(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday morning, discussed a possible UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle) Ordinance. Board Chair Matt Wedemeyer said the Board had several other county ordinances to mull over and consider, including those from Cass, Guthrie, and Carroll Counties. Supervisor Steve Shelley said he needed a lot more time to study the issue and ordinances, including how it would affect rider safety and enforcement.

Matt Wedemeyer was also hesitant to jump on the Ordinance bandwagon.

County Engineer Nick Kauffman said he’s talked to several people since Monday, including officials in Cass and Carroll Counties.

He said the County might be charged a couple of hundred dollars by its insurance carrier to hold liability insurance if such an ordinance is enacted, but the agent was not aware of any issues in those counties where it was passed. The County he said will deal with any complaints if an ordinance isn’t passed.

The City of Greenfield has an Ordinance regulating the use of ATV’s in the City limits. That means the machines can’t be on Lake Greenfield property. Supervisor John Twombly was concerned about having separate use permits to control the machines, and Supervisor Jodie Hoadley was concerned about the scope of such an ordinance.

The Board voted unanimously “Not to pursue” a UTV Ordinance at this time. In other news, the Supervisors set May 18th at 9:30-a.m. as the date and time for a public hearing on the vacating of a section of 305^th Lane.

(Radio Iowa) – Cold, wet weather is keeping many Iowans from mowing their lawns, but some are swearing off the chore for the entire month as a way to help out tiny yet vital pollinators. Cedar Falls Mayor Rob Green is leading by example through taking part in No Mow May as bees emerge from dormancy and need flowering plants as crucial foraging habitats — even though he was scared of getting stung as a kid. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to see just how critical they are to our food chain and for providing pollination for crops and being that linchpin of our food supply,” Green says. “So, as mayor, I’m really excited that I have this opportunity to educate other residents and hopefully get them excited about bees and butterflies and other pollinators.”

Cedar Falls residents are encouraged to limit or skip their lawn mowing during May, and the city council voted to not enforce the ordinance requiring eight-inch tall grass and weeds to be cut for the month. In his proclamation, Mayor Green calls No Mow May a “community science initiative.” “This gives us the opportunity to bring in schools and families and to help them build up a monitoring program in their own yards,” Green says, “and hopefully get kids excited about doing research. I would love to see kids out, counting the number of bees per square yard on a given day and reporting that out.”

Iowans who take pride in their landscaping may be slow to come around to the idea, and Green admits he was initially hesitant to get onboard. He says it took a mind shift. “I hate dandelions and so having been one who would have the yard herbicided and just make it as pristine as possible like a golf course,” Green says. “It’s just taken me some time to realize that that kind of approach to lawn care is damaging to the environment.”

City residents are encouraged to register their intent -not- to mow as well as the size of their yards. Some are posting signs to let neighbors know, they’re not being lazy, they’re helping promote pollinator-critical habitat.

(Radio Iowa) – The cool and wet weather has delayed planting in the state. The U-S-D-A crop report shows nine percent of corn has still been planted. That is 11 days behind last year and nine days behind the five-year average. Four percent of soybeans are in the ground — which is nine days behind last year and five days behind average. State climatologist Justin Glisan, says there’s no short-term indication the cool, wet weather is going to end. “If we look at the precipitation signal out six, ten, even to 14 days so getting out into the middle of the month — we are seeing that wet signal holding on. Now April May and June are the three wettest months of the year,” Glisan says. He says it could take some time before we dry out.

“We could get into pretty wet conditions given that precipitation for the month of May, is right around five inches in for central and north-central Iowa almost five and a half inches,” according to Glisan. “So this has implications on getting planted. We have farmers out there that are itching to get out the planters get into the field and get planted.” Planting last year moved ahead quickly in part because it was a lot drier, and the dry conditions got worse as the year moved on. Glisan says the wet days now do have an upside. “But this is also a silver lining in terms of locking in subsoil moisture for when we do get in to June, July, and August if we do get into a warm and dry signal as the seasonal outlooks are pointing to right now,” he explains. “We’ll have some moisture to work off of. If we don’t see regular showers and thunderstorms.” He says there’s still a strong La Nina signal that could lead to warmer drier conditions.

