A survey of real estate agents finds the price of tillable Iowa farm land is increasing significantly. The Iowa chapter of the Realtors Land Institute releases survey data in March and September. The latest report shows Iowa farm land values have jumped nearly 19 percent since the spring. Compared to a year ago, the average price for Iowa farm land is up 26-point-six percent. The Realtors Land Institute cites high commodity prices, a good harvest and favorable interest rates as factors driving up farm land prices. The group reports farmers are the primary buyers, but investors are very competitive at public auctions of farm land. Farm land prices are rising throughout the corn belt. According to the Chicago Federal Reserve, the dollar value of good Iowa farm land rose 18 percent between July of this year and last July.

(Radio Iowa) The Iowa Department of Public Health’s weekly Covid update shows 60 percent of Iowans over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated. The vaccination rate among Iowans who are 65 or older is 83 percent. Over the past even days, 24 percent of the Iowans who’ve tested positive for Covid are under the age of 18. Dan Diekema (DEEK-uh-muh) is an infectious disease specialist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

He says the spread is largely driven by virus activity in schools where students under age 12 aren’t eligible for a Covid shot.

The total number of Covid patients in Iowa hospitals has dropped slightly for the first time in 12 weeks according to state data. However, there are more Covid patients in intensive care now compared to last Wedneday and nearly 85 percent of them were not vaccinated.

(Radio Iowa- Woody Gottburg) A Celebration of Life is planned for the 12-year-old who died after falling from a float in the Westwood High School homecoming parade.
Kage McDonald of Salix was riding on the back of a float last Friday when he fell off and later died in the hospital. The service for McDonald is set for 11 a-m Saturday in the Westwood Community High School East gym. Kage’s family requests those in attendance wear their favorite sports team attire or casual clothes. A memorial for the junior high student is set up outside the high school A GoFundMe account for McDonald has raised almost 31-thousand dollars in contributions.

The Iowa Department of Revenue and other state agencies are getting closer to unveiling a new online portal where you can conduct business with them. Department of Revenue spokesman, John Fuller, says it’s called GovConnectIowa.

The Department of Revenue, the Iowa Lottery, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, and the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division partnered to create the new portal.

He says the website will be a place to get the process started.

Iowa Lottery C-E-O, Matt Strawn talked about the pending rollout with the Lottery Board at their meeting. He says he looks forward to replacing the paper system they now use.

Strawn says. Fuller says this has been a four-year project, and the first rollout is a starting point for bigger things ahead.

The rollout of the first services is slated for November 15th.

Mills County Emergency Management Coordinator Larry Hurst recently put in a request on behalf of area fire departments to the State Fire Marshall to institute a temporary burn ban in the County. A ban on open burning will go into effect at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, October 1st and continue until conditions are deemed by fire departments to have improved.

CRESTON, Iowa – Sept. 30, 2021 – A project to set beams for the new Ashworth Road bridge over Interstate 80 in West Des Moines requires closure of eastbound I-80 between Grand Prairie Parkway (exit 118) and Jordan Creek Parkway (exit 121) overnight for two nights beginning on Monday night, Oct. 4, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office.

Eastbound I-80 will be closed:

• Monday, Oct. 4 at 10 p.m. until Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 5 a.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 10 p.m. until Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 5 a.m.

During this closure, traffic will be will follow a marked detour route using Grand Prairie Parkway, University Avenue, and Jordan Creek Parkway.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through our 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at https://iowadot.gov/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak man Tuesday evening. At 7:37 p.m. Officers arrested 49-year-old Floyd Raymond Henry II in the 100 block of West Prospect Street. on a valid Warrant for Failure to Appear for Initial Appearance on the original charge of Driving While License Denied or Revoked for OWI. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 cash only bond.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Drive-In Movie experience this Saturday, October 2nd.

“Drive-In Movie Night has become an annual tradition that I look forward to every year. We are excited to bring a Halloween themed movie to the big screen this fall,” Kelsey Beschorner, Programs Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said.

“The Drive-In is a fun, nostalgic experience for community members and those in the surrounding area to enjoy. This also gives us the opportunity to show off our town and encourage people to shop and eat before coming to the movie,” mentioned Beschorner.

The Drive-In Movie will be at the Cass County Fair Grounds in the grandstand area beginning around 8:30 PM with a showing of “Hocus Pocus”. Cars may begin parking at 7 PM. The screen is 60 feet long with a high definition projector. Speakers will be available next to the screen for people to utilize. A transmitter will be provided for those enjoying the movie from their car. Attendees will turn their radio to a certain station and the transmitter will play the audio through their car speakers.

Entry is $20 per car vehicle and tickets can be purchased at www.atlanticiowa.com or day-of at the gate. People are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on. Inside parking for the Drive-In is limited, so pack a chair or blanket as precaution. Concessions will be available for purchase by Atlas Atlantic Cinema in the Chuckwagon on the fairgrounds.

For more information, visit www.atlanticiowa.com, call the Chamber at 712.243.3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

The Council Bluffs Police Department reports one of their K-9 officers was injured during a search on Monday morning. At 10:10 a.m. Offficers and K-9 Rudy were searching an abandoned building for intruders at 500 West Broadway in Council Bluffs. While searching ahead of his handler on an upper floor, K-9 Rudy went through a door leading to a sloped section of roof during the check.  He slipped and fell approximately 3 stories.

Rudy suffered a broken femur and tibia. Due to the severity of his injuries he was transported by his handler, Officer Colby McCord and Sgt. Ron Albers to Iowa State University Veterinary Hospital for surgery.

UPDATE: Rudy underwent successful surgery and is expected to make a full recovery in about 8 weeks.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday released information on arrests dating back to September 23rd.

On September 23rd Deputies arrested 23-year-old Dillon Fanklin Hastings of Clarinda on a Warrant for Harassment 1st Degree. He was held on $20,000 bond.

On September 24th three arrests took place. At 3:24 a.m. 30-year-old Seth David Travis of Omaha, NE was arrested in Fremont County on a Warrant for Theft 5th Degree. Bond was set at $500. At 2:25 p.m. 23-year-old Ruben Rodriguez Sigala Jr. of Omaha, NE was arrested on a Warrant for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $1,000. At 10:27 p.m. 25-year-old Joshua Nicholas Jones of Glenwood was arrested for Driving Under Suspension on Hilman Road. His bond was set at $300.

On September 27th two arrests took place. At 11:58 a.m. 48-year-old Dana Brocke Burkholder of Omaha, NE was arrested on a Warrant for Contempt. Burkholder was held on no bond. 36-year-old Jake Elliot Campbell of Bellevue, NE was arrested on a Warrant for Ongoing Criminal Conduct, Theft 1st Degree, Conspiracy to Commit Non-Forcible Felony, and Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree. Bond was set at $45,000.

Four arrests were reported on September 28th. At 2:07 a.m. 25-year-old Jerad Michael Brooke of Papillion, NE was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Failure to Yield to an Emergency Vehicle. He was arrested on 221st Street/Highway 34 off-ramp. Bond was set at $1,600.  At 10:16 a.m. 53-year-old Stephen Curtis Courtney of Council Bluffs was arrested on a Warrant for 1st Degree Theft. He was held on $10,000 bond. At 1:31 p.m. 40-year-old Dexter Anthony Davis of Omaha, NE was arrested on a Pottawattamie County Warrant for Theft 4th Degree. That arrest took place at 278th Street and Dobney Avenue. At 8:20 p.m. 33-year-old James Thomas Hume of Sidney was arrested on a Warrant for Violation of Probation near the Tabor city limits. He was held on $5,000 bond.