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Extension expert says farmers can wait to get into fields

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The weather is starting to get warmer, but and Iowa State University extension crops specialist says farmers should not worry about getting into the fields just yet. Joel DeJong says there’s no hurry to get equipment in the fields. “No I don’t think they need to be overly concerned, it’s still reasonably early. We still have frost a couple feet deep. We need to get that frost out first,” DeJong says.

He says they are starting to see some signs that the frost is starting to go out of the ground. DeJong says trying to get into the fields too early could cause added problems, as the frost traps water in the ground. “Until we get that deeper frost out, I’m a little concerned you might be creating some compaction with some of these tilling tools,” DeJong says. He says the rain in the forecast could help draw some of the frost out of the ground.

DeJong has noticed some farmers applying fertilizer. He says he’s mostly seen farmers putting manure on the fields from feed lots, and he says the ground is “kind of passable” for those applications. The Iowa Agriculture Department reports that farmers in south-central Iowa have been able to get in more time in the fields than other parts of the state.

(Radio Iowa)

Tiger Speech Showcase tonight in Guthrie Center (4/11/14)

News

April 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Students with the Guthrie Center High School Speech Teams will perform during the Tiger Speech Showcase this evening at 7 o’clock in the Guthrie Center High School Auditorium.  The cost of admission is your free-will donation. School officials say the large group and individual events team members will perform the speeches that have earned them success this year.

The Choral Reading group will perform “Legendary”, written and directed by Mrs. Kelsey Little. There will also be one Group Improvisation team to entertain the audience. Individual Events speakers will include Maria Ahrens in All-State-nominated Poetry, as well as Acting, McKenzie Hawkins in Storytelling, Neta Boyer in Original Oratory, Whitney Bates with Literary Program.

Other Individual performers include Morgan Woolman in Solo Musical Theatre, Matthew Vannatta in Prose, Cassidy Simmons in Expository Address, Samuel Vannatta in Prose, Ross Rumelhart in Improv, and Anita Alvarez in Literary Program.

Several of the district’s Individual Events speakers recently earned a trip to State.

ILENE PHILLIPS, 96, of Ankeny & formerly of Guthrie Center – Svcs. 4/14/14

Obituaries

April 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

ILENE PHILLIPS, 96, of Ankeny (& formerly of Guthrie Center), died Wed., April 9th, at the Millpond Retirement Community in Ankeny. Funeral services for ILENE PHILLIPS will be held 11-a.m. Mon., April 14th, at the 1st United Methodist Church in Guthrie Center. Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the 1st UMC in Guthrie Center from 10-until 11-am, Monday (Prior to the service).

Burial will be in the Union Cemetery at Guthrie Center.

ARLENE T. HAASE, 75, of Anita (Svcs. 4/14/14)

Obituaries

April 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

ARLENE T. HAASE, 75, of Anita, died Wed., April 9th, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. Funeral services for ARLENE HAASE will be held 11-a.m. Mon., April 14th, at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Anita. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Anita has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 2-until 4-pm Sunday (4/13).

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Burial will be held at a later date.

ARLENE HAASE is survived by:

Her children – Robin Haase, of Lincoln, NE; Todd (Mari) Haase, of Omaha, and Beth (Rodger)Rasmussen, of Elk Horn, IA.

Her sisters – LaVonne (Jim) Stroup, of Hazen, N.D., and Donna (Larry) Tabert, of Loveland, CO.

8 grandchildren & 3 great-grandchildren.

RICHARD JOHNSON, 82, of Greenfield & formerly of Massena (Svcs.

Obituaries

April 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

RICHARD JOHNSON, 82, of Greenfield (& formerly of Massena), died Fri., April 11th, at the Greenfield Manor. Memorial services for RICHARD JOHNSON will be held 11-a.m. Tue., April 15th, at the Massena United Methodist Church. Steen Funeral Home in Massena is in charge of the arrangements.

A Masonic Service will be conducted by the Greenfield Crusade Lodge #386 A.F. & A.M.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 14th, at the Steen Funeral Home in Massena from 1- to 7:30-p.m., with the family greeting friends from 6-to 7:30-p.m.