“When La Nina holds on into the winter or into the springtime and then through early summer we do see warmer conditions for the season but in the short term we do see near normal to slightly above average temperatures possible getting into the second week of May,” Glisan says. Western Iowa has been the driest area of the state and the crop report showed farmers in the western one-third of Iowa had almost four days suitable for fieldwork and made more planting progress than any other area of the state.

(Radio Iowa) – Cold, windy spring days have left Iowa’s morel mushroom harvest delayed. By this date, mushrooms hunters are typically thick in forested areas collecting the delicacies that only appear for a short time every spring. Matt Moles is park manager for the Iowa DNR’s Waubonsie State Park in Fremont County. He says his office has been receiving numerous calls from people asking if morels have been popping up yet in the park. “Don’t get disheartened yet with the weather patterns,” Moles says. “I’ve picked mushrooms anywhere between the very tail-end of March through two or three weeks into May in this part of the state. What we need right now is a little bit more ground moisture and probably a few more warmer days.”

While a few hunters have started reporting success in parts of southern Iowa and southeast Nebraska, Moles says a good rain followed by some warm days could lead to a jump-start in the season. “Usually what I notice in a year like the one we’re having now in a Spring that shapes like the climate we’re having now, is that the mushroom growth is really kind of fast and furious,” Moles says. “They pop-up, they produce their spores and then they get picked or they go away. I would not look for a prolonged season this year. Once you start getting reports of people picking them, you probably should get out there fast and do your thing.”

A Morel mushroom (ISU Extension photo)

Morel mushrooms need soil temperatures between 50 and 54 degrees to thrive. Moles says there are plenty of good hunting spots in southwest Iowa. “There’s a lot of pseudo-science with mushroom hunting, which kind of makes it fun,” Moles says. “It really is a good idea to target dead or dying elm trees, ash trees or cottonwood trees. We’re really fortunate here in the southwest part of the state that we have a lot of public land to choose from. I think Fremont County might have — per size of the counties — more public land than most other counties do in the state. There are a lot of great wildlife management areas and park areas for us to pick from.”

Other tips from the Iowa DNR include searching the base of slopes and areas with mossy ground or creek beds where moisture is present.

(Radio Iowa) – Three members of a northeast Iowa family who got double federal loans on their farmland and then declared bankruptcy have been sentenced. Fifty-three-year-old Aimee Rosenbaum of Lawler pleaded guilty to the conversion of property pledged to a farm credit agency and bankruptcy fraud. She was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison and ordered to pay more than 170-thousand dollars in restitution along with some 12-thousand dollars in fines and attorney fees.

Her 58-year-old husband Donald Rosenbaum of Cresco, was given two years probation and a one-thousand dollar fine for pleading guilty to bankruptcy fraud. Their son 27-year-old Marshal Rosenbaum from Fredericksburg was sentenced to three months in prison and three months of home confinement — and ordered to pay restitution — after pleading guilty to the conversion of property pledged to a farm credit agency.

DENISON— The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports a small amount of process wastewater reached the Boyer River in Denison, Sunday afternoon. Alarms rang about 2:45 p.m. at Smithfield Foods when a wastewater processor malfunctioned. Staff immediately closed a nearby storm drain. But an estimated 50 to 100 gallons had already flowed through the storm drain and into the Boyer River.

Smithfield staff continue cleanup efforts. DNR does not recommend recreation in the area until cleanup is complete. DNR will monitor cleanup and consider appropriate enforcement action.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – The open burning ban in Pottawattamie County will be lifted today (May 2nd), effective at 9:00 a.m. Ongoing assessment of vegetative fuel, soil, and environmental conditions now indicate a decreased potential for extreme fire behavior and rapid spread. Doug Reed, director of Emergency Management, says “Recent and anticipated precipitation, spring greening of vegetation, and progress in agricultural planting season work have all contributed to reducing extreme fire risk.”

