(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State University economist Peter Orazem says if there’s a railroad strike next month, it could affect the supply of a major source of fuel for power plants. “Coal if, of course, one of the things that we see rolling across Iowa in the wintertime and that’s one of the things they really worry about is whether or not we’ll be able to maintain supplies of energy,” Orazem says, “particularly if it’s a really bad winter.”

Just over a third of Iowa’s electricity (36%) comes from coal-fired power plants. Orazem says heating oil also moves by rail. Eight unions had ratified a five-year contract for workers on America’s freight rail system. However, in the past few days, unions representing about 60-thousand railroad workers have rejected the deal. A strike could happen as soon as December 5th, but some of the railroad worker unions have said they’d agree to continue contract talks rather than strike.

“How this plays out still remains to be seen, but congress could step in and mandate that the unions operate under the proposed settlement,” Orazem, “and that’s another possibility.” The last railroad strike in 1992 lasted two days before congress intervened. Railroad workers have been seeking higher pay, but getting additional, guaranteed time off has been a big priority. Orazem says railroads are dealing with the same workforce pinch as other industries.

“We’re still about 1% below where we ought to be in terms of total employment, so there’s about 3.8 million unfilled vacancies per month,” Orazem says, “Well that’s affecting, then, staffing and for the railroads it means that they’ve been much less able to give people time off on vacations and flexible time for family emergencies and so on.”

Orazen made his comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which will air Friday night on Iowa P-B-S. According to the Iowa D-O-T, 18 railroad companies shift freight through the state. A strike could have a major impact on the movement of grain from the 2022 harvest.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Wednesday afternoon, reported four recent arrests. On Sunday (11/20), deputies arrested 39-year-old Tawnya Larsen, of Audubon, for OWI 1st Offense. Larsen was later released on her own recognizance (ROR)

Last Saturday, 29-year-old Morgan Beauchamp, of Atlantic, for OWI 1st Offense. She was also ROR’d.

On Friday, deputies in Cass County arrested 49-year-old Joshua Sparr, of Flint, MI, for Public Intoxication. Sparr was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release. Deputies also arrested 35-year-old Benny Pedersen, of Lake City, on Friday. He was wanted on warrants for Driving While Barred, Providing False ID to Law Enforcement and Interference with Official Acts. Pedersen was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

All criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in the court of law.

(Radio Iowa) – The University of Iowa is participating in a vaccine trial that’s testing out an R-S-V vaccine from Pfizer in people 60 or older. The hope is to find protection against the virus which has seen cases increase in the last several weeks. Doctor Patricia Winokur at the University of Iowa Health Care tells K-C-R-G T-V that two vaccines are being tested. “Pfizer and Glaxo both have R-S-V vaccines and both of them are signaling that the efficacy of the vaccine is strong enough that they’re going to go to F-D-A and ask for approval,” Winokur says. The latest numbers from the state show 938 positive R-S-V cases, that’s up from 810 the week prior. R-S-V can be dangerous, especially for young babies and the elderly.

Pfizer is also testing an RSV vaccine in pregnant women with a goal of having the antibodies pass along to newborns.  ”They’re seeing efficacy in the babies in that study so that’s one of the other really exciting things about this vaccine that I think will intrigue the F-D-A,” Winokur says. Winokur tells K-C-R-G T-V that everyone needs to be cognizant of the virus during the Thanksgiving holiday. ”Be really careful around those that are vulnerable — again especially really young babies and the frail or older adults,” she says.

Doctor Winokur said this time of year there is a lot of spread of respiratory illnesses.

(Radio Iowa) – Net sales for Deere and Company were up 40 percent in its last quarter. The company’s net income for its fiscal year was over seven-point-one BILLION dollars. C-E-O John May says Deere’s just-concluded fiscal year was unprecedented in several ways. “We started the year in a work stoppage at some of our largest U.S. factories, but we resolved that with a groundbreaking, industry-leading new contract,” May says. “Then supply and logistics hurdles created disruption. At times, deliveries were delayed as demand simply outstripped what the industry could supply.” May says from May through the end of October, Deere had a substantial increase in retail sales AND in production from its factories.

“As I look ahead to Fiscal Year 2023 and beyond, I truly believe our best years are ahead of us,” May says. May says the fundamentals in the farm economy are positive and that’s driving demand for tractors and other implements. North American combine orders were recently filled in two months. “In the near term, order books across our businesses are full into the third quarter,” May says, “and it’s important to note that not only do the order books continue to fill when we open them, but the velocity of orders has remained strong.”

May spoke this (Wednesday) morning during an online presentation to investors. Deere’s stock price has been climbing this year and it went higher this (Wednesday) morning after Deere’s financial report was released.

(Radio Iowa) – Dozens of farm animals are being rescued from a property in southeast Iowa. Tom Colvin is the C-E-O of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. “It’s an evolving situation quite frankly at this point,” Colvin says. Three dozen adult pigs were brought to Colvin’s facility in central Iowa last (Tuesday) night. Rescue teams are back at the property in Washington County today (Wednesday) and Colvin expects dozens more animals to be removed.

