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Iowa Crop Progress and Conditions Report: Nov. 4-10, 2019

Ag/Outdoor

November 12th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (Nov. 12, 2019) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today (Tuesday) commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Conditions report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly from April through November. Naig said “It’s feeling more like winter than fall. Parts of the state reported the lowest overnight temperatures on Nov. 12 since 1986. Temperatures are expected to warm up closer to normal by the end of the week, which will help melt some snowpack and allow farmers to resume harvesting.”

Crop Report: Statewide there were 5.0 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending November 10, 2019 although winter weather moved across Iowa bringing more snowfall to the northern half of the State according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were reports across the State concerning propane shortages slowing corn harvest due to the high moisture content of the crop and the need to dry it down.

Topsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus.

Sixty-four percent of the corn crop has been harvested for grain, 9 days behind last year and 10 days behind the 5-year average. Producers in the Northwest, North Central and Southeast Districts have harvested over 70 percent of their expected crop, while the Northeast District fell further behind with just 47 percent complete. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was at 20 percent.

Ninety-one percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, one week behind average. The South Central District remained the furthest behind at 71 percent complete, but closed the gap as producers in the district harvested nearly one-quarter of their expected crop during the week ending November 10, 2019.

Cattle continued to battle below normal temperatures. There were also reports of cattle grazing in corn fields and some feeding of hay in the State.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

Hoegh Begins Duties as County Wellness Coordinator

Ag/Outdoor, News

November 12th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Officials with Cass County ISU Extension said Tuesday, Brigham Hoegh has been hired as the Wellness Program Coordinator at Cass County Extension. The Cass County Wellness Coordinator role is a new part-time position that will serve as a connector and bridge builder in the county between local groups focused on community health and wellness initiatives.

Brigham Hoegh

In her new role, Hoegh will be involved in projects across the county including assisting with community events, infrastructure and implementation projects, food systems development, and educational programming. Hoegh will help build capacity for programming, expand partnerships and serve as a resource for Cass County communities and organizations.

Hoegh also serves as the Market Manager of Produce in the Park, organizing events and working on local food systems development for the past year. She grew up on a farm north of Atlantic, where she now grows sweet corn and pumpkins with her dad, Dan Hoegh. Brigham graduated from Atlantic High School in 2004, and then attended Grinnell College.

She spent a decade working for Nationwide Insurance in actuarial and product management roles. After obtaining her MBA from Northwestern University in 2016, Hoegh moved back to Atlantic. She now splits time between Southwest Iowa and Des Moines, where she lives with her husband, two stepsons, three cats, and two dogs.

Brigham is available to answer questions regarding wellness programming as well as providing information on resources available in Cass County.  She can be reached by calling the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132, by email at bhoegh@iastate.edu or by visiting www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

PAULA RANDERIS, 64, of Audubon (Mass of Christian Burial 11/16/19)

Obituaries

November 12th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

PAULA RANDERIS, 64, of Audubon, died Monday, Nov. 11th, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. A Mass of Christian Burial for PAULA RANDERIS will be held 10:30-a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16th, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family visitation is Friday, Nov. 15th, from 5-until 7-p.m, and a Rosary begins at 7-p.m.

Burial is in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

PAULA RANDERIS is survived by:

Her husband – Gary Randeris, of Audubon.

Her son – Jason (Minden) Randeris, of Denison.

His sisters – Theota (Lonn) Nelson, of Avoca; Carolyn (Dennis) Piittmann, of Avoca; Margie Szadis, of Walnut.

2 grandchildren, and her sisters-in-law.

Posted in Obituaries |

Deer tries to jump to avoid an SUV – hits windshield instead

News

November 12th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

A deer that was crossing 160th Street in Union County, last week, tried to jump out of the way of an SUV, but instead hit the windshield and driver’s side of the vehicle. The Union County Sheriff’s Office said the accident happened last Thursday, at around 2:20-p.m., as 27-year old Steven Provost, of Decatur, was traveling east on 160th. In an e-mail to KJAN, Provost said Also he went to a hospital emergency room to have glass removed from his face. He said also, damage to his 2018 Jeep Compass was in excess of $5,000.

Posted in News |

Daughter listed as witness in murder case against Iowa man

News

November 12th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The adult daughter of an Iowa City man charged with killing his wife is included on a long list of potential prosecution witnesses. A court document released Tuesday formally charges 67-year-old Roy Browning Jr. with first-degree murder in the April 5 stabbing death of his wife, University of Iowa employee JoEllen Browning.

Witnesses listed on the document include one of the couple’s two adult children, Elizabeth Browning Adrianse of Des Moines. She said last month that she and her brother did not wish to comment on the arrest of their father, saying the family “needs time to heal.”

Other witnesses include several employees of the Iowa City Police Department and the Division of Criminal Investigation. Representatives of multiple banks are also listed. Investigators allege that Roy Browning killed his wife as she was in the process of discovering that he had hidden major financial problems. He stood to inherit $2 million in savings and life insurance upon her death.

Browning is being held at the Johnson County jail and is scheduled to be arraigned next week.

Posted in News |

Iowa Marine’s remains to return home 76 years after death

News

November 12th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The remains of a Marine from Iowa will soon return to his home state 76 years after his death in World War II. The Defense Department used DNA from a niece to identify the remains of 18-year-old Pvt. Channing Whitaker, of Granger, Iowa. Whitaker died on Nov. 22, 1943 during the Battle of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands in the South Pacific.