Open burning is now allowable throughout the county EXCEPT in any municipal city limits where there is a standing ordinance prohibiting open burning on a regular basis. Before burning within any city limits, check with your local fire department or city clerk to determine whether your community has such an ordinance.

Residents are to continue using extreme caution whenever burning. The county is still experiencing abnormally dry conditions and seasonal outlooks indicate that will remain the case or even deteriorate later into the summer months.

Residents or farm operators can visit the emergency management agency’s website at https://pcema-ia.org to get updated information regarding fire risk and drought conditions as we move forward. The agency will be updating the current burn ban page to now provide fire risk information, drought condition information, resources for prescribed/controlled burning operations, and other related resources.

Photo courtesy Ryan Graham

The Atlantic archery team completed a very successful weekend at the NASP Western Nationals in Sandy, Utah. The Trojans high school squad took 2nd place in both the 3D and Bullseye competitions.

In the 3D challenge the Trojans scored 1678, finishing only behind Sarcoxie High School of Missouri that shot a 1720. Halle Copeland finished 2nd in the high school girls with a 289. Cooper Jipsen was 8th for the high school boys with a 286. Find the full team scoring breakdown HERE.

The Atlantic middle school team finished 8th with a total of 1587. Grant Petty was 10th in the middle school boys with a 278. Katrina Williams was 9th in the middle school girls with a 274. Find the full team scoring breakdown HERE.

Atlantic scored 3,338 in the Bullseye competition, again only finishing behind Sarcoxie who shot a 3,414. Cooper Jipsen finished as the 6th best in the high school boys division with a 290. Mariah Hadley was 10th in the high school girls division with a 287. Find the full team scoring breakdown HERE.

The Atlantic middle school squad placed 7th in the Bullseye competition with 3,202 points. Hank Roberts was 30th and Grant Petty was 33rd in the middle school boys. Lily Johnson finished 30th in middle school girls with a 274. Find the full team scoring breakdown HERE.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Trees Forever, Friday, planted an Accolade Elm tree with the fourth graders, in observance of Arbor Day. The tree was planted near Schuler Elementary.

Pictured are the students and Mayor Garrett with the tree in the background near the large 150 held by students. (Photos and story courtesy Dolly Bergmann)

Dolly Bergmann with Atlantic Trees Forever, explained that Arbor Day was started in Nebraska, on April 10, 1872, making this year the 150th Anniversary. Mayor Grace Garrett joined the students to celebrate the anniversary of Arbor Day.

Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett had signed the Arbor Day Proclamation at the April 20th council meeting.

Photo courtesy Ryan Graham

The Atlantic archery team completed day one of the Western Nationals tournament on Friday in Sandy, UT. The high school team currently sits in 1st place in the 3D Tournament after the first day. Halle Copeland is sitting 2nd overall for girls and Cooper Jipsen is sitting 2nd overall on the boys side. Here is a look at 3D results.

High School Archers

Halle Copeland
Academic Archer
Score: 289
Tens: 21
HIGH Team #1
High School Girls Rank: 1
11th Grade Girls Rank: 1
Overall Girls Rank: 2

Cooper Jipsen
Academic Archer
Score: 286
Tens: 17
HIGH Team #1
High School Boys Rank: 2
12th Grade Boys Rank: 1
Overall Boys Rank: 2

Carter Smith
Score: 279
Tens: 14
HIGH Team #1
High School Boys Rank: 7
11th Grade Boys Rank: 5
Overall Boys Rank: 9

Mariah Hadley
Academic Archer
Score: 277
Tens: 15
HIGH Team #1
High School Girls Rank: 6
9th Grade Girls Rank: 1
Overall Girls Rank: 9

