(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon School Board held their regular monthly meeting Wednesday evening. Superintendent Eric Trager told the Board “It’s a busy week for us.”

Trager said during the meeting, the Audubon School Board approved a DMACC Student Teacher Observation Contract, Student Handbooks, a 28-E agreement with the North Central Consortium, Building Project change orders, and, a Mediation Settlement with the General Contractor for the Building Project.

The settlement was for part of the Delta (the difference between the original and final bid).

In the end, Eric Trager said, “We will finish the project on-time and on-budget.” He said there never was any explanation of why the contractor failed to perform as agreed to.

The bottom line is, there is zero financial impact to the District Patrons. Mr. Trager said, with regard to personnel, for all intents and purposes, they are fully-staffed for the upcoming school year.

(Radio Iowa) – Despite widespread rainfall earlier this week, drought conditions are worsening across Iowa, according to the new map out today (Thursday) from the U-S Drought Monitor. Field agronomist Rebecca Vittetoe, with the Iowa State University Extension, says the new red spots on the map are particularly troubling. “It just got updated again this morning based off of rainfall as of Tuesday morning of this week,” Vittetoe says, “so, not necessarily major changes on the Drought Monitor but parts of western Iowa, there’s a few more areas that are in the D-3 or that extreme drought compared to last week.”

Extreme drought is now shown in five western counties: Cherokee, Monona, Plymouth, Sioux and Woodbury, while statewide, 67 counties are now in some form of drought, up from 64 counties last week. Vittetoe is based in southeast Iowa’s Washington County, which is listed as both abnormally dry and in moderate drought, and she’s encouraged by crop conditions as harvest season nears. “It’s amazing what the plant breeders have been able to do to help crops better withstand drought,” Vittetoe says. “I look at some fields that have had less than five inches of rainfall this growing season and I’m impressed with how well they look, considering the little rainfall that we have had.”

She says Iowa’s two biggest crops are suffering fairly equally in the drought. “On the corn side, that pollination and grain fill is a really critical period when we don’t want to be having a lot of drought stress. We want to have plenty of moisture, cooler temperatures, to really help with pollination and with grain fill,” Vittetoe says. “On the soybean side, if we’re hot and dry in July, when that corn’s pollinating, I’m not as concerned then as when we get into August and we’re trying to work on putting on pods, filling pods.”

Vittetoe will be hosting a statewide virtual meeting next on the drought from the fall harvest perspective. For details, visit: https://www.aep.iastate.edu/drought/view

(Creston, Iowa) – Two men were arrested on separate charges Wednesday night, in Creston. According to the Police Department, 35-year-old Brandon Whitfield, of Creston, was arrested at around 9:15-p.m. at his residence, on a Union County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. Whitfield was transported to the Union County Jail where he was waiting to be seen by Magistrate.

And, at around 10:15-p.m., Wednesday, 43-year-old Jason Ford, of Creston, was arrested at a Creston apartment complex, and charged with the Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Ford was cited at the scene and released on a summons to appear in court.

(Radio Iowa) – As tomatoes start to ripen in gardens, salsa is one of the favorite things Iowans like to make with them. An Iowa State University Extension food specialist says Renee Sweers (like cheers) says if you want to save some salsa for later canning is an option. But she says there are a lot of variables that include the variety, tomato, the weather, the soil, and whether that tomato actually has a high enough acid content.  “There’s sort of a notion that you can make salsa any way you want to and can it. Of course, that’s not really true,” she says. Sweers says you should use lemon juice, or powdered citric acid you are purchasing with your canning supplies. And she says to use a recipe that is one that you trust.

“Take that salsa recipe and kind of compare it to the various salsa recipes from the tested sources and then follow the one from the tested source that is most similar to kind of their fan-favorite recipe,” she says. Sweers says without taking these steps you could end up wasting the effort. If you don’t want to get that detailed, you can just make a batch and enjoy. salsa. “Of course, they could also make salsa and just refrigerate it and eat it within a week or so. Fresh salsa just like you know cooking, you don’t have to have a tested recipes if you are just gonna make fresh salsa you can put that together any way you want to,” according to Sweers. A third option is to freeze the salsa.

