Police in Creston report three people were arrested on separate charges, Tuesday. At around 8-a.m., 52-year-old Patricia Schroeder, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order. She was cited for the offense, and then released on a Summons to Appear. At around Noon, Tuesday, Creston Police arrested 35-year-old Michael Simpson, Jr., of Creston, on an Adams County Warrant for Failure to Appear. He was transferred to the custody of Adams County.

And, around 5:35-p.m., 35-year-old Daniel Snyder, of Diagonal, was arrested in Creston for Public Intoxication. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $300 bond. Authorities said also, a man residing in the 600 block of Poplar Street, in Creston, reported Tuesday afternoon, that sometime in the previous 24 hours, someone had entered his vehicle that was parked at his residence, and stole his wallet that contained cash, credit cards and checks. The loss was estimated at $1,000.

The broadcast News at 7:08-a.m. from Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) – The Board of Regents, Tuesday, approved plans for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to build a facility in North Liberty that includes a hospital that local health officials spoke out against. C-E-O Suresh Gunasekaran told the Regents the hospital is part of a double building. The right hand side of it is a hospital and on the left hand side of it is an academic and clinic building. Together the proposed budget is 395 million,” Gunasekaran says.

The State Health Facilities Council approved the plan on a 4-1 vote after voting 3-2 against the plan in February. The administrators at other hospitals in the area argued the new hospital will expand beyond specialty care and take away their patients. Gunasekaran’s presentation to the Board of Regents mirrored his remarks in the State Health Facilities hearing. “The justification for this building is the continued need for expanded clinical care at U-I Healthcare. As well as the need, every time we expand our clinical capacity, to also expand our academic capacity,” he says.

A member of the board asked Gunasekaran how they were going to avoid the cost overruns of millions of dollars when they built the U-I Children’s Hospital. He says they have put several safeguards in place to try and prevent that from happening. “One such feature is the construction manager at risk. Where one outside party is responsible for the total scope of the project and managing all of the component parts,” according to Gunasekaran. “We also took it one further step to allow that manager to participate in the design process and the development of the budget.”

He says they’re also getting input from those on campus. Gunasekaran says they’ve collaborated with the University of Iowa Design and Construction Services throughout the entire process — which he says is different than the last time.  A University of Iowa spokesman says this building is out in the open — which makes construction easier. Construction is expected to begin later this month, with completion in 2025.

(Atlantic, Iowa) Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh reports Produce in the Park is extending the farmers market season through October 14 for fall 2021. The extension of the season through the first two weeks in October is made possible thanks to sponsorship from the Atlantic Elks Lodge #445, and support from the City of Atlantic, and Atlantic Parks and Recreation.

Hoegh says “In August, Erickson Foods, a produce vendor at the market, realized fall crops were going to be ready later than usual, and they asked if other market participants would be interested in extending the season. Craft vendors, baked goods vendors, and prepared food vendors supported the idea, and Atlantic Parks and Recreation agreed to bring games and crafts to the park in October.”

October markets in the park will feature late-season produce crops such as sweet potatoes and winter squash, in addition to farm favorites such as local meat, granola, and honey. A highlight is sure to be candles, soaps, and wax melts from Smudge, as October is a perfect time for cozy fall scents.

Produce in the Park continues to accept vendors for the 2021 fall season. Both food and craft vendors are invited to join the market. More information on vending at Produce in the Park can be found at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com. Questions on vending can be directed to Market Manager Brigham Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or (712) 249-5870.

Produce in the Park is a community-oriented farmers market held every Thursday evening (4:30-6:30 PM) from June through October 14 in the Atlantic City Park.

(Radio Iowa) – The executive director of the Central Iowa Chapter of the American Red Cross is on assignment in New Orleans, helping to coordinate the agency’s relief efforts in the region following Hurricane Ida. The category-four storm came ashore August 29th with winds of up to 150 miles an hour and Leslie Schaffer (SHAY-fur), of Des Moines, says and the goal now is to help residents on the Gulf Coast to recover. “We’re just trying to put an operation together that helps the people,” Schaffer says. “There’s such great need here, a lot of destruction, a lot of flooding, and people are still without power, they’re still without plumbing.”

While most of New Orleans has seen electricity restored, Schaffer says many outlying areas are still without power, which makes life miserable as the humidity is high and temperatures are topping out in the mid 90s. Red Cross response vehicles are fanned out in Louisiana, helping residents with whatever they need, from clean-up kits and hot meals to shelter and mental health counseling. “We go out and deliver the service and we know the American public will support us, so we go out there and do what we need to do,” Schaffer says. “Supporting the American Red Cross financially is the most efficient and effective way to help down here.”

