• KJAN, Atlantic  .06″
• Atlantic Airport  .06″
• 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .13″
• Massena  .61″
• Anita  .04″
• Corning  .67″
• Bridgewater  1.1″
• Red Oak  .09″
• Clarinda  .28″

(Atlantic, Iowa) – As with years past, the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department is having to deal with issues of vandalism to Parks property. Assistant Parks Director Jeff Christensen, Monday, told the Parks & Rec Board, that the incidents have been destructive, and disgusting.

Board member John Krogman said noticed someone smashed a light on the waterless restroom at the Schildberg Park.

Christensen said they are actively pursuing, with the Police Department, the suspects involved in some of the incidents.

There’s also been damage to the floating docks at the Schildberg Recreation Area. The list of incidents, Christensen said, go on and on.

He said there were incidents last Summer, as well, including mirrors broken and pulled-off the walls at some park restrooms, a tree and a slide was spray painted.

On a more positive note, Christensen said new playground for the Harl-Holt Park should be arriving this fall. Jeff said he would be reaching out to officials with Pour-N-Play, and get a price quote on their safety material to prevent injuries from falls that might occur while kids use the playground equipment.

Pour-N-Play lasts longer than other such materials, such as wood chips and rubber chips.

(Avoca, Iowa) – The 127th Annual Pottawattamie County Fair is gearing up for a six-day run, in Avoca. The Fair runs from Wednesday, July 19th through Monday, July 24th. Some, pre-fair events took place late last month and early this month. On Sunday, the 4-H/FFA Shooting Sports Competition took place. On Tuesday (7/18), there’s a 4-H/FFA Pie & Pizza contest at 8-a.m., at Riverside High School. Wednesday (7/19), features 4-H Static Judging at 8-a.m., and Working Exhibits at 2:30-p.m.

This Thursday’s Schedule (7/20) includes the following:

• 8:00-a.m. until 4:00-p.m., Open Class Entries drop-off
• 9:00-a.m., 4-H/FFA Poultry Show
• 10:00-a.m., 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest
• 4:00-p.m., Open Class Judging
• 5:00-to 8:00-p.m., Vendor Food Truck night
• 6:00-p.m., Pre-Fair Awards & Queen Competition
• 7:00-p.m., Free Grandstand Area – DJ/Karaoke.

Check out the complete Pottawattamie County Fair Schedule on Facebook, HERE.

(Red Oak, Iowa) –

Monday, July 17
8:00 AM 4-H/FFA Horse Show Entry Time – Horse Show Arena
9:00 AM 4-H/FFA Horse Show – Horse Show Arena
3:00 PM Awardrobe Clothing Event Judging – Wilson Performing Arts Center
4:30 PM 4-H Table Setting Event Judging and Display – Wilson Performing Arts Center
5:00 PM Educational Presentations, Extemporaneous Speaking & Working Exhibits – Wilson Performing Arts Center
7:00 PM Program and Announcement of Awards: Fashion Show participants & Share the Fun – Wilson Performing Arts Center

Tuesday, July 18
9:00 AM Entry and judging of 4-H Ag & Nat. Resources, Creative Arts, Family and Consumer Sciences, Personal Development & STEM Exhibits – 4-H Exhibit Bldg.
4:00-6:00 PM Enter, weigh-in and check papers for 4-H/FFA Poultry – Livestock Pavilion
6:30 PM 2023 Fair Welcome: Andrew Herzberg, President Montgomery Co. FairBoard – Fairgrounds Auditorium:

• Montgomery County Fair Hall of Fame; Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame
• Presentation of County Youth Council Scholarship
• Rotary Club “Service Above Self” Awards
• Presentation of John Hossle Scholarship
• Bake Sale of Food and Nutrion Exhibits
• Announcements and Crowning of Fair Queen
• 4-H Pie Auction

Following the Welcome: Religious Rally – Fairground Auditorium
8:00 PM Montgomery County Youth Council Gaga Ball Tournament – Gaga Ball Pit

(Harlan, Iowa) –  The Shelby County Fair has entered the last full day of activities. It will conclude Monday, with the 4-H & FFA Livestock. Here’s the schedule for today and Monday:

SUNDAY, JULY 16
7:30 a.m……………………..Market Beef Exhibitors Meeting
8:00 a.m……………………..Pen of Three Judging by Pens 4-H/FFA Market Beef to follow in Show Ring
9:00 a.m……………………..Church Service – Tent
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m……..Antique Tractor/Machinery Show
10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m…….Little Hands on the Farm Exhibit
11:45 a.m……………………4-H Style Show Exhibitor Meeting 12:00 Noon-Style Show Begins in the tent
12:45 p.m……………………Share the Fun, Public Speaking and Extemporaneous Exhibitor Meeting –  Tent Contest at 1:00 pm
1:00 p.m……………………..Bill Riley Talent Search
3:30 p.m……………………..Pedal Tractor Pull
4:00 – 5:00 p.m…………….Release 4-H/FFA Static Exhibits (must be removed by 5:30 pm.); Release Open Class Exhibits (must be removed by 5:30 pm.); Release 4-H/FFA Horses and all Livestock not being sold (must be removed by 5:30)
4-H & Open Class Buildings open 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Nishna Valley Model Railroad open 1:00-4:00 p.m.

