Gov. Terry E. Branstad Thursday, signed a proclamation to allow the transportation of oversized and overweight loads of soybeans, corn, hay, straw, silage and stover. The proclamation takes effect on November 3rd, 2012 and expires after 15 days. The proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa, excluding the interstate system, and 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 the Iowa Code, by more than twelve and one-half percent (12.5%), do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

The action is intended to allow vehicles transporting soybeans, corn, hay, straw, and stover to be oversize and overweight, not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight, without a permit, but only for the duration of this proclamation. The Iowa Department of Transportation is directed to monitor the operation of the proclamation to assure the public’s safety and facilitate the movement of the trucks involved.

The Cass County Extension Service reports County 4-H’ers will receive awards at County 4-H Convention on Sunday, November 11. The annual awards program will begin at 3:30-PM at the Cass County Community Center, and is being organized by the 2011-2012 4-H Youth Council. At County Convention, members and leaders of all fifteen 4-H clubs in Cass County will be presented on stage to receive recognition. Record book project awards will be announced and $100 savings bonds from the Cass County Fair Association will be presented to the winners based on their participation in the Cass County Fair and completion of 4-H record books.

Thirteen local club leaders will be recognized for their service to the 4-H program. Receiving five year recognition are Dent and Cindy Petty, Cass County RAMS; Aaron Saeugling, Cass County RAMS; Jeff Roads, Cass County RAMS; Becky Dreager, Grove HOT; and Katrina Sonntag; Brighton. Rodney Sothman; Union Leaders and Kathy Ankenbauer; C & M Champions are receiving ten year recognition. Marlene Miller is receiving 15 year recognition for her service with just the Cowpokes among other leader roles. Julie Williamson; Benton Franklin is also receiving 15 year recognition.

Kevin Paulsen; Grant Guys & Gals is receiving his 20 year pin. The McCrory family will be recognized for a combined 60 years of volunteer leadership. Both members of the couple serve the Union Leaders 4-H club. Jerry McCrory is receiving his 25 year pin and Kathee McCrory is receiving her 35 year pin. The 4-H Alumni Award, Honorary Member Award, and Distinguished Service Awards will also be presented during County Convention. Special recognition will be given to 4-H clubs for outstanding community service projects, Herdsmanship at fair, volleyball tournament winners, Share the Fun Contest winners, 4-H Endowment Fund contributors, and window displays during National 4-H Week.

Club officers will also be recognized for their outstanding work. 4-H’ers who are members of the 2011-2012 Cass County Youth Council are Katelyn Blake, Aaron Buboltz, Linnea Casey, Heather Reyna, Diana Perkins and Haley Schmidt. Final activities of the day will be the announcement and installation of the 2012-2013 4-H Youth Council and Intermediate Youth Council. Parents, relatives and friends are invited to attend and recognize Cass County 4-H members and leaders for their accomplishments during the past year.

A hay bale fire this (Thursday) morning southwest of Clarinda was the result of spontaneous combustion. According to Clarinda Assistant Fire Chief Joe Moore, at around 8:30-a.m., the Clarinda Fire Department was called to 2311 Maple Street, approximately 5 miles southwest of Clarinda, when large round hay bales caught fire. Approximately 15 bales, valued at $1,500 altogether, were destroyed.  They had been baled approximately 30-45 days earlier, and were stacked together.  Several other bales were moved from the fire area that were not damaged. The bales were owned by Wellhausen Farms.

Info from the Atlantic Animal Shelter.

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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources say dry conditions over much of Iowa will concentrate trappers near existing water when the Iowa furbearer hunting and trapping season begins on Saturday, Nov. 3rd.  Vince Evelsizer, furbearer biologist for the DNR says “Right now, most of the crops are out and the weather looks decent for the first half of November,” so he’s expecting a good start to the furbearer season.

Surveys of two of the higher profile furbearers in Iowa – bobcat and river otter – have indicated the species could support additional harvest. The DNR increased the bobcat quota from 350 to 450 in the open zone, but kept the one bobcat per furharvester restriction, regardless if it was hunted or trapped. The river otter quota was raised to 850 this year, with licensed trappers allowed up to three otters.

Both species must be reported within 24 hours of harvest and a CITES tag applied within seven days after the harvest is reported to DNR staff. Last year, a record 326,368 raccoons were harvested in Iowa and Evelsizer expects the harvest this year to be similar to slightly higher.  He said the fur markets are dependent on the Asian and European economies but appear to be about the same as last year.

Trapper numbers have increased more than 20 percent since 2009, from 14,000 to 17,000 last year.

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Thousands of hunters are moving through the fields and woods of Iowa now with several hunting and trapping seasons underway. The coordinator of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources “Turn in Poachers” or TIP hotline, Steve Dermand, is asking hunters to help ensure all the activity is legal. Dermand says those who are not hunting can also help out by reporting activity or people who don’t seem right. “A landowner who comes across a big deer carcass lying in his field with the head removed, you know wondering about a buck that was probably poached there on his property. We encourage people who see things, who see other individuals who are doing things that are maybe contrary to the law,” Dermand says. You can call the TIP at 1-800-532-2020 and anonymously report what you saw.

He also encourages hunters and those who fish to be ready to warn the D-N-R of people they see breaking the law. “Have the cellphone number of your conservation officer programmed in your cellphone so that you can hit it quickly on a speeddial, and when you come across that (illegal activity) it’ll be something that you can report immediately,” Dermand says. “The one thing we’ve learned over time in this business as far as fish and wildlife poaching goes — the long you wait — the less likely we are to make a case.” He says it’s important to write down information like a description of the person involved, the license plate number and color and make of a vehicle, and the area where the crime happened. That way you won’t forget it later and the investigators won’t be left without key information.

“It just seems like evidence will disappear, or it gets cold and you are not able to find the things you need to find in order to make a case,” Dermand says. You may not think it’s a big deal if someone shoots an extra deer illegally, but he says helping stop poachers protects the rights of those who legally hunt and fish and even those who just like to enjoy nature. “The big deal about the fish and wildlife and deer included is that they are our Iowa natural resources, they are the things that are out there in the field that belong to all of us. Every citizen, every individual in this state,” Dermand explained. “And we should be proud of that. We should be proud of the resources that we have available to us, for viewing, for harvest by legal means, and just enjoyment.”

The TIP number is a 24 automated system. You can also report poaching online at: www.iowadnr.gov/tip, and it will send a report directly to the local officer. In cases where officers investigate and write a ticket, the individual who reported the violations can be eligible for a reward.

(Radio Iowa)