Many Iowans will celebrate Easter this weekend by dunking eggs in colored dye and hiding them for young ones to find and place in their baskets. Katie Coyle, spokeswoman for the Iowa Poultry Association, says it’s one the busiest weekends of the year for Iowa’s egg producers.  “We see an increase in egg sales during this time of year because people are decorating them as Easter eggs,” Coyle says. “When people are out purchasing their groceries, we always say grab an extra dozen.”

Coyle says Easter is also the kickoff leading into May which is National Egg Month. Iowa egg producers have some 60-million laying hens producing nearly 15-billion eggs each year. Iowa is the nation’s number-one egg producer, she says, by far.  “Just hands down, there isn’t really any competition,” Coyle says. “The number-two and -three states still don’t produce as many eggs as Iowa combined. It’s a great month for us to get out the message about eggs and the importance of them to the Iowa economy.”

Iowa’s egg industry contributes about two-billion dollars in total sales to the state’s economy and is responsible for nearly eight-thousand jobs. Coyle says eggs are very nutritious and are basically a multi-vitamin in a shell.

(Radio Iowa)

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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23 non-profit agencies in Cass County have received a total of $110,139 in grants from the Cass County Community Foundation. CCCF Chair Nicholas Hunt says organizations in Cass County that submitted their applications for funds by the Feb. 1st, 2014 deadline, were eligible for grants.

Grant recipients include:

• Iowa Western Community College Foundation – $18,000 for furnishings & equipment for the student activity center.
• The City of Massena – $9,000 to create a Veteran’s Memorial section in the City Park.
• The Cass County Historical Museum – $8,000 for the continued renovation of Annex #2.
• The Center for the Advancement of Self-Sufficiency, Inc. – $7,000 for computer labs in 4 classrooms.
• The Atlantic Parks & Recreation Dept. – $6,000 for a new softball scoreboard & new water basketball/volleyball equipment for the pool.
• Lewis 1st Responders & Firefighters Assoc. – $6,000 for turnout gear.
• Nishna Valley YMCA – $6,000 for a Scout Hi-Lift, transport cart & pool access chairs.
• The Parkinson’s Support Group – $6,000 for 2 Expresso HD bikes.
• The Anita Foundation’s Health and Wellness Center – $5,000 for weight equipment.
• The City of Griswold – $5,000 to replace a partition in the Community Building.
• The Hitchcock House – $5,000 for siding on the gift shop/administration bldg.
• The Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center – $4,000 for building updates.
• The Cass County Memorial Hospital Foundation – $4,000 to replace fetal monitors and add a cardiac monitor.
• The City of Marne – $4,000 for a retaining wall, safety cover & pea rock for the children’s play area in the City Park.
• The Massena Public Library – $2,639 for  a commercial dehumidifier.
• The City of Anita – $2,000 for carpeting in the Community Center.
• The Griswold Public Library – $2,000 for treadmills and computers.
• Anita Child Care – $1,750 for renovations and equipment.
• and, the City of Lewis’ Public Library – $1,500 for a Heritage Center display case.

All grantees met the criteria as Cass County non-profit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services. The grant recipients received their checks on Friday, April 18th.

For more information about the Cass County Community Foundation, and/or how you can receive a tax credit for donations to a permanently endowed fund, contact Dennis Nissen, Iowa Foundations Director for the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, at 1-800-794-3458.

A three-vehicle collision in Montgomery County late Friday morning caused a total of $25,400 damage, but no one was injured. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department reports vehicles driven by 41-year old Denise Reed, of Clarinda, 34-year old Gregory Franzen, of Omaha, and 81-year old Robert Randolph, of Council Bluffs,  collided at around 11:50-a.m. near the intersection of Highway 34 and 4th Street.

Officials say Reed’s eastbound 2011 Toyota Camry had slowed and then stopped for a vehicle in front of her that was turning left onto northbound 4th Street. Franzen’s  2013 Ford Fusion came to a stop behind the Toyota, but Randolph failed to notice Franzen’s vehicle was stopped until it was too late. He tried to stop, but Randolph’s  2008 Ford truck hit Franzen’s vehicle in the rear, causing that vehicle to be pushed into the rear of the Camry.

Authorities cited Robert Randolph for Following too Closely.

Authorities in Fremont County report a Shenandoah man was arrested Friday, following an investigation into an accident. Officials say deputies were called to the 2300 block of 330th Avenue for a report of a vehicle in a ditch. Upon arrival, deputies saw a 1996 Dodge Ram pickup on its side in the southbound ditch. The driver, 25-year old Travis Hoyt, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody.

Hoyt was charged with OWI/3rd offense, Use of an electronic communication device while driving, open container, Failure to provide proof of/or hold insurance; and Failure to Maintain Control.

Hoyt was brought to the Fremont County Jail and later released on $6,950 bond.

A retired utility engineer who is a member of the Iowa House of Representatives is raising concerns about a proposed high-voltage transmission line that is to be constructed across Iowa. Representative Ralph Watts, a Republican from Adel, objects to the use of the government’s “eminent domain” authority to seize property along the 500-mile route for the Rock Island Clean Line project.

