The Adair County Board of Supervisors will be looking for a new County Auditor. According to reports, Adair County Auditor Mindy Schaefer announced her resignation to the board of Supervisors on Wednesday. Schaefer is leaving the position she’s held for 11-years, to become the Union County Assessor. Since the County Auditor is an elected position, the Adair County Supervisors may fill the post by special election or by appointment.

The Board will meet with the county attorney before moving forward with a decision on which direction they wish to proceed to fill the position. Mindy Schaefer’s last day with Adair County will be March 29^th.

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Is the “ugly produce'” trend already reaching the end of its shelf life in supermarkets? Walmart and Whole Foods in recent years tried selling some blemished fruits and vegetables at a discount, produce they said might otherwise be trashed because it’s not quite the right size, shape or color. But the two chains and others quietly ended their tests, suggesting dented apples and undersized potatoes may not be all that appealing in stores where better looking fruits and vegetables are on display. “Customers didn’t accept it as much as we had hoped,” said Mona Golub of Price Chopper, a grocery chain in the Northeast that also discontinued its offering of ugly produce.

Still, some stores and home delivery startups haven’t given up on the idea of selling less-than-perfect produce to reduce food waste and say they’re doing well. At a Hy-Vee store in Iowa, a recent display of “Misfits” produce included packs of apples, lemons and oranges that were either too big or small, or otherwise substandard in appearance. A sign explained that “6 million pounds of fresh produce goes unused each year,” though the packages didn’t specify why the produce might have otherwise been thrown away. “I like the cost savings and it is good to help and not throw so much away,” said shopper Brian Tice, who bought a pack of small oranges.

Another shopper, Jamie Shae, said she didn’t realize there was anything special about the fruit “I happened to see the bags of lemons,” said Shae, who was in a rush and grabbed two bags. Shopper Joan Hitzel, who was browsing other produce nearby, said she thought the Misfits were a good idea given the tons of food that gets thrown away, but didn’t plan to buy any that day. The supplier of the Misfits produce to supermarkets, Robinson Fresh, said about 300 grocery locations still sell the fruits and vegetables, including the Hy-Vee stores. Kroger also said it still plans to introduce its “Pickuliar Picks” this spring.

But among other regional chains that have stopped carrying ugly produce are Meijer in the Midwest, Hannaford based in Maine and Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle, which cited “inconsistent customer interest” for pulling the plug on its “Produce with Personality.” Walmart no longer offers the damaged “I’m Perfect” apples it introduced in Florida in 2016. The efforts channeled growing interest in reducing food waste. Government agencies say the best way to reduce waste is to stop producing too much food. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 31 percent of the 430 billion pounds of the nation’s food supply goes uneaten. That does not include the fruits and vegetables that get tossed at the farm level, before foods reach stores.

For fruits and vegetables that don’t meet supermarket standards, some may get processed for products like juices and some go to food banks. Startups delivering ugly produce say there’s so much they’re not taking from food banks. Shopper preferences may not be the only challenge for ugly produce in supermarkets. “Retailers really prize their produce sections,” said Imperfect Produce CEO Ben Simon, whose company had partnered with Whole Foods on a test at the chain. Grocers might worry that cheaper produce will cannibalize sales of regular produce, or give off a bad image, he said. Delivery startups say they’re seeing interest in their services. But they are up against shoppers who inspect the fruits and vegetables they buy and those who worry about all the packaging.

“I’ve been food shopping online, and I started thinking about all the boxes, all that cardboard,” said Nyasha Wilson, a New York City resident who carefully selects apples for ripeness at a farmer’s market.
The companies say they might at least change shoppers’ views on discarded produce. Evan Lutz, CEO of the startup Hungry Harvest, said most of it is just too small or slightly discolored. “The vast majority that would go to waste isn’t really that ugly,” he said.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A defense and aerospace manufacturer is seeking local and state aid to upgrade its Davenport facility. Cobham, which is based in England, wants to add 150 high-paying jobs to its Davenport facility. The Quad-City Times reports that Cobham’s Kevin McKeown told Davenport council members Wednesday that the $67 million upgrade would make room for as many as 1,300 employees and build up the company’s research and development operation.

Cobham is seeking a $400,000 grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority under a program that compensates businesses for creating high-paying jobs. Davenport economic development manager Susanne Knutsen says the city is considering a property tax break for Cobham. The state-required incentive is meant to match the state grant the company is seeking.

