Drought conditions are worsening across Iowa with 98-percent of the state now in some form of drought and 42-percent in severe drought. Joel De Jong, an agronomist with the Iowa State University Extension, says crop conditions are actually in good shape in northwest Iowa, as the region’s gotten some moisture. De Jong says given the late planting this spring, some plants are being forced to mature faster.

“That doesn’t give us as much time to fill those kernels and fill those bean pods,” he says. “Yet, I still think we’re tolerating the drought reasonably well. We had some rainfall in August and it’s helping us out.” De Jong says further east, crop conditions drop off dramatically. He says to the south, in the Denison and Carroll areas where corn silage harvest has begun, some of that is being combined. He says one more good rain would help carry northwest Iowa crops through.

“We are still filling bean pods in a lot of fields and we’re filling kernels in a lot of fields,” he says. “A little more moisture helps get us a little more dry matter and moderating these temperatures is going to do some of the same thing.” While highs last week were in the hundreds in parts of Iowa, highs now are back in the 60s and 70s.

Few problems are reported with plant diseases, although there have been signs of sudden death syndrome and white mold as well as soybean cyst nematode. He says there have also been some spots of Goss’s Wilt along the Iowa-Minnesota border.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa’s weather has cooled off significantly in the past few days, but conditions are still extremely dry. Bans on open burning are now in effect in seven Iowa counties. Dan Wood, with the Iowa Fire Prevention Bureau, is urging residents to be extremely careful with fire, even in places where there isn’t a ban. Fire chiefs and emergency managers get together and assess the threat, he says, especially with crops drying and the danger from people intentionally setting fire to weeds in ditches or fields.

Looking at the forecast, which only calls for a few scattered showers, Wood says it’s likely more counties will ask the Fire Prevention Bureau to approve more burn bans. “When conditions are drier than normal and things are dry, fire tends to move faster and it’s easier to catch things on fire simply because there’s no moisture in the ground and there’s no moisture in the leaves and grass,” Wood says. “It’s easier for things to catch on fire and it moves quicker and can really get away from you.” Wood says each individual county and fire protection district will decide when to end their bans on open burning. The current list includes: Audubon, Calhoun, Clinton, Greene, Muscatine, Scott, and Webster.

(Radio Iowa)

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was transported to the Clarinda Regional Health Center following a collision this (Friday) morning, in Clarinda. 50-year old Bernard Bergen, of Shenandoah, suffered possible/unknown injuries during a collision between his motorcycle and a car. Authorities say he was wearing a helmet and protective clothing.

The accident happened at around 5:35-a.m. at the intersection of the Highway 2 bypass and State Street. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says a 2007 Dodge Caliber driven by 59-year old Joyce Larson, of New Market, had stopped at the stop sign and was pulling out onto Highway 2 westbound. An unknown pickup pulling a trailer was turning south from Highway 2 onto the Hwy 2 bypass around Clarinda. Bergen’s 2007 BMW motorcycle was west of the pickup/trailer traveling east onto State Street.

Palmer says Larson didn’t see the cycle due to the obstruction created by the pickup & trailer. When her car hit the motorcycle, Bergen was thrown from the machine onto the pavement. Larson was cited for Failure to Yield upon entering a through Highway.

A photography exhibit featuring Iowa children who have a parent in prison opens this weekend in a fitting locale. The display “Confliction” will premiere on the walls of cells in the former Polk County Jail in downtown Des Moines. Joy DeSomber, co-founder of the group Empowering Children of Incarcerated Parents, says the black-and-white photos are riveting as they appear beside quotes from each youngster.

“These quotes from these children are amazing,” DeSomber says. “You see the quote from the child, you see the image of the child, you see that they’re behind bars. You see that we as a community are stigmatizing them. We are putting them behind bars for their parents’ crimes.” A study finds seven out of every ten children with a parent in prison will end up in prison themselves. DeSomber, who has a degree in criminology, co-authored the book “What Did I Do?,” the inspiration for the photo exhibition.

“We hold workshops with these children and invite them to tell their stories,” DeSomber says. “What did they feel when their parent was first arrested? How did they feel when they visited their parents behind bars? Do they tell their friends? Do they not tell their friends? In the back of the book is an opportunity for us to provide resources for these families in their communities that they can reach out to for help.” She says her West Des Moines-based organization is working to become a clearinghouse for children to gain access to positive solutions.

“These children feel so stigmatized and isolated and neglected,” DeSomber says. “They often don’t tell their friends about their home situation, with their parent being behind bars, because of the stigmatization. It’s an opportunity for them to learn other children have been through similar circumstances and they made it through. It helps them feel more confident they can get through their situation.” The exhibition in Des Moines only runs this weekend as photographer Ben Easter takes it to Paris, France, next week. Learn more about the exhibit at: http://conflictionexhibit.com/ — and the book at: http://whatdididobook.com/

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) say details will be released later this morning during a press conference, with regard to a stand-off situation that went on throughout the night, in Rockwell City. Officials would not elaborate on the incident, except to say the subject was taken into custody early this morning.

Additional information will be released following the 11-a.m. press conference at the Rockwell City Fire Department, where Iowa DCI Special Agent in Charge Michael Motsinger will be speak about the events leading up to the arrest.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Atlantic Police Department reports a local man was arrested late Thursday night on several charges, following a domestic disturbance at the Sundance Apartments. 19-year old Kameron Burg, of Atlantic, faces charges that include: Assault on a Peace Officer; Disorderly conduct; Escape or absence from custody; 2 counts of Interference with official acts;  2 counts of Criminal Mischief in the 3rd degree; and, Domestic Abuse/Serious Assault. Officials say the incident occurred just before midnight. The officer involved in the incident was not injured.

Burg was booked into the Cass County Jail.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports they’ve taken a pledge to keep tobacco out of the hands of Montgomery County youth.  Iowa Pledge (“I-Pledge” for short) is a partnership with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverage Division (ABD) to educate local retailers, and to enforce Iowa’s tobacco laws. Officials say the program has helped increase statewide tobacco compliance to a rate of 93-percent since it began in the year 2000. By partnering with the ABD, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says it will do its part to continue the upward trend.

Clerks who successfully complete an online training program and pass an exam, will be I-pledge certified, and the retail establishment will receive an affirmative defense against a civil penalty, of the certified clerk makes an illegal sale. To take the training, or search I-Pledge certification records, go to http://ipocp.iowaabd.com:8080/portal.

Officials say the I-Pledge retailer program is a great way for clerks to prepare themselves to refuse illegal tobacco sales. As part of the I-Pledge program, deputies will be conducting compliance checks on local establishments. Criminal penalties resulting from the sale of tobacco to a minor during the unannounced checks using underage customers, include fines from $100 for the first offense, to as much as $500 for the third and subsequent offenses.

Sheriff Joe Sampson says handing out citations is not the intent of the I-Pledge program. He says the hope is to educate clerks and maintain a compliant retail environment in communities within Montgomery County. More importantly, according to Sampson, is the “Pledge to help keep tobacco out of the hands of Iowa youth.”

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say a Villisca man was arrested Thursday afternoon. 23-year old Charles Albert Mace, Jr, was arrested at around 12:40-p.m. on charges of providing false information to a peace officer, and driving while suspended. Mace was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and later released on $300 cash bond.