(Creston, Iowa) – A woman from Creston was arrested Tuesday evening at her residence. According to Creston Police, 47-year-old Rachelle Lynn Hardisty, who resides in the 1000 block of Manor Drive, in Creston, was arrested at around 5:28-p.m., for allowing an Animal (to run) at Large. Hardisty was issued a citation, and released at the scene on a Promise to Appear (in Court).

(Onawa, Iowa) – Blue Lake, located within Lewis and Clark State Park, continues to experience abnormally low water levels that may impact recreation opportunities. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says launching boats is not recommended with the current low water levels. Their report last week said water levels in oxbow lakes adjacent to the Missouri River, including Blue Lake, are lower than normal due to dry conditions in western Iowa and historic low flows in the Missouri River.

The current drought period in Western Iowa began in 2020.  Climate conditions over the last three years are some of the driest three-year periods in the 128-year record for the region.  In the past two years, annual runoff was at least 25 percent below normal levels. Local average annual precipitation is also below normal for the area, contributing to the low water conditions at Blue Lake.

Blue Lake, like many other oxbow lakes, is characterized by a small watershed drainage area relative to the size of the lake and a localized water recharge area. Oxbow lakes form when a curve (or meander) in a river finds a shorter path, effectively isolating the old curve to form an oxbow lake in a low-lying plain near the side of the river. Water levels in these lakes are highly influenced by nearby river and groundwater levels.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) owns and maintains an auxiliary groundwater supply well, located approximately 1.25 miles northwest of Blue Lake. This well has been used in the past to maintain the water levels and maximize the recreational opportunities for the lake’s visitors during normal water years.

During drought conditions, the well is unable to provide sufficient water to maintain or increase water levels in the lake with the surrounding low water table and Missouri River water levels. Any water pumped into the lake would immediately be lost to the low groundwater table

DNR continues to monitor drought conditions and water levels at Blue Lake.

(Afton, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a public meeting from 5:30-7 p.m., Thursday, June 15, at Three-Mile Lake Lodge, 1577 Creamery Road, to discuss in-lake improvements planned for Three-Mile Lake starting this fall.

Three-Mile Lake, an 880-acre multi-purpose reservoir located in rural southern Iowa, offers many recreational opportunities including sailing, powerboating, water skiing, and no-wake areas for fishing. The lake is a public water supply source.

A restoration project began in 2016 to improve the lake’s water quality and fishery. Restoration activities planned as part of this phase of the project include increasing the storage capacity of the sediment/nutrient basin, installing in-lake forebays for sediment/nutrient retention, deepening and armoring the shoreline and adding fish habitat structures to improve fishing.

Any person with special requirements such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments who wishes to participate in the public meeting should promptly contact the DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov to advise of specific needs.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Changes are coming soon to the way Iowans can hunt and trap raccoons, and how farmers can deal with raccoon depredation issues. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, raccoons were the focus of a bill approved during the 2023 Iowa legislative session, allowing landowners or tenants to dispatch raccoons causing damage to their agricultural property, outside of the city limits. Landowners may shoot or trap raccoons using cage or dog-proof traps. A license is not required and landowners do not need to notify the DNR before shooting or trapping. That bill was signed into law by Governor Reynolds and becomes effective on July 1st.

The other related change relaxes the rules for hunting and trapping raccoons for everyone. The new rules, developed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and approved by the Natural Resource Commission of the Iowa DNR, allows for year-round hunting and trapping of raccoons on private land.

While the raccoon season will be continuously open, during the time of year outside of the furharvester season, only firearms, cage traps or dog-proof traps are legal methods of take. During the furharvester season, trappers may use other lawful traps normally allowed during the trapping season. Hunters or trappers pursuing raccoons on private land they do not own are required to have a valid furharvester license.

The new raccoon rules are currently in effect.

(Radio Iowa) – A northwest Iowa community of nearly a thousand residents will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding this weekend. Aurelia was named for the daughter of the man who owned the Illinois Central Railroad that had tracks running through the town. The school in Aurelia will be open Saturday morning so returning residents can reminisce and reconnect.

Until the 1990s, the Aurelia Community School District was the only one in the state that had unique names for its boys and girls teams. Aurelia boys teams were known as the Bulldogs. Girls teams from Aurelia were known as the Atoms. Alta and Aurelia districts began sharing grades in the 1990s and voted to merge in 2017.

