Iowa’s only hunting preserve with wild boars would be shut down under a bill passed by the Iowa House, Tuesday. Critics say wild boar present hazards to the state’s pork industry. The bill, however, would allow domestic hogs to be hunted on the preserve. Representative Lance Horbach, of Tama says the Tama County farmer who operates the only wild boar hunting preserve in Iowa would have 90 days to get rid of his wild boar if the bill becomes law. “This allows this Iowa hunting preserve to have hog hunting,” Horbach says. “But it would be domestic swine.”

Some legislators like Representative Mary Wolfe of Clinton questioned the whole concept of hunting hogs.  “We’re going to pass a bill that lets us people hunt these big fat, lazy pigs that apparently don’t provide a whole lot of sport for hunters,” Wolfe said. Representative Dan Muhlbauer, of Manilla, wasn’t sold on the sport of hog hunting either. “We’re going to go out and turn ’em loose in a 360 acre pasture and shoot ’em,” Muhlbauer said. “…Where’s the logic in this?” Wild boar or “feral swine” have attacked domestic swine herds in other states and wild boar hunting was banned in Iowa in 2007. A third-generation Tama County farm has kept up its wild boar hunting preserve since then, through extensions which are about to expire.

The bill to let that farm offer hunters a chance to shoot at hogs raised in the U.S. now goes to the Senate.

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)

A public hearing will be held this (Wednesday) evening at the City Hall in Atlantic, with regard to amending the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget. The 5:30-p.m. hearing takes place during a regularly scheduled session of the Atlantic City Council, and will be followed by a Resolution to approve the amended budget.

According to City Administrator Doug Harris, the budget amendment is necessary primarily due to changes recommended by the State Auditor that suggest $9.1-million dollars in costs for the Wastewater Treatment Plant be shifted from the Capital Project Fund into the Sewer Fund. Another factor playing into the amendment, is the Council’s decision to refund the 2007 General Obligation Bonds. That requires the City to pay off the principal on the bonds this year, in the amount of $655,000, from the proceeds of the 2012 G.O. Bonds.

Harris says that while that will increase the budget for the current year, it will result in the City saving over $45,000 in interest. Other factors associated with the need to amend the 2012 Budget include: An increase in revenue from the sale of aviation fuel, which offset the City’s cost; A large donation to the Atlantic Public Library, which the Library Board used to make repairs and equipment purchases; And, $25,000 from the 2011 Bonds was transferred to the Community Promotion Fund to pay for this year’s contribution to Iowa Western Community College’ Design Technology Program. Harris said the Community Promotion Committee has also made contributions to various organizations, which exceeded the original budget.

In other business, the Council this evening will consider a resolution authorizing bids for improvements to the Street Maintenance Building, which is expected to cost about $55,000. Harris says that while that is in-line with the amount originally approved in the 2011 Bond issue, because bids for street and park improvements came in higher than the engineer’s estimate, that’s left the City with just $30,000 in bond proceeds to pay for the improvements. He’ll recommend the City transfer $25,000 of the $63,000 in proceeds from the recent sale of land, to cover the remaining cost of the project.

The Council is also scheduled to hear a report from Atlantic Municipal Airport Manager, Barry Reid, during their meeting this evening.

Graduating Seniors at the Atlantic High School are eligible to apply for a $750 scholarship named after an Atlantic man who has helped many students become successful, including his own. The Al Wernimont Memorial Scholarship was created in honor of Wernimont, who by all accounts, was a dedicated family man who invested a lot of time and energy in helping not only his children but many students in the Atlantic School system be successful.

Wernimont, who died last November at the age of 57, was also an excellent role model for student athletes and encouraged everyone to find good balance in their lives.  His generous spirit and willingness to always lend a hand touched many people in the community and beyond.

The memorial scholarship was established in his name to continue Wernimont’s traditional, giving nature, and make a difference in the lives of one more student each year. Applicants for the single, $750 scholarship must:  Have a GPA of 2.5 or higher; Be active in their church and community or volunteerism; Provide a letter of reference attesting to their good moral character; And a copy of your college acceptance letter, along with a copy of your high school transcript. The completed form must be returned to the Atlantic High School Guidance Counselor’s Office by no later than April 19th.

