A group of landowners, lawmakers, and environmentalists are speaking out after the Iowa Utilities Board announced it would move the hearing on the proposed Summit Carbon pipeline from October to August. Anna Ryon, a former attorney with the Iowa Office of Consumer Advocate, says the landowner testimony was moved to first in the hearing along with the change in the date.

Ryon spoke during a conference call hosted by the Sierra Club, and says the new schedule puts the issue on the fast track and will make it tough for landowners to find the help they need.

Ryon says landowners are forced to sort of defend their land against eminent domain before actually hearing the pipeline company’s case.

State Representative Helena (Huh-lay-na) Hayes, a Republican from Mahaska County, says the House did pass a bill 73-20 that did several things, including requiring 90 percent voluntary easements before the I-U-B could grant the eminent domain for pipelines.

The Iowa Senate failed to pass the bill and it didn’t make it out of the session. Hayes says lawmakers who supported the bill plan are drafting a letter to send to state regulators in response to the hearing change.

She says representatives in the Iowa House know there are thousands of people who have not signed on to pipeline easements and she says as a lawmaker she would love to see another session to have more conversations about it. Hayes says this issue goes beyond Iowa, and everyone should keep the big picture in mind.

The Sierra Club’s Jessica Mazour says they are calling for the hearing to be delayed. She says they are concerned that with two new members on the Utilities Board, the new members are unaware of past processes and the detailed work that goes into this decision-making process.
Summit Carbon Solutions released this statement in response:
“Summit Carbon Solutions appreciates the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) establishing a procedural schedule where the public comment and hearing for our project begins in August, with a final permit decision expected to be issued prior the end of the year. This will enable Summit and the farming community to coordinate planting, facilitating construction within a single crop year.   To date, Summit has signed more than 2,000 easement agreements with Iowa landowners accounting for 475 miles of our proposed project route in the state. We look forward to continuing to work with Iowa landowners, plus our 13 ethanol plant partners across Iowa, to advance our project through the regulatory process and support the region’s most important industries – agriculture and ethanol. “

Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa says she and the Michigan Democrat who’s chairwoman of the Senate Ag Committee are calling for creation of a public database of U-S agland owned by foreigners and it would set the stage for forced divestment of real estate owned by foreign entities.

Ernst says the proposal also would strengthen federal oversight and rejection of foreign investment in the ag sector of the U-S economy.

According to the U-S-D-A, 37 million acres of U-S farmland is under foreign ownership –384-thousand of those acres are owned by China. Iowa law forbids any foreign entity from owning more than 320 acres.

Other members of the House and Senate called for an outright ban on foreign ownership of U-S farmland. Ernst says the bipartisan proposal she’s working on would give the U-S-D-A authority to review the national security implications of Chinese companies doing business on American soil and block suspect deals.

China forbids foreigners from purchasing real estate in China.

A southwest Iowa county’s moratorium on wind turbine project development will remain in place through at least the rest of the year. The county’s original moratorium was set to expire July 1st and the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors have unanimously approved a 180-day extension. Supervisor Mark Peterson of Stanton read the resolution aloud during Tuesday’s board meeting.

The moratorium does not apply to construction permits already filed with the county. Diane Jacobs, who lives near Villisca, urged the board to act to avoid the kind of turmoil about turbines she sees in neighboring counties.

The moratorium does not apply to wind turbine construction permits already filed with the county. A report issued earlier this year by a national group that promotes energy with lower greenhouse gas emissions found 16 Iowa counties have established regulations for where wind turbines may be built. Seven counties have ordinances that prohibit wind turbine development. Nine other counties have moratoriums that are temporary — like Montgomery County’s.

Atlantic, Iowa – Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) and local governments in southwest Iowa are recognizing June as Ride Transit Month. June is National Ride Transit Month and a great time for southwest Iowa residents to take advantage of the benefits of public transit. June has been declared Ride Transit Month by mayors in the cities of Atlantic, Glenwood, Harlan, Missouri Valley, Red Oak, and Shenandoah. SWITA thanks these local governments for recognizing the important role transit plays in making our communities more connected and accessible to everyone. Whether you ride a bus, bike, or carpool, or you are headed to work, school, the grocery store, or anywhere in between, transit can get us there together.

