(Kansas City, Kan., May 26, 2011) – A beef feedlot in Underwood, Iowa, has agreed to pay a $20,000 civil penalty for unpermitted discharges of wastewater from the
facility into Mosquito Creek. Moran Beef, Inc., agreed to pay the penalty as part of an administrative consent agreement filed by EPA Region 7 in Kansas City, Kan.

In June 2009, EPA inspectors visited the facility and found that it lacked controls to prevent the discharge of animal waste into Mosquito Creek and its tributaries.

A subsequent inspection in October 2009 collected samples of effluent that showed the facility was discharging pathogens, ammonia and nitrate into an unnamed tributary of the creek.
At the time of EPA’s inspection of Moran Beef, the facility was confining approximately 1,485 cattle in its open lot and confinement barn operations. A Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) with both open lots and confinement barns is subject to regulation under the Clean Water Act as a “Large CAFO” if the entire operation contains more than 1,000 beef cattle.
EPA issued an administrative compliance order to Moran Beef in January 2010, directing it to comply with requirements of the Clean Water Act and end all unauthorized discharges of wastewater from its facility. Following that order, Moran Beef applied for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and has built controls at its facility to prevent unauthorized discharges.
Unpermitted discharges of wastewater from CAFOs can cause exceedances in water quality standards and pose risks to human health, threaten aquatic life and its habitat, and impair public use and enjoyment of waterways.

The Iowa DOT’s Creston construction office reports road construction work will reduce U.S. 34 to one lane between Iowa 148 (near Corning) and Iowa 25 (near Creston) beginning Thursday, June 2nd, weather permitting.
Flaggers and a pilot car will be used to control traffic during the closure, which is scheduled to last until June 23.

A 16-foot width lane restriction will also be in effect.

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Council Bluffs construction office says bridge painting work will cause lane restrictions on U-S Highway 6 between Iowa Highway 192 and Interstate 80 near Council Bluffs, beginning Wednesday, June 1^st, weather permitting.

Officials say the first phase of the bridge painting will cause traffic on westbound Highway 6 to be restricted to one lane for about 3 weeks. Once complete, the contractor will begin work on the second phase of the project, which will cause traffic on the eastbound Highway 6 bridge to be restricted to one lane.

The entire project is expected to be finished in mid-July, weather permitting.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports a Cass County woman wanted on an outstanding drug-related warrant has turned her self-in. 20-year old Rhiana Marie Christensen, of Cumberland, was charged with Keeping a Place for Possessing Controlled Substances, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Officials say the charges stem from a search warrant executed at Christensen’s apartment in Audubon, on April 30^th.

Christensen has been seen by the magistrate, was ordered to pay a fine, and was released from custody.

An Atlantic teen received a warning for striking an unattended vehicle in the Fareway parking lot Wednesday evening, in Atlantic. Alex Tarr was warned after her vehicle struck a car in a parking stall, as Tarr was attempted to park.

Atlantic Police say Tarr pulled into a parking stall next to a vehicle registered to Julie St. John, of Atlantic.  She hit St. John’s vehicle as the teenager was backing-up while trying to get into her parking stall, at a better angle.

Damage from the mishap, which happened at around 5:20-p.m., amounted to $1,500.

A note for residents of Atlantic: The City will be testing the Tornado sirens today, through Noon, instead of the regular weekly test on Friday. Some of the sirens were hit by lightening recently, so they are testing now to determine which ones need to be fixed. There is no imminent severe weather threat.

Thousands of Americans – from Joplin, Missouri to Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and elsewhere – are trying to piece their lives back together after losing homes and other possessions in natural disasters. Iowans are quick to offer help, but Arvid Huisman with the Salvation Army in Des Moines says unsolicited donated goods like clothing, furniture and food only create problems.

“Most agencies, including the Salvation Army, are simply not set up to store, transport and distribute those items on the other end,” Huisman explained. And he says few agencies that help disaster victims have the needed warehouse space to store donated goods.

