Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will be in southwest Iowa today.

At about 1:00 this afternoon Reynolds will hold a town hall meeting at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

Reynolds will then tour flood affected areas this evening starting at about 5:00 in Fremont County.

Following her tour she will speak with the media in Pacific Junction near County Highway L 40.

Reynolds had also been in southwest Iowa earlier this week when she held town halls Monday in Jefferson, Guthrie Center, and Winterset.

Adair County 4-H’ers claimed two championships at the Ak-Sar-ben Livestock Exposition held in Omaha this past weekend. Tyler Long of Creston exhibited the top Simmental heifer. Long is the son of Rob and Gina Long and is a senior at Orient-Macksburg. Kysa Downing of Creston earned her championship title in the feeder calf division with her steer calf. She is the daughter of Steve and Karen Downing and a junior at Nodaway Valley. Kysa also won her class with her feeder calf heifer.

Adair County exhibitors also picked up more honors. Chisum Downing won a 2^nd place purple with his feeder calf enter and Heath Downing claimed 3^rd place purple in the same division. Leah Gilman of Stuart also captured a purple with her shorthorn breeding heifer. Adding the Adair County collection of purple ribbons was Cody Long of Creston with his market lamb.

A crash in Adair County has claimed the life of a teen and injured two others Monday afternoon.
At approximately 2:45 Monday afternoon, a 2003 Acura RSX driven by 21-year-old Boby Vangkham of South Sioux City, Nebraska was eastbound on Interstate 80 near mile marker 75 in Adair County. Meanwhile, a semi driven by 33-year-old Shayne Clousing of Ida Grove was westbound on Interstate 80.

Vangkham’s vehicle crossed the median on the interstate and crashed into Clousing’s semi.

A 17-year-old passenger from Des Moines in Vangkham’s vehicle was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. The passenger was transported by Life Net Helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, where she was pronounced dead. She was not wearing her seatbelt.

Also injured in the crash were Vangkham and another passenger in the vehicle. Vangkham was transported by Anita Rescue to Cass County memorial Hospital while the other passenger was transported by Life Net Helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Vangkham was wearing a seatbelt while the passenger was not. The status of their injuries is unknown.

The accident remains under investigation.

The deadline is approaching for some homeowners and businesses who suffered losses during the flooding along the Missouri River to file claims.

Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency regional office in Kansas City, Mo., say flood insurance policy holders have 120 days from the date of the damage to file a claim and submit a “Proof of Loss” statement. For some, that could be as soon as Thursday.

FEMA officials say policy holders should call their insurance agent to open a claim.

The deadline is normally 60 days from the date of damage but it was extended to 120 days this year.

FEMA Administrator Beth Freeman says officials are concerned that some people have not been able to inspect their properties and may not know of the upcoming deadlines.

–AP

Press release:

Cass County is going “green” the first week in October, with the help of local 4-H club members and leaders. It may be a different kind of green, but you’re sure to notice clovers and other decorations going up in local businesses as 4-H’ers paint the town green for National 4-H Week, October 2nd through the 8th.

Club members decorate the windows of local businesses to spread the word about 4-H, and compete for the honor of “best display”. Clubs also observe 4-H week in other ways, from distributing bookmarks in local schools to wearing their 4-H tee-shirts. Cass County currently has 15 4-H clubs with more than 275 members across the county, so you’re bound to see a clover pop up somewhere near you!

National 4-H week is designed to celebrate and share the leadership, citizenship, communications and life skills that young people learn in 4-H every day across the US. 4-H Members can enroll in project areas from Animals to Technology, learning about topics that interest them while participating in activities that help them grow individually and benefit their local communities. 4-Hers pledge their “Heads, Hearts, Hands and Health” to becoming better citizens!

In addition to local club events, the Cass County Youth Council will be helping with a booth at Harvest Fest on October 8th, from 10-4 at the Rock Island Depot in downtown Atlantic. All local youth are invited to stop by and have fun at a “4-H Photo Booth” where you can dress up as your favorite 4-H project and have your picture taken while you “Choose Your Adventure with 4-H”. County Youth Coordinator Susan Oliver will answer questions about the 4-H program, and you can pick up information on joining 4-H! “I love having opportunity to get in front of people and talk about 4-H, because I get to see firsthand how much the kids grow from their experiences,” shared Oliver.

On Sunday, October 9th, Cass County 4-H Members will participate in their annual County Convention where clubs and individuals receive recognition for their accomplishments throughout the past year. This event wraps up National 4-H Week, as well as the 4-H year, and energizes the 4-H membership drive happening during the month of October. Individuals interested in joining 4-H during this enrollment time, or those with questions about the program, are encouraged to call Oliver at the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or e-mail xcass@iastate.edu.

The Audubon City Council had their regularly scheduled meeting Monday night.

City clerk Lora Hansen says the Council approved new IT contracts to purchase five new computers. The computers will be placed at City Hall, the Police Department, and the City Maintenance Building. Previously the public works department did not have computers. A new city website will also be designed as part of the IT contracts.

Also at the meeting last night the council discussed vacating a portion of Davis Street, which leads to a dead end. A resident had requested to vacate the street, but no action was taken on the matter as the city attorney was not present.

Three people have been arrested in Adams County on drug charges.

On Monday, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search warrant at 909 7^th St Apartment 2 where drugs and drug equipment were seized.

Three people face charges from the investigation. 18-year-old Michelle Herring was charged with procession of drug paraphernalia. 36-year-old Amy Crispn and 19-year-old Skylarr Lilly were each charged with 3 counts of child endangerment, one count of drug paraphernalia, gathering where controlled substances are used, felony procession with intent to distribute on real property, felony failure to affix drug tax stamp, and felony distribution to a minor.

No other details are currently available.

An 18-year-old from Harlan faces up to five years in jail on felony burglary charges.

On August 29^th, 18-year-old Spencer Allen Seyler of Harlan is accused entering a home at 906 Baldwin in Harlan. Seyler and another unnamed male caused about $1,500 damage to the home. The homeowner was not home at the time of the burglary.

Seyler was charged with felony burglary, which is a class D felony. If convicted, he faces up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine. No trial date has been set.

The other male involved in the burglary has not yet been charged.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Glenwood man on drug charges.

On Friday at about 9:15 PM, 39-year-old Kenneth Benjamin McDonald of Glenwood was arrested near Norrell Avenue in Glenwood.

McDonald has been charged with several crimes, including: manufacturing, possession of a controlled substance Methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance marijuana, having no drug tax stamp, possession of drug paraphernalia, and interference with official acts.

McDonald’s bond was set at $12,600.

With fall officially beginning last week, Iowans can expect to start seeing the leaves changing colors.

This year, the DNR estimates that the northern half of the state will experience peak colors beginning around October 8. Here in southwest Iowa, the DNR says we can expect to see peak colors during the week of October 15^th.

The fall colors also provide a boost to tourism in the state. Iowa Tourism Office Manager Shawna Lode says a quarter of travelers in Iowa visit between September and November. She says, “those people are enjoying great fall festivals, u-pick pumpkin patches, apple orchards and, of course, beautiful and colorful scenery along the way.”

One of the fall activities the Iowa Tourism Office is highlighting is western is the Iowa Living Loess Tour, near Missouri Valley. On October 15 nine artisans in the scenic Loess Hills, including a lavender farm, aronia berry farm and woodworker, will offer special programs and discounts.