The Washington G.E.M 4H Club recently attended County Convention on Sunday, November 10th.  The club had the winning secretary and historian book and was also awarded highest club enrollment and the community service award.

Photo submitted by Melanie Petty

The club was also received top herdsmanship for sheep, at the Cass County Fair.  Melanie Petty, Project Coordinator for Industrial Steam, says “4H is a wonderful program to get kids involved in.  If you are interested in joining 4H reach out to the Iowa State Extension Office at 712-243-1132 and find a club that’s right for you.”

(Radio Iowa) — Creighton University economist Ernie Goss is projecting growth for retailers in Christmas sales this year.  “Based upon our surveys, in these two surveys of manufacturers and bank C-E-O’s in ten states, including Iowa — the overall numbers are pointing to a positive Christmas holiday buying season — up three to four percent,” Goss says. He says on-line shopping will see an even bigger boost. “Online buying by consumers is going to be up 14 to 15 percent, so much better on online buying,” Goss says. “…some of what is limiting it is finding qualified workers to fill those retail positions.”

Goss says you may see the impact of the worker shortage as you look to buy gifts. “You’re going to maybe in some cases spend more time standing in line to pay for your gift item than you did finding your gift. So it is a challenge for a lot of retailers out there,” Goss says. “And also, retailers have been through a tough couple of years and they’ve been through a lot of cost cutting. So, they’ve been cutting back on manpower as well.” He says with low unemployment, low gas prices and a good overall economy, there is plenty to spend on gifts. “Consumers are pretty flush with at least confidence and with some spending power. Although, consumer debt is at record levels — particularly for millennials and those who have college debt,” Goss says.

He says that college debt could impact some of the buying from those consumers. Goss does have a word of caution looking forward. He says the growth in holiday sales comes as the economic growth is down from last year, signaling slower economic growth and somewhat higher unemployment levels in the weeks and months ahead.

(Radio Iowa) — It’s predicted tens of thousands of Iowans will be traveling at least 50 miles from home next week to share a Thanksgiving meal with family and friends. Rose White, at Triple-A-Iowa, says the state’s highways and interstates will be especially busy, no matter what the weather forecast may hold. “Thanksgiving holiday travel will reach 55.3-million travelers, an increase of nearly 3% from a year ago and the second-highest on record,” White says. “Of those traveling, 49.3-million will reach their destination by car, 4.4-million will travel by air and another 1.5-million will travel by other modes, including rail and ship.”

The motor club says filling the gas tank will be a bit cheaper than Thanksgiving of 2018. “For those traveling by car, gas prices are fluctuating a bit,” White says. “Currently, the national fuel average is 5-cents lower than last year with unleaded averaging $2.59 a gallon. Across Iowa, the prices are about 18-cents lower than the national average, currently at $2.41 a gallon.”

When compared to Christmas and New Year’s, White says Thanksgiving is more condensed, making it the busiest — and potentially the most hazardous — travel holiday of the year. “We do see a high volume of people hitting the roadways during that short window which officially begins on Wednesday and ends on Sunday,” White says. “We anticipate the busiest day for travel will be Wednesday afternoon. We advise people hitting the road to get plenty of rest the night before to prevent drowsy driving, which can be just as dangerous as driving drunk.”

Travel numbers are expected to rise this Thanksgiving, based on several factors. White says consumer spending remains strong, thanks to increasing wages, disposable income and household wealth, and travel remains one of the top priorities for the holiday season.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Johnson County’s top prosecutor has cleared an Iowa City officer who shot a woman who’s accused of shooting him with a BB gun. County Attorney Janet Lyness says in a report issued Monday that Officer Michael Clark acted with reasonable force on July 29. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says the exchange of shots occurred after police were called to check a shoplifting report. The officers found a suspect who was later identified as 25-year-old Cierra Lewis. Police say she shot Clark several times, including in the face. He then fired five shots at her, striking her in a hand.

