The hot, dry weather that’s plaguing much of the nation’s Corn Belt is leading the U-S-D-A to reduce its estimated corn yield for the season. The agency’s chief economist Joe Glabuer (GLAU-bur) says the yield estimate was cut by about 12-percent, taking it down to 146-bushels per acre nationwide.

Glabuer says, “I don’t think that anyone is going to be surprised at the estimate in and of itself just because we saw from June 1st, about 13-percent in drought conditions and now 60-percent of the crop in drought.” Iowa corn growers pulled in an average of 172 bushels per acre last year, but the new estimates show it’ll be closer to 160 bushels per acre this year. The head of the U-S-D-A says worries are growing as crop conditions in the Midwest worsen due to the hot, dry weather. U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says a bad crop year would mean reversing course on an ag economy that’s done very well in recent years.

Vilsack says they’re always concerned with the momentum slowing down after seeing agriculture, as well as ag machinery and ag manufacturing doing so well. Vilsack says the country continues to export at a very rapid rate, so the world wants what we produce. He says one out of 12 jobs in the economy is connected to agriculture and he wants to keep that going. Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, says if farmers didn’t buy crop insurance, they won’t be able to rely on a disaster program this year.

He says the reality is, there’s no disaster programs and he hopes farmers have crop insurance. Vilsack says the crop insurance won’t cover everything, but at least it will be something. He says there will be low-interest loans through the USDA, but their capacity to help is very limited absent a “food, farm and jobs” bill being passed in Congress. This week’s U-S-D-A report showed only 46-percent of Iowa’s corn crop rated as good to excellent, a drop from 62-percent last week. The soybean crop is also suffering, falling from 59 to 48-percent good to excellent.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is considering presenting a proposal to the 2013 legislature which would change Iowa code related to re-defining the definition of bait and to limit an angler when trolling and bait casting to one hook on each of the trolling spoons or artificial baits when used on one line.

The proposal to re-define the definition of bait would specifically identify what types of bait an angler may use.  Included in this definition is a clear recognition of what live fish may be used as bait.  The proposed definition will continue to allow anglers to use the baits that are now most commonly used.  According to the proposed definition an angler would no longer be allow to use any live fish that is not listed as bait.

Inconsistency was found in Iowa code language in determining the legality of the Alabama rig, also known as an Umbrella rig.  The proposal to limit an angler when trolling and bait casting to one hook on each of the trolling spoons or artificial baits when used on one line will correct the inconsistency in code and clearly make the Alabama rig illegal.  One hook includes all hooks that are attached as a part of an artificial bait or lure.

The DNR will be accepting comments on the proposal until July 31, 2012.  Three meetings have been scheduled to obtain public comment.  Written comments can be sent to Martin Konrad, Iowa DNR Fisheries Bureau, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. 9^th St., Des Moines, IA 50319-0034, by email to martin.konrad@dnr.iowa.gov or fax at 515-281-6794.  Persons who wish to convey their views orally should contact the Fisheries Bureau at 515-281-6976 or at the Bureau offices on the fourth floor of the Wallace State Office Building.

At the public meetings, persons may present their views either orally or in writing. Participants will be asked to give their names and addresses for the record and to confine their remarks to the subject of the amendments.

Any persons who intend to attend the public hearing and have special needs, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should contact the DNR and advise of specific needs.

Comments received during the commenting period will be used by the DNR to determine if this proposal should be presented to the 2013 legislature.

–Press release from Iowa DNR

w/ Brett Johnson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

A Crescent woman has been hospitalized after being hit by a car on Saturday.

The Daily Nonpareil reports that 52-year-old Pamela Shea of Crescent was hit by a 2004 Saturn Ion driven by a 15-year-old girl that was attempting to tun onto West Broadway from 2nd Street on Saturday night.  Shea was transported to Alegent Health Mercy Hospital with unknown injuries.

After Shea was struck, the vehicle hit a brick wall as the girl hit the accelerator instead of the brake.  The Daily Nonpareil says the girl told police she did not know she hit a pedestrian.  She was cited for failure to maintain control.

No other details about the incident are currently available.

Utility customers across Iowa are being warned of a scam that promises them a deal on paying their power bills. Tina Potthoff (POT-off), spokeswoman for MidAmerican Energy, says more than four dozen Iowans have already been duped.

“Customers are being told they can make a utility payment by using a bank routing number that (scammers) supply and they’re also being told they can use a series of numbers from their Social Security cards as the bank account number,” Potthoff says. “We want to make sure our customers are well aware that any personal information should not be given out over the telephone.” The scammers may claim to be with MidAmerican Energy, Black Hills Energy, Alliant Energy or some other utility. The con artists may sound convincing, but Potthoff says you need to be wary.

“This scam is claiming that President Barack Obama is providing credits or applying payments to utility bills,” Potthoff says. “Also, these scam artists are contacting customers via phone, social media and they’re really relying on word of mouth for this to travel. We’re trying to put a stop to it before it gets carried away.” People have to be especially cautious as the con artists are finding ways to make their false claims appear to be from one of your friends.

“They’re using things like Facebook or social media sites to post a message to get people to bite and then pass that information on to their friends and family,” Potthoff says. “If the deal sounds like it’s a good deal and it might be too good to be true, give us a call, give local law enforcement a call and make sure that it is valid before you participate in anything like this.” She says at least 49 incidents of this scam have been reported in Iowa during the past few weeks, as the routing numbers provided by the con artists were used by customers in cities including: Des Moines, Davenport, Iowa City and Waterloo.

