Emergency Management Agency officials in Audubon and Shelby Counties have been granted permission by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, to institute a ban on open burning, effective 3-p.m. May 14th, and until further notice. The ban in Shelby County includes the City of Harlan. A burn ban is also in effect for Pottawattamie County, until further notice.

The City of Audubon’s burn pile is CLOSED until further notice. If you have something that needs to go to the burn pile, you may call 712-563-3269 to make arrangements.

The ban is in-place due to the combination of low humidity, anticipated high winds, and dry vegetation. More information on what restrictions are in effect can be found at https://dps.iowa.gov/divisions-iowa-department-public-safety/iowa-state-fire-marshal-division/state-fire-marshal-division-general-information

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s largest non-profit animal shelter is seeing an upturn in cases of canine parvovirus, a highly-contagious infection that can be fatal to dogs. Dr. M.C. Cates, director of Veterinary Medical Services at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says the fast-spreading disease can quickly become deadly, even with treatment, so immediate veterinary care is critical for dogs or puppies showing any in a series of symptoms.

“This vomiting is very persistent. We’re talking about multiple times a day, and it’s usually coupled with something else,” Cates says, “so we’re also seeing very persistent diarrhea, behavior changes such as weakness, depression, lethargy, loss of appetite.”

The Des Moines-based shelter is urging dog and puppy owners to make sure their pets are up to date on vaccinations and to take other precautions to keep their dogs safe. “Not going to public areas shared by dogs, so we’re talking about dog parks, boarding facilities, dog-friendly patios, those types of things,” Cates says, “just because it’s a very hardy virus. It can be very challenging to disinfect an area and get rid of the virus once it’s been introduced into an environment.”

ARL of Iowa photo

The virus spreads through contact with infected dogs or through contaminated surfaces like food and water bowls, shoes, clothing, and even the ground. Cates says the “parvo” virus is extremely resilient. “A dog that’s shedding the virus uses the bathroom at a park, and it could stay out in the environment for months,” Cates says. “It’s hard to say how many dogs could be infected just by coming in contact with contaminated surfaces.”

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the disease, Cates says, and the parvovirus vaccine is included in a combination vaccine recommended for all dogs. “Puppies need more vaccines than adults, so it’s really important to adhere to the vaccine schedule,” she says, “just because of their immune system and how it kind of grows with them as they age.”

Cates says the ARL offers low-cost community wellness clinics to help make preventative care more accessible.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – Page County Attorney James L. Varley’s office has issued reports on court cases processed in the Iowa District Court for Page County. The information covers the week of April 28, 2025:

• 37-year-old Frederick G. Billings, Council Bluffs, admitted in court to violating the terms of his probation. He was found in contempt and sentenced to 13 days in the Page County Jail. Billings was also ordered to return to the Residential Correction Facility and remain there until maximum benefits are achieved.
• 41-year-old Joshua Wayne Baer, of College Springs, pled guilty to Count I: Domestic Abuse Assault, Causing Bodily Injury; Count II: Child Endangerment; and Count III: Operating While Intoxicated, First Offense. Baer was sentenced as follows: Count I – 1 year in the Page County Jail, and Count II – a term of imprisonment not to exceed 5 years. Both sentences were suspended and were ordered to be served consecutively. He was sentenced to 1 year in the Page County Jail on Count III. That sentence was suspended, and it was ordered to run consecutive to the sentences for Count I and Count II, for a total of 7 years. Baer was placed on formal probation for 2 years and as a condition of probation shall complete the Iowa Domestic Abuse Program, a mental health evaluation, a substance abuse evaluation and the drinking driver’s course. He was fined $1,250 and ordered to pay surcharges.
• 48-year-old Jessie Gregory McFarland, of Farragut, admitted in court to violating the terms of his probation. He was found in contempt and sentenced to 3 days in the Page County Jail and ordered to pay court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.
  

  Page County Courthouse

• And, 22-year-old Shyra Ruthann Potts, of Blanchard, pled guilty in Page County District Court, to Count I: Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree and Count II: Assault on Persons Engaged in Certain Occupations. She was sentenced to 60 days in the Page County Jail with all but 10 days suspended on Count I. For Count II, Potts was sentenced to 60 days in the Page County Jail with all but 10 days suspended. Count I and II shall be served concurrently. Fines of $430 were imposed and suspended on each count. Potts was placed on 1 year of probation and ordered to pay victim restitution, court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.

All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, this (Wednesday) morning, arrested a man wanted on a warrant for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. Authorities say 21-year-old Michael Daniel Hohl, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 10:45-a.m. in the 900 block of N. 4th Street, on the Red Oak P-D warrant. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash-only bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) — Officials with Cass Health have announced Dr. Elaine Berry is the 2025 recipient of the Iowa Medical Society/Copic Physician Humanitarian Award. The Award is presented annually to honor a physician for volunteer medical services and contributions to their community, specifically those individuals who unassumingly volunteer outside the spectrum of their day-to-day lives. Dr. Berry – Cass Health says – has been a pillar of the Cass County community since she began her career at Cass Health in 1988. Through 2022, she worked as a Family Medicine physician, primarily at Atlantic Medical Center, but also in satellite clinics in Griswold and Massena. She also provided care to patients in the hospital, obstetrics unit, and the Emergency Department.

Her other roles have included Cass County Medical Examiner, Medical Director for Cass County volunteer Emergency Services, Hospice Medical Director, and her current position as Chief Medical Officer at Cass Health. She has been instrumental in disaster preparedness, EMS advocacy, advancing electronic health records and quality medical care, and mentoring future medical professionals. Dr. Berry has also participated in medical mission trips to Egypt, India, Romania, Dominican Republic and Honduras, has supported newly immigrated families in her church community, and has been active in her local church with the worship team and teaching youth.

