those in need. The youth exhibitors, their families, sponsors, celebrities, and buyers should be proud of their effort given to this year’s event. Their impact through volunteering, donations, and dedication created yet another successful show and fundraising outcome.

The 41^st Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show was held on August 12 in the Livestock Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair. Winners in four categories were recognized in the show ring – Community Hero, Grand Champion Showman, People’s Choice, and Judge’s Grand Champion. This year’s event hosted 24 sponsored steers, shown by their youth exhibitor and a local celebrity.

The Community Hero Award recognizes the youth exhibitor that goes above and beyond collecting non-monetary donations and creating awareness for the event. This year two exceptional youth exhibitors were recognized for their efforts. Will Vlasek from Cedar Rapids and Colbie Fevold of Gladbrook were both honored with the Community Hero Award for collecting non-perishable donations, pop tabs, and sharing information about the event on social media. Will was sponsored by Eastern Iowa Ronald McDonald House and Quad Cities McDonald’s and showed with celebrity, Rebecca Kopelman, a meteorologist from KGAN. Colbie was sponsored by Iowa Premium and showed with the 2022 Tama County Fair Queen, Kaylynn Murty.

Our showmanship contest was judged by Dr. Dan Loy, who recently retired from the Iowa State Beef Center. He commented that showmanship is a partnership between the steer, the youth exhibitor, and the celebrity. He awarded Emma Wayson of Mount Auburn, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and Junior the steer, with Grand Champion Showman. Emma, Secretary Naig, and Junior were sponsored by Benton County Cattlemen and Local Supporters.

A fan favorite, the People’s Choice Award, gives the audience and team supporters a voice in the competition as they help select the winner of this event. Show emcees, Bob Quinn with WHO Radio and Duane Murley with KWMT AM 540, worked through the steers and had the crowd on their feet and cheering loud for their favorite. In the end, it was the 2022 Iowa State Fair Queen, Mary Ann Fox, and her youth partner, Taylor Quade from Charles City, along with her steer, Max, that took the award home. Mary Ann, Taylor, and Max were sponsored by Friends of Floyd County.

Finally, the most prestigious award of the show, the Judge’s Grand Champion, was selected. Brad Pellett from Atlantic, Iowa had the hardest task of working through and judging the stellar lineup of steers and showman. Celebrity Blake Boldon, Franklin P Johnson director of the Drake Relays and senior associate athletic director at Drake University, and his youth partner, Tyson Mohr from Ladora, received the honor. Batman, the winning steer, along with Blake and Tyson were sponsored by Dee Zee, Inc.

Following the show, a live auction was conducted to raise funds through the sale of each steer and some additional value-added items donated by industry supporters and celebrities. These funds were added to the donations received by each youth participant, resulting in the $501,000 donation going to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa.

Thank you to Governor Kim Reynolds for her continued dedication to this event and for her partnership with Iowa beef cattle producers. This event is a rewarding and humbling experience for all that participate. While the financial results are exceptional, the connection our participants, their families, and volunteers experience to the bigger picture of service the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show offers to fellow Iowans and beyond is monumental.

For a list of sponsors, youth exhibitors, steers, celebrities, donors/buyers, and funds raised by each, please click here.