Bird flu likely spread on equipment, workers, rodents, wind

June 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Bird flu that’s devastated Midwestern farms likely spread by several means, including on machinery and workers, by rodents and possibly even by the wind. That’s according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report released Monday. The agency studied genetic properties of virus samples on more than 80 turkey and chicken farms.

USDA scientists say wild birds introduced the virus onto farms, but it appears the virus spread in other ways once there. The scientists found lapses in biosecurity on farms and environmental factors likely contributed to the spread of the disease.

More than 49 million birds died or were euthanized in 15 states this spring as the virus spread from the Pacific Northwest into Midwest farms. It’s the nation’s worst outbreak of bird flu.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

IA Ag Sec Bill Northey to vist Cass County\

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has announced that he will be visiting Cass, Buena Vista and O’Brien Counties on Wednesday, June 17th. Northey will address an FFA Field Day for the Future in Lewis at Noon, at the ISU Armstrong Research Farm (53265 Hitchcock Ave.).

Later in the day he’ll speak at the grand opening for Farm Nutrients in Rembrandt, attend an avian influenza support/prayer dinner in Albert City and speak at Iowa Corn Growers BBQ in Sheldon.

Northey, a corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, is serving his third term as Secretary of Agriculture.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

MYRTLE KINYON, 94, of Greenfield (Svcs. 6/19/15)

Obituaries

June 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

MYRTLE KINYON, 94, of Greenfield, died Monday, June 15th, in Greenfield. Funeral services for MYRTLE KINYON will be held 10:30-a.m. Fri., June 19th, at the United Methodist Church in Greenfield. Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, June 18th from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., where the family will greet friends on Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial will be at the Greenfield Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church following the committal services at the cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Myrtle Kinyon memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date.

MYRTLE KINYON is survived by:

Her husband – Keith Kinyon, of Greenfield.

Her son – James (Carol) Kinyon, of Roland.

Her daughters – Patricia (Steve) Kline, of Afton, and Carol (Rick) Wagers, of Redfield.

7 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren, other relatives, neighbors, and friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

Around 10 tons of trash collected from Missouri River

News

June 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A nonprofit says around 140 volunteers have collected an estimated 10 tons of trash from the Missouri River in western Iowa. The Daily Nonpareil reports that volunteers on Saturday morning picked up the trash at a number of sites along the river. The effort was part of an event by Missouri River Relief, a nonprofit based in Columbia, Missouri, that coordinates clean-ups from South Dakota to St. Louis.

Among the findings by volunteers were multiple propane tanks and an arrow. Missouri River Relief has other clean-up events scheduled into the fall in other states.

Posted in News |

High School Football Changes Playoff Structure for 2016

Sports

June 15th, 2015 by Jim Field

Des Moines, IA – The Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Board of Control has voted to adopt a nine game regular season schedule and 16-team qualifier field for all football classes in the playoffs starting in 2016. The change means a reduction from 32 teams who currently qualify for the postseason in each class.

The schedules for this fall and the 2015 regular season and playoffs remain unchanged as previously published at www.iahsaa.org.

The move comes after review of the current playoff system which allows fewer days of rest and recovery between each game in the postseason. In a nod toward player safety and risk-minimization, the IHSAA has been looking at several options.

“Today’s actions put in place a scenario for the football postseason which allows for one week between games,” said Alan Beste, IHSAA Executive Director. “The driving force behind this decision is player safety and keeping the best interest of our students at the forefront.”

At their meeting on April 29, the IHSAA Board of Control had a discussion regarding the football start date and schedule beginning with the 2016 season. The Board considered many options at that meeting, but decided to gather further input from the IHSAA membership through the IHSAA Representative Council, Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association (IHSADA), and Iowa Football Coaches Association (IFCA).

It was decided the best way to have a collaborative discussion among those groups was to provide information regarding various options and have a large-group discussion at the June 15 IHSAA Representative Council meeting. The move came about as an attempt to give the parties involved time to seek input from their constituents and be ready to have meaningful discussion at the IHSAA Representative Council.

At today’s meeting, representatives from the IHSADA and IFCA discussed the issue amongst the IHSAA Representative Council. Also present for the discussion were members of the IHSAA administrative team as well as the IHSAA Board of Control.

Following the Representative Council meeting, the IHSAA Board of Control convened and in a unanimous vote decided to retain nine regular season games and move toward a 16-team playoff qualifier structure.

Football is the largest high school participation sport in Iowa among males with 20,630 participants, according to the 2013-2014 IHSAA annual participation survey.

Posted in Sports |

Atlantic man arrested on Possession charge & warrant

News

June 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says an Atlantic man was arrested Friday on a drug charge, and on a warrant out of Shelby County. 32-year old Sean Patrick Gifford, was taken into custody on charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver. Gifford was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was later released to Shelby County, where he was also wanted on a warrant.
Today (Monday) deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 50-year old Tary Joseph Scholz, of Lincoln, NE, on two District Court warrants, one for Burglary 3rd Degree and Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree; and one for Burglary 3rd Degree and Criminal Mischief 4th Degree, as related to area burglaries in October 2013 of car washes and laundromats. Scholz was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $11,500 bond.

Posted in News |

Troublesome Creek out of its banks today

News, Weather

June 15th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Emergency Management Agency is continuing to monitor both the Troublesome Creek and East Nishnabotna Rivers, in Atlantic. Troublesome was bank full and out of its banks to the south just east of the Olive Street bridge as of 11-a.m. At 10-a.m., the river was at 14.57-feet. Flood stage is 19-feet. The river is expected to crest at 15.5-feet, but Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon said that depends on how much more rain we get locally and upstream.

No flood warnings have been issued for Cass County at this time, however a Flood Warning is in effect for the East Nishnabotna River at Red Oak, until early Tuesday morning.

Posted in News, Weather |