(Radio Iowa) – Wetter weather slowed the planters in the fields a bit last week.The U-S-D-A crop report released Monday, showed an increase of 16 percent in the amount of corn planted during the week — about half the amount planted last week.

The corn planting total is now at 86 percent — eight days ahead of last year and one week ahead of the five-year average. Bean planting moved at about the same pace — gaining 20 percent compared to last week — putting the total at 69 percent. That’s about one week ahead of last year and the five-year average for beans.

Thirty-five percent of planted corn has emerged from the ground, nearly five times as much as last week. And the report now says 19 percent of the beans have emerged.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa is the nation’s top corn grower, with more than 13-million acres devoted to the vegetable, but some Iowans are planting their first small crops of -sweet- corn this spring. Aaron Steil, consumer horticulture specialist at the Iowa State University Extension, says if you’d hoped to have sweet corn by the 4th of July, you would need to have planted in mid-April, but he says there’s still plenty of time to get seeds in the ground. “The last practical planting day, especially for the early varieties, is the end of June,” Steil says. “You would obviously be harvesting later if you planted that late, but you would still be able to get a crop in before frost easily.”

There are many types of sweet corn from which to choose. Steil says the “standard sugary” cultivars have the traditional sweet corn flavor and texture, but are only of the best quality within the first day after harvest, because sugars quickly convert to starch after picking. “Most folks really enjoy sweet corn that has good storage life,” Steil says. “Sweet corn really does start to go downhill very quickly after harvest and so certain varieties, like the super sweet or the augmented super sweets, store pretty well.”

Before buying seed, you’ll need to consider what elements are important, including flavor, sweetness, crunch and kernel color. When arranging your sweet corn plot, plan ahead for irrigation and make sure the soil is well fertilized, because corn uses a lot of nitrogen, as well as phosphorus and potassium.  “Rather than planting corn in long rows, like we so often see it in the field, planting our sweet corn in blocks because it’s wind-pollinated,” Steil says. “When we plant them in blocks, it does a better job of pollinating those ears of corn and you get better filled corn ears. You don’t have those little gap-tooth missing spots in the corn ear.”

Crayon drawings by kids may depict eight or ten ears of corn on each stalk, but Steil says you shouldn’t expect nearly as many. “One good ear can be expected from each stalk of corn,” Steil says. “In general, you can expect in a 10-foot row that you’ll get about 11 to 13 ears of corn, when you properly space your corn plants when you’re planting.”

For a continuous supply of sweet corn, plant early, mid-season and late cultivars. Also, he says to plant only fresh seeds, as old seeds may not germinate well. In addition, keep sweet corn isolated from popcorn as the quality of sweet corn will be lowered if it’s cross-pollinated by other types of corn.

Des Moines, Iowa – A woman from Guthrie County faces multiple felony theft, forgery and money laundering charges, after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from two former employers.

Authorities say 44-year-old Angel Marie Welker, of Menlo, forged checks and used company credit cards from Infomax Office Systems in Des Moines to buy over $10,000 in gift cards and make other unauthorized purchases last year, according to court documents, which go on to say she took more than $50,000 from Infomax.

Angel Marie Welker (Polk County Jail photo)

She also allegedly forged more than $10,000 in checks while working at Vision Park Eye Care in Urbandale. Welker was booked into the Polk County Jail on May 14th. Her preliminary hearing is on May 25th.

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa State University economist says there was a whole lot of uncertainty in the hog market well before last week’s Supreme Court opinion on pork production. The court ruled California may require that any pork sold in California must come from pigs that are the offspring of sows that had enough room to turn around in a livestock barn. I-S-U Extension livestock economist Lee Schulz says some producers have already retrofitted or built new confinements. Others may not be able to afford it.

“Pork producers are having some of the largest losses in 25 years. You have to go back to 1998 to see losses this large,” Schulz says. “…We’re already seeing contraction in the industry.” There could be an opportunity for businesses that make and install the metal enclosures for sows, but Schulz says given the labor market, finding enough employees to do the work will be challenge.

“Not only the availability of labor, but the cost of labor also is kind of a prohibitatnt when we think about having to make large changes on farms to both buildings and equipment,” Schulz says. California produces just one percent of U.S. pork. However, Californians consume 15 percent of all the bacon and other pork products sold in the country.

“The adjustments will have to take place outside the state of California. Where those exactly take place are still to be determined,” Schulz says. “Certainly there will be an impact here because of the size of Iowa’s pork production.” Nearly a third of the nation’s hogs are raised in Iowa. Schulz says Iowa swine operations that have already adjusted to California’s new rules will get higher premiums for their pigs in the near term.

“Likely they are the lower cost producers that would enable them to do that,” Schulz says. “A lot of times it’d be the larger producers. There are economies of scale in pork production, so if I have per unit lower costs, I am able to make some of those transitions a bit quicker.”

A court injunction that has prevented pig production rules for pork sold in California from taking effect will expire July 1st. The U.S. Humane Society says the Supreme Court made it clear preventing animal cruelty is a core function of state governments and California will have the strongest animal welfare law in the country.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – A subject wanted in connection with a stolen vehicle was arrested Monday afternoon when he was recognized in the parking lot of a Council Bluffs grocery store. Council Bluffs Police officers responded to assist a Pottawattamie County deputy who identified the suspect in a stolen pickup truck.

