The 2022 Cass County Fair Beef Show was held on Monday and the Grand Champion selection capped off the final full day of the fair. The Supreme Overall Market Animal went to Morgan Will of the Benton Franklin 4-H Club. Morgan showed the 4-H Grand Champion Market Steer and Market Animal before winning the Supreme Overall title.

Reserve Overall Market Animal went to Claire Pellett of the Atlantic FFA. Claire showed the FFA Grand Champion Market Steer and Animal before taking the Supreme Reserve spot.

Other winner in the Beef Show were:

Champion FFA Market Heifer: Logan Eilts.
Reserve Champion FFA Market Heifer: Callee Pellett.
Champion FFA Market Steer: Claire Pellett.
Reserve Champion FFA Market Steer: CeCe Hensley.
Supreme Champion FFA Market: Claire Pellett.
Champion FFA Beef Carcass: Callee Pellett
Reserve Champion FFA Beef Carcass: Malena Woodward.
Champion 4-H Beef Carcass: Claire Pellett.
Reserve Champion 4-H Beef Carcass: Quincey Sorensen.
Grand Champion 4-H Market Heifer: Graham Hagen.
Reserve Grand Champion 4-H Market Heifer: Holden DeVore.
Grand Champion 4-H Market Steer: Morgan Will.
Reserve Grand Champion 4-H Market Steer: Raylea Amos.
Supreme Champion 4-H Market Beef: Morgan Will.
Reserve Supreme Champion 4-H Market Beef: Raylea Amos.
Overall Supreme Champion Beef: Morgan Will.
Reserve Overall Supreme Champion Beef: Claire Pellett.

Watch the full replay of the show here:

(Radio Iowa) – Students at Iowa State University will have the opportunity to study climate science in the upcoming school year. The university’s new major aims to prepare its students to bring about solutions to climate change. Owen Halverson, an I-S-U junior who plans to study climate science, says he sees the degree as a means to address increased severe weather patterns.

“This is one of the biggest, if not the biggest problem facing the world right now,” Halverson says. “This is the way I see that I can be helpful to everyone else in the future.” Kristie Franz, the I-S-U chair of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, says it can prepare them for careers in everything from sustainable design planning to advising private industries, like insurance. But, she adds, all pathways will give students the knowledge to strategize against climate change.

“The current generation is recognizing that legitimacy of the science and observing it as well, along with the rest of us and really want to do something about it, because it’s their future,” Franz says, “so they want to be a part of the solution.” The degree will allow students to choose from six areas of focus — ranging from climate policy to agriculture. Program directors hope the area of study can help launch students into growing climate jobs in both private and public sectors.

Franz says the coursework will consist of many classes within the university’s earth science department and it will also integrate economic and communications courses.

(reporting by Kendall Crawford, Iowa Public Radio)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – In an update to our report over the weekend, the Iowa DCI has released the name of a man who was the subject of an Officer-involved shooting on July 30th. Officials say 23-year-old Brandon Lee Nelson, of Cedar Rapids, was transported to the University of Iowa Hospital, where is was being treated for his wounds. His discharge from the hospital is pending. The Cedar Rapids Police Officers names involved in the incident will be released, pending interviews with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

As we mentioned previously, the Department of Criminal Investigation was requested to assist the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Saturday, following an Officer-involved shooting incident. Officials say at approximately 3:52 a.m., Saturday, Cedar Rapids Police officers conducted a vehicle stop for erratic driving in the 2200 block of Glass Road NE.

The driver of the vehicle – identified today (Monday), as Brandon Lee Nelson, brandished a firearm and gunfire was exchanged between Nelson and two Cedar Rapids police officers.

(Radio Iowa) – The latest Creighton University survey of businesses in nine Midwest states shows continued growth — but economist Ernie Goss says that growth isn’t very fast. “The overall index is in solid growth range. Although it’s when you compare it to earlier months it’s still down, we’re seeing softer growth than what we saw earlier in the year, and what we saw at this time last year,” according to Goss.

The survey asks questions about employment and other economic trends and creates an index ranging from zero to 150. The overall index moved up by a little more than a point to 59-point-eight in July. “We asked about confidence looking at the economy six months ahead, it was still very weak but up from last month, so things are moving along, not like what we’d like to see but much better than what we’re seeing in some of the national numbers have come out,” Goss says.