(Radio Iowa) — A U-S military report finds high levels of groundwater contamination at the Iowa Air National Guard Base in Sioux City. The chemicals are linked to firefighting foams and can increase the risk of some cancers and fertility issues. David Cwiertny leads the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination at the University of Iowa and reviewed the report. Cwiertny says, “Those levels at the high end of what was found are notable because it will make cleanup more challenging and it will make it more likely that there are levels that we might need to be concerned about further away from those points and potentially off the base.”

It’s feared toxic PFAS chemicals could be migrating offsite. At one hot spot, PFAS in the groundwater tested at more than 100 times the health advisory set by the E-P-A. Cwiertny says more questions need to be answered. “As the report concluded, more testing, more work needs to be done to try to characterize the full extent of which chemicals are there, at what levels,” he says, “and then where they might be encountering vital resources like wells that might be used for private water supplies.”

According to the report, the base does not use the groundwater for drinking, but the chemicals are likely drifting offsite. An Iowa National Guard spokesman says more testing is needed to determine potential impacts to the community. The final report is due out in April.

(Thanks to Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) — Canned meat that was recently sold at a Cedar Falls business is being recalled as a precaution. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced the voluntary recall of canned beef products from Steege’s Meat Market and Catering. The affected products were produced between January 2016 and January 2019 and are packaged in pint glass jars bearing a “Steege’s Canned Beef” retail label.

Company officials say a packaging issue could cause botulism, if the product is consumed. So far, no illnesses have been reported.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was arrested and another was injured during an accident Wednesday, under separate circumstances. 36-year old Mark Thomas Gladson, of Macksburg, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Violation of Probation. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $100 bond. And, 48-year old Douglas James Sobotka, of Diagonal, suffered possible/unknown injuries during an accident that took place at around 12:25-p.m., Wednesday.

Authorities say Sobotka was driving a 2006 Jeep Liberty Renegade northbound on High and Dry Road, when his SUV went out of control on the slippery road. The Jeep entered the west ditch and a driveway, where it struck a parked Plowman’s Farms 2008 Jeep Patriot in the rear, and a parked Diagonal Schools 2000 International Bluebird School Bus on the passenger side. Sobotka was transported by private vehicle to the hospital in Creston. Damage from the collisions amounted to $13,000.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday) said four people were transported from the Douglas County, NE., Jail to the Pott. County Jail this (Thursday) morning, to address their various warrants out of Pott. County. 30-year old Aryn Alfred Anzalone was wanted on a warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. 30-year old Rebecca Sue Cardona and, 23-year old Benjamin Daniel Reynolds were transported to Pott. County on warrants for Violation of Probation. And, 31-year old Autumn Anne Nicole Jones was transported to the Pott. County Jail, where she was wanted on three counts of Child Endangerment/Abandonment – Bodily Injury, and three counts of Abandonment of a Dependent Person.

AMES, Iowa – February 21, 2019 – The Iowa Department of Transportation will hold a public information meeting Thursday, March 7th to discuss the proposed bridge replacement on Pottawattamie County Road G-12 over Interstate 29, in Pottawattamie County.  The proposed project provides for removing the existing bridge and replacing it with a 2-span, pre-tensioned and pre-stressed concrete beam bridge that is 252 feet by 36 feet. Westbound traffic would be detoured during construction using I-29 northbound, U.S. 30, and I-29 southbound.  Eastbound traffic would be detoured during construction using I-29 southbound, Rosewood Road, and I-29 northbound.

All interested persons are invited to attend this meeting anytime between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. March 7th at the Desoto Bend Mini Mart, 15001 Desoto Avenue, in Missouri Valley. The meeting will be conducted utilizing an open forum format. Iowa DOT staff will be present to informally discuss the proposed improvements. No formal presentation will be made. The meeting space is accessible for persons with disabilities. However, if you require special accommodations at the meeting, please notify Scott Suhr, transportation planner, Iowa DOT District 4 Office in Atlantic, by calling 712-243-3355 or 800-289-4368. Those same numbers may be used for general information regarding the proposed improvements or public meeting.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — One of the people charged in a southeast Iowa slaying has pleaded not guilty. Des Moines County District Court records say 44-year-old Derrick Parker, of Chicago, entered the written pleas Monday to charges of conspiracy and first-degree murder. His trial is scheduled to begin April 30. Prosecutors say Parker conspired with four other people to kill 26-year-old Demarcus “Peanut” Chew. He was fatally shot in a car outside his mother’s Burlington home on Sept. 10, 2017.

One of the men , Antoine Spann, pleaded guilty earlier this month to conspiracy and other crimes and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors dropped a murder charge in exchange for his pleas. Spann’s plea agreement says he must testify against any others charged in the slaying.