DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines-based MidAmerican Energy Company says it plans to spend $3.6 billion on a wind turbine operation that will generate up to 2,000 megawatts of electricity. Bill Fehrman, the utility’s CEO and president, announced the project Thursday at an event in Des Moines attended by Gov. Terry Branstad and other state officials. Officials say the wind farm will be the largest economic development project in the state’s history.

Fehrman says when the project is completed, the utility will generate wind energy that equals 85 percent of its annual customer sales in Iowa. MidAmerican is the state’s largest utility. MidAmerican didn’t release where the new turbines would be erected but says the utility will finalize locations while the Iowa Utilities Board considers the project.

A grant from the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) is providing the eight fire and rescue departments in Cass County with supplemental grain bin rescue tools. Stacie Euken, President of the Cass County Farm Bureau, says the County Farm Bureau Board applied for the grant from the IFBF to purchase grain bin augers and drills to run the augers, to aid in the rescue of persons trapped in grain bins.

All of the fire departments in Cass County are already equipped with lightweight grain bin rescue tubes, constructed to fit around the victim trapped in grain. The tubes are designed to stop the flow of the grain toward the victim, while at the same time relieving the pressure grain may place on the victim by rescuers attempting to save them.  The rescue auger is designed to quickly remove grain from around the victim while they are in the rescue tube. It’s powered by a one-half inch cordless drill.

Grain bin rescue auger (red device in the center) & a type of rescue tube (on the right). (Photo from the IA Farm Bureau.com website)

A normal grain bin rescue takes about three and one-half hours. In December, 2015, a 39-year old Creston man died in a grain bin, west of Murray. Iowa is one of two states with the highest number of documented grain entrapment incidents, according to a 2013 report by Purdue University in Indiana, which is the other state with the highest number of incidents.

There were four grain entrapment incidents in Iowa last year. Nationwide, there were 38 documented grain entrapments resulting in 17 deaths in 2014, up from 33 entrapments and 13 deaths in 2013. From 2000 to 2010, 17 Iowans died after being trapped in grain, according to the University of Iowa College of Public Health.

The nearly $9,000 IFBF grant will pay for the augers and drills, which are being provided by Cappel’s Ace Hardware in Atlantic, and the Anita Supply Company. Fire department representatives will receive their Rescue Auger and drills during a ceremony Monday evening at the Iowa Farm Bureau Office, in Atlantic.

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund recently donated $2,500 to the organization Friends of the Outdoor Classroom.  Trevor’s mom/fund spokesperson Melanie Petty, says the funds are expected to finish up the kitchen in the 12×20 addition that has recently been added on.

For the last 20 years the Outdoor Classroom has been an educational experience for students at CAM and other Cass county students.  Along with the expanded shelter the 87 acre area also has a quail habitat and a butterfly garden.

Fritz Baier, Board Member of the Friends of the Outdoor Classroom and Melanie Petty

Petty reminds you, that the Frederickson Fund’s annual golf tournament will be held August 13th, 2016 at Nishna Hills Golf Club.  All monies raised are given out through the year to various non profit organizations that meet the fund’s mission statement of giving back to things that Trevor cared about and was a part of.  Scholarships for graduating AHS Seniors will be handed out May 11th at their Senior Night.

Trevor lost his life tragically in a house fire on June 18, 2009.  The family and community has since given back more than $120,000 to the community that Trevor loved.  Petty says they look forward to continuing giving back for many years to come.