Some Iowans are worried about the impact on the state’s billions of dollars in exports after President Trump signed an order Monday to pull out of talks on the Trans Pacific Partnership. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says trade is vital to several Iowa industries, chiefly agriculture, manufacturing and services. “You’re playing with fire when you talk against trade agreements that maybe could be better for the United States,” Grassley says. “I wouldn’t make any judgments that Trump’s wrong for trying to get a better deal for America. If he can do that, I’ll support that.”

Iowa exported more than 13-billion dollars in products during 2015 and Grassley fears Trump’s action could hurt the Hawkeye State’s options for overseas trade. “Particularly with Japan, I think it will,” Grassley says, “but if he follows it up quickly with some sort of bilateral negotiation with just Japan, particularly to help agriculture, it would fill that vacuum.”

Iowa sent one-point-one billion dollars in exports to Japan in 2015. The T-P-P involves the U-S and 11 other countries, including Canada, Mexico, Peru, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. As promised during the campaign, Trump signed an executive order which pulls the U-S out of future negotiations on the proposed partnership. “It may sound like I’d just be blaming Trump maybe hurting Iowa,” Grassley says, “but let me tell you, TPP would’ve had a very difficult time in the Congress getting a majority vote even if Obama was president.”

Grassley says people will appreciate that the new president is trying to get a better deal for American products. “Who can argue with that, but we don’t know yet, but he’s going down that road,” Grassley says. “We’ll just have to wait and see. I hope he’s successful. In the meantime, I hope he doesn’t hurt American agriculture in the process.”

Many agriculture commodity groups, including the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, supported the T-P-P as a way to stimulate trade.

Iowa U.S. Senator Joni Ernst said she was “Disappointed in [Monday’s] executive action to withdraw the United States from TPP. With one in five jobs in Iowa dependent on trade, access to new markets is critical to our state’s economy. However, we must not let this stop our country from pursuing increased trade opportunities for our exporters. With the growing demand for our agricultural products across the world, it is imperative that we ensure a level playing field for American farmers and manufacturers to have a fair opportunity to compete in these markets. Under this new administration, I will continue to advocate for ways to work together toward a stronger trade agenda on behalf of Iowans.”

(Radio Iowa)

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports three, recent arrests. Last Friday, 27-year old Zachary Ryan McNeeley, of Greenfield, and 45-year old Kevin Jay Giles, of Orient, were both arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on Union County warrants for probation violation.  Giles is being held in the Union County Jail on $11,000 bond, while McNeeley’s bond was set at $2,000.

And, 54-year old Roger Allen Tinkle, of Des Moines, was arrested last Thursday afternoon at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for failure to appear on the original charge of driving while barred.  Tinkle was released from the Union County Jail for time served.

Sheriff’s officials said also, a Creston man was injured during an accident Monday night. 32-year old Cole Michael Miller, who was wearing his seat belt,  was transported to the Greater Regional Medical Center for treatment of suspected serious/incapacitating injuries. Authorities say Miller was driving a 2008 Chevy pickup northbound on 2 Lakes Drive at around 8:50-p.m., and was being inattentive. His pickup went through a T-intersection with 160th Street, entered the ditch and hit an embankment head-on. The force of the collision caused the truck to spin and come to rest facing west. The vehicle sustained $20,000, and was declared a total loss.

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today (Tuesday) announced that Kirk, Kent and Kevin Swanson from Montgomery County have been named the winners of the Gary Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.  Northey will present the award to the family on Thursday, January 26th.  The ceremony will be held at the Coalition to Support Iowa Farmer’s booth (1923) at the Iowa Pork Congress, which is held at Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

Northey said “The Swanson family does things right in how they care for their animals, protect the environment and serve their neighbors and community.  It is great to be able to recognize a deserving family like this in front of their peers during Iowa Pork Congress.  Iowa is fortunate to have outstanding livestock farmers like the Swanson family all across the state and I encourage anyone to consider nominating a livestock farmer in your community for this distinguished award.”

Kirk, Kent and Kevin own 4 K Farms, which is a farrow-to-finish hog business with 20 boar studs and also sell semen to other hog farmers. The family was nominated for the award by their neighbor Dennis Carlson.  In his nomination Carlson highlighted the family’s care for the environment and also their active involvement in the community.  The Swanson family has planted a wind break and also uses cover crops, buffer strips and terraces to prevent erosion and protect water quality.

They are also active in the community including regularly hosting tours of their farm.  The family has helped many young 4-H students get started showing pigs by providing starter pigs and hosting a workshop to help them care for their animals.  Kirk is also the Montgomery County Fair Swine Superintendent and also regularly judge’s swine shows.

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award, made possible through the financial support of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in doing things right. This includes caring for the environment and their livestock and being good neighbors. It is named in memory of Gary Wergin, a long-time WHO Radio farm broadcaster who helped create the award.

