(Atlantic ) – Officials with Cass County/ISU Extension and Outreach report applications are now being accepted for anyone interested in the Iowa Master Gardener training, which will be offered 100 percent online in the fall. The training is available to anyone with computer access and includes 17 online modules.

The move to online means that Iowans can participate in the full training from the comfort of their home, or anywhere a reliable internet connection is available. As the training is self-paced, participants can work through the book chapters and online materials at their own pace, on their own time, making the training more accessible to local residents with busy schedules.

A total of 17 educational modules will be offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, on topics that include houseplants, pollinators, vegetables, and perennial flowers. Each course module includes a book chapter, lecture video, online discussion board and a quiz. Through the online discussion board, trainees can connect to share ideas about how they plan to volunteer and what they are learning about different topics.

The Master Gardener program in Cass County is looking for people who are passionate about volunteering and gardening. No previous garden knowledge is required. The program equips participants to grow in knowledge about gardening best practices. After the training, Master Gardeners volunteer in their community, making contributions such as donating vegetables to food pantries, leading community beatification projects and maintaining demonstration gardens at local parks and county fairgrounds.

Iowa State has offered Master Gardener training since 1977, engaging more than 15,000 people in learning about gardening best practices. This year, the course is being offered online via the Canvas online learning system. In addition to the online workshops, Cass County Extension plans to offer several hands-on workshops for trainees throughout the fall so they can meet other local class members and gain hands-on experiences with class topics.

Applicants for the 2021 training must apply by Thursday, July 1. The online class begins in mid-August. Participants registering online will receive materials in the mail prior to the start of the course. Apply and learn more about the program online at www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener.

The fee for the training is $195 and covers all class materials. Because Master Gardener volunteers work with many community partners, applicants will also be required to successfully pass a background screen before being accepted into the program. At the end of the course, there is one open-book test that participants will need to pass to complete the course and receive their certificate.

After completion of the MG Training, participants have 13 months to complete 40 volunteer hours. Annually, Master Gardener status can be maintained with 20 volunteer hours per year and ten hours of continuing education. Cass County has an active Master Gardener group that participates in many projects throughout the year, so opportunities to learn and volunteer are plentiful! Examples of local Master Gardener volunteer projects include educational workshops and seminars, maintaining community parks and demonstration gardens, and donating fresh produce to food pantries.

Iowans who want professional development training for their job and who do not plan to volunteer can participate in the ProHort option, for a fee of $550. No background check is required for this option.

For more information, contact the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132, or email Cass County Extension Director and Master Gardner Coordinator Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu. Online program registration can be completed at www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener.

(Omaha) – Officials with the Nebraska/Iowa Regional Red Cross report, as the number of trauma cases, organ transplants and elective surgeries rises and depletes the nation’s blood supply, the American Red Cross is experiencing a severe blood shortage. While many people return to pre-pandemic activities and resume travel to visit loved ones, the Red Cross asks the public to remember the needs of patients this summer.

Over the last three months, the Red Cross has distributed about 75,000 more blood products to meet these needs, significantly decreasing our national blood supply. All blood types are needed, particularly type O, as well as platelets. With less than half a day supply of type O blood in recent weeks, there is an emergency need for type O donors.

Right now, hospitals are responding to an atypically high number of traumas and emergency room visits, as well as overdoses and resulting transplants. In comparison to 2019, the Red Cross has seen demand from trauma centers climb by 10% in 2021− more than five times the growth of other facilities that provide blood transfusions.

Patients need the help of the American people. Schedule an appointment to give blood now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

In most cases, those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine can donate. However, knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine they received is important in determining donation eligibility.

Red Cross Offers Tips to Stay Safe this Summer

The American Red Cross wants everyone to have a safe summer and offers tips and resources for the entire family.

Water Safety

Before going in, on or around the water, every family member should become “water smart.” This starts with learning to be safe, making good choices, and learning to swim to at least achieve the skills of water competency. To help keep everyone safe, the Red Cross offers these tips:

• Prevent unsupervised access to water. Fence pools and spas with adequate barriers and keep a constant eye for any water dangers such as portable splash pools/slides, buckets and bathtubs.
• Adults should actively supervise children and stay within arm’s reach of young children and new swimmers. Kids should follow the rules. Designate a “water watcher” to keep a close eye and constant attention on children and weaker swimmers in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over.
• Always wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when on a boat and if in a situation beyond someone’s skill level.
• Swim as a pair near a lifeguard’s chair — everyone, including experienced swimmers, should swim with a buddy even in areas supervised by lifeguards. Always maintain constant attention and actively supervise children even when lifeguards are present.
• Download the Red Cross Swim app, sponsored by The ZAC Foundation, for safety tips, kid-friendly videos and activities, and take the free Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers online course.

