(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday morning, received a report from County Zoning Administrator Mike Kennon, with regard to issues of excessive scrap metal and inoperable vehicles on rural properties. Kennon handed the Board a sheet defining what is a junkyard, and junk. He said the reason for bringing the issue to the Board’s attention, is because of a number of complaints the Zoning Board has received, especially with regard to four specific properties.

Supervisor Steve Green said he had some concerns about the definition of junk, and suggested the County Attorney review the definition of terms.

The Board suggested Kennon focus on the most serious offender and send that owner a letter from the Zoning Board. They also suggested he check with other counties, to see what kind of Ordinance they have or what their Zoning Requirements are, in hopes of finding something with “more teeth,” than what Cass County has or may have.

The Board discussed and acted on approving a Resolution making appropriations and transfers for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. The matter was previously covered in budget discussions, and it simply gives the County spending authority.

Cass County BOS, 7-11-23

The Cass County Supervisors acted to pass a Resolution allocating the final ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) payments to fire departments. The resolution approved allots $75,000 to each of the departments in Cass County, as previously discussed. And, they approved applied for homestead and military tax credits, as recommended by the County Assessor.

In other business, Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken updated the Board on Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities.

And, Cass County Mental Health/General Relief Coordinator Deb Schuler provided the Board with a quarterly report for April through June.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors met in a regular weekly session this (Tuesday) morning, in Red Oak. Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert kicked-off the session with her weekly update.

She said also a construction project on Page-Montgomery Road south of Villisca is expected to start the week of July 26 with the laying of rock. The project is expected to last some three-to four-weeks.

Under New Business, the Board passed by a vote of 4-to 1(with Supervisor Donna Robinson opposed), a Revised Resolution pertaining to a half financial support agreement between the City of Red Oak and Montgomery County, and with regard to the Red Oak rail, track spur current maintenance. The agreement includes all the legal descriptions which were inadvertently omitted from the first proposed agreement.

Montgomery County BOS meeting, 7-11-23

Board Chair Mike Peterson….

The Supervisors passed (by a similar vote) a Revised MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between the County and the Montgomery County Development Corporation (MCDC). The County had budgeted $30,000 to the MCDC, and may provide additional funds for specific programs provided by MCDC and may allocate $18,000 to MCDC to take ownership of and complete the needed repairs of the Burlington Northern Spur.

In other business, the Board passed a Resolution for the County 5-year Montgomery County Secondary Roads. They also approved a revised funding agreement for the 250th Street Bridge, and financial administrative matters, including the Sheriff’s and Recorders reports of fees for the month of June, claims payable for July 12th, and the Treasurer’s Ending Fund Balance for the month of June.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is introducing a bill today (Tuesday) which he says will help to rein in billions of dollars in Biden administration spending that’s siphoning money away from vital farm programs. Grassley, a Republican, is calling it the U-S Department of Agriculture Spending Accountability Act. “The bill limits spending from that part of the U.S.D.A. called the Commodity Credit Corporation,” Grassley says, “and it would limit the C.C.C. to spending money only on programs authorized by Congress.”

Grassley says the legislation is designed to stop the U-S-D-A from undermining the role of Congress in writing the upcoming Farm Bill. “Over the past few years, secretaries of agriculture have used excess funds in the CCC for their own agenda,” Grassley says. “It’s become one of the most costly tools in the farm safety net.” He says the Biden administration is using this agricultural loophole as a blank check to pay for a host of unapproved programs, which Grassley says includes the president’s “environmental agenda.”

“Without these new controls, the Biden administration can simply fund its priorities using the C.C.C.,” Grassley says, “even if Congress rejects them in the upcoming Farm Bill.” He says the bill would save eight-billion dollars. Given the debt and deficit, Grassley says they “need to find savings in every nook and cranny of the Farm Bill.”

(Anita, Iowa) – The CAM School Board met Monday evening for about an hour, in Anita. Superintendent Paul Croghan told KJAN News the Board approved the resignation of Elementary Secretary Brittany Honeck. The Board then approved a contract with Honeck to become Board Secretary Assistant to the School Business Official (SBO) position.

The CAM School Board proceeded to renew Sharing Agreements with the Nodaway Valley Community School District.

They also passed a Resolution to approve a BMO Member Account Agreement, with regard to a credit card switch, and access to online banking. They also approved an assortment of Board Policies.

Croghan said community engagement meetings with SitelogicIQ will likely get underway in September, with regard to District Projects. And, he mentioned the School Board approved a Request For Proposal (RFP). The contract with the Nolte, Cornman & Johnson Auditing firm is for three-years. They also approved Board Legislative Priorities, including Supplemental State Aid, and Bond Approval by simple majority.

The CAM School Board approved also, the replacement of six heaters in the Elementary Building by Smith Plumbing and Heating, and approval of a transfer of funds from the General Fund to the Activity Fund, for reconditioned safety equipment. That includes football helmets and shoulder and knee pads, and new helmets.

Superintendent Croghan noted also, the new school year is fast approaching. He thanked school personnel who are making sure students and staff will have a clean and functional learning environment.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department said today (Tuesday, 7/11), no injuries were reported following a collision that occurred just before 10-a.m. Saturday, at the intersection of Elm and Adams Streets. Authorities report a 2022 Ford Explorer SUV driven by 72-year-old Martha Lou Larson, of Clearfield, and a 2022 Buick Encore SUV driven by 88-year-old Marjorie Anne Scurlock, of Creston, approached and stopped at 4-way stop intersection, with Larson traveling south on Elm Street and Scurlock headed east on Adams Street.