Anyone interested in nominating their neighbor for the award should write a letter or e-mail explaining why their neighbor should receive this designation.  Applications may be submitted to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Attn: Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award, Henry A. Wallace Building, Des Moines, IA 50319 or emailed to Communications@iowaAgriculture.gov.

Two people were arrested on drug charges Monday night, following a traffic stop on Highway 92 near State Orchard, in Pottawattamie County. Authorities say 58-year old Mary Helen Adams, of Red Oak, was subsequently arrested at around 10:40-p.m. for OWI/2nd offense and possession of drug paraphernalia (a glass pipe and black scale). Adams was also cited for failure to have a valid Driver’s License. She also received a warning for Failure to Maintain a registration plate (which was covered in dirt). A passenger in the vehicle, 44-year old Dystyn Russell Bond, of Malvern, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, 37-year old Roger Anthony Otts, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Monday afternoon, for 1st Degree Theft/Possession of Stolen Property. He was taken into custody after property identified as stolen from Midlands Carrier Transicold, in Council Bluffs, was discovered in a driveway. The property, vehicle parts and accessories, were valued at $12,000.

Police in Council Bluffs arrested a juvenile male this (Tuesday) morning, following an alleged burglary attempt. Officers were called to the 4500 block of Northshore Drive at around 5:40-a.m., with regard to a prowler looking in the windows of a residence. Upon arrival, officers located a juvenile male holding a window screen, from the residence, in the driveway.

The juvenile was taken into custody and charged with Attempted 2nd Degree Theft. The juvenile was placed in the Southwest Iowa Juvenile Detention Center.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Meteorologists say a storm system carrying powerful winds and heavy snow will be moving across northern Nebraska and Iowa through Wednesday. The National Weather Service has posted winter storm warnings from the northern Nebraska Panhandle all the way to the northeastern corner of Iowa. Up to a dozen inches of snow is expected in some spots, with deep drifts born of winds gusting to 40 mph.

Authorities say slick roadways and blowing snow will make travel hazardous. Lighter snow or a wintry mix is expected along the southern edge of the system’s path.

A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 9-a.m. Wednesday for Harrison and Shelby Counties. The Advisory goes into effect for Audubon-Guthrie-Carroll-Crawford and Greene Counties, from Noon today through 6-p.m. Wednesday. And, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Sac County, until 9-a.m., Wednesday.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education is set to receive proposals this week from the Collective Bargaining Units (CBU) representing the Certified and Non-Certified Staff, for the 2017-18 School Year The Certified Unit’s CBU will make its initial proposal to the District 3:30-p.m. today (Tuesday), in the Media Center at the Atlantic Middle School.

The Non-Certified CBU team will make its proposal to the Board Thursday afternoon at the same time and place. Both sessions are open to the public. No action will be taken during the initial bargaining sessions.

The Audubon Chamber of Commerce held its annual Community Banquet & Auction, Monday. Awards presented during the evening include: 2016 Citizen of the Year – Kate Hargens; 2016 Junior Citizen of the Year – Rebecca Nelson; 2016 Community Service Award – Audubon County Fair Board.

Kate Hargens won the Citizen of the Year Award for, among other things: spearheading – through grant applications and fundraising efforts – the establishment of the Children’s Nest Childcare Center in conjunction with the Friendship Home;  Being a prominent spokesperson for the Audubon County Early Childhood Organization; being active with her church committee; serving on the Rose Theater Renovation Board; and serving on the grant-writing advisory council for the Audubon School District’s “Launch” Program. She and her husband, Dr. Travis Hargens, have three children.

Rebecca Nelson – daughter of Bob and Janet Nelson – won Junior Citizen of the Year for being an active part of her school and community, and being an “Intelligent, compassionate, unselfish and focused young lady.” Nelson is Vice President of the Audubon School District’s National Honor Society, and has served as Student Body President. She’s been heavily involved in preserving the historic Ross Elevator, and has packed lunches for needy children as well as having fed hungry youth for the New Opportunities organization’s Summer Feeding Program. She’s also certified in CPR. After she graduates this spring, Rebecca plans to attend either the University of Iowa or UNI, majoring in Speech-Language in hopes of becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist.

And, the Audubon County Fair Board won the 2016 Community Award for their efforts to organize and run the Audubon County Fair, hosting numerous activities all-year around, and for maintaining and keeping-up the fairgrounds. Current Fair Board members include: Greg Jensen; Deanna Hansen; Gary VanAernam; Steve Randeris; Mike Bauer; Randy Blohm; Dan Madsen; Austin Hansen; Trent Petersen; Joe Vais; Neal Mesek; Steve Hansen, and Taylor Lewis.