DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farmers are a little behind getting corn and soybeans out of fields because rain has caused soft ground and in some cases muddy conditions, slowing their progress. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in its weekly crop update released Tuesday that 19 percent of the state’s corn is harvested, about three days behind last year and a week behind the five-year average.

Soybean farmers have managed to get 43 percent of the crop harvested, about three days behind last year’s pace. The USDA says 81 percent of corn and soybean crops are rated good to excellent.

Dispatch reports indicate the driver of a tractor suffered minor injuries after the tractor he was in was hit by a vehicle at around 4:45-p.m. today (Tuesday). The accident happened near 670th and Richland Road. Cumberland and Massena Fire and Rescue Units responded to the scene. The tractor was pulling an empty trailer when the accident occurred. The front axle of the tractor was said to have been sheared off during the accident.

No other details were available late this afternoon.

Le Mars-based Wells Enterprises is voluntarily recalling some of its Blue Bunny “Hoppin’ Holidoodle” ice cream due to concerns about possible listeria contamination. That flavor of Blue Bunny ice cream contains snicker-doodle cookie dough made by a Garner, Iowa, company. Only Hoppin’ Holidoodle ice cream is included with this recall.

The recalled product is a seasonal holiday flavor with very limited distribution in six states, including Iowa. Consumers should check the side of their ice cream packages to check for “best if used by” dates of 2/13/18 and 2/14/18. Lot 60001 MM 19115 6228 and Lot 60001 MM 191156229. No other Blue Bunny products are being recalled.

No illnesses have been linked to the ice cream that’s being recalled. The cookie dough in the ice cream came from Aspen Farms, a Garner, Iowa, company. The firm is part of another voluntary recall involving Texas-made “Blue Bell” cookie dough ice cream. Blue Bell is sold in southern states.

The cookie dough has not tested positive for listeria and there have been no illnesses connected to it, but Aspen Farms officials say an internal review raised concerns about what uniforms workers were wearing and how production was being documented.

(Radio Iowa)

The group “Iowans for Medical Cannabis” is urging Iowa voters to press this year’s political candidates to support legalizing marijuana for broad medical use. “And we are asking voters to ask their candidate what they will do to help suffering Iowans who need access to this treatment option in Iowa, produced, tested and dispensed by Iowans, for Iowans.”

Sally Gaer, of West Des Moines., said her daughter, Margaret, has been taking cannabis oil for 19 months as treatment for her seizure disorder. However, Iowa’s law which decriminalized possession of cannabis oil for treatment of chronic epilepsy will expire July 1st. Gaer and other self-described “warriors” for medical cannabis say the law should be expanded, to include those who suffer from other conditions. Katie Krug, of Grimes, has ulcerative colitis.

“I continue to watch people with my disease in other states get healthy with medical cannabis, while I remain on chemotherapy-like drugs,” Krug says. “My current medication can cause a brain infection, leading to death. Medical cannabis has no such side effects.” Iowans for Medical Cannabis held a news conference this (Tuesday) morning at the statehouse. Tom Duncan, a fifth generation farmer in Greene County and kidney cancer survivor, was among the speakers.

“Education has moved some of our elected officials, but we need more voices speaking to them and all the candidates,” Duncan said, “so please speak to these candidates and elected officials and tell them that you support whole plant medical cannabis access.” Iowans for Medical Cannabis plans to post a list on the group’s website showing which incumbent legislators have supported providing access to medical marijuana in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Harlan report an Irwin man was cited for Following Too Close last Friday, after his 1998 Chrysler struck the rear of a 2017 Hyundai. The accident happened in the 2300 block of 7th Street on Oct. 7th. Officials say Vince Reinig, of Mt. Shasta, CA, and Donald Robinson, of Irwin, were both traveling southbound on 7th Street and were slowing for stopped traffic in front of them.  Robinson told police he looked down for a second and when he did so, his car hit the rear of Reinig’s vehicle, causing minor damage to both vehicles. The damaged was estimated at $3,500 altogether.

Officials with the Cass County Health System say a new CT scanner will be installed sometime over the next few weeks.  The addition of the Toshiba Aquilion Prime 80 to our facility will offer CCHS patients a multitude of benefits.  During the installation the hospital will have a mobile unit on site to meet patient needs.

Carrie Schmitt, Director of Diagnostic Imaging, says “We are very excited to bring this state-of-the-art CT technology to our patients. We apologize for the short-term inconvenience, but are pleased to be able to provide care without interruption during this important upgrade to our diagnostic imaging services.”

