(Radio Iowa) – Two Fairfield teenagers accused of killing a high school Spanish teacher have pleaded not guilty. Sixteen year olds Jeremy Goodale and Willard Miller filed written not guilty pleas to charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony in the death of 66-year-old teacher Nohema Graber.

Both teens have asked to be released before their trial. A judge is still considering that request — and a request to reduce their one-million-dollar bail. Prosecutors argue the bail should stay the same or be raised to two million dollars.

(Radio Iowa) – A former West Des Moines insurance agent has been charged with a felony for allegedly filing a false insurance claim for coverage of fire damage. According to the Iowa Insurance Division, 48-year-old Tanya Schettler listed the wrong date of the fire on an insurane claim, knowing the fire occurred during a period when no insurance coverage was in effect.

Tanya Schettler

A state investigation of Schettler began in August of 2020. Last Wednesday, she was charged with one count of insurance fraud. If convicted, Schettler could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of 75-hundred dollars.

(Radio Iowa) – Clearfield Mayor Chris Knox is hoping an egg production facility that was heavily damaged by fire this weekend will be able to recover. Knox says he noticed the plant burning at around 7:30 Saturday morning — and most of the facility’s employees were standing outside when he drove by. The mayor says the gusty winds made for what he called “a scary deal.”

“The wind did pick up pretty strong there Saturday afternoon,” he says. “It was blowing right towards town at that particular time, and there was a pretty big concern about starting a cornfield on fire right to the east side of where the fire was. From there, it could have carried into the town of Clearfield.” Knox says the facility was bought from Iowa Cage-Free last month and is now known as Hen Haven Fire crews brought the fire under control by about 6 p-m Saturday–but not before it caused considerable damage.

“One complete hen house was burned clear to the ground. I would estimate it to be 700-to-800 feet long. It took it completely down. From there, the barn was connected by breezeways to the processing facility, and to the office space, and I believe to the distribution center. The processing, the office space, and the distribution area were all completely damaged, as well,” according to Knox. It’s believed hundreds of thousands of chickens died in the fire. Knox says the plant employs up to 70 people and the fire is a big blow to more than just the facility’s workers.

“It goes to people supplying the facility with feed resources and other resources,” he says. “It doesn’t even affect just the employees, it affects everybody that has ties to that business, as well. It would be really great if we could salvage what we can out of the mess, and continue to have that for the community. It really would.” Knox praised fire departments from surrounding communities for their assistance in battling the fire.

There’s no word on what caused the fire. None of the facility’s employees were injured, but Knox says two firefighters reportedly were treated for smoke inhalation.

(Radio Iowa) – A federal judge in Missouri has temporarily blocked a federal agency’s Covid vaccine mandate for most health care workers in Iowa and nine other states. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the requirement that U.S. health care facilities ensure staff are fully vaccinated by January 4th. Hospitals, clinics and nursing homes that failed to do so were at risk of losing the federal funding that pays the bills for Medicare and Medicaid patients.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds joined a lawsuit challenging the requirement earlier this month. Reynolds says the vaccination mandate would make workforce shortages worse and was an attack on individual liberties. The judge says the vaccination rule has vast economic and political significance and should have been approved by congress.

In a statement Monday afternoon, the Governor said “Iowa is fighting back against the Biden Administration’s attack on individual liberties and I applaud the court’s decision to enjoin the vaccine mandate rule for Medicare and Medicaid certified providers and suppliers.  Medical providers that have been on the frontlines of this pandemic saving lives deserve the freedom and ability to make their own informed health care decisions.

“I believe the vaccine is the best defense against COVID-19, but I also firmly believe in Iowans’ right to make health care decisions based on what’s best for themselves and their families, and I remain committed to protecting those freedoms. President Biden should do the same.”

(Atlantic, Iowa)  – Beef producers needing to renew or obtain their certification for Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) can attend an in-person workshop held Monday, December 6^th from 6:30 – 8:30 PM.  The training will be held at Cass County Community Center at 805 W 10^th Street in Atlantic.

A majority of packers require cattle sellers to be BQA certified.  BQA is a nationally coordinated, state implemented program that raises consumer confidence through offering proper management techniques and a commitment to quality within every segment of the beef industry.  The Iowa BQA Program is funded by the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) and the Beef Checkoff.  The education component is delivered as a joint effort by Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University and IBIC.