Lewis has pleaded not guilty to theft, willful injury and assault with a weapon on a peace officer. A mental competency hearing is scheduled for Dec. 16 to determine whether she can go to trial.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Department reports two arrests took place last Friday, while another occurred on Nov. 9th. A little after 4-p.m. Friday, Adair County Deputies took 30-year old Brian Keith Cunningham, of Greenfield, into custody at the Grundy County Jail. Cunningham was wanted on an Adair County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault/3rd or subsequent offense. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $10,000 cash only bond.

Also arrested Friday, was 37-year old Chad William Johnson, of Creston. He was taken into custody following a traffic stop, and charged with OWI/3rd offense, and Driving While License denied or revoked for OWI. His cash or surety bond was set at $6,000. Johnson posted bond a few hours later, and was released.

And, 47-year old Bobby Glenn Agan, III, of Stuart, was arrested at around 11:35-p.m. on Nov. 9th, after a Deputy who went to Agan’s residence to serve civil papers along with an arrest warrant out of Madison County, during the course of a conversation outside the home, saw a little plastic baggie containing a substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine. Agan was arrested on the felony warrant, and for Possession of Meth. His cash or surety bond was set at $1,000. Agan posted bond later that same morning, and was released.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CST

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Military experience is a tricky balancing act for Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. The South Bend, Indiana, mayor points out that he has more military experience than the current commander in chief, President Donald Trump, but he’s also careful not to overstate his seven-month deployment in Afghanistan as an intelligence officer. While careful not to call himself a combat veteran, Buttigieg has promoted a photo showing him holding an M4 rifle.

MIDDLETOWN, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines County sheriff’s office deputy has been injured when his car collided with a truck hauling a trailer. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says 51-year-old Lt. Clinton Williams was injured in the crash Monday on Highway 79. The crash happened about 12:15 p.m. when an eastbound car driven by Williams crossed into the westbound lane and collided with a truck pulling a grain trailer. The truck driver wasn’t injured. Williams was flown to a hospital at the University of Iowa.

HAMILTON, Iowa (AP) — Crews have found the body of a woman while fighting a mobile home fire in the tiny southern Iowa city of Hamilton. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office says firefighters found the body of 56-year-old Rhonda Kiler early Monday after being called to the fire. Firefighters worked for about 45 minutes to douse the fire before finding Kiler’s body in the home. Local and state investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire. Hamilton is about 45 miles southeast of Des Moines.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa jury has awarded $1.4 million to a Burmese immigrant who wanted a circumcision but instead got a vasectomy. The Des Moines Register reports that the jury last week leveled a $2 million judgment against Dr. Kevin Birusingh but decided Zaw Zaw was 30% responsible. Birusingh’s attorney says Zaw, who isn’t fluent in English, signed two informed consents that were translated into Burmese, and completed four consultations. The lawsuit says there’s no word for “vasectomy” in Burmese.

Members of the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department Board of Directors expressed their frustration and concerns with a recommendation the City’s Personnel and Finance Committee made during their meeting October 24th, with regard to proposed changes to the City’s Code of Ordinances that would affect the Board’s Powers and Duties. The first reading of the Ordinance will take place during the Atlantic City Council meeting Wednesday evening.

Atlantic Parks & Rec Board (11-18-19)

Most of the Board members were particularly annoyed by having read about the proposal in the local paper and/or hearing about it on KJAN, instead of being notified directly. City Administrator John Lund said had spoken about the matter with Parks & Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen and intended to talk with the Board and considered sending out an e-mail. He admitted would have been considered dismissive or disrespectful, but in retrospect, “Maybe that would have been helpful.”

Lund said there are some aspects of the Board that will change, while other aspects would not change, such as the Board being elected, as opposed to be appointed. He explained what responsibilities would be shifted to the City Council. They include bills and Human Resources matters, which will be shifted to the City Administrator’s Office.

