AMES, Iowa – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture has named Manjit K. Misra as its new director. USDA announced the appointment today (Monday, April 24). Misra will assume his new role on May 8, 2023, with a swearing-in ceremony in Washington, D.C. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said “Dr. Misra is an esteemed scientist and educator whose devotion to studying and sharing his knowledge of seeds with the world will benefit society and inspire generations to come. I am confident he will bring strong leadership and expertise to USDA as we continue our work to invest in and grow initiatives that ensure the long-term viability of agriculture and food systems.”

As he takes on this national leadership position, Misra will retire from Iowa State University after a nearly 45-year career as a faculty member in agricultural and biosystems engineering and 32 years as director of the university’s Seed Science Center. Misra joined Iowa State in 1979 to initiate a seed extension program and in 1991, became director of the Seed Science Center. Since then, the SSC has grown from a campus unit that served local needs, to a globally recognized center of excellence with approximately 190 affiliated faculty, staff and graduate students conducting programs in 79 countries.

Manjit Misra

The center operates the largest, most comprehensive public seed laboratory in the world, testing samples from 300 seed species annually and for 350 pathogens. In 2001, the USDA designated the SSC as administrator of the National Seed Health System, charged with ensuring that seeds exported from the U.S. are disease-free. The center also houses the Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products, which Misra founded in 2003 to provide unbiased information on biosafety issues for genetically modified agricultural products.

As a researcher, Misra is the principal or co-investigator in numerous externally funded research projects, the author or co-author of 137 publications and an innovator with 10 technology patents. As an educator, Misra has made a significant impact on supporting and mentoring future seed industry leaders. This includes his leadership to develop Iowa State’s Graduate Program in Seed Technology and Business, launched in 2007. Delivered globally via distance education, the program has had students from 21 states and 14 countries. Misra grew up near the Bay of Bengal in India, where he helped oversee rice and sugarcane harvesting on his family’s sharecrop operation.

An interim director for the Seed Science Center will be named soon, with a search to follow.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Public Library encourages all community members to visit the library during National Library Week, April 23-29, to explore all they have to offer. Most people know about the wealth of stories available at the library, from picture books and large print books to audiobooks and online resources. But there’s so much more to the story of libraries.  Libraries are welcoming spaces that bring communities together for entertainment, education, and connection through book clubs, storytimes, movie nights, crafting classes, social groups, and more. The Atlantic Public Library connects the community to information, resources, and each other in order to spark ideas and new connections.

If you haven’t checked out the local library lately, you’re missing the full story. Stop by for a visit to celebrate with them during National Library Week, April 23-29. Follow Atlantic Public Library on Facebook and Instagram and use the hashtag #National Library Week to join the online celebration. First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries of all types across the country each April.

For more information, visit the library’s website at www.atlantic.lib.ia.us or visit during open hours: Monday & Tuesday 9 am to 7 pm; Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday 9 am to 6 pm; and Saturday 9 am to 2 pm.

(Exira, Iowa) – The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton School District’s Board of Education met last week, and held a Public Hearing along with a presentation, with regard to the proposed 2023-24 School District Budget. After receiving no oral or written comments, the Board adjourned the Public Hearing and called to order their regular, monthly meeting. The meeting minutes were provided courtesy of Mallory Meyer, District Business Manager & Board Secretary/Treasurer.

During their regular session, the Exira-EHK School Board acted to pass the following:

• A Resolution authorizing the Redemption of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2018, dated May 1, 2018, an amendment to an Escrow Agreement, and the Levying of a Tax for FY 2024 for the redemption of the G.O. Bonds mentioned.
• The 2023-24 Proposed Budget, as presented.
• 2023 Graduates (pending the meeting of graduation requirements).
• And they set the date and time for a 2022-23 Budget Amendment Public Hearing, as May 16, 2023, at 6-p.m.

In other business, the Board approved a bid of $40,188.30 for siding and roof construction project for the Exira Bus Barn, a FY2024-2026 Agreement of Services with Timberline Billing Service, LLC, and 2023-24 School-Based Interventionist Contracts with Green Hills AEA.

The following resignations were approved by the Exira-EHK School Board during their April 18th meeting: Jessica Allen, 5-12 Band Teacher; Jennie Irlbeck, Shared Administrative Asst.; Doug Newton, Boys Basketball & JH Boys Track Coach, and Paula Yates, Food Service.

They also approved two new hires: Christina Baggett – MS Special Education Teacher, and Andrea Schwery, TAG & Computer Science Teacher.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will gather in their courthouse Boardroom in Atlantic, Tuesday, for their regular weekly meeting. Their session begins at 9-a.m. On the agenda is discussion and possible approval of a Resolution Allocating ARPA funds to the Cass County Emergency Management Agency for a Rural EMS Pilot Grant in the amount of $25,000.

There will also be a Public Hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2023-24 Cass County Budget, and action on a Resolution Adopting the Budget along with the Certification of Taxes. The Board will then discuss and act on approving a waiver of a $14 tax penalty for Valley Business Park property taxes that were due on March 31, 2023 that were paid by the new owner, but will need to be paid by the Valley Business Park Corporation, instead.

