(Radio Iowa) – Competition in the meat supply chain is the subject of a U-S Senate Judiciary Committee hearing scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday), and at least three Iowans will be in the chamber. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley calls the hearing “long awaited” as he says he’s been expressing strong reservations about consolidation within agriculture and the livestock industry for more than 20 years. “We have two Iowans as witnesses and I look forward to their testimony,” Grassley says. “Family farmers are very important to rural communities across America. We’ve got to keep the family farmer strong and from the standpoint of cattle feeders, they’re on life support.”

The two Iowans who are scheduled to testify are: Jon Schaben, owner of Dunlap Livestock Auction, and Shane Miller, group president of Fresh Meats at Tyson Foods. Tyson joins J-B-S, Cargill and National Beef as the four largest meatpackers which, Grassley says, control 80-percent of the marketplace.  “According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for every one dollar Americans spend on food, farmers only get 14.3 cents,” Grassley says. “Meantime, the retail price of beef for consumers has increased and remains very high.”

The pandemic has brought to the forefront the U-S-D-A’s inability to preserve our nation’s beef supply chain, Grassley says, calling on the agency to be more engaged and aggressive in policing anti-competitive activities. “I’m not upset about paying more for my beef but I’m upset that farmers are not getting a fair price,” he says. The Senate hearing, called “Beefing up Competition: Examining America’s Food Supply Chain,” is scheduled for Wednesday at 1:30 PM/Central time.

The 8:05-a.m. broadcast News, w/Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds, Monday, announced her appointment of Major Matthew Peterson as Commandant of the Iowa Veterans Home. Peterson’s appointment is effective July 27, 2021. The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. Peterson’s 20-year career and seven deployments in the Marine Corps infantry have placed him in a wide range of leadership positions spanning thirty countries and five continents. Since retiring from the military, he has directed a working ranch and currently serves as the Executive Director of a nonprofit organization, as well as a high school teacher.

Peterson holds an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Government from New Mexico State University. He also received master’s degrees in Political Science from Liberty University and another in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University. He is a fifth-generation Iowan from Red Oak.

“Thanks to two decades of leadership in the Marines and an impressive post-retirement career, Major Peterson brings a unique set of qualifications to the Iowa Veterans Home,” said Gov. Reynolds. “He also brings deep appreciation for the military service of the veterans whose care he will oversee. His proven ability and dedication will pay dividends for the home, its staff, and its residents.”

The Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, IA has served Iowa veterans since 1887. Today, it is the largest long-term care center in the state and home to more than 500 veterans.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Personnel and Finance Committee will meet 5:15-p.m. Wednesday, July 28th, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. On their agenda are reviews of 2022 fireworks proposals from Wild Willy’s co-owner Mark O’Brien, J & M Displays, and Dan Vargason, who will purchase fireworks from Iowa Fireworks Company and put on a show.

Mark O’Brien provided a fireworks demonstration late last month, as part of an introduction to the products offered by locally owned and operated Wild Willy’s. In his proposal to the City, O’Brien submitted a bid of $6,000 for a 45-to 60-minute display on July 4th, 2022. If approved, the event would take place in the area of the Atlantic Little League Diamonds across from KJAN. The proposal includes proof of insurance and property clean-up of the debris.

Dan Vargason, who (according to his proposal) has been shooting off fireworks electronically for over 10-years, and sells fireworks for the Iowa Fireworks Company, says he and his family have been working for the past eight-years to organize, purchase, set-up and fire, as well as clean-up, following an annual fireworks show. He noted that he was donated 10% of their gross sales over the last four-years, to the Atlantic Booster Club.

Vargason proposes an electronically fired display lasting no less than 20-minutes. He will also carry insurance and is also proposing to put on a show for the sum of $6,000. He has proposed using the Schildberg Recreation Area, between the dock and playground, or on a floating platform off the dock.

