DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – During a summer of drought, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says Iowa’s corn crop likely will plunge 19 percent below last year’s production. A USDA report released today says the yield is forecast at 141 bushels an acre, which would be the lowest figure since 1997. Soybean production is forecast at 406 million bushels, which would be nearly 13 percent under last year’s figure.

JEWELL, Iowa (AP) – A central Iowa firefighter injured while battling flames in a house has been hospitalized in Iowa City. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that Robert Hagen fell into the house basement on Thursday and debris fell on top of him. A passer-by in the central Iowa town of Jewell reported the fire around 12:30 p.m. Hagen was taken to hospitals in Ames and Des Moines before being transferred to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) – A 27-year-old Burlington woman has pleaded guilty to a theft charge and been sentenced to up to ten years in prison. The Muscatine Journal reports that Barbara Meaderds had made a deal with prosecutors. They dropped forgery and other charges in exchange for her plea on Thursday.

HINTON, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa construction company has been sued over an explosion of natural gas that followed a pipeline rupture in northwest Iowa. The Sioux City Journal reports that the lawsuit was filed by the pipeline owner, Northern Natural Gas Company of Omaha, Nebraska against DeRocher Construction of Le Mars.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Department of Natural Resources says the release of orange, iron-laden cooling water has killed an unknown number of fish in Mason City. The agency reports today that the water came from a Golden Grain plant, where investigators determined too much sulfuric acid was added to a cooling system. The DNR couldn’t count how many fish were killed because the water remained so discolored.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities are investigating the death of a 33-year-old woman who was found in an eastern Iowa home. Police identified the woman today as Crystal Newman. Officers were called to a domestic dispute at the Burlington residence around 2 a.m. yesterday.

Three people were injured during a collision between a van and a truck this (Friday) afternoon, in Pottawattamie County. The Iowa State Patrol says two Harrisburg, South Dakota residents were transported by Neola Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, following the crash on Interstate 80 eastbound, near Minden. Officials say a Ford Van driven by 46-year old Kimberly Martens, of Harrisburg, was in the right lane  and merged to the left lane to pass emergency vehicles which were putting out a grass fire. When the vehicles in front of her began to slow down, a 2003 Ford truck, driven by 36-year old Dennis Mohr, Jr., of Carroll, ran into the back of the van. Both drivers were able to move their vehicles to the right shoulder after the impact. Mohr was injured in the mishap but refused transport to the hospital. Officials say he was not wearing a seat belt. Martens, and her passenger, 17-year old Babbi Martens, were wearing their seat belts, but required transportation to Mercy for treatment of their injuries. The accident happened at around 1:10-p.m.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers today (Friday) released a report of recent activity in his department. Brothers say 37-year old Tabitha Louise Hamilton, of Clarinda, was arrested Thursday evening, on an arrest warrant for fourth degree theft by means of shoplifting. The warrant was issued as the result of an investigation into a shoplifting incident at Alco last week. Hamilton was taken to the Page County Jail on held on $650 bond,  pending an initial appearance before the Page County Magistrate Court.

On Wednesday, August 8th police in Clarinda responded to a reported disturbance at the Maplewood Trailer Court on south 10^th Street.  When officers arrived late that evening, a 16-year old white male juvenile who had been staying at the residence was creating a disturbance with other occupants. Officers were able to restore order and the juvenile was picked up by a relative.

The Clarinda P-D also investigated three incidents of vandalism this past week. On Wednesday, Joshua Bedsworth reported that a passenger door on a vehicle he owns had been kicked by a person and that the door sustained dent. Damage to the door is estimated at $100.00. The incident remains under investigation.

On Thursday, Clarinda resident Alan Schenck reported that someone had stolen a United States Flag and mounting pole from in front of a building that Schenck owns on north 15^th Street, sometime between July 24-25^th. The flag assembly’s estimated value is $50.00. The incident remains under investigation. That same day,Michael Worrell reported that someone had injected a substance believed to be super glue into the lock assembly of Worrell’s apartment on north 16^th St. Damage to the lock assembly is estimated to be $25.00. That incident also remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – During a summer of drought, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says Iowa’s corn crop likely will plunge 19 percent below last year’s production. The crop is forecast at nearly 1.92 billion bushels, based on Aug. 1 conditions.  A USDA report released Friday says the yield is forecast at 141 bushels an acre, which would be the lowest figure since 1997.  Soybean production is forecast at 406 million bushels, which would be nearly 13 percent under last year’s figure.  Soybean yield is forecast at 43 bushels an acre, which would be 7.5 bushels under last year.

