(Lewis, Iowa) – Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fisheries biologists have investigated recent reports of dead bluegill and crappie in southern Iowa lakes. Chris Larson, DNR fisheries supervisor said Tuesday (today) “These natural fish kills are a common occurrence at a number of lakes each spring during spawning season. There is little danger to the overall population of bluegill or crappie. Iowa lakes can support thousands of panfish per acre of water.”

The spawning season is very stressful. A variety of factors can cause this stress, including changes in water temperature, water quality and availability of food. Fish are more vulnerable to predators during spawning, which can add to their stress levels.

“Overcrowding is one of the main causes of spawning stress in bluegills and crappies,” Larson said. “When too many fish are in a small area, they can become stressed and agitated. This can lead to fights and injuries that can cause stressed fish to become more susceptible to various bacterial or fungal infections.”

If you see dead fish – especially when there are several species or sizes, or when you can see a pollutant present – call the DNR’s 24-hour spill line at 515-725-8694 as soon as possible. Quick reporting can help DNR staff identify the cause of a fish kill and potentially stop a fish kill in progress.

The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met in a Regular session May 16th. Auditor/Board Secretary Mark Maxwell reports Shelby County Sheriff Chad Butler briefed the Supervisors about recent hires and progress in the assumption of law enforcement duties in the City of Harlan. The process and the new hires have created challenges for the Sheriffs Department , but overall, things are going well.

Alex Londo, Shelby County EMA Director spoke and told the Supervisors that the siren issues have been resolved and it was just a malfunction that allowed the sirens to sound unexpectedly. Other facets and ambitions of the EMA department were presented as well.

Kyle Lindberg representing the Shelby County IT Committee put forth his recommendation to have Austin Staley approved as a full time IT person for Shelby County. Schaben made a motion to approve the hiring, Parkhurst seconded the motion, the motion was approved.

Todd Valine of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry noted that the Chamber Board is meeting later this day to look at next year’s budget. Valline also mentioned that new business construction is progressing well in the County.

Following a brief recess, a hearing for public comment was then opened regarding the proposed budget amendment for the current fiscal year. Auditor Maxwell did not have any public comments at his office and no comments were heard from those in attendance. The Supervisors then voted to close the hearing after a motion by Schaben and a second by Parkhurst.

Back in session, the Board approved the proposed budget amendment for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. It calls for there to be no increase in taxes. (see details below)

In other business, Brandon Burmeister presented the Utility Permits 2023-05-04 for Nishnabotna Valley REC. The permit was jointly approved by the Board of Supervisors.  Resolution 2023-33 is a resolution to set a public hearing date and time to vacate Right of Way interests in and close a portion of the Shelby County Road, Yellowwood Road. The section of road #551 north of the area known as Fiscus to the structure (bridge) owned by Audubon County. A publication of hearing will be published by the Secondary Roads Department. Copies of the resolution are available in the Auditors office and the Engineers office.

The Supervisors then considered temporary storage of items for the Harlan Community School District and for the Harlan Community Library. As the items stored are small and/or the storage for most items are temporary it was motioned by Schaben to allow the Chairperson to sign a lease agreement in the amount of $1 a year for the temporary use of a room at the Shelby County Annex by the Harlan Schools and the storage of a piece of equipment that is infrequently used and owned by the Harlan Library. Parkhurst seconded the motion, the motion was approved.

The Board of Supervisors then discussed the disposal of County property in the City Limits of Earling.  Maintaining the property and assuming risk to the county and costs for upkeep throughout the year have been determined to be mitigated. It was suggested that the hearing be held June 20th at the hour of 9:00 AM to seek public comment on the sale of this county owned real estate. Sealed bids will be open that day following the hearing. A minimum bid of $8,700.00 needs to be placed to be accepted by the Supervisors. All bids must be received in the Auditors office at the Courthouse by 4:30 PM June 19th. No drop box bids will be accepted.

A resolution to set the publication and hearing date was passed unanimously. The Board also passed a Resolution appointing the following Sheriff’s Deputies: Noah Schilling and Wyatt Oviatt.

A Courthouse building and grounds use permit was discussed for the June 2023 and June 2024 Relay for life events, and subsequently approved.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa City is considering making its buses free to ride. Transportation director Darian Nagle-Gamm hopes the move will help bring back pre-pandemic ridership. “We think this could really make a difference. If you give people a service, a quality transportation service in town that they can just hop aboard. They don’t have to worry about a fare,” she says. “You know they can just hop on board and use the system. We will see, we will see an increase in ridership.”

Ridership on Iowa City’s buses is down 26 percent compared to 2019. Bus fares now make up eight percent of the department’s revenue and she says they’ll need to convince the Metropolitan Planning Organization to adjust the systems funding model.  “Because our ridership levels are down-like they are across the country-we have extra capacity on our buses. So this is really an ideal time for the city to consider moving to a zero fare platform because there is no additional staff or busses required at this time,” she says.

Nagle-Gamm says hybrid and remote work trends may mean fewer riders overall. But fare-free busing may coax some people who were on the fence.

(Radio Iowa) – Two teenagers have been charged with stealing 100 dollars worth of alcohol from a Storm Lake gas station — and a clerk at the Midtown Brew gas station faces charges for allegedly hitting one of the suspects with a vehicle. Police say the alcohol thefts at Midtown Brew happened on three nights last week. Storm Lake Police have filed fifth degree theft charges against a 16 and a 17 year old. The 16-year-old has also been charged in connection with a burglary to a vehicle that happened during the overnight hours of May 14th. The 16 year old has been transferred to a juvenile detention facility.

