(Radio Iowa) – A Fort Dodge-based farmers association took its systems offline after being hit by a ransomware attack, and officials with New Cooperative now says the hack was “successfully contained.” Iowa State University electrical and computer engineering professor Doug Jacobson says an attack like this can shake farmers’ sense of security. “Any organization that’s in possession of data, potentially the farmer data, if that data is lost or there’s a potential for that data to get leaked, the farmers or the people who use that data may lose confidence in that organization’s ability to keep their data safe.”

Jacobson says though the food system is fairly well distributed, it’s still vulnerable to attacks. He says the lasting reach of the hack remains unknown.”There’s always a potential impact,” he says. “Some of it’s confidence. A place like a cooperative holds a lot of farmer data. It’s unclear how much of that data may have been compromised.”

Jacobson says the food system is not highly interconnected like the power grid, and a co-op can move more easily to pen and paper, unlike a hospital. In May, the world’s largest meat processor, J-B-S, was hacked and had to temporarily shut down.

(Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio)

(Audubon, Iowa) – There’s no change in how the Audubon School District will mitigate efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. That the decision the Audubon School Board made during their regular monthly meeting, Monday evening. Superintendent Eric Trager says that means there will not be a mask mandate.

He says the District currently has a very low COVOD case count. Trager says Guthrie County Public Health Epidemiologist Jotham Arber advised the board that even though variant is more contagious than last year, it is no more severe in terms of illness in children, so while there may be more cases in children, there is less likely to be any increases in severity.

Several other, large school districts – the latest being Ankeny and Johnston – have decided to implement a mask mandate. Mr. Trager said the lack of leadership puts Superintendents in a “really tough situation.”

Eric Trager wished districts that enacted a mask mandate, well, and expects that they know what’s best for their district. In other news, Mr. Trager said the Middle School/High School Renovation project is currently out to bid. Those bids will be opened on October 20th. Trager said they’re hopeful they’ll get some competitive bids and a reasonable price tag, so the project can move forward.

Enrollment numbers for the District look to be up by 20 students, according to the Superintendent. The Audubon School Board, Monday, approved a bus bid from Hoglund for a new 65 passenger diesel bus. A grant from Volkswagen pays for 30% of the vehicle. The School Board also approved a sidewalk project easement.

(Trager said the City of Audubon received a grant from the Department of Transportation to put in a sidewalk from the High School Building down to the Audubon Rec. Center and as part of that the City needed an easement for the property the sidewalk will sit on and the Board approved that easement to support that project.)

An accident near Shannon City, in Union County, was being blamed on the sun and trees obstructing the vision of two drivers. According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, a 2015 Chevy Equinox driven by 47-year-old Darla M. Parker, of Shannon City, was traveling west on 260th Street at around 6:50-p.m., Tuesday. She told authorities the sun was in her face, and trees were blocking her view of a farm entrance to the south. A 2000 John Deere 741 tractor with a bale of hay attached to a bale stabber, was pulling out of the farm drive in an attempt to turn left onto 260th. The tractor was driven by 56-year-old Ken E. Peppmeier, of Shannon City.

The hay bale struck the windshield of the SUV and front side of the vehicle, causing damage estimated at $2,500. Peppmeier told authorities his vision was also blocked by the sun and trees. Both drivers tried to avoid the collision, with the Parker slowing down and pulling off to the side of the road as far as she could. Peppmeier tried raising the bale to avoid striking the SUV.

There were no injuries reported, and no citations issued.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports one person suffered possible/unknown injuries during a collision Monday afternoon. Authorities say a 2019 GMC Terrain SUV driven by 24-year-old Shannon Marie Patricia Gravlin, of Creston, was stopped in traffic at a red light on Sumner Avenue, facing north in the inside lane. The driver of a 2006 Ford 500, 31-year-old Elisia Renae Savala, of Clearfield, was traveling north on Sumner, and was distracted by a passenger in her car. The vehicle struck the rear of the SUV, causing a total of $1,700 damage.

Gravlin complained of pain after the impact, but was not transported to the hospital. Creston Police cited Savala for Failure to Provide Proof of financial liability – accident related.