ISU Extension photo

“Sometimes that appeals to people because they maybe feel it doesn’t take as much time — or doesn’t seem as complicated,” she says. Storage can be an issue if you want to make a big batch. “You’ve got to have the freezer space as opposed to the canned item which is sitting there on the shelf,” she says. And the taste of the frozen salsa will be different than the canned option, and she says you may have to drain some water off when you thaw it out.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are familiar with the emerald ash borer and the green insect’s threat to our foliage, but we’re also being asked to be on guard for another insect that’s equally as lethal to a much wider variety of trees. Rhonda Santos, a spokeswoman for the U-S-D-A, says Iowa homeowners should examine their trees for the Asian longhorned beetle and report any clues they find about the invasive pest.

“Now is the best time to look for and report the signs of the Asian longhorned beetle in your backyard and in your neighborhood,” Santos says. “This wood-boring beetle attacks many types of trees and is a threat to our shade trees, recreational areas and our forest resources.” Unlike the emerald ash borer, the Asian longhorned beetle likes to feed on a host of trees, including: ash, birch, elm, sycamore, maple, buckeye, poplar and willow. The bug has distinct markings and leaves behind a series of holes and other signs in trees that make it quick to identify.

Asian Longhorned Beetle (USDA photo)

“The beetle is easy to recognize with their black and white antennae, shiny black body with white spots, and six legs,” Santos says. “The beetles create round holes and scars in the tree bark, sawdust-like material around the tree, and can cause branches to fall.” The beetle is not native to the U.S. and has few-to-no natural predators. Santos encourages Iowans to take five minutes and give your trees a close inspection for those round holes or sawdust.

Santos says, “If you see these signs, take photos and capture the suspicious insects to help the USDA with identification.” The beetle was first spotted in the U.S. in New York in 1996 and spread quickly. It’s one of a group of invasive pests and plant diseases that costs the nation some 40-billion dollars each year in losses to trees, plants, and crops. For more information or to report the insect or tree damage, visit www.asianlonghornedbeetle.com.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a Cass County (IA) man was arrested at around 6:10-p.m. Wednesday, east of Elliott. Authorities say after a traffic stop was conducted, it was determined the driver of the vehicle, 25-year-old Caleb Schaaf, of Griswold, was wanted on a Warren County warrant for Eluding. Schaaf was arrested and held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

And, at around 6:30-p.m., Wednesday, 25-year-old Daisy Walker, of Red Oak, was arrested in Red Oak, on a Montgomery County warrant for Theft in the 3rd Degree. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The Clay County Sheriff says a woman died earlier this week near the driveway to her home after being attacked by her Great Dane dogs. The Clay County Communications Center originally received a 9-1-1 call Monday afternoon from a person believing he had come across a motorcycle crash on a county road near Rossie , about 12 miles south of Spencer.

The caller told dispatchers he could see a person in a nearby ditch but was unable to get close because of a group of large dogs near the person. Deputies with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office determined it was not a crash and the person in the ditch — identified as 43-year-old Mindy Kiepe — had died from injuries caused by the five dogs that were all determined to be hers.

All five of the animals were euthanized following the investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – Christina Bohannan of Iowa City, the Democratic candidate in Iowa’s new first congressional district, says political extremism is a grave threat to the country. “I’ve always believed in a two-party system. I always believe that debate and compromise make us better and stronger, but what we have right now is not debate and compromise,” Bohannan says. “What we have right now is extremism and chaos.”

Bohannan is challenging Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who is seeking a second term in the U.S. House. During a speech on the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair, Bohannan criticized Miller-Meeks for voting against bills providing more federal funding for infrastructure projects and subsidies to spur domestic U.S. production of computer chips.