(Cass County, Iowa) –  A reminder from the Cass County Food Policy Council: The Cities of Atlantic and Massena are hosting mobile food pantries this (Wednesday) afternoon (June 14). In Atlantic. the distribution site is the Atlantic High School front parking lot, from 4-6 p.m. Enter from 14th Street and follow signs. (Questions call 712-243-1132.) In Massena, the mobile pantry will be located at Southwest Iowa Egg (74877 Clark Avenue) from 4:30-until 5-p.m. Enter from the west and drive across the scale for pick up.

A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in need for a one-day distribution. People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome. Mobile food pantries are available free of charge. Anyone in need is welcome, and no documentation is required. Each car can take food for up to two households at a time. Both Atlantic and Massena will be distributing the same food products. If supplies run low in Massena, families will be directed to Atlantic.

Upcoming Atlantic 2023 Mobile Food Pantries

Please note: Atlantic 2023 Mobile Food Pantries are being held at different locations during the school year (Cass County Community Center) and summer months (Atlantic High School).

Time: 4-6 p.m.

Atlantic High School (1201 E. 14th St. Atlantic, IA 50022): July 12, August 9
Cass County Community Center (805 W. 10th St., Atlantic, IA 50022): October 11

Upcoming Massena 2023 Mobile Food Pantries

Where: Southwest Iowa Egg Coop (74877 Clarke Ave. Massena, IA 50853)

Remaining 2023 Dates: July 12, August 9, October 11 (NOTE: Registration may be required by the Monday prior to distribution for these pantries. More information will be released prior to the pantries, and will be posted on the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page listed below.)

Box pick-up time: 4:30-5:00 p.m.

Mobile pantry dates, times, and locations are subject to change. For the latest information on mobile pantries in Anita and Atlantic, visit https://foodbankheartland.org/food-resources/find-food/. For the latest information on Massena pantries, call (712) 779-3447. For information on upcoming events and local food, farmers markets, and food access activities, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood.

(Radio Iowa) – The city of Ames is hosting a dedication ceremony Saturday for the renaming of its airport. Spokesperson, Susan Gwiasda says the airport is being named in honor of African-American flight pioneer James Herman Banning. “James Herman Banning was a resident of Ames from 1919 to about 1928. He ended up becoming the first pilot to receive his pilot’s license from the U-S Department of Commerce,” she says.

Gwiasda says it was not an easy route for Banning. “He was denied flight instruction, several different places he tried to receive flight instruction in central Iowa,”Gwiasda says, “but eventually found a flight teacher and went on to become the first African American pilot to fly across the United States.”  Banning attended Iowa State University for one year and named a plane he flew “Miss Ames.” One of Banning’s relatives will be at the event Saturday. ” One of the things we’re really excited about is during this dedication ceremony, which is 10 a-m on Saturday, June 17th, Christopher Hart will be speaking. Christopher Hart is the great nephew of James Herman Banning,” she says.

Hart served as the 13th chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. He has a private consulting company and degrees from Princeton University in aeronautics aeronautical engineering, and he has a law degree from Harvard. He will be talking about his great uncle’s legacy. “After the Banning dedication ceremony is over, there will be a reception in the airport terminal. And then we’re inviting everybody to come to Bandshell Park for the Juneteenth Celebration,” she says. “That will be happening from noon to 4:30, a free event with live music, food trucks, arts, crafts, games, face painting, and more. Learn more about James Herman Banning, and you can learn more about the history of our community at this event.”

James Banning. (photo from City of Ames)

Banning died at the age of 34 in 1933 as a passenger in a plane that crashed. Banning flew as a passenger in the plane after being denied entry into the event as a pilot because he was black.

(Bayard, Iowa) – Firefighters from Bayard and Coon Rapids responded to the scene of a two-story house that was fully engulfed in flames early this (Wednesday) morning. The Bayard Fire Chief told KJAN News crews from Bayard were page-out at around 3:37-a.m., to 113 3rd Street. When they arrived, the Coon-Rapids firefighters were requested for mutual aid at around 3:45-a.m., to provide tankers and more manpower. The house was abandoned/unoccupied. It was a total loss. No injuries were reported. Crews were on the scene until about 7:45-a.m.

The cause of the fire was undetermined. The Sheriff’s Office and State Fire Marshal’s Office were requested to conduct an investigation.

(Nevada, Iowa) — Authorities have released the name of a seven-month-old child from Nevada, whose recent death is being investigated. According to a news release from the Nevada Public Safety Department, officials were notified of the death of Xena Angel Shore a little after 6-p.m., Sunday. The child’s parents were identified as Sheyenne Shore and Juan Montalvo.

Officials said no other details will be released at this time, because of the ongoing investigation.