Schmitt says The new Toshiba Prime scanner will offer several key benefits to patients:

·         The speed of the Aquilion Prime 80 enables our clinicians to obtain critical patient information for enhanced diagnoses faster than before.

·         The Aquilion Prime 80 comes standard with industry-leading radiation dose reduction software.

·         The large bore opening offers a more spacious feeling for patients while the higher table weight limit expands the range of patients who can be imaged.

·         Increase in scan coverage results in greatly reduced scan times and much shorter breath holds while producing the high quality images required for accurate diagnoses.

·         Increased ability for staff and patients to communicate throughout the exam.

Diagnostic Imaging staff will escort patients to the temporary CT unit for their exams while the new in-house unit is being installed.  The new unit is expected to be ready for service in early November.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Polk County supervisors have given final approval to raising the minimum wage to $10.75 an hour within the next 30 months. The Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 for the proposal Tuesday in the third of three required readings and approvals. The current $7.25 rate will rise to $8.75 an hour in April, to $9.75 in January 2018 and finally to $10.75 in January 2019.

Polk County becomes the fourth in Iowa to raise the minimum wage, following actions by Johnson, Linn and Wapello counties.  The Polk County measure includes freezing the tipped-worker minimum wage at $5 per hour, rather than keeping the rate at 60 percent of the overall minimum wage. And it includes a lower figure for workers 17 and under: 85 percent of the new minimum wage.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says two men were arrested on drug charges, Monday afternoon following a traffic stop on Highway 34. 25-year old Joshua Daniel Brumfield, of Glenwood, and 22-year old Christian James Brumfield, of Omaha, were both charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both men were being held in the Mills County Jail, with their bonds set at $1,300 and $5,300, respectively.

And, 29-year old Amber Rose Truhlicka, of Sidney, was arrested Oct. 7th at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Probation Violation. Her bond was set at $4,000.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, an accident Oct. 7th resulted in two people being transported to Creighton University Medical Center. Officials say 50-year old David Smith, of Glenwood, was driving the vehicle southbound on 221st Street at around 10:50-p.m., when a deer ran out in front of him on a curve in the road. When Smith swerved to miss the deer, his vehicle went out of control and rolled multiple times before coming to rest on its top.  Smith was transported to CUMC by Silver City Rescue, while his passenger, 47-year old Brenda Foster, of Randolph, was transported to the same facility by Glenwood Rescue.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent arrests. This (Tuesday) morning, 20-year old Abel Vasquez, of Lenox, was arrested on an Adams County warrant for felony Attempting to Elude Pursing Law Enforcement. The charge stems from an incident that took place Sept. 9th. Vasquez was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $5,000 cash-only bond.

And, on or about Oct. 6th, Adams County Deputies arrested 31-year old Jose Huerta, of Prescott, on Adams County felony warrants for a controlled substance violation and possession or use of a false drug tax stamp, with regard to a marijuana grow operation that was discovered June 6th, at Huerta’s residence. His bond was set at $5,000.

Vasquez was subsequently charged with Conspiracy to Manufacture on certain real property and Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp. Bond on those offenses was set at $5,000, also.

The Cass County Conservation Board says it’s time once again for the annual Trumpeter Swan arrival contest.  Trumpeter Swans have visited the Schildberg Quarry for, at least, seventeen out of the last eighteen winters. When do you think the first Trumpeter Swan will arrive at the Schildberg Quarry?

You can call in your prediction (by November 11^th) to the Conservation Board at 712-769-2372, leave a message and return phone number if they are not in.  Duplicate dates will not be allowed.  For example, if a caller predicts November 25th, no one else will be allowed to predict that arrival date.  So, call anytime until November 11th to make your prediction!

One prediction per family, please. The sponsors of this contest will determine the official arrival of the swans.  The winner will receive a Trumpeter Swan 8×10 print from the Cass County Conservation Board.  Sorry, this contest is only for residents of Cass County.   

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Previous Arrival and departure dates of the swans have been as follows:

1997/1998    December 18 – January 2

1998/1999    Nothing on record

1999/2000    December 25 – February 15

2000/2001    November 23 – March 6

2001/2002    December 25 – February 24

2002/2003    November 23 – March 15

2003/2004   November 26 – March 21

2004/2005    November 25 – March 18

2005/2006    November 17 – March 5

2006/2007 October 30 – March 9

2007/2008 November 22- February 14

2008/2009 November 18- March 12

2009-2010 November 19 – January 5

2010-2011 November 5 – February 10

2011/2012 November 17 – February 21

2012/2013 November 24– March 4

2013/2014 November 12- April 7

2014/2015 November 11- April 6

2015/2016 November 22- March 24