(Radio Iowa) – The latest U-S-D-A crop and weather report shows Iowa’s soybean harvest is nearly complete and 94 percent of corn that’s harvested for grain is out of the fields. The 2023 corn harvest in Iowa is about 10 days ahead of the five year average.

According to the U-S-D-A, 58 percent of Iowa’s topsoil is short or very short of moisture. Subsoil moisture levels are worse, with only 30 percent considered adequate. Just one percent of subsoil in the state is considered to have excess moisture.

Temperatures over the past week averaged seven degrees above normal across the state. The high spot for precipitation was Clinton County, which recorded two-tenths of an inch.

(Radio Iowa) – An advocacy group for older Iowans is raising concerns about Alliant Energy’s proposal to raise its natural gas and electric rates. Brad Anderson is state director for A-A-R-P. “We look at pocketbook issues that impact older Iowans,” Anderson says,”and we have determined that now is just not t e right time to be raising rates on older consumers.”

Alliant has asked the Iowa Utilities Board to approve a five percent rate increase for its 250-thousand natural gas customers. Alliant is seeking a seven-point-seven percent increase in rates for its half a million electric customers in Iowa. Anderson calls that excessive.

“The proposal will raise residential natural gas and electric rates by nearly $300 million over the next two years,” Anderson says. “…This amounts to around $250 per year for residential customers.” Anderson says A-A-R-P is urging the Iowa Utilities Board to carefully review Alliant’s application, including its return on equity, which is a measure of its profitability.

“AARP certainly is paying attention to utility rates across the country because of the fact that older Iowans on a fixed income have been struggling over the last several years with inflation and that means that older Iowans have had to choose between paying for prescriptions or paying for food and rent,” Anderson says, “and we don’t want to add utilities into the mix here.”

Alliant says it needs to modernize and strengthen its energy grid by moving overhead power lines underground — and that will reduce power outages. About 20 percent of the company’s lines are underground today. Alliant’s last rate hike was in 2019 and since then the company says it has dealt with inflation and the repair of infrastructure damaged by the derecho in August of 2020. The Iowa Utilities Board has held four public hearings this month on Alliant’s rate hike request.

ATLANTIC, IA (November 14, 2023) – Produce in the Park’s 10th Annual Harvest Market 2023 is being held at the Cass County Community Center on Monday, November 20 from 3-6 pm. This fall farmers market offers local and handmade foods and crafts, and local foods will be making a strong showing.

3 Bee Farms will be at Harvest Market with honey, jams, jellies, syrups, popcorn, eggs, and a variety of produce.

Food vendors at Harvest Market 2023 will include:
● Bridgewater Farm – lots of produce such as greens, sweet potatoes, and squashes
● 3 Bee Farms – honey, eggs, jams, jellies, syrups, popcorn, squash, turnips, onions,
potatoes, and garlic. Frozen apple pies are available by preorder only by calling (402)
677-2460.
● Brun Ko Farm – chicken, lamb, granola, honey, garlic, and onions. Pies are available by
preorder only while supplies last at https://www.brunkofarm.com
● Noble Provisions – beef and more
● Neighborhood Bakehouse – breads
● Piper’s Brae Farm – aronia berries, jellies, and eggs
● Corn 4 a Cause – popcorn on the cob
● Frosting Inc. – gourmet cupcakes and other baked goods
● Kringleman Pastries – Danish kringle, letters, creamhorns, rye bread, and pastries
● Cakes, Cookies, and Confections – cookies, cupcakes, brownies, bars, and flavored
breads
● Sugar Mama Cookie Co. – pastries and desserts
Craft vendors:
● 360 Design & Landscape – Live gradlands, wreaths, swags, and artificial center pieces
● Imagine Garden Gift – Garden-inspired gifts, holiday decorations, plants in festive pots
● Solis Wolf Woodworking – Cutting boards, coasters, and wood decorations
● Aubrey’s Bows – Hair boys for infants and children
● Creekside Crystal and Crafts – Crystals, crystal jewelry, and macrame items
● Sharon Johnson – Baby blankets and dish cloths
● Crawleys Christ-Centered Creations – Wooden decor
● DeLaine’s Designs – Doll clothes
● JD Crafters – Cutting boards, charcuterie trays, coasters, cribbage boards, gifts, and
keepsakes
Food Truck: Game Time Eats – Cheesesteaks, burgers, and nachos with a variety of toppings

