HAMILTON COUNTY, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in a commercial turkey flock of about 18,000 birds in Hamilton County, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Iowa has had nine detections of the H5N1 strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has impacted more than 184 million commercial and backyard birds since February 2022.

IDALS reported a case of the bird flu in a Calhoun County turkey flock in October. The October case was the first detection in the state since April. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Hamilton County following the HPAI detection. The proclamation makes state resources more available as officials work to dispose of birds exposed to the virus and monitor, contain and further detect the bird flu.

IDALS asked producers to exercise heightened biosecurity around their flocks to help prevent the spread of HPAI, which is usually deadly for exposed poultry. Producers who notice sudden deaths in a flock, lethargy, decreased egg production, or birds with swollen heads and difficulty breathing, should contact their veterinarians, according to the agriculture department.

Turkey, chicken and egg products remain safe to consume during the current HPAI outbreak, IDALS said.

(Creston, Iowa) – A woman from Ringgold County complained of pain and possible injury, following an accident that occurred at around 10:20-a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 2nd), on Highway 34 near S. Sumner Avenue. The Creston Police Department reports a 2013 Volvo semi-tractor trailer driven by 33-year-old Dakota Stanton, of Bethany, MO., and a ca driven by 61-year-old Randie Kaye Ross, of Kellerton, were both traveling westbound on Highway 34, when the semi attempted to merge into the inside lane due to vehicles that were stopped at the traffic light, in the semi’s lane of travel.

Authorities say Stanton looked, but did not see Ross’ car in his side view mirror prior to attempting the merge. The passenger side of the semi’s trailer collided with the driver’s side of the car, causing severe, disabling damage to the 2002 Pontiac Bonneville.

Randie Ross was checked at the scene by medics following the collision, but was not transported to the Creston hospital. There were no citations issued. The accident caused a police-estimated $2,000 damage to the car.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra says after flooding hit communities in his district in mid-2024 he’s been meeting regularly with FEMA officials to talk about progress — and Feenstra says he’s pushing FEMA to approve federal funding for buyouts flood-damaged properties.

“We’ve got to get these dollars passed out, so you have Rock Valley, Rock Rapids, Hawarden — all these other communities. We’ve got to get them whole,” Feenstra says. “We’ve got to make sure that they’re on the right path so they can grow economically and help not only the businesses and schools, but also the families that lost their homes.” Under FEMA’s buyout program, 75 percent of the funding from the federal government. The state is required to provide 10 percent and the remaining 15 percent is the responsibility of the local government or city.

Sioux County, along with the cities of Spencer, Rock Rapids, Rock Valley, Hawarden and Correctionville have submitted applications for federal funding to help buy homes that are unlivable due to last year’s damage or in an area that frequently floods. Estherville and Cherokee are working on their applications. Feenstra, a Republican who’s running for governor, says if he’s elected, he’d set goals for how his administration would respond to Iowa disasters.

“We want to make sure that we are ready for anything, whether it be a tornado or a flood,” Feenstra says. “that we can get boots on the ground within 12 hours of the event happening and making sure that we resolve and help the problems that are happening through that disaster.” Feenstra says he has a meeting with FEMA officials tomorrow (Wednesday). He’s also asked to meet with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem who oversees FEMA. Feenstra is in Washington, D.C. today (Tuesday) where congress has reconvened and is wrestling with what to about Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the month.

“We are not going to shut down government again, but we are working collaboratively to get this done,” Feenstra says. “To me, it’s all about how…do we make sure that we reduce premiums and not continue down this same path of growing and expanding and increasing the cost through the Affordable Care Act.” Americans with an annual income below 400% of the poverty line will still receive federal tax credits next year, but without congressional action the health insurance subsidies expanded to other Americans in 2021 will expire December 31st.

In October, Feenstra said those subsidies that were established during the pandemic are too expensive for the federal government and congress should find other ways to reduce health care premium costs.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s not sure yet if he’ll be included in the select group of lawmakers who will hear an admiral’s classified briefing Thursday on the deadly attack on a Venezuelan boat in the Caribbean Sea by U-S forces. The boat was suspected of carrying drugs and all on board were killed in the September strike. Grassley says he has concerns about the legality of what happened, as details on the incident are still sparse.