Grilling Safety

Grilling food is so popular that more than three-quarters of U.S. adults have used a grill — yet, grilling sparks more than 10,000 home fires on average each year. To avoid this, the Red Cross offers these grilling safety tips:

• Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use. Don’t add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.
• Never grill indoors — not in the house, camper, tent or any enclosed area.
• Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill.
• Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire.
• Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to help keep the chef safe.

Heat Safety

In recent years, excessive heat has caused more deaths than all other weather events. Be safe when temperatures go up by following these tips:

• Be aware of both the temperature and the heat index. The heat index is the temperature the body feels when the effects of heat and humidity are combined.

• Know those in your neighborhood who are elderly, young, sick or overweight. They are more likely to become victims of excessive heat and may need help.

• If you do not have air conditioning, choose places you could go to for relief from the heat during the warmest part of the day (schools, libraries, theaters, malls).

• Get trained in First Aid to learn how to treat heat-related emergencies.

• Ensure that your animals’ needs for water and shade are met.

• Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles.

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.

• Eat small meals and eat more often.

• Avoid extreme temperature changes.

• Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.

• Postpone outdoor games and activities.

• Take frequent breaks if you must work outdoors.

Accidents and Emergencies Happen

The Red Cross has several resources to help people learn how to treat bee stings, burns and heat emergencies including online and in-person training courses, a free First Aid app and a First Aid Skill for Amazon Alexa-enabled devices.

(Updated) TRAER, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety report, on Friday, June 18th, at approximately 4:35 a.m., the Tama County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from an occupant of the Ryan Cooper residence located at 1846 K Avenue Traer, Iowa.  Upon arrival, law enforcement found Ryan Cooper deceased.

The State Medical Examiner says that it was a homicide by gunshot wound. Authorities said there is no threat to the community at this time. The Tama County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Division of Criminal Investigation with the investigation.

The broadcast News at 8:06-a.m. from Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The latest area news (at 7:05-a.m.) from Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Radio Iowa) – The new Miss Iowa was recently crowned at the pageant in Davenport and says she is still getting used to the title. Twenty-two-year-old Grace Keller is a native of Illinois, who just graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism. She says she fell in love with Iowa when searching for a college. “I always say that I was born and raised in Illinois and that was great to have that be my home. But, Iowa was the home that I got to choose. And I really got to see a lot of places and settled on Iowa because of that Iowa nice and the sense of community that we have here,” Keller says. Keller says she had been involved in pageants several years ago but had taken a break to be a college student. She decided to compete again, in part, because the Miss America program is a large scholarship program and she was low on funds.

She says she really wanted to just go and have fun and perform her talent, which is dance, with the hope of winning some scholarship money. Keller’s Social Impact initiative is to promote literacy in kindergarten thru third grade. She says she is passionate to promote the cause.  “I want to be that person for those people all across Iowa who are just looking for a mentor or an inspire to really push them into that love, so that they can reach those benchmarks and set themselves up for success later in their education,” she says. The new Miss Iowa is still getting used to the idea of the title — and says she still was not anticipating earning the title even after she was in the final two on the stage.

Miss Iowa

She says she was proud to even get first-runnerup. “And then they announced me as the winner. And I think in that moment I was like are they sure, is this actually happening? And then the Miss Iowa who was passing on her title came over and gave me a hug and that’s when I realized oh my gosh this actually happened, they called me up the winner,” Keller says. Keller had taken a position with a start-up podcast company and will go back to that. She says she’s excited to represent the state and meet people across Iowa.

Several areas of Cass County received hail Friday night into early Saturday morning. The hail ranged in size from dimes to larger than golf balls. In Atlantic, hail fell at the KJAN Studios at around 11:30-p.m. Power was lost in the Massena area and south for a brief time. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department said Deputies noticed utility crews out and about during and after the storm.

