The weather this year has benefited livestock producers by preventing overflows caused by rainfall that fills up manure storage areas, but Dan Anderson, an Iowa State University expert on manure management, says dry weather also has its issues.

He says farmer can get anxious and want to spread manure too early.

Once the crops out of the fields, he says the dry ground gives farmers less concern that manure would run off of rain saturated ground.

Anderson is associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering at I-S-U, and the creator of the “Talkin’ Crap” podcast that discusses all aspects of manure management. You can find his podcast and other information on how to manage manure in wet and dry weather on the I-S-U Extension website.

ARISE will present a program Sunday focusing on a Cass County World War II Prisoner of War.

Ronald Orville Pigg was born in Massena in 1910. He was a member of the Corp of Engineers assigned to the Philippines. His life ended in January, 1945 as a Japanese prisoner of war on a “hellship“.

Ronald (Ron) L. Pigg a second cousin has researched the life and death of Captain Pigg. Ron will be telling the results of his research on Sunday, September 17, 2 pm at the American Legion Memorial Building. The program will include Captain Ronald’s life before military service and the horrific treatment as a POW.

The story continues by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency with a lab at Offutt Air Force base hoping to identify 985 missing service men who were on the hell ship journey. Of that number, 12 were from Nebraska and 16 from Iowa.

Ron is a 1960 Atlantic High School graduate. His parents were Lyle and Helen Pigg. He continues connections with the Atlantic community.

This program is sponsored by Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE). Everyone is welcome and there is no fee. The building at 201 Poplar Street is handicapped assessable.

Another program will be offered on October 15. One part of the ARISE mission is to promote public knowledge of local, state and national history. ARISE is supported by donations, memberships, grants and volunteer time.

DES MOINES, IA – On April 14, 2023, a Marshalltown woman, Elizabeth Andrade, 31, was sentenced to 120 months in prison, and on July 10, 2023, a Des Moines man, Adam Michael Browning, 38, was sentenced to 180 months in prison, for their respective roles in a methamphetamine conspiracy. Both were sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; Browning also plead guilty to carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

As early as July 2021, through April 2022, Andrade conspired with Browning to distribute methamphetamine in the Des Moines, Iowa, area. As part of that conspiracy, Andrade acted as a broker or middleman and introduced Browning to methamphetamine sources in Marshalltown, Des Moines, and Mexico. Andrade sent drug proceeds via wire transfer to Browning’s sources in Mexico. Browning sold methamphetamine to several customers and throughout the conspiracy he possessed several firearms. Their conspiracy involved over 20 pounds of methamphetamine.

Following their prison terms, Andrade and Browning each must complete five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) the Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force (MIDTF), Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement (MINE) Task Force Des Moines Resident Office; Marshalltown Police Department; Marshall County Sheriff’s Office; and the Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Narcotics Enforcement.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports two candidates have filled nomination papers for the City Council in Cumberland. Sandra Eversole and Scott W Becker submitted their papers, Wednesday (today).

Other candidates who have filed (to date) include:

Anita City Council (vote for 2): Cheryl Sokol; Mark Harris.

Atlantic City Council – Ward 2: Jim Behrens.

Atlantic City Council – Ward 3: Pat McCurdy.

Atlantic City Council – Ward 4: Linda Hartkopf.

Atlantic City Council – At Large: Elaine Otte.

Mayor – City of Cumberland: Nancy Virginia Coughlin.

Griswold City Council (vote for 3): Brenda Tietz; Amanda Hansen.

Mayor- City of Lewis: Rick Sanny.

The next update from the Cass County Auditor’s Office is expected by Friday afternoon.

(Radio Iowa) – A Cedar Rapids man who admitted to threatening a federal prosecutor will spend more than six years in federal prison. Forty-two-year old John Edward Miller admitted to posting a threatening message to the prosecutor online in November of 2020. Miller also admitted on the same day he sent the message he shot a flare gun at the Northern District of Iowa U-S Courthouse in Cedar Rapids.

The flare caused a fire on the barriers in front of the building. Miller was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison where there is not parole.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department says a woman complained of pain and possible injury, following an accident this (Wednesday) morning, near the Creston High School. Authorities say 71-year-old Kathy L. Goodrich, of Creston, was checked by medics and released at the scene without transport to the hospital.

The accident happened at around 11:07-a.m., at the intersection of Spruce and Townline Streets, when an SUV driven by 16-year-old Katilynn M. Lemon, of Creston, was leaving the high school parking lot. Police she the teen waited for traffic to clear until she though it was safe to drive forward.

When she proceeded into the intersection to turn south, her vehicle struck an eastbound SUV driven by Goodrich, on the driver’s side, causing disabling damage. Lemon was checked by medics and released at the scene. Damage from the collision amounted to $4,000.

No citations were issued.

DAVENPORT, IA – On September 6, 2023, a Clinton man was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, on the evening of November 24, 2021, Clinton Police stopped a truck for an equipment violation. David Jon Kinkaid, 41, was the driver. A drug-detecting police dog alerted to the odor of narcotics in the truck. A search of the truck revealed that Kinkaid had more than 2,000 grams of methamphetamine, as well as a loaded, .45 caliber pistol.

Kinkaid had the pistol to protect himself, his drugs, and his drug proceeds. Following his imprisonment, Kinkaid will serve five years of supervised release.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A man from Nebraska was sentenced last week in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, on drug and firearm charges. The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports 59-year-old Russell Paul Sorbello, of Omaha, was sentenced to 132 months (11-years) in federal prison, for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person.

According to public court documents, in March 2023, Sorbello was found in possession of methamphetamine and cocaine during a traffic stop. In a subsequent search of Sorbello’s hotel room, law enforcement located additional drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana. Officers also located a firearm in Sorbello’s possession.

Upon release from prison, Sorbello will serve a 5-year total term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says the impeachment inquiry into President Biden is part of the oversight function congress has over the executive branch.

Ernst says the House does have to follow the facts and see where they lead.  In January of 2020, Ernst accused Biden of turning a blind eye to his son’s business dealings AND she accused House Democrats of lowering the bar for impeachment by trying to impeach President Trump. Ernst recently has suggested she and her fellow Republicans in the Senate are focused on getting a bipartisan deal on the annual defense spending bill rather than impeachment. She commented briefly Wednesday during a conference call with Iowa reporters.

The White House has said the president was not in business with his son and the impeachment inquiry is based on debunked conspiracy theories. Ernst is also criticizing the Biden Administration for allowing federal employees to work from home. Ernst says it’s time for Senate Democrats to bring up a bill House Republicans passed in February that would require federal agencies to return to pre-pandemic telework policies — when about two percent of all federal employees worked remotely.

A government report found that in January, February and March of this year, the employee occupancy rate at the headquarters for 17 federal agencies was 25 percent or less.

Ernst is calling for a report on how many federal employees are working remotely. Last month, the White House chief of staff sent an email to top agency officials, directing them to aggressively execute plans to get employees to work in their government offices.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst pressed an Air Force general during confirmation hearings on Tuesday about what Ernst called an unfulfilled promise the military made to Sioux City. Ernst questioned General David Allvin, who is nominated to be the 23rd Chief of Staff for the Air Force. She said the promise was made 20 years ago to expand the runway at Sioux City.

During the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Ernst said the lack of a runway upgrade puts the future of the National Guard in Sioux City in jeopardy.

Ernst called the potential loss of those guard members unacceptable, and Allvin responded that he’d get the runway project reviewed.

The general called the 185th a fantastic organization and promised to work with the secretary of the Air Force to pause any discussion to change the 185th’s mission until the assessment is complete.