DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today (Thursday) said that many strawberry growers across the state are predicting a bumper crop and encouraged Iowans to take advantage of these delicious, fresh berries by visiting a local strawberry patch at a local farmers market.

Northey said “The mild winter and wet spring have created a nearly ideal growing situation for fruits and vegetables in Iowa and strawberries are leading the way. Growers across the state are reporting tons of blooms.”

Strawberries go from bloom to fruit in about 30 days and are best eaten within a few days of being picked. Strawberry harvest season only lasts about 3 weeks in Iowa and harvest times vary across the state.

Northey said “Fresh picked strawberries are a delicious treat that often kickoff the growing season and summer full of enjoying fresh, Iowa-grown fruits and vegetables. Visiting a local farmers market or going to a you-pick farm is a great way to find fresh berries that can be enjoyed fresh, used in baking or preserved as jellies or jams.”

As a favorite fruit among many Iowans, strawberries are low in calories and fat-free, in fact one-cup of unsweetened strawberries only has 55 calories. Strawberries are also a good source of vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, and fiber. Support a local grower and treat your family to a fun-filled trip to the strawberry patch and make memories that will last a lifetime. If visiting a strawberry patch, be sure to call or check the website for their harvest information. While you’re there you may just find blueberries or raspberries as well.

You can find strawberry growers by visiting our Fruit and Vegetable Farms Directory at https://www.idalsdata.org/fmnp/index.cfm or on the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association “farm search” page at http://www.ifvga.org/en/about_us/farm_search/.

Officials with the Connections Area Agency on Aging have announced that the State of Iowa is continuing the Farmers Market voucher program for older Iowans. With this program, seniors meeting income requirements can obtain vouchers that they can use at participating area Farmers Markets to buy $30.00 worth of fresh, locally grown produce.

If you have questions about eligibility, please check with your local senior center. Applications for the vouchers will be available at your local senior center the week of May 22nd, 2017. Your completed application guarantees you a booklet, but there is a limited number, so contact your local senior center if you are interested in this program. Once you have a completed application, you can return to your local Senior Center to pick up your vouchers on or after June 12th. If you have questions about eligibility, please call 800-432-9209 ext. 8110.

The Cass County Distribution of Farmer’s Market vouchers will be held on Thursday, June 8th from noon – 2pm at the Atlantic Senior Center, 411 Walnut in Atlantic. If you are interested in obtaining a booklet of vouchers, please plan to be at the distribution. There are a limited number of booklets, so distribution will be on a first come, first served basis.

Applications for Council Bluffs residents will be available at The Center, located at 714 S. Main Street on May 30th, 2017 as well. The distribution date for Council Bluffs vouchers will be once again held at The Center on Monday, June 12th from 9am – noon. Again, your completed application guarantees you a booklet, so you may come at any time on June 12th to the Center to present your completed application and obtain your vouchers.

Seniors (age 60 and older) in all other communities in Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties will receive their vouchers through their local senior center.

Program Criteria:
. Must be at least 60 years of age or older
. Annual income must be less than
$22,311 Single
$30,044 Married
. Only one original application allowed per individual. No photocopies or duplicate applications allowed. Married couples can jointly apply on one application.

Dates to Remember:

. May 22nd, 2017: Applications are available at all local senior centers and The Center in Council Bluffs.
. June 12th, 2017: Council Bluffs Farmers’ Market vouchers are available for pick up at local senior centers in Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page Pottawattamie and Shelby counties. Council Bluffs distribution will be held at The Center, 714 S. Main from 9am – Noon for seniors with a completed application.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.(Delayed post due to connection issues)

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The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson (post delayed due to connection issues)

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A traffic stop Wednesday night on Highway 59 in Pottawattamie County resulted in the arrest of a Cass County man for Driving While Revoked. A computer check indicated the driver, 60-year old Jon Jeffrey Jordan, of Atlantic, was revoked through the State of Iowa. Jordan was taken into custody just before 9-p.m., and brought to the Pott. County Jail.

The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 39-year old Tammy Michelle Ortiz, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 5-p.m. Wednesday, on a warrant for Assault Causing Bodily Injury, and felony warrants for harassment in the 2nd Degree and Burglary in the 2nd Degree. Ortiz was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over for a traffic violation. The driver was cited and released.

