COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A year after bird flu forced fairs across Iowa to cancel poultry shows, the competitions are returning this summer. The Daily Nonpareil reports the 4-H members who raise chickens are glad they should have a chance to show them at this year’s fairs. Organizers banned live poultry at fairs a year ago because of the bird flu outbreak that ravaged the industry. Both Iowa and Nebraska lifted their ban on poultry shows this year.

Kerri Wede with the East Pottawattamie County Extension office says the ban was “heartbreaking for the kids.” But they adapted. Last year, some fairs held egg judging contests and some had students give presentations about their chickens. Organizers are looking forward to returning to normal this year.

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) – Leaders in the northwest Iowa town of Cherokee would love to see another company make use of the former Tyson Foods plant just outside town, but they say the food company is making it hard to find a new tenant. The Des Moines Register reports Tyson continues paying $130,000 rent on the building and refuses to allow anyone it considers a competitor to use the building.

Tyson spokeswoman Caroline Ahn says the company has been in talks with three food companies about the plant. She says those deals fell apart, but it was not because of competitive concerns. Cherokee City Councilman Chad Brown says it feels like Tyson is holding the town hostage because it won’t release the plant.

Officers with the Iowa DNR are looking for the operator of a Personal Water Craft (PWC) following a personal injury accident that occurred at Lake Manawa Saturday evening. Brian Smith, with the DNR says an Omaha, Neb. woman was injured after being thrown off a PWC on Lake Manawa, and law enforcement officers are seeking assistance from the public in locating the operator of the vessel who left the scene.

29-year old Laura Goodburn was the passenger on a personal watercraft when she was thrown off at approximately 6:30-p.m., Saturday in the middle of the lake toward the south end. She complained of a neck injury and was taken to Alegent Health Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. Both Goodburn and a friend she was with, Justin Smith of Omaha, Neb., told law enforcement officers they did not know the identity of the personal watercraft operator.

The operator of the personal watercraft is described as a white, middle-aged male, approximately 6-feet tall, average weight and with short red, blonde or gray hair. At the time of the incident, he was wearing an O’Neill life jacket. The personal watercraft was described as being orange, black and gold. Law enforcement officers searched the lake and boat ramps but were unable to find a vessel fitting that description.

Conservation officers and park rangers from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources are continuing to investigate the incident. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information on the identity of the personal watercraft operator is asked to call DNR Law Enforcement Supervisor Brian Smith at 712-254-0550.