Iowa State University Extension and Outreach along with Iowa Department of Natural Resources, will host an informational meeting concerning the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB), an exotic, destructive insect of ash trees. EAB now has been positively identified in five Iowa locations, most recently in Creston.

Mark Shour, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach Entomologist, says “These meetings are designed to provide helpful, usable information to prepare for one of the most destructive insects to hit the urban forest in decades.”

The meeting will be held from 6-to 7:30-pm January 9th, at the Supertel Inn & Conference Center (800 Laurel Street), in Creston. It is designed for those in the green industry, homeowners and others interested in the topic. There is no charge to attend, and pre-registration is not required. For more information call ISU Extension and Outreach – Union County at 641-782-8426.

The Shelby County Supervisors have elected board member Steve Kenkel as the new chairman for the 2014 meetings. In a regular meeting Thursday, the board voted to move Kenkel into the chairman position and Charlie Parkhurst to Vice-Chairman.

In other business, the board awarded Commercial Construction Inc. for the North Linden Road Bridge. The bid for the project was $510,832.09. The final motion before adjourning the meeting was to purchase a new tandem axle truck for the Shelby County Engineer’s Office. The Supervisors received three bids for the semi-tractor capable of converting into a dump truck for snow removal purposes.

The bids ranged from $151,898 from Omaha Truck Center, $110,250 from Cornhusker International and the lowest bid from Wise-Mack Inc. $109,921. The Supervisors approved the bid from Wise-Mack for the 2014 Mack tandem axle truck.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

w/ Ric Hanson

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Officials with the Atlantic FFA Chapter reported Thursday, that the organization sold a little more than $22,300 worth of fruit, meat, cheese, picked herring and other products during their annual fundraiser, which ran from late October through early November. All the proceeds go toward supporting the local FFA Chapter by helping members attend the National and State Conventions, and in the purchase for FFA Jackets for any member that wants one.

40 FFA members sold an average of $558 in products, with the top fruit salesperson being Haley Carlson. She earned $2,018. Calley Klindt sold $1,405…Adam Freund, $1,081…Kristin Johnk $1,014, and Tyler Christensen sold $962 worth of products. Atlantic FFA President Wyatt Saeughling said in a press release that he was “Glad to see we accomplished our goal of more than $20,000.” He said he hopes the underclassmen continue to sell more fruit, so “The Chapter will be able to provide funding for upcoming FFA activities.”

Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller said the Chapter members exceeded his goal and gives the group a “Great start” for next year. If you did not have an FFA member contact you and you would like to be added to list for next year, contact an Atlantic FFA member or FFA Advisor Eric Miller, at the Atlantic High School.

You can follow the group on Twitter, at www.twitter.com/AtlanticFFA.

Police in Council Bluffs say a man wielding an axe with a trailer ball hitch attached to it, allegedly robbed an electronic-cigarette store Thursday night. The Omaha World-Herald reports officers responded to the incident at 1416 West Broadway, at around 5:50 p.m.  The suspect left the “402 Vape” store with  an undetermined amount of cash. He then fled eastbound on foot.

Police described the man as wearing a black sweatshirt with the word “Nebraska” on it

Police in Council Bluffs say one person was hospitalized following a collision late Wednesday night between two semis on Interstate 80 in Council Bluffs.The Daily NonPareil reports 27-year old Rodion Korniyenko, of Oroville, CA, was transported by Council Bluffs Rescue to Alegent Health Creighton University Medical Center, suffering from with non-life-threatening head injuries.

Officials said 31-year old Emsad Music, of Urbandale, was westbound on Interstate 80 near the five-mile marker at about 11:15 p.m. when for unknown reasons he lost control of his 2009 Peterbilt semi truck. The semi went onto the shoulder, started to slide and entered the median, where Music swerved to avoid hitting a guardrail. The semi ended up in the eastbound lane, with its trailer swinging in front of an eastbound 2008 International semi driven by Korniyenko.

