(Radio Iowa) – The Siouxland Habitat for Humanity chapter has started the construction of its first home in Hawarden. Siouxland Habitat for Humanity Director, Anne Holmes, says there’s a great need for safe and affordable housing, and that Hawarden has welcomed them with open arms. They held a groundbreaking late last week where home recipient Heather Sabin was on hand. She says she’s excited to get all the help from the community, and most of all is excited for her kids to be able to grow up in the home.

Holmes says Heather Sabin’s enthusiasm and gratitude is overwhelming saying Sabin is the kind of person when you’re having a down day all you have to do is call her and her family up and just listen to the excitement in their voices, she says it automatically fills your bucket. Sabin says she can’t wait for one thing. “To move in…start new memories for my kids. It’ll be good,” she says. Sioux County Habitat for Humanity Director Kurt Franje is excited to be building a home in a new community He says they are “super excited” to be able to start another home and share God’s lover with one another.

This is the first time Sioux County Habitat is building two houses in the same year. Franje says he wasn’t sure how it would work out — but the other home in Hull is ready for the sheetrock to be taped. “That one is in a very good spot and we’ll be able to start this one and get it started before winter, there’s plenty of time to do that,” Franje says.

Sioux County Habitat for Humanity has plans to build another second home in Alton next year, and they’re working with city officials in Hospers to possibly build one there in 2022. Franje says they could use more volunteers — and anyone interested in helping with the Hawarden project can contact Siouxland Habitat for Humanity through their website: siouxlandhabitat.org, or through their Facebook page, or call the Hawarden City Office.

(Radio Iowa) – A rare bird has been spotted in northern Iowa. Erich Gilbert, assistant manager at the Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge near Titonka, says there’s a partial albino among the Canada geese that have settled in for the past few weeks.”It looks almost like a ghost or a hologram,” he says. It’s the time of year for Canadian geese to molt — lose their feathers. Albino birds are rarely found in the wild.  “They say that birders — someone who is a bird watcher — is likely to see this maybe a couple of times in their lifetime, but it may be a cardinal, it may be a sparrow, it may be any kind of bird,” Gilbert says. “It is quite rare, but if you’re a bird watcher, you’re likely to see one at some point.”

Gilbert says the albino goose is visible from the county highway passes along the south end of the refuge. Gilbert can see sandhill cranes in a shallow area right across from his office. “They nested here for the third year in a row,” Gilbert says. “Three years ago they nested here for the first time in at least 100 years, probably more than that.”  The drought has made the refuge more attractive to birds.

“Most birds actually like water that’s knee deep or less and some of them actually like water that’s like a half inch deep or even a mud flat, so those shallow water depths aren’t a great problem for birds…but eventually we are looking forward to the rain returning,” Gilbert says. “Hopefully what’ll happen is we’ll get some rain here late summer or early fall and we’ll get things filled back up here for the fall.”

Automobiles may start driving on the tour route through the refuge on August 1st. It’s open to the public from sunrise until sunset through September 20th. The driving route starts at the Refuge Headquarters, which is six miles east of Bancroft. Gilbert says there are all sorts of birds, including ducks, trumpeter swans, great blue herons and pelicans, at the refuge and the best time to see them is in the early morning or evening hours, when the temperatures are cooler and the birds are most active.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds, Friday, announced appointments to Iowa’s boards and commissions.

The following appointments (featuring area residents) are subject to Senate confirmation (Name/County):

• Board of Nursing Home Administrators:  Cindy Dozark, Crawford
• State Board of Education: Rod Bradley, Crawford

The following appointments are not subject to Senate confirmation:

• Advisory Council on Brain Injuries: Andrea Gomez, Page
• Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council: Roxanne Cogil, Guthrie
• Iowa Council on Homelessness: Brandy Wallar, Pottawattamie
• Juvenile Justice Advisory Council: Patrick Garcia, Pottawattamie
• Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee: Chris Larson, Cass
• State Historical Society of Iowa Board of Trustees: Dawn Meyer, Carroll
• State Soil Conservation and Water Quality Committee: Judy Loonan, Adams
• Vocational Rehabilitation Council: Daryn Richardson, Pottawattamie.

