DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Johnston father of two young daughters is joining with gun-rights advocates in seeking a change to an Iowa law that makes it illegal for children young than 14 to fire handguns.  Nathan Gibson told The Des Moines Register he was inspired to change the law after being told at a shooting range last weekend that his 8-year-old daughter, Natalie, wasn’t old enough to shoot her handgun. Natalie and her 10-year-old sister, Meredith, have been joining their father at shooting ranges since age 5.

Those seeking to change the law say shooting ranges have enforced it more closely since Altoona Democratic Sen. Joe Riding sought to lower the age limit from 14 to 12. That effort failed, but publicity surrounding it prompted ranges to abide by the law.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday) approved the appointments of two individuals to fill vacancy terms. Supervisor Chuck Rieken recommended the appointment of Jerry Hudson, of Lewis, to fill a vacancy Cass County Conservation Board.

Rieken said Hudson is retired from the Iowa DNR, welcome’s the opportunity to serve on the Conservation Board. When the next person’s term expires, the Supervisors will look at appointing  a female if one is available and wishes to become involved, so that the Conservation Board is gender balanced.

Hudson, who served 28-years as a DNR Fisheries Biologist, will fill the position through Dec. 31st, 2017. The Supervisors also approved a recommendation from Supervisor Duane McFadden, for the appointment of Kay Winston, of Atlantic, as Washington Township Trustee, with her term expiring Dec. 31st, 2014.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – There are varying degrees of drought conditions in the Plains region, but a National Weather Service hydrologist says predicted above-normal rain this spring might ease some of the problem.  Mike Gillispie in Sioux Falls expects improvement in parts of Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. Some people in the agriculture industry and with municipal water supplies are still wary.

Nathan Fields with the National Corn Growers Association says that during the 2012 drought, he learned how quickly it can set in and affect crop production.  Parts of eastern South Dakota are abnormally dry. The stretch from southern Minnesota and Iowa through Nebraska is facing moderate drought. Conditions worsen toward the south, as parts of Texas and Oklahoma are in the middle of an ongoing drought.  There’s no drought in North Dakota.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A public hearing will take place this evening in Atlantic, with regard to the disposal of property at 405 West 4th Street. The hearing is being held as part of the Atlantic City Council meeting that begins at 5:30-p.m. in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, and is with regard to a vacant lot tax acquired by the City. City Attorney Dave Wiederstein says the property is a half lot, and not buildable, so he was working with an abutting property owner who is interested in purchasing the property.

In other business, the Council will act on authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with SWIPCO (The Southwest Iowa Planning Council), with regard to the preparation of an Urban Revitalization Plan (URP) for the City. The cost of the service will not exceed $2,500. The Plan is required in order for the City to create and grant Tax Abatements. Once the Plan is created, a public hearing will be held, with property owners being notified by mail of the hearing date.

And, for the 18th year in a row, the Council will receive a “Tree City USA” award from Trees Forever in conjunction with the Arbor Day Foundation.  The City is being recognized for meeting certain requirements, including an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita. The award will be presented by Dolly Bergmann.

Authorities in Adams County report a Corning woman was arrested Tuesday morning on a couple of charges. 34-year old Dorothy Snyder was charged with Driving While Barred and Failure to file SR-22 Insurance. Snyder was taken into custody following a routine traffic stop at around 10:40-a.m, Tuesday, and brought to the Adams County Jail. Her bond amounted to slight more than $2,566.

Page County Employees are this year’s winners of the “Live Healthy Iowa 10 week Wellness Challenge,” in the 2014 Corporate Cup’s Small Company with a workforce of 50 to 250 division. The employees averaged 90-percent participation and 97.22-percent completion.

Communities, schools and businesses across the state participated in the Challenge, competing to take possession of the coveted traveling trophies for 2014. An awards ceremony was scheduled to take place today (Wednesday),  at the Iowa Wellness Summit Awards Ceremony in Des Moines, as part of a kick-off to the 2014 Iowa Wellness Summit.

The Cup Challenges take healthy competition outside the individual employers and raise the competition across the state. This year 278 companies, 46 communities and 18 schools competed for the coveted traveling trophy in their respective division. Cup Challenge winners were determined by the combination of participation among the eligible population and completion of the challenge.

Casey’s General Stores won the Mid-sized Company with a workforce of 251-1,000 division, with 53.25% participation and 84.04% completion. And, the Meredith Corporation won the Large Company with a workforce of 1,000 competition, with 97.82% participation and 80.35% completion.

The 2014 Community Cup Winner is Allamakee County, with 10.35% participation and 71.23% completion. And, the Mid-Prairie Community School District won the 2014 K-12 Cup division,  with 97.63% participation, 50% adult completion and 100% youth completion.

For a full list of Cup Challenge rankings, please visit www.livehealthyiowa.org. For more information about the Iowa Wellness Summit Awards Ceremony, please visit www.iowahealthieststate.com.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 46-year old Randy Lee Rudolph, of Audubon, was arrested Monday evening (4/14), on a charge of Animal Neglect causing death. The charge is the result of an investigation into animals found in cages in Brayton. The animals had no food or water. Rudolph turned himself-in to the Sheriff’s Office, was cited and released. He’s scheduled to appear in court Monday, April 21st.

And, an arrest has been made in connection with an incident that occurred last week in Hamlin. Sheriff’s officials say 54-year old Jeffrey Dennis Spencer, of Brayton, was arrested Friday evening, on a charge of Public Intoxication/3rd or subsequent offense. His arrest stems from an incident in the 4900 block of Highway 44 in Hamlin. Spencer was brought to the Audubon County Jail and released the following day. He’ s scheduled to appear in court Thursday (4/17).

Police in Red Oak report one person with a long history of arrests was taken into custody again, Tuesday night. 29-year old Kenton Jarvis Schooling, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 9:35-p.m. at a residence in the 200 block of North 2nd Street. Schooling was wanted on a Mills County warrant for OWI/1st Offense. Schooling was being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on $1,000 cash bond.

And, the Red Oak P-D reports 35-year old Helen Louise Malone, of Red Oak, was cited for Driving While Suspended, Tuesday. She was pulled over at around 11:45-p.m. in the 1800 block of North Broadway Street, issued the citation and released.