(Radio Iowa) – Due to challenging market conditions, Deere and Company is reducing is prediction of profits for its current operating year. Over the past three months, net sales and revenue for Deere products worldwide were down 12 percent. Deere’s chairman and C-E-O points to a decline across the global agricultural sector. Corn and soybean prices are falling, production costs are increasing, and the U-S-D-A predicts farm income in the United States will be down over 25 percent this year.

Deere predicts sales of large farm equipment, like tractors and combines, will be down between 20 and 25 percent for the year. Still, the world’s largest farm equipment maker projects net income for its current fiscal year will be seven BILLION dollars. That’s about half a BILLION below its previous estimate.

Deere’s C-E-O says the company is managing production and inventory levels to adapt to demand. Over three-hundred workers at John Deere’s Waterloo Works were laid off indefinitely at the end of April. Last week, Deere announced 34 workers at one of its plants in Moline, Illinois would be laid off at the end of May.

(Radio Iowa) – New sculptures are being added to the River City Sculptures on Parade display this week in downtown Mason City. It’s the 12th year of the program as artists from across the country are in town, installing their works on pedestals throughout the nearly two-mile route that winds through downtown. Sculptures on Parade director Mary Markwalter says 20 new sculptures are being installed this week. “It’s a really pretty walk, very diverse,” Markwalter says. “The artists came in for it, it was really nice, we have a lot of artists here for this install.”

Photos by Bob Fisher, KRIB

Markwalter says a key milestone of one-million dollars was recently reached with sculptures that have been purchased from the displays. She says one of the latest purchases will be placed along the city’s new trail system. “This year we had someone buy one of the sculptures that had come in, it was the little reindeer that was by Principal, and it is going on the city right-of-way on the new path that is along the old Scrip Road,” she says. “We’re kind of starting to spread out through the city, too, which I like to see that.”

One of the artists that’s new to this year’s display is Garth Hite from Wichita, Kansas. He says he’s enjoyed seeing the sculptures, the architecture and MacNider Art Museum being a big part of the community. Hite was asked him why art displays like the Sculptures on Parade are important to a community.

“It gives people a chance to think about the sculpture and what the artist was thinking about,” Hite says, “and just how people are so different, and just enjoying the beauty of each person’s interpretation of living in the living world.” Hite says he’s impressed with Mason City’s extensive display.

“They’ve had several sculptures and it’s good for all the artists out there to be able to show their work and just keep a living doing that,” he says. Maps will be available for this year’s display once the sculptures are all in place.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – An Atlantic City Councilman is offering citizens in the Ward he represents, to meet him and discuss issues of concern to them. 4th Ward Councilman Sean Sarsfield said at Wednesday’s Atlantic City Council meeting, he wants to meet with his constituents on June 4^th, from 6-until 7:30-p.m., at The Venue, in downtown Atlantic.

Councilperson Elaine Otte added…

Atlantic Councilman Dana Halder reported Wednesday, the Community Protection Committee met Wednesday afternoon, prior to the Council meeting, and will forward a recommendation to the Council, with regard to citizen use of fireworks in July.

On a similar note, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, passed an order for a Special Fireworks display on private property at 1303 Maple Street on July 16^th, should the Atlantic Trojan Softball Team host the regional Softball Final, and win the game. The request was made by local fireworks specialist Dan Vargason.

And, with regard to a City-sponsored fireworks display, Councilperson Emily McDermott said those plans are still being finalized, with the idea to hold them around Labor Day once again. Last year’s 4^th of July fireworks program was reschedule to Sept. 2^nd, due to inclement weather. The Council last year had discussed moving the event to later in the Summer, so as to not draw attention away from popular events, such as those held in Exira, which also offers a parade.

Councilman Halder said the Community Protection Committee reviewed and discussed allowing side-by-side (off-road/Utility) vehicles on City streets in Atlantic.

In other business, the Council approved a recommendation from the Planning & Zoning Commission, to vacate a Phantom Right-Of-Way (ROW) that begins at the corner of W. 4^th and Laurel Streets, going westbound and terminating at the Phantom Railroad ROW. The Council ordered City Administrator John Lund to proceed with having the City Attorney prepare a public notice with regard to vacating the alley, turning it over to Rob Stamp, who would like to have access to his property to the north, and would do so by cutting the curb in the vacated area, pouring a driveway, and maintaining it as another entrance.

The Atlantic City Council then passed the 3^rd and final reading of an amended ordinance that changes vendor fees and dates, as they pertain to the July 23 RAGBRAI®  event in Atlantic.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Officials with the Mills County Sheriff’s Office report two recent arrests. 26-year-old Ryan Paul Escareno, of Deridder, LA, was arrested at around 2:15-p.m., Tuesday, following on I-29 at mile marker 39, in Mills County. Escareno was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $2,300.

And, 18-year-old Gavin Lee Burch, of Omaha, was arrested at around 9:35-a.m. Wednesday, on a Mills County warrant for Eluding, and Theft in the 2nd Degree. His arrest took place at the Douglas County, NE, Jail. Bond was set at $5,000.

