With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.
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The use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, is the subject of much debate, but those remote-control flying robot-cameras may be the wave of the future — for farmers. Craig Hill, a farmer in Milo and president of the Iowa Farm Bureau, predicts the use of emerging technologies that give a farmer a full-color perspective on his fields from far above will prove quite successful for agriculture in the years ahead.
“Eighty-percent of the use of drones in America will be for agriculture,” Hill says. “This will be a big feature and it actually could be an economic driver in agriculture, both in the services provided and in increased productivity.”
Drones were a topic of conversation at last weekend’s third annual Iowa Farm Bureau economic summit, held in Ames. Hill says another topic was farmland values and how fast they’ve been rising for years. “We have seen about a 345-percent increase in land values over the last decade,” Hill says. “That was not sustainable in the future. Any asset class would have difficulty appreciating by that amount and not having a setback or a period of more stable growth.”
He says most of those who attended the summit believe ag land values will stabilize in the future.
(Radio Iowa)
Thousands of military service members, including nearly 100 Iowans, will be receiving millions of dollars in debt relief after becoming victims of a predatory lender. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says an agreement has been reached with Rome Finance Company. “It will provide $92 million in relief for over 17,000 service members around the country, in regard to some outrageous price gouging and interest rates that have been charged to service members over the last few years,” Miller said at a news conference Tuesday morning at his office.
The agreement, which involves 12 other states, also requires Rome Finance to forgive debts and repair the victims’ damaged credit scores.
AG Tom Miller and James Wilson
Iowa Air National Guard Staff Sergeant James Wilson, who grew up in Winterset, said he bought a computer that ended up costing $5,000 because of deceptively high interest rates. “I’m mostly angry and slightly embarrassed with myself,” Wilson said.
The agreement forces Rome Finance to forgive his outstanding balance of $2,500. Wilson said he signed up to purchase the laptop in 2010 and felt the online company appeared trustworthy. A statement on the website claimed the company was “military friendly.” The purchasing deal allowed the company to take a monthly payment directly from Wilson’s military pay. “The gentleman I spoke with on the phone and through instant messaging, as he helped set up my allotment…he was very friendly, thanking me for my service the whole time. He just walked me through it and made it really easy,” Wilson said. “From my perspective, it was just a simple way to get a laptop.”
Active duty military members are an easy target for predatory lenders, according to Wilson, since many enlist right out of high school. “I joined the military when I was 17 and I didn’t even have a checkbook at the time,” Wilson said. “I feel better knowing that this company isn’t able to do this to service members in the future.”
The agreement requires Rome Finance to liquidate. Miller said Rome Finance, which is based in California and Georgia, charged interest rates of up to 200 percent.
(Radio Iowa)
The Freese-Notis forecast, and, weather information for Atlantic.
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STANLEY EDWARD PETERMAN, 61, of Villisca, died Mon., July 28th, at the Josie Harper Hospice House in Omaha. Funeral service for STAN PETERMAN will be held 10:30-a.m. Thu., July 31st, at the Villisca Presbyterian Church. Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel in Red Oak has the arrangements.
Visitation, with the family present, is from 6-to 8-pm Wed. (July 30th), at the funeral chapel.
A Memorial Fund is being established.
STAN PETERMAN is survived by:
His mother – Florence Peterman, of Atlantic.
His wife – Susan Peterman, of Villisca.
His son – Adam (Holly) Peterman, of Sioux Falls, SD.
His daughter – Amber (Philip) Sunderman, of Villisca.
His sister – Beverly (Gaylord) Schelling, of Atlantic.
3 grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
CLAY BELCHER, 94, of Atlantic, died Wed., July 30th, at Caring Acres Nursing & Rehab Center, in Anita. Celebration of Life services for CLAY BELCHER will be held 3-p.m. Sat., Aug. 2nd, at the 1st Assembly of God Church in Atlantic. Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.
Visitation is open at the funeral home from 1-to 5:30-pm Thursday (7/31), on Friday (8/1) from 8-am to 5:30-pm, and on Saturday (8/2), from 8-am to Noon. Online condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.
Refreshments will be served immediately after the Celebration of Life service on Saturday, at the church.
A private family burial service with Military Rites by the Atlantic Color Guard will be held in the Atlantic Cemetery.
CLAY BELCHER is survived by:
His wife – Leanne Belcher.
His daughter – Pam (Chuck) Mills, of Iowa City.
His son – Doug (Marcia) Belcher, of Iowa City.
4 grandchildren & 4 great-grandchildren.
ROSS E. BORNHOLDT, 83, of Walnut, died Tue., July 29th, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. Funeral services for ROSS BORNHOLDT will be held 10-a.m. Sat., Aug. 2nd, at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Walnut. Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.
Visitation with the family present will be held from 6-to 8-pm Fri., Aug. 1st, at the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.
Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.
ROSS BORNHOLDT is survived by:
His wife – Jean.
His daughters – Pamela (Allan) Petersen, of Avoca, & Brenda (Eldon) Thompson, of Carroll.
8 grandchildren & 13 great-grandchildren.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A state recreation area near Council Bluffs is scheduled to reopen soon. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the Wilson Island State Recreation Area will open its gates Monday. Workers are currently adding fire rings and picnic tables.
The park was originally scheduled to reopen more than a month ago. It was delayed by storms and flooding in June that caused damage to the area. The park has been under cleanup and restoration for several years. Its campground has been closed since it was flooded in 2011.
UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. (AP) — The St. Louis Walk of Fame already features 10 men who played for the St. Louis Cardinals. Tim McCarver is about to make it No. 11. The former Cardinals catcher and Hall of Fame broadcaster will be inducted Monday on the Delmar Loop, site of the Walk of Fame.
McCarver was just 17 when he was called up to St. Louis in 1959. He was a two-time All Star for the Cardinals and was part of the 1964 and 1967 World Series-winning teams.
He later played for Philadelphia, Montreal and Boston before retiring as a player in 1980. He became a national TV broadcaster, calling 24 World Series before retiring after the 2013 series. He is now working part time on some Cardinals TV broadcasts.
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