Interment will be in the Massena Center Cemetery, with a luncheon will be held at the church following services at the cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Richard Johnson memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date. Online condolences may be left at www.steenfunerals.com.

RICHARD JOHNSON is survived by:

Wife: Marjorie Johnson of Greenfield

Son: Mark Johnson of Massena

Daughter: Debra (Larry) Stouli, of Newton

Sisters and Brothers-in-law: Barb and Bob Queck of Orient; Bev and Marco Festa of North Carolina; and Donna Edwards of Lincoln, Nebraska.

1 Grandson. Other Relatives and Friends.

TX man arrested on OWI & other charges in Fremont County

News

April 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Fremont County say a man from Texas was arrested early this (Friday) morning after an investigation into an incident at a truck stop. The Sheriff’s Office says deputies were called to the Cubby’s Truck Stop in Percival at around 1-a.m., following a report of an intoxicated man who would not leave the store. Prior to the deputies’ arrival, the man took off in a 2004 Ford pickup.

Authorities caught up with the suspect’s vehicle on Interstate 29 near the 19-mile marker, and found the driver, 40-year old Francisco Javier Avila, of Buckles, TX.,  to allegedly be intoxicated, with open containers of alcohol in the vehicle.

Avila was arrested on suspicion of OWI 3rd or subsequent offense and Open Container charges, as well as Operating without a valid License. Additional charges are pending. Avila was booked into the Fremont County Jail and held on just over $5,950 bond.

WATER SUMMARY UPDATE SHOWS DRY CONDITIONS PERSIST

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

April 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports overall, dry conditions persist for most of Iowa.o_b953c4af464fb0ed_001 In their latest Water Summary Update, the DNR says precipitation average for the past two weeks has been 0.76 inch — a half inch less than normal. The continuing drought is reflected in the change of stream flows across the majority of the state. The lowest conditions are in the Raccoon and Des Moines river basins, which have less than 10 percent of normal stream flow.

Shallow groundwater levels are lower in southwest, west central and south central Iowa. Adequate spring rainfall will be critical to recharge the alluvial and shallow bedrock aquifers. Conditions are close to normal for northeast Iowa, which had near normal rainfall during the past two weeks.

For a more thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends March 27 through April 9, go to http://www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.

 

 

Glenwood officials report sewage leak from main

News

April 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) – Officials in the southwest Iowa city of Glenwood are using buckets to catch sewage from a damaged main. The state Department of Natural Resources said in a news release Thursday that city officials recently discovered a corrosion hole in the sewer main while working on lines in the area.  Officials are not sure how muck sewage has leaked, since they believe the hole likely developed during winter.

The hole has been temporarily patched but it appears to still be dripping. Buckets are being used until there’s a permanent fix. The city also plans to hire a contractor to reroute the sewer main.  Officials believe nearby Keg Creek has been affected. They’re encouraging residents and pets to avoid the area.

Iowa man gets 100-year sentence in sex abuse case

News

April 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City man has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for committing sex acts with a child over several years.  Daniel Harbeck received the sentence Thursday in Woodbury County District Court. He must serve 70 years before he is eligible for parole. The 37-year-old Harbeck was sentenced on seven counts of second-degree sexual abuse. Court documents say Harbeck admitted to multiple sex acts with the child between 2010 and 2013. The child is now 8 years old.

The Sioux City Journal reports Harbeck was ordered to serve four of the sentences consecutively. The other three will be served concurrently. Woodbury County Attorney Patrick Jennings tells the newspaper that he hasn’t seen a 100-year sentence in a sex abuse case during his 12 years as a prosecutor.

NW Iowa day care provider seeks trial venue change

News

April 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) – A northwest Iowa day care provider charged with murder in the death of a 3-year-old girl is seeking a change of venue for her upcoming trial. The Sioux City Journal reports an attorney for 34-year-old Rochelle Sapp says publicity surrounding the case would make it hard for the woman to receive a fair trial in Sioux County.

Sapp has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and child endangerment in connection to the death of Autumn Elgersma last year. An autopsy ruled that the girl died of blunt force head injury.  Sapp’s attorney, Edward Bjornstad, filed the motion Monday. No trial date has been set.