The Missouri River fell nearly eight-feet on Wednesday as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shut off the flow from Gavins Point Dam near Yankton to inspect the concrete slabs below the spillway gates.

Gavins Point Dam

Three teams used sophisticated radar to survey for damage. Dave Becker, the Corps’ operations manager for the dam, says they’ve seen warning signs develop since last year’s historic flooding across Iowa and Nebraska. “We have a foot and a half of concrete on top and that is on top of a four-foot gravel layer,” Becker says. “Ever since January, we’ve had concerns about that gravel layer. We had a couple of gates open, gates 2 and 3 at this south end, and we saw water coming out of the drain at the north end and we said, ‘That’s not right.'” Becker says the record flows that brought the prolonged, record flooding last summer caused damage under the concrete.

He says, “What we found was that some of the drain grates had been washed off during the flood and some of that water was going straight down the drain holes and into the gravel layer and eroding some of that gravel.” He says the concrete is all fine but there’s at least one large “void” in the gravel. Becker says crews used the low water level on Wednesday to get a closer peek at the problem areas. “The ground-penetrating radar takes a look at the concrete and the gravel area underneath to see what condition it’s in and to see if there are any voids,” he says. “They also drilled holes in the concrete so they can visually just take a look down there and see what they got, they can stick a piece of rebar down there, feel around, see what they got.” Becker says there are no structural issues with the spillway and they are not worried about any leaking. He says they hope to get the spillway repaired before next spring

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Thursday (today), that an Agriland FS sprayer carrying more than 1,200 gallons of farm chemicals and water accidentally rolled off the north shoulder of County Highway G61 west of Orient Wednesday evening. The mixture contained eight gallons of Harness Extra, 2.6 gallons of Round-Up, 1,272 gallons of 32 percent nitrogen and 80 gallons of water.

About 600 gallons of product were recovered. Some product reached the south side of the highway where tile intakes discharge into Shanghai Creek, a tributary to the East Nodaway River. Field tests this morning 1 mile downstream in Shanghai Creek indicated less than 10 parts per million of ammonia. The creek is full and flowing fast, so either the ammonia is diluted, or it has not reached 1 mile down the creek yet. 

No fish have been killed currently. If residents downstream notice changes in the water, or see dead fish, they should notify the DNR by calling the 24-hour spill number at 515-281-8694. A dam has been constructed in the ditch down gradient to where a culvert crosses the road. The product mixed with water is being pumped out. One Call has been notified, and as soon as One Call has been to the scene, the affected surface will be excavated and land applied.

The U.S. Agriculture Department predicted Thursday that corn production will total 14.8 billion bushels for the season ending in August 2013. That compares with 12.4 billion bushels a year ago. The government also predicted that corn stockpiles will be higher by the end of this August.  Analysts caution that the growing season is just beginning and many factors could affect production, including a hot, dry summer.  But if the forecast holds true, corn prices will fall and that likely will result in lower supermarket prices for products that use corn. Wheat production is expected to increase but soybean supplies will remain tight.

Officials with the Adair County Health System have announced Dr. Melissa Thompson, M.D., will be closing her family practice in Adair County.

Melissa Thompson, M.D. (photo from ACHS website)

The closing is effective on July 24th, 2012. Dr. Thompson released a letter to the public through the Adair County Health System, saying she will not be renewing her contract with ACHS, but will continue to see patients in the Greenfield and Fontanelle locations until July 24th. Thompson says by that time, Cassie Rassmussen, D.O. will be at Adair County and will be accepting patients.

Thompson said in her letter, that the decision to close her practice was not an easy one. She said “When I first came to Adair County in 2001, I was single with cats and dogs waiting at home for me. In the last 11 years, many changes have occurred. I am now married and have 2 young children, and my priorities have changed. My future plans are to concentrate on my family.” Thompson said also, that “It has been a privilege to work with the outstanding staff at Adair County Health System. Each of them have helped and supported me during my time here, and I will miss each of them.”

Adair County Health System will continue to provide quality care for patients in all three of the Adair County Medical Clinics in Greenfield, Stuart, and Fontanelle. If you have any questions please contact Angela Mortoza, CEO at 641-743-2123 or amortoza@adaircountyhealthsystem.org.

The Griswold Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a special meeting Friday evening (May 11th), in the Central Office at the Middle School/High School Building. According to Superintendent Dana Kunze, the Board will meet at 5:30-p.m., to hold a public hearing on the awarding of contracts for the re-roofing project.

The hearing will include the reading of a letter of recommendation from Estes Construction, and public input on the project. Following the hearing, the Board will made decisions on Personnel matters, award the Re-roofing contracts, and act on approving the parking lot redesign plan.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Iowans who’ve always wanted to become farmers but weren’t sure how to make the leap can now take a course. “Dream to Farm” is a 14-week class being offered for the first time this summer at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. Matt Mancuso, the college’s sustainability coordinator, says it’ll appeal to entrepreneurs who are interested in food security, healthy eating and local food. Mancuso says six of the sessions will focus on developing a comprehensive business plan. “A lot of people are going to be coming in with ideas of what they want to do and they are going to be totally changed by the funding and how much you’re going to be making,” Mancuso says. “It’s going to be a learning experience for them and people will be coming in with ideas that will be totally transferred to something else by the end of the class.” The course will cover the basics of farming techniques, soils, animal husbandry, irrigation, and pest and disease management. Mancuso says the course is not designed for someone who wants to start farming 150 acres of corn or soybeans, but rather someone who wants to take their passion for gardening to the next level.

Mancuso says, “This is going to be someone who’s a local farmer who’s going to be providing for the local farmers markets, the local restaurants, the local food outlets, grocery stores and so forth in their local areas.” It will target the small-scale niche farmer who can devote a half-acre, or perhaps two or three acres, to something like raising carrots, cabbage or chickens. In addition to classroom work, there will be hands-on labs, field trips and relationship-building with mentors. Mancuso says they may be small-scale farmers, but the eventual fruits of the labor will be much larger.

“This provides a huge local economic impact, both in urban areas and in rural areas by developing these farmers,” Mancuso says. “A lot of times these farmers use local products. The money gets transferred through the local economy over and over with these local farmers.” Thanks to a grant from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, the course will only cost 39-dollars. It begins May 30th and runs through August 29th. A second class will be offered in the fall. Mancuso hopes to perfect the curriculum and will offer it to other community colleges across Iowa. 

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)