The vendors for the 2021 July 4th fireworks display at the Little League Park, have offered to give the community a free show (Valued at $6,000), to make up for what was perceived to be a very short show this year. J&M CEO James J. Oetken said in a letter to Atlantic Fire Chief Tom Cappel, that after investigating the circumstances surrounding the show, he learned that the lead technician fired the show at “A quick, intense pace, which he thought was more exciting, but it shortened the show by quite a bit.”

Oetken said also, the amount of product fired matched the proposal and packing slip, so the content was similar to past years…”it just fired so quickly it seemed like less,” he said. Oetken said if the City accepts the offer, the 2022 fireworks show would have to be held Saturday, July 2nd, due to J&M’s other commitments.

In other business, the Personnel and Finance Committee will review and make recommendations to the Council, with regard to: An Acting Deputy City Clerk; Part-Time Administrative Assistant; an update on Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy, and Work Rules & Disciplinary Procedures in the City’s Handbook.

Rescue crews and law enforcement responded to a shooting incident Monday evening, in rural northeastern Atlantic. Dispatch reports at around 7:49-p.m. indicated a man had been shot. He was reportedly found inside a shed in the 63,000 block of Great River Road. The individual was transported to the Cass Health and transferred by helicopter to another hospital. Additional information is not available at this time.

(Radio Iowa) – A new breed of tick is being found in the U-S for which Iowans, especially cattle producers, need to be watchful. Professor Grant Dewell, an Iowa State University Extension beef veterinarian, says it’s called the Asian longhorned tick but to see its tiny antennae which resemble horns, you’d need a magnifying glass. “It could potentially be here,” Dewell says. “It’s really hard to see, compared to other ticks. Most ticks we’re familiar with are the size of a pencil eraser or something like that. This Asian longhorned tick is about the size of a sesame seed.”

The tick is native to East Asia and it is spreading across the United States. It’s been identified as far east as Arkansas and as far north as New York. “It’s something that we could easily miss if it was here, if we’re not really paying attention to it,” Dewell says. “As much as we move cattle nowadays, where cattle are moved all over the U.S., somebody sure could have imported a breeding animal from the East Coast and brought (the tick) here, so it’s just something we need to keep an eye on.”

Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are associated with most ticks. Dewell says the Asian longhorned ticks may carry those and other blood-borne diseases that are not common in the U.S. People should be aware of the risks, but he says cattle producers need to be vigilant for this tiny-but-dangerous insect. “They tend to target livestock. They will attach to people if given the opportunity but they don’t target people,” Dewell says. “Like most ticks, whatever you offer them, but they tend to focus on livestock. They’re typically in tall grass and brushy areas where they can easily move from that forage onto the host.”

A single Asian longhorned tick female can essentially start a new tick population on her own, as Dewell says she can lay up to 2,000 eggs without ever finding a mate. That’s why he says identifying new infestations and preventing the spread is essential. If you think you’ve found one, contact the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State University.

(On the web at https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/pidc)

(Radio Iowa) – With high temperatures flirting with triple digits this week, practically everyone in Iowa is struggling to stay cool, but the heat wave can be particularly challenging for Iowans who are living with dementia. Lauren Livingston, spokeswoman for the Iowa chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, says the extreme heat can be just as dangerous as a wintertime blizzard for people with memory issues. “Sometimes if they’re living on their own, they may not understand what’s going on, they may not know how to prepare themselves with the right type of clothing when they go outside or how to keep themselves cool,” Livingston says. “They may not realize that they are experiencing heat exhaustion or dehydration as much as someone without dementia.”

Family and friends should make plans to regularly check in on a person living with dementia during extreme heat and special arrangement may be needed for sleeping.  “Often people with dementia experience trouble sleeping at night,” Livingston says. “They may try to wander out of the house which can be very dangerous if it’s too hot. Just make sure they have a cool, comfortable place, keep an eye on them if you can be there with them, if you’re not already overnight.”

