(Radio Iowa) – Winnebago Industries executives say high interest rates and weak demand are contributing to declining sales. Winnebago makes recreational vehicles at facilities in Forest City, Lake Mills, Charles City and Waverly. The company’s reporting revenue in the first quarter of its fiscal year was 763-million dollars –a decrease of almost 20 percent compared to the first quarter of last year. Winnebago C-E-O Michael Happe says his company knew when the fiscal year started in September that there were many obstacles ahead.

“Consumer confidence was unsteady given macroeconomic factors,” Happe said. “Affordability of the RV and boating lifestyle, while still competitive with other forms of leisure travel, had become difficult for potential new customers, and dealers were aggressively managing inventory by constraining inbound wholesale shipments.”

Happe says those challenges will continue into the company’s second quarter. “We believe continued strong wholesale constraints during a seasonally-lighter retail period of the year in December through February, and subsequent further reduced production by our businesses over the holidays will also have a similar impact on Q2 financial results as well,” Happe said.

Gross profit for Winnebago in its first quarter was down 28 percent when compared to the same quarter last year.

(Radio Iowa) – The Republican presidential candidates campaigning in Iowa today (Wednesday) are denouncing a Colorado Supreme Court ruling that could keep former President Trump’s name off the primary ballot in that state. Florida Governor  Ron DeSantis says Trump did not get due process and he expects the U-S Supreme Court to overturn the decision, but DeSantis suggests it’s an effective legal stunt by liberals to boost Trump. “To basically solidify support in the primary for him, get him into the General and the whole General Election’s going to be all this legal stuff,” DeSantis said. “Look, it’s unfair. They’re abusing power 100%, but the question is: Is that going to work? And I think they have a playbook that unfortunately will work and it will give Biden or the Democrat or whoever the ability to skate through this thing.”

DeSantis made his comments early this (Wednesday) morning at the Westside Conservative Club — in response to a question from Richard Rogers, a long-time gun rights lobbyist at Iowa Capitol, who brought up Trump’s legal woes. “I am really concerned that going forward with all of these 91 indictments and the federal government having a 91% conviction rate that the battle for the next year is going to be very distracting,” Rogers said.

DeSantis says if he’s the nominee, the election will be about Biden’s failures. “Do we want to have 2024 to be about this trial, that case, this case, having to put millions of dollars into legal stuff or do we want 2024 to be about your issues, about the country’s future, with a nominee that’s going to be able to prosecute that case against the left, just like I’ve been able to do in Florida?” DeSantis said. “That is a path to winning.”

Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley says she’s running because she doesn’t think having Trump be president again would be good for the country, but Haley says it’s up to voters to make that decision, not judges. Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy has vowed to withdraw his name from the Colorado Primary ballot if Trump’s name isn’t on it.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday) approved the hiring of Susan Stevens, from Greenfield, as a County Treasurer’s employee. Treasurer Brenda Wallace said Stevens will be paid 65% of her salary. She’ll begin in her new position on January 2^nd. The Supervisors also approved a recommendation from the Compensation Board for an increase in elected officials’ salary (5.5%). Jayne Lents with the Compensation Board presented the recommendation.

The Adair County Supervisors received an update from Ryan Berven, with Assured Partners, on FY 2025 County Insurance rates and Plan options. The Board took no action during their meeting, and will likely make a decision on the information, as presented, during one of their meetings in January (2024).

County Engineer Nick Kauffman presented to the Board papers for Chair Jerry Walker to sign, with regard to the Contract and Performance Bonds for the N-24 (Prussia Township) Culvert Project (a Local Farm-To-Market road). Gus Construction is the contractor for the project. Kauffman also presented his weekly report on Adair County Secondary Roads Department maintenance projects and other activities.

The Board approved: a temporary liquor license for “Gettin’ Flushed,”; the appointment of Scott Roberts to the Safety Committee, and Beacon site add-ons (as explained by Nick Kauffman and Auditor Mandy Berg). The Adair County Supervisors however denied requests for funding from the Stuart Meal Site and for an FFA Safety Initiative. Mandy Berg explained the FFA request…

Berg then presented for the Board’s approval a FY2024 Budget Amendment.

The Board set January 10, 2024 at 9:30-a.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing on the Amendment as presented.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who have sidewalks and driveways to care for sometimes face a quandary during the wintertime, with regard to the use of salt to break up ice and provide traction. Aaron Steil, a consumer horticulture specialist at the Iowa State University Extension, says if you don’t use enough ice melt, you might slip and fall, but if you use too much, the eventual runoff could critically damage your lawn and nearby plants. “Excessive salt can be a problem, especially for those areas near sidewalks and driveways,” Steil says, “and the best option is just to not overuse salt.”

The chemicals used in some ice-melting pellets can cause damage to your concrete, especially if it’s newly poured this year. Steil says there’s a simple remedy that only employs the use of two key ingredients. “One of the things that we do here on the campus of Iowa State, that’s a really nice way to reduce salt but still have the safety that you need, is to mix salt with sand,” Steil says. “Doing that, you get some traction and you’re using less salt.”

When spring arrives, you’ll likely know right away if you used too much salt, as anything that was growing nearby may be struggling — or it’s already dead. “When we have a buildup of salt in the soils next to these areas that are heavily salted, it can cause a drying out, as salt can desiccate roots and those kinds of things,” he says, “and so it can cause some damage when it’s in excess.”

Steil says it’s possible those plants can be revived in the spring with a heavy watering to wash out the salt.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest today (Wednesday), of 34-year-old Ashley Flint, from Glenwood. Flint was arrested on a Mills County warrant for OWI/1st offense. Her bond was set at $1,000 (w/a 10% posting allowed through the court).