Lee Houser
Academic Archer
Score: 274
Tens: 13
HIGH Team #1
High School Boys Rank: 13
12th Grade Boys Rank: 4
Overall Boys Rank: 22

Zane Berg
Academic Archer
Score: 273
Tens: 14
HIGH Team #1
High School Boys Rank: 15
12th Grade Boys Rank: 5
Overall Boys Rank: 24

Conner Johnson
Academic Archer
Score: 272
Tens: 11
HIGH Team #1
High School Boys Rank: 21
9th Grade Boys Rank: 3
Overall Boys Rank: 30

Dayna Dreager
Academic Archer
Score: 269
Tens: 11
HIGH Team #1
High School Girls Rank: 20
11th Grade Girls Rank: 6
Overall Girls Rank: 29

Koby Namanny
Academic Archer
Score: 266
Tens: 11
HIGH Team #1
High School Boys Rank: 31
12th Grade Boys Rank: 7
Overall Boys Rank: 49

Quincy Sorensen
Academic Archer
Score: 264
Tens: 7
HIGH Team #1
High School Girls Rank: 28
10th Grade Girls Rank: 10
Overall Girls Rank: 43

Isabelle Berg
Academic Archer
Score: 253
Tens: 6
HIGH Team #1
High School Girls Rank: 50
10th Grade Girls Rank: 13
Overall Girls Rank: 84

Josie Colton
Score: 245
Tens: 4
HIGH Team #1
High School Girls Rank: 65
11th Grade Girls Rank: 20
Overall Girls Rank: 112

Middle School Archers

Grant Petty
Score: 278
Tens: 14
MIDDLE Team #1
Middle School Boys Rank: 4
7th Grade Boys Rank: 1
Overall Boys Rank: 11

Katrina Williams
Score: 274
Tens: 15
MIDDLE Team #1
Middle School Girls Rank: 6
8th Grade Girls Rank: 5
Overall Girls Rank: 17

Jacoby Wood
Score: 267
Tens: 9
MIDDLE Team #1
Middle School Boys Rank: 15
6th Grade Boys Rank: 6
Overall Boys Rank: 45

Aubrey Graham
Score: 258
Tens: 14
MIDDLE Team #1
Middle School Girls Rank: 22
8th Grade Girls Rank: 15
Overall Girls Rank: 59

Hank Roberts
Score: 257
Tens: 8
MIDDLE Team #1
Middle School Boys Rank: 35
8th Grade Boys Rank: 16
Overall Boys Rank: 94

Rayden Wheeler
Score: 253
Tens: 9
MIDDLE Team #1
Middle School Boys Rank: 48
7th Grade Boys Rank: 19
Overall Boys Rank: 117

Lily Johnson
Score: 253
Tens: 4
MIDDLE Team #1
Middle School Girls Rank: 33
8th Grade Girls Rank: 20
Overall Girls Rank: 87

Madeline Blake
Score: 251
Tens: 4
MIDDLE Team #1
Middle School Girls Rank: 35
8th Grade Girls Rank: 22
Overall Girls Rank: 92

Michael Hocamp
Score: 240
Tens: 7
MIDDLE Team #1
Middle School Boys Rank: 72
7th Grade Boys Rank: 26
Overall Boys Rank: 170

Margaret McCurdy
Score: 233
Tens: 7
MIDDLE Team #1
Middle School Girls Rank: 56
8th Grade Girls Rank: 33
Overall Girls Rank: 137

Lily Willrich
Score: 233
Tens: 3
MIDDLE Team #1
Middle School Girls Rank: 58
7th Grade Girls Rank: 15
Overall Girls Rank: 140

Braden Wood
Score: 229
Tens: 3
MIDDLE Team #1
Middle School Boys Rank: 83
8th Grade Boys Rank: 40
Overall Boys Rank: 197