Iowans have a way to look into Iowa’s past and view changes of their entire state, from decade to decade, thanks in part to REAP funding of the Iowa Historic Digital Aerial Photo Project. The public can now see where former buildings were located, what kinds of industries and operations were on a site 70 years ago, and how development and urbanization has changed Iowa’s city and agricultural landscapes by visiting http://programs.iowadnr.gov/maps/aerials/.

In 2009 and 2011, Historical Resource Development Program grants from REAP helped the DNR’s Geographic Information System Section procure photographs from various archives across the state and nation. Archives in Washington D.C., the University of Iowa Map Library, the Iowa Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Aerial Photography Field Office, county offices and private national archives all contained valuable pieces to Iowa’s geographic time puzzle.

Steve King, deputy state historic preservation officer, said “The Iowa Historic Digital Aerial Photo Project makes these images available to researchers, developers, landowners and others who need to understand the history of properties in Iowa. We appreciate preserving these important historical documents and making them available online to Iowans and others around the world.”

Developers, landowners and managers, and planners often need to understand how a property was previously used in order to evaluate history’s environmental and character impacts. Knowledge about a site’s resource use is also beneficial, and difficult to find elsewhere. Soil and streambank erosion patterns, conservation improvements and changes in natural vegetation and habitat can also be used to compare trends in land use and natural resource management.

Once the photos were scanned and made digital, GIS staff diligently matched them to their actual location. A processing algorithm then aligned the photos into blocks, which were mosaicked together to produce statewide coverage. Because of this approach, the photos can now be viewed with other mapped features such as roads and land boundaries.

The GIS Historic Aerial Photography Project took more than eight years to complete, from 2004-2012, because of its detail specific and comprehensive nature.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa fugitive has been apprehended in northeast Nebraska’s Dakota County.
Iowa prisons spokesman Fred Scaletta said Monday that 42-year-old Cletus Armell already has been transferred to Woodbury County Jail in northwest Iowa. Armell was listed as escaped on July 14 after he didn’t return to the Sioux City work release facility from an appointment.

Records show Armell escaped from a residential work release center in Sioux City in 2012. He was captured a short time later and was returned to prison. In November 2013 he was again transferred to work release. His original sentence was 15 years for armed robbery.

Members of the Griswold School District’s Board of Education will meet this evening in the Central Office at the Middle School/High School building. Old business on their agenda includes an update on projects, and action on approving: Board goals; Board Polices; An agreement with the Glenwood School District for APEX digital learning services for the 2014-15 school year; and, a letter of understanding with the Cass County Educational Opportunity Center (CCEOC) for 2014-15.

The Griswold School Board meeting begins at 5:45-p.m.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines police sergeant says a woman charged in a fatal hit-and-run panicked when she left the scene of the accident.  Sgt. Jason Halifax tells the Des Moines Register  that 20-year-old Ashley Brown is remorseful about the Saturday death of 55-year-old Kenneth Wallace. She has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and not having insurance.

Wallace had been walking and was found dead in the road. Halifax says Brown turned herself in after a witness identified her to police. Authorities are examining surveillance videos from businesses near the scene of the crash.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The latest analysis of state impacts of the federal budget by the National Priorities Project finds that Iowa receives about $27 billion from the federal budget over the course of a year.

Becky Sweger, director of data and technology for the advocacy group, says the figure in its State Smart project is calculated through direct federal assistance to individuals, federal grants and contracts to business and governments, and the salaries of the federal employees in the state.

And Sweger says it works out to about $8,700 per capita, which is a little bit lower than the U.S. per capita. On the other end, the study found that Iowa residents and businesses paid about $18 billion in federal taxes in 2013, most of that by or on behalf of individuals in the form of income taxes, self-employment taxes and payroll taxes.

While the inflow to Iowa is billions of dollars a year more than the total federal taxes paid, Sweger notes that the figures aren’t expected to be equal. “It’s just not how the federal budget works,” she says. “People shouldn’t expect to get sort of a one-for-one, I give you a dollar and I get a dollar back.”

(Iowa News Service)

A sample of Iowa corn growers will soon be asked to report on their use of pesticides and fertilizer. The Agricultural Resource Management Survey is conducted on different crops each year and 2014 is a corn year. Greg Thessen, regional director of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, says once the data is compiled and released to the public, it’s a tool policymakers can use to evaluate proposed changes. Thessen says, “This provides a good source of information for them to take a look at see, okay, if they change a policy what impact is that going to have on farmers and how they grow crops or corn in particular.”

Thessen says about 10-percent of the farmers polled for this year’s corn survey will be in Iowa. The information gathered will be released in public reports beginning next May. Thessen says the survey gives farmers a chance to tell the government how they grow their crops. He says, “What kind of inputs it takes as far as fertilizer and pesticides go, as well as any pest management practices, and really show other people that may not be involved with agriculture how they are good stewards of the land.”

Thessen says selected farmers will receive a notice in the mail and then a U-S-D-A employee will visit the farmer to record detailed information about the use of chemical inputs. Thessen says one use is for the U-S Environmental Protection Agency to see whether products are being used according to their labels.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Red Oak say a local man was arrested at around 7:20-p.m. Sunday, on a couple of drug-related charges. 52-year-old James Scott Malmquist, of Red Oak, taken into custody at the intersection of Highway 34 and 48. He was charged with felony Possession of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine/3rd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor. Malmquist was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $5,000 cash bond.

Red Oak Police report also, the arrest Sunday evening of 26-year old Jason Rolfe Aherns. The Red Oak man was taken into custody at around 6:10-p.m.  on a warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of 5th degree Theft. Aherns was being held on the Montgomery County LEC on $300 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Members of the CAM School District’s Board of Education will hold their regularly scheduled meeting Monday evening in the Media Center at the high school, in Anita. During the 6:30-p.m. session, the Board will discuss and possibly act on: A School Resource Officer (SRO) report; any resignations and contracts to come before them, along with open enrollment applications.

They will also consider a quote for repair of the high school roof, and discuss a Connections Academy agreement, a Drill Team sponsor and weight room improvements.

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors will meet Monday evening beginning at 5:15 in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. During the session, the Board will receive a presentation from Eagle Scout Grant Podhasky on the Camblin Fire Pit project.

Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring will discuss progress as well, on the Sunnyside Park Senior Activity Area, during which he’s expected to report on the completion of a retaining wall, fine grading and erosion control measures. Herring will also talk about the completed purchase of equipment for Pickle Ball, Croquet, Bocce Ball, Badminton, the Horseshoe pit, Ladder Toss and Bean Bag Toss.

Herring will also report on progress with the Bike Rack installation at the Courthouse and City Park, and that the  Schildberg Quarry Rec Area dock is closed for repairs due to regular wear and tear. The Board will also hear an update on the Bull Creek Walking/Biking Pathway.