Two Iowans given life sentences for murders committed when they were teenagers will get new sentences. Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson reports.

The Iowa Court of Appeals has vacated the mandatory life sentences of Christine Lockheart and Thomas Bennett based on the recent U-S Supreme Court ruling that mandatory life sentences for those who commit crimes as minors is “cruel and unusual punishment.” Lockheart was found guilty of first-degree murder committed during a robbery in Scott County in June of 1985 when she was 17. She was convicted along with her boyfriend of stabbing a retired Davenport bus driver. Bennett was convicted in Polk County of murder in 1988 after he and two friends shot and killed a neighbor who had just cashed his Social Security check. Bennett was 17-years and four months old when the crime happened. The Iowa Court of Appeals has sent both cases back to the district court for resentencing. The Appeals Court rulings in both cases indicated that while a mandatory life sentence is not proper, that does not prevent the district court from imposing a life sentence in each case if the court rules it is appropriate. The Iowa Department of Corrections estimates there are some three dozen cases that could be impacted by the U-S Supreme Court ruling. See the ocmplete rulings on RadioIowa.com.

The state’s attorney general and secretary of state have collaborated on a case to stop a California man from stealing thousands of dollars from Iowa corporations. A judge today (Wednesday) issued an injunction against the man who sent an official-looking letter to Iowa-based corporations, seeking a 125-dollar fee to file paperwork with the state. Attorney General Tom Miller says the mailing had the “aura” of an official document, but it’s not.

“The trickery of the form and the government look-alike and the payment of the fee, thinking it was to government, was a form of deception,” Miller says.
At least 270 Iowa corporations sent a check to what turned out to be a post office box in Des Moines. U.S. Postal Service inspectors helped intercept the mail and about 33-thousand dollars worth of checks were recovered. Secretary of State Matt Schultz says his office began fielding calls about this mailing in June.

“To start a business in Iowa is $50. They’re charging a $125 that would be on what seems like an annual basis according to the document they’re using to mislead Iowa businesses,” Schultz says. “…This is an exorbiant fee compared to the fees that are charged for business filings in the state of Iowa.” Investigators are trying to determine where this California man got a mailing list for Iowa corporations. The attorney general has asked a judge for permission to mail back the checks that were intercepted.

“These accumulated over a period of weeks. There was a deadline at the end of June. In the last few days, I think 48 came in of the 270, so it seems to be declining,” Miller says. “We think we’ve gotten most or all of them that Iowans sent in.” Miller says the good news is none of those checks were cashed, so none of those corporations paid any money in this scheme. The secretary of state says any document that must be filed with his office can be found on the website for his office.

“That’s why we’re trying to let the public know and make sure that they’re not feeling that they have to provide this filing,” Schultz says. “There’s always an element to our society who tries to game the system and I’m just glad that the attorney general and our office were able to work together to stop it.” Schultz is a Republican. Miller is a Democrat. Go to www.radioiowa.com to learn more about this case and listen to the two state officials discuss details with reporters.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports a Wiota has been arrested on an Audubon County warrant.

The Sheriff’s Office says 31-year-old Travis Austin Moon of Wiota was arrested Wednesday at about 2:30 PM on an outstanding Audubon County warrant for revocation of probation.

Moon was picked up from the Cass County Authorities and transported to Audubon County Jail where he was being held on $1,000 bond.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says an Audubon man has been cited for Failure to Maintain Control after a rear end accident near highway 71 and 260th street Wednesday morning.

At about 11 AM Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office says 18-year-old Daylan Gene Kleen of Audubon was driving a 2001 Ponhtiac and 34-year-old Nicole Jensen of Audubon was driving a 2000 Ford F-150 southbound on highway 71.  A slow moving vehicle was in front of both Kleen and Jensen.

Jensen had slowed and Kleen had begun to slow but became distracted.  Kleen then hit the back of Jensen’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported as total damage from the accident was about $9,000.

Kleen has been charged with failure to maintain control.

Nonprofit organizations in Cass and Audubon Counties will have just over $50,000 made available to them this fall.

In Cass County, the chair of the Cass County Community Foundation Nicholas Hunt is reminding Cass County nonprofit organizations that the fall grant program is now beginning.  The deadline to apply for funds through the online grant application process is September 1st.  Hunt says that they have $21,380 to be allocated this fall.

Of the $21,380 available, $1,200 is from the Lawrence and Mary Turner Endowed Fund, $1,000 is from the Griswold Community Development Endowed Fund,  and $480 is from the Triumph Endowed Fund for Cass County.

In Audubon County, Brett Irlmeier, Chair of the Audubon County Community Foundation says they have $32,180 to allocate this fall.  The deadline for fall application is also September 1st.

Of the $32,180 available, $1,00 is from the Audubon Massonic Asociation Endowed Fund, $600 is from the Audubon State Bank//Stephen Garst Endowed Fund, $2,000 is fromteh Leon and Iva Milliman Endowed Fund for Audubon County, $2,400 is from the Charles and Kathleen Manatt Endowed Fund, $440 is from the Fred and Evelyn Nissen Endowed Fund for Audubon, and $440 is from the Merle and Norma Petersen Endowed Fund.

Application procedures and grant guidelines can be obtained online at www.iowacommunityfoundations.org/casscef or www.iowacommunityfoundations.org/auduboncef.  Click on the Grant Information tab or contact any board member for additional information.  Detailed instructions are provided in a downloadable form, as well as a link to the online application.  Only online applications will be considered.