Officials with the Kansas City, KS, office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Thursday, that EPA Region 7 representatives will meet with livestock producers on Thursday, August 30, at the American Legion Hall (210 W. Head St.), in the Carroll County community of Arcadia. During the meeting, which runs from 6:30-to 8:30-pm.,  the EPA’s inspection program for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), winter feeding areas, aerial overflights, medium-sized CAFOs, nutrient management plans and manure stockpiles will be discussed.

EPA staff will also review the selection of CAFOs for inspection, flyover practices and details about CAFO on-the-ground inspections.  In addition, there will be an opportunity for attendees to interact with EPA officials during a question-and-answer session led by Shawn Shouse, of Iowa State University Extension. The EPA says it is working with the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa State University Extension, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources to encourage livestock producers’ attendance.

The Cass County Conservation Board says they will be holding a “Mysterious Monarchs” program at the Main Campground at Lake Anita State Park in Anita, on August 31^st. The free, public program begins at4:00 pm, and offers you a chance to discover the Monarch Butterflies before their journey south.

Conservation staff will tag monarchs, and show you how you can do the same. If you would like a home tagging kit, you must attend and pre-register for the Kit. Call 712-769-2372 to pre-register for your kit. You DO NOT have to be a registered camper to attend the program.

The Iowa Attorney General’s office has filed a lawsuit against a Florida-based professional fundraiser. Courtesy Health Watch, Inc. (CHW), headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, is a for profit company that raises money for various nonprofit clients including many cancer related charities. Iowa Attorney General’s office spokesman Geoff Greenwood says CHW misled Iowans they called for donations by insinuating that the caller was directly associated with the charity.

“We’re alleging that this company and its solicitors are not shooting straight with Iowans when they call for donations,” Greenwood said. He also notes they company’s employees exaggerated how much of the donation would go to the charity. “Iowans may’ve thought their whole entire donation was going to the charity when, in fact, it may have been only 10-to-30 percent,” Greenwood said. CHW is also accused of telling would-be donors that making a donation would halt future solicitation calls, when donations actually triggered an increase in additional solicitations. The lawsuit asks the court to prohibit CHW from making any more deceptive calls to Iowans and to require the company to pay civil penalties and attorney fees.

The A-G’s Office offers these tips for avoiding charity fraud and making the most of your donations….
* Ask questions. Be wary of claims that the caller is a charity worker or volunteer, that most of your donation goes to the cause, or that your donation will be used locally.
* Don’t let a sympathetic charity name fool you – some fundraisers exaggerate or fabricate their support for veterans or military families, law enforcement, fire fighters, victims of disease, and children’s causes.
* Ask phone solicitors to send written information. Be suspicious if they insist on a pledge before they’ll send you information. Check them out at the national Better Business Bureau “wise giving” site – www.give.org
* Don’t give your credit card or checking account numbers over the phone to someone you don’t know.
* Give directly to a known charity of your choice.
* Bottom line: Keep giving generously, but give wisely. Giving to a known charity you’re confident about is often the best option. If you think you have been cheated by a fundraising scheme, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, Hoover Building, Des Moines, Iowa 50319. Call 515-281-5926, or 888-777-4590 toll free. Online at:
www.IowaAttorneyGeneral.gov

(Radio Iowa)

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Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert said today (Thursday), that despite the fact some spotty rain had fallen throughout the County, and while every bit helps, the County will remain in the HIGH Fire Danger category until at least Monday, when the next update will be provided on conditions in the County.

Seivert says on Wednesday, National Weather service forecasters were very close to declaring a Red Flag condition for northeastern Nebraska. Wind and very low relative humidity are two of the several parameters used in determining that classification. Red Flag conditions are the most severe for the spread of fire in any given area. The rarity of these designations, underline how significant they are, when issued, according to Seivert, who says also that the forecast is not encouraging for any sustained rainfall over the next week.

The Clarinda Police Department reports a pyrotechnic device damaged a home on east Lincoln Street early Tuesday morning. A resident told authorities a person or persons unknown detonated a 25 shot Saturn Missile pyrotechnic device behind their residence sometime between 12:45 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. Several of the projectiles from the device struck the exterior of the home. The incident remains under investigation.