“Rock Island Clean Lines is a non-utility, private enterprise embarking on a private project for private gain,” Watts says.”…Therefore, it would not serve a public purpose which is required as a justification for use of eminent domain.” Developers of wind farms are not allowed to use eminent domain authority to seize ground for wind turbines, but state law does allow eminent domain authority to be used for power lines. A bill stalled in the House this year that would have set up a new appeal process for Iowa landowners affected by power line projects that stretch 200 or more miles.

The proposed Rock Island Clean Line would export energy from wind turbines in northwest Iowa to Chicago and other electricity customers to the east. Representative Watts says it would be “shamefully negligent” for the Iowa utility board to allow the firm to use eminent domain authority to seize some of the Iowa farm ground needed for its project. “After all is said and done, if Rock Island Clean Lines is allowed the use of eminent domain for their project, it could likely result in the largest unjustified taking of private property in the history of the state of Iowa,” Watts says.

Governor Terry Branstad’s economic development director has called the transmission line “an important infrastructure project that needs to occur” because wind energy has the potential to be a growing Iowa export. Developers of the 500-mile Rock Island Clean Line project have charted a preferred route that would start in northwest Iowa’s O’Brien County and would exit on the east side of the state in Scott County, just north of the Quad Cities.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The federal government is starting a new program to help monitor and possibly control the spread of a virus that has killed millions of pigs since showing up in the U.S. last year. The porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, believed to be from China, causes severe diarrhea in newborn piglets, who die from dehydration. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday it is stepping up efforts by requiring farmers to report infections.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A prosecutor pursuing several cases against felons charged with voting illegally says an Iowa Supreme Court ruling shouldn’t impact them. Assistant Black Hawk County Attorney Linda Fangman said Thursday the prosecutions will “proceed as is,” despite Tuesday’s ruling suggesting that not all felons lose their voting rights. She’s handling felony election misconduct cases against six offenders accused of voting in the 2012 election even though they lost their rights. A seventh may plead guilty Monday.

SHELDON, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa bar and bowling alley owner and one of her employees have been accused of setting a fire to collect insurance money. Authorities say 36-year-old Kristina Manasil owned the Budd-Z’s Sports Bar and Grill and its bowling alley in Sheldon. Manasil and 36-year-old Adam Sickles were arrested Wednesday.

PROLE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an escaped prisoner captured in central Iowa was found under a house porch. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says 37-year-old Kenny Bevard was found Friday hiding under a residence in Prole, just south of Des Moines.

Iowa’s Secretary of State and Republican candidate for Congress, Matt Schultz, Friday, announced a twelve-stop tour through Iowa’s Third Congressional District. The tour will take place on April 22nd and 23rd. During the tour, Schultz’s will be meeting with voters throughout the district listening to their concerns and talking about his vision to fix Washington DC.

The tour, which is open to the public and the press, will begin in Perry on the morning of the 22nd and will end the day with a meet and greet in Council Bluffs, where Schultz lived and served as City Councilman for five years. Schultz will then travel through the southern part of Iowa’s Third Congressional District ending the tour in Indianola on the evening of the 23rd.

Among the stops during his trip on Tuesday, April 22nd, is: The Hilltop Diner in Guthrie Center, beginning at 9:30am; The Downtowner Cafe in Atlantic, at 11:30, and the Fountain Perk in Red Oak, starting at 1:30-p.m.  Schultz will also be at the Gridiron Garage in Glenwood, at 3-p.m. Tuesday, and he’ll conclude the day’s stops with a visit to Barley’s Bar in Council Bluffs, beginning at 5:30-p.m.

On Wednesday, April 23rd, Matt Schultz will be at the Garrison Coffee House in Clarinda, beginning at 8-a.m.; From there he travels to Bedford for a 10-a.m. visit to the Junction Cafe. Then it’s on to Corning, for an 11:45-a.m. stop at Kay’s Cafe. Schultz’s journey brings him next to Creston, for an 11:30-a.m. stop at the Garden Cafe’ and Coffee Shop. And from there, it’s on to the Northside Cafe in Winterset, where Schultz will meet with the public at 3-p.m.

His day concludes in Indianola.

A truck driver from South Dakota died early Friday morning in Fremont County, when he was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 29. The Iowa State Patrol says 34-year old Christopher Vonderlieth, of Sioux Falls, SD, was partially in the right lane changing a flat tire on the left side of 2001 Freightliner semi he was driving, when he was struck by a 2008 Chrysler van. The man died at the scene of the accident that happened at around 5:40-a.m., about one-quarter of a mile south of the Thurman exit.

Officials say the semi was parked on the shoulder of the interstate facing southbound, and had its four-way flashers on, but the van’s driver, 49-year old Roger Norton, Sr., of Bellevue, NE, failed to see Vonderlieth in the traveled portion of the road. No charges have been filed.

Sheriff’s officials in Page County say one person suffered possible/unknown injuries during a single-vehicle accident Thursday evening. In a report released Friday, authorities said 16-year old Jennifer Gullion, of Maryville, MO., was transported to the hospital in Shenandoah, after the 2004 Chevy Impala she was driving went out of control on Hackberry Aveue, just south of 280th Street.
When the car drifted off the road onto the east shoulder, the teen over-corrected. The car skidded across the road and entered the west ditch before rolling twice and coming to rest on its wheels. The accident happened at around 7:50-p.m. Gullion was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.