The broadcast News at 7:05-a.m., from Ric Hanson.

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Saturday’s schedule

8:00 A.M………………………………………..Sheep Show
8:00 A.M……………………………………….4–H/FFA Exhibits Open
8:30 A.M………………………………………Herd Dog Trials
10:00 A.M……………………………………..Pet Show
11:00 A.M……………………………………..Meat Goat/Dairy Goat Show
12:00 P.M………………………………………Working Exhibits, Ed. Pres., Extemp. Speaking
3:00 P.M………………………………………Livestock Judging Contest
4:00 P.M……………………………………….Youth Water Fights
6:00 P.M……………………………………….Tractor Pulls

Sunday’s Schedule
7:30 A.M………………………………………..Swine Show
8:30 A.M………………………………………Tractor Ride
10:00 A.M…………………………………………Poultry Show
10:00 A.M……………………………………..4–H/FFA Exhibits Open
12:00 P.M–4:00 P.M……………………………Decorator’s Showcase
12:00 P.M.–3:00 P.M…………………………..Tractor Display
2:30 P.M. ……………………………………..Pedal Tractor Pull
3:00 P.M.–3:30 P.M……………………………Feeder Calf Weigh–in
4:30 P.M………………………………………County Fair Church Service
5:30 P.M………………………………………Cow/Calf Show
6:00 P.M………………………………………Feeder Calf Show
6:30 P.M……………………………………….Horse Fun Show
7:00 PM……………………………………….Golf Cart Races

DES MOINES - Iowa Governor Reynolds, Friday, announced members of the Agriculture and Energy Working Groups of the Carbon Sequestration Task Force.  On June 22^nd, Governor Reynolds signed Executive Order 9 launching a task force to explore carbon sequestration and the opportunities it presents for further economic development in the state of Iowa. 

“Iowa is a recognized leader in renewable fuel and food production, making us a natural place to capitalize on the growing nationwide demand for a more carbon free economy,” said Gov. Reynolds. “I’m proud to expand our carbon sequestration task force with additional members centered around two main working groups. I know they will hit the ground running and I look forward to working alongside them to drive economic growth and sustainability in energy and agriculture production.”  

The Carbon Sequestration Task Force, chaired by Gov. Reynolds, will be supported by two working groups focused on Agriculture and Energy. Members of the working groups are comprised of diverse subject matter experts and stakeholders representing industries and interests integral to the carbon sequestration supply chain in the state of Iowa.  

ALTOONA, Iowa — Prairie Meadows in Altoona announced Friday it is resuming its mask mandate. The casino and race track facility said effective Aug. 1 at 8 a.m., all guests and employees must wear a face mask or covering while on property.“Prairie Meadows will continue to do their part to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” the casino said through a news release. Prairie Meadows said 100% of the indoor air is exchanged every 15 minutes through a two-stage filtration process that includes an anti-microbial treatment.

High-grade disinfectants and electrostatic sprayers are used on a rigorous cleaning schedule to sanitize the property daily. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its mask guidance on Tuesday to recommend that fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors when in areas with “substantial” and “high” transmission of COVID-19, which includes nearly two-thirds of all U.S. counties.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of a fallen Pearl Harbor sailor being returned home. U.S. Navy Hospital Apprentice First Class John Mulick was killed at Pearl Harbor during World War II. After 80 years, he will return home to Elma to be laid to rest. Reynolds has ordered flags be lowered to half staff today (Saturday), from sunrise to sunset. The graveside service is being held at 11 a.m. today (Saturday) at Calvary Cemetery in Elma.

Firefighters from Cumberland and Massena were paged-out to a residence in Massena early this (Saturday) morning, after the home was struck by lightning. The first page went out at around 2:45-a.m., after the house at 88 E. Cedar Street was hit. The residents reported smoke, but no flames.

Additional information is currently not available.