(Radio Iowa) – The acquisition of land in Minnesota could help boost the water quality in northwest Iowa’s Spirit Lake. The Spirit Lake Protective Association’s, John Smeltzer, says he’s been worried for a decade about the amount of sediment being pumped from the cropland north of the lake — and that’s why they’ve partnered with a Minnesota conservation organization to buy the 195 acres to restore it to wetland and prairie.

“Cause Iowans drink this water. Iowans come to this area to birdwatch to enjoy the wildlife. And also to know that the wildlife is being cared for,” Smeltzer says. The watershed protection project is expected to decrease phosphorus and nitrogen deposits by 85 percent. Smeltzer says it also will restore habitat for diverse types of waterfowl, like trumpeter swans and Sandhill cranes. Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation communications director Joe Jayjack says the hope is to significantly reduce the amount of runoff that makes its way from the often flooded parcel of land.

“It’s a place for this water to go into to slow down, have the plants that are naturally occurring in these wetland areas pull out a lot of those nutrients and clean the water before it can go into these bigger lake systems,” he says. Jayjack estimates it will take two to three years until the natural habitat is restored. The land will then become a Waterfowl Production Area and be managed by the U-S Fish and Wildlife Service.

(reporting By Kendall Crawford, Iowa Public Radio)

ATLANTIC, IA (December 19, 2022) – Due to a winter storm predicted for Thursday, the in-person Christmas Market has been cancelled for 2022. All pre-orders for Christmas Market can be picked up from the Cass County Community Center on Wednesday, December 21, from 3-7 PM. Christmas Market continues to accept pre-orders through December 20 at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com, however some vendors will stop taking new orders Monday night, December 19, in order to have time to prepare for Wednesday’s pickup.

Any shopper who has placed a pre-order for Christmas Market who cannot pickup on Wednesday, December 21, should email or call Produce in the Park Market Manager Brigham Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-249-5870.

There was much excitement for the free kids’ activities, including a bounce house and crafts, that were planned for Christmas Market at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA. Sweetheart Market will be held at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA on Saturday, February 11 from noon to 3:00 PM. The YMCA will offer a free bounce house and craft fun for kids at that market.

Jim Field visits with Atlantic Library Director Michelle Andersen about the Craft Supply Exchange.  Donate your unused and leftover craft supplies by January 11.  The craft exchange will be held on January 16 and 17.

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The Atlantic Archery program hosted a large tournament with 29 teams competing in elementary, middle school, and high school levels this past Saturday, December 10th. In the traditional bullseye tournament Atlantic tied with Spencer at the top of the High School Division with 3299 points. Mariah Hadley was the top ranked high school girl with 290 points. Conner Johnson took the top spot for high school boys with 289 points and Carter Smith was 3rd with 284 points.

In the 3D Tournament Spencer came away with the title in the High School Division, with Atlantic 2nd. Conner Johnson was 2nd amongst high school boys with 286pts and Halle Copeland was 3rd amongst high school girls with 277 points.

Find the full results from all levels of the competition HERE

(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowans make grand plans for New Year’s Eve, but the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is urging those who love the outdoors to commit to an event on New Year’s Day. Sherry Arntzen, chief of the Iowa D-N-R’s Parks, Forests and Preserves Bureau, says this will be the 10th year for the state’s First Day Hike Challenge. “First Day Hikes are a great way to get out and start the new year out in nature,” Arntzen says. “Our parks are open all year, I don’t know how many people take advantage of that. It’s just a great way to get out there and not only to enjoy the sights and the sounds that you can see in the wintertime, but creating those memories with your family and friends.”

While the immediate forecast is for very cold weather to move in, the picture could be much different by the time January 1st arrives. Arntzen says the events will go on, no matter what the forecast. “It varies, obviously,” Arntzen says. “The winter may play into people’s decisions but we’ve had people who have braved some of the coldest weather that we’ve had, and we’ve had years where it’s been mild and just absolutely an enjoyable way to spend the morning or an afternoon.”

When the First Day Hike Challenge started, hikers were led on guided hikes through the parks by park rangers and caretakers. During COVID, hikers were instead encouraged to check in using their Park Passports.  “For this year, we’re offering both,” Arntzen says. “Your hikes that you can do on your own at your own leisure and check in and be eligible to win a two-night stay at Pine Lake State Park cabins, or we do have 17 of our parks that are continuing to offer a designated time with a guided hike.”

