What may be the largest collection of Iowa insects ever assembled was at risk of being dumped in a dumpster, but it’s being rescued and preserved by the University of Iowa. Cindy Opitz, director of research collections at the U-I Pentacrest Museums, says the Iowa City institution has acquired an extensive natural history collection from the former Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant, which closed earlier this year.

She says it’s a priceless collection as it provides a valuable assortment of specimens that offer insights into Iowa’s rich ecological legacy.

The insect collection is housed in about 600 separate drawers and represents 22 orders and 462 families of insects, essentially, an entomologist’s dream.

The collection was the result of what was called the Iowa Insect Survey, which set out over several decades to discover all insect varieties in all 99 Iowa counties. Opitz says the U-I is applying for a grant from the National Science Foundation in order to upgrade how the massive collection is being housed.

The U-I did not have to pay anything for the collection, according to Opitz, but only had to pay for the cost of transporting it to Iowa City from Mount Pleasant. She says there’s a plan to create an insect exhibit that will offer Pentacrest museum visitors an immersive and educational experience. Had the U-I not stepped in, she says it’s possible this broad viewpoint of Iowa history would have been hauled to the landfill.

Le Mars-based ice cream maker Wells Enterprises is expanding its production facility in Dunkirk, New York. Chief Operating Officer Mark Meyer says the expansion will more than double the facility’s current production, and add 200 new jobs to the local workforce.

Meyer says the increased production in New York will take some of the pressure off the other production facilities with the growth in demand for novelty and packaged ice cream.

He says Le Mars will remain the key in their production.

The company says Wells produces more than 200 million gallons of ice cream per year and distributes products in all 50 states. Wells has nearly four thousand employees across the country.

During day two of the Iowa Utilities Board hearing on the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline project. Glen Alden (all-DEEN) of Klemme says he’s had to hire a lawyer.

Alden says as a township trustee he’s concerned emergency responders in the township have little information about how to respond if the proposed pipeline ruptured.

Hollis Oelmann (OHL-man) raises corn and soybeans on a farm in Hardin County. After the pipeline route through his farm was projected on a screen in the hearing room, Oelmann told regulators he was seeing the actual route for the first time.

Oelmann says a tractor pulling a grain wagon in that area during harvest would weigh around 50 tons. Oelmann says he sees no upside to having the pipeline on his property. Summit Carbon Solutions has said the pipeline will benefit corn growers by making ethanol carbon neutral and opening up new markets for the fuel.

Iowa’s Attorney General says the settlement of a dispute with the four largest tobacco companies will lead to more money for the state.

Attorney General Brenna Bird says Iowa is one of nine states that were still involved in the long-running legal action over payments from the 1998 settlement agreement with the tobacco companies. Bird says the settlement will lead to extra payments of more than 171 million dollars over the next six years.

Iowa law requires that 78 percent of the payments be used to pay down the state’s debt to bondholders and the remaining goes to the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund.

Fundraising is underway to help finance demolition of three buildings in downtown Villisca. One of the buildings — the Rialoto (ree-AL-toh) Theater — has been a landmark in the southwest Iowa community. Villisca City Councilman Tripp Narup (NAIR-up) is president of the Rialto Board.

The Rialto was closed in 2017. Narup says it’s a miracle the theater has stood as long as it has.

The price tag to just fix the theater’s structural issues was 850-thousand dollars. The two buildings on either side of the theater are attached and are targeted for demolition as well. A second phase of the project calls for construction of a covered outdoor space for community activities like concerts, plays and the farmer’s market in Villisca.

The Iowa West Foundation has awarded a 100-thousand dollar grant to help finance demolition of the buildings, but the grant comes with a requirement that another 25-thousand dollars be raised locally for the tear down phase.

Gale & Ann Fisher of Montgomery County were inducted into the 2023 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday, Aug. 20. Ninety-one Iowa counties participated this year and selected 127 inductees for their outstanding service and dedication to 4-H. Inductees or their surviving family members were presented a certificate by the Iowa 4H Foundation President, David Bolte, and Interim State 4-H Program Leader, Mitchell Hoyer, as they were introduced on stage.

Gale and the late Ann Fisher grew up participating in 4-H. Gale was a member of the East Sunrisers 4-H Club and Ann was a member of the Peppy Farmerettes 4-H Club. They lived the values they learned from 4-H and instilled those values in their children, Jerry, Kim, Vonda, & Darrin.

Ann was a leader of the Busy Boosters 4-H Club for many years. She conducted sewing and baking workshops. She wanted every girl to go home with a finished project. Kim and Vonda recall having to rip out several seams because they just weren’t good enough, but she never stepped in and finished for them. Ann was an avid baker and loved sharing her knowledge. She conducted workshops all over the county. Since her passing in 2016, her family gets together each November to bake her recipes and sell the goods at the Villisca Craft Show and then award the best pie baker of the Montgomery County Fair with a pie server. Her legacy continues.

Gale started showing livestock in 1951. He remembers taking livestock to the baseball field to show. Gale has always supported the kids with their 4-H projects. He not only helped his kids but also his nephews, neighbors, grandkids, great-grandkids, and friends. He wants to see any youth that has the desire, to have a livestock project. He still raises lambs and participates in the Adams County Rural Development program that matches lambs with kids. Currently, the 4th generation of the Fisher family is showing and participating in 4-H.

Counties select inductees for their exceptional work in contributing to the lives of 4-H members and the overall 4-H program. Many inductees serve as club leaders, youth mentors, fair superintendents or fair board members, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach county council members, county youth council members, fair judges, financial supporters, chaperones or ISU Extension and Outreach staff members. The inductees have demonstrated dedication, encouragement, commitment and guidance to Iowa’s 4-H’ers through the years.

“We are honored to recognize these special individuals, for their advocacy and dedication to the Iowa 4-H program,” shared Iowa 4-H Foundation Executive Director, Emily Saveraid.

“This is a great way to honor the volunteers and staff across the state of Iowa that generously give their time and talents to foster positive partnerships with our 4-H youth,” said Tillie Good, Iowa 4-H staff and volunteer development manager.

The Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame was initiated in 2002 to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of 4-H. A summary of previous honorees was on display at the 2022 Iowa State Fair in the 4-H Exhibits Building. These summaries are also available at the Iowa 4-H Foundation office in the Extension 4-H Youth Building at Iowa State University. Information about previous inductees to the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame also is available on the Iowa 4-H Foundation website, organized by year and by county. Go to www.iowa4hfoundation.org/ and under the heading “What We Do” select “Recognizing Service” then “Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.”