“Those were bipartisan bills, OK? They are going to build roads and bridges, they’re going to solve supply chain problems and they’re going to create good jobs for years to come,” Bohannan said. “Even Chuck Grassley supported these bills because he knows how good they’re going to be for Iowa.” Bohannan was elected to the state legislature in 2020 after defeating a long-time incumbent from Iowa City in a Democratic Primary. Bohannan says that shows she’s willing to stand up to her own party when necessary.

“We all agree on a lot of what we need to do,” Bohannan says. “The problem is that politics are getting in our way.” A spokesman for the Iowa Republican Party says Miller-Meeks stands up for Iowans against the Biden Administration’s reckless agenda and her re-election puts the G-O-P one step closer to firing Nancy Pelosi.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne says the package of energy, tax and health care proposals President Biden signed into law this week shows what she and other Democrats could accomplish if they keep control of congress. Republicans have blasted the bill for adding 87-thousand employees to the I-R-S over the next decade. Axne, who is from West Des Moines, says it will increase oversight of tax returns from big corporations and Americans who report an annual income above 400-thousand dollars.

“I think most of you are like me. You don’t even remotely fall into those categories,” Axne says, “so it’s time those folks started paying their fair share because everyone on Main Street Iowa is doing their fair share.” Axne says tax avoidance among corporations and high-income Americas is a big issue. “Because right now $160 billion in taxes goes unearned into our country’s coffers that would help all of you with our schools and with our roads and with our health care,” Axne said.

Axne made her comments Wendesday on the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. She is running for a third term in the U.S. House against Republican Zach Nunn, a state senator from Bondurant. Nunn says individual Iowans and businesses will be unfairly targeted. “It’s not a good time to be an Iowan or a small business owner,” Nunn says. Nunn spoke last weekend at the Register’s Soapbox at the Fair. Nunn says congress should adopt the kind of tax cuts that he voted for in the Iowa legislature.

“When we look at what’s going on in Washington today, we see a very different model for how government is the only solution,” Nunn says, “and the people have no voice.” Iowa’s new third congressional district includes the Des Moines metro, stretches to the Missouri border and includes the cities of Ottumwa and Creston.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, approved a Class-C Liquor License for Weitzel’s Restaurant, for the effective dates of July 15,2021 to July 14, 2022. Their action – albeit late – came after the Council received confirmation from the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) that restaurant owner Jake Weitzel had dramshop endorsement. Dramshop laws are intended to protect the general public from harm or loss due to over service of intoxicated patrons on a licensed premises. Dramshop insurance is a precondition to holding and maintaining an Iowa liquor license.

During their meeting on August 3^rd, the Atlantic City Council refused to take action on issuing the Liquor License, when Councilman Dana Halder complained about the lack of upkeep on the property, with weeds growing in the parking lot and the condition of the property itself.

Councilman Gerald Brink said during that same meeting, that he understood the restaurant “was closed down by the State.”

During last night’s (Tonight’s) City Council meeting (8/17), City Clerk Barb Barrick told the Council that when the ABD found out the Council failed to approve Weitzel’s license, the ABD sent Jake Weitzel a letter that stated the City of Atlantic had disproved the license, and that he may appeal that decision, which he did on August 11th. In the meantime, his application is considered to have been “timely filed.” Weitzel was appealing the Council’s lack of initial action, due to the following factors he cited in his letter of appeal to the ABD Administrator:

Weitzel said he could not find a notice regarding his property, but Barb Barrick says the City has proof a notice was sent to him in June. Jake Weitzel went on to say in his appeal letter, that Councilman Dana Halder and “Another council member falsely accused me of being shut down by the Department of Inspections and Appeals, and used that as another reason for denial of my liquor license.”

Councilman Halder, during the latest Council meeting, denied he ever mentioned Weitzel’s had been shut-down. Councilman Pat McCurdy said didn’t recall Halder saying the restaurant had been closed down by the State. The next step is a phone hearing between the ABD, Mr. Weitzel and representatives for the City of Atlantic.

Mayor Grace Garrett reiterated that the City is enforcing the Code on businesses and residences, with regard to property upkeep.