(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

(Radio Iowa)  – Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne says “urgent” action in congress is necessary to address the lack of competition in the meatpacking industry. The CEOs of the four companies that control 80% of the beef processing in America testified at a House Ag Committee hearing this week. Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, is a member of the committee.

“Today consumers are literally paying more for their beef, producers are getting less for their cattle and yet your four companies net income has reached record highs,” Axne said during the hearing. A Missouri man testified that he’d contemplated suicide because of the prices he’s getting for his cattle. That prompted Axne to recite the phone number for the national suicide hotline.

“The sad part is I’m sitting here at a hearing for our cattle producers, having to put out information like that, because it’s so rough on our producers in Iowa and in other places to get ahead,” Axne said.

The president of the Montana Cattlemen’s Association told Axne concentration in the meatpacking industry has made rural America “a slum.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors visited with Sue Liston, owner of Imagine, on Thursday, April 28th, 2022, to celebrate the Grand Opening of her Garden Gift Store located just outside of Atlantic at Zellmer Century Farm. Chamber officials say Sue Liston and her husband took ownership of the family farm in early 2021 when Sue’s mother passed away. Sue has many fond memories of the farm and wants to share the unique experiences farm life bring to help families make memories of their own.

Photo and story submitted

Sue has big plans for the property, and the first project, a greenhouse gift shop, has been completed and will celebrate with an event for families on Mother’s Day weekend. On Saturday, May 7th, from 9AM to 2PM, families are invited to the farm to create gifts for the special women in their life.

Sue has worked tirelessly to fill the greenhouse with unique gifts by using antique, vintage, and repurposed items. The gift can be a terrarium, fairy garden, or a special planter for indoors or out. Imagine at Zellmer Century Farm specializes in providing the customer with something special to add to any project to make it one of a kind. Starting May 4th, the Garden Giftshop will be open on Wednesdays 10AM-4PM, Thursday 11AM-6PM, Friday 10AM-4PM, and Saturday 9AM-2PM.

Imagine at Zellmer Century Farm is located at 57053 Highland Road outside of Atlantic. To learn more about the Garden Giftshop, call 630-660-5661 or visit them at https://www.zellmercenturyfarm.com/

(Radio Iowa) – The governors of Iowa and seven other Midwestern states are asking federal regulators to approve year-round E-15 sales in their states. Governor Kim Reynolds, along with the governors of the Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Kansas signed a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency, seeking a waiver to permanently allow gasoline with 15 percent ethanol to be sold during the summer months in their states.

“To really help sustain and grow an industry that’s really important first of all to our economy and to farmers where 50 percent of the corn goes to our ethanol plants and it’s a lower cost fuel,” Reynolds says. “As we’re seeing skyrocketing gas prices, check the price at the pump. It’s a good deal.”

Clean Air Act rules prohibit the sale of E-15 from the beginning of June through the middle of September in several states. As President Biden announced at an Iowa ethanol plant earlier this month, the E-P-A is allowing E-15 to be sold nationwide this summer to lower gas prices — but it’s a one-year waiver.