An expert with Iowa State University Extension is warning that this year’s drought is so severe, recovery may be years away. Cathann Kress is calling the drought a “super slow-motion disaster.” Kress says Iowa crops pulled what little moisture there was out of the ground this year and that moisture won’t come back anytime soon. “It takes so long for the subsoil moisture to rebuild, so if we look at the other droughts like this – there’s been three others in this century…they all took three years to fully recover from,” Kress said.

As much as 18 inches of precipitation is needed to fully recharge Iowa subsoils, according to Kress. That’s not likely to before next Spring. “The average (precipitation) between October and April is about 12 inches, so even if we hit average – which most models show we won’t – but even if we hit average, we’d be below what it is we’re predicting that we need,” Kress said.

Kress was at the statehouse last week and warned lawmakers it’s hard to estimate the economic impact of the drought, as well as the effects on state tax receipts.

(Radio Iowa)

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest early Sunday morning of an Atlantic man.  29-year-old Bradley Edward Williams was taken into custody on four counts relating to an original charge of driving while suspended. Williams was charged with failure to appear, failure to pay, contempt of court and illegal resistance to order or process. He was  being held in Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Senator Tom Harkin used a weekend speech to Iowa Democrats to argue for President Obama’s reelection, where he said the country is better off now, than it was four-years ago. But Harkin also used humor — with a Halloween theme — to suggest Republicans offer a “scary” agenda for the country. “Paul Ryan is Eddie Munster. Mitt Romney is Freddy Krueger, slashing Big Bird and Planned Parenthood. Steve King dressed up as,” Harkin paused for effect, before adding, “Steve King.” The crowd laughed at Harkin’s jokes about Romney and Ryan, but they laughed and cheered Harkin’s blast at Steve King, the Republican congressman from northwest Iowa. Paul Ryan campaigned in Council Bluffs and Sioux City, Sunday. President Obama is scheduled to visit the Quad Cities on Wednesday.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan was in western Iowa, Sunday, to urge people to vote for Mitt Romney, saying another four years of President Barack Obama will lead to higher national debt and continued economic struggle.  Ryan’s remarks came before an enthusiastic crowd of about 500 people at a campaign rally in the parking lot of an outdoor outfitter store in Council Bluffs. Later in the day, he repeated his message at a slightly smaller rally in Sioux City on the banks of the Missouri River.  Ryan says he and Romney “can get this country back on track.”

Ryan’s visit to western Iowa happened a little more than two weeks before the Nov. 6 election. The presidential campaign is focusing on Iowa and eight other battleground states.

Sheriff’s officials in Fremont County say a traffic stop for speeding early Saturday morning in Hamburg, resulted in a Farragut man being arrested on numerous drug-related charges. A deputy stopped 18-year old Ryan Michael Casey, of Farragut,  at around 3:40-a.m. Upon further investigation, Casey was taken into custody for OWI/1st Offense, Speeding, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Amphetamines, Possession of Diazepam, Possession of Alprazolam, Unlawful Possession of a Prescription Drug, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Casey was brought to the Fremont County Jail and held over the weekend on $15,000 bond.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Nebraska man already sentenced to 50 to 80 years in prison in Nebraska for sexually assaulting a child has also been found guilty of assaulting the same girl in Iowa.

The Council Bluffs Nonpareil reports (http://bit.ly/TzNkt0) that 41-year-old Stewart Newman, a former youth pastor, was found guilty Friday in Pottawattamie County District Court of three counts of second-degree sexual abuse, three counts of indecent contact with a child and three counts of lascivious acts with a child.

Prosecutors say Newman had the sexual contact with the girl from the time she was 8 until she was 10 while on camping trips at Wilson Island. Both the victim and Newman lived in Omaha, Neb.

Newman is set to be sentenced in Iowa on Dec. 6.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Cass County Extension office would like to invite community members to join them for a “CyTennial Celebration” open house on Friday, October 26 from 11 AM to 1 PM. This will be a tailgate-themed event in honor of the 100^th anniversary of homecoming at ISU during their game on Saturday the 27^th.

Tailgate snacks and beverages will be served and door prizes will be given out during the event. There will also be a “Cyclone Harvest” display where attendees can have their picture taken, as well as opportunities to participate in Extension and Cyclone trivia and learn more about resources and upcoming classes available through Cass County Extension.

Cyclone fans, Extension fans and ISU Alumni will be able to autograph a wall in “Cy’s Locker Room” and enter their name into a drawing for some great Extension resources and ISU gear. The wall will be up all week before the event, beginning Monday morning October 22^nd, for anyone to stop in and sign if they won’t be able to make the event on Friday.

For more information on the open house, or other upcoming extension programs, call the Cass County Extension Office at 243-1132, email xcass@iastate.edu or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass . Information, updates and previews of the fun will also be posted on Cass County ISU Extension’s Facebook page.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Friday (10/19) night of Juan Sandoval-Nunez of Osceola for driving while suspended.  The arrest occurred at 7:50pm as Sandoval-Nunez was traveling on Highway 34 in Adams County.  He was later bonded out for $566.25.