The latest rains across Iowa continue to add to what is now a positive groundwater picture. Tim Hall, who tracks groundwater levels for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says we can officially put the word drought away for awhile when referring to the state’s water situation. Hall says it wasn’t that long ago when many were wondering if that would be possible. “I look back at the drought monitor from one year ago — from the middle of October last year — and it was really bleak about one year ago,” Hall says. “Most of the state was in some sort of drought, and it had sort of been lingering for a long time.”

Hall says things were dry going back even farther to the fall of 2011. “It’s nice now to get to the point where it appears that the long-term gradual moisture from this year has really pushed the drought out of the state. It’s nice to see. It’s been really wet going into the fall, this is what we like to see, so yeah, it’s in pretty good shape,” Hall says. The last remnants of the drought had hung on until September’s above normal rainfall.

“For awhile that northeastern corner of the state into southwest Wisconsin had been a little on the dry side — but we are out of it in Iowa right now. We’ve been out if for a month and it’s dramatically better than it was a year ago,” according to Hall. He says things seemed to balance out this spring, and the drier conditions actually helped prevent problems during a wet periods.

“The National Weather Service folks have pointed out that one of the things that really worked to the benefit of the state of Iowa this year given the spring rain, was that we did have very dry soil conditions back in the spring,” Hall says, “so, we were able to absorb a lot of the rainfall that came early in the spring season because the soil was so dry.”

The U-S-D-A National Agricultural Statistics Service says the subsoil moisture levels measured on October 5th had been greater only twice — in 2007 and 2010 — among the past 20 years.

(Radio Iowa)

A county supervisor who voted to hire Culver Construction to work on county projects says everyone involved knew the business was owned by Joni Ernst’s father. Ernst is now the Iowa Republican Party’s nominee for the U.S. Senate, but Democrats have been suggesting that while Ernst was the Montgomery County Auditor she failed to disclose her father’s firm was bidding for and getting county business. Bryant Amos, the chair of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, says “everyone in the county” knew Culver Construction was owned by Ernst’s father.

“In a small community, that was common knowledge. I really feel that they’re really grasping at straws to find something negative here,” Amos says. “At that time, if there would have been anything at all that was not above the board and politically correct, we would have been put on the carpet right then.” Culver Construction was awarded 215-thousand dollars worth of county contracts when Ernst served as Montgomery County’s auditor. Democrats have charged that’s a conflict of interest. Amos says Ernst had no vote on the matter because he and the other county supervisors handled the bids and voted to award the contracts. Former Iowa Attorney General Bonnie Campbell — a former chair of the Iowa Democratic Party — last week said state law stipulates that a county official’s “immediate family members” — including their parents — are not to get county contracts. Amos says in a small county like Montgomery County, that could “cut out” a lot of potential low bidders on county contracts and cost taxpayers more money.

“Why would you refuse a low bid because there’s a relationship? I mean, how far does that relationship go? Could it be a fourth, fifth cousin, so that eliminates them?” Amos asks. “I realize this is a lot closer than that, but where do you draw the line?” Amos says there were a lot of construction firms competing for the work and none complained when Culver Construction was the low-bidder and got the county contracts.

“If there would have been anything inappropriate, it would have been brought up at that time,” Amos says. According to the Ernst campaign, Ernst does not have a financial stake in her father’s company and a spokeswoman for Ernst calls the allegations of a conflict of interest “frivolous.”

(Radio Iowa)

While bicycling season is starting to wind down with cooler weather arriving in the region, a popular bike sharing program in Omaha is expanding its reach across the river into Iowa. Ben Turner is program director for Heartland B-Cycle, which offers pedal-powered two-wheelers for rent at kiosks all around the metro area.

Turner says, “We’re adding 20 stations in the next few months, changing our name to Heartland B-Cycle and we’re going to be the second multi-state bike sharing program in the country.” Turner says the organization is adding six kiosks in Council Bluffs and will have a total of 31 stations in the two-state area. Tourists and locals are using the bikes frequently and Turner says it’s a natural move to broaden the base across the Missouri.

Turner says, “People ride into Council Bluffs with B-Cycles every day so it just makes perfect sense to have stations there and we should be everywhere that bicyclists want to go and that’s Council Bluffs and Omaha.” Bike sharing stations will stretch from downtown Council Bluffs all the way to Village Pointe in west Omaha. You can purchase memberships with the group for 24-hours, 30-days or by the year. He says the addition of 20 kiosks and dozens of bikes will cost just under one-million dollars, with the money coming from private partnerships and grants, no tax dollars.

(Radio Iowa)

Two people were arrested on separate charges last Saturday, in Guthrie County. The Sheriff’s Office says at approximately 9:43 PM. 53-year old John Roger Reese, of Jamaica, was stopped for a traffic violation in Jamaica. During the course of the traffic stop, Reese was found to have a revoked driver’s license due to an operating while intoxicated revocation. He was cited and released pending an appearance in Guthrie County Magistrate Court.

