(Bedford, IA) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a public meeting beginning at 6-p.m. on March 4th, at the Bedford Community School. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss an upcoming alum treatment to improve water quality at Lake of Three Fires, in Taylor County. The Iowa DNR will present an overview of the proposed treatments and how this treatment will help reduce the frequency and intensity of harmful algae blooms (or HABs) in the lake.

Alum (aluminum sulfate) is a nontoxic substance used in everything from cooking to treatment of drinking water, and is commonly used to reduce phosphorus concentrations in lakes. Phosphorus is a key nutrient for algae growth, and stems from runoff in the watershed. While much of the phosphorus that ends up in a lake is buried in the lake sediments, under the right environmental conditions, phosphorus can also be recycled within the lake, being released from the lake sediments when bottom waters have no oxygen.

These “internal releases” of phosphorus often fuel large algae blooms, especially in the late summer and early fall. When applied to a lake, alum binds with the phosphorus in the water and settles as a thin flocculant on the lake bottom, where it will continue to inactivate phosphorus being released from the sediments. This process can significantly reduce the likelihood of HABs, which can be harmful to the ecosystem and limit recreation.

Lake of Three Fires has experienced several significant HABs over the past few years and generally has poor water clarity. Several research efforts have shown that watershed inputs and internal phosphorus recycling are driving these blooms, and that a series of alum applications will likely help alleviate the frequency and duration of HABs.

The alum will be applied using specialized barges over a period of two weeks, depending on weather conditions, between April 1 and May 15. During this time, lake users may see boats, barges, heavy trucking equipment, and storage tanks around the park that are being utilized to complete the application. There should be minimal disruption to regular activities on the water and the application window was selected to minimize interference with spring fishing activities. DNR asks that you maintain a safe distance from the equipment to allow the crews to work efficiently and will have staff on hand to monitor the application. No swimming or boating restrictions are anticipated.

This treatment is one part of a broader effort to continue to improve water quality and recreational opportunities at Lake of Three Fires. An additional treatment is slated for this fall.

For more information, contact Michelle Balmer, Lake Restoration Program Coordinator, at michelle.balmer@dnr.iowa.gov, or 515-238-2458, or Andy Jansen, Fisheries Biologist, at andy.jansen@dnr.iowa.gov or 641-464-3108.

(Atlantic, IA) – The Cass County 4-H Endowment committee is hosting the annual 4-H Endowment Pancake Supper on Tuesday, March 3 from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic. The Pancake Man will be dishing up fresh pancakes while 4-H members serve sausage, milk, juice, and coffee. The public is welcome can enjoy all you can eat pancakes, at a cost of $10/adult and $6/youth 10 & under.

There will also a silent auction going on throughout the evening. The local 4-H clubs in Cass County, as well as additional friends of 4-H and local business supporters can donate items. If a community business is interested in supporting the Pancake Supper with a Silent Auction donation, please contact the Extension Office.

Cass County 4-H members help serve drinks at the 2025 Annual Cass County 4-H Endowment Pancake Supper. Left to Right: Hunter Kardell, Lynsie Kardell, Gentry Waters.

Members of Griswold Clubsters 4-H Club help clean tables, replace placemats, fill water and coffee cups along with refilling syrup bottles at the 2025 Annual Cass County 4-H Endowment Pancake Supper. Left to Right: Sawyer Chambers, Blaine Buffington.

“The silent auction is a fun added activity to the event. When we make final announcements about closing down bidding, people and pens really get to moving!” says Katie Bateman, Cass County Youth Coordinator. “We will be featuring the baskets on our Cass County 4-H and Extension social media pages ahead of the event. Be sure to check out the previews and make plans to bid on your favorites!”

Proceeds from the 4-H Pancake Supper directly benefit the Cass County 4-H Program. All funds raised go to the Cass County 4-H Endowment. Our committee then distributes money to cover the 4-H Program Development Fee for all Cass County 4-H and Clover Kid members, financial aid for out of county events, senior scholarships, and start-up dollars for innovative youth programs.