The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency posted pictures of the hail on their Facebook page. The National Weather Service in Des Moines began posting Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for parts of Union and Madison Counties at around 10-p.m.

Crop damage in Montgomery County (Via the Montgomery EMA’s Facebook page)

The storm cells began to back fill and pop-up to the west, into Cass, Adams, Mills, Montgomery and Pottawattamie Counties, and then pushed eastward at speeds of 30-to 40-mph.

Montgomery County EMA photo

The National Weather Service in Des Moines and Valley Nebraska, shared social media images of three-inch diameter hail that fell in Lorimor in Union County at around 10:40-p.m., Friday. Irregular hail up to four-inches in diameter fell in and around Bridgewater. Golf-ball size hail was reported near Orient in Adair County, at around 10:05-p.m.

NWS social media shared post of hail near Lorimor

Other reports include:

• At around 11:35-p.m., hail as large as tennis balls (2.5″ diameter) fell near Carson, in Pottawattamie County.
• Ping-pong to golf ball sized hail was reported 4 miles west of Grant, in Montgomery County, with some hail stones larger than golf balls.
• 1 3/4″ hail fell in Oakland.
• Thunderstorm wind damage in Templeton (Carroll County), where  a large tree fell on a house and garage, several power lines fell, and a flag pole was knocked over. Some of the fallen trees had limbs ranging from two-to-six inches in diameter.
• Near Manilla, a tree fell and blocked Highway 141 for a time, east of Highway 59.
  

  Hail that fell near Oakland and Carson (NWS/Omaha photo)

• In Sac County, numerous 3-to-6 inch diameter trees fell down across Schaller, and a 12-inch diameter tree was snapped off and just missed a home. Dime to quarter-size hail was also reported.
• 60 mph winds were recorded at a personal weather station six-miles southwest of Gray, in Audubon County.
• 62 mph winds were noted by a person with a personal weather station2-miles south of Willey, in Carroll County.

Atlantic Police, Friday afternoon, released a report detailing numerous arrests that have taken place since May 31st. In order from newest to oldest arrest dates:

• 06/17/2021 – 21-year old Kyle Confere, of Atlantic, was arrested for Extortion and Violation of a No Contact Order.
• 06/13/2021 – 23-year-old Levi Reining, of Remsen, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts.
• 06/10/21 – 21-year-old Gaven Fell-Nichols, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Reckless Driving.; And, 27-year-old Benser Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication.
• 06/07/21 – 52-year-old Edward Davenport, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Theft 1st.
• 06/02/21 – 26-year-old Nicholas Renner, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred.
• May 31st – 35-year-old Christopher Castillo, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred.

All seven subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail. As of Friday afternoon, Confere remained in the jail, while the rest were released after appearing before a magistrate.

(Updated) The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests and a multiple injury accident. Authorities say the accident happened at around 2:30-p.m. Tuesday, June 15th. An investigation determined a 2020 Chevrolet driven by 53-year-old Amy Miller, of Shenandoah, was traveling east on Highway 34, when a 2007 GMC driven by 81-year-old Eduardo Mujica, of Omaha, pulled away from a stop sign on Levi Road. Authorities say he saw the approaching Chevy, but misjudged the distance.

The Chevy struck the driver’s side of the GMC, causing both driver’s side doors to be pushed into the cabin area. Following the collision, the Chevy came to rest in the median. The GMC continued across the east and westbound lanes before coming to rest in the north ditch of the westbound lanes. Mujica and a juvenile in the GMC were transported by Glenwood Rescue to Mercy Hospital. Two passengers in the Chevy, 79-year-old Kenneth and 80-year-old Lois Debaere, of Shenandoah, were also transported to Mercy by Glenwood Rescue.

Separately, those arrested over the past few days, include:

• On Thursday, June 17th, Samson Aregawi Alem – of Issaquah, WA – was arrested following a traffic stop on I-29 at around 4:50-a.m., for Carrying a Weapon and Theft in the 4th Degree – Bond: $3,000.
• On Friday, June 18th, at around 12:13-a.m., two people were arrested following a traffic stop on I-29 in Mills County: 37-year-old Gwen Marie Vanderhoof, of Clarinda, and 32-year-old Stuart Duane Haley, of Villisca, were both arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance. Their bonds were set at $1,000 each.