As farmers in many parts of Iowa launch into the harvest, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says there’s good news for producers who might need to dry their grains using heaters fueled by tanks of liquid propane. While L-P supplies have been tight in recent years, Naig says that doesn’t appear to be the case this season, as fall arrives on Saturday.

Propane prices are averaging around a dollar-77 a gallon in Iowa, which is down from around two-16 a year ago.

Naig remains optimistic prices will hold steady as we head into the cold weather months.

It’s also a plus for Iowans who heat their homes with L-P. Estimates show about 67% of Iowans use natural gas to heat their homes, 15% use electricity, and 14% use liquid propane.

Red Oak Police conducted a traffic stop Thursday morning just before nine o’clock at 2404 North 8th Street.  After investigation, officers arrested 27 year old Tori Shanelle Bergerson of Red Oak on a charge of possession of a controlled substance.  Bergerson was held at the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Coca-Cola Days is coming to Atlantic Friday, September 22nd and Saturday, September 23rd.  Atlantic Chamber of Commerce Program Director Kelsey Beschorner says the community and Atlantic Bottling have been a great partnership.

Iowa Chapter of Coca-Cola Collectors Club President Kurt Roberts, a Cass County native, says the relationship between the community and the Tyler family help to make the event special.

Roberts says his interest in Coca-Cola collectibles began in high school.

Beschorner says they have t-shirts for sale and some raffle items for this year.

Friday evening’s events include the tailgate party from 5:30 to 6:30 and the Coca-Cola Collectors sneak peek from 6:00 to 8:00.  Saturday will include the Show, Swap and Sell from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm and the newest addition, the Classic Car Show and Shine from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.  All the events will be held at the Cass County Community Center.

Investments will impact Appanoose, Audubon, Carroll, Clayton, Crawford, Decatur, Fremont, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Harrison, Jackson, Poweshiek, Sac, Union, Van Buren, and Washington counties

DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 21, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today announced that the Agency is investing $4,782,800 in loans and $268,500 in grants to 13 rural Iowa projects to help communities and businesses improve critical community infrastructure and promote economic development.

“These investments will help our rural neighbors establish and operate vital services, such as health care facilities, volunteer fire departments, and school transport,” said Director Greenfield. “Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA has made improving communities and expanding access to capital for small business top priorities. When we address these needs with grants and loans, we help uplift rural Iowa.”

Among the USDA Funded Projects:

-The City of Randolph in Fremont County received a $22,000 grant from the Water and Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants program to prepare a water facility improvements plan. This project will produce a facility plan created by professional engineers that includes alternatives and recommendations to meet the rehabilitation needs of the entire water system. Once completed, the project will help guide the city’s planning efforts and will promote the safety of the local water supply for the residents of this rural community.

–Region XII Council of Governments in Carroll received a $1 million loan from the Intermediary Relending Program to expand the lending capacity of its revolving loan fund. This project will enable the organization, a voluntary association formed to facilitate multi-community collaboration, to finance development projects by providing loans to businesses in their seven-county region. Once completed, this project will promote economic progress and increase employment opportunities for residents in rural Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie, and Sac counties.

Community Facilities Grants were awarded to:

-The City of Coon Rapids: a $45,600 grant to purchase equipment. This project will provide 14 air packs and related materials to facilitate firefighting and rescue operations. The project will replace the fire department’s expired air packs. Once in service, this equipment will help safeguard the lives of the city’s fire volunteers during the dangerous situations they may encounter while serving the emergency needs of this rural Carroll County community.

–Woodbine Community School District: a $35,700 grant to purchase a vehicle. This project will provide an 11-passenger van to transport small groups of students. Once in operation, the vehicle will increase operational efficiencies and promote the safety of school district passengers in this rural Harrison County community.

-The City of Creston received a $28,600 grant to purchase a law enforcement vehicle. This project will replace an aging patrol unit with a new model for the city’s law enforcement department. Once in operation, the new vehicle will increase operational efficiency and promote the safety of residents and law enforcement personnel in this rural Union County community.

(Radio Iowa) – Kevin Reynolds, the husband of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, has been diagnosed with lung cancer. The governor issued a written statement this (Thursday) revealing her husband’s diagnosis. Reynolds says the couple has every reason to be optimistic, as their doctor has assured them there have been significant advancements in lung cancer treatment. Kevin and Kim Reynolds have been married for 41 years.

She describes her husband as her anchor throughout their marriage and Reynolds says she will be the same for him as he begins treatment. The governor says she and her husband are blessed to e surrounded by a loving family and a community of prayer warriors — and they know God is with them on this journey.

(Radio Iowa) – John Deere is laying off nearly ten percent of its workforce at the Harvester Works in East Moline, Illinois.
K-W-W-L T-V reports the company let employees know at a meeting Wednesday they were being laid off indefinitely. Deere leaders told employees that they had learned of the need for layoffs just one week ago.

They say lagging economic conditions for farmers are the primary reason for laying off employees. Some 225 workers will be laid off on October 16th.

Cass Health Senior Life Solutions is hosting a community walk Saturday in support of National Suicide Prevention Month.  Program Therapist Casey Peterson says people of all ages can be considering suicide for many reasons.  She says it can be a bit more difficult to see the risk in the older population.

The free event will begin at 6:30 Saturday evening at the Rotary Shelter at Schildberg Recreation Area with a local speaker sharing a personal story.  The walk will begin at 7:00 pm around the trail loop.  There will be light refreshments and community resources available.  Peterson says she hopes the walk will help raise awareness of a very important issue.

The event is co-hosted by Healthy Cass County, Cass County ISU Extension and Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services.   If you, or someone you care about is in an emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately.  If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or are in crisis, call, text or chat the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8.

A new national health study gives Iowa poor marks for its efforts to try and keep in shape. According to the report from Trust for America’s Health, Iowa is among 22 states with an adult obesity rate at or above 35-percent. Nadine Gracia (GRAH-see-ah), director of government relations for the trust, says Iowans are in worse condition than in most other states.

While 22 states had adult obesity rate at or above 35 percent this year, Gracia says there were 19 states in that category last year, including Iowa, while a decade ago, there were -no- states at that level. She says it’s a dangerous trend for the nation, and for Iowa.

The lessons for getting fit are familiar — they revolve around diet and exercise — but Gracia says it doesn’t stop there.

The trust’s “State of Obesity” report shows West Virginia has the highest rate of adult obesity at 41-percent, while Colorado has the lowest rate at 25-percent.

Autumn arrives Saturday but many Iowa farmers are already starting the fall harvest, and motorists in rural areas will need to share the roads with large, slow-moving farm equipment for the next several weeks. Franklin County Sheriff Aaron Dodd says he’s already spotted drivers taking big chances when they shouldn’t, like trying to pass tractors on a hill.

Such risky behavior might result in a collision, or at least a ticket.

Distractions are also causing crashes, and Dodd says people need to put down the number-one distraction — their smartphones — while driving.

From 2017 through June 30th, 2022, the Iowa Department of Transportation reports 30 people died in crashes involving farm equipment in the state. This is National Farm Safety and Health Week.