“Those concerns are related to what the law says,” Grassley says. “I would expect law to be followed. I have seen so many things that other presidents have done, like Obama in Libya.” A White House spokeswoman has said the Caribbean attack was carried out in accordance with all laws governing armed conflict, but lawmakers from both parties expressed worry Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly issued the verbal attack order.

“I expect all American law to be followed,” Grassley says, “and in the case of this being on the international waters, I would expect international law to be filled.” Some Democrats suggest the attack could be considered a war crime, but Grassley, a Republican, says he still needs more facts about the incident.  “I probably could answer your question a little bit better after I get some information from my judiciary staff,” Grassley says, “because we’re all seeking more information from the administration on this subject.”

Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is demanding his panel be granted full access to the military’s audio and video of the attack. The September strike is one of several by U-S forces in recent months which reports say have claimed more than 80 lives.

(Radio Iowa) – A Creighton University index puts Iowa’s manufacturing sector in slightly positive territory, but Creighton economist Ernie Goss says the manufacturing and supply managers surveyed in Iowa and eight other states region indicate tariffs, inflation and slowing business activity continue to put stress on the region’s economy. Goss oversees the monthly survey and calculates a Mid-America Business Conditions Index. “Not good,” Goss said. “It’s moving sideways,” Goss said. Creighton’s Business Conditions Index for Iowa was rated highest in the region, while Missouri’s plummeted, according to Goss. The survey found declines in neighboring Nebraska and South Dakota as well. Goss says the region’s manufacturing sector seems to be holding up in the midst of major challenges.

“It could have been worse,” Goss said. “The negatives are getting less negative, I can say that.” Creighton’s regional survey indicates November production levels from manufacturers — including manufacturers in Iowa– were below what Goss calls growth neutral. “John Deere just announced that their sales are down, their profits are down and…that’s just emblematic of what’s going on across the region,” Goss said. Goss cites one of the supply managers surveyed, who said their business outlook has moved from positive to cautious. “The outlook is slower growth in the economy. Now does that mean a recession? Not at this point,” Goss said. “There is a recession for certain parts of the economy — that would be the rural areas heavily dependent on agriculture, that would be housing where we’re seeing a recession in certain parts of the country.”

Iowa’s overall housing market shows home prices and sales have been up in 2025, according to the Iowa Association of Realtors.

(Radio Iowa) – The University of Iowa is going to start a major bathroom improvement project this summer in one of its residence halls. U-I Vice President Rod Lehnertz says they are going to renovate the bathrooms on the six floors of Burge Hall. “It’s a 20-point-three million-dollar project and is part of student life and the housing and dining continued effort to keep our residence halls modernized,” Lehnertz says. He says the update continues other work that has been done to the residence hall.

“Burge Hall is a building that was built in 1957 and remains popular, and our second largest residence hall in the main campus, and the needs in this case, as has been done in other residence halls, is to modernize the restrooms into a pod system and also new plumbing,” he says. Lehnertz says the renovations will take several years as they will do the work in the summer. “To maximize the amount of work we can do when students are not on campus. So it would be completed in 26, 27 28, 29 and 30,” Lehnertz says.

The Board of Regents approved the designs and budget for project at their recent meeting.

(Des Moines, IA – Iowa DNR news release) – Iowa’s most popular deer hunting seasons start this weekend, when more than 100,000 hunters take to the timber for the long-awaited gun seasons. Iowa’s first gun season is Dec. 6-10. Second gun season is Dec. 13-21. While hunters are split about 50-50 to which season they hunt, the trend has been moving toward second season due to the flexibility of hunting two weekends. Hunters are expected to harvest 55,000 to 60,000 deer during these two seasons, which is 50-60 percent of Iowa’s total deer harvest. So far this fall, youth, disabled hunter, early muzzleloader and archery hunters have reported 28,600 deer through the harvest reporting system, which is three percent below the five-year average.

