(Radio Iowa) – A top Republican in the state legislature says the current situation in congress shows the federal government is broken and it’s time to make changes in the U-S Constitution. State Representative John Wills of Spirit Lake — the Speaker Pro Tem in the IOWA House — is a long-time advocate for a Constitutional Convention. “Congress can propose changes to the Constitution. I just don’t think the current congress is going to limit itself or change itself,” Wills says. “The other way is that the states can petition for a Constitutional Convention.”

Thirty-four states must pass resolutions calling for such a meeting. So far, 19 have done so, but Iowa has not. Wills says a balanced budget amendment to the U-S constitution is a priority for him — and a Constitutional Convention could propose one. “We’re $33 trillion in debt and if it continues to rise at the pace we’re going to have $100 trillion of debt over the next 20 years and that’s just unsustainable. We can’t continue that,” Wills says. “I don’t think the congress or the president — I don’t care which party they’re from — has any inkling that they’re going to control it.”

Critics of convening a Constitutional Convention say there are no limits to what delegates could propose and it could lead to major changes in our form of government. The U-S Constitution was written by a Constitutional Convention in 1787. It has 27 amendments, the last of which was passed in 1992.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Adair/Casey-Guthrie Center School District Superintendent Josh Rasmussen reports and congratulates Mrs. Diane Flanery, Guthrie Center Elementary Principal, on her being named the Iowa Talented and Gifted (ITAG) Administrator of the year. Mrs. Flanery was born and raised in Bagley, Iowa. She earned her teaching license from Iowa State University in 1983 and began her education career teaching in the Nevada Community School District (1984-1994).

After moving back home to Guthrie County, she began working for Guthrie Center School as a first, and then sixth grade teacher (1996-2013). In 2011, she earned her administrator licensure from Iowa State and in 2013, became principal at Guthrie Center Elementary. Throughout her years as an educator, Mrs. Flanery has been a strong advocate for not just talented and gifted learners, but ALL learners, creating a positive learning environment to help all students grow and achieve their full potential.

Mrs. Diane Flanery

Diane and her husband, Dennis, live in Guthrie Center. They have three adult children and six grand dogs. After 37 years of service in public education, she will retire at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.

(Elk Horn, Iowa) – Members of the Exira-Elk Horn/Kimballton School District’s Board of Education met in a regular session Tuesday evening. According to the meeting minutes provided by Business Manager & Board Secretary/Treasurer Mallory Meyer, the Board approved several action items on their agenda, including:

• A request for allowable growth for LEP allowable costs of $2,540.88.
• An agreement to establish a consortium to jointly administer and instructional program located in space within the boundaries of the Glenwood Community School District.
• A District renovations contract with INVISION Architecture (for possible updates to the Elk Horn building, as well a secured entrance and updates to the Exira building). It essentially provides for cost estimates at this time.
• The Exira-EHK Board also passed the First Reading of a Disciplinary Policy for students who make threats of violence or cause incidents of violence.
• And, they approved the resignation of Associate Stacie Hansen, along with the hiring of Cody Parmley as Play Director and Jacki Piva as an Associate.

Superintendent Trevor Miller noted that there are four seats open on the School Board, and only three candidates running in the November 7th election. The board discussed what the next steps would be, if there is no write-in candidate, and if they will need to go through the steps of appointing someone to the board.

(Radio Iowa) – As part of Veterans Day observances next month, Iowans are being asked to take part in what’s being called Operation Green Light as a show of support for those who’ve served our country in uniform. Katie Peterson, with the Hamilton County Veterans Affairs office in Webster City, says the effort is being organized by the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers and the National Association of Counties.  “They are collaborating together to raise awareness for challenges faced by veterans,” Peterson says, “and resources available at the county, state and federal levels that are there to assist veterans and their families.”

This will be the second annual Operation Green Light and it will be held November 5th through the 12th. Peterson says it’s easy to take part. “All you would have to do to show your support is shine a green light somewhere that’s visible from the street,” Peterson says, “that illuminates the area where you’re driving down the street that you’d be able to see that, just to show the veterans that are driving around that we are there to support them.”

For more information, contact your county V-A office. Veterans Day is November 11th.

(Adair, Iowa) – Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center School District Superintendent Josh Rasmussen says it’s been a busy Fall season so far, with regard to sports. He says they’ve had a lot of success both in the classroom and athletics.

The Elementary School Principal in the Guthrie Center District, Rasmussen says, also recently received an award from the Iowa Talented and Gifted Association.

During Wednesday evenings AC-GC School Board meeting, Rasmussen discussed the District’s enrollment numbers.

Having no staff resignations to act on, the Board proceeded to approve Contract Recommendations for persons coaching Junior High Sports.