Public transit allows individuals to remain independent, contributes to economic development, reduces traffic congestion, decreases emissions, and improves rural mobility. Over 480,000 rides were provided by Southwest Iowa Transit Agency during fiscal year 2022 and it is projected that rides for fiscal year 2023 will reach over 500,000 rides.

In honor of Ride Transit Month, all taxi fares in Atlantic, Glenwood, Harlan, Missouri Valley, Red Oak, and Shenandoah will be waived on June 21, 2023. Join SWITA in celebrating Ride Transit Month by trying out our taxi service free of charge that day.

Public transportation in the southwest Iowa region is provided by the collaborative efforts of the Iowa Department of Transportation and SWITA to provide resources to transport individuals every day where they need to go. To learn more about the services provided by SWITA, visit SWITA.com or call 712-243-2518 or 1-800-842-8065.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Atlantic High School (AHS) Alumni Smackdown Committee and Atlantic Parks & Recreation, are pleased to announce “Smack Down After Dark” Saturday, August 19th, 2023.

“When the AHS Alumni Smack Down committee approached us last year about adding evening entertainment, we were happy to be a part of the already successful event and excited to open up entertainment to the entire community,” Kelsey Beschorner, Programs Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce stated.

The event will take place at Sunnyside Park with a beer garden, organized by the Atlantic Fire Department, and food vendors beginning at 5 PM. The Classic Rock band “On the Fritz” will play from 8 –10 PM on the Band Shell. The event will be free admission to everyone.

“Last year we featured the classic rock band “Oreo Meatwagon” on a beautiful 60-degree night with over 300 people in attendance. We hope for the same weather and even more people in attendance,” Beschorner stated.

The 9^th Annual AHS Alumni Smackdown Tournament will be held the morning of August 19^th. The event will take place at both Nishna Hills Golf Course and Atlantic Golf & Country Club. To learn more about the tournament or to register, visit www.atlanticiowa.com.

Stay up to date on the latest information regarding Smackdown After Dark by ‘liking’ the event page on Facebook or visiting the Community Calendar on www.atlanticiowa.com. Smackdown After Dark is sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission.

DES MOINES – Monday, Governor Reynolds and the Department of Management’s Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) announced a new broadband grant opportunity for internet service providers. $148,960,000 is available through Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program with funding from the Capital Projects Fund (CPF) administered by the US Department of Treasury. 

“Iowans deserve access to reliable, fast broadband,” said Governor Reynolds. “Reliable internet connections are needed to live, work, and raise a family. This investment in infrastructure gets us one step closer to providing easy internet access to all Iowans. ” 

This round of grant funds will be used to incentivize broadband infrastructure build out in the newly established Broadband Intervention Zones (BIZ). Through feedback from 55 public meetings in Iowa communities, 96 BIZ zones were created across the state. These are areas deemed to be in the most need for broadband infrastructure expansion.  

This will be the eighth Notice of Funds Available for the State of Iowa. Through seven previous grant opportunities, $352,850,022 in state and federal funding was awarded to bring broadband service to 109,126 homes, schools and businesses in Iowa. The total new broadband investment between public and private money is $791,203,995. 

For more information on the latest round of broadband grant funding head over to https://ocio.iowa.gov/broadband, or email ociogrants@iowa.gov. 

The Glenwood Police Department is searching for a juvenile following a foot pursuit on Tuesday. At approximately 8 minutes past midnight a Glenwood Police Officer stopped a vehicle at the intersection of 9th and Vine Streets in Glenwood for an equipment violation.

Two juveniles were in the vehicle and the driver gave the officer a false name and birthdate. The officer was unable to find driver’s license information for the driver and because of recent vandalism in the area requested and was granted a consent to search the vehicle. During the search a jar of marijuana was discovered. The two juveniles attempted to flee on foot and a pursuit ensued. During the pursuit an officer was assaulted by one of the juveniles and he was able to escape.

A perimeter was established and Glenwood PD was assisted by the Mills, Pottawattamie, and Fremont County Sheriff’s Offices. The juvenile remains at large at this time.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa—June 20, 2023— Josh Bierbaum of Cass County, Matthew Burt of Marshall County and Ryan Gibbs of Delaware County have been named Iowa Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Leadership Award recipients.

The award, created in honor of former Iowa Farm Bureau President Bob Joslin, recognizes farmers under the age of 35 who contribute to and demonstrate leadership within their communities and agriculture.

