Police in Red Oak arrested a man early this (Sunday) morning on a simple misdemeanor charge. Authorities say 42-year-old Michael Edward Irvine, Jr., of Red Oak, was arrested for Public Intoxication at around 2-a.m. in the 1000 block of E. Corning Street, in Red Oak. Irvine, Jr. was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 bond.

Des Moines, Iowa — Former President Donald Trump held his first rally in Iowa since he left office. KCCI reports thousands of people streamed into the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Saturday to hear former President Donald Trump speak. Saturday was Trump’s first time back in Iowa since before the 2020 presidential election. Several top Republicans spoke before the crowd throughout the day, including Congresswomen Marianette Miller-Meeks and Ashley Hinson, Senator Charles Grassley and Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The Des Moines Register reports Trump, who spoke for more than 90 minutes, rattled off a long list of campaign-style promises and joked about a potential new slogan, but stopped short of announcing a reelection bid. And in front of thousands of whipped-up supporters, he endorsed both U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley and Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses, which has for decades launched the presidential nominating contests for both major political parties.

He repeated claims that the 2020 election was “rigged,” and continued to cast doubt on the results, including in Arizona which just concluded a review of the state’s largest county’s votes and found no evidence of a stolen election.

People came from across the country for the Save America Rally. In the hours leading up to the speakers, people in the crowd were able to watch the Iowa vs. Penn State game on large screens placed throughout the area by former President Trump’s team.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hogue says “It’s the LAST week of Produce in the Park, and we’re celebrating with a little Halloween action–Trick-or-Treat in the Park.” Produce in the Park takes place Thursday, Oct. 14th, from 4:30-until 6:30-p.m. in the downtown Atlantic City park, and features Trick-or-Treating fun!

Costumes are not required, but expect to see some costumes at the park, along with:

• Fresh Local Produce: Pie pumpkins, squash, melons, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, aronia berries, & more!
• More farm favorites: pumpkin butter, jams, jellies, and syrups, goat milk soaps, granola, honey, and local meat.
• Local Crafts: Soaps, candles, and wax melts in cozy fall scents from Smudge, Bags, jackets, and more from Tracie Lobstein.
• Baked goods:
  • Kringleman Danish Pastries in fall flavors including pecan
  • Sue’s Country Garden baked goods
  • Brun Ko Farm pumpkin pies pre-order only (pre-orders are due by noon on Oct. 13 to brunkofarm@gmail.com or 712-249-3187)
• Guest Chef: Jennifer from Erickson Foods – samples and recipes of Maple Butternut Squash Casserole
• Oct. 14 Park Packs featuring Erickson Foods’ Maple Butternut Squash Casserole: Park Packs can be pre-ordered from Brun Ko Farm at www.brunkofarm.com or purchased from Brun Ko Farm at the market as supplies last.

Community Organizations at the Market (all are joining in on the trick-or-treat!) include:

• Atlantic Elks Lodge
• Cass County PROSPER: info. and resources on mental health and mental wellness
• Atlantic Rising
• Cass County Master Gardeners
• Advanced Services employment services

Entertainment during the evening is as follows:

• Sarah Selders 4:30-5:25
• Atlantic Rising Update 5:25-5:35
• Lisa Johnston 5:35-6:30

Snack at the Market: kettle corn and fresh-squeezed lemonade, plus a sneak peek at Atlas Atlantic Cinemas’ Holiday Popcorn!

Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/JP5KrmsF

(Avoca, Iowa) – Patrons of the AHSTW Community School District have three more community meetings set to take place between now and November 2^nd, with regard to two parts of a 2021 Bond Referendum that, combined, amounts to just under $20-million. Previously, meetings were held in Avoca, Walnut and most recently, in Shelby. AHSTW School Superintendent Darin Jones says the next meetings are set for:

• Tuesday Oct. 12^th, at 7-p.m., in Tennant, (During the Tennant City Council meeting)
• Thursday, Oct. 14^th, in Avoca, from 5:30-until 7-p.m. (at the AHSTW High School Cafeteria)
• and Tuesday, Oct. 19^th, in Hancock, from 7-8:30-p.m. (at the Hancock City Hall).

Jones explains there are two questions on the November 2^nd, ballot for the referendum (See the actual wording of the referendum’s below). The first is with regard to remodeling, repairing and improving the district’s existing pre-k through 12 facilities, along with some additions to the buildings.

Jones said the lighting components aspect of the improvement is not limited to the high school section.

The second question voters will act on, is with regard to the construction of an auditorium.

In addition to the classroom learning environment, the auditorium can be used for community education spaces and other opportunities.

Jones said he think the overall feedback they’ve received from the three previous has generally been positive.

********

Here are the questions AHSTW School District Patrons will see on their ballot Nov. 2nd:

QUESTION 1: Remodel, repair, improve the existing K-12 facilities, along with additions 

Shall the Board of Directors of the AHSTW Community School District in the Counties of Cass, Harrison, Pottawattamie, and Shelby, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $12,900,000 to provide funds to remodel, repair, and improve the existing K-12 facilities; and to build, furnish, and equip additions to and renovations of learning environments, including related site improvements?