The Board also approved a Special Education Contract with the Woodward-Granger School District. The next Annual, Organizational and Regular meetings of the AC-GC School Board takes place November 15th in Guthrie Center, on the heels of the Nov. 7th School Board election.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Farm Credit Administration (FCA) Board Member Glen Smith, of Atlantic, visited with KJAN Friday morning (Oct. 20), about the recently passed Young, Beginning and Small (YBF) Farmers and Ranchers program. Smith, who flew-in from his post at Washington, D-C last weekend, said the program is designed to assist young farmers in securing seed money to get into the business. Smith explained the FCA is the Federal financial regulator for the Farm Credit System.

The FCA has offices in every state in the country. There are 62 institutions and thousands of branch banks around the country, as well. Smith says Oct. 12th was National Farmer’s Day, which brought the average age of farmers nationally, is estimated to be 59.5-years. The next Ag Census in 2024 is expected to show that age is now closer to 60 or beyond. That’s become a real national concern for Ag Policy makers.

A Bipartisan effort led to funding for the YBF program, but it didn’t come quickly.

Glen R. Smith

Glen Smith says the final result was a strengthening of controls, and a review of the current programs.

The YBF program, he says, is designed to be customizable to the diverse agricultural industries across the country.

Lending for the program is made through local financial institutions, including branch offices in Harlan, Red Oak, Creston and Perry. The Federal Land Office in Atlantic was eliminated several years ago. The FCS system, he says is best poised to meet with young farmers and ranchers, help them deal with some of the challenges they face and in answering their questions.

The goal Smith says, is to make getting seed money for farm operations less intimidating, and foster better cooperation with the FSA and USDA. For more information contact your local Farm Credit institution.

(NWS/Des Moines, Iowa) – The latest U-S Drought Monitor report from the National Weather Service in Des Moines, shows drought conditions improved in portions of northern and eastern Iowa during the past week. The report, issued Thursday, Oct. 19th, showed none of Iowa’s 99 counties are in an Exceptional Drought (D4). Portions of eastern Iowa are in an Extreme Drought (D3). Severe Drought (D2) conditions are found outside those counties in an Extreme Drought, and extends across much of southern and west central Iowa, to include the extreme northern, western and southwestern portions of Cass County, all of Pottawattamie, Harrison and Shelby Counties, and portions of Audubon, Guthrie, Adair, Mills, Montgomery and Adams Counties.

Moderate Drought (D1) or Abnormally Dry (D-O) conditions exist in areas of the State not already covered by the D2, D3 or D4 Drought conditions. Officials say the 30-day precipitation totals are now above normal for much of northwest Iowa and eastern portions of the State. The largest deficits are across southern Iowa. The seven-day precipitation forecast call for dry conditions this weekend, with an increasing threat of rainfall into next week.

The eight-to 14-day outlook indicates a better chance of below normal temperatures across Iowa, with near normal precipitation during that time frame. The bottom line: Drought conditions are expected to persist across Iowa through the end of this month. (Click on the graphics to enlarge)

(Shenandoah, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is partnering with Optimal Aquafeed and Page County Conservation Board to stock rainbow trout at 9 a.m. this Saturday, October 21 in RAPP Park, outside Shenandoah. Approximately 750 rainbow trout ranging from 0.75 lbs to 4.0 lbs. from Optimal Aquafeed will be stocked by Iowa DNR staff in a small borrow pit on the RAPP Park property. A second stocking of approximately 500 rainbow trout is planned for November.

Anglers must have a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.  The daily limit is five trout per licensed angler with a possession limit of 10. Children age 15 or younger can fish for trout with a properly licensed adult, but they must limit their catch to one daily limit.  The child can buy a trout fee which will allow them to catch their own limit of five trout.

Rainbow Trout (DNR Photo)

This is the third year of this successful partnership that provides a unique fishing opportunity to southwest Iowa anglers.

(Radio Iowa) – Alpaca farmers from all across the Midwest will be bringing their animals to central Iowa this weekend for a large convention, show and competition. The president of the National Alpaca Owners Association, Jennifer Hack, says the Fall Alpaca Spectacular will be the first-ever “mega” alpaca show in North America, as it’s combining five competitions into one.

There will be some 350 alpacas shown at the Iowa venue, which is free and open to the general public. Unlike most other livestock, alpacas aren’t raised for meat, but rather for their fleece, which Hack says is truly unlike that of any other creature.

The event runs today (Friday) through Sunday at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State University and Alliant Energy dedicated a solar farm on the south side of Ames Thursday. The Dean of the I-S-U College of Agriculture, Daniel Robison says it’s an agrivoltaic project that combines agricultural use with the production of voltage or electricity. The solar panels are up higher and can rotate to allow for the planting of fruits and vegetables around them.

ISU Solar farm (ISU photo)

Robison says I-S-U received a two-point-two million dollar grant from the U-S Department of Energy to study how the crops do in a solar field. He says that type of research isn’t very abundant in the Midwest. They also have planted pollinator plants like prairie grasses around the solar farm and will have beehives as well so they can harvest honey along with the electricity produced by the solar panels.