“We’ve had a strong harvest in Eastern Iowa, which has offset a lower deer harvest in Western, Central, Southern and Northwestern regions of the state,” said Jace Elliott, state deer biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). To date, the 2025 harvest is about exactly the same as the 2024 harvest at this point in the season. “We are getting reports of low deer numbers in Central and Western Iowa in the wake of severe hemorrhagic disease impacts from 2024 and 2023. Hunters are encouraged to reach out to our wildlife staff and conservation officers to discuss what they are seeing in the field.”

Weather-wise, the 10-day forecast calls for high temperatures from middle 30s to middle 20s, which means the snow is likely here for a while. “The cooler temperature generally leads to better harvest, but the snow can be tricky. We know that snowfall on opening day leads to a 10 percent increase in harvest for the season. Snow does make it easier to see deer, track deer and to see deer signs, which are all the right conditions for hunters to be successful,” Elliott said. “However, if the snow is too deep, it can lead to fewer deer harvested and that’s likely due to hunter behavior, not deer behavior,” he said.

The gun seasons have been traditionally associated with groups of hunters walking through the timber, pushing deer towards other members of the hunting group, but results of the 2024 deer hunter survey found that gun season hunters are divided evenly in how they pursue the deer. About half participate in traditional deer drives, while the other half prefer to hunt from stationary position. The deer hunter survey found that overall, 80 percent of respondents indicated they are satisfied with the overall deer hunting experience, citing the social aspect of the hunting groups and the opportunity to put deer meat in the freezer as two reasons they hunt.

Main beam antler measurement

Hunters are required to include the main beam antler measurement when reporting their deer harvest. “Main beam antler measurement allows us to estimate the percentage of yearling bucks as part of the harvest. There was a strong variation across Iowa where counties with lower deer densities and less deer habitat saw a higher rate of yearling bucks as a percentage of the buck harvest,” Elliott said.

Statewide, yearling bucks made up roughly 40 percent of the total buck harvest.

(Radio Iowa) – A man accused of breaking in and staying in State Auditor Rob Sand’s home while Sand and his family were out of town for Thanksgiving has been charged with burglary. When Sand and his family returned home Sunday, Des Moines Police say the man refused to leave, claimed the house was his and was wearing clothes he’d found in house. Sand, who is running for governor, told The Des Moines Register his family is safe and the prompt assistance of law enforcement is one more thing for which our family is thankful.

Jeffrey Moffett

Court documents describe the man who was arrested as homeless and indicate 41-year-old Jeffrey Moffett broke into the house on Friday. Two police officers were injured during Moffett’s arrest and he’s been charged with interference with official acts as well as second degree burglary.

(Atlantic, IA) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors held a regular session this (Tuesday) morning, in Atlantic. During their meeting, the Board passed a resolution/agreement to abate taxes and penalties with the City of Atlantic, with regard to three specific parcels. The Board also set 9:05-a.m. December 16th, as the date and time for public hearings on applications from Karen Davis, Kelly Wise and Tony Snyder, for zoning changes to their respective properties. The hearings will take place in order of their place on the agenda, therefore timing for the second and third hearings will take place consecutively, following the first hearing.

Davis requests a change from Suburban Residential to General Agriculture, for her property at 59708 Yankton Road, for a proposed dog breeding facility. Kelly Wise requests a change from General Ag to Business, for his proposed commercial storage facility with a fence and gates, at 67726 White Pole Road. And, Tony Snyder requests a zoning change from General Ag to Light Industrial for his property at 54148 Boston Road.

Still-frame image from the Cass County BOS mtg. 12-2-25 via Zoom Workplace

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors received a presentation from Ryan Berven, with regard to renewal of FY 2027 Cass County Employee Benefits. No action was taken on a renewal at this time.

They acted on allowing/disallowing (on an individual basis, and as presented) Family Farm Credits, as presented and recommended by the Cass County Treasurer’s Office, for taxes collectible in FY26-27. Their final order of business, was to acknowledge receipt of the EMS Advisory Board, with regard to an EMS levy, as required under the Code of Iowa. Supervisor’s Board Chair Steve Baier on the Advisory Board’s recommendation.

The Supervisor’s accepted the recommendation as received.