The City of Elk Horn (IA) says crews will be performing routine maintenance by flushing the water mains this Friday. Residents and patrons of the water system should check for cloudy water before cooking, doing laundry or bathing. If the water appears cloudy, let it run for a short period or until clear. Call 712-250-1273 with any questions or concerns.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 19-year old Travis Theodore Wolff, of Audubon, was arrested at around 5:30-p.m. Wednesday. Wolff was charged with Disorderly Conduct following an incident that occurred at Highway 71 and Mantz Avenue in Audubon. He was transported to the Audubon County Jail later released following an appearance before the Magistrate where he pled guilty and was fined.

Costumed trick-or-treaters will soon be hitting Iowa’s sidewalks and parents might be able to use a few tips about how to help their kids scare away cavities this Halloween. Ashley Aubry, a registered dental hygienist, says the bacteria inside our mouths is probably more excited than children about candy because it feeds on sugar, producing a weak acid — and that acid is what contributes to cavities.  Aubry says, “It may be a good idea to divide the candy out and make sure they only eat the candy they like and make sure that they only eat it after a meal, as a snack, and if they do eat that snack, make sure they brush right afterwards.”

Not all candies are created equal. Sticky, gummy and hard candies can stay on teeth longer, giving bacteria a longer time to snack. According to the American Dental Association, chocolate is likely the best option for children because it washes off teeth more easily than some of the other types of sweets. Also ideal are alternative treats like fruits, veggies or popcorn. She says parents need to restrict access to the candy, otherwise kids may gobble it for hours on end. “Whether it’s sucking on a hard piece of candy like a Jolly Rancher or eating a bag full of gummy bears,” Aubry says, “the key thing is to make sure that they don’t consume the food all day and that they take the time to brush and drink plenty of water because without, that sticky, chewy food will stay on their teeth all day.”

Limit the stash of post-Halloween candy. Aubry suggest parents let children choose the candy they like best and then donate the rest. Also, the ADA recommends children and adults brush twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste, and floss once a day. Aubry is a clinical instructor at Creighton University’s School of Dentistry.

(Radio Iowa)

It’s been sunny and relatively warm with temperatures in the 60s and 70s this week, but Iowa Department of Transportation employees are busy preparing for winter. Craig Bargfrede is the DOT’s winter operations administrator. “In our world, October 15th is actually the official start of the winter season and that runs through April 15th,” Bargfrede says.

The agency’s 900 plows and other snow-moving equipment are being brought out of storage for tuneups and maintenance. “Making sure everything is functioning properly on the trucks, plows, blowers – we’re in the process of doing calibration on all of our spreaders to make sure the material is being dispensed properly and accurately across the board,” Bargfrede says.

Over the summer, the Iowa DOT stocked storage facilities with nearly 230-thousand tons of salt to use on roads this winter. “Our annual usage has been somewhere around 140-to-150-thousand tons,” Bargfrede says. “So, if we would have a normal winter season, we have enough salt today to cover our requirement.”

In the coming weeks, even when it’s sunny and dry, Iowans may see DOT trucks spraying brine on roads and bridges. Bargfrede says it’s a “proactive approach.” Spraying brine on areas prone to frost prevents the formation of an icy layer, which typically occurs on cold, clear nights.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today (Thursday) announced that eleven projects in Iowa have been selected to receive grant funding to help enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.  The Department received $282,032 through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service to support the program. Iowa agricultural non-profit organizations, cooperatives, specialty crop industry associations or organizations, and producer groups were eligible to apply for funding. The maximum grant award from the Department to sub-grantees is $24,000 and administrative and indirect costs are not allowed.

Among the grant recipients in southwest Iowa, is:

Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) in Oakland, which received $23,991. The organization is working with New Tree School, local growers, and other partners, to create new markets for sales of locally-sourced and locally–propagated native oak trees.  They will first identify public and private lands with old-growth oak trees from which to harvest acorns. Project partners such as farmers and landowners with an interest in propagating oaks will be identified and trained in proper growing practices.

Southern Iowa Resource, Conservation & Development, in Creston, received a $23,968 grant  for a project aimed to draw the millennial demographic to farmers markets. Southern Iowa Resource, Conservation & Development will use text message marketing and Facebook advertising, to exclusively promote specialty crop farmers’ market vendors at area farmers’ markets, in addition to radio and newspaper ads.

Other recipients include: Lutheran Services in Iowa – $24,000; Iowa State University of Science and Technology – $23,750; Iowa State University of Science and Technology- $23,968; Allamakee New Beginnings, Inc. dba Iowa Food Hub – $21,198; The James Gang dba Iowa Valley Global Food Project – $23,331; University of Northern Iowa – $17,186; Practical Farmers of Iowa – $24,000; Iowa State University Extension and Outreach – Johnson County Extension- $20,764; and, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Local Foods Program – $24,000.

Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said “The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program has supported a wide variety of projects here in Iowa in the past several years to promote locally grown products and we are excited to get another round of funding that will support food safety, research and marketing efforts.  Specialty crops are a very important part of Iowa agriculture as they allow farmers to diversify and give customers access to local foods and other products.”

“Specialty Crops” that are eligible under the program are fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.  The funds not passed through to Iowa organizations will be used by the Department to administer the grant. Grant funds will be used for projects that benefit and enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops industry as a whole, and cannot be for projects that directly benefit a particular product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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A routine traffic stop early this (Thursday) morning, in Adams County, resulted in the arrest of a man and woman on drug charges. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports a vehicle was pulled over at around 12:15-a.m. in Corning.

Following an investigation, the driver of the vehicle, 20-year old Timothy Graves of Fort Dodge, was taken into custody on an active warrant for violation of probation, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His passenger,19-year old Rajah Tanney, of Eagle Grove, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

Both were booked into the Adams County Jail and held, pending further court proceedings.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) – Police have charged a Burlington man with killing his mother by striking her in the head with an electric guitar. The Hawk Eye newspaper reports 29-year-old Garret S. Selters was charged with first-degree murder Wednesday in the death of 56-year-old Linda Selters. Police say Garret Selters struck his mother in the back of her head with a Les Paul guitar.

Linda Selters had called 911 Tuesday morning, seeking help because her son was having an “episode.” Officers quickly arrived and found Garret Selters outside, pacing and stating he’d killed his mother. Linda Selters died Tuesday night at an Iowa City hospital after being removed from a respirator. Garret Selters appeared at a court hearing Wednesday, where his bond was set at $1 million. He was appointed a public defender.

Campus leaders and members of the board that governs Iowa, Iowa State and U-N-I are reviewing the effectiveness of campus safety measures. Jacob Simpson of Clinton is the president of University of Iowa Student Government. He says sexual assault is a “pervasive problem” on college campuses throughout the country.  “According to our campus climate survey on sexual assault, 21 percent of the undergraduate female-identified students who completed the survey reported being raped and then 11.4 percent of first-year undergraduate female-identified students who completed the survey reported being raped in their first semester on campus,” Simpson said. “These numbers are astonishing.”

Simpson spoke to a Board of Regents panel yesterday (Wednesday). Paula Knudson is the University of Northern Iowa’s vice president for student affairs. In the late 1980s, she was a resident assistant on a University of Iowa dorm floor when data showed about one in four or five women on campus said they had been sexually assaulted. “If this was a health issue — and it is a health issue — it would be considered an epidemic,” she said. “And it hasn’t changed in that 25-year experience.”

Iowa State University’s student body president is stressing the need for more lights and cameras on campus to enhance security and aid investigators when incidents occur. A summit will be held on November 1st at Iowa State University to discuss safety and security issues on college campuses throughout the state.

(Radio Iowa)