And at around 11:40-p.m. Saturday, 34-year old Kenneth Lee Harlow Jr., of Scranton, was stopped and subsequently arrested following an encounter with law enforcement in Bayard. Harlow was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated 2nd Offense and was transported to the Guthrie County Jail. He appeared before the Guthrie County Magistrate the following day and was released on his own recognizance.

Two people were arrested earlier this month on drug and other charges, following a traffic stop Oct. 3rd, in Guthrie County. The Sheriff’s Office reported Monday (today), 29-year old Jessica Marie Martin, of Greenfield, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine 1st Offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance – Morphine 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Martin was also charged with a Drug Tax Stamp Violation and Possessing Contraband in a Correctional Facility or Jail, both of which are felonies. The woman later posted bond before seeing a magistrate, and was released.

36-year old Louis Mack Brittain, of Ankeny,was found to be in possession of a dangerous weapon, an electronic immobilization device.  He was also found to have an active arrest warrant out of Polk County.  Brittain appeared before the magistrate and was remanded to the custody of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

The pair were arrested after the vehicle they were in was stopped for a traffic violation at around 12:40-a.m., Oct. 3rd, in Guthrie Center. During the stop, illegal items were found on Martin, and in the vehicle.

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) — Prosecutors are keeping secret, for now, the details of a plea agreement with an Iowa daycare provider charged with fatally injuring a three-year-old girl in her care. The Iowa Attorney General’s Office and the Sioux County attorney refused Monday to release the agreement reached with 34-year-old Rochelle Sapp of Orange City.

Judge Edward Jacobson had signed an order requiring the agreement to be released Monday. The attorney general objected, saying both sides agreed the deal would be publicly filed “at or before” Thursday’s plea and sentencing. Jacobson issued an amended order Monday, agreeing the deal could be filed then.

Sapp’s charged with first-degree murder in the October 2013 death of three-year-old Autumn Elgersma. Investigators say she slammed the toddler to the floor, causing head injuries that killed her days later.

Two people were arrested on drug charges Sunday, in Crawford County. Following a traffic stop early that morning in Denison, 21-year old Dakota James Boger of Kiron, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia a (Simple Misdemeanor) and Possession of a controlled substance to wit Marijuana a ( Aggravated Misdemeanor).

A couple of hours later, a traffic stop was conducted by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office at 18th Street and 1st Ave South in Denison, resulted in the arrest of 29 year old Amber Lea Nelson of Denison. She was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (a Simple Misdemeanor), and Possession of a controlled substance/Marijuana  (a Serious Misdemeanor).

The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Denison man Sunday night after investigating a report of a man walking along Highway 30, just west of Vail. 25-year old Andrew Ellis was placed under arrest for Carrying a Dangerous Weapon (Pistol) without a permit (Aggravated Misdemeanor).

Upon further investigation, the Crawford County K9 “Bayou” performed a sniff of Ellis’ belongings, and indicated to the odor of narcotics coming from a black plastic case. During the search of the case, Methamphetamine and Drug Paraphernalia were seized.

Ellis was subsequently charged with Possession of Methamphetamine 2nd (Aggravated Misdemeanor) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Simple Misdemeanor). Because Ellis was possessing a pistol at the time he was possessing the controlled substances, it will enhance his penalties upon conviction.

Two people were arrested Sunday, in Atlantic. The A-PD reports 36-year old Patrick Hallas, of Shelby, was arrested for Driving While License Denied/Revoked. And, 21-year old Bradley Herring, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred.

Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Cass County Health System will be hosting a community event, Understanding Your Lab Results – What Do All Those Numbers Mean?, to assist area residents in interpreting results from blood analysis testing. “We have recently completed community blood draws so we know all of those people have just received their results. This program will help them to better understand what those results mean for them and their health,” explained Sara Nelson, CCHS Public Relations Director.

The program will be offered twice: Tuesday, October 14th at 7:00 am and Thursday, October 16th at 5:30 pm. Each session will last about one hour and will be held in the Cass County Memorial Hospital Conference Room 2. There is no charge and no preregistration is necessary.

The sessions will be presented by CCMH staff from the Cardiac Rehab, Diabetes Center and Clinical Nutrition Departments:
• Peggy Perkins, RN,
• Barbara Petersen, RN, CDE,
• Emily Krengel, and
• Aubrey Molgaard, RN, CDE.

Nelson pointed out the information will be valuable to people who did not participate in the blood draws, too. “At some point, everyone has blood tests done and this will prepare them to understand those results and discuss their health with their personal medical provider.” For more information or questions about this event, call the CCHS Public Relations Department at 712-243-7408.