The Trustee in the bankruptcy case of G & R Feed and Grain Company, Inc., in Portsmouth, provided another update on the matter Thursday evening. According to Deborah L. Petersen, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has accepted bids for the sale of all stored grain. Each producer with a warehouse receipt for stored grain will receive a letter in the next couple of weeks from the USDA. Producers can expect to receive a check for their stored grain from the USDA within 4 – 6 weeks after all grain is removed. At this point, there is no action for producers to take with the USDA.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture has sent letters to producers who sold grain to G & R. The letter indicates that holders of signed credit-sale contracts do not qualify for payment from the Iowa Depositors and Seller Indemnity Fund, but you may qualify for other partial payments. Producers who sold grain for cash or who sold grain on an unsigned contract, who were not paid, may qualify
for the Indemnity Fund and may receive up to 90% of their claim, with certain limits. These producers may proceed to file their claims with the Iowa Department of Agriculture, as well as with the Bankruptcy Court.

G & R filed complete schedules in the Bankruptcy Court and all creditors and contract holders should have received a notice from the Bankruptcy Court. The Notice contains information on how to file a claim with the Bankruptcy Court. If you have a claim for a deferred price contract, or other amount due you, you should take action to timely file a claim. If you have a contract for future delivery of grain, you will soon receive notice of rejection or assumption of that contract, as the Trustee will not be fulfilling those contracts, but may have offers to purchase them.

Once the decision is made, the Trustee will file the necessary notice with the Court and all holders will receive notice of the Trustee’s action. Contracts that are rejected, once approved by the Court, will have no further action required. If contracts are assumed or sold, then the producer will be required to fulfill the contract. The Trustee is gathering other information and working on liquidating all assets as soon as possible, as well as collecting all accounts due G & R. The Trustee has a recorded message that will be updated regularly. You can hear this message at 712-328-8808, option 8. If you have legal questions, including how to file a claim, the Trustee advises that you should contact an attorney of your choice.

Authorities say three people were arrested following the execution of  search warrant at a residence in Harlan, last Friday ( Jan.11th).  According to the Harlan Police Department, the search warrant to locate brass knuckles was issued following a confrontation that took place in downtown Harlan. Authorities conducted the search at 911 Market Street, Apartment C.During their investigation, officers discovered drugs, drug paraphernalia, cash and a sawed off shotgun. Authorities are also looking at the serial numbers of some electronic items that were found in the home, to see if they were stolen.

Taken into custody was 50 year old Jeffrey R. Pape of Omaha, 49 year old Christina L. Hansen and 56 year old Robert C. Stahl, both of Harlan. Hansen and Pape were charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, 8 counts of prescription drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of an offensive weapon and prohibited acts. Stahl was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

All three suspects were taken to the Shelby County Jail. If convicted, Hansen and Pape face a maximum of 43 years in prison and additional fines of $22,600. Stahl faces a max sentence of 2 years and fines totaling $3,100.

As part of the ongoing construction and renovation project at Cass County Memorial Hospital, the Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) was relocated today (Thursday, January 17th), to newly remodeled space in the hospital.  The four-bed BHU is now in the area previously occupied by the Special Care Unit. Officials at CCMH say as the BHU is located in a central area of the hospital facility, family and friends visiting BHU patients should park in the East Parking Lot, behind the building.

The East Entrance has a security system that allows entry 24 hours a day.  Visitors are asked not to use the Emergency Department parking, in order that it remains available for emergency patients. Once inside the building, follow the entry hallway in to the Atrium, turn left and follow the signs to Behavioral Health (BHU), which is across the hall from the Emergency Department.

BHU visiting hours are 4:30 – 8:30 pm, Monday – Friday and 1:00 – 8:30 pm on Saturday, Sunday and holidays.

Authorities in Page County say a woman was arrested Wednesday evening on a couple of charges, after she allegedly assaulted her boyfriend and became combative with officers. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says 43-year old Jodie Marie Sherman was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault and Interference with Official Acts, following an investigation into the assault of  51-year old Douglas Richt.

The couple live at 107 Main Street, in Shambaugh. Sheriff Palmer says deputies were called to the home at around 6:40-p.m., Wednesday. During their investigation, Sherman allegedly became combative. She was taken into custody and brought to the Clarinda Regional Health Center, by Clarinda Ambulance. Sherman was later brought to the Page County Jail and held without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate. A Clarinda Police office assisted in making the arrest.

(12-p.m. News)

Authorities in Page County have filed a charge of Animal Cruelty and/or Neglect, against a Clarinda woman. Sheriff’ Lyle Palmer says 43-year old Tammy Davis was charged following an investigation into a complaint about dogs being neglected at 1493 N Avenue, about one-mile southwest of Bethesda, in rural Page County.

When members of the Page County Sheriff’s Office went to investigate the complaint, Palmer says it became clear to them that two mixed-breed dogs which were seized, were emaciated, with no muscle or fat on their skeletons. The dogs were also likely dehydrated, according to the Sheriff.