“Basically what we found upon arriving was that there were sheep, goats and pigs living in terrible conditions, along with dead animals,” Colvin says. “…The animals had no adequate food or water.” Colvin says while the Animal Rescue League is often associated with retrieving malnourished and mistreated dogs and cats, the organization is prepared for all animals.

“We take the name ‘Animal’ in our name literally,” Colvin says. “We have evertying you can imagine come to the Animal Rescue League, including farm animals. As I often say, we receive everything from hamsters to horses and everything in between.” The Animal Rescue League and the Iowa Farm Sanctuary in Oxford are handling the rescues. Some of the animals found alive at the property in Washington County are in critical condition, according to a statement from the Iowa Farm Sanctuary.

Colvin says beyond the lack of food and water, the animals did not have adequate shelter from winter temperatures.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Two people from Glenwood were arrested Tuesday. According to the Glenwood Police Department, 54-year-old Robert Kastl, and 54-year-old Stephanie Kastl, were taken into custody, each for Violating their respective “No Contact” Orders. They were being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, until seen by a magistrate judge.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, today (Wednesday), voted to set December 7, 2022 at 9:15-a.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing on a proposed Ordinance regulating the placement of Hazardous Liquid Pipelines on property located in the Unincorporated Areas of Adair County. The Ordinance will be published next week for citizens to review. The Board acknowledged receipt of the Post-Election Audit report. They also approved migrating Eagle Software to a separate server. Adair County Auditor Mandy Berg..

It’s not clear what the cost of migrating the software for the Auditor and Recorder will be at this time. Both Berg and Recorder Janelle Schneider said it is affecting the efficiency and accuracy of their offices.They will gather the appropriate information and report back to the Board. In other business, the Adair County Supervisors approved a Transfer resolution in the amount of $84,662.50.

And, they approved an Internal Advance Resolution in the amount of $33,534 to Midwest Partnership, and to Ahlers & Cooney, for the preparation of Bonds, in the amount of $54,744, for a total of $88,278. Adair/Guthrie County Environmental Health Director Jotham Arber provided an update to the Board with regard to Perc and Water tests in Adair County. Speaking of which, Jotham strongley encourages homeowners who use well water, to have their source of water tested.

Jotham said each County that his department services is allotted $10,000 to make those tests happen. He said they hadn’t conducted many water tests this past quarter, but his department received a mini-grant that will enable them to conduct more tests. There will also be septic system grants available in the next few months, to help pay for the replacement of old septic systems (not the installation of new systems). The system must have been built by 1985, and not purchased after a certain date…but the rules on that may change by the time the grants are made available. (For more information, call 641-747-3972)

Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman presented for the Board’s approval, 28-E (Cost sharing) Agreements with the following:

• The City of Greenfield – for a Project agreement for S. Townline Road; Salt/Sand purchases & Fuel purchases; Greenfield Municipal Utilities – Fuel purchases
• Nodaway Valley Schools – Fuel purchases; Adair County Sheriff’s Dept. – Fuel purchases, and, Adair County Conservation – Fuel purchases.

The Board approved those and other agreements, including an Engineering Services Agreement with Veenstra and Kimm, Inc., for S. Townline Road Improvements. A Longevity raise for Secondary Roads employee Dean Sickles was approved. And the Supervisors awarded a Bridge Project (IN 32 Washington Bridge): The $1.22-million contract was awarded to A.M. Cohron & Son, Inc., out of Atlantic.

(Harlan, Iowa) – Officials with the Harlan Police Department report two recent arrests. This past Sunday, 29-year-old Brian Daniel Green, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. He was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault. And, on November 12th, Police in Harlan arrested 20-year-old Julie Jasmin Sandoval, of Norfolk, NE, was arrested following a traffic stop. She was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

There were two, non-injury accidents in Harlan on November 8th:

Authorities say vehicles driven by Curtis Scheffler and Debra Golden, both of Harlan, collided as they were southbound on Southwest Avenue. When a deer appeared out of the ditch and onto the roadway, Debra Golden abruptly applied the brakes on her 2018 Cadillac Escalade. Scheffler was unable to stop in-time to avoid a collision. His 2001 Chevy Silverado pickup rear-ended the SUV. No dollar amount of the damage was given in the Police report. No citations were issued.

And, a 1998 Chevy S-10 pickup  driven by Lacy Schilling along with a 2002 Chevy Monte Carlo, driven by Teri Gordon, both from Harlan, collided in the vicinity of Morningview Drive. Authorities say Gordon was waiting for Schilling to leave a parking stall, when, according to Gordon claimed Schilling’s pickup backed into his car. No citations were issued.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports the arrest at around 8:45-a.m. Tuesday, of a man from southeastern Iowa. 30-year-old Rafael Shay Ramirez, of Ottumwa, was taken into custody at a dentistry office located at 803 N. Sumner Street in Creston.  He was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Theft in the 5th Degree, and Burglary in the 3rd Degree. Ramirez was being held in the Union County Jail on a $2,600 cash or surety bond.

DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Tuesday, signed an extension of the proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain, fertilizer, and manure. The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through December 22, 2022. The proclamation allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), and manure (dry and liquid) to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.

The proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table [in Iowa Code 321.463-1](6) (b)], by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.