Both vehicles proceeded into the intersection at the same time, and collided. Both drivers said they thought they had the right-of-way, and did not see each other before entering the intersection. Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000. No citations were issued.

(Cass County, Iowa) – A reminder from the Cass County Local Food Policy Council:  Atlantic and Massena are hosting mobile food pantries this month on Wednesday afternoon, July 12. A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in need for a one-day distribution. People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome. Mobile food pantries are available free of charge. Anyone in need is welcome, and no documentation is required. Each car can take food for up to two households at a time. Both Atlantic and Massena will be distributing the same food products. If supplies run low in Massena, families will be directed to Atlantic.

Full details about the July 12 Mobile Pantries, as well as dates for upcoming mobile pantries in 2023 are listed below:

July 12 Mobile Food Pantries:

Atlantic: Atlantic High School front parking lot, from 4-6 p.m. Enter from 14th Street and follow signs. Questions, call 712-243-1132.
Massena: Southwest Iowa Egg, 74877 Clark Avenue, Massena, Iowa – Enter from the west and drive across the scale for pick up.  Time:  4:30-5:00 p.m. 

Mobile pantry dates, times, and locations are subject to change. For the latest information on mobile pantries in Anita and Atlantic, visit https://foodbankheartland.org/food-resources/find-food/. For the latest information on Massena pantries, call (712) 779-3447. For information on upcoming events and local food, farmers markets, and food access activities, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs report a badly decomposed body was found Monday afternoon, near 25th Street and Avenue G. Officers were dispatched to the scene at around 3:30-p.m.  Authorities  said initial evidence seemed to indicate the person found was not the victim of foul play. They did not identify the gender of the remains. An autopsy is expected to reveal more information.

Officials with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), America’s largest wildlife conservation and education organization, reports Brad and Lorrie Rasmussen at Hygge Cottage and Tivoli Gardens in Atlantic (Iowa), have successfully created a Certified Wildlife Habitat through its Garden for Wildlife Program.  In addition, the Rasmussen’s habitat has been co-certified with NWF’s state affiliate, the Iowa Wildlife Federation.

The NWF says its celebrates this effort to create a garden which supports birds, butterflies, bees, frogs, and other local wildlife.  Every Certified Wildlife Habitat Garden provides natural sources of food, water, cover, and places to raise young and is maintained in a sustainable way which incorporates indigenous grasses and forbs, conserves water, and does not rely on pesticides.

NWF Naturalist David Mizejewski says “Anyone, anywhere can restore wildlife habitat right in their own yards and communities. Whether you garden in a suburban yard, an urban yard, or a rural plot of land, you will make a difference for local wildlife.  Creating a Certified Wildlife is fun, easy, and makes a real difference for both humans and wildlife.  It’s the perfect grassroots way to think globally and act locally and help birds, butterflies, bees, and many other types of wildlife.”

For more information on NWF’s Garden for Wildlife movement and how to qualify to have a garden space recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat, visit Garden for Wildlife or call 1-800-822-9919.

(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Fair concludes its week-long run today (Tuesday), in Corning. Here’s today’s slate of events/activities:

7:00-a.m., 4-H Endowment Breakfast

8:00-a.m., Dairy Show

9:00-a.m., Beef Show

1:00-p.m., 4-H/FFA Dog Show

2:00-p.m, Non-Sale Livestock will be released

4:00-p.m., Tall Corn Contest – sponsored by POET – static exhibits released

4:30-p.m., BBQ sponsored by the Adams County Fair Board

5:00-p.m., Bottle Buckaroo Show; 4-H Youth Council Ice Cream Stand

6:00-p.m., Livestock sale, followed by Premiums Sale, Herdsmanship & Shooting Sports Exhibition results announced.

On Wednesday, has the Swine Carcass results at the Adams County Extension, followed by Corning Meat Locker Walk-Through.

(Radio Iowa) – There’s one positive that may come out of Iowa’s stretch of dry weather. Iowa D-N-R wildlife biologist, Todd Bogenschutz, says it will likely lead to good pheasant numbers.”Of course we always say we like warm dry springs and so we run the dry side about two inches below normal so that’s good temperature wise we’re about average,” he says. Bogenschutz says the good spring weather follows a winter where most of the state saw average snowfall, making it easier for the birds to survive. The spring weather is probably most important as that’s when the new birds hatch.”Which is about June 10th to the 15th statewide average so you know you know a lot of the hens are on the ground nesting in May you know have that hatch in June and some of the early birds into April,” Bogenschutz says, “So that’s why April and May weather seems to figure in the best.”

Bogenschutz says the more birds that survive after the hatch, the more birds there are out there for the fall season. “This was our fourth dry spring in a row — which is unusual for us — and so you know we’ve kind of had decent counts,” he says. “We’re kind of struggling on the habitat side we’re losing C-R-P and continue to lose hay and small grains. So Mother Nature is cooperating, but we’re losing on the habitat side.” A glitch in collecting the survey numbers has delayed the count for last year’s pheasant hunt. Bogenschutz says it will likely be in the same range as recent years.

“A year ago you know we were over 300-thousand approaching 400-thousand, so one of our better harvest numbers in the last decade. And so they’ve been trending kind of that way and that kind of 300 to 400-thousand range,” he says.

The D-N-R will conduct its annual roadside survey of pheasants in August, and Bogenschutz says the weather charts show they are likely to see good numbers once again.