Pheasant hunting season opens today (Saturday) in Iowa, but hunters may not see many birds. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports pheasant numbers could be down 18-percent compared to last year. Todd Bogenschutz, a wildlife biologist with the DNR, says the population decline isn’t surprising. “We had the wettest April and May in state history and hens don’t do very well when it’s wet in the spring, certainly not when it’s record setting,” Bogenschutz says. Five consecutive harsh winters followed by wet springs previously led to a drop in pheasant numbers between 2007-2011. Bogenschutz expects the forecast for another decline this year could lead to fewer pheasant hunting licenses being purchased.

“We finally had an increase in the pheasant population last year for the first time in about five years and we saw a little bump up in hunter numbers. Now, things drop down a bit…so, I expect we’ll see fewer hunters,” Bogenschutz says. “I still think we’ll be similar, we’ll probably have around 40,000 to 50,000 pheasant hunters this year.” The pheasant hunting season runs from October 26 through January 10. Bogenschutz predicts hunters will harvest between 100,000 to 150,000 pheasants this season. He notes hunters will likely have better luck later in the season as nearly half of the state’s corn crop has yet to be harvested. “Standing corn on opening weekend…there’s going to be quite a bit of it and that’s going to make hunting challenging because the birds figure out pretty quick that they’re safe in that standing corn,” Bogenschutz says.

The best pheasant numbers, according to Bogenschutz, can be found in areas of northwest, north-central, and central Iowa. Hunters shot roughly 158,000 pheasants last year. That compares to 109,000 pheasants harvested in 2011 – which was the lowest number since the state began keeping track in 1962.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will be in western Iowa this coming week. Next Friday (Nov. 1st), Reynolds will take a tour of Molded Products, in Harlan. The event begins at 10-a.m.  Reynolds will move on to take a tour of Sullivan Supply in Dunlap, at 11:30 that same day, and from there it’s on to Sioux City, where she will visit the Sioux Community Schools. Governor Branstad will appear at the Mapleton Community Center at 4-p.m. Friday, to learn about the communities’ tornado recovery efforts. Mapleton was hit by a massive EF-3 tornado on April 9, 2011. The twister wiped out most of the western half of town, and the community is still working to rebuild.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The public library in Council Bluffs has turned to everyday people to help link pieces of the city’s past.  Organizers of the Council Bluffs: Proud Past… Bright Future project want residents to look in attics, basements and other corners of their homes for old pictures, letters and other mementos that could be used to tell Council Bluffs’ history.

The project launched in 2010 and has been collecting historical information from local participating museums. Now it’s seeking help from residents, who are being encouraged to bring in personal items to an upcoming event so they can be scanned onto the project’s website. Project director Chad Nation says it’s a unique endeavor that will benefit the community and help local schools teach Council Bluffs’ history.

Authorities in Council Bluffs are trying to find a man who allegedly stole more than $1,000 worth of bras. The Daily NonPareil reports the theft occurred Wednesday, at a Victoria’s Secret store at the Mall of the Bluffs. The suspect was described as a black man with a mohawk wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and aviator-style sunglasses.

Police say the man, who was in his early to mid-20s, walked into the store at around 11-a.m., and took 22 bras valued at $1,250. The investigation is ongoing.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police have arrested a couple after finding them living with a baby in a garage without heat, electricity, or a bathroom. Police say 23-year old Danae Haynes and 22-year-old Justin Sorter are charged with child endangerment causing bodily injury, possession of drug paraphernalia and probation violations. The child, estimated to be about nine months old, is healthy but was not dressed to withstand near freezing temperatures.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two Maquoketa natives have given their second $10 million gift in three years to the University of Iowa. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports Jerre and Mary Joy Stead of Scottsdale, Arizona want to advance children’s medicine at the university. The donation includes $8 million to endow one faculty chair each in the areas of pulmonology, nephrology, neurology and general pediatrics.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 20-year-old eastern Iowa man charged in the 2011 traffic death of a friend has been sentenced to two years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. Iowa City Press-Citizen reports Zachary Swenka of North Liberty apologized at a Thursday court hearing to the friends and family of 14-year-old Mackenzie Lown, who died in the crash.

SPILLVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Supporters of the Inwood Ballroom in Spillville are hoping to get public support to replace the floor of one of a few vintage ballrooms left in Iowa. KWWL television reports the managers of the Inwood Ballroom say they must replace the 5,000-square-foot dining room floor for $50,000.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — The Department of Corrections says an inmate has been put on escape status after he left a work release center in Davenport. The agency says 26-year-old Michael Christopher Lewis was listed as being an escape after failing to return to the center Thursday.

He was serving a 19-year sentence for intimidation with a dangerous weapon, going armed with intent, criminal mischief and operating a vehicle without owner consent. He began the sentence in March 2008.

He was transferred to the work release center Sept. 6.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an Audubon County woman was arrested today (Friday), on numerous charges. 49-year old JB Schmidt, of Audubon, was taken into custody on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant for Burglary 3^rd Degree, Theft 2^nd Degree, two counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver Controlled Substance, and two counts of Drug Tax Stamp violation. Schmidt was taken to the Cass County Jail where she is being held on $25,000 bond.

And Thursday evening, Cass County deputies arrested 27-year old Tony Alan Pross, of Atlantic, on a charge of Eluding (A Serious misdemeanor). Pross was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $1,000 bond.

Senator Chuck Grassley said today (Friday), that spring internships for college-age Iowans are available, and applications are due Nov. 15th. Internships are available in Grassley’s Washington, D.C., office as well as his offices in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City and Waterloo.  The spring session will run from Jan. 13th to May 23rd.  Interns will be placed in one of three departments:  administrative, legislative or communications.  An internship allows for a wide range of learning experience and exposure for students on Capitol Hill.

Grassley said he encourages young Iowans who are interested in learning more about the government to apply.  “Interning in a congressional office is a good way for college students and new graduates to learn more about the legislative branch of the federal government while gaining valuable experience.  Internships in my offices are available to students in all areas of study,” he said.

Application forms are available on Grassley’s website and in Grassley’s offices  in Iowa.  Due to security-related delays in postal mail delivery to U.S. Senate office buildings, internship applications should be emailed to intern_applications@grassley.senate.gov or faxed to 202-224-5136.  For additional information, email intern_applications@grassley.senate.gov or call 202-224-3744.

The Atlantic Police Department reports no one was injured during an accident Wednesday afternoon near the intersection of Highways 6 and 71. Officials say Terrence Oathoudt, of Anita, was traveling west on Highway 6 and was proceeding through the intersection, when a vehicle driven by Phyllis Pierce, of Atlantic, attempted to turn north into a business drive. The vehicles collided when Pierce pulled in front of Oathoudt. Police cited her for Failure to Yield before making a left turn. Damage from the collision, which happened at around 2:25-p.m.,  amounted to $5,000.

(9-a.m. News)

w/ Ric Hanson

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