There is no cost to attend the training, but pre-registration is appreciated. To reserve a seat at the training, please RSVP by noon on Monday the 6^th by contacting the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or emailing keolson@iastate.edu. A light meal will be served to all who RSVP in advance, grilled by the Cass County Cattlemen, starting at 6:00 PM ahead of the meeting.

To learn more about the Iowa BQA Program and other upcoming certification trainings in your area, please visit www.iabeef.org.  BQA certification is also offered online for free at www.bqa.org.  For more information, feel free to contact Erika Lundy-Woolfolk, ISU Extension beef specialist at 641-745-5902 or ellundy@iastate.edu.

AMES, Iowa – The 2022 Crop Advantage meetings will give producers a solid foundation of current research-based crop production information to help make smart, informed decisions for their farming operation. The meetings are an opportunity for farmers and crop advisers to hear current research and crop production information from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Specialists will travel to 14 locations around Iowa (Including Atlantic, Denison & LeMars), from Jan. 4-27, providing updated management options and recommendations on crop production issues facing Iowa growers.

Meetings include continuing education credits for Certified Crop Advisers and pesticide applicator recertification. All sites offer private pesticide applicator continuing instruction, which is included in the registration fee. The Chariton location also offers commercial ag pesticide applicator continuing instruction for an additional cost.

Nearly 2,000 individuals attended one of 14 Crop Advantage meetings across the state in 2020, representing all 99 Iowa counties and surrounding states. Approximately 85% of attendees said information from Crop Advantage would likely save them between $5 and $20 per acre.

Program topics vary by location and are selected for regional issues. Topics on this year’s agenda include: crop market outlook for 2022, precipitation and weather variability trends, corn rootworm management, managing cover crops before corn, fertilizer management for 2022, management of corn and soybean disease issues, tax law changes and many more.

Financial support for this farmer-focused meeting series is provided by the Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Corn Growers Association. Locations, times and program details are available online.

Early registration for each location is $60; late registration made less than seven days prior to the meeting, or on-site, is $75. Registration includes lunch, private pesticide applicator recertification, and CCA credits.

Online registration and additional information is available at www.cropadvantage.org. For questions, contact ANR Program Services at 515-294-6429, or anr@iastate.edu, or contact your regional Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agronomist.

2022 Meeting Dates and Locations

• Jan. 4 – Sheldon.
• Jan. 5 – Storm Lake.
• Jan. 6 – Burlington.
• Jan. 11 – Okoboji.
• Jan. 12 – Ankeny.
• Jan. 13 – Cedar Falls.
• Jan. 14 – Mason City.
• Jan. 18 – Chariton.
• Jan. 19 – Webster City.
• Jan. 20 – Atlantic.
• Jan. 21 – Davenport.
• Jan. 25 – Coralville.
• Jan. 26 – Le Mars.
• Jan. 27 – Denison.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Iowa Learning Farms (ILF), the Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach conservation and water quality education program, will host “Coffee and Conservation,” Wednesday, Dec. 15, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield. The in-person event will provide local farmers and landowners with a chance to discuss conservation practices and ask questions of ILF and local extension staff.

Liz Ripley, ILF conservation and cover crop outreach specialist, says “Our intent with this event is to help build community through encouraging farmers to talk with their peers and ILF about topics important within the community, what keeps them up at night, what challenges they see with conservation practices, and what they want to learn more about. There will be no formal presentations or agenda, just a chance to talk, ask questions, listen and learn while enjoying a beverage and provided food.”

ISU hosts at the Greenfield event will include Mark Licht, assistant professor and extension cropping systems specialist in agronomy at Iowa State University, and Liz Ripley, ILF conservation and cover crop outreach specialist. The Coffee and Conservation event is produced in collaboration with ISU’s Conservation Learning Group and the Adair County Extension Office.

To ensure adequate space and food, please RSVP for the Greenfield Coffee and Conservation by calling 515-294-5429 or email ilf@iastate.edu.

Atlantic, Iowa- Officials with Cass County Public Health said Monday (Today), they are holding a vaccination clinic on Friday, December 3rd, at Cass County Public Health, from 9 am to 3 pm. The walk-in clinic will provide Moderna booster vaccinations only. Patients need to bring their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card with them to the event. If you have lost your card, please call 712-243-7443 and Public Health staff will assist you.

