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

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The impact of wind turbines on the state’s energy production is well documented, and now an Iowa State University study is trying to determine the impact they may have on  Iowa’s crops.  I-S-U Distinguished Professor of agronomy, Gene Takle set out to find out if the relatively new giant rotating blades made an impact on a variety of conditions in nearby farm fields.

“Differences in micrometeorlogical conditions, differences in temperature, wind speed, wind direction humidity,  carbon dioxide levels — these are some of the things that we measure up wind and down wind of turbines,” Takle explains. ” And the simple answer is yes, we can measure some differences.”

While the early research shows some changes, Takle says it’s only a small part of the research right now. “The more complicated question as to whether these have an impact on biomass production, plant size, plant yield, those are more difficult and we haven’t found anything out about those yet,” Takle says.

He says they set up a tower to measure the changes in the air over the fields “We found that in general the landscape downwind of the turbines is slightly warmer at night and slightly cooler during the day. The amount of that is maybe a one-degree warming at night, and maybe a  half-degree celsius cooling during the day — so it isn’t a large effect,” according to Takle.

One result of the changes could be less dew forming on the plants. “Which would be generally a good thing because dew promotes growth of fungus and mold and some pathogens that crops are generally affected by,” Takle says. He says they found the turbines slowed the wind over the fields. “And this in meteorological terms that leads to a surface convergence. And that means that by laws of physics that there must be an upward motion over the windfarm,” Takle says.   “..and it could have significance in that it could affect fog and cloudiness or rainfall if it is on a large enough scale.”

The research was done behind a couple of rows of turbines. “We have not gone to look at the regional scale say of 150 or 200 turbines, the impact that might have,” Takle says. “But that is an very interesting question and one that we are pursuing, because it could have some significance.”

He says it’s going to  be much harder to find those answers because of all the other factors at play in a field — such as variations in soil quality or precipitation. It was announced earlier this year that from July of 2015 to July of 2016 35-point-eight percent of Iowa’s electricity was generated by wind.

(Radio Iowa)

A man wanted in connection with numerous burglaries and a previous narcotics investigation in Fremont County, was arrested early this (Monday) morning in Hamburg after a scuffle with Deputies. Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports 48-year old John Tracy Miller, of Hamburg, was arrested after an altercation with Deputies who served a search and arrest warrant on Miller at his home located in the 1500 block of Washington Street.

Miller faces charges that include Delivery of Methamphetamine and Interference with Official Acts. He also has pending Burglary and Theft charges.  He was transported to the Fremont County Jail and held on a $50,000 cash bond.

John Tracy Miller

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Sunday, released the identity of the man whose body was discovered by a group of hunters Dec. 11th beneath the Highway 2 Missouri River bridge, at the Waubonsie Access Wildlife Management Area.

Deputies and officials with the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner, in Ankeny, determined 39-year old Larry Eugene Burns II, of Lamar, Colorado, died from blunt force trauma associated with a fall, and hypothermia.  Toxicology reports will not be completed for approximately 6 weeks.

Deputies determined Burns was walking on the westbound shoulder of the Highway 2 bridge when the fall occurred.  Deputies determined Burns had last spoken to relatives around Nov. 22nd, 2016. The Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.

Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to please contact the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office at 712-374-2424.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The struggle to recruit attorneys to rural areas hasn’t let up despite several Plains states’ efforts. That’s particularly true in states such as Nebraska with vast stretches of sparsely populated land. But the state has launched a program that targets rural high schools students, hoping to persuade them to return to their rural roots to practice law.

The Rural Law Opportunities Program offers high-achieving high school students full-tuition undergraduate scholarships to three rural Nebraska colleges. Those who maintain a 3.5 GPA and get a minimum LSAT score are automatically accepted to the University of Nebraska College of Law. Program organizer Thomas Maul hopes the rate of return will be as high as the 60 percent reported by a similar program to get doctors into small towns.