More than 50 state parks and forests are doing the Park Passport check-ins this time, from December 30th through January 1st. In addition to the guided hikes, several parks will host get-togethers, providing hot chocolate and snacks.

On the web at www.iowadnr.gov/firstdayhikes

• 5 cups cooked chicken, cut into chunks
• 2 tablespoons salad oil
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 3 cups cooked rice (cooled)
• 1 1/2 cups small green grapes
• 1 1/2 cups diced celery
• 1 can drained pineapple tidbits
• 1 can mandarin oranges, drained
• 1 cup toasted slivered almonds
• 1 cup real mayonnaise

Combine the chicken and the next 5 ingredients.  Let that stand while combining other ingredients.  Gently toss after combining all ingredients.  Add mandarin oranges last and toss as little as possible.  Refrigerate overnight and serve on lettuce leaf.  Serves 12.

(Jo Wagner)

Jim Field visits with Dave & Karen Miller, Berniece Baier and Melissa Ihnen.  They have been local scout leaders for a number of years and are stepping aside for the next generation of leaders.  The scouts are holding an open house on Sunday, December 18, 202 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at the Atlantic Elks Lodge.  All current and former scouts, leaders and supporters are encouraged to attend.

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(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra says the renewable fuel recommendations from the Biden Administration are a combination of positives and negatives. Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, supports the E-P-A’s recommended ethanol production mandate. “The EPA proposed the Renewable Fuels Standard to stay at 15 billion gallons for 2023 and then going up in 2024 and 2025 to go up to 15.2 billion gallons, without waivers,” Feenstra says. “This is a really big thing.”

In the past, the federal government granted some oil refineries waivers, so they did not have to blend ethanol into gasoline. Feenstra says one downside of the E-P-A’s plan is the agency is recommending the production goal for soybean-based biodiesel remain the same for the next three years. “Right now, we are in a diesel crunch,” Feenstra says. “There’s a lot of shortage with diesel and here the EPA had the great opportunity of doing something biodiesel and didn’t.”

The E-P-A is also proposing a new program for electric vehicle manufacturers. It basically would create renewable fuel credits for the electricity used to make E-Vs.”It’s called in eRIN credit. Completely ridiculous,” Feenstra says. “Obviously, we like our (vehicles) that can use E85 and that can use E15 and B10, B11 diesel, things like that. Here we have an EPA that’s just been liberalized and pushing the electric vehicle mantra.”

Others have suggested the electric vehicle industry could be an ally to ag interests battling the oil industry’s aim to get rid of the Renewable Fuel Standard. The E-P-A will host a virtual hearing on January 10th to give the public a chance to comment on its three year plan related to ethanol, biodiesel and electric vehicle production.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Turkey Federation executive director, Gretta Irwin, says the industry isn’t sure why there’s been a cluster of bird flu cases recently confirmed in several northwest Iowa turkey flocks.  “Iowa’s turkey farmers really work diligently to protect their turkey flocks from wild birds. So the cases these last 11 days, really has us a little bit puzzled of what is happening with the birds that are migrating and the virus that they’re currently carrying,” Irwin says.

More than 400-thousand turkeys have died or have been destroyed to prevent the spread of the disease. Wild birds can carry the virus and shed it to poultry. A wildlife extension specialist says the vast majority of wild birds that migrate through Iowa have passed through. But there are some that stay for the winter. And a lot of birds fly through northwest Iowa on their migration south. The virus has been found in commercial turkey flocks in Buena Vista, Cherokee, Ida and Sac counties this month. Tyson Foods owns a turkey processing plant in Storm Lake.

The company didn’t respond to questions about how the loss of those turkeys is impacting processing there. But Iowa State University ag. economist Chad Hart says the loss of those turkeys creates a processing hole. “We’re gonna see a cut in numbers here, not only here initially, but it’ll take a while for those numbers to build back up,” Hart says.

The executive director of the Iowa Turkey Federation says the local impact is large. But it’s a small impact to turkey processing nationwide.

(reporting by Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio)

Jim Field visits with ISU Extension Specialist and Growing Together Project Manager Katie Sorrell about the volunteer donations to local food pantries through the “Growing Together” program in 2022.

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