Crops are starting to show signs of stress brought on by the drought. Iowa Sate University Extension field agronomist, Angie Rieck Hinz sees it in the corn in her north-central Iowa area.

The bean crop is also impacted.

Hinz says some areas in her region are short four to five inches of soil moisture needed to produce a healthy crop.

Hinz says they need some rain soon to keep the crop conditions from getting worse.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests from three incidents over the weekend.

On Friday, June 16th Deputies arrested 43-year-old Bryan James Regenscheid of Council Bluffs at 6:48 p.m. for Driving While Barred. Regenscheid was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.

On Saturday, June 17th at 7:20 p.m. Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Highway 71 near 110th Street. After investigation Favian Campuzano and Kristine Richards of Omaha were both cited and summoned to court for Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Offense.

On Sunday, June 18th at approximately 2:45 a.m. Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested 31-year-old Zachary David Schulz of Nodaway for OWI 1st Offense. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

A crash in Harrison County involving three motorcycles and a semi resulted in the deaths of three people from western Iowa, and injuries to three more.  The Iowa State Patrol reports the crash happened on Iowa Highway 127 and Loess Hills Trail, between Mondamin and Magnolia, at around 4:23-p.m. It caused resulted in the road being closed until late Sunday night.

The Patrol says a 1990 Kenworth truck driven by 73-year-old Ronald Keith Meeker, of Woodbine, was traveling west on Iowa Hwy 127, when the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve, and stop at a stop sign. The truck rolled onto its side into the southbound lane and struck a 2014 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 53-year old Steven Theodore Starkey, of Council Bluffs.

When the motorcycle entered the southbound ditch, Starkey and his passenger, 53-year-old Julie Starkey, of Council Bluffs, were ejected. The operator of a 2016 Harley,  52-year-old Joseph Anthony Baker, of Yutan, NE, dumped his cycle onto its side. He jumped from the bike prior to being hit by the truck. A 2004 Yamaha motorcycle operated by 38-year-old Adam Opal, of McClelland, evaded contact with the semi, but Adam and his passenger, 38-year-old Samantha Opal, of McClelland, were thrown from the cycle.

Adam and Samantha Opal were transported by helicopter to the UNMC in Omaha. Ronald Meeker, along with Steven and Julie Starkey, died at the scene and were transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office by Missouri Valley Rescue. Joseph Baker was transported by Mo. Valley Rescue to CHI/Missouri Valley Hospital by Mondamin Rescue.

(Griswold, Iowa) – Members of the Griswold School Board will gather in the Conference Room at the High School, Monday, for their regular monthly meeting. Their session begins at 4-p.m.  You can view the agenda, below:

• Call Meeting to Order

• Reading of Mission Statement

• Approval of Agenda (D.R.)

• Public Input

• Superintendent’s Report:

1. Thank You Card(s) (I)
2. The Month in Review – Administration (I)
3. Board Learning Opportunities (I)

– Honor May Recipient

– Select June Recipient

– Board Policy Index

– Exit Interview Results

– Simbli Quote

• Consent Agenda (D.R.)

Approval of Minutes

Approval of Financial Statements

Approval of Bills

4. Personnel

5. Gifts, Memorials, Bequests

Old Business

6. Board Policies – Second Reading (D.R.) – 200.4, 210.5, 401.5R1, 401.13E1, 501.2, 505.5, 604.6, 605.4, 605.5, 605.6, 605.6E1, 605.6E2, 605.6R1, 701.2, 708, Renumber 401.10 to 705.2

New Business

7. Approval Of JMC Lunch Payment System (D.R.)

8. Establish Nutrition Prices And Set Convenience Fees For 2023-2024 (D.R.)

9. Approval Of 2023-2024 Parent / Student Handbooks (D.R.)

10. Approval Of 2023-2024 Course Offerings Handbook (D.R.)

11. Approval Of Fuel Bids (D.R.)

12. Approval Of Tech Support Bids (D.R.)

13. Designate Level I and Level II Child Abuse Investigators For 2023-2024 (D.R.)

14. Approval Of Bid Specifications For Bakery, Dairy, Warewash, Snow Removal,

And Trash (D.R.)