CHICAGO (AP) — The Latest on bitter cold weather in the Midwest. (all times local): 1:30 p.m….Record low temperatures have been recorded in cities across South Dakota, northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota, while a blizzard shut down Interstate 90 in parts of Montana.

The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, says the city of Huron set a new low for Sunday’s date in that location of minus 31 degrees. Another record fell in Marshall, Minnesota, where it was 31 below zero. Spencer, Iowa’s negative 27 degrees was a record-breaker there.

Extreme cold is forecast for the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and New England. The weather service says the Gulf Coast region will have below normal temperatures for a few days. But a warming trend is expected to start early in the week in many spots as a quieter weather pattern begins with much less precipitation nationwide compared with recent days.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Dangerous cold conditions are lingering across Iowa and Nebraska, but forecasters predict that warmer temperatures will arrive this week. The National Weather Service has issued wind chill warnings and advisories across most of both states Sunday because of the cold.

The subzero temperatures are combining with wind to create wind chills of 20-below to 40-below zero across the two states. So forecasters are encouraging people to stay inside or minimize any exposure to the cold. But some relief is in the forecast. Temperatures are expected to warm into the 20s and 30s beginning Monday.

An investigation into the delivery of methamphetamine this (Sunday) morning in Hamburg, resulted in the arrest of three people. Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports the investigation was handled by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Department K9 unit. Taken into custody for Conspiracy and Delivery of Meth, was 66-year old Elton Robert, 30-year old James Miller, and 27-year old Stuart Miller, all of Hamburg. All three men were being held in the Fremont County Jail on $50,000 cash bond, each, with additional charges pending.

Several area school district Board of Education meetings are set to take place Monday evening and night.

First up, at 5-p.m., is the Audubon School Board meeting at the High School. During their session, the Board will act on: an SBRC (School Budget Review Committee) request for At Risk/Drop Out prevention; A Policy Review Committee recommendation; The first reading of a Board Policy regarding testing; An Early Retirement plan option; and, the approval of a City transfer of a baseball field. The Board will also award diplomas to Foreign Exchange Students.

The Griswold School Board meeting begins at 5:30-p.m., Monday at the Middle School/High School building, during which they will act on: Locker room and intercom repair;  The purchase of a van; a possible Conference change; various Board Policies; Special Education contracts and more. They will also discuss information from the Facilities Committee.

Members of the Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton School Board will gather in the Elk Horn building Conference Room, beginning at 6-p.m., Monday, with a Work Session. During the work session, they will discuss, but take no action on, Building Alignment and Budget review. During their regular session, at 7-p.m., the Exira-EHK Board will discuss and possible act on approving: A Board Resolution in Support of “The Promise of Iowa” Public Education Campaign; The offering of Early Retirement; An At Risk/Dropout Prevention Application, and on approving Joe Rasmussen as Secondary Lawyer for Property and Local Issues. The Board will also hold discussion with regard to Negotations Team, Facility Assessment, and Bond Refinance Options.

The CAM School Board will meet beginning at 6:30-p.m. Monday, in the High School Media Center. Discussion and/or Action items on their agenda include: the presentation on Pre-Final Plans and Specifications for the Massena School addition; Approval of additional services from CTS amounting to $24,000, for soil borings at the Massena School Building; Discussion with regard to the Greenhouse Project; Early Retirement option; A trip to Washington, D-C and approval of Out-of-State Travel for after-prom, and other matters.

Members of the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Board of Directors will hold their regular monthly meeting Monday evening, at City Hall, beginning at 5:15. During their session, the Board will receive updates from Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm, with regard to: The Sunnyside Pool Steering Committee; An Enhance Iowa grant application; the Schildberg Rec Area Campground, and Sunnyside Park Ice Rink.

Staashelm is also expected to report Sunnyside Park streets are closed for the season, and that Shelter House reservations for 2017 will be accepted beginning Jan. 1st, 2017.