The required consent forms can also be printed from casshealth.org/covidvaccine, saving patients time on the day of the clinic. Cass County Public Health is located at 1408 E 10th Street, Atlantic, IA. Masks will be required during the clinic.

Booster Dose Eligibility
You may have a preference, but you can receive any booster shot. If it has been at least 6 months since you received your Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series or at least 2 months since you received your Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine and you are 18 years or older, then you are eligible for a booster.

Patients are always encouraged to talk to their primary care provider about their questions and concerns regarding vaccines. More information about booster shots can be found at cdc.gov, vaccines.gov, or casshealth.org/covidvaccine.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests. A little after 1-a.m. Saturday (11/27), 27-year-old Thompson Lee Jones, of Creston, was arrested near Orient along the Adair-Union County line on Highway 25, on an Adair County warrant for OWI/1st offense. Jones was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $1,000 cash/surety bond.

On Nov. 25th, a 2016 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 24-year-old Hollie Mae Perrin, of Fontanelle, was observed at 12:26-a.m., pulled over north of Highway 92 on 240th Street, with its headlights off. An Adair County Deputy stopped to check on the driver, but as he pulled up, the vehicle started to drive way without its headlights on.

During the subsequent traffic stop, the Deputy detected an odor of alcohol coming from inside the pickup. Perrin admitted to having one or two drinks. She was given a Standard Field Sobriety Test and consented to a Preliminary Breath Test, which indicated a BrAc of more than .08%.  Perrin was arrested for OWI/1st offense. A later test for intoxication at the Sheriff’s Office came back as .119%.  The woman was cited and later released.

On the 24th, 49-year-old Eric Dennis Shawler, of Creston, was arrested by an Adair County Deputy at around 9:33-p.m., following a traffic stop in the 2200 block of the Stuart Road. His Jeep was pulled over for excessive speed. During an investigation, a female in the back passenger seat was identified as a protected party. Shawler was arrested for Violation of a No Contact /Protective Order issued out of Union County.  He was released the next day on a $300 cash/surety bond.

And, on the 24th at around 2:45-a.m., Police in Adair arrested 38-year-old Erich Sean Johnson, of Casey, for Driving While Barred. He was later released on his Own Recognizance.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests and three accidents occurred over the past week. On November 21st, Deputies arrested 67-year-old Edward Wolfe, of Exira, for OWI 1st offense. Wolfe was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and later was released after posting bond. And, on Nov. 22nd, 50-year-old Joel Lary, of Massena, was arrested on charges of OWI 2nd offense and Driving While Revoked. Lary was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and later released on his own recognizance.

At around 3:50-p.m,. Nov. 21st, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an accident near the area of Highland and Galveston Roads. Officials say a 2012 GMC Sierra with attached trailer being operated by Roger Blake, of Walnut, was traveling West bound and traversing a right hand curve. On the trailer was corn stalk bales, one of which fell off during the turn. At about the same time, a 2018 GMC Yukon being operated by Judith Gross, of Walnut, was traveling East bound on the curve. The corn stalk bale which had fallen off of the trailer landed in the east bound lane. Gross’s vehicle struck the bale, causing about $20,000 damage to her vehicle. No injuries were reported.

On November 24th, Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded at around 3:12-p.m., to an accident near 585th and Independence Road. Officials say a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu being operated by a juvenile was traveling East on 585th. The vehicle went out of control on the gravel before rolling into the ditch / yard of a nearby residence. A juvenile passenger later noted head and stomach pain due to the incident, but was arranging personal transportation to the hospital, as necessary. The vehicle sustained approximately $3,000 worth of damage. No other injuries or damage were reported.

ANd, on November 25th at around 9:40-p.m., an accident occurred west of the intersection of 760th and White Pole Road, in Cass County. Authorities say a westbound 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by Garrett Walhovd, of Adair, was rounding a curve when the car went out of control and entered the northwest ditch. The vehicle rolled over once and came to rest on it’s wheels.  Walhovd suffered minor injuries and was transported by EMS to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. The vehicle sustained approximately $7,000 worth of damage. No other injuries or damages were reported.