There’s a debate about whether the country has moved into a recession — Goss says the signs point that way. “We’re probably in a recession or skating along and moving into the recession in the next quarter or so,” he says. Goss says the recession is not having a full-blown impact on all sectors of the economy. “I’ll call it recession diversity. In other words, the manufacturing sector continues to move along at the national level not quite as strong as the regional level. But even there, we’re not seeing a recession in the manufacturing sector,” Goss says. “It’s more of other sectors, leisure and hospitality other sectors where you’re seeing numbers well below growth neutral, in fact in negative territory in terms of G-D-P,” Goss says.

Goss says to listen carefully to what the Federal Reserve Governors say, because when they see a recession ahead they’re going to be raising interest rates.

The National Weather Service-Des Moines has announced that hot and humid conditions will present safety hazards this week. Heat indices will likely be over 100 degrees over the next 7-14 days. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon, says with excessive heat expected to persist, facilities in Cass County have opened their doors to people who need a break from the extreme heat. In Atlantic, the Nishna Valley YMCA at 1100 Maple Street is open from 4:30am to 8:30pm Monday thru Thursday and 4:30am to 6:30pm on Friday. Libraries throughout Cass County will also be available as cooling stations during their regular operating hours.

The NWS-DM recommends that you drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.

Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.

(Radio Iowa) – One of the stars of the original TV series “Star Trek” died over the weekend. Nichelle Nichols, who played Lieutenant Uhura on the Starship Enterprise, was 89. Radio Iowa interviewed Nichols during her last stop in Iowa in 2018 and she reflected on a long, prosperous life which she said has been one bold adventure after another. Nichols is considered by many as not just an iconic actress, but as a heroine in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Nichols planned to leave the show after the first season, but had a chance meeting with a fan, Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, who convinced her to stay on, saying she was an incredible role model in the multiracial cast. Nichols, who was black, and white actor William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk, shared what’s celebrated as the first interracial kiss on American television in 1968.

Nichelle Nichols -Image from the NASA Facebook page

In later years, Nichols helped NASA recruit women and minorities to join the astronaut corps. She’s credited with bringing aboard Sally Ride, who became the first American woman in space, as well as Mae Jemison, the first black woman in space. Nichols said her first love was musical theater and she toured the country in the 1990s singing in a one-woman tribute to female jazz and blues singers.

Interviewed at the Wizard World Comic Con in Des Moines in June of 2018, Nichols said she was energized to see so many fans lining up to see her, to get an autograph or a selfie with her, even more than 50 years after Star Trek debuted. It’s an incredibly loyal fan base, “just wonderful,” she said.

The original TV show continues to spawn spin-offs and movies, but also lives on in reruns and is still finding new, adoring viewers. In the autograph line that day was a young girl of around eight, clad in boots and a red skirt with a triangular gold emblem on the black lapel, a miniature version of the uniform Nichols wore as Uhura more than five decades ago.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests took place over the past week:

On July 26th, 38-year-old Kimberly Ileen Bloom, of Corning, was arrested at the Dollar General Store in Adair, following an incident whereby she allegedly tried to steal a little more than $846 in food. Following an investigation, and during her subsequent arrest, Bloom allegedly resisted arrest by pulling away and kicking the arresting officer. She was taken into custody for Interference with Official Acts; Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-2nd offense; Theft in the 3rd Degree, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was later released on a $3,000 bond.

On July 27th, 41-year-old Raymond Scott Davis, of Creston, was arrested following a traffic stop on I-80 in Adair County. Davis was taken into custody on a warrant for Failure to Appear. He was initially held without bond, but then the charge was dismissed at his initial appearance, and he was released the same day.

On July 28th, 24-year-old Darnell De Marcus Martin, of Ft. Dodge, was arrested by Police in Adair, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana- 2nd offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. Martin was released the following day, on a $1,000 bond. Also arrested on the 28th, was 51-year-old John LeRoy Pace, Jr., of Creston. He was taken into custody on a warrant for Failure to Appear on charges that include two counts of Driving While Barred; Poss. of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-1st offense;and Eluding. His bond was set at $4,000.