He suggests donating cash instead. “It allows us to be totally flexible to meet immediate needs the victims have,” Huisman said. Donated goods, which may not even meet the needs of disaster survivors, also require agencies to redirect personnel to sort through those items rather than providing services to victims.

“When people donate goods, if they’re accepted, it drives up costs because we then need to store them and transport them,” Huisman said. “Cash donations are still the most effective way to help the storm victims.” Donations may be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or online at www.salvationarmyusa.org. Huisman says the Salvation Army’s thrift store in Joplin was destroyed by Sunday’s tornado as well as a truck used by the store. An extensive renovation of the thrift store was recently completed. The death toll from tornado in Joplin has climbed to 125, while tornadoes in nearby states have claim more than a dozen lives.

(Radio Iowa)

Just in time for Memorial Day weekend cook-outs, the USDA is making a change in the recommended cooking temperature for pork. Joyce Hoppes, spokeswoman for the Iowa Pork Producers Association, says the new information is important.

“Now, we can now cook pork to the internal temperature of 145 degrees, followed by a three-minute rest time,” Hoppes says. “This new temperature will help insure a juicy and flavorful product.” Hoppes says there is another rule to remember. When you take the meat from the heat source, let it sit for three minutes before cutting into it.

“When you take something off the grill or out of the oven, it still continues to cook a little while so that temperature still rises,” she says. “Another important thing is during that rest time, the juices settle in the meat, they set, so when you slice the meat you don’t lose a lot of the juices and flavor.” Hoppes says since it doesn’t cook quite as long, whole cuts of pork may have a bit of a different look — more of a “medium rare” pork with a little blush of pink. Hoppes says the 145-degree temperature is for whole cuts of pork only.

“This guideline is for whole muscle cuts like loins, chops and roasts,” she says. “When it comes to ground pork, the recommendation is still 160-degrees for ground pork. That is to assure the meat is completely cooked.” Hoppes says all poultry must be cooked to an internal temperature of 165-degrees. Learn more at: http://PorkBeInspired.com

File photo only - not an actual suspect

Three Red Oak teens were arrested late Wednesday night on alcohol charges, following an investigation into a complaint of suspicious activity. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 17-year olds Jesse M. Wilwerding & Daniel D. Carlson, along with 16-year old Tyler J. Terry, all of Red Oak, were arrested on charges of Minor In Possession of Alcohol.

The teens were taken into custody following a call about suspicious activity near the Frankfort Cemetery northeast of Red Oak, at around 11:30-p.m., Wednesday. Officials say the teens were each allegedly found to be in possession of, and consuming, alcohol.

They were brought to the Montgomery County Jail and processed, before being released to the custody of their parents.

URBANDALE, IA, May 25, 2011 – The Iowa Egg Council would like to invite all Iowa
residents to enter the 13th annual Iowa State Fair Egg Decorating contest. The
contest will be held at the Iowa State Fair on Friday, August 12th, 2011. This
contest is a great opportunity for contestants to showcase their artistic abilities.

Each egg will be judged based off The Design, Artistic Merit, Creativity, Technical
Merit, and Effective use of the Egg. Any art medium may be used, and creativity is
encouraged. The egg must be a standard large-size chicken egg, and must be
freestanding without an attached base, stand, or decoration on the bottom.

“One change to this year’s contest is we are opening up the “design” aspect to any
design. In the past, artists have been encouraged to focus on an Iowa theme. This
year we have decided to expand the possibilities here,” said IEC Executive Director
Kevin Vinchattle.

This year’s awards will include a first place prize of $500, a second place prize of
$400, and a third place prize of $300. Following the contest, all of the decorated
egg entries will be on display throughout the year at Iowa libraries.

To enter the contest, request an entry form and complete list of rules by calling
the Iowa Egg Council toll-free at 1-877-469-2344 ext. 11, or by accessing the form
from our website at www.iowaegg.org. All entry forms must be received by July 22,
2011. Good luck!