And on Monday, a Clarinda resident reported that an unknown individual damaged a door and latch to a commercial washing machine at the 12^th Street Laundromat, a business owned by the resident.  Damage to the washing machine is estimated at $150.00. The incident, which is believed to have occurred sometime during the day on Sunday, August 12^th,  remains under investigation.

The Clarinda Police Department reports a traffic stop late Wednesday night resulted in the arrest of a Braddyville man. 21-year old Thomas Jeffery Engstrand was pulled over at 11:34 p.m. at 15^th & Washington Streets. During their investigation, officers discovered what is believed to be drug paraphernalia and marijuana. The incident remains under investigation and charges are pending against Engstrand. Earlier that same night, 29-year old Edward Dawayne Mayes, of Clarinda, was arrested on a warrant issued by the Page County District Court, for revocation of probation. Mayes was arrested without incident at his residence and transported to the Page County Jail, where he was being held on $1,000 bond, pending an appearance before the Page County District Court.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers says also, that a Clarinda resident reported Wednesday her residence on east Main Street had been burglarized. A Bissell vacuum cleaner and a Vizio 42” flat screen television were taken from the home. The loss was estimated at $400. The theft is believed to have taken place sometime between June and August 15^th, while the residence was unoccupied. The incident remains under investigation.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City man who prosecutors say asked in a Facebook posting whether he needed to “shoot up a mall before people understand” has been charged with making threats of terrorism. 22-year-old Gabriel Rodriquez was arrested last week. Prosecutors say in court documents that Rodriguez wrote “suicidal- and homicidal-themed messages” on the social networking site between Aug. 2nd and 9th.  Police say the posts on Rodriguez’s Facebook profile couldn’t be seen by the general public, but Sioux City police spokesman Mark Kirkpatrick wouldn’t make any additional comments about the investigation.  A Woodbury County jailer said Rodriguez remained in custody on Thursday, pending $10,000 bail.

(8-a.m. News)

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The Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening approved the second reading of an ordinance on Illegal Dumping, and the first reading of an ordinance with regard to No Parking on 8^th Street near the old Lincoln School/Wickman Day Care Center, while school is in session. The Council however failed to approve the second reading of an ordinance pertaining to Private Wells, opting instead to have the wording clarified and a public hearing on the matter, which was set for September 5^th.

The No Parking ordinance was amended to say it would not be allowed on the east side of Linn Street from 8^th Street and 100-feet north, so that school buses may unload and load students safely, and if passed on the second and third readings, would cover the hours of 7:45-a.m. to 3:15-p.m., while school is in session, only. In addition, the board approved a request from Atlantic School District Transportation Director Dave Eckles, to have an area on the west side of Linn Street, from 8^th Street and 80-feet north, designated as a School Bus Loading Zone.

The Council also heard a report from Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green, who said his officers made 296 arrests over the past year. Green said his officers also made 1,514 traffic stops, during which they issued 700 citations. The department answered and/or responded to 6,700 calls last year, as well. Green says one of his officers has accepted a job in Dallas County, will work in the West Des Moines area. The officer was the Police Department’s drug recognition expert. He’ll continue with those types of activities in central Iowa.

The Chief says he’s received applications to replace the officer, with testing to take place next week. Green said also, his future plans may call for the purchase of a drug dog for the City. He says in order for his department to be more effective during search and seizures, and in light of recent Supreme Court rulings, they need to have more people trained as Drug Recognition Experts, and he may have to acquire a dog to conduct searches for illegal substances.

He also plans to upgrade some of his police vehicles to SUV’s, because his officers are simply too tall for the cruisers. He says he’s ordered a new, Ford pursuit-rated SUV with all-wheel drive. Green also reminded persons interested in bow hunting deer within the Atlantic City limits, that the first of two qualify sessions will be held this Saturday morning. He says the session will begin at 10-a.m. in Sunnyside Park by the old school house. The next session is Wed., Aug. 22^nd, at 6-p.m. For more information, stop by the Police Department during their normal business hours.