Following the collision, Korniyenko’s semi left the roadway and traveled down a steep embankment before coming to rest near a supermarket on Valley View Drive. The accident knocked the cab of the semi off the base, with the cab coming to a stop upside down, and Korniyenko trapped inside.

Music was uninjured in the crash. Authorities cited him for failure to maintain control of a vehicle.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A Burlington firefighter remains hospitalized after being injured while battling an apartment blaze. The Hawk Eye says two firefighters were injured on New Year’s Day, and one remained at Great River Medical Center yesterday in West Burlington. The firefighter’s name and condition have not been released. Firetrucks were dispatched a little before 3:15 a.m. Wednesday to help residents in the six-unit, two-story building. Four occupants were taken to the hospital for treatment and then released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a man evicted from his former Des Moines apartment faces charges after he allegedly broke back in and took a nap. Police say they kicked down an apartment door Wednesday night and found 60-year-old David Stephenson sleeping in a bedroom. The Register reports no one else was in the apartment at the time.

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) — Police tell the Iowa Press-Citizen a North Liberty man driving on New Year’s Eve was pulled over with a blood alcohol content that was more than five times the legal limit. The North Liberty Police Department says it received multiple reports Tuesday night about 40-year-old Chad Harvey.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Larryn Brooks led Indiana with 20 points and nine assists as the Hoosiers opened Big Ten conference play with an 86-84 victory over Number 22 Iowa yesterday. The Hawkeyes outscored Indiana 8-3 in the final seconds to climb within two, but Brooks made 7 of 8 free throws in the final minute.

Iowans with questions about the state’s water quality – from drinking water to recreation – can have those questions answered live on Facebook Jan. 14th. DNR staff will answer questions live from noon to 2:30 p.m. To ask a question, post it as a comment on the “Live Q&A” post that the DNR will post at noon that day. You can also post questions ahead of time on the DNR’s Facebook Timeline at www.facebook.com/iowadnr. Questions received after 2:30 will be answered, but at a later time.

DNR staff available for questions during the live water quality Q&A include:

* Bill Ehm, head of the DNR’s Environmental Services Division

* Shelli Grapp, Water Quality bureau chief

* John Olson, senior environmental specialist

To make sure you see the Live Q&A when it is posted, make sure you “like” the DNR’s page on Facebook. Go to www.facebook.com/iowadnr and click on “like” and make sure “get notifications” and “show in news feed” are selected.

Commenters should also view the DNR’s Facebook posting policy ahead of time at https://www.facebook.com/iowadnr/info.

January is National Blood Donor Month and the Petersen family of Walnut is among those celebrating blood donors. Following a diagnosis of botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma (bot´re-oid rhab·do·myo·sar·co·ma) in September 2011, young Noah Petersen relied on blood transfusions to sustain him during chemotherapy treatments. The blood transfusions helped to keep Noah’s hemoglobin levels stable, and he now enjoys farming, trucks, tractors and riding four-wheel off road machines.

Noah Petersen

Noah’s parents are Kevin and Carrie Petersen, of Walnut. Carrie Petersen says “It was such a blessing not to have to worry about Noah when we found out his blood counts were low.” The family is thankful for everyone who gives blood, which can be used for a variety of purposes, including therapies necessary prior to chemotherapy. The family hopes Noah’s story will encourage people to make a commitment to donate blood.

On Jan. 14th, the Elk Horn community blood drive will be dedicated in Noah’s honor in hopes of inspiring others to step up and become heroes to patients like Noah. The blood drive will be held from 11:30-a.m. to 5:30-p.m. at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall (4313 Main St.), in Elk Horn, IA. To make an appointment, call Ann White at 712-764-5888.

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. On average, the Red Cross must collect about 15,000 pints of blood every day to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,700 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. Blood donations are used to treat cancer patients, trauma victims, premature babies, those living with chronic blood diseases and others every day — patients like Noah Petersen.

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information.