Critical Fire Danger Today…Strong winds NW @ 20-45 mph) and low relative humidity this afternoon will result in rapid spread of any fires that start, and the potential for uncontrollable fires.
343 AM CDT Wed Oct 14 2020; Area Counties: Cass-Audubon-Guthrie-Monona-Harrison-Shelby-Sac-Crawford and Carroll….

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR CRITICAL FIRE DANGER...

* Impacts…Any grassland and field fires that start this afternoon may spread rapidly and become uncontrollable.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Joni Ernst is suggesting those who warn President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee will help overturn Roe v Wade are overlooking a case Amy Coney Barrett has already ruled upon. Barrett was part of a three-judge panel that cited the precedent set by another ruling and upheld a Chicago ordinance banning abortion protesters from approaching people entering an abortion clinic. Ernst mentioned the case yesterday (Tuesday) during Barrett’s Senate confirmation hearing.

“In that case, using precedent, it did favor that abortion clinic — is that correct?” Ernst asked and Barrett replied: “That is correct.” Ernst read part of a letter from the Susan B. Anthony List, a group that opposes abortion. “Now I know this is going to make a number of members on the committee just very squeamish,” Ernst said before quoting from the letter. “…’Judge Barrett has proven herself to handle disputes impartially…She is a jurist who rightly leaves politics to politicians and legislating to legislators.'”

Ernst also used her time during yesterday’s (Tuesday’s) hearing to review her own complaints about how the Environmental Protection Agency has handled ethanol-related policies and to criticize Democrats over pandemic relief negotiations.

(Radio Iowa) – President Trump is scheduled to rally with supporters at the Des Moines Airport this (Wednesday) evening. Eric Branstad is a senior advisor to the president’s Iowa campaign:  “He wants to be record breaking and record setting for Iowa and Iowa farmers,” Branstad says, “and that’s exactly what he’s going to come and share and show us.” Branstad’s father, former Governor Terry Branstad, just resigned from his post as Trump’s Ambassador to China. The elder Branstad says with 19 days left, it’s important to finish the campaign strong.

“President Trump is coming back to Iowa,” Branstad said, “and Joe Biden isn’t.” Trump opponents have bought a billboard with the words, “Trump Covid Superspreader Event” above a giant arrow pointing at the entrance to the Des Moines airport, where the rally will be held.

The Rural America coalition that paid for the billboard says it’s irresponsible for Trump to hold a gathering for thousands in a state where Covid cases are rising.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

UNDATED (AP) — Hospitalizations, virus spread and deaths continue at high levels in Iowa on the eve of a campaign rally by President Donald Trump, where Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and thousands of other Trump supporters are expected to gather in defiance of the governor’s own emergency proclamation. The event also is expected to contradict guidance given by the White House Coronavirus Task Force to limit crowd sizes. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Megan Srinivas says the rally is “one of the riskiest things we can do in the setting of the pandemic.” Officials at Des Moines International Airport, where the event will be held inside a cargo hangar, have been told to plan for up to 10,000 people.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst has enthusiastically supported Donald Trump throughout his presidency. As Trump visits Iowa Wednesday, Ernst is finding her reelection bid tied directly to his in a state where the president’s support has eroded significantly as voters have harshly assessed his handling of the pandemic. Ernst is locked in a close race against Democratic challenger Theresa Greenfield. She is now balancing her support for Trump with a more moderate tone as Iowa voters show strong signs of returning to their decades-long swing-state form.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State budget experts say they expect state revenues to be about $1.9 million less than last year, revising their estimate to $7.91 billion. The forecasters also estimated Tuesday that the state will bring in about $319 million more for next year despite economic challenges from the coronavirus pandemic and a sagging farm economy. The estimate by the Revenue Estimating Conference for the upcoming year would equate to 4% revenue growth, giving the state about $8.23 billion to spend. The group by law must meet again in December and provide an estimate that Gov. Kim Reynolds must use to draft a budget.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is being forced to play Electoral College defense with a trip to Iowa, a state he won handily in 2016 but where Democrat Joe Biden is making a late push. Trump’s heavy travel this week, including his rally Wednesday in Des Moines, reflects his uphill climb three weeks before the election. He has already visited Pennsylvania and Florida and will head to another battleground state, North Carolina, that he likely can’t win without. Also on his schedule besides Iowa is Georgia, another state he once thought was in his grasp but where recent polling shows Biden improving.

[COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA, October 13, 2020] – Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Director Doug Reed, Tuesday, said “The current weather forecast and environmental conditions indicate a potential for very high to extreme fire behavior on Wednesday, October 14th through Saturday. This includes easy ignition potential and rapid fire spread. Conditions will slightly alleviate but remain high Thursday and Friday, degrading again on Saturday.”

Pott. County EMA

According to Reed, “Fire departments in Pottawattamie County have responded to two large cropland fires over the past week and ask for everyone’s compliance with the current Open Burning Ban. In addition, the Emergency Management Agency is asking all residents to discontinue the use of recreational fire pits, campfire rings, covered burn barrels, and any type of burning through the remainder of this week and weekend.”

“Pottawattamie County,” he said, “has seen the devastating effects of fire in extreme conditions, including firefighter injuries and loss of residential properties and other structures. We want to do everything we can to help prevent unnecessary injuries or devastating property losses from occurring.”

Violation of the existing burn ban, especially actions or negligence causing injury or property loss, can subject a person to citation or arrest for disobeying a burn ban, reckless use of fire, or other applicable statutes. For updated information on conditions you can find further information on the county’s social media, and web pages.

An Open Burning Ban will remain in place until environmental conditions improve.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State budget experts say they expect state revenues to be about $1.9 million less than last year, revising their estimate to $7.91 billion. The forecasters also estimated Tuesday that the state will bring in about $319 million more for next year despite economic challenges from the coronavirus pandemic and a sagging farm economy.

The estimate by the Revenue Estimating Conference for the upcoming year would equate to 4% revenue growth, giving the state about $8.23 billion to spend. The group by law must meet again in December and provide an estimate that Gov. Kim Reynolds must use to draft a budget.

It’s that time of year for the Cass County Conservation Board to once again ask you…”When do you think the first Trumpeter Swan will arrive at the Schildberg Quarry?” Call in your prediction (by November 11^th) to the Conservation Board, at 712-769-2372, leave a message and return phone number if their staff are not in.

A Trumpeter Swan (file photo)

Duplicate dates will not be allowed. For example, if a caller predicts November 25th, no one else will be allowed to predict that arrival date. So, call anytime until November 11th to make your prediction! One prediction per family, please.

The sponsors of this contest will determine the official arrival of more than 6 trumpeter swans to Lake 4. The winner will receive a Trumpeter Swan 8×10 print from the Cass County Conservation Board. Sorry, this contest is only for residents of Cass County.

Trumpeter Swans have visited the Schildberg Quarry for, at least, Twenty-one out of the last twenty-two winters. Arrival and departure dates of the swans have been as follows:

• 1997/1998 December 18 – January 2
• 1998/1999 Nothing on record
• 1999/2000 December 25 – February 15
• 2000/2001 November 23 – March 6
• 2001/2002 December 25 – February 24
• 2002/2003 November 23 – March 15
• 2003/2004 November 26 – March 21
• 2004/2005 November 25 – March 18
• 2005/2006 November 17 – March 5
• 2006/2007 October 30 – March 9
• 2007/2008 November 22- February 14
• 2008/2009 November 18- March 12
• 2009-2010 November 19 – January 5
• 2010-2011 November 5 – February 10
• 2011/2012 November 17 – February 21
• 2012/2013 November 24– March 4
• 2013/2014 November 12- April 7
• 2014/2015 November 11- April 6
• 2015/2016 November 22- March 24
• 2016/2017 November 19- March 9
• 2017/2018 November 9- March 20
• 2018/2019 November 11- January 23
• 2019/2020 November 8- March 3

Cass County Conservation is hosting their 6th Biennial Lighted Halloween Campground, Saturday October 24th at Cold Springs Park in Lewis, from 7-9 PM. The event is designed to be non-scary, Family Friendly, and FREE to drive into the night! Prizes will be for the top 3 voted sites, and for some special categories. Prizes are donated by event sponsor Cappel’s Ace Hardware. The event will be cancelled if there is inclement weather.

GREEN MOUNTAIN, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters in east-central Iowa say a rural church was destroyed in a fire sparked by an attempt to smoke out a wild animal that had gotten inside. Station WHO-TV reports that the Monday afternoon fire burned down the Chapel United Methodist Church near Green Mountain. Investigators say someone tried to get rid of an animal that had gotten inside the church using a smoke bomb, which started the fire.

Officials did not indicate what kind of animal had gotten inside. Fire officials say it took seven fire crews and several hours to fully extinguish the blaze. The church was first established in 1867,