During the winter, we’ll occasionally hear about so-called Silver Alerts when a person with Alzheimer’s has wandered from home during the bitter cold. Livingston says the risks during the heat of summer are just as great. “They can experience dehydration and heat exhaustion but it can still cause them to have an emergency situation where they may need to go to the hospital, but if they wander out and they’re on their own, they may not have brought their phone or even remember how to call for help or that they need help,” Livingston says, “so it’s just as dangerous.”

More than six-million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including 66,000 Iowans.

On the web at alz.org/iowa

(Ames, Iowa) — Ames police have confirmed the death of a Marshalltown High School staff member. KCCI reports that in a Monday news release, Ames police said 47-year-old William Terry, of Ames, was found dead at a home on Columbine Circle Thursday. Marshalltown police were conducting a sexual exploitation allegation investigation at the time and heard a gunshot inside the home. “Based on the initial investigation, it appears the male died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot,” Ames police said.

Terry was an Associate Principal at Marshalltown High School. Marshalltown police said they received allegations on July 6 of inappropriate sexual contact between a former employee with the Marshalltown Community School District and a former student.

Marshalltown Police Chief Michael Tupper said in a statement, “There was an ongoing pattern of conduct by Mr. Terry involving the student where he had some inappropriate communication, and ultimately had inappropriate physical contact with our victim, and that’s what led to the investigation and ultimately, the filing of the criminal charges.” Tupper said the investigation remains active despite Terry’s death.

Terry’s was the third Marshalltown School District employee to face accusations in the last month. Tupper said the cases are not related and that he does not believe there are systematic issues in the Marshalltown Community School District. The district issued the following statement:

“The Marshalltown Community School District is aware of the death of a former staff member announced today by the Marshalltown Police Department. The former staff member was being investigated by police in relation to allegations involving a former student. Student safety is the number one priority for the Marshalltown CSD, and any accusation of a crime which may impact student safety is taken very seriously. This is an active investigation, and any questions should be directed toward the (Marshalltown Police Department).”

Marshalltown’s superintendent said the district plans to better protect students by revisiting social media rules, requiring licensed staff to take training and looking at other districts’ employee-student communication policies.

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A crop update says the lack of precipitation is causing some stress on crops. The U-S-D-A says the crop stress is most notable in the northern third of the state — which has the worst drought conditions. The overall condition of the corn crop was reported at 65 percent good to excellent. That’s down three percentage points from the previous week.

Stressed-Corn-ISU-photo

The soybean condition was rated 61 percent good to excellent — and that is down five percent from the previous report.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Democrats are using a lack of members on the Iowa Board of Health to criticize Republican Governor Kim Reynold’s handling of the pandemic. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Ross Wilburn told reporters the Board of Health does not have enough members for a quorum and had to cancel its July 14th meeting. “We need real leadership to help us reverse the course that we are on — and I am calling on Governor Reynolds to do her job and appoint individuals to the state Board of Health so we can continue to have that advice. To have that public input, to have the professionals on the State Board of Health to give that support and that advice as we continue to recover from the pandemic,” Wilburn says.

Seven of the 11 seats on the board are currently open. Democrat State Senator Liz Mathis of Hiawatha, is on the Human Resources Committee which oversees the Board of Health. “Governor Reynolds needs to get to this, she needs to fill these positions so that the state Board of Health is able to function through this pandemic, during this pandemic, and after this pandemic quite frankly– because there is a lot of planning that needs to go into effect,” Mathis says. Mathis says there are other positions on boards that have not been filled they talked to a liaison in the governor’s office.

“We really pushed it, we pressed it. He got back to us with an answer and the answer was that there was someone absent or missing from the decision-making process,” according to Mathis. “This should have been done by now. This is mismanagement and it is going to slow any kind of potential solutions on what will go on with the pandemic and overall public health.”

Mathis says they believe there were enough people interested in serving on the Board of Health. The governor’s office has not responded with a comment on the issue.