The 4-H Program Development Fee is $40 per youth each year to enroll. Instead of having individual 4-H’ers and families take on that expense, the Cass County Extension Council and the 4-H Endowment Committee pick up this cost for our members. It is free for youth to join 4-H in Cass County because of this. “We are very fortunate in Cass County that our 4-H Endowment covers this cost for all members. That would not be possible for us to continue without the outstanding support from our community.” stated Bateman.

For more information on the Pancake Supper, Cass County 4-H Endowment or how to join 4-H, contact Katie Bateman, Cass County Youth Coordinator, at 712-243-1132 or kbateman@iastate.edu.

(Radio Iowa) – U-S Senate candidate Zach Wahls — a Democrat from Coralville — says President Trump’s tariff policies are absolutely devastating for Iowa. And Wahls says Congresswoman Ashley Hinson — the leading Republican in the race for Iowa’s U-S Senate seat — has been a rubber stamp for Trump’s trade tactics. “And it is incredibly irresponsible that Ashley Hinson has consistently voted for a tariff policy that is hurting our state,” Wahls says.

Earlier this month Hinson voted against a resolution in the U.S. House that called for ending U.S. tariffs against Canada. “I think that Ashley Hinson chose to go with her party and with Donald Trump over what was best for Iowa,” Wahls says. After Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down many of the tariffs Trump imposed last year, Hinson said Trump is seeking to level the playing field for American farmers, workers and businesses — and Hinson said her priority is making sure those efforts translate into real results for Iowa.

Wahls spoke with Radio Iowa Sunday, after Trump announced he’s imposing a 15 percent global tariff under a law the U-S Supreme Court had not yet reviewed. “The Trump/Hinson tariff taxes are making life unaffordable for Iowans who are in the middle class, who are working class, for Iowans who are retired,” Wahls said. “They are destroying jobs in manufacturing. They are devastating the farm economy.” Wahls says that’s the exact opposite of an “America First” agenda.

Wahls, a state senator, faces state Representative Josh Turek of Council Bluffs in the Democratic Party’s U.S. Senate Primary June 2nd.

(Radio Iowa) – During a visit to the Iowa Beef Expo this weekend, Republican Randy Feenstra repeated his promise to make Iowa the most ag-friendly state in the country if he’s elected governor.

Feenstra was at the Beef Expo to visit with junior high student Colton Griffin from Moville. Feenstra first met Colton five years ago after one of the boy’s eight-year-old classmates died. Colton led the entire second grade class in showing the girl’s calf at the Woodbury County Fair. “Ever since we get together when he’s showing and today he did great,” Feenstra said. “He got second in show.” Feenstra said he’ll start showing details of his own policy proposals for state government soon. “We’ll roll out more specific ideas,” Feenstra said. “…That’ll come out here in the next several months.”

In answer to a Radio Iowa question, Feenstra said as governor he would sign a bill to shield the makers of Roundup from lawsuits over the product’s safety if the label follows E-P-A guidelines. “I’m all about science and facts,” Feenstra said. President Trump issued an executive order last week that seeks to provide some legal immunity to Bayer’s — Roundup’s manufacturer — under the Defense Production Act and ensure an adequate U-S supply of Roundup’s main ingredient, glyphosate.

That’s sparked criticism from the Make American Healthy Again movement within the president’s Make America Great Again coalition. Feenstra says the focus should be on the facts about glyphosate. “I think it’s always good to have this great discussion of what is safe and what is reliable and what makes sense and that’s what I’ll do as governor,” Feenstra said. “I’ll make sure we look at all the facts and make the right decisions from there.” Feenstra, who will remain a member of the U-S House for the rest of the year, also responded to President Trump’s latest plan to impose 15 percent tariffs globally.

“I just believe that congress has to work with President Trump to hold countries accountable, but also make sure we that have more markets for our beef, soybeans, corn and things like that,” Feenstra said. “I sit on Ways and Means, I also sit on Agriculture — the only person who sits on both, and we understand how important it is not to get checks, but to get more open markets. We want more markets for our commodities.” Feenstra also indicated a bill that would resolve the dispute between the oil and ethanol industries will be released later today that would allow E-15 to be sold year-round.

