The King and Queen of the 2012 Cass County Fair were announced Thursday night, during the opening day of the fair. As you may have heard on KJAN live during the ceremony, Haley Schmidt, of Griswold, was chosen as Cass County Fair Queen, while Dexter McDermott, of Atlantic, was named Cass County Fair King. 

Other royalty include Maggi Amos, Cass County Fair Princess, and Logan Potter, Cass County Fair Prince. Potter was also named “Mr. Congeniality.” Emily Jacobsen was chosen was “Miss Congeniality.” Ryan Aupperle and Tanner Potter were finalists for the King competition, while Emily Jacobsen and Larissa Backhaus were finalists for the Queen competition.   

The fair continues through Tuesday morning. On the schedule today is: 

The Sheep/Meat Goat Weigh-in, from 8am-11am

The Rabbitt and Horse shows, beginning at 9-a.m.

The Commercial Exhibits will be on display beginning at 10-a.m.

4-H Exhibits open in the Community Center at 1-p.m.

The Feeder Calf weigh-in (2-3pm)

Feeder Calf Show (5-p.m.)

Bullride (7:30-p.m.)

Two Red Oak residents were arrested early this (Friday) morning, on drug charges. According to Red Oak Police, 19-year-old Kayla Caroline Cornelison and 37-year-old Markus Eugene Johnson were taken into custody following a traffic stop at 12:55 a.m. at the corner of West Linden and North Broadway.

Cornelison was charged with possession of methamphetamine. Her bond was set at $1,000. Johnson was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. He was being held on $300 bond.

A Union County man was arrested late Thursday night in Adams County on alcohol, and other charges. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office says 31-year old Raymond Davis, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 11-p.m., after he was pulled over for allegedly speeding on Highway 25. Davis faces OWI/1st Offense, speeding and open container charges. He was also cited for having no turn signal.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is suspending state laws and regulations to make it easier to transport hay, straw and stover at a time when drought has depleted supplies of the material used largely to feed livestock.  Branstad’s action took affect today (Thursday) and will continue for 60 days.
 
The proclamation will allow people to transport loads of hay, straw and stover weighing up to 90,000 pounds on non-interstate highways without a state permit. Wide loads also can be moved without a permit as long as they don’t exceed 12 feet, 5 inches in width. Rules regulating hours of service for drivers hauling specific agricultural produces also are suspended.

Details about the rules are available online at www.iowa.dot.gov .

A task force begins meeting today (Thursday) to discuss the amount of time Iowa students spend in the classroom and whether there should be an increase. Frank Spillers, of Atlantic, is part of the “Instructional Time Task Force,” which was created as part of the education reform package the legislature passed and the governor signed into law. Spillers was appointed to the task force earlier this month.

Mike Cormack, a former CAM School District Teacher and former Mayor of Massena, is a policy advisor with the Department of Education. He says the cost of extending the school year will be under discussion: “That’s going to be up to the group to decide, but studies tend to show between 12 to 15 million dollars per day of additional instruction is the cost. So if you add ten days, you’re already looking at a 150- million-dollar program,” Cormack says.

Cormack says some research shows that the biggest bang for the buck comes from adding instructional time only for struggling students.  “States that have done that have had positive results in doing so,” according to Cormack. “But we are going to bring in experts with a lot of different opinions, and we welcome a lot of different viewpoints.” The Instructional Time Task Force includes experts from inside and outside education, and will make recommendations to next year’s legislature, including the contentious issue of school start dates. The legislature has been sharply divided in the past on whether schools are starting classes too early in August.

(Radio Iowa)

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says a Taylor County man was arrested on alcohol-related charges, after his vehicle nearly collided with law enforcement vehicles. The incident happened just before 1-a.m. Thursday (today). The Sheriff says a Page County Deputy was assisting Clarinda Police Department Officers on a traffic stop on Highway 2, east of the city limits of Clarinda., when a vehicle approached in the eastbound lane of Highway 2 travelling westbound. 

He says after the vehicle allegedly came close to hitting the Law Enforcement vehicles, the Deputy engaged in a pursuit.  The vehicle pulled over a short distance later.  Its driver and only occupant, 25-year old Christopher Ryan Savala, of New Market,  was arrested for O.W.I. 1^st Offense, following an investigation. Savala later posted bond, and was released.

Much anticipated rainfall following the passage of a cold front failed to materialize across much of western Iowa Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. As a result, Shelby County Emergency Management Officials say the Fire Danger level will remain in the “HIGH” category through Monday, July 30^th.  Jason Wickizer, Emergency Medical Services Coordinator at the Shelby County EMA, told KJAN News the rains in his county were “very spotty.”

Wickizer said the Fire Danger rating in Shelby County is based on input from local fire chiefs and the Emergency Manager, and weather factors. He says the County has experienced high temperatures, low humidity during the afternoon, and abundant natural fuel –in the form of dry grass and crops – due to the low rainfall. Wickizer says even though some rain is in the forecast for this weekend, that doesn’t mean the Fire Danger threat will be reduced prior to Monday.

Signs indicating the increased fire threat are located at fire stations within the County, and on the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency’s website, at www.shelbycountyema.com.  Shelby County is currently not included in a ban on open burning. Wickizer said that’s because they are using the “Fire Danger” signs as a “public education tool.” He said since they have not seen an increase in fires, they will use the signs instead of asking the State Fire Marshal’s Office for an open burning ban. The purpose of the Fire Danger signs, according to Wickizer, is to cut down on instances where people start fires on their property, and have numerous fire trucks show-up when it is a non-emergency situation.

He says anyone who wants to conduct any type of open burning outside, on their property, should contact the Shelby County EMA at 712-755-2124, and inform the on-duty dispatcher of your intentions. The dispatcher will put residents in contact with their local fire chief. Permission for you to conduct an open burn is at the sole discretion of your fire chief.

WHITING, Iowa (AP) – A 40-year-old western Iowa man has been electrocuted.  The Monona County Sheriff’s Office blamed malfunctioning welding equipment for the death of Tracy Brenden.  Brenden, of Whiting, was found lying near a building on the east side of Whiting just before 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

w/ Ric Hanson

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