The animals were brought to a local veterinarian, where they received care and are said to be showing signs of improvement. An investigation into their neglect is ongoing, as authorities continue to monitor the dogs’ conditions.

(12-p.m. News)

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say the annual $25,000 Winterfest Ice Fishing Derby is set to take place one-week from this Saturday, near Council Bluffs. The event will be held at Lake Manawa State Park, Saturday, January 26th from 7-a.m. to 1-p.m., with derby participants fishing for the biggest fish they can catch, as well as tagged fish worth up to $25,000.

Numerous door prizes will be given away as well as prizes for the biggest fish in youth and adult categories of bluegill, catfish, crappie, drum, walleye and wiper. Prizes will also be given for a chili cook-off and ice house decorating contest.

Volunteers are busy preparing for the derby and excited that the ice is seven to eight inches in most places on the lake! Shannon Meister, chair of the Winterfest Ice Fishing Derby Committee, says while several hundred people have registered so far, there is still plenty of room for more. Registration will be open the morning of the derby from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for $20 per person.

“Recycled Fish” will host an Ice Bash Friday, January 25th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for food, ice fishing tips, seminars and door prizes at the Hy-Vee on Broadway. For more information and ice conditions, surf the web to www.winterfestderby.com.  Or, contact the Lake Manawa State Park Office at (712) 366-0220.

A law enforcement official in Harrison County community of Dunlap is warning residents to be on the look out for thieves in the area. Dunlap Police Chief Darin Kline say there has been an increase in thefts recently, and he urges residents to keep their doors locked.

Kline says if residents of his community see anything suspicious or have any information with regard to the recent thefts, they should contact the Dunlap Police Department at 712-643-5721 or the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office at 712-644-2244.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports registration is now open for the 10th Anniversary Motorcycle Safety Forum. The rider-focused event is facilitated by Iowa’s motorcycle safety team, a diverse partnership of motorcycle safety advocates, the Iowa Department of Transportation and Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, and, motorcycle trainers, dealers and riders. The event is being held Friday, April 26th, at the Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To register, log on to http://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/ods/motorcycle.

A change in venue for the forum will allow much more space for vendor exhibits and provide motorcycle enthusiasts ample parking for a “ride in.” Also planned for this year’s event is a photo booth where participants can have their photo taken with their bike (weather permitting). Last year’s forum was a sold-out event, so don’t wait too long to register. Registration is only $15 and includes a continental breakfast, lunch, breaks and an opportunity to enter a drawing for an Aluma motorcycle trailer.

Once again this year, all paid forum participants will be provided a free coupon (value up to $245) that can be used to register for a Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s (MSF) Basic Rider Course I or II. Both courses are part of the Iowa DOT’s Rider Education Program and taught by Iowa-licensed, MSF-certified rider coaches. The coupons can be redeemed at any of the approved sites, which are located throughout the state.

The one-day, interactive forum will feature several presentations, safety displays, rider training, an exhibitor tradeshow, and other motorcycle-related exhibits. Presentations include:

• Vicki Sanfelipo, Conspicuity Inc.®, “6=0”
• Wayne Wierson, ABATE of Iowa, “MRF A&E 3R’s: I don’t want to ride in your funeral procession!”
• Karen Sprattler, Sprattler Group, “Impaired Riding”
• Dr. Nicholas Ward, Montana State University, “Motorcycle Riding Impairment and Different BAC Levels”

Participants are asked to be prepared to share ideas and thoughts with forum committee members and other riders throughout the day.

Iowans who are parents of newborns are encouraged to take their tots in for a free eye exam as part of a national effort. Dr. Melissa Billings, an optometrist in Urbandale, recommends children have their eyes checked when they’re still very young — between the ages of six and 12 months. Dr. Billings says, “We’ve found that if we can catch early problems, we can get them treated early and that way the patient doesn’t have to deal with a lifetime of visual problems, whether that would be a lazy eye, where one eye doesn’t see as well as the other, an eye that turns, poor depth perception.”

While it might sound like it would be pretty tough to check the eyesight of an infant, she says the test is tailored just for the very young. “We do a lot of things such as preferential looking to see if they’re looking at specific targets,” Billings says. “We always check their eye motility to make sure the six muscles in each eye are working fully and properly. We can also test their prescription without them saying anything at all by doing a technique called retinoscopy.”

The typical Infant exam has the baby seated on the parent’s lap and the doctor will use lights and other hand-held objects, similar to finger puppets, to evaluate how the baby’s eyes are working together. She says most eye doctors are taking part in the free program. “If you go to the website www.infantsee.org, that will pull up the InfantSEE website and give you a list of providers,” Billings says. “I have a feeling though that if anybody talks to their hometown provider, their provider is probably an InfantSEE provider.”

She says early intervention in a child’s first 12 months is crucial to successful and cost-effective treatment because an infant’s visual system develops very rapidly and it’s important to treat any problem that could hinder proper vision.

(Radio Iowa)

w/ Ric Hanson

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