Sheriff’s officials said also, ABC Electric, of Council Bluffs, reported Wednesday morning, an incident of Burglary in the 3rd Degree. The incident occurred at the company’s location on Bunge Avenue in Mills County.  A Glenwood resident reported an incident of Theft in the 5th Degree, Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred at a location on Gingry Lane.

(Radio Iowa) – The 83rd Annual Orange City Tulip Festival begins today and it will have something unique this year. A brand-new tulip has been developed, and although it is not in bloom, the bulbs are available for sale.

Tulip Town Bulb Company owner Keri Drescher says the Dutch Heritage Boosters asked if they could partner with her for the new tulip. “I didn’t know a lot about it, but basically it’s new to the U-S, and it’s exclusive to Orange City,” she says. Heritage Booster member Jodi Vander Zwaag says they got the idea when the Consulate General from the Netherlands visited Orange City last year and told them something surprising.

“When we’re in the park he mentioned that we should baptize a tulip and we’re like oh,” Vander Zwaag explained. After figuring out what this meant, they got in contact with a bulb company in the Netherlands that develops exclusive bulbs. They found out the process takes between seven to ten years, but there was a bulb available with orange in it if they wanted it. “So the process went really fast for us and we you know figured out how you baptize a tulip we were able to name it so the Oranjestad DHB,” she says. The name means Orange City, Dutch Heritage Boosters; to honor the Dutch heritage and the Dutch Heritage Boosters.

Oranjestad DHB tulip

Vander Zwaag says that the final act is to baptize the tulip. Not knowing how that’s done, she learned one was just baptized this spring in Chicago. She says it involved the consulate pouring champagne on the tulips. The Oranjestad DHB tulip, is bright yellow with orange to apricot tips, and can be purchased at the festival which runs through May 17th.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report three people were arrested on drug charges Wednesday afternoon. At around 3:30-p.m., Officers with the Red Oak Police Department conducted a search warrant on a residence in the 400 block of N. 4th Street. As a result of the warrant and investigation, Police arrested 54-year-old Kenneth Gerald Owens, 47-year-old Chrystal Rush Stewart, and 60-year-old Robert Wade Abraham, of Red Oak.

Owens was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, Gathering where marijuana is used, and Possession of Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,000. Stewart was arrested for Gathering where marijuana is used. Her bond was also set at $1,000. And, Robert Abraham was charged with PCS/Marijuana – 2nd or subsequent offense, Gathering where marijuana is used, and Poss. of paraphernalia. His bond was set at $2000. Abraham was also taken into custody on a valid warrant for Failure To Appear on an original charge of Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense. Bond on that was charge was $2,000, cash-only.

OSCEOLA, Iowa [KCCI] — A former southern Iowa county attorney who was convicted in 2021 of operating while intoxicated — her second offense — and child endangerment is back in the hot seat with a third offense OWI arrest. KCCI reports, that according to court records, Michelle Rivera, former Clarke County attorney, was arrested in Osceola on Tuesday evening after a car collision where the car she was driving struck another vehicle shortly after 5 p.m.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has signed legislation that creates new labeling requirements for meat and egg alternatives. “If it comes from a plant, an insect or a petri dish, consumers deserve to know,” Reynolds said. Starting July 1st, any plant-based, lab grown or insect-based protein product sold in Iowa stores will have to be clearly labeled as something other than meat or eggs.

“It’s about the common sense idea that a product that’s labeled chicken, beef, pork and so on should maybe actually come from — get this — an animal,” Reynolds said. “That’s kind of what we’re up against sometimes, right?” Reynolds signed the bill before a large crowd gathered on a farm near Ladora where hogs and cattle are raised.

Senator Dawn Driscoll, a Republican from Williamsburg who raises cattle, calls it a “meat integrity” law.  “Consumers deserve the truthful labelling on products,” Driscoll said, “and our children deserve better than lab-grown protein.” The law directs state officials to seek a waiver to prevent Iowans from using federal food assistance to buy imitation egg products. It also prohibits school districts, community colleges and the three state universities from buying lab-grown meat and any misbranded protein.

Governor Kim Reynolds signed two bills into law before a crowd on the Pat and Laura Bloome farm in Iowa County, near Ladora. (RI photo)

Representative Heather Hora, a Republican from Washington, is a pork producer. “This bill protects the millions of farmers’ check off dollars invested in marketing meat and eggs throughout the world,” Hora says. “Iowa’s farm families work hard every day to bring nutritious red meat to the market. Lab-grown products are not the same as high quality pork or beef or other meats raised by Iowa farm families and consumers deserve truthful, transparent labeling on products.”

Reynolds signed a second bill into law during her farm stop. It extends a capital gains tax break on state income taxes for the sale of livestock used for breeding, like bulls, boars and rams.  “Farm families will save nearly $18 million by 2030,” Reynolds says.

Only Iowans who own livestock and get at least half of their annual income from farming will be able to claim the tax break.