STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say around 230 workers were evacuated because of an ammonia leak at a Tyson pork plant in Storm Lake. Firefighters and police were dispatched around 3:10 a.m. Tuesday to the plant, which had already been emptied. Tyson staffers told firefighters the ammonia flow had been shut off but plenty of gas vapor remained in the plant. The plant air eventually cleared up.

No injuries have been reported. Storm Lake authorities say a fan on a refrigeration unit had broken. It struck a condenser coil in the refrigeration unit, causing the ammonia leak.

Early June is the second busiest month in Iowa behind the November rut for deer-vehicle collisions, as does are moving to more secluded areas prior to giving birth. Jim Coffey, forest wildlife research biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says “The same cautions for drivers that apply during the November rut apply today – drive defensively and slow down. Watch for does going to nontraditional areas, like alfalfa fields, pastures, smaller secluded patches of habitat to have fawns. We’ve even seen does have fawns in flower beds. It’s wherever she feels safe when the contractions hit.”

This increased deer movement spans the first two weeks of June. The fawning period coincides with hay cutting operations which can reduce cover and move deer as well. Drivers are encouraged to not swerve to avoid hitting a deer as that can result in more serious consequences. Coffey said “Does are active any time of day right now. If a collision is unavoidable, drivers should break and try to control the collision.”

I found this “abandoned” fawn…The calls, emails are personal messages have already begun. “I rescued this abandoned fawn, brought it home, now what do I do with it?” Early June is a productive time of year for wildlife having babies, and for fawns to get “rescued” from their mother. “The fawn may appear to be abandoned, when, in fact, it is under the watchful eye of its mother and should not be picked up or moved from the area. This is the mother’s way of protecting the fawn,” Coffey said. “She will return to nurse the fawn once or twice a day and start moving it when the fawn has the strength and agility to follow her effectively, usually after a week to 10 days.”

In addition to fawns showing up, pheasant chicks and turkey poults are hatching.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invite you to attend the 33rd Annual Lewis and Clark Festival, where you can see what life was like in the time of buckskinners and exploration. The celebration takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 9th through 11th, at Lewis and Clark State Park outside of Onawa.

The buckskinners’ rendezvous recreates the time period when explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark traveled the Missouri River on their expedition west. The park, named for the explorers, is site of their August 10th, 1804 encampment. The festival, hosted by the Friends of Lewis and Clark State Park, features buckskinners in frontier dress, historic demonstrations and activities, music and food.

The full-sized reproduction of Lewis and Clark’s keelboat, Discovery, constructed by local volunteers and park staff, will be on display. Keelboat rides will be given twice on Saturday, on a first-come first-served basis at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m., depending on weather.

The park’s visitors center, with its historical displays and replica boats, will be open to the public throughout the weekend. The Lewis and Clark festival is open to the public and activities are free. Food is available to purchase throughout the weekend, including a pancake feed on Sunday morning from 7:30-10:00 a.m.

For a full schedule of events and more information visit http://www.onawachamber.com/lewis–clark-festival.html

A dedication ceremony will be held at the Loess Hills State Forest Visitors’ Center this Thursday, June 8th, from 3-until 5-p.m. The center will be officially named the Brent S. Olson Memorial Visitor Center in recognition of Olson, forester for the area who died last December following a long battle with cancer.

The center is the gateway to the Loess Hills State Forest which was managed by Olson since 1991. Under Olson’s leadership, the forest area doubled in size to 11,600 acres. Paul Tauke, state forester for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says
“Brent took great pride in his work and loved this unique Loess Hills area. The success he had in growing the state forest is directly related not just to his dedication to the resource but also his involvement with our forestry partners and the western Iowa community.”

Olson served on both the state and national boards of the National Society of American Foresters and received the President’s Award Outstanding Field Forester in 2012. Olson also served on the West Harrison School Board for many years, most recently as the board president.

The visitors’ center is located at 206 Polk St. in Pisgah. The dedication ceremony is open to the public.

An act establishing Iowa’s state park system became law 100 years ago. An associate professor of landscape architecture at Iowa State, Heidi Hohmann, is studying the history of the parks.  “I think parks have a social meaning and a cultural meaning beyond their scientific value as preserves,” Hohmann says.

The 100th anniversary comes as state budget cuts threaten upkeep of the state parks.

Contract: IA
Park: 610150

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is NOT hiring the typical amount of seasonal workers to maintain them this summer. Hohmann says the parks remain as critical to preserving natural beauty today as they were in 1917. “They’re incredibly important for their resource values, for the species of animals and plants they protect, and they’re also important for citizens in terms of recreational opportunities,” Hohmann said.

Hohmann is hoping to celebrate the centennial of the state parks by visiting more than 50 of them this year.

(Radio Iowa w/Reporting by Rob Dillard, Iowa Public Radio)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the name of a 21-year-old stabbed to death in Sioux City. Police say the man was killed Saturday night after a fight started over a disputed theft. Police identified him as James Purcell, who lived in Sioux City. No arrests have been reported.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Omaha authorities have identified the body of a man found floating down the Missouri River. Boaters saw the body around 2:15 p.m. Sunday. An Omaha Fire Department river rescue team recovered it near Eppley Airfield on the northeast corner of the city.

Omaha police say investigators have identified the man but declined to release his name. Police say no foul play is suspected in the death.

Police in Glenwood this (Tuesday) morning, arrested a man on a Mills County warrant charging him with burglary. Officials say 18-year old Dylan Barrett, of Glenwood, was brought to the Mills County Jail, where his bond was set at $5,000.

Firefighters in Griswold, Monday night, responded to a call about a fire in the basement of a home at 402 4th Street. All of the occupants got out after they smelled smoke and saw flames at around 10:11-p.m. Griswold Fire Chief Andy Steffen told KJAN News the problem was an overheated sump pump.

There was no damage to the home. Griswold fire was on the scene for about 45-minutes ventilating smoke from the residence. No injuries were reported.

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

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