Officials say 91 deaths are confirmed in relation to Ida, including 13 in Louisiana. Schaffer says some Iowans may want to get more involved than making a financial donation. “If they’re interested in helping in the future, they can contact the Red Cross and become a Red Cross volunteer and be ready when we have the next disaster — and I can guarantee you, there will be more disasters,” Schaffer says. “We need to build our capacity in Iowa.”

To help those impacted by Hurricane Ida, visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text the word “IDA” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig is predicting Iowa will retain its spot as the number one corn producing state, despite challenging weather conditions in some areas. “Crop development is really kind of all over the map,” Naig said. “…Generally speaking, drought is the number one issue that folks are thinking about, however there are parts of our state that have gotten exactly what they’ve needed throughout the year and then we’ve got parts of southeast Iowa that have had too much rain.”

The U-S-D-A’s latest crop and weather report shows some corn fields in northwest and west central Iowa were damaged by heavy rain, hail and strong winds in the past week, but 60 percent of Iowa’s corn crop is still rated in good or excellent condition. Naig says the number of acres planted with corn this year will be the deciding factor in keeping Iowa at the forefront in corn production. “We are a big corn user in this state, so the user community, the livestock folks that use corn for feed and the processors are certainly looking at that supply very closely,” Naig says.

Sixty-one percent of Iowa SOYBEANS are in that good or excellent category.  “I think you’re going to see record yields in some places and you’ll yield reductions because of too much water or not enough water in other places,” Naig says, “and the true test is getting out and running the combine in the field and seeing what’s out there.”

The fall harvest of corn and soybeans hasn’t started, but record heat has advanced development of Iowa’s two main cash crops. Corn development statewide is about five days ahead of average, while soybean development is about two days ahead of normal.

Ames, Iowa —Two people died during a crash Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 35, south of Ames. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash involving a semi and numerous other vehicles, happened on southbound I-35 at around 1:50-p.m., near mile marker 106.

Troopers say a 2007 Peterbilt semi driven by 32-year-old Matthew Rewiltzer, of Eagle Bend, MN, was in the left lane, when the rig failed to stop in a safe distance for vehicles ahead of it, that included a 2016 GMC Canyon and a 2005 GMC Econoline van. Those vehicles were stopped due to traffic congestion. After the semi hit the GMC’s, it continued forward, striking another semi and two additional semis and a van.

The driver of the GMC Canyon, 81-year-old Gordon Martens, and his passenger, 70-year-old Nora Martens, both of Van Meter, died at the scene. Both were wearing seat belts. The crash, which closed the southbound lanes of I-35 until approximately 6:30 p.m., remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans know all too well that natural disasters can strike at any time during any month and the Internal Revenue Service is urging us to plan ahead for the worst. I-R-S spokesman Michael Devine says one of the first things to do to prepare for an emergency like a tornado, fire or flood is to create a disaster plan. “This needs to be reviewed over time because your situation changes, whether in your personal life or in your business,” Devine says. “If you don’t have a plan, go to our website, irs.gov, and there are disaster loss workbooks that you can download and they’ll give you a very good start.”

There is a host of important documents that Iowans need to keep in a secure location — which might just be in your kitchen.  “You need to know where your original documents are, your tax returns, your birth certificates, your marriage certificate, insurance policies, titles,” Devine says. “One of the best ways to do it is to put them in a double-sealed bag, two zip-lock bags, and put them at the bottom of your freezer.” Photos after various disasters often show the heavy refrigerator remains in place when the rest of the house is in ruins. Safety deposit boxes are secure, but Devine says a bank may not be the best place to store a valuable document.

“Take a picture of it or scan it, put it on a flash drive or a CD, so you have access to it rather than having to worry about getting into the bank,” Devine says. “If you look at what’s happening in Louisiana, they may not have power for days or weeks and until the bank gets power, they can’t open the doors.” Devine says you could also shoot video of your possessions and email them to yourself just to have on hand for insurance purposes.

(Radio Iowa) – A northwest Iowa man overcome by fumes at an open pit manure lagoon at a hog site in Kossuth County this weekend has died. Emergency personnel responded to a hog site 4 miles south of Algona around 10:15 a.m. Saturday on the report of a man who had been overcome by fumes. The Algona Fire Department used breathing apparatus to remove the victim from the immediate area by the lagoon and immediately transported him to Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona where he was airlifted to MercyOne North Iowa in Mason City.

The victim, identified as 33-year-old Randy Dean Meyer of Whittemore, died Monday morning. Kossuth County Emergency Management and the Iowa DNR are monitoring the lagoon near the hog site, as an odor was emitted throughout the weekend. Officials say while the odor is strong, there is no threat to those living nearby or passing through the area.