Lund said the changes were based off of what West Des Moines is doing. That City has a Parks and Rec Advisory Board. Lund said he “Always looks to West Des Moines as a role model for the best practices for government management.” In response, Parks Board member and former Atlantic Mayor John Krogman asked Lund, “What’s driving all this?” He said “The City may have the right to do this, but I just don’t think it’s right. This is an elected Board, and it’s elected for a reason.

Parks member Jolene Smith felt the same way. Board Chair Stuart Dusenberry said it would have been nice to have received a “heads-up” on the matter.Instead, he said, he was essentially blind-sided by the proposal. Dusenberry said he is not in favor of making the change. Smith said she too first heard about it Monday afternoon. She questioned why even have a Board if the City is going to take away their financial and human resources oversight.

Newly elected Board member Ashley Hayes said as a former Councilperson, she had concerns when she sat on the Council, about the Parks & Rec Board’s oversight. She said on the flip-side of coin, she understands where there would be conflicting views. The only possible solution, she said, would be to discuss some HR roles as far as the Board’s concerned. She asked Lund if West Des Moines’ Parks Advisory Board was elected. He said he wasn’t sure.

MIDDLETOWN, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines County sheriff’s office deputy has been injured when his car collided with a truck hauling a trailer. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says 51-year-old Lt. Clinton Williams was injured in the crash Monday on Highway 79 between Middletown and Lake Geode.

The crash happened about 12:15 p.m. when an eastbound car driven by Williams crossed into the westbound lane and collided with a truck pulling a grain trailer. The truck driver wasn’t injured. Williams was flown to a hospital at the University of Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) — Despite an increasing number of reports about the health hazards of electronic cigarettes, studies find the popularity of vaping continues to rise in Iowa. Erika Sward, spokeswoman for the American Lung Association, says more Iowa adults are using e-cigarettes, but they’re especially alluring to teenagers.

“Among adults in Iowa, just over 16% use and smoke cigarettes, and 5.3% use e-cigarettes,” Sward says. “The most recent high school data we have for cigarette smoking in Iowa is about 4.4%.” The latest study from the Iowa Department of Public Health finds e-cigarette use among Iowa 11th graders has rocketed in recent years to more than 22-percent, that’s almost one in every four. Sward says e-cigarettes were initially billed as being a safe alternative to help smokers transition away from traditional cigarettes to eventually quit.

“The Food and Drug Administration has not found any e-cigarette to be safe and effective in helping smokers quit,” Sward says, “but we have certainly seen these false and unproven claims from e-cigarette manufacturers and retailers.” The American Lung Association is continuing to press the F-D-A for more significant action on e-cigarettes, but she says the agency is moving very slowly.

“We’ve seen one warning letter go out to one manufacturer, Juul, but unfortunately in the ten-year history of these products in the U.S., that’s really been the major action,” Sward says. “We know that smokers are confused.” The state of Iowa is offering a program called, “My Life, My Quit,” which focuses on teens.

Through the program, teens work with a coach who listens and understands their unique needs, provides personalized support, and helps them build a quit plan to become free from nicotine. For details, text or call 855-891-9989 or visit mylifemyquit.com.

(Radio Iowa) — Authorities in Northwest Iowa are investigating two fatal car crashes that occurred within 30 miles of each other on Friday. Sheriff’s deputies in Kossuth County received a report of a single-vehicle accident about two miles east of Burt around 6:30 Friday morning. Upon arrival Deputies found 57-year-old Steven Michael Schindler, of Algona, unresponsive. Schindler was taken to Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona where he was pronounced dead. Authorities say Schindler was traveling north on a county road when his vehicle left the roadway and entered the east ditch and eventually came back across the road and ended up rolling in the west ditch.

Just before 11:30 p.m. Friday deputies in Humboldt County received a report of a single-vehicle accident near Bode. They say 46-year-old Joel Haynes, of Bode, was eastbound on a county road when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving and left the roadway and hit several trees. Haynes was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

Both accidents remain under investigation.