(Harlan, IA) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports a snowmobile accident claimed the life of a man late Saturday night or early this (Sunday) morning. Authorities were notified at around 12:15-a.m. about the accident that had occurred along Highway 191, south of Portsmouth.

Responders from Portsmouth Fire and Rescue, the Shelby County Ambulance Service, and Shelby County Sheriff’s Department arrived on the scene to find a snowmobile and rider submerged in a creek. The rider – identified as 64-year-old Scott Gau, of Portsmouth – was removed from the icy water and pronounced deceased.

His body was transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny, where an autopsy will be conducted.

(Adair, IA) – The Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center Boards of Education will hold their joint monthly session beginning at 7-p.m. Monday, Feb 23rd, in the AC/GC Junior High Media Center.

On their joint agenda, is a report from Superintendent Josh Rasmussen, who is expected to inform the Boards that he and High School Principal Cody Matthewson will review the applicants for Head Football Coach and Activities Director this week, and line-up interviews. Interviews with Principals will take place at the end of the first or second week of March, from candidates recommended by the Grundmeyer Leadership Services search firm.

Earlier this month, Matthewson announced he would be leaving AC/GC as the school’s Principal and Football Head Coach. This past Wednesday, Van Meter’s School Board approved Matthewson’s new positions as the Bulldog’s Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator for the football team, and Head Coach of Boys Track and PE teacher.

The Boards will act on setting a date in March for a Public Hearing on the 2026-27 Proposed Tax Rates, and March 18th at 7-p.m. in the AC/GC High School Media Center, as the date & time for a Public Hearing on the 2026-27 School Calendar They are also expected to approve the one-year renewal of a Whole Grade Sharing Agreement, with some changes, as well as a 1st Semester Whole Grade Sharing Invoice, and 1st Reading of the Wellness Policies, as part of an annual review.

Separately, the Guthrie Center School Board will act on approving the following resignations: Dan Wetzel – Paraprofessional; Marvin Christensen – Elem. Custodian; Jayne Rouse – School Counselor; Cody Matthewson – HS Principal/Head Football Coach. And they are expected to approve Contract Recommendations for:

• Paraprofessionals: Mei Riordan; Jasmine Sandoval; and CJ Powders.
• Alaina Bunde – PK Teacher.
• Michelle Halbur – Business Office Asst.
• Ashlyn Naeve – ELA Teacher.
• Zack Leeper – HS SPED Teacher.
• Jameson Pfrang, Joe Bennett, & Cameron Mozingo – Substitute Custodians.

The Guthrie Center Board will also act on the purchase of a 2024 Chevy Express Van w/31,000 miles, from Bob Brown Chevrolet, in the amount of $42,500. The van comes with a 60k powertrain warranty. They will also act on approving a sound system upgrade for the high school gym from Vibes Audio, as presented. The update will be paid for through the PPEL fund. Superintendent Rasmussen noted in his agenda comments, that Vibes Audio has a personal connection to Guthrie Center.

(Red Oak, IA) – Sheriff’s Deputies in Montgomery County report a woman was arrested at around 9:30-p.m. Saturday, following an investigation into a physical altercation in Villisca. Authorities say 31-year-old Destiny Dawn McCuen, of Villisca, was taken into custody for Simple Assault – a simple misdemeanor.

McCuen was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the U-S Supreme Court has provided SOME clarity on the extent of the president’s power to impose tariffs. “I have said repeatedly congress needs to reassert its role (to) regulate interstate and foreign commerce,” Grassley said. Today’s (Friday’s) decision was silent on whether refunds must be issued, however, and there are likely to be separate rulings on that issue.

