The Harlan FFA has been voted as a top chapter in their state by area farmers in the FFA Chapter Challenge pilot program, sponsored by Monsanto Company. FFA members in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Georgia and Alabama took this opportunity to make meaningful connections with area farmers, and farmers then voted for their favorite FFA chapter.

John Raines, vice president of Monsanto customer advocacy, said “Monsanto is proud to be a partner with the National FFA and help these local chapters generate new and stronger relationships with their area farmers.” He congratulated the Harlan FFA on their accomplishment and for opening dialogue with the farming community “That billions depend on everyday.”

Twenty-five FFA chapters across Iowa were in the running for the FFA Chapter Challenge Grand Prize, which was made possible through National FFA and Monsanto.
The chapter that received the most votes won a trip to this year’s National FFA Convention in Indianapolis Oct. 19-22, for six students and one adviser. The trip is valued at $6,500.

The top 10 chapters in each state were awarded a $1,500 certificate of credit as first prize. The remaining 55 prizes were awarded to the overall top chapters, not
to include those that ranked in the top 10 for their state. The second prize chapters received FFA merchandise gift certificates.  The certificates of credit
can be used with the national office for items such as blue jackets, convention fees and more.

To see a full list of 2011 FFA Chapter Challenge winners, visit ffachapterchalllenge.com.

USDA Rural Development Director, Bill Menner, will be in western Iowa Tuesday, to garner ideas to keep “rural Iowa  alive and vibrant.” Director Menner will at the Elk Horn Town Hall at 9-a.m., at the Greenfield City Hall, beginning at 1-p.m., and at the Pavilion on the Adams County Fair Grounds in Corning, at 3:30-p.m.

For more information about finance programs through USDA Rural Development, please call the office located in Atlantic at (712) 243-2107 Ext. 4. This office serves  communities, businesses and residents in Adams, Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Shelby and Taylor Counties.

USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million Iowans living in rural communities and areas. Office  locations include a State Office in Des Moines, along with Area Offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.

Further information on programs available through USDA Rural Development is available by visiting the agency’s web site at  www.rurdev.usda.gov/ia.

Eighteen girls will compete for the title of Cass County Fair Queen and seven boys will try for Cass County Fair King during the annual county fair, July 29^th through August 5^th, 2011.

During a recent preliminary judging of all candidates at the Main Street Grill in Atlantic,  each candidate was interviewed by two judges and then participated in a small group discussion. Judging criteria is based on appearance, personality, poise, charm, awareness, leadership, and citizenship within the community, as well as their ability to discuss openly, honestly, and extemporaneously on current youth issues.

Candidates trying for the title of queen include:

Hannah Ankenbauer, Marybeth Anstey, Alyssa Askeland, Michelle Buboltz, Linnea Casey, Taylor Dorsey, Lauren Fast, Cynthia Freund, Andrea Kuffel, Sarah Jo Masker, Melanie Palmer, Maggie Peck, Tess Peck, Diana Perkins, Erin Steele, Amber Stender, Toni Swanson and Kate Lynn Wheatley.

King candidates include:

Robert Nichols, Justin Aupperle, Ryan Aupperle, J.T. Baker, Dylan Christensen, Mark Jacobsen and Ethan Miller.

Contestants were treated to dinner sponsored by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Cass County Farm Bureau & Brocker Karns & Karns. Coordinating the event are Superintendent, Deb Schuler, Assistant, Lana Westphalen, and the 2010 Cass County Fair Queen Victoria Frisbie; Princess, Katelyn Blake, and 2010 Fair King, Ethan Wessling, and Prince, Charles Ankenbauer.

Crowning of the 2011 Fair Queen will take place in front of the grandstand on Sunday, July 29^th,  at 8:00 PM.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Rep. Tom Latham raised more than $580,000 for his 2012 reelection campaign in the second quarter of 2011, the first reporting period since Iowa’s redistricting plan was implemented.

According to Latham’s campaign, the nine-term congressman has $1.5 million cash on hand as he moves from his current, north-central Iowa district to a southwest Iowa district where he will challenge incumbent Democratic Rep. Leonard Boswell. The deputy treasurer for Latham’s campaign, Elizabeth Severson, says Latham’s haul is the most his committee has raised in a single quarter.

Boswell hasn’t released his second quarter fundraising numbers. Candidates are required to do so by July 15. Latham is attempting to win a district that is virtually all new terrain, comprised of 16 counties in the southwest and including Des Moines.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 74-year-old sex offender has died at the Iowa State Penitentiary medical unit in Fort Madison.

A state news release says Jack Franks was found unresponsive, without a pulse or heartbeat, in his bed at 3:20 a.m. Sunday. The release says that because Franks had signed a do-not-resuscitate order, no attempt to revive him was made.

The release says Franks suffered from several conditions, including coronary artery disease. Franks was serving a 20-year sentence that began in July 2005.

He’d been convicted in Pottawattamie County of four counts of lascivious acts with a child.

The Iowa Department of Economic Development says awards totaling $28.2 million were announced today (Monday), for 86 communities across the state. The Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) awarded the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to support 88 community investment projects. The federally funded grants were awarded for community facilities, infrastructure improvements, and single family owner-occupied housing rehabilitation.

In southwest Iowa, these communities received CDBG funds for sanitary sewer or water distribution system improvements….

Anita – $500,000; Creston – $600,000; Cumberland – $200,000; Essex – $287,00; Fremont & Minden – $300,000; Griswold & Panora – $500,000.

And, these communities received Housing grants to rehabilitate owner-occupied single-family units…

Atlantic – $484,500 for 13 units; Bedford – $241,000 for 6 units; Harlan – $373,000 for 10 units; Mount Ayr -$203,500 for 5 units; Shenandoah – $373,000 for 10 units; & Sidney – $308,000 for 8 units.

CDBG funds will leverage more than $34 million in local funds from Iowa’s communities. The program enables communities to make needed improvements to water and sewer systems, improve housing conditions for low-income homeowners, and develop the best child care facilities for Iowa’s youth.

IDED received 141 applications for these funds, totaling more than $44.2 million in funding requests. The grants are awarded based on the financial need and potential impact of the project, benefit to low- and moderate-income persons, and commitment of local resources to moving the project forward.

The Community Development Block Grant program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). IDED is responsible for administering the CDBG funds in the non-metropolitan areas of the state.

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) – A state audit shows that a former accounting clerk at the Glenwood Resource Center took money from clients’ activity accounts to cover her  gambling losses and to help a daughter who was going through a divorce. The audit, released Monday, shows Carol Tibben made 17 unauthorized withdrawals from clients’ accounts totaling nearly $3,400. The audit indicates Tibben repaid $2,500 before she resigned in June 2010.

The center provides services to people with disabilities. The audit says once a client’s request for cash was received and approved, Tibben would write a check for cash from the account and a courier would retrieve the money from the bank and return it to Tibben.

Authorities in Clarinda are asking residents to report any suspicious activities around vehicles in the community, after several break-ins occurred over the weekend. According to Police Chief Keith Brothers, at least six vehicles in the southwest part of the community were entered sometime late Saturday evening and early Sunday morning. The thief or thieves took items ranging from cash and coins, to electronic devices, CD’s, and even two long rifles.

Damage to the vehicles was estimated at $2,000. Brothers says the many of the vehicles were unlocked. In one instance, the culprits entered a vehicle through its trunk. Brothers says residents shouldn’t hesitate to call the Clarinda P-D if they observe suspicious activity around the community.

Anyone with information pertaining to the recent crime spree, should call the Clarinda Police Department at 712-542-2194.