Dr. Elaine Berry

Each year, the recipient of the IMS/Copic award is asked to designate a $10,000 donation from Copic to be provided to a healthcare-related nonprofit organization within their community. Dr. Berry has designated the Cass Health Foundation to receive this donation, specifically to support the Nurse Apprenticeship program, an innovative initiative to train nurses and address the healthcare workforce shortage.

The Copic Humanitarian award was established in 2001 in memory of Harold E. “Hal” Williamson. Hal was one of the first non-physician board members of Copic. His inspiration and his dedication to going above and beyond led to the establishment of the Copic Medical Foundation. Today, Copic collaborates with state medical societies in offering this award.

Copic is a nationally renowned provider of medical professional liability insurance. Recognized for industry-leading patient safety and risk management programs, Copic works to support and educate healthcare professionals and help make medicine safer for all.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors held their regular weekly meeting on Wednesday, May 14^th, in Greenfield. The Board received an update from Mid-American Energy Project Outreach Manager John Huff and Project Developer Megan Pearson, with regard to projects the company is working on. Huff said one of their plans is to relocate a wind turbine in Adair County, currently located near Orient, so that an Energy Center can be constructed. They are working with landowners in the affected area, and are currently in the initial phases of the project.

As part of the process, Huff said they will be looking to relocate a single wind turbine from the Energy Center site, to another, undetermined site in Adair County. Huff provided an update also, on the four, Mid-American Energy wind turbines that were damaged during last year’s EF-4 tornado in Adair County.

Adair County Courthouse, Greenfield, IA

Huff said they will hold a public information meeting specifically with regard to the Orient Energy Center. The meeting will be held June 18^th at the Orient-Macksburg High School, beginning at 4-p.m.

Members of the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) will be on-hand to answer any questions about the facility.

The Adair County Supervisors heard also from Adair/Guthrie County Environmental Health Director Jotham Arber. He said they’re getting busy conducting perc tests and preparing to conduct soil analysis tests for wells.

He said soil tests are not designed to replace percolation tests. Instead, they are a supplement to the information process.

And, the Board received a regular, weekly report from Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman.

(Thanks to Jennifer Nichols w/the Atlantic News Telegraph for the clear audio)

(Radio Iowa) – Negotiators are striking final deals on a more than nine-point-four BILLION dollar state budget and the 2025 Iowa legislative session could draw to a close tonight (Wednesday) or early tomorrow (Thursday). Legislators have already approved five bills laying out spending for several state agencies. The governor’s recommendation to spend a million dollars for University of Iowa research into the state’s rising cancer rate is in one of those bills. Republican Representative Austin Harris of Moulton says the million dollars will help build a blueprint for how to combat that. “It’s not a silver bullet. We don’t promise a silver bullet,” Harris said, “but I think we do promise a fight.”

Democrats like Representative Austin Baeth of Des Moines say the state should be spending far more on cancer research. “At a time when Elon Musk and his ‘tech bros’ are taking away our cancer research funding, we need to make it homegrown here in Iowa,” Baeth said.

Four state spending bills are on today’s (Wednesday’s debate agenda at the statehouse. And the governor’s plan to cut the tax Iowa businesses pay into the state Unemployment Trust Fund may be debated in the Senate.

(Radio Iowa) -In a little over two months, thousands of bicycle riders will be trekking the roads of northern Iowa during the weeklong adventure called RAGBRAI, the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. Communities along the 406- mile route are busy making preparations for the massive influx of visitors. Elise Bergan is director of the Chamber of Commerce in Edgewood, one of the northeast Iowa towns that will see RAGBRAI riders on the final day of the ride, July 26th.

“They’ll probably start arriving around 10 and they are supposed to be cleared out of here by 2 o’clock,” Bergan says, “so we definitely have an opportunity to make a good impression in a short amount of time.” Officials with RAGBRAI say the largest single-day rider count was 50-thousand in 2023. Edgewood, with a population of 900, is what’s considered a “pass-through town” on this year’s route, which could mean ten- to 20-thousand — or more — cyclists will be pedaling past, and Bergan says they couldn’t be more thrilled.

Radio Iowa file photo

“Edgewood is also the meeting town,” she says, “so the support vehicles will be meeting here to possibly pick people up or give support where it’s needed for the riders.” Edgewood’s theme for the day will be “It’s a Buckin’ Good Time” – paying tribute to the long-standing Edgewood Pro-Rodeo Days celebration the community hosts every year.

RAGBRAI opens July 19th in Orange City, with overnight stops in Milford, Estherville, Forest City, Iowa Falls, Cedar Falls and Oelwein. The final stop is in Guttenberg, where riders will dip their bike tires in the Mississippi River.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, discussed with County Auditor Jill Ozuna, a 2025 Budget Amendment, with regard to revenue and expenditure adjustments. Ozuna said the entire year’s worth of amendments is included in the adjustments, as required under the Code of Iowa. The amendments date back to the May, 2024 storms.

She said there were a little over $2-million in revenue that are being reported.

There were also a little more than $2-million in expenditures.

Ozuna said she spoke with Sheriff John Spunaugle, who mentioned an amount of money budgeted for a law enforcement vehicle.

Board Chair Charla Schmid said she spoke with the Sheriff before Tuesday morning’s meeting, and he indicated he won’t be asking for any more money for the vehicle, since he has all the extra equipment available to install. Normally, that would be an extra cost he would ask to have covered. Jill Ozuna said also, there’s money in the budget for tuck-pointing and associated bond fees.

The Board took no action on the Budget Amendments, as there needs to be a public hearing before they can be approved.