(Radio Iowa) — Its’ an annual tradition — but many people across the country still have questions about the proper methods for cooking and preparing turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner. Iowa Turkey Federation executive director Gretta Irwin says a common mistake is not allowing enough time to properly thaw the holiday bird. She says turkeys will thaw at a rate of about five pounds each day in the refrigerator — so if you haven’t started thawing your bird you have to make adjustments.  Irwin says if the bird is not fully thawed you can still roast it, but it takes about one and a half times the normal cooking time in the oven or roaster to get the bird done. So, if your bird takes four hours thawed, it will take six hours to cook it unthawed.

Irwin says can’t cook a turkey in oil without fully thawing it — so if you don’t have time to thaw it out — you should use another option. Irwin says another consideration is how to cook the stuffing. She says she prefers to cook the stuffing by itself, and not inside the bird as a time saver. “Stuffing the bird is going to add time to the length of time it has in the oven,” Irwin explains. “Most of us want to make sure it gets done quickly and promptly and keeps the schedule moving for the day of our meal. So from that standpoint — I think it is better to go ahead and cook it outside.”

There’s a key thing to remember if you do cook the stuffing in the bird. “Just do not overstuff the turkey and test that stuffing in the center to be sure it has reach 165 degrees before you remove the turkey from the oven,” according to Irwin. “Even if the turkey is reaching 170 degrees — you need to make sure that stuffing is a 165 degrees before you remove it from the oven.”

Irwin says turkey cooking tips can be found on the Iowa Turkey Federation Facebook page or website at: www.iowaturkey.org. Look under the tab “In the Kitchen.”

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 28-year old Alex Richard Cunningham, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Cunningham was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for OWI 2^nd offense.  He was being held in the Union County Jail on $2,000 bond.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four people were arrested on drug charges, Tuesday, 30-year old William Benjamin Whitt, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 9:40-a.m. for Possession of a Controlled Substance. At approximately 12:45-p.m., 32-year old Nicole Dena Mears, of Gretna, NE., was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Parapheralia. And, at around 6:20-p.m., 43-year old Jeffrey David Robichaud, Wahoo, NE., was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. At about the same time, 22-year old Jacob Allen Strong, also of Wahoo, NE., was arrested on two-counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 33-year old Trel Curtis Peterson, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday on a warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree, Eluding, Operating without an ignition interlock, Reckless Driving and Driving Under Suspension.

And, today (Wednesday), 19-year old Kaden Ryan Roenfeldt, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Failure to Appear on an OWI/1st offense charge.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man who operated a western Iowa dog business where carcasses and dozens of malnourished dogs were found has taken a plea deal. Pottawattamie County court records say 36-year-old Dustin Young entered written guilty pleas Tuesday to 12 counts of animal neglect after prosecutors dismissed 28 more. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 9th. The dogs and carcasses were discovered in May at Young Gunz Kennel , about 2 miles southeast of Hancock.

Officials said the inside of the business was covered in animal urine and feces, and there was no food or water for the dogs.

SIBLEY, Iowa (AP) — A woman has been imprisoned for the crash deaths of a man and his 5-year-old son in northwest Iowa. Osceola County court records say 50-year-old Ann Vanderpool, of Milford, was sentenced last week to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $314,000 in restitution. She’d pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide-reckless driving.

Authorities say the accident occurred June 10 , 2017, on Iowa Highway 9 near Sibley, when Vanderpool’s vehicle crossed the center line and struck the car. The car driver, 48-year-old Travis Mier, of Spirit Lake, was pronounced dead at Osceola Community Hospital. His son, Elliot, was pronounced dead later at a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, hospital.

Vanderpool also was hospitalized.

The Cass County Conservation Board’s annual Turkey Coloring Contest Winners have been announced.! The contest was held between Kindergarten Students in Cass County and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place was awarded in each class.

Washington Elementary/Atlantic:

Mrs. Bartz’ class: 1st place- Zayda Killion; 2nd place- Noah Anderson; 3rd place- Jaxson McEntaffer.

Mrs. Mosier’s class: 1st place- Emma Lank; 2nd place- Kaden Dreyer; 3rd place Lilly Casey.

Mrs. Koontz’ class: 1st place- Ethan Lilienthal; 2nd place- Isabel Clark; 3rd place- Gabby Misner.

Mrs. Rasmussen’s class: 1st place- Hallie Reed; 2nd place- Creighton Smith; 3rd place- Cambry VanErt.

Mrs. Larsen’s class: 1st place- Preston Jepsen; 2nd place- Erensia Mark ; 3rd place- Terra Anderson.

Lewis Elementary

Mrs. Winston’s class: 1st place- Bellamy Bridges; 2nd place- Izzy Jespersen; 3rd place- Cooper Scholl.

Elliott Elementary

Mrs. Oster’s class: 1st place- Kendall Demanett; 2nd place- Quinn Chambers; 3rd place- Austyn Strauss.

CAM South Elementary

Miss Green’s class 1st place- Bethany; 2nd place- Adelynne; 3rd place- Sadie (Last names not provided by CAM Schools)

Mrs. Clay’s class: 1st place- Hunter.

CAM North Elementary

2nd place- Haidyn; 3rd place- Abby

The contest is sponsored by the Cass County Environmental Education Committee and The National Wild Turkey Federation. Thank you to all the students who entered!

Officials with the Cass County Conservation Board said today (Wednesday), the sponsors of the Trumpter  Swan arrival contest have determined the official arrival of the swans at the Schildberg Recreation Area/Quarry, as November 12th.  On that day, 10 Trumpeter Swans arrived there and stayed for more than twenty-four hours. The winners that picked the closest date were Carol, Macy and Nolan. They will receive a Trumpeter Swan 8×10 print from the Cass County Conservation Board. Cass County Conservation thanks to all who participated!

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa’s largest manufacturing employer is releasing its fiscal year end financial report. Quad Cities-based John Deere is reporting a net income of 785-million dollars for the fourth quarter and two-point-three billion for the year. The quarterly earnings rose 54-percent from a year ago, while the fiscal year earnings are up almost 209-million dollars. Despite an ongoing slump in the ag sector due to still-low commodity prices and trade troubles, Deere says farm machinery sales in the Americas made solid gains. The company’s forecast for 2019 calls for net income of nearly $3.6 billion on sales gains of about 7-percent.

(Radio Iowa) — Tens of thousands of Iowans will be traveling for Thanksgiving and they could face a challenge getting home a few days after the holiday. The immediate forecast calls for warmer temperatures for much of Iowa with highs in the 40s and even low 50s in some areas. The National Weather Service say that should last into midday Saturday.

A still-developing storm system may move in late Saturday, with the potential to drop temperatures into the 20s and drop several inches of snow into Sunday or Monday. Iowans are warned to pay close attention to the forecast, especially if they’ll be on the road later this weekend.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal jury has found two Des Moines police officers used excessive force and committed battery when they pepper sprayed and beat a man in February 2013. Jurors awarded Dustin Burnikel $200,000 on Tuesday for medical expenses, pain and suffering. Burnikel sued the city and officers Michael Fong and Greg Wessels.

Burnikel says they attacked him after he shouted at them thinking they were assaulting a woman on a city street. The officers in plain black coats were attempting to arrest the woman. They claim Burnikel appeared aggressive, so they subdued him. Burnikel sustained back injuries, bruises and broken teeth. City Attorney John Haraldson says the city settled its portion of the case alleging improper supervision and training for an amount to be disclosed at the next city council meeting.