The Board will discuss and possibly act to approve a Resolution with regard to the Appointment of a Civil Process Service, and the appointment of Tabetha Smith RN, as an additional medical examiner investigator. They’re also expected to consider and act on the Auditor Office’s hiring on Hannah Richter as Accounts Payable/Elections Administrator, at a rate of $18/hour.

In other business, the Supervisors are scheduled to receive a Quarterly report from Cass County Veteran’s Affairs Director Mitch Holmes, a monthly report from Debbie Schuler, General relief and Mental Health Coordinator, and a weekly report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman reports, “At the request of the fire chiefs within Montgomery County, the burn ban has been lifted effective immediately. It is requested that anyone who wishes to burn, please call the Montgomery County Communications Center at 712-623-5107 to avoid any unnecessary fire department responses, have alternative water sources nearby, never leave fires unattended and use caution on dry windy days.”

The only Burn Bans remaining in western Iowa, are those in Monona and Crawford Counties.

(Nevada, Iowa) – A fire at an apartment complex in the Story County town of Nevada, Saturday, resulted in the death of one person and the rescue of two others. According to officials with the Nevada Department of Public Safety, an unidentified victim of the fire died, but neighbors were able to rescue the two other occupants, who were being treated in Iowa City. Neighbors reported hearing an explosion, followed by flames and black smoke pouring from one of the apartments.

The cause is under investigation. Nevada Fire Dept. officials said the building was not required to have automatic fire sprinklers at the time it was built.

Photo via the Nevada F.D. Facebook page

(Creston, Iowa) – Creston Police report five people were arrested on separate charges over the past few days.  Friday morning, 35-year-old Waymond Lee Foster, SR., of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree, a Class-C Felony. Foster was transferred from the Union County Jail to the Adams County Jail, and later released on a $10,000 bond. Friday evening, 27-year-old Jose Luis Carreon, of TX, was arrested in Creston on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charge. He was later released on a $300 bond.

There were three arrests Sunday, in Creston.

• At around 12:30-a.m., 21-year-old Austin Zachary Bloyd, of Creston, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense. He was later released on a $1,000 bond.
• At approximately 2:50-a.m., Sunday, Creston Police arrested 20-year-old Andrew Frederick Weis, of Creston. Weis was charged with OWI/1st offense and later released on a $1,000 bond.
• And, at around 12:30-p.m., Sunday, 30-year-old Ryan Palmer, of Creston, was arrested for allowing an Animal to run At-Large. He was cited at the scene and released.

Creston Police said also, a woman residing in the 500 block of S. Oak Street reported the theft of her 2007 black, Chevy Tahoe. The incident took place sometime between 5-p.m. April 14th and 4:35-p.m. April 21st. The loss was estimated at $7,500.

(Lake View, Iowa) – A single-vehicle accident Sunday night in northwest Iowa’s Sac County resulted in a fatality and one person with injuries. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2014 VW Passat driven by 22-year-old Oliver Massman, of Holman, WI, was southbound on Perkins Avenue near 350th Street, when for reasons unknown, the vehicle entered the west ditch and traveled up an embankment, before it struck and broke a utility pole.

The car continued, vaulted and struck a tree, overturned and entered a pond, with the front end being submerged in the water. The accident that occurred south of Lake View, happened at around 6:55-p.m. Authorities say life saving measures were attempted on Massman, but were unsuccessful. A passenger in the vehicle, 22-year-old Ean Marker, of Waupaca, WI, was injured and transported by Sac County Ambulance to Loring Hospital in Sac City, and later flown by Lifeflight to Mercy Hospital in Sioux City.  Neither man was wearing a seat belt.

The accident remains under investigation, but the Patrol said speed and alcohol are suspected factors in the crash.

(Afton, Iowa) –  A collision Sunday evening in Afton resulted in damage to a pickup and an SUV, but no one was injured. According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, a 2005 Ford F-150 pickup driven by 15-year-old Logan Findley, of Afton, was traveling west on E. Filmore Street at around 6:10-p.m., when he saw a 2017 Mazda CX-9 and thought it was parked on the side of the road. The teen told authorities he didn‘t see a turn signal on the SUV, so he proceeded to go around the vehicle. As he was passing the SUV, the Mazda – driven by 50-year-old Michelle Moore, of Afton, attempted to turn south into a residential driveway.

Moore told deputies as she was driving west on E. Filmore, she saw the pickup in her rear-view mirror, and thought the pickup was going too fast. She claimed to have turned on her left turn signal to turn into the driveway on the south side of the road, and that’s when the pickup passed her, resulting in both vehicles colliding on the road.

Damage from the accident amounted to $10,000. Both vehicles were able to be driven away from the scene. No citations were issued.

(Bouton, Iowa) – A crash at around 2:20-a.m. Sunday in Bouton, has claimed the life of a high school teacher. According to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, the accident happened in the 25000 Block of 141st Street. The crash resulted in the death of Perry Industrial Technology Instructor Chad Morman. On the Perry School District’s Facebook page, school officials said they were “Heartbroken to confirm” the loss of Chad Morman.

Counselors will be on hand today (Monday), for students and staff, to help them cope with the loss.