Warm, windy weather — and a lack of rain — are raising drought concerns in Iowa. The latest U-S-D-A report indicates about half of Iowa farm fields are short or very short of topsoil moisture. Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey says it’s worrysome. “Ironically northwest Iowa was probably our driest area going into spring and they’ve gotten rains,” Northey says. “But the balance of the state is really short of moisture and normally we don’t expect that dry weather until later in the season.” Dry conditions in late May and early June put a “unique kind of stress” on crops, according to Northey.

Corn, for example, is showing inadequate root growth.”When the crop is so short of moisture in that top soil, it actually is hard for those roots to find moisture and, therefore, to grow,” Northey says. “You would think normally…dry weather will cause those roots to go down and try to find moisture, but in some of our areas it’s so dry, if it’s not finding moisture, it actually stops those roots from growing.” While corn in some areas has weak root systems, some soybeans are just sitting in the ground and haven’t sprouted. “We do plant soybeans shallower. We plant them later and if you do a little bit of tillage, it dries out the top, especially since some of our areas of the state haven’t had rain for three weeks or at least any sizable rain and some very dry weather in the last three or four weeks as well.” The other problem is the soybean sprouts, but then dies because of lack of moisture.

Fifty-one percent of Iowa farm fields are “short” or “very short” of topsoil moisture according to the latest U-S-D-A report. The rating for subsoil moisture is 42 percent “short” or “very short.” The driest section of the state is south central Iowa, where 83 percent of the topsoil is “short” or “very short” of moisture.

Link to the U-S Drought Monitor website: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)

Cass County Sheriff Darby McClaren will receive a certificate Thursday morning at the Courthouse in Atlantic, in honor of his nomination for the prestigious 2012 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.  The certificate will be presented at 11:30 a.m.  Thursday, May 31st, at the Sheriff’s Office, by Jerry Hansen, chairman of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) agency for our area. 

The Freedom Award is the Department of Defense’s highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of Guard and Reserve employees.  A review board comprised of military and civilian leaders has received 3,236 nominations received earlier this year from Guard and Reserve service members, or family members acting on their behalf. Only 160 employers have received the Freedom Award since it was established in 1996. Employers named as finalists for the award distinguish themselves not only for adhering to the employment and reemployment rights of Guard and Reserve members, but for actively creating opportunities to assist and support the service of both Guard and Reserve employees and their families. 

Everyone isl invited to the event honoring Sheriff McClaren, for his support of our military.

One person was injured when the vehicle they were driving hit a fire hydrant and tree Tuesday afternoon, in Kimballton. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department reports 61-year old Marcia Louise Nelson, of Kimballton, was traveling north on South Main Street at around 4:15-p.m., when she fell asleep at the wheel of her 2009 Chevy Impala. The car crossed the centerline of the road and hit a fire hydrant before colliding with a large tree. Nelson was transported by Elk Horn Rescue to Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. She was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. Nelson’s car sustained $15,000 damage during the accident.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their weekly meeting Thursday morning, in Atlantic. During their 9-a.m. session, the board will act on setting the dates for hearings on a proposed Cass County Illegal Dumping Ordinance. 

When the Board met April 11^th, the subject of improper disposal of solid waste was discussed. Officials say improper ‘dumping’ of solid waste (appliances, garbage, etc) in roadside ditches and elsewhere is an ongoing problem in Cass County, and an Illegal Dumping Task Force has been formed to work on the problem.  Cass County Landfill Manager Wendy Wittrock told the board, and stressed to the public via the media, that illegal dumping is ‘wrong’ and the public need to report incidents of illegal dumping. Wittrock said during the April meeting, that the organization Keep Iowa Beautiful may help deter the crime, by setting up cameras in known problem areas. The County’s current “Disposal of Solid Waste” ordinance says that improper disposal of solid waste is a simple misdemeanor and upon conviction, subjects the violator to imprisonment not exceeding thirty days or a fine not exceeding $100.00.  

In other business, Steve Livengood, with the Cass County Public Safety Commission,  will discuss the Commission’s ongoing efforts toward relocating the Cass County 9-1-1 Center, and will request a letter of support to that effect, from the Board of Supervisors. The 9-1-1 Center is currently located in the basement of the Courthouse.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says the Carson & Barnes Circus, “The Biggest of the Big Top shows,” will bring its all-new show for 2012 to the Atlantic Airport on Highland Road in Atlantic on Monday, June 11th. One of the last of the great American traveling big top circuses, the Carson & Barnes performers will hold two shows, at 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm. Tickets are now on sale at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, 102 Chestnut Street and online at BigTopShow.com. A portion of sales will benefit the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce’s programs and events.

Celebrating its 76^th year the Carson & Barnes Circus has been traveling the nation since 1937. While the show has changed over the decades, what remains is a solid two-hour show that features classic circus acts, daring high-wire feats and the antics of dozens of clowns. But aside from the clowns, the prancing horses and high-IQ dogs, the biggest stars of the show are the elephants. Advance tickets are available now at the Depot, 102 Chestnut Street, and online at BigTopShow.com.

Prices range from $16 Adult, $8 Child at the gate on the day of the performance to as little as $10 Adult, $6 Child when purchased in advance using a discount coupon. Coupons are available locally or can be downloaded from BigTopShow.com or by visiting www.Facebook.com/CarsonBarnesCircus. Get complete ticket information online at BigTopShow.com or BoletosdeCirco.com. For more information or questions call the Chamber at 712.243.3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Authorities in Montgomery County are investigating recent incidents of thefts in the Red Oak and Stanton areas. Sheriff’s officials say they received two reports Tuesday. One of the incidents occurred sometime between Saturday and Monday, south of Red Oak. A white & yellow 2012 Cub Cadet GT-2100 lawn tractor and black 1995 H&H Dovetail trailer were reported stolen from Dickel Outdoor Power, just off of Highway 48. The trailer with Iowa license plate number 3544HB is valued at $3,000, while the lawn tractor was valued at $4,000.

The second incident occurred in the 500 block of Thorn Street, in Stanton. Officials say the victim reported someone removed two center caps off the rims of her 1999 Ford F-250 pickup truck, and damaged an aluminum door on the inside of her 2000 Kiefer-built horse trailer. The loss was estimated at $350 altogether.

Anyone with information about either of those crimes, is asked to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 712-623-5107, or Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-800-432-1001.

Funeral services will be held next Tuesday afternoon in Fontanelle, for a 3-year old boy who died Sunday afternoon, when a tree fell on him as he was playing hide and seek with his stuffed animals under the tree in his family’s back yard. Nathan “Tader” Hutt died instantly from injuries he suffered when a huge Maple tree fell over and landed on top of him. The accident happened at around 12:45-p.m. His mother Alisha, made the call to 9-1-1.

Fontanelle Police Chief Pat Henry told the Des Moines Register that it had been windy that day. Too windy, for the old tree, which was basically hollow, with only about five inches of wood remaining around the edges of the trunk. Henry said the tree looked fine from the outside, and there was no way to tell it was so internally weak.

Funeral services for Nathan Hutt will be held 3-p.m. Tue., June 5th, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle. Memorials may be directed to the Nathan Hutt memorial fund in care of the First National Bank, 311 5th Street, Fontanelle, Iowa 50846.