The upcoming weekend is typically a very busy one for Iowa grocery stores as consumers stock up on supplies for next week’s Thanksgiving dinner. Despite fears turkey prices would skyrocket due to this spring’s bird flu outbreak, U-S-D-A economist Annemarie Kuhns says turkey prices have actually dropped in the past week and are only up a few cents a pound from a year ago.

“This is the main attraction for your Thanksgiving meal and retailers tend to offer deep discounts on their turkeys to bring people into the store,” Kuhns says. Iowans may find frozen turkeys selling for as low as 59-cents a pound, however, many of those beloved side dishes may cost more to prepare. Sweet potato prices are up nearly 28-percent from a year ago while russet potatoes are up more than eight-percent.

Egg prices are up significantly from 2014, in large part, due to the bird flu outbreak. She says a dozen eggs will run you a full dollar more. “On average, $2.97,” Kuhns says. “They cost $1.97 at this time last year.” Kuhns says the price of green beans, milk and cranberries are all down this year. Iowa remains the nation’s number-one hog producer and Kuhns says now is a good time to buy ham as prices are down a half-a-dollar. “Per pound ham prices are about $4.13 this year,” she says. “Last year, they cost about $4.63.”

Overall, it’s estimated the Thanksgiving dinner will cost about six-percent more than last year’s big meal.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials in Council Bluffs report the City is expecting a rain and snow mixture during the morning and afternoon, today. That mix should change to all snow by 6-p.m. and continue until 11-p.m. Snow accumulation totals are expected to be between 2 to 3 inches.

Winds will be picking up this evening as the temperatures begin to drop, potentially causing slick road conditions into the evening. Council Bluffs Public Works will have crews out treating streets all day, however, as always, they ask that you drive with caution.

A Creston man was arrested Thursday evening on a firearms charge. Creston Police say 38-year old Jeremy King was taken into custody on four counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. King was being held in the Union County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Two complaints against the Neola City Council were dismissed Thursday by the Iowa Public Information Board. The Daily NonPareil says members of the board accepted a recommendation finding no legal meeting was held when some members of the council met with city staff to discuss absentee ballots and political strategy in advance of the recent municipal elections.

The board went against a staff recommendation to accept a second complaint alleging the City Council should have involved its city attorney in a closed session following an audit finding by the state. The council instead had a special attorney for that issue involved in the closed portion of the meeting, during which the council discussed legal strategy.

Margaret Johnson, deputy director of the Iowa Public Information Board, said the state agency advanced a proposed administrative rule at Thursday’s meeting to clarify that when a governmental body cites a provision of Iowa Code to allow closed meetings “to discuss strategy with counsel,” the body’s legal council must attend either in person or electronically.

Johnson said the IPIB staff had asked the board to accept the complaint to further examine the definition of “counsel” for the purpose of a closed session. She said the board instead dismissed the complaint but asked for that background work to be done for an advisory opinion.

In a letter to the IPIB, the city had called the complaint “frivolous.” The complaint was filed by Teresa Ring, who said an audit finding alleging fraud by former City Clerk Deb Schierbrock was a “smear campaign,” and the audit prompted the closed session in question. Schierbrock, Ring’s sister-in-law, made an unsuccessful bid to become mayor of Neola. The audit was conducted by the state as part of an independent process from the city.

A judge in Pottawattamie County, Thursday, sentenced 20-year old John Harter, of Crescent, to two years of supervised probation one month after Harter plead guilty to a homicide by vehicle-reckless driving charge.

The Daily NonPareil says the felony charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. According to court documents, on July 2nd, 2013, witnesses told police that they saw Harter driving a motorcycle at speeds of 80 mph with 18-year old Joseph Goodwin as a passenger.

Police said as he drove around the vehicle, Harter saw three motorcycles in the southbound lane, and Harter tried to stop. He and Goodwin were thrown from the motorcycle. Goodwin died at the scene, and another victim suffered serious injuries. . After the crash, Harter was found to have cannabis and central nervous system depressants in his system. After a year-long investigation, Harter was arrested on July 11th, 2014.

According to the agreement, by pleading guilty to the Class C felony and spending the 30 days between the plea hearing and the sentencing hearing in Pottawattamie County Jail, Harter would then receive a deferred judgment. The court would also dismiss his other two charges, including homicide by vehicle-operating under the influence, a Class B felony.

In addition to obeying the terms of his probation, Harter will have to pay $150,000 to the estate of Joseph Goodwin and $2,681 to another victim in the accident. If he does not meet the conditions of his probation, he could still be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. If Harter successfully completes his probation, the charge will be dismissed, and the record of the case will be expunged.