Jim Field visits with Justin Retallic about a raffle to raise funds for new tables for the Cass County Fair rabbit show.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (24.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Radio Iowa) – Officials have confirmed an extremely rare amoeba that can destroy brain tissue is present in a state-owned lake in southwest Iowa. A Missouri man who went swimming at the Lake of Three Fires near Bedford died earlier this month after getting a brain infection caused by the amoeba. University of Iowa epidemiologist Mike Pentella encountered two similar cases when he worked at a hospital in central Florida.

The beach at the Lake of Tree Fires is reopening today (Thursday), with signs posted that warn of the amoeba’s presence. State officials say swimmers should take precautions and limit the amount of water that goes up their noses. Pentella says the organism is extremely rare and has primarily been found in southern states when lake levels are low and the water gets hot due to prolonged periods of high temperatures.

Pentella says it’s possible many people have been exposed, but did not come down with disease. If you’re going swimming in a lake, Pentella says you may consider wearing a nose clip or plugging your nose if you’re jumping in and he recommends avoiding digging or stirring up the sediment at the bottom of a lake.

Pentella made his comments during an appearance on the River to River program on Iowa Public Radio. State officials say they do not intend to test other state park lakes, as there is no rapid, standardized test for the amoeba.

MAQUOKETA, IA — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said Wednesday, that Maquoketa Caves State Park will reopen for day use at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 28. The campground will remain closed until further notice. All campers with reservations through Sunday, July 31 have been notified and refunded.

The park closed on Friday, July 22 after the tragic shooting deaths of three members of the Schmidt family from Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Division of Criminal Investigation continues to lead the investigation of the incident.

The Iowa DNR appreciates the continued collaborative work between local law enforcement, the Department of Public Safety, and the DNR State Parks staff and conservation officers on this investigation.

A temporary memorial site will be located at the Maquoketa Caves State Park entrance sign near the Visitor Center.

Anyone with camping questions can send an email to: iowa.stateparks@dnr.iowa.gov.

(Radio Iowa) – An invasive bug that could threaten many of Iowa’s fruit crops and trees has been found in the state — but a top Iowa insect expert says there aren’t enough of them at this time to pose an immediate threat to Iowa’s agriculture. State entomologist Robin Pruisner says a person found the first spotted lanternfly on a maple tree in Dallas County and the second a week later in the same area. Both were immature – black with white spots.

“We do not call what we’ve found so far in Dallas County and infestation,” she says. “it appears that we’ve got hitchhikers — not a reproducing population at this time.” The spotted lanternfly can jump from plant to plant and feed on sap. It leaves behind a sticky substance that can develop a sooty mold which blocks photosynthesis and can kill the plant. Pruisner says she’s disappointed the bug has been found here. 

The closest known infestations of spotted lanternfly are in the Indiana-Ohio area, so I didn’t expect them to make such a large jump into Iowa,'” she says. Spotted lanternflies can attach their egg masses on vehicles or firewood and hitch a ride for a long distance. Pruisner is encouraging people to send photos to the Ag Department if they think they’ve seen the insect.

(reporting By Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio)

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with Connections Area Agency on Aging say they still have vouchers available for the Senior Farmer’s Market Voucher Distribution program. Seniors meeting income requirements can obtain vouchers that they can use at participating area Farmers Markets to buy $30.00 worth of fresh, locally grown produce. To request an application call 800-432-9209 x8888 and leave a message with your name and phone number. All calls will be returned within five business days in the order they are received. Applications will then be mailed out every Thursday with an addressed return envelope. Once your completed application is received, vouchers will be mailed out to you. Please note applications not completed will not receive vouchers until all information is provided.

Program Criteria:

• Must be at least 60 years of age or older
• Your Annual income must be less than: $25,142 Single; $33,874 Married. When a staff member returns your call, please indicate whether you are applying as an individual or a married couple.

Outline of Process:

• Connections Farmers Market line open for applicants to leave their name and number for an application call back.
• PLEASE LEAVE ONLY ONE MESSAGE PER INDIVIDUAL OR COUPLE. DO NOT LEAVE MORE THAN ONE MESSAGE. MULTIPLE CALLS WILL ONLY DELAY APPLICATION PROCESS.
• All calls will be returned within five business days.
• Applications will be mailed out on Thursdays of each week.

This method is the only way to obtain Farmers’ Market vouchers in 2022.

ATLANTIC, IA – This week at Produce in the Park customers will find Pim’s Thai Food Truck and local vegetable favorites including sweet corn, tomatoes, and zucchini. The July 28 market will also include popular dessert vendors Frosting Inc. and Kringleman Pastries and an expanded local meat selection. Brun Ko Farm and Noble Provisions have been selling beef, pork, and lamb (Brun Ko only) at the market this season, but this week Bridgewater Farm will also start selling meat. Bridgewater Farm has been selling produce and eggs at the market all season, but starting July 28 Bridgewater will also be selling both chicken and beef. In future weeks, the farm will also offer pork.

