The Shelby County Area Solid Waste Agency is sponsoring a Free Cleanup Crew Event this weekend. Residents of Shelby County can dispose of household hazardous waste from their homes at the Shelby County Secondary Roads Department on Industrial Parkway in Harlan from 8am to 11 on Saturday. Dan Ahart, Director for the Solid Waste Agency says residents can bring a wide range of waste. “Things that are in your garage or basement, under your sink, even pesticides or herbicides. I do want to emphasize no latex paints.”

He says the reason why the Waste agency won’t take latex paint is because consumers can dispose of that at home. “Latex paint is something households can dispose of on their own. You can use kitty litter, floor dry by stirring it up in the paint and dispose of as regular waste. Another good way to do it is pour it on old carpet and then when it dries, dispose of the carpet.”

Other items which will not be accepted include ammunition, explosives, asbestos, radioactive materials and non-hazardous waste. Ahart says you don’t even need to sort the materials. “We take boxes that have household wastes and regular garbage and will sort it. It all goes into the proper containers and disposed of by Metro Waste who we have a contract with.”

If you have questions on this Saturday’s Free Cleanup Crew Event hosted by the Shelby County Area Waste Agency, contact Dan Ahart at 712-755-5954.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

A seed company reports it is awarding over $70,000 in grants to Iowa communities for the purchase of grain bin rescue equipment. Officials with DuPont-Pioneer say fire departments in 16 communities, including Harlan, Lewis and Malvern,  are receiving grants to purchase grain bin rescue equipment for use in their communities through the Pioneer community betterment program.

Bart Baudler, business director for DuPont Pioneer in Iowa, says the company is “Pleased to work with local fire departments across Iowa to provide this important, and sometimes life saving, equipment.” Baudler said also “Grain bins pose a significant safety risk on the farm, and we hope this equipment not only provides a functional use, but also increases awareness of these risks and leads people to think before entering.”

Iowa community fire departments and EMT’s were eligible to apply for the grants through their local Pioneer sales representatives.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad is appointing a former state Supreme Court justice to review the firing of a veteran criminal investigator who had complained about the governor’s speeding vehicle.  Branstad today (Friday) appointed former Chief Justice Louis Lavarato to independently examine the firing of Larry Hedlund, a special agent with the Division of Criminal Investigation. The move is a surprise since Branstad had defended Hedlund’s firing and denied retaliation.

Hedlund pursued the governor’s speeding SUV on a highway April 26 and called troopers, who clocked it traveling 84 mph in a 65-mph zone. They backed off after learning the vehicle was being driven by a fellow trooper transporting Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Hedlund was fired last week for what the Department of Public Safety called unbecoming conduct.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson….

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With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson….

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A Red Oak man was arrested Thursday night on a warrant charging him with Simple Assault. According to the Red Oak Police Department, 29-year old David Allen Shuffler, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 9:50-p.m. in the 1000 block of North Miller Avenue, on a valid Red Oak warrant. Shuffler was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 cash bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An environmental group is cautioning Iowans to be aware of algae blooms in the state’s lakes and ponds this summer. The issue is a concern because of high levels of nitrogen and phosphates from farmland runoff and sunny hot conditions.

The Iowa Environmental Council says to avoid water with a bright blue or green colored tint, thick scum that look like spilled paint, or areas that smell bad. These conditions could produce toxins that can make people and animals sick.  Exposure can occur through swimming, drinking, or breathing airborne toxins. Symptoms include breathing difficulties and skin rash.

Advisories have been issued at five state-managed beaches including Brushy Creek Beach, Crandall’s Beach at Big Spirit Lake, Green Valley Beach, Lake of Three Fires Beach, and Viking Lake Beach.

Day number two of the 2013 Cass County Fair in Atlantic is packed with activities for the whole family. It begins with the beef weigh-in at 8-a.m.  The Rabbit Show and Horse shows gets underway at 9. In addition to having an opportunity to peruse the 4-H exhibits in the Community Center, persons attending the fair have the chance to visit with various vendors in the Commercial Exhibits building. Both begin at 10-a.m.

The Livestock Judging Contest gets underway at 3-p.m., with teams of 4-H and F-F-A members competing in three contests simultaneously. The big event for this evening, is the annual “Bull-O-Rama” and Bull Ride at 7:30, along with a donkey half-time show.

As always, there is NO Charge to attend the Cass County Fair, but your purchase of meals at the food stand are very much appreciated, to help support the Fair and continue to make it a unique, free event each year.

View the fair schedule at: www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/sites/www.extension.iastate.edu/files/cass/2013%20Schedule_Cass%20County%20Fair%20Updated.pdf

Police in Red Oak arrested a local woman Thursday evening on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. Officials say 18-year old Melody Marie Bentley, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 6:30-p.m., following an incident at Nishna Productions, Inc. (A vocational center for persons with disabilities), where a client became upset and agitated, and allegedly began to punch and kick the wall, causing damage to the drywall in the form of a large hole. Bentley was being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center in $1,000 bond.

Republican Congressman Steve King says he is “standing firm” in his opposition to amnesty for illegal immigrants, including children who were illegally brought into the country by their parents. House Speaker John Boehner — the top Republican in the House — used his weekly news conference to blast King for saying there are more drug smugglers than high school valedictorians among the kids brought into the U.S. illegally. Boehner called King’s comment “ignorant.” King responded during an appearance on an Omaha radio station, Thursday afternoon.

“Republican leadership should understand if they don’t want this amplified, then don’t amplify it,” King said. King blames “full-time, professional hypervenilators” for stirring up the controversy and King says many of his colleagues are giving him “silent” support. “When you couch the language in such a way that you’re careful not to offend anybody, then nobody’s paying attention either,” King says. “And I intended to offend the drug smugglers and it doesn’t bother my conscience one bit if it is does offend them, but I have no idea why anyone else would be offended.”

A group of undocumented youth who say they were brought into the country by their parents when they were children tried to deliver cantaloupes to King’s congressional office in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. One woman in the group called King’s comment “spiteful” and “racist.” King last week said for every valedictorian who would be eligible for legal status under the so-called DREAM Act, there are a hundred others who have “calves the size of cantaloupes” because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana on their back across the U.S./Mexican border.

King says he’s seen the drug runners with his own eyes as he’s visited the border and met with border patrol agents. “There’s no denying the fact of what I said,” King said “and so they attack the messenger because the facts undermine their DREAMer/amnesty agenda.” King suggested Boehner’s public rebuke is a “strong indication” the Republican House speaker favors some form of immigration reform. Democrats are calling on Boehner to pull King off the House Judiciary Committee, the panel that will first consider any proposed changes in immigration policy. King sent out an email to supporters Thursday afternoon, asking for contributions and accusing critics of twisting his words.

(Radio Iowa/KFAB, Omaha)