The Iowa State Patrol today (Tuesday, March 20th) released information about an accident which occurred March 13th on Interstate 80, in Cass County. Officials say a 2000 Ford F-250 truck driven by 27-year old Esperanza Martinez Carvajal, of Falmouth, MI, was traveling east on I-80 near the Cass/Pottawattamie County line, when for reasons unknown, her vehicle went off the traveled portion of the road, onto the north shoulder.

When the woman over-corrected, her truck slid across both lanes of traffic, entered the south ditch and rolled over before coming to rest on the driver’s side. The accident happened at around 1:20-p.m. Martinez-Carvajal and her passenger, 22-year old Maciel Munoz Trejo, suffered minor injuries and were transported by Medivac ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. Martinez-Carvajal was cited for Failure to Have a Valid Driver’s License and Failure to Maintain Control. Her vehicle sustained about $1,000 damage.

The Iowa State Patrol reports a Cass County man was injured Monday afternoon when the pickup he was driving collided with a farm service vehicle northwest of Casey, in Guthrie County. Officials say 54-year old Kevin Wedemeyer, of Anita, was traveling west on White Pole Road at the intersection with Juniper Avenue (County Road N-72), when he noticed a John Deere service truck pull away from a stop sign, in front of him. Wedemyer’s 1994 Chevy S-10 pickup hit the passenger side of the A & M Green Power truck, driven by 32-year old Brian Tunink, of Adair. The accident happened at around 3:45-p.m.

Wedemeyer was transported to the Guthrie County Hospital  by Adair EMS for treatment of possible injuries. Tunink, who was not injured, was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign/Yield Right of Way. Damage from the accident amounted to $5,500.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports a ban on open burning initiated March 13th in Madison County, will be rescinded effective 8-a.m. Wed., March 21st.  The dry conditions which prompted the Burn Ban no longer exist in the County, or have diminished substantially due to recent rainfall.

Officials with the Monsanto Corporation say an Adams County farmer was selected as a Iowa winner in the company’s 2012 “America’s Farmers Grow Communities” contest. Todd James, of Prescott, won $2,500, and designated Adams County 4-H as the recipient of the funds. Other area winners, and their designated non-profits receiving $2,500 include: Cass County: Mike Noll – Griswold Fire Department; Adair County: Diana Kordick – Washington Stars 4-H Club; Audubon County: Blaine Kerkhoff – Audubon High School Wrestling Fund; Guthrie County: Randy Hughes – Dodge Dodgers 4-H Club; Montgomery County: Jon Young – Montgomery County Family YMCA; Pottawattamie County: Patrick Ellsworth – Underwood School District High School Auditorium Project; and Shelby County: Karen Muell – Panama Fire Department.

Nearly 60,000 farmers participated in the second annual Grow Communities program, which is designed to benefit nonprofit groups such as ag youth, schools and other civic organizations. Farmers in 1,245 counties in 39 states were eligible to win $2,500 for their favorite community nonprofit groups or organizations.  The Monsanto Fund expects to invest more than $3.1 million in local communities. For more information and to see a full list of winners, visit www.growcommunities.com.

Sheriff’s officials in Page County are investigating two recent incidents of theft. Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports a Braddyville man told deputies March 16th, when he went to check on property he owns near the Page/Taylor County line after his tenants moved out, he noticed parts were missing from a vehicle he had stored there. The parts, including an instrument cluster, radiator, distributor and carburetor, were missing from a 1984 Ford F-150 pickup.  The incident remains under investigation.

And, a College Springs man reported to the sheriff’s department, that on or about March 12th, someone broke into his house on Pine Street, and took several items, including two laptop computers, computer cases, a portable dvd player and Sony X-Box 360. The loss was estimated at just over $2,630. The burglary and theft remains under investigation.

TABOR, Iowa (AP) – Emergency crews are searching a private pond near Tabor, for a missing Nebraska man.  The Mills County sheriff’s office says a dive team was called out on Monday. The search continues today (Tuesday). The property owner called 911 after seeing a boat in the pond and the man’s vehicle nearby.  The missing man is from Papillion, Neb.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has been nominated to receive the 2012 Secretary of Defense “Employer Support Freedom Award.”

ESGR Award

The announcement was made today (Tuesday), by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense (DOD) agency. Officials say 56 Iowa Guard and Reserve members nominated their employers for the award. Nationwide, there were 3,236 nominations. The Freedom Award is the DOD’s highest recognition for employers supporting members of the Guard and Reserve. Up to 15 recipients will be announced this summer and honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on September 20th. Also nominated for the award was The Micah House, in Council Bluffs.