Sheriff’s Officials in Mills County report a Villisca woman was arrested Tuesday. 30-year old Erin Catherine Hansen was taken into custody for Failure to Appear on a Controlled Substance charge. Hansen was being held in the Mills County Jail on $50,000 bond. And, 39-year old Michelle Marie Pardew, of Malvern, was arrested Thursday, on warrants for three counts of Forgery, and Theft in the 5th degree.  Her bond was set at $5,300.

No injuries were reported, but a Lewis man was cited, following an accident early this (Friday) morning. The Cass County Sheriff’s says the accident happened at around 4:00 a.m., as a2003 Ford Focus driven by 24-year old Kirk Kencaid Kinser, of Lewis, was northbound on Lewis Road. The car left the road and entered the west ditch, where it hit a sign and a utility pole. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3500. Kinser was cited into court for Driving While Revoked and No Proof of Insurance.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a Cumberland woman, 25-year old Kelsey Deann Schmidt, was arrested Thursday on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant, for Aggravated Domestic Abuse. Schmidt was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released later that day on $2000 bond.

Officials with the Monsanto Corporation have once again launched their America’s Farmers Grow Communities program, which gives farmers the opportunity to win a $2,500 donation for their favorite local nonprofit organization. This year, the program, which in its third consecutive year, and is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, expands to 26 new counties, and will provide an online platform to aid community involvement.

With more than 90 percent of the U.S. corn and soy production currently impacted by the drought, a farmer’s ability to invest in his or her community is affected. To help, the Monsanto Fund will provide additional financial support. Winning farmers from counties that have been declared natural disaster areas by the USDA will have an opportunity to direct an additional $2,500 donation to a local non-profit to address community needs that have surfaced due to the drought. To date, more than 660 counties have been declared disasters areas within the 1,271 eligible Grow Communities counties.

Since the inception of America’s Farmers Grow Communities, thousands of farmers have nominated their favorite local nonprofit groups, such as FFA chapters, schools, fire departments, local food pantries or other civic groups.  This year, rural community members can suggest an idea or initiative that needs funding in their local community. Eligible farmers may review the ideas and consider them in their application. Community members who wish to plant an idea and encourage farmers to support their cause can do so at www.growcommunities.com.

Now through November 30, 2012, eligible farmers can apply online, and rural community members can submit their ideas at www.growcommunities.com or by calling 1-877-267-3332. The Monsanto Fund will select one winner at random from each of the eligible counties and announce winning farmers and recipient nonprofits in January 2013. Farmers in all of Iowa’s 99 counties are eligible to participate in Grow Communities.

Another program that is part of this effort is America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, giving farmers the opportunity to nominate their local public school district to apply for a grant up to $25,000. Winners of the first annual Grow Rural Education program will be announced on August 28. For more information about these programs and to view the official rules, visit www.americasfarmers.com.

(Press Release)

The Atlantic Police Department says no injuries were reported following an accident Thursday afternoon near Murphy Oil, in the Wal-Mart shopping plaza. Officials say the accident happened at around 4:15-p.m., when a vehicle driven by Gail Lange, of Atlantic, was attempting to enter the parking lot by making a quick left turn before turning back to the right. At the same time, a vehicle driven by Tye Olsen, of Colorado Springs, CO, was leaving the lot. Olsen slowed or stopped for Lange’s vehicle, but there wasn’t enough room for Lange’s car to turn. The vehicle hit Olsen’s vehicle on the right front side, causing a total of $1,500 damage. There were no citations issued.

Sheriff’s officials in Shelby County report a search conducted Thursday night at the trucking company in Panama, resulted in the seizure of a small amount of methamphetamine and the arrest of a rural Harlan man. Authorities say the search was performed by a Cass County Sheriff’s Department K-9 team at the facilities of Panama Transfer at 600 Lasalle Avenue.

Working closely with company officials, authorities found the meth, and arrested 46-year old Brian Michael Coenen, who faces a serious misdemeanor charge of Possession of Methamphetamine. Coenen was brought to the Shelby County Jail and later released on $2,000 bond.