Harvest Market is held the Monday before Thanksgiving, so shoppers can pick up local foods and more to enjoy at holiday celebrations. Produce in the Park continues to accept vendor applications for Harvest Market, and additional holiday markets planned for winter 2023-2024. Vendor applications can be found online at  www.ProduceInTheParkAtlanticIowa.com; printed copies of the application are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce (102 Chestnut St., Atlantic, IA 50022).

Produce in the Park seeks vendors selling handmade or homegrown products, including local foods, as well as beauty products, candles, crafts, art, and decorations.

Harvest Market 2023 is sponsored by Cass County Farm Bureau, Cass Health, Gregg Young of Atlantic, 1st Whitney Bank & Trust, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Atlantic.

For the latest information on Harvest Market, and all Produce in the Park markets, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/).

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna reports, ” Pursuant to Code of Iowa Sec. 50.51, the Secretary of State’s Office has ordered a post-election audit of the November 7, 2023, City/School Election. By random selection, Precinct 5 City of Grant Mayor Race will be the precinct audited. The polling place location for Precinct 5 is the Elliott Community Building.

“The Montgomery County Auditor’s Office will conduct this audit on Wednesday, November 15 starting at 9:00 a.m. The audit will take place in the Supervisor’s meeting room in the Courthouse, 105 E Coolbaugh Street, Red Oak. Said proceeding shall be open to the public.”

(Radio Iowa) – An elderly central Iowa couple was killed in a car crash last night (Sunday night). Des Moines police say a Buick was turning at an intersection when it was struck on the passenger side by a Camaro. The Buick hit a utility pole and overturned, killing both occupants. They’re identified as 76-year-old Fred Lehman, and his 79-year-old wife, Mary. Both were from Des Moines.

Police say the driver of the Camaro was an 18-year-old Des Moines man.

Fred & Mary Lehman (Picture supplied by family via DMPD)

A news release says witness statements and evidence at the scene indicate a significant contributing factor in the crash was — the Camaro traveling at a high-rate of speed.

The teen driver’s name has not been released and there’s no word yet on any charges.

(Radio Iowa) – The board that governs Iowa’s three state-supported universities has shortened its name and released a new logo. A state government realignment law took effect July 1st. It shifted the Iowa School for the Deaf and Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired to be part of the Iowa Department of Education. The Board of Regents, State of Iowa, which previously managed those two organizations, is now to be known as the Iowa Board of Regents.

The board’s new logo includes this line: Governing Iowa’s Public Universities.

The Iowa Board of Regents has released a new logo today. A spokesman for the board says it was designed internally.

A news release from the Iowa Board of Regents describes the new logo and tagline as fresh, simplified — and a future-focused look for the Board of Regents’ brand.

On July 18th, Governor Reynolds unveiled a new logo and slogan for Interstate welcome signs and state agency websites. The Iowa Board of Regents has created its own branding. A spokesman for the board says the logo was designed internally.

(Radio Iowa) – Long-range weather forecasts predict favorable conditions in Iowa for Thanksgiving next week, while the travel forecast indicates it’ll be a very busy holiday on Iowa’s roads. Brian Ortner, spokesman for Triple-A-Iowa, says their estimates are showing a significant boost in Thanksgiving travelers for our region of the Midwest, which contains Iowa and five other states.

