The 2020 Cass County Fair Beef Show was held on Monday in the Outdoor Show Ring at the Cass County Fairgrounds in Atlantic. Morgan Will showed the Grand Champion Market Animal with her 4-H Purchased Market Steer that weighed in at 1,330 pounds. Jace Thomsen showed the Reserve Champion Market Animal with his 4-H Purchased Market Heifer that weighed in at 1,203 pounds.  Here is the list of full results from the Cow/Calf, Feeder Calf, and Beef Shows.

Cow/Calf Show

4-H Cow-Calf: Champion: Craig Alan Becker. Reserve: Brookelyn Steffen.
FFA Cow-Calf: Champion: Taylor McCreedy.

Feeder Calf Show

4-H Feeder Heifer: Champion: Morgan Will. Reserve: Craig Alan Becker.
4-H Feeder Steer: Champion: Ashton Hagen. Reserve: Craig Alan Becker.
FFA Feeder Heifer: Champion: Eric Plagman. Reserve: Craig Alan Becker.
FFA Feeder Steer: Champion: Carson Cary. Reserve: Colton Becker.

Beef Show

4-H British Breeding Heifer: Champion: McKenna Sonntag. Reserve: Colton Becker.
4-H Continental Breeding Heifer: Champion: Brock Henderson. Reserve: Carli Henderson.
4-H Commercial Breeding Heifer: Champion: Brant Will. Reserve: Craig Alan Becker.
4-H Supreme Breeding Heifer: Champion: Brock Henderson. Reserve: Brant Will.
FFA British Breeding Heifer: Champion: Ethan Steffensen.
FFA Continental Breeding Heifer: Champion: Walker McDermott. Reserve: Makenna Potter.
FFA Commercial Breeding Heifer: Champion: Eyon Steffensen. Reserve: Mallory Behnken.
FFA Champion Breeding Heifer: Champion: Walker McDermott. Reserve: Mckenna Potter.
4-H and FFA Supreme Overall Breeding Heifer: Champion: Brock Henderson.
4-H Market Heifer: Champion: Jace Thomsen. Reserve: Jake Oathoudt.
4-H Market Steer: Champion: Morgan Will. Reserve: Carli Henderson.
FFA Market Steer: Champion: Callee Pellett.
4-H Carcass Animal: Champion: Caroline Pellett. Reserve: Rachel Becker.
FFA Carcasss Animal: Champion: Caroline Pellett. Reserve: Tristen Becker.
Overall Market Animal: Champion: Morgan Will. Reserve: Jace Thomsen.
4-H Senior Showmanship: Champion: Carli Henderson. Reserve: Craig Alan Becker.
4-H Intermediate Showmanship: Champion: Brock Henderson. Reserve: Brant Will.
4-H Junior Showmanship: Champion: Morgan Will. Reserve: Jake Wailes.
FFA Showmanship: Champion: Walker McDermott. Reserve: Mckenna Potter.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were recently arrested on warrants: 45-year old Michelle Diane Weston, of Corning, was arrested Sunday evening on a warrant out of Pottawattamie County, with regard to Child Endangerment. She was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail. And, 25-year old Jacob Michael Roebuck, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pott. County Jail Monday afternoon, on a warrant for Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at $300.

Monday night, 35-year old Laffeatte Jason Thomas, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a traffic stop on 230th Street. Thomas was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Domestic Abuse, and Child Endangerment. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) — Republicans in the U-S Senate are forwarding yet another incarnation of the CARES Act to the House which Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says is designed to address continuing problems with the public health crisis. Grassley, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, says he was directly involved in several key elements of the coronavirus pandemic relief legislation. “That includes updated tax relief to help get folks back to work and help businesses safely open,” Grassley says, “updates in our approach to the unemployment benefits, to provide another round of economic impact payments.”

That part of the plan provides for another round of $1,200 payments for most Americans, with an additional $500 for each dependent. The measure would also lift restrictions on federal assistance that’s already been sent to state and local governments, so it could be used to fill revenue shortfalls. “In other words, originally it was just supposed to be used to fight the virus,” Grassley says, “but if states have money left over, we’ll give them flexibility on spending it.”

He says the package contains a new credit for expenses, like for personal protective equipment and cleaning, which is needed to maintain a safe workplace for employees and customers. Grassley, a Republican, says the proposal sets a “responsible path forward” to address the problems our country is facing due to COVID-19.  “We put forth the bill and we’ve got to negotiate with the House,” Grassley says. “I hope my Democrat colleagues will work with us in good faith. They’d better be open to compromise and keep the best interests of the American people in mind.”