MONDAY, JULY 17
5:30 pm………………..4-H/FFA Livestock Auction

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Preparation for the Montgomery County Fair continues, in Red Oak. On Friday, the Red Oak Chamber & Industry Association hosted an “After Hours” – Livestock Pavilion
in conjunction with the Fair Board, Red Oak Ambassadors, Mills/Montgomery County Cattlemen, and Montgomery County Farm Bureau. The Fair runs Monday (July 17) through Sunday (July 23). Checkout the complete schedule HERE.

The schedule for today and Monday is as follows:

Sunday, July 16
12:00 PM Pre-Fair Set Up Lunch hosted by the Red Oak Ambassadors – Gold Fair Bldg.
1:00 PM Fair Set Up

Monday, July 17
8:00 AM 4-H/FFA Horse Show Entry Time – Horse Show Arena
9:00 AM 4-H/FFA Horse Show – Horse Show Arena
3:00 PM Awardrobe Clothing Event Judging – Wilson Performing Arts Center
4:30 PM 4-H Table Setting Event Judging and Display – Wilson Performing Arts Center
5:00 PM Educational Presentations, Extemporaneous Speaking & Working Exhibits – Wilson Performing Arts Center
7:00 PM
Program and Announcement of Awards: Fashion Show participants & Share the Fun – Wilson Performing Arts Center

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon County Fair wraps-up today. Here’s the schedule of activities and events:

8:00 AM Open Class Horse Entries at Announcer’s Stand North of Horse Arena
8:00 AM Tractor Drive Check in
9:00 AM Open Class Horse Show
9:30 AM Tractor Drive
11:00 AM Clover Kids Goat Show
Clover Kids Sheep Show
4-H/FFA Goat Show
PeeWee Goat Show
4-H/FFA Sheep Show
12:00 PM Antique Tractor Pull – Grandstand
12:00 PM Beef Feed – Audubon T-Bone
12:30 PM Bingo-Exira Lions – Agrihall
1:30 PM Pie Contest – Agrihall
2:30 PM Open Class Exhibits and Commercial Booths released
3:00 PM 4-H Recognition – Show Barn
4:00 PM Livestock Support Sale-poultry, rabbits, sheep, goats, swine, beef
4:00 PM 4-H exhibits released
4:45 PM 4-H Building Clean Up

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Today marks the last full day of activities and events at the Adair County Fair. Here’s the schedule:

(Radio Iowa) – Milk is a tough commodity for food banks to store and distribute, because of its short shelf life and need for refrigeration. Kemp’s Dairy and local Hy-Vee stores are partnering to help the Food Bank of Siouxland by donating thousands of “Giving Cow” cartons or milk for distribution across the 11-county service area. Jay Johnson, sales director for the Kemp’s facility in Le Mars, and says theses cartons have a special advantage for distribution.

Jamie Bockelmann is operations manager of the food bank and says this milk will help children who are among the nearly 25-thousand food insecure people in the region.

While it sounds like a lot of milk, the cartons will be distributed quickly over the next two months. Food bank associate executive director Valerie Petersen says companies like Kemp’s are critical to having enough food to meet the area’s demand.

Kemp’s plans to have another Giving Cow contribution to the food bank in November. That donation will likely be chocolate milk.

(Iowa DNR News) – Fishing for catfish is a fun summer tradition for many Iowa families. Invite someone new to fishing to come along to share the fun and memories. “Catfish will bite most of the time, no matter what the water temperature,” explains Daniel Vogeler, Iowa DNR fisheries technician. “They are biting in most lakes, ponds, rivers and streams across Iowa.” Bring along two coolers with ice, one to keep your bait firm and fresh and another to keep your catch cold and preserve that great taste. Catfish have a great sense of smell and taste. Try prepared dip baits, chicken livers, minnows or chubs, green sunfish, bluegill, crawdads, frogs, nightcrawlers or dead, but fresh, goldeye or gizzard shad.

Lakes stratify, or form layers, this time of year, with cool, oxygen-deprived waters sinking to the bottom. Don’t fish in water deeper than 8 to 10 feet on most lakes. Look for areas with vegetation, brush piles or rock. Use the DNR interactive fishing atlas to help you quickly find these spots. Fish the upper ends of the larger reservoirs where the water is shallower and baitfish like gizzard shad gather. Use baits fished on the bottom or suspended off the bottom with a bobber and let current or breeze move the bait to find active catfish.

A blue catfish (NOAA Fisheries photo)

Iowa rivers are loaded with catfish. Look for fish around downed trees and brush piles, but don’t overlook rock piles or other objects that deflect water and form a current seam. Position your bait just upstream of brush piles so the scent of the bait is carried downstream into the structure to draw the catfish out. Anchor the bait with a heavy weight so it doesn’t drift into snags. If fishing the big rivers, try upstream and on the tips of wing dykes and wing dams on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Find more tips for catching, cleaning and cooking catfish on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/Fishing-Tips-How-Tos/How-to-Fish-For-/Channel-Catfish-Fishing.