In the months since the COVID-19 pandemic ended, we’ve seen a steady increase in travel numbers for Iowa and across the country, as Ortner says many people are taking a “YOLO” attitude. “Back in late August, there was an initial survey done of our AAA members, asking them why they’re traveling now and why they’re traveling in more numbers, and a lot of them said because it’s the ‘You Only Live Once’ belief, and people want to get out and spend time with friends and family.”

When people make plans to take a trip, gasoline prices often won’t make an impact once their decision is made, but Ortner says it’s a nice bonus when pump prices fall in correspondence with a holiday. “If we look at the price per gallon today, on average across the state, we’re at $3.05,” Ortner says. “That’s a great number and there are some spots around the state that are even less than that $3 level. We compare that to a year ago at this time, we were at $3.51 a gallon so, more than 40 cents difference.”

The motor club says about four-point-three million people in our region will be traveling over Thanksgiving, with three-point-eight million going by motor vehicle and another 231-thousand will be flying. “We’re at a new high for what we consider ‘other travel,’ so that’s cruises, trains, bus and that sort of thing,” Ortner says, “and a lot of folks are heading for those destination cruises. That number is up almost 13% over last year.”

Nationwide, Triple-A projects 55-point-four million people will be traveling at least 50 miles from home over the four-day Thanksgiving holiday.

Republican Randy Feenstra, who represents Iowa’s fourth congressional district in the U.S. House, is co-sponsoring a bill called the Farm to Fly Act. It’s designed to spur development of aviation fuel made with a range of plant materials.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel produced with corn-based ethanol already has a 15 percent lower carbon intensity rating than petroleum-based available fuel.

The aviation industry currently accounts for 10 percent of U-S greenhouse gas emissions.

Republican Ashley Hinson, who represents Iowa’s second congressional district in the U.S. House, is another co-sponsor of the bill. Hinson says it would provide clarity about how U-S-D-A programs will support Sustainable Aviation Fuel development.

A little less than 16 million gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel will be produced this year. The Biden Administration has set a goal of producing at least three billion gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the U-S by 2030. The fuel can be made from corn and other plant materials — and even cooking oil.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Department reports three recent arrests:

On Nov. 10th, 43-year-old Donna Marie Ott, of Des Moines, was arrested in Greenfield, for Disorderly Conduct-Fighting/Violent Behavior, after she walked away from the Adair County Memorial Hospital, where hospital staff had received verbal confirmation of a 48-hour committal. Ott was escorted back to the hospital to be returned to her room, but she became belligerent and had an altercation with a nurse, allegedly threatening the staff with physical contact. Ott served a two-day court ordered sentence and was released on Nov. 11th.

On Nov. 8th, 35-year-old Jeffrey Forrest Stonehocker, of Redfield, was arrested in Stuart, on an Adair County warrant for Forgery. He was released later that same day on a $3,000 cash or surety bond.

And, on Nov. 6th, 31-year-old Taylor Jay Edelman, of Adair, was arrested by Adair Police, for OWI/1st offense following a traffic stop at 11th and Cedar Streets. An investigation determined Edleman was intoxicated. He blew a .201 on the Breathalyzer. Edelman was released later on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

(Fort Dodge, Iowa) – Police in Ft. Dodge have arrested two men suspected of being involved in a home invasion, Sunday night. 29-year-old Zachary R. Andrews, and 30-year-old Blake A. Peterson, both of Fort Dodge, are charged with Burglary in the 1st Degree, a Class-B Felony. Andrews faces an additional charge of Assault with a dangerous weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor.

Authorities say the Webster County Communications Center received a call about a burglary to a residence at around 9:57-p.m., Sunday. Information gathered by officers from the victim indicated the two suspects forced their way into the residence and brandished a firearm before leaving the home.

As part of an investigation, a search warrant was issued this (Monday) morning, the two suspects were located, and taken into custody. Investigators are continuing to follow-up on the incident. Anyone with information about the crime is encouraged to contact Ft. Police. Information may be submitted anonymously via Crime Stoppers.

“As with all cases, Mr. Andrews and Mr. Peterson are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”