Each winner is given a $2,000 grant to designate to a non-profit of their choice, an expense paid trip to the 2024 AFBF Annual Convention or Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference, an expense paid trip to the 2024 IFBF Young Farmer Conference, $500 gift certificate from Grainger and $1500 cash from GROWMARK.

Josh Bierbaum, Griswold

Josh Bierbaum of Griswold grows corn and soybeans with his brother and dad on their Heritage family farm—a designation for farms held within the same family for 150 years.

Bierbaum, who serves as the Cass County Farm Bureau vice president, is an Iowa Farm Bureau Ag Leaders Institute graduate and has attended Farm Bureau policy trips to Washington D.C. to share day-to-day farming challenges with lawmakers.

As a member of the Griswold Ag Boosters Association, Bierbaum volunteers at the local county fair, soil judging competitions and serves as a mentor for the Griswold FFA corn test plot.

“I went to school here. I have friends and family here; I wanted to be an active member,” says Bierbaum of the Griswold community. “I think it’s an important part of what I was raised to do.”

His passion for engaging youth in agriculture inspired him to grant his award money to the Cass County 4-H Vision Endowment to help sponsor youth afford day camps, programs and membership fees.

“It was important to us being former 4-H members, and my wife, Logan, worked for extension at one time as a county youth coordinator, so 4-H is very near and dear to our hearts,” he says.

Bierbaum recognizes service to his community also means implementing on-farm conservation. To promote water quality, his family farm uses terraces, headlands, grassed waterways, stream buffer strips, cover crops and no-till practices to reduce soil and nutrient losses.

Matthew Burt, Marshalltown

Matthew Burt of Marshalltown is the sixth generation on his family farm. He grows corn and soybeans and raises hogs and cattle with his parents, wife, Karen, and one-year-old daughter, Rachel.

Burt is an Ag Leaders Institute graduate and currently serves as the Marshall County Farm Bureau vice president. In this role, he enjoys presenting to elementary students on farm life, tractor safety and career opportunities in agriculture. Because of the relationships he’s made through Farm Bureau’s young farmer events, Burt’s felt strongly about awarding his grant will go to Seeds of Hope Foundation, an organization that assists young farm families struggling with long-term, life-threatening illnesses.

On the farm, Burt says he’s always striving to do better. In addition to grassed waterways, Conservation Reserve Program acres and the use of technology to apply precise fertilizer amounts, he’s looking to introduce other conservation practices.

“We may have a record crop, but there’s always something in that process we can improve,” he says, adding that he’s experimenting with conservation tillage to reduce soil erosion.

Burt says he looks at pictures of the family farm throughout the years and can see how much it has changed and wants to continue that progress.

“It’s more than just a job—it’s a family business that’s been handed down and taken care of on our farm for more than 150 years,” he says. “It can be overwhelming, but I can’t think of anything better than being able to pass down a legacy to the next generation.”

Ryan Gibbs, Hopkinton

Ryan Gibbs of Hopkinton farms with his wife, Kristy, and two young children, Kendrick and Kolette. He grows corn, soybeans, cereal rye and buckwheat and raises cattle, commercial pigs, pasture-raised pigs and chickens.

He is also an Iowa Cover Crop dealer, an opportunity that emerged from connections he made at Iowa Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer Conference. As a dealer, he grows cover crop seed and helps farmers successfully plant and manage cover crops to build soil health and reduce nutrient loss.

On his own farmland, Gibbs uses no-till, cover crops, rotationally grazed cattle and vermicompost—an organic fertilizer derived from worms. He is known for his strong conservation mindset in the farming community.

“If the neighbors don’t talk about what I’m doing, I’m not trying hard enough,” he says.

Gibbs also has donated cover crop seed for Maquoketa Valley FFA’s 20-acre plot and mentored students on soil fertility recommendations. He then purchased the harvested seed from the students to sell to area farmers to plant. 

In addition to this partnership, Gibbs awarded his grant to the Maquoketa Valley FFA to support their hydroponics system which will provide fresh vegetables for local schools and businesses.

“To be able to give back to the community, it feels good to be part of an organization that can do that,” says Gibbs of Delaware County Farm Bureau where he serves as secretary. “I look forward to growing with the Farm Bureau. Everyone I talk to about it—I express they should get involved because it really is a great organization.”

