Concerned citizens want to remind residents of Kimballton and Elk Horn about a meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) night in Kimballton, regarding the possible closure of the Kimballton Post Office. The meeting takes place from 7-until 9-p.m at the Kimballton Town Hall.

The residents of Kimballton recently received letters explaining the possible closure. The letter included a questionnaire residents can fill out, along with information about the declining workload and revenue the Kimballton office has experienced. Post Office officials will be at Tuesday’s meeting to answer any questions citizens may have.

If a decision is made by USPS to close the Kimballton location, residents may opt to request their mail be delivered to the Elk Horn post office. A form is also available at the Kimballton Post Office to request rural delivery service. Postal Service officials say while the Kimballton Office is being studied, it does not necessarily mean the office will end up being closed.

Other southwest Iowa post offices being studied for possible closure include Brayton, Cumberland, and Lewis. A meeting about the possible closure of the Cumberland post office was held last Thursday evening.

One ag industry expert says corn yields are expected to be widely varied across Iowa this fall. Roger Elmore, a corn specialist at the Iowa State University Extension, says several factors come into play, including the July heat wave. Elmore says very warm nighttime temperatures in parts of Iowa sped up the maturity of the corn, but it may end up limiting yields.  “That high night temperature…truncated the growing season, meaning, the seed fill period was less than normal, maturity was reached faster than normal, and all of that would add up to light kernels and if all of that did happen, we’ll see a lighter yield,” according to Elmore.

He says growers who tried to capitalize on higher corn prices by planting corn on the same land where they grew corn last year may be disappointed with this year’s yields. “We always expect to see a pretty significant yield difference when you’re comparing corn following corn to corn following soybeans. On average, over the years, the best data we’ve got across the state of Iowa suggests that difference is about 14 or 15-percent.”

He says that average could be as low as zero-percent or as high as 30-percent, based on the year, the weather, the environment, the hybrid and other factors. According to Elmore,  Iowa farmers can plan on seeing losses if they’re planting the same crop on the same land back-to-back.  He says “On average, if you’re trying to run a spreadsheet analysis on things, just calculate in a 14 or 15-percent yield reduction from corn following corn.”  If stalk conditions are good, Elmore says producers should delay harvest during this dry fall weather to allow the corn to dry down in the field. 

(Radio Iowa)

This year’s devastating flooding on the Missouri River caused an estimated $207 million in lost crop sales and related economic activity in six western Iowa counties that border the river, according to a new study commissioned by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF). The flooding began in late June when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened up a series of dams in the Dakotas to release water caused by heavy snows and record rains. Farmers are finally seeing the floodwaters recede and assessing the damage which includes severely damaged roads and the destruction of several hundred thousand acres of corn and soybean fields.

The study focused on Fremont, Pottawattamie, Mills, Woodbury, Harrison and Monona counties and analyzed the direct and indirect economic impacts from crop losses from flooded fields, said Dave Miller, IFBF director of research and commodity services. The study also factored in the impact of lost wages as the income of the lost crops won’t circulate in the western Iowa communities.For the farmers in the six-county region, the flooding cost $46.1 million in net income compared to pre-flood estimates.  That total included losses on flooded acres that can’t be harvested, as well as yield losses from affected crops that were within a mile of the flooded area. The study also factored in the cost of seed, fertilizer and other inputs that farmers had already invested in their 2011 corn and soybeans before the fields were damaged or wiped out by flooding. The study also accounted for potential crop insurance indemnity payments that farmers will receive because their crops were destroyed, as well as payments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Revenue Assistance payments (SURE) program, which provides financial assistance for crop production and or quality losses due to a natural disaster.

Fremont County suffered the highest losses, at an estimated $52.2 million; with $43.9 million in direct crop income loss and $8.3 million indirect losses from the damaged fields. Harrison County suffered $36.7 million in crop and other economic losses, and Monona County lost $32.3 million. Losses in the remaining Missouri River counties were: Pottawattamie at $31.2 million; Mills at $22.2 million and Woodbury at $14.7 million. The study measured losses of economic activity from lost crop sales and didn’t factor in losses to personal property, or the steep cost of rebuilding roads, levees and other infrastructure damaged or destroyed by the months of flooding.

Dave Miller, IFBF director of research and commodity services, says  “This is really just the tip of the iceberg on economic losses from the flooding.” He says they “Hope the study will provide valuable information to help farmers, community leaders and lawmakers as they rebuild the region and push for policies to prevent or minimize flooding in the future.”

