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Bugs resistant to genetically modified corn found

Ag/Outdoor

March 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Researchers say bugs are developing resistance to the widely popular genetically engineered corn plants that make their own insecticide, so farmers may have to make changes. The Lincoln Journal Star reports (http://bit.ly/1eC05SM ) that cases of rootworms eating roots of so-called Bt corn have been confirmed in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota and Minnesota.

Iowa State University researchers say rootworms have developed resistance to two of the four genetic traits in corn plants that are engineered to kill rootworms. Iowa State professor Aaron Gassmann says the problem isn’t widespread yet, but farmers and seed companies should consider changing their approaches to pest control.

In areas where Bt corn has failed to control rootworms, farmers turned to insecticides. The USDA says 76 percent of all corn planted last year was Bt corn.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

Backers say drones will prove useful for farmers

Ag/Outdoor

March 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Agricultural interest in using unmanned drones to help monitor millions of acres of crops is growing. The Des Moines Register reports that supporters believe using drones on farms makes sense because the operations are generally large and in rural areas. The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International predicts that 80 percent of the commercial use of drones will eventually be in agriculture.

Drones with infrared cameras and other sensors can help identify insect problems and watering issues early. They can also help assess crop yields and locate missing cattle. Farmer Brent Johnson bought a drone last year to study how the topography of his 900-acre central Iowa farm affects yields. He says using the drone helps him decide whether to replant an area or avoid it in the future.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

Massena Fire called to a grass fire, Sunday

News

March 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Firefighters from Massena were called to the scene of an out-of-control grass fire Sunday afternoon on the Cass-Adams County line. The call went out at around 12:36-p.m for the fire located about 1.5-miles east of Highway 148. Crews were on the scene for about 25 minutes.

No other details are available.

Posted in News |

MARY ANN HARTMAN COUGHLIN, 81, of Elliott (Svcs. 3/28/14)

Obituaries

March 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

MARY ANN HARTMAN COUGHLIN, 81, of Elliot, died Sat., March 22nd, at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak.  A Mass of Christian Burial service for MARY ANN COUGHLIN will be held 10-a.m. Fri., March 28th, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Griswold.  Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold has the arrangements.

A Rosary will be held at the funeral home on Thursday beginning at 6-p.m., followed by visitation with the family until 8-p.m.

A memorial fund has been established.

Interment will be in the Weirich Cemetery south of Lyman.

MARY ANN COUGHLIN is survived by:

Her 5 children – Diane (Jim) Sifford, and Nancy (Nick) Zimmer, all of Red Oak; Bruce (Glenda) Coughlin, and Brian (Jana) Coughlin, all of Elliott, and Debra (Brian) Church, of Atlantic.

6 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, other relatives & friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

MARY SALENA BYERS, 82, of Atlantic (Svcs. 3/29/14)

Obituaries

March 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

MARY SALENA BYERS, 82, of Atlantic, died Sat., March 22nd, at the Heritage House in Atlantic. Funeral services for MARY BYERS will be held 10:30-a.m. Sat., March 29th, at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church south of Cumberland. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the church.

Posted in Obituaries |

RODNEY DORLAND SCHULER, 56, of Atlantic (Svcs. 3/26/14)

Obituaries

March 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

RODNEY DORLAND SCHULER, 56, of Atlantic, died Sat., March 22nd, at home. Funeral services for RODNEY SCHULER will be held 11-a.m. Wed., March 26th, at the 1st Church of Christ in Atlantic. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the church on Tuesday, from 5-to 7-pm.

Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.

RODNEY SCHULER is survived by:

His wife – Michelle Schuler, of Atlantic.

His parents – Dorland and Verna Schuler of Griswold.

His children – Jordan (Chelsi) Schuler, Kristen Schuler, and Evan Schuler, all of Atlantic, and Brandon Schuler and his fiance’ Shannon Bower, of Davenport.

His brothers and sisters – Reggie (Jeanie) Schuler, of Griswold; Rhonda (Steve) Hayward, of Joplin, MO, & Roger (Janelle) Schuler, of Massillon, OH.

Posted in Obituaries |

MILO L. SORENSEN, 87, of Guthrie Center (Svcs. 3/25/14)

Obituaries

March 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

MILO L. SORENSEN, 87, of Guthrie Center, died Sat., March 22nd, at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center. Memorial services for MILO SORENSEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Tue., March 25th, at the 1st United Methodist Church in Guthrie Center. Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-to 8-pm Mon., March 24th, with the family present from 6-to 8-pm.

Burial of cremains will be in the Union Cemetery at Guthrie Center.

Posted in Obituaries |

NWS forecast for Cass & area Counties: Sun., 3/23/2014

Weather

March 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

TODAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 30S. NORTHEAST WIND AROUND 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTHWEST IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY UNTIL EARLY MORNING…THEN A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW EARLY IN THE MORNING. LOW IN THE MID 20S. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

MONDAY…SNOW IN THE MORNING…THEN SNOW LIKELY EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON. A CHANCE OF SNOW LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. SNOW ACCUMULATION AROUND 2 INCHES. HIGH IN THE UPPER 30S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH SHIFTING TO THE WEST IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF SNOW 80 PERCENT.

MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY THROUGH MIDNIGHT THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW AROUND 20. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

TUESDAY…SUNNY…BREEZY. HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE LOWER 20S.

WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY…WARMER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 50S.

Posted in Weather |

Iowa News Headlines: Sun., March 23rd 2014

News

March 23rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Police in eastern Iowa are investigating the fatal stabbing of a man in the parking lot of a Davenport strip club. The Quad-City Times reports that Davenport police were called early yesterday morning to The Chorus Line, where they discovered the gravely wounded man. Police have not yet identified the victim pending notification of his family.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a Des Moines home was burglarized after a woman posing as an Iowa Department of Human Services employee lured the family out of their house. The Des Moines Register reports that the impostor knocked on the family’s door on Wednesday and told a 13-year-old girl who answered that she needed to speak to the girl’s mother. The woman called the mother the next day, saying a child endangerment report had been filed and that they needed to meet at a restaurant, but no one showed up.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say they’ve arrested a man accused of breaking into his old house in Des Moines. The Register reports that the 40-year-old man had owned the Oak Park neighborhood home for nearly eight years, but lost it a year ago.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Georges Niang scored 24 points to lead third-seeded Iowa State as the Cyclones pulled away from Number 14 North Carolina Central for a 93-75 win Friday night in the East Region. ISU will tip off against North Carolina at 5:15 this evening in San Antonio, Texas.

Posted in News |

Seminoles beat Cyclones, Christofferson’s historic career ends

Sports

March 22nd, 2014 by admin

AMES, Iowa (AP) – Natasha Howard had her school-record 15th double-double of the season with 10 points and 13 rebounds, and 10th-seeded Florida State defeated cold-shooting Iowa State 55-44 in the first round of the NCAA women’s tournament on Saturday.

The Seminoles (21-11) won their 11th straight tournament opener since 1991, prevailing in a game in which turnovers outnumbered field goals 44-36. They’ll play No. 2 seeded Stanford or No. 15 South Dakota on Monday night.

Cheetah Delgado had 10 points and six assists and Ivey Slaughter grabbed 13 rebounds for the Seminoles.

Hallie Christofferson scored 13 points, Brynn Williamson added 12 on four 3-pointers, and Jadda Buckey had 10 for the Cyclones (20-11).

Howard came in averaging 29.2 points in her previous nine games but didn’t crack double figures until less than 4 minutes were left.

Posted in Sports |