QUESTION 2: Construct an auditorium addition to AHSTW Community Schools 

Shall the Board of Directors of the AHSTW Community School District in the Counties of Cass, Harrison, Pottawattamie, and Shelby, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $6,750,000 to provide funds to build, furnish, and equip a new Auditorium at the existing K-12 facilities? 

To learn more, please go to https://www.ahstwschools.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Referendum%202021%7CFAQ

The broadcast News at 8:07-a.m., with Ric Hanson.

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(Atlantic, Iowa) – More than 90-thousand young Iowans are involved with the 4-H program and this is National 4-H Week, that wraps up this Sunday, with a County 4-H Carnival for the entire family. Cass County Extension 4-H Youth Coordinator Shelby Van Horn says the time is special because it gives them an extra chance to reach new audiences and help kids reach their full potential in 4-H.

The 4-H program empowers young people to make their community a better place to live — be it urban or rural.

Even in these challenging pandemic times, the program is maintaining its popularity. Kindergarten through Third-grade children can be a part of the “Clover Kids” program in Cass County.

Regular 4-H programming is primarily for kids in grades 4-through 12.

In Cass County, they’re wrapping up the week with games and food during a 4-Carnival.

Hot dogs, pretzels, nachos, cotton candy and snow cones are being provided free of charge. Admission is FREE! Game tickets are 10 cents and can be redeemed at 4-H Club Activity Booths. The Carnival takes place on the Cass County Fairgrounds this Sunday, October 10th, from 4-6 PM.   There are nearly 15-hundred 4-H clubs statewide being guided by some 7,000 adult volunteers. Learn more about the program at www.4-h.org.

The latest area/state news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Des Moines) – Governor Kim Reynolds today (Friday) signed a proclamation convening a special legislative session on Thursday, October 28, 2021. The purpose of the special session will be to consider and enact a plan of legislative and congressional redistricting in accordance with the framework set forth in chapter 42 of the Iowa Code.

Gov. Kim Reynolds (RI Photo)

A copy of the proclamation can be found here. 

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa State University Extension Service is getting reports of a pest that’s damaging hay fields, pastures and even some lawns. Gentry Sorenson, an I-S-U Extension field agronomist based in northwest Iowa, says it’s a caterpillar known as the fall armyworm. “The fall armyworm basically blew up as a moth from Florida and the Gulf Coast area through the hurricane winds,” he says. “The armyworm that we’re seeing is the rice strain and that strain of fall armyworm particularly feeds on alfalfa and forage grasses.” The fall armyworm can grow to be up to an inch and a half long.

Sorenson says farmers can use an insecticide if the bugs are causing a lot of damage.  “The best times to scout for fall armyworm are early mornings or late in the evenings,” he says, “mainly because the fall armyworm is more of a noctural pest and they come out at night and do a lot of feeding at night or when it’s cooler.”

Army worm in a field. (Photo by Rebecca Vittetoe.)

Sorenson says some parts of southern Iowa have been hit hard by fall armyworm infestations that drifted here due to winds from Hurricane Ida, but even farmers in northwest Iowa are starting to see the pest in their fields. The bugs flourish in warm climates, according to Sorenson.

“So once we see the hard freeze, it will essentially wipe out the fall armyworm population,” he says. The rice strain of the fall armyworm is found primarily in the southeast United States and cannot survive the mild winter in Alabama according to that state’s Extension Service. The bug is known to feed on crops like rye, wheat and oats as well as rice and various grasses.

(Radio Iowa) – There were more than 210-million dollars bet on sports in Iowa in September. Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko says “September handle numbers were the highest to date. That goes back to when sports betting was legalized,” Ohorilko says. The 2021 September betting increased by more than 138-million dollars compared to September of 2020. Ohorilko says the January law change allowing players to sign up for online sports betting without going to a casino, and the return to a normal schedule of games following the pandemic were a couple of factors.

“If people remember last year — September of 2020 — there were a number of leagues that were just kind of finding their way — the PAC-10, Big-12 — it was just a situation where there weren’t as many opportunities,” he says. There was not an Iowa-Iowa State football game in 2020, and this year’s version featured two top ten teams. Ohorilko says that undoubtedly had an impact. “We don’t have game-specific data — but just anecdotally what you hear from operators is that when the local teams are doing well — it drives additional handle to the books,” according to Ohorilko. “And so it’s more the casual fan base that would like to make a friendly wager and do it legally — they will come out.”

Ohorilko says the massive jump in sports betting from August to September shows the impact of college and N-F-L football. “In August we had a handle of 108 million. And then to see that handle jump to 210, which is what we saw in September, that was a significant increase,” he says. The sports betting pace could keep up this month as the baseball playoffs add to the full football schedule. “We see the more serious or more regular player betting baseball throughout the year. But when we get into the playoffs — again that will drive just more interest and more casual fans. We will see some more activity in the baseball markets, and that will help the overall markets,” Ohorilko says.

More than 204-point-seven million dollars were paid to bettors in September out of the more than 201-million bet. The state will receive around five-point-seven million dollars in net receipts from sports gambling for September.