A man from Nebraska and a woman from Iowa were arrested on multiple charges in Pottawattamie County, after a Deputy on patrol was dispatched at around 6:30-a.m. Wednesday, to a location near Honey Creek in the 29,000 block of Coldwater Avenue, with regard to a possible burglary. Upon arrival, the Deputy made contact with 45-year old Steven M. Morlan, of Omaha, and 43-year old Tekisha Renea Skeens, of Council Bluffs. Both were in a 1997 Chevy Silverado pickup that was reported to have been stolen out of Omaha.

Morlan and Skeens were arrested for Theft in the 2nd Degree, Burglary in the 3rd Degree, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Skeens was also arrested later at the Pott. County Jail, on two warrants out of Douglas County, NE. or being a Fugittive from Justice and Failure to Appear in court. She was facing other, multiple charges in Nebraska, as well.

WAUSA, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say an 18-year-old who was set to graduate from the Griswold High School has died in a Knox County, NE, crash. Griswold School Superintendent Dave Henrichs has confirmed Sarah Hubert died in the crash that happened at around 3:45-p.m. Wednesday, at a highway intersection south of Wausa. Hubert graduated from Griswold at the end of the last semester and was set to receive her diploma and participate in the graduation ceremony, this Sunday.

The Nebraska State Patrol says Hubert was westbound on Nebraska Highway 59 when her vehicle was struck on the driver’s side. The patrol says Hubert had failed to yield as required to a northbound vehicle on Nebraska Highway 121. The other vehicle was driven by 17-year-old John Rosberg, of Wausa. It’s unclear whether he was injured.

Grief Counselors will be on hand today (Thursday) for all students of the Griswold School District.

Someone must have been hungry. Creston Police say a resident of the 600 block of N. Cherry Street reported Wednesday night, that sometime on Sunday, someone entered a camper on his property and rummaged through his belongings. And on Wednesday, someone entered the man’s home and took one-half box of snack cakes. He also reported several items taken from his residence over the past week or two, including a flip phone and full can of gas. The loss was estimated at just over $100.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports three recent arrests. Yesterday (Wednesday), 24-year old Jacob Craft, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Burglary in the 3rd Degree (Motor vehicle). Craft was being held in the Cass County Jail.

And, last Sunday, 33-year old Stephen Foote, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct. That same day, 40-year old Ada Wilson, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. Foote and Wilson were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Crews with the City of Atlantic, civic groups and others will be out and about for three days next month, picking up junk you set by your curb and taking it to the landfill, at no charge. It’s all part of an effort spurred by comments made from Councilman Dana Halder in late April, with regard to the junk Halder saw in people’ yard and alleys. At that time, he urged citizens of the community to take some pride in their properties and the City, and take care of the junk.

In response, Mayor Dave Jones has coordinated with the Street and other Departments to pickup your junk, Wednesday through Friday, June 7^th, 8^th and 9^th. Items that will NOT be accepted include televisions and computer monitors, and tires. Home appliances and furniture are accepted, you just need to get them to your curb. Nick Harris, with the Young Professionals of Atlantic, is spearheading the effort, and looking for volunteers to help transfer items from the curb to the trucks.

Everyday trash needs to go with your contracted, curbside garbage service. Councilman Dana Halder said “If you don’t have an account with a trash man, you should have.” Mayor Jones warned of the consequences for those who violate the Ordinance with regard to junk on properties, once the 3-day cleanup period is over: He said they’re working on amending the Ordinance to reduce, after notice, the maximum clean-up time from 30-days to 10. After that, if the city has to clean up your property, there will be a $100 surcharge and $75 per hour for crews to take care of your trash.

Jones said that’s a lot more expensive that the typical sanitation contractor’s fee of about $22-24. He said the warning is meant to spur the “Habitual Offenders” into action. Jones reminded residents also to mow their lawns as soon as possible. Once the grass reaches 12 inches, the City will come out and mow it for you, but at a substantially higher rate than it would be if you hired a service or the neighbor kid to mow your lawn.

More information about the City Wide Clean-Up days will be made available, soon.