Jake Flynn

The vehicle pulled into the Mega Saver at 9th Ave. and S. 36th St. The deputy positively identified 38-year-old Jake Flynn, of Council Bluffs, as he exited the truck and entered the convenience store. Flynn had four warrants for his arrest (2 felony and 2 misdemeanor warrants). Flynn had barricaded himself in the cooler inside the store. Council Bluffs Police negotiators responded, as well as the Council Bluffs Police emergency services team. After approximately two and a half hours, Flynn was taken into custody. There were no injuries as a result of this incident.

Flynn was charged with Theft 1st and Criminal Mischief 1st in addition to the warrants for his arrest.

The Council Bluffs Police Department would like to thank the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement for their assistance in bringing this incident to a peaceful ending.

(Radio Iowa) – Police are investigating the death of an 18-year-old whose body was found in an eastern Iowa river. Two teenagers camping in the Ben Martinsen Wildlife Area called for help Saturday morning and told first responders their friend was missing from the campsite. Clinton County deputies, firefighters from the small town of Low Moor and an off-duty Camanche firefighter started searching the area, which is a floodplain along the Wapsipinicon River.

They brought in a drone and a K-9 unit from Clinton Police. The body of the missing camper was found in the backwaters of the river about an hour later.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Parks and Rec Board met Monday evening at the Parks & Rec Building on Sunnyside Lane. Director Wyatt Adderton reports that the Sunnyside Pool water slide is in need of removal due to safety issues.

Unfortunately, the new water slide likely won’t be installed before the swimming season ends, due to paperwork and supply chain issues.

He says the State is very stringent on how they review those those types of permits and what’s required. Adderton said also, they’re using “Plan B,” with regard to the pool painting project.

Also with regard to the Sunnyside Pool, Wyatt Adderton said Lifeguard recruitment continues.

Atlantic Parks & Rec Board, 5/15/23 (Ric Hanson/Photo)

He said the sign-up incentive seems to have helped draw additional interest in becoming a Lifeguard. Unfortunately, because a number of the Lifeguards still need to be certified, it’s unlikely the pool won’t be open by Memorial Day weekend, as hoped, but more likely the week after.

In other business, Wyatt said 11 of the 12 raised garden beds at Mollett Park are rented. The 12th raised bed is being withheld from renting for now, until some plants can be moved out.

Vermeer has donated five trees which were planted at Sunnyside Park, and as we’ve mentioned, Rolling Hills Bank & Trust in Atlantic donated $2,000 toward the purchase of trees including cherry, pear and apple. A total of 26 trees were planted thanks to the cash donation. Some were planted by the boat ramp near the water treatment plant, the bulk were planted at Sunnyside Park, with a scattering planted at Mollett Park.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of the Atlantic School Board will meet in a special session at 8-a.m. Wednesday, to act on issuing a contract to an individual who will succeed Sarah Sheeder as School Business Official (SBO)/School Board Secretary. Their meeting takes place in the District Central Office at the Achievement Center.

Sarah Sheeder announced in April that she was resigning effective the end of this month, to take a similar position with the AC/GC School District.

Earlier this month, the School Board announced the hiring of Interim Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen, who replaces Superintendent Steve Barber, whose resignation is effective June 30,2023. Barber announced his resignation in early April, as well.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Community School District (ACSD), today (Monday), issued a statement introducing Dr. Beth Johnsen, ACSD’s new Interim Superintendent.  Dr. Johnsen is currently serving as an Interim Superintendent at Thayer Central Schools in Nebraska. Prior to serving the Thayer Central School District, Dr. Johnsen was a Superintendent for 10 years at Conestoga Public Schools, in Southeast Nebraska.

Dr. Johnsen and her husband, Ben, live in Underwood, IA where her husband is “a farmer through and through!” Dr. Johnson and Ben have 5 children and 15 grandchildren, with one more grandchild on the way. Their children Casey, Sam, Max, Julie, and Charlee all live within about an hours distance from Beth and Ben – which makes their wish of spending intentional time with their children and grandchildren an obtainable task!

Dr. Johnsen’s character is best described as a leader of leaders – something she calls herself, as well as many in the industry have come to know about her after having the privilege to work with her. “Working with Dr. Johnsen is an empowering and energizing experience! She is hard working, extremely talented, and incredible at what she does. She is not afraid of hard work, tough conversations, or to make decisions the bring forth necessary change! She brings joy and encouragement with her everywhere she goes – we will miss her greatly!” – said a current staff member of Thayer Schools who wished to remain anonymous but was eager to express their feelings about Dr. Johnsen.

Under the notion as a ‘leader of leaders’, Dr. Johnsen is eager to jump right in to all that is already happening and all that
needs accomplished within the Atlantic Community School District. “I really believe districts are transformed by  empowering the leaders of every department. Beyond that I will encourage those leaders to create leaders through their individual departments, all the way out and in to the classroom! When we are empowered to own our roles, to build up new leaders, and to better ourselves as individuals, our district will thrive!” Expressed Dr. Johnsen.

Dr. Johnsen understands the climate and culture of a district is a critical component to the success of each Administrator, staff member, student, and parent involved with ACSD. “We will celebrate successes and learn from our failures. Because even when we fail, it means we tried; and trying is better than feeling frozen. It takes grit to succeed in education and we are going to dig deep as a district, learn what it means to have grit and then channel that together as a team. When we do that, when we work together for a common goal, we will be able to walk together toward all that is in store for the Atlantic Community School District. But we do it all as one – together!”

Dr. Johnsen was offered a two year contract and her position officially begins July 1, 2023