15. Set Mileage Compensation – Policy 401.7 (D.R.)

16. Approval Of APEX Contract With Glenwood CSD (D.R.)

17. Determine IASB Legislative Priorities (D.R.)

18. Board Policies – First Reading (I) – 606.1, 606.2, 606.3, 606.4, 606.5, 606.6

19. Discussion On And Possible Approval Of Truck Purchase (I or D.R.)

• Adjourn

(Audubon, Iowa) – Members of the Audubon School District’s Board of Education will meet Monday (June 19), in the Elementary School Work Room. Their meetings begins at 7-p.m. with a Board Work Session on various Policy Revisions, followed by the regular monthly meeting, during which they will act on approving the following matters:

• RSAI Membership (Rural School Advocates of Iowa)
• ISFIS Membership (Iowa School Finance Information Services)
• EMC Insurance quotes
• Change Orders
• And an agreement with Apptegy (School marketing & Communications)

The Audubon School Board will then enter into a Closed Session “To discuss whether to conduct a hearing, or conduct a hearing for suspension or expulsion of a student, unless an open meeting is requested by the student or the parent of the student.” Afterward, the Board will re-enter an open session to possibly take action on the expulsion of a student. And, they will act separately, on Personnel matters (Resignations, Contracts, etc.)

In his report to the Board, Superintendent Eric Trager is expected to provide a Building Project – and Building Project Budget – Update, along with an update on the Track and Greenhouse, and the City Recreational Ball Field.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Union County Sheriff’s Office, Saturday (June 17) issued a report on an injury accident that occurred on June 10th. Authorities say a 1995 Dodge RAM pickup driven by 82-year-old Nancy Lee Goodwin, of Valrico, FL., was traveling north on Redwood Avenue in Union County. A 1999 Ford Taurus driven by 61-year-old Raymond Eugene Blubaugh, of Lineville, was traveling east on 170th Street. He came to a stop at the posted intersection, looked, but didn’t see Goodwin’s pickup approaching.

When Blubaugh pulled away from the stop sign to cross the intersection, the pickup struck his car on the passenger side. Both vehicles came to rest in the northeast corner of the intersection. The crash happened at around 1:50-p.m.

Both drivers were wearing their seat belts. Each complained of pain and possible injury. Nancy Goodwin was transported by Medic 1 EMS to the hospital in Creston. Blubaugh was not taken to the hospital. He was cited for Failure to have a valid driver’s license. Both vehicles were totaled, with damages amounting to $7,500.

(Afton, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Union County say no injuries were reported after a vehicle caught fire on old Highway 34 east of Creston, Saturday. Authorities say 19-year-old Max S. Johns, of Creston, was traveling to Creston from Afton at around 5:14-p.m., Saturday, when he noticed a lot of smoke coming from the passenger side of the 2008 Nissan Altima he was driving.

Johns pulled over. When he noticed fluid dripping from the car, and a small flame, he stepped back, and called 911. Damage to the car was estimated at $6,000.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of 25-year-old Cade Adrian McWilliams of Red Oak early Saturday morning on a charge of Public Intoxication 1st Offense. McWilliams was arrested at 12:28 a.m. in the 2700 Block of North 8th Street in Red Oak. McWilliams was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $300 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The A-C-L-U of Iowa and Planned Parenthood held a news conference this (Friday) afternoon to respond to the Iowa Supreme Court ruling that leaves the injunction against Iowa’s Fetal Heartbeat law in place. Rita Bettis Austen is the A-C-L-U’s attorney.

“Put simply we are overjoyed and relieved by today’s order. This abortion ban was dangerous cruel and unconstitutional when it was blocked four years ago it remains dangerous cruel and unconstitutional,” she says. Mazie Stilwell is Planned Parenthood’s director of public affairs in Iowa.

“With its decision the Iowa Supreme Court took away the political cover sought by Governor Kim Reynolds and Republican politicians who want to outlaw abortion in Iowa,” Stilwell says. Stilwell believes the governor and Republican lawmakers will try to pass the law again.

“As we celebrate this win — and celebrate we will — I want to be clear we know the battle is not over ,” she says. “Abortion access hangs by a thread that politicians in Iowa are trying to cut, and we fully expect lawmakers to keep trying to ban abortion in Iowa.” Governor Reynolds said in a statement that Republicans will look at their options now that the ruling is out.