Grassley says Trump is a skilled negotiator and he’s urging Trump to continue making trade deals. “And while the president’s doing that, to work with congress to secure long term enforcement measures to provide broad market opportunities for farmers and businesses,” Grassley said. After Grassley spoke with reporters on his weekly conference call, Trump announced he would impose a temporary 10 percent worldwide tariff under a law that’s different from the one addressed in the Supreme Court ruling.

Ryan Marquardt, who raises cattle in Madison County, spoke during an online news conference organized by the Iowa Democratic Party.  “It’s kind of his thing it tariffs and it’s kind of the only thing he’s tried to run on,” Marquardt said, “and it hasn’t done much for us at all.” Berleen Wobeter and her husband raise corn, soybeans and cattle in Tama County. “Tariffs are a tool, so they can be used sometimes,” Grassley said. “A trade deficit is not necessarily a huge problem and he just has his own take on all this.”

Senator Grassley was a member of the U.S. House in 1977 when congress passed the law on tariffs Trump had been using, but Trump’s new round of tariffs are based on a law passed three years earlier. Last April, Grassley proposed a new law that would see any new tariffs imposed by a president expire if congress didn’t approve of the tariffs within 60 days. “And remember, congress always has to work with the president to get things done,” Grassley said. “I look forward to a cooperative working relationship with the president as we move forward.”

No other member of Iowa’s congressional delegation has commented publicly on today’s (Friday’s) Supreme Court decision. Zach Wahls and Josh Turek — the two Iowa Democrats running for the U-S Senate — says Trump’s tariffs have caused chaos for Iowa farmers, businesses and consumers and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson has failed to push back against Trump’s actions. Hinson is the leading Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate.

Rob Sand, the leading Democratic candidate for governor, points to a recent report from the U.S. Senate Joint Economic Committee that found the average Iowa family has paid 13-hundred dollars in higher costs due to tariffs.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa D-O-T is working to clear off state roadways following the snowstorm that moved across the state Thursday. Winter Operations director Craig Bargfrede says the timing of the storm created issues for crews. “The storm coming in late afternoon into the evening hours last night. It was a heavier, wetter snow, really slushy, and then there’s the normal issues with traffic,” he says. Bargfrede says temperatures dropped down into the teens, which added another variable to the work.

“Along with the type of snow, wet, heavy, slushy snow that we got, it froze up and so our treatment strategies, obviously salt is not as effective when we get down into those temperatures. So we’re doing a lot of scraping and a lot of plowing and treating as we can,” he says. “The best thing is the sun is out, so hopefully we can get some power from the sun to help us in doing some of the melting.” Bargfrede says the snow was heavy along the main storm path.

“If you draw a diagonal, basically from the Council Bluffs area going through Ames up to the Waterloo area, up to Decorah, that whole corridor, that line is still 100 percent snow and ice covered,” Bargfrede says. “And so that’s the area as well that got the heaviest amounts of snow. We’ve been getting reports of anywhere from six to eight plus inches and and even higher that in certain segments or certain areas.”

The National Weather Service has reports of ten to 15 inches of snow in north-central Iowa. Bargfrede says there are some towing bans in central Iowa, while the northwestern and southeastern corners of the state have normal winter conditions. He says clear skies should help them clear off the ice and snow. “As the sun gets out, hopefully we can use between the sun and the treatment that we put out there, we’ll be able to break through and get us back down to a bare pavement fairly quickly,” he says.

Bargfrede says another frustration is drivers not adjusting to the conditions. Bargfrede says another frustration is drivers not adjusting to the conditions. He says around the Council Bluffs area yesterday evening there where multiple cars and semis were involved accidents, he says were brought on by people traveling too fast for the conditions. Bargfrede says some plow trucks got hit as they worked across the state.

“Travelers just basically drive right into the back of our trucks, not slowing down and not really paying attention. So they’re driving distracted, they’re not realizing that they’re closing on our Iowa D-O-T plow truck as quickly as they are. And the video tells it all. I mean, you can just see the vehicle just drive right into the back of us,” Bargfrede says.

Bargfrede says drivers need to get back into safe winter driving mode and slow down whenever conditions change.