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GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) – A 49-year-old Iowa woman has been given nine years of probation in Nebraska because she violated terms of an earlier probation sentence by living with dogs. Denise Withee, of Mapleton, was sentenced on Thursday. Her new sentence also includes a provision that bars her from owning or living with any animals. Withee had been on probation for dumping 23 dead or dying dogs in a Nebraska cornfield in 2008. She has admitted that she violated probation by living with 13 dogs at the Iowa home she shares with her mother. Iowa authorities discovered the dogs in January.  Withee’s attorney, Vicki Kenney, says Withee fits the description of an animal hoarder and described her as “an addict of animals.”

Audubon County Fair officials bestowed the Queen honors Thursday night, on Katelyn Asmus. Runner-up for the title was Taylor Lewis. Seven young ladies were vying for the title to represent the county over the course of the year, and at the Iowa State Fair. The other candidates included: Amanda Steffes, Beth Irlmeier, Clara Lauritsen, Chansea Nelson and Dani Esbeck.

Some activities scheduled for today at the fair include: the 4-H/FFA Sheep & Goat show, at 8-a.m.; Judging of the Open Class static entries, at 9-am; 4-H/FFA Horse Show at 10-am; County Fair Olympics from 1-3pm; Fashion Designer’s Showcase at 4:30-pm; Decorator’s Showcase at 5:30pm; and the Figure 8 Races, beginning at 7:30-pm.

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)