Chickens on Bridgewater Farm. Bridgewater Farm will begin selling chicken at Produce in the Park July 28

Produce in the Park customers are reminded that vendors accept a variety of payment methods. All vendors accept cash, and some vendors accept credit and debit cards and Venmo payments. All meat, produce, honey, and jam vendors accept SNAP/EBT (also known as food stamps), and all produce vendors also accept and distribute Double Up Food Bucks (coupons given for produce purchased with SNAP/EBT). Brun Ko Farm, Bridgewater Farm, Sue’s Country Garden, Piper’s Brae Farm, and Corn 4 a Cause all accept both senior and WIC farmers market vouchers for produce and honey purchases (as part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program).

DETAILS for Produce in the Park July 28:
Time: 4:30-6:30 PM
Location: Atlantic City Park (10 W. 7th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022)
Food Trucks: Pim’s Thai
Product Highlights: Fresh produce (sweet corn, tomatoes, zucchini, cabbage, onions, and more!), meats (beef, pork, lamb, and chicken), farm-fresh eggs, honey, popcorn, lemonade, cupcakes, cookies, pastries, fruit crisps, soaps, candles, lotions, art prints, jewelry, greeting cards, plants, lawn decorations, and more!
Fun: Live music, yard games, and more!
Guest Chef: Homemade Hamburger Helper from July sponsor United Church of Christ of Atlantic
Visiting organizations including Cass County Master Gardeners and Nebraska AIDS Project
Free drawing for a dozen eggs sponsored by the Cass County Local Food Policy Council. (Anyone age 18+ can enter for free. Winner will be drawn after the market and receive eggs the
following week.
Payment methods accepted: All vendors accept cash. Many accept credit cards, Venmo, and Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Senior and WIC checks. All qualifying food vendors accept SNAP/EBT (also known as food stamps). All fresh produce vendors both accept and distribute Double Up Food Bucks (coupons given for SNAP/EBT purchases of fresh produce).

w/Kate Olson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The 2022 Cass County Fair begins today (Wednesday), with a couple of judging events and other activities. According to the Fair schedule, 4-H and FFA Static Exhibits Judging takes place from 9-a.m. until 2:30-p.m. The Bucket of Junk Judging is from 10:30-a.m. until 12:30-p.m., and the Clover Kids Showcase runs from 9:00 a.m. until Noon, today. A full slate of activities at the FREE Cass County Fair in Atlantic begins in earnest on Thursday, with: The Horse Show; 4-H & FFA Exhibits opening, and the Food Sale; Thursday night features the Little Miss and Little Mister contest, followed by the King and Queen Contest, and Senior Recognition.

Other activities and events at fair include a Carnival, beginning at Noon (Beginning Thursday); Commercial Booths open (Beginning Friday), from Noon until 9-p.m. through Monday. Don’t forget all the great tasting food! The Foodstand is open Thursday through Monday, from 6:30-a.m. until 10-p.m., and on Tuesday, Aug. 2nd, from 6:30-until 10-a.m.. The Chuckwagon Hours are from 11-a.m. to 10-p.m., Thursday through Monday, and the FFA Foodstand is open Thursday through Monday from 7:30-a.m. until 8-p.m., and from 7:30-a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2nd, until the end of the Livestock Sale.

The Cass County Fair runs through Tuesday, August 2nd. Check out the schedule, below (Please click on the image to enlarge):

(Radio Iowa) – Dead fish are washing up on the shore of Storm Lake. Iowa Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Ben Wallace says an initial investigation indicates one species of fish is affected. “It looks to be a disease kind of specifically impacting the common carp,” he says, “so, to be honest, not a huge impact on the fishery there.” Wallace says thousands of dead carp have been found along Storm Lake’s shore.

“This kind of thing does happen. It’s not super common, but it’s a natural occurrence to have disease outbreaks in wild fish populations,” he says. “…They have a lot of necrotic tissue on their gills, had some fungus growing on their scales and stuff, so everything points to a disease impacting the common carp.”

Wallace hopes to find a lab to test sample fish to gain more information. He says the kill could last a couple more weeks before the disease runs its course. He does not expect other species of fish in Storm Lake to be impacted.

(Clarinda, Iowa) –  The Page County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported after a helicopter struck a power line, cutting the line, Sunday evening. According to Sheriff Lyle Palmer, Deputies were dispatched a little after 6-p.m., to the area of 180th Street and Redwood Avenue, about 1.5-miles north of Clarinda, where the blades of a Bell Model 206 Helicopter had accidentally struck and cut the power line, while the chopper was in the process of spraying a field.

The pilot, Oren William Perkins of Abbeville, LA., returned the helicopter to the designated landing zone near 205th Street and T Avenue in Montgomery County, where it landed without incident. The chopper is owned by JBI helicopters of Abbeville, LA.

A Bell Model 206 helicopter similar to the one involved in the Page County incident.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office notified the FAA of the incident. A damage estimate for the helicopter was not available. Damage to the MidAmerican Energy power line and Southwest REC transformer, was estimated at $270,000.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Clarinda Fire Department at the scene.