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.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office is warning motorists to expect heavy traffic next Friday, August 17th, when the Des Moines heavy metal rock band Slipknot and other acts perform at the Mid America MotorPlex, during “KnotFest.” Gates at the complex, located near Pacific Junction, will open at 2-p.m. August 17th. The concert will not end until 11:30-p.m.

Officials say to expect heavy traffic at Exit 35 off Interstate 29 and Highway 34. Anyone not attending the concert, is strongly encouraged to find an alternate route to home and/or work. You should expect delays also, on southbound I-29 from Council Bluffs.

Atlantic Fire and Rescue along with Medivac ambulance were dispatched at 8:46-a.m. to the scene of a rollover accident involving two semi’s along Interstate 80 in Cass County, about a mile west of the exit to Highway 71 (mile marker 59).

Overturned semi along I-80 at mm 59 westbound (Ric Hanson photo)

The Cass County Communications Center says both drivers and a passenger in one of the semis were checked for injuries, but all refused transport to the hospital.

According to the State Patrol, a tractor trailer entering I-80 westbound from the Highway 71 interchange was building up speed while his rig was making its way up an incline, when the rig was hit from behind by another semi.  The collision caused the first semi to go out of control, and into the median, where it rolled onto its left side.

The names of those involved in the collision have not yet been released.

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 lawsuit was filed by the pipeline owner, Northern Natural Gas Co, of Omaha, Neb., against DeRocher Construction, of Le Mars.  Two DeRocher workers were injured by the blast that sent a fireball hundreds of feet into the air on April 25. Authorities say the men were operating trenching equipment that struck the pipeline near Hinton.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City. It says Northern Natural Gas spent nearly $440,000 for emergency response, inspection and repair and other expenses to get the pipeline back into operation. DeRocher Construction has declined to comment.