Produce Donation Stand in Cumberland stocked with donated plants

Grow Another Row produce donations sites are open in Cass County for the 2023 season. Growers with rhubarb, asparagus, radishes, greens, herbs and other early-season produce are now invited to share their harvests.

Grow Another Row is a Healthy Cass County campaign started in 2020 by a group of local growers to encourage residents to grow and share more fresh produce. Anyone is welcome to donate or take produce. Many individuals drop off extra produce and pick up something they need during the same trip. There is no requirement to sign up to either donate or take produce. Donations of any size are appreciated. No donation is too big or too small for this program. Donations and pick up are encouraged to take place from dawn to dusk. As the program continues to grow… so do the stands! There are now ten produce stands located in Cass County this year!

Participants are reminded not to wash produce before donating if they can’t dry it and to take only what they need. Be sure to wash the produce before eating it. Produce bagged or packaged in family-sized containers is requested if possible. Contact Kate Olson at the Cass County Extension Office by calling (712) 243-1132 if you need produce bags or containers to package donations.

There are still a limited number of tomato and pepper plants at the extension office. If you would like one to grow to donate to the produce stands please contact Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu or call (712) 243-1132. These plants are also available for those who need help affording fresh produce and would like to grow their own are welcome as well. In addition, we have a few patio plants for individuals who do not have yard space but would still like a plant.

If produce is shared to the stands, you’re welcome to email Isabel Kinzie (ikinzie02@iastate.edu) or share a photo on the Facebook Page @CassCountyLocalFood). This will let the public know fresh produce is available for pick up! Please include the time, date dropped off and stand location to help us get the word out.

For more information on Grow Another Row visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/family-food

Subscribe to our newsletter delivered via email multiple times per month during the growing season, featuring growing tips, volunteer opportunities, and current information on where to drop off and pick up available fresh produce. Email keolson@iastate.edu to be added to our mailing list for the 2023 growing season!

For information on Cass County food pantries, farmers markets and other locally-driven food initiatives, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council on Facebook @CassCountyLocalFood.

Healthy Cass County is a community-focused volunteer network formed to promote the health and well-being of Cass County residents. Follow Healthy Cass County on Facebook @HealthyCassCounty (https://www.facebook.com/HealthyCassCounty/).

Grow Another Row 2023 Stand Locations (June-October, dawn to dusk)

Atlantic:

Midtown Apartments – 1209 E. 8th St.

Atlantic Public Library – 507 Poplar St.

Mollett Park – 1020 E 3rd St Pl.

Cumberland:

Cumberland United Methodist Church – 317 Monroe St., Cumberland (the stand is near the alley behind the church)

Marne:

Masonic Lodge – Washington St.

Massena:

Southwest Iowa Egg – 74851 Richland Rd.

Anita:

Anita Food Pantry – 208 Chestnut St.

Griswold:

Griswold United Methodist Church/Food Pantry – 100 Cass St.

Lewis

Lewis Public Library – 412 W. Main St.

Wiota:

Located on White Pole Rd. between Pioneer Ave. and Prospect St.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday morning in their boardroom at the Cass County Courthouse and discussed a wide range of issues.

The board set public hearing dates for vacating a portion of Pella Road and a zoning change recommendation in Brighton Township for June 27th at 9:00 a.m. The zoning change would allow Russell Lange to conduct business on a small piece of property that would change from general agricultural to light industrial in zoning.

The board had much discussion on certifying wages for deputies from County Recorder, Treasurer, Auditor, and Sheriff for Fiscal Year 2024. They also discussed setting annual base salaries for Deputy Sheriff positions. Cass County Attorney Vanessa Strazdas commented that she felt there should be a wage bump of 8% for Delinquent Fines Coordinator Eva Jensen. She felt her wage is really on the low end and said her office budget would cover the increase. Her annual salary would go to up to $48,136. The Supervisors were in agreement on the increase and eventually approved the non-exempt salary list.

The board also approved setting the annual salary of County Engineer Trent Wolken at $131,000. Discussions between the board and Wolken found that to be a competitive salary for the position in similar counties.

In their committee reports Supervisor Wendy Richter discussed the retirement of Kenner Baxter as head of the Tourism Committee. She said they are looking for someone to appoint to lead that group now and are open to suggestions. The board had some side discussion in regards to the value of potentially paying for someone to coordinate tourism or tourism and wellness combined in the county.

The board is set to meet again on Tuesday, June 27th at 9:00 a.m.