A traffic stop on Interstate 80 Sunday night in Cass County resulted in the arrest of four persons on drug charges. According to Sheriff’s officials, a deputy stopped a vehicle about a mile east of the Marne exit on westbound I-80, at around 11-p.m., Sunday. Taken into custody on a charge of 1^st offense OWI, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charges, was 18-year old Martin Wayne Looney the third, of Des Moines. 19-year old Chad Robert Fogarty of West Des Moines, and 18-year old Martinae Diane Looney, of Des Moines, were charged with Possession of Marijuana, and, 19-year old Corey Jamison Leonard, of West Des Moines was charged with Possession of Marijuana as well as Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 

Each of the individuals were transported to the Cass County Jail and held, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad is calling for sweeping changes in the way teachers are paid and tougher standards for measuring student performance. At a news conference Monday, Branstad said he would link teacher pay with performance in the classroom. He says he would create a system where instructors would be classified from apprentice teachers to master teachers. Under Branstad’s plan, students would have to pass proficiency tests to advance beyond the third grade, and would have to demonstrate competency before graduating from high school. The governor conceded the plan would cost more than the $3.45 billion the state currently spends on schools, but he says a final price tag hasn’t been set. Branstad says he plans to travel the state to rally support for his proposal.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina Republicans will hold their first-in-the-South presidential primary on Jan. 21 to trump Florida’s rule-breaking jump ahead in the party’s calendar. State GOP Chairman Chad Connelly made the announcement Monday. It caps days of speculation about how the state party would respond to Florida’s decision to hold its primary on Jan. 31. South Carolina has been poised to hold its primary in late February. Florida’s early date breaks Republican National Committee rules and would cause the state to lose half its delegates to next summer’s national convention. South Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada and Iowa have been conferring on how to deal with Florida’s move. South Carolina’s move will likely make the 2012 primary calendar look a lot like 2008, with Iowa’s caucuses just days into the year.

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court won’t stop Iowa from forcing KFC Corp. to pay nearly $250,000 in corporate income taxes, even though it had no restaurants or employees in the state. The high court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from the fried-chicken giant, which a decision by that state’s Supreme Court overturned. All KFC restaurants in Iowa are independent franchises, whose owners pay KFC for the use of its logo and systems. But the Iowa Department of Revenue and Finance assessed the company more than $248,000 in unpaid corporate income taxes, including interest and penalties, in 2001. The taxes were for 1997 to 1999. KFC says it doesn’t owe Iowa taxes because it doesn’t have property in the state. But Iowa judges have not agreed with that argument.

Harvest Fest - Apple Pie contest (file photo courtesy Atlantic Chamber)

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and the BPO DOES have once again teamed-up for this year’s Harvest Fest in Atlantic, to help raise funds for the DOES Scholarship Fund. As part of Harvest Fest, which takes place this Saturday, October 8^th, an Apple Pie Contest will be held, with AtlantiCash prizes of $50 for the blue ribbon winner in the amateur division, and $25 for the runner-up. Winner of the commercial division will be awarded the title of “Best Apple Pie in Atlantic” with a framed certificate for their restaurant or bakery. Pies should be delivered to the Chamber by no later than noon, Saturday, in order to be considered for the contest.

Chamber Executive Director Megan Roberts says “Each year, the Chamber and the DOES partner up for the apple pie contest to help raise funds for the DOES scholarship fund.” She adds that with a scoop of ice cream on top, there’s “Never a crumb left to taste.” There will also be a Smoked Meat Cook-off held in conjunction with Harvest Fest this year. Pulled pork, brisket sandwiches and smoked ribs will be available for purchase with chips and drink also to enjoy during the Atlantic Fire Department entertainment from 4- to 6-p.m. before the Firemen’s Parade. Roberts says “The Atlantic Firemen will have a unique team of horses and a drum corps stepping team performing,“ while dinner is served. For more information contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712.243.3017 or e-mail megan@atlanticiowa.com.

Local business leaders and potential entrepreneurs are invited to attend a “Lunch and Learn” session to be held in Atlantic next week. The session, being held October 11^th at the historic Rock Island Depot, is sponsored by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, and is designed to provide the tools business leaders need to ensure they’re able to reach their full potential.

The Lunch and Learn takes place from 11:30-a.m. to 1:00-p.m., and is open to Chamber members, and non-members alike. Guest speaker is Bob Clements, a business coach from the E-Myth business

Bob Clements

 development system. The philosophy behind E-Myth focuses on designing businesses the work for the owner. The program has been in existence for more than 30-years, and the seminar is based on a best selling book detailing why most small businesses don’t work, and what to do about it.

Clements, a trained and certified Senior E-Myth Coach, has served as a practicing business attorney, bank counsel, Chamber of Commerce president, and consultant. The seminar, and Clements’ presentation, will ask business owners to question everything they think they know about business, to consider that their experience may be their worst teacher instead of the best, and to ponder what they have been doing incorrectly that repeatedly produces the same results.

Tickets for the seminar and lunch are $20 for Chamber members, or $30 for non-members. They’re available from the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Persons interested in attending should make their reservations by no later than this Friday, October 7^th. To do so, call 712-243-3017, or e-mail Nicky Christensen at nicky@atlanticiowa.com

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A new monthly survey of business managers suggests weak economic growth will continue in nine Midwest and Plains states with little chance of another recession in the region. The overall economic index released Monday increased to 52.2 in September from August’s 52, and any score above 50 suggests economic growth in the next few months. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the region is being helped by the relative strength of businesses tied to agriculture or exports.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota. Even though the region’s economy looks OK, the business leaders surveyed aren’t very confident about their prospects. The survey’s confidence index slid to 40.5 in September from August’s 43.4 as concerns about Europe’s economy continued to grow.