On July 29th, 42-year-old Justin Alan Robertson, of Greenfield, was arrested on a warrant for FTA on a Poss. of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-2nd offense charge. He was later released on a $1,000 bond. On Saturday (July 30), 36-year-old Tad Robert Haskins, of Atlantic, was arrested by Adair Police on Interstate 80. He was charged with OWI/1st offense and later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond. A Creston man was arrested that same day, in Greenfield, for OWI/1st offense. 21-year-old Joe Thomas Jackson was released with a citation.

(Cedar Rapids, Iowa) – A Pottawattamie County man who illegally sold thousands of doses of controlled substances and mis-branded prescription drugs was sentenced last week in eastern Iowa, to 15 months in federal prison, fined and ordered to forfeit over $500,000 in drug proceeds.

Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa reports a judge handed-down the sentence against 57-year-old Jon Stidham, of McClelland, after Stidham plead guilty on January 5, 2022 to one count of conspiracy to deliver, distribute or dispense methyltestosterone, a Schedule III controlled substance, by means of the Internet without a valid prescription and without complying with federal and Iowa licensing requirements, and one count of conspiracy to introduce mis-branded drugs into interstate commerce with intent to defraud or mislead and to commit mail fraud.

In addition to his jail time, Stidham was fined $7,500 and was ordered to forfeit $527,510 worth of drug proceeds. He will also have to serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

In a plea agreement, Stidham admitted that he operated a business called Kennel Supply, LLC.  Kennel Supply provided a variety of items used for the operation of kennels and the care of farm animals at a brick-and-mortar location.  On the Internet, Kennel Supply sold controlled substances and non-controlled prescription drugs that require prescriptions to lawfully dispense to the ultimate user.

From 2015 through October 12, 2018, Stidham distributed and sold over 300,000 doses of methyltestosterone, a controlled substance, without valid prescriptions, profiting $324,303.  During that same time-period, Stidham illegally distributed over 50 types of misbranded prescription drugs without a valid prescription or authorization, and illegally profited $203,207.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Food & Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigation, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and prosecuted by the U-S Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports one arrest late last week. Authorities say 45-year-ol Ross Messinger, of Glenwood, was arrested Friday for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000. And, officials with Bomgaars of Glenwood, reported to police last Friday, an incident of 2nd Degree Theft. No other details were released.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular, weekly meeting Tuesday morning, beginning at 9-a.m. Their session takes place at the CJ Therkildsen Center (705 Victoria), in Harlan. The agenda is as follow:

1. Call to order
2. Conflict of Interest with the Agenda
3. Approval of Agenda-Action Item
4. Claims of July 28th, 2022 Action Item
5. Approve Minutes of July 19th Action Item
6. Secondary Roads Report – Resolution 2022-44 Participation in SS4A grant application–Action Item
7. Consideration to approve  Amendments to Utility permits for Kirkman RNG LLC; permits 2021-12-29-1 and 2021-12-29-2 Action Item
8. Consideration to approve  to accept Shelby County project:  FM-C083(80)—55-83; HMA Pavement Widening with HMA Resurfacing; on F-24 from Linden Road E 6.4 Miles to Timber Road, FM Extension of Main Avenue in Defiance, and Ann Street in Irwin; plans for letting Action Item
9. Consideration to approve  to accept Shelby County project:  FM-C083(85)—55-83; HMA Full Depth Patching; on M-16 from Shelby North to F-32; Plans for letting Action Item
10. Consideration of engagement letter- Ahlers Cooney/Tim Whipple- Action Item
11. Public Hearing Ordinance 2022-02
12. Consideration to cancel scheduled hearings for August 16th and August 23rd, 2023-Action Item
13. Consideration of ordinance 2022-02 Action Item
14. Public Hearing Ordinance 2022-03
15. Consideration Ordinance 2022-03 Action Item
16. Public Hearing Fiscal Year 2023 Budget amendment-Action Item
17. Consideration Fiscal Year 2023 Budget amendment Public Hearing Fiscal Year 2023 Budget amendment-Action Item
18. Supervisor Committee Reports Action Item
19. Todd Valline Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry report to  Supervisors.

Adjourn

For questions, please call Shelby County Auditor/Commissioner of Elections, Mark Maxwell, at 712-755-3831, Option 6.