The 17 year old has been released to a parent. Police say the 17 year old was hospitalized after he was hit by an S-U-V early last Thursday morning. The driver of the S-U-V faces a number of charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon. Police say the S-U-V driver was a clerk at the gas station who saw the 17 year old shoplifting, got into his S-U-V, chased the teen, ran onto a sidewalk and hit him, then fled the scene.

(Radio Iowa) – A priest in Florida has been accused of sexual abuse of a minor while he was serving as a priest at a Dubuque parish in the mid 1980s. A news release from the Archdiocese of Dubuque says Father Leo Riley has been placed on administrative leave while a review board for the Archdiocese investigates the allegation. Riley was ordained in Dubuque and served at more than a dozen different Iowa parishes, but has been a priest in Florida since 2002.

About a decade ago, a man accused Riley of abusing him in 1985 when he was an altar boy at the Church of the Resurrection in Dubuque. When the Archbishop of Dubuque announced that investigation was dropped, the archbishop said the best information available didn’t support a reasonable belief the man’s allegation was true. This new allegation is from someone who says they were abused by Riley at the same church, sometime between 1985 and ’86.

Riley has been pastor of the San Antonio Church in Port Charlotte, Florida since 2019.

(Elk Horn, Iowa) – You don’t have to be Danish in order to receive a big “Velkommen” to the Danish Village of Elk Horn (Iowa). The Shelby County town is excited to host the 43rd Annual Tivoli Fest complete with music, food and drink fun, encompassing “Hygge,” the Danish passion for slowing down from the day-to-day rush, creating a warm atmosphere, and enjoying the good things in life with good people. That’s all happening this Friday and Saturday, May 26th & 27th.

There’s so much to enjoy, it takes two pages on the Tivoli Fest Elk Horn Iowa Facebook page. Former Elk Horn Mayor Stan Jens is Chair of the TivoliFest Committee. Jens says a group of experienced volunteers makes the event happen smoothly. He says one of the things visitors have to look forward to this weekend, is the wide variety of food!

There is a Viking Encampment on Saturday next to the Danish Windmill, a Show & Shine show at the Elk Horn City Park, and Pickleball Clinic and Tournament, to name just a few of Saturday’s activities.

Everything is within walking distance in Elk Horn. A big draw for area residents and visitors is the TivoliFest Parade, beginning at 11-a.m., Saturday. The Parade Grand Marshall is the Iowa Women’s assistant basketball coach, who is a native of Kimballton.

Jan Jensen

King and Queen for the event are Wayne and Janell Hansen, of Elk Horn.

Wayne & Janell Hansen

Jensen said there’s something going on all the time, during TivoliFest.

A full schedule of the activities can be found HERE.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report the arrest today (Tuesday), of a Pacific Junction man. 27-year-old Michael Combs was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000 cash or surety, which he posted before being released.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday morning, acted on three resolutions to come before them. The first was to approve a Cass County Investment Policy, which passed unanimously. The Board also passed a Resolution to receive and Earmark Funds from the Sale of the County Owned Farm. Board Chair Steve Baier said the sale of land brought the County $1,711, 957.

He said he appreciates the work of those involved in making the sale successful and setting the stage for the funds.

The Cass Supervisors also passed a Resolution amending the FY23 Secondary Roads Budget, necessary for submission to the Iowa Department of Transportation. County Engineer Trent Wolken…

He said essentially, the budget amendment is for two projects.

Cass County BOS 5-23-23

The DOT, he said will reimburse the County promptly, for the $600,000 each project costs in this year and next. The costs will not be passed on to taxpayers in the County.The revised construction budget, instead of being $1.085-million, is $1.96-million for the second phase.  In his regular, weekly report to the Board, Wolken said they continue to haul contract rock in the Atlantic District, and more in the Massena District, in the vicinity of the Wind Turbine Project. He also spoke about current and upcoming bridge projects.

He said also, a lot of new equipment typically comes in toward the end of May or first part of June, including two new motor graders set to arrive any day now. In other business, the Cass County Supervisors heard a report from Cass/Guthrie/Adair County Environmental Health Director Jotham Arber, who said they have been conducting several percolation (Perc) tests over the past few weeks. He said also, they are using a new system for septic system inspections, using a digital inspection sheet.

He said the information is much more detailed then previously available to a home seller and buyer.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Montgomery County held a brief, regular weekly session today (Tuesday, May 23). The Board approved a request for the use of the courthouse lawn for a Bible reading event to be held on July 13, 2023, from 8-a.m. to 8-p.m. The Board has approved a similar request for at least the past couple of years. The event is generally held state-wide, and has drawn up to 80 or more participants at some sites.

The Board also approving claims payable for Wed., May 24, 2023, in the amount of $495,604.49. In her report to the Montgomery County Supervisors, County Engineer Karen Albert said they continue to haul road rock throughout the County.

She was asked to update the Board about H-34 project, east of Red Oak, and if it will be worked on during this next fiscal year.

She said they’re hoping material prices will be lower by the time bid-letting rolls around.

Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert addresses the County Supervisors (3/23/23)

The next meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors takes place 8:30-a.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2023.

(Johnston, Iowa) – Hy-Vee stores in Johnston, Ames and Perry were evacuated Monday evening, following anonymous calls about a bomb threat. A sweep of the stores determined the threats were not credible. Similar threats were also received at Hy-Vee stores in Illinois. Police said Hy-Vee Security personnel are aware of the threat.

On May 7th, a fake bomb threat was called into a Council Bluffs supermarket. According to the Council Bluffs Police Department, an unknown man called the Hy-Vee at Madison Avenue in  Council Bluffs, claiming a bomb was in the back of the store. Officers responded and searched the entire building. A secondary search was also conducted, with no bomb or device was found. Detectives were investigating the origins of the phone call.