The package would help nursing home patients and workers, Grassley says, in addition to freezing Medicare premiums at 2020 levels to head off a predicted spike next year.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report search warrants were served at a residence in rural Crescent, Monday afternoon. Taken into custody on Felony charges that include Theft in the 1st Degree, and Commit a Specific Unlawful Act/Ongoing activity, was 43-year old Jason Henry Miller, II, of Crescent. Miller was being held in the Pott. County Jail on a total of $35,000 bond. And, at around 11:30-p.m. Monday, 23-year old Aaron Daniel Fauteux was arrested following a traffic stop. Fauteux was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense.

DUBUQUE –The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 25-year old Devonte WB Ellison, who was convicted of Assault on Peace Officer, and Eluding, in Dubuque County, failed to report back to the Dubuque Residential Facility as required this (Tuesday) morning.

Devonte WB Ellison (IA DOC Photo)

Ellison is a 6-feet one-inch tall, and weighs 194 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on May 28, 2020.  Persons with information on Ellison’s whereabouts should contact local police.

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For more information on the state’s work release program, please see Iowa Code 904.901-904.910

Twelve students and five staff members at Iowa’s detention center for boys have reportedly tested positive for coronavirus. According to KCCI, the first case at Eldora Boys State Training School was reported last week. All students and staff are now getting tested. Anyone who tests positive is separated and parents will be notified. The school holds about 70 youth from across the state.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) – The annual roadside survey for small game animals starts this week as staff with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources drive routes across the state, looking for a variety of critters. Iowa D-N-R wildlife biologist Todd Bogenschutz says they’ll be seeking pheasants, quail, Hungarian partridge, jackrabbits and cottontails. Bogenshutz says he’s particularly optimistic about the pheasant population. “Last year, the counts were down a bit. We had a tougher winter and it was a wetter spring,” Bogenschutz says. “Coming into this year, we had a fairly mild winter which means we probably had fairly decent hen survival through the winter.”

Bogenschutz says the year ahead may be particularly promising for hunters, especially when compared to 2019. “Spring was cool but it was also one of the driest in almost ten years, that’s usually a good sign in talking about our nesting wildlife,” he says. “A lot of folks are excited about what we’re going to see in the count. Everybody’s expecting things to be up.” Bogenschutz says the work of the counters in the survey should not be impacted by COVID-19 as they’re staff members, not volunteers, and they’ll be driving their routes themselves. He anticipates a busy fall hunting season. “I know our fishing license sales are up and our spring turkey hunting license sales were up,” he says. “I think it’s just because of the COVID thing. A lot of people aren’t working so outdoor recreation is one of the ways they fill the void and maybe that’ll continue this fall.”

The results of the roadside survey will be released by early September. The count started in Iowa in the 1930s.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club is calling for a climate adaptation plan and other policies to overhaul the state’s agricultural economy. The group calls for changes to make farming more environmentally sustainable while still being profitable. Chapter director Pam Mackey-Taylor says to create a climate adaptation plan, they want farmers, state officials, consumers and environmentalists to meet and address key questions.  “How do you sustain farm incomes in the future?” Mackey-Taylor says. “What kinds of things do we need to do to adapt? and how do we make sure that agriculture remains a part of our economy for the future?” Mackey-Taylor says the state could invest economic development dollars in small meat processors and in creating new markets so farmers can expand beyond the standard two-crop rotation.

The chapter is also backing the national organization in distancing itself from founder John Muir. In recent weeks, Muir’s ties to eugenics and white supremacy have prompted the nation’s oldest environmental organization to call for a reckoning with its founders and past attitudes. Mackey-Taylor says many people and groups are reconsidering their actions and language around race. Mackey-Taylor says, “It makes sense for Sierra Club to do that close look and to mend the hurts and the harms that we’ve done and to move forward after that.” Across the country, the environmental movement is confronting its lack of diversity as some of the few activists and staffers who are not white have quit or called for organizational overhauls.
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The Planned Parenthood affiliate that includes Iowa issued a statement last week denouncing what it called the “problematic positions” of the organization’s founder. The group said Margaret Sanger’s advocacy of racist ideas was wrong and repugnant.

(By Amy Mayer, Iowa Public Radio)