This undated photo provided by the Department of Defense shows Marine Corps Pvt. Channing Whitaker. Whitaker’s remains will soon return to his home state of Iowa 76 years after his death in World War II. The Defense Department used DNA from a niece to identify the remains of 18-year-old Pvt. Whitaker, of Granger, Iowa. Whitaker died on Nov. 22, 1943 during the Battle of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands in the South Pacific. (Department of Defense via AP)

Whitaker’s niece Marla Brubaker tells KCCI it is a miracle that her DNA was able to identify Whitaker’s remains. Archeologists have been working since 2009 to dig up and identify the remains of soldiers who were buried in a previously undiscovered burial trench on the Gilbert Islands.

Whitaker’s family will hold a funeral with full military honors in Des Moines on Nov. 22.

Posted in News |

CLETUS HERBERT SCHMITZ, 80, of Harlan (Mass of Christian Burial 11/16/19)

Obituaries

November 12th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

CLETUS HERBERT SCHMITZ, 80, of Harlan, died Monday, Nov. 11th, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. A Mass of Christian Burial for CLETUS SCHMITZ will be held 10-a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16th, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, in Harlan. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

The family will greet friends at St. Michael’s Catholic Church on Friday, Nov. 15th, from 4-until 7-p.m., with a Wake service at 7-p.m.

Burial is in the Harlan Cemetery.

CLETUS SCHMITZ is survived by:

His wife – Janice Schmitz, of Harlan.

His sons – David Schmitz, of Nevada (IA), and Danny Schmitz, of Parker, CO.

His daughters – Shari (Chad) Proehl, of Urbandale, and Shelli (Todd) Hansen, of Omaha.

His brothers – Larry (Vicky) Schmitz, Norman (Gloria) Schmitz, and Roger (Judy) Schmitz, all of Westphalia; Marvin (Joan) Schmitz, of Harlan, and Jim (Vicki) Schmitz, of Omaha.

His sisters – Linda (Jim) Bender, of Lambertville, MI; Velma (Bruce) Arkfeld, of Defiance; Doris (Lenny) Schmitz, of Harlan, and Nancy (Tom) DeRuby, of Bellevue, NE.

and 10 grandchildren.

Posted in Obituaries |

Creston teen injured in Tuesday morning collision

News

November 12th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Creston report a teenager was injured during a collision this (Tuesday) morning, near the intersection of Cherry and Summit Streets. According to Creston Police, 16-year old Logan Eugene Osterhout, of Creston, was driving a 2006 Buick LeSabre northbound on Cherry Street at around 7:50-a.m., when, according to the teen, a dog ran out in front of his vehicle (registered to Janet Osterhout).

When Logan applied the brakes, he said the car went out of control and ran into the back of a 2006 Chrysler 300 that was parked near 504 Cherry. The teen told Creston Police he didn’t know what happened after the initial impact. An ambulance was dispatched to assist in treating his injuries. Osterhout was transported by his mother to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, for further treatment.

Damage to the vehicles amounted to $3,000 altogether. No citations were issued.

Posted in News |

2 vehicle accident in Atlantic

News

November 12th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic Fire and Rescue, Medivac Ambulance and Atlantic Police responded to a two-vehicle accident at around 1:54-p.m. today (Tuesday), just west of 7th and Olive Street on eastbound 7th. A woman complained of neck pain and is believed to have been transported to CCMH. Both vehicles had been moved into an alley south of 7th, when emergency crews arrived.

Ric Hanson/photo

No other details were immediately available.

Posted in News |

Cardinals agree to deal with Adam Wainwright for 2020 season

Sports

November 12th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals and Adam Wainwright have agreed to a contract for the 2020 season, increasing the likelihood the veteran pitcher finishes his career with the only major league team for which he has ever played. The 38-year-old Wainwright was drafted by the Braves in 2000 and traded to the Cardinals three years later. He made his major league debut in 2005 and has been a stalwart for St. Louis the past 14 seasons, going 162-95 with a 3.39 ERA and three All-Star game appearances.

He played last season on a $2 million deal and proved he was still effective, going 14-10 with a 4.19 ERA while helping the Cardinals reach the National League Championship Series.
Wainwright was especially valuable down the stretch. He had a 2.97 ERA in September and a 1.62 ERA in the postseason, where the Cardinals were ousted by eventual World Series champion Washington. “We are excited to have Adam returning for 2020 and look forward to watching him continue to add to his tremendous career legacy with the Cardinals,” team president John Mozeliak said Tuesday.

Wainwright has become one of the franchise’s most popular players, due not only to his success but also his longevity. He didn’t miss a start last season and will head into next season trailing only Jesse Haines (1920-37) and Bob Gibson (1957-75) among the Cardinals’ longest-tenured pitchers. The right-hander, who helped the Cardinals to World Series titles in 2006 and 2011, is fourth in franchise history in wins. He is also second in strikeouts (1,776) and sixth in innings pitched, even though he missed substantial parts of the 2011, ’15 and ’18 seasons with injuries.
Each time, Wainwright has come back seemingly better than ever.

He was tied for sixth in the NL in wins last season with his highest total since 2014, when he won 20 games. In doing so, Wainwright became the first Cardinals pitcher since Pete Alexander in 1928 to win at least 14 games at age 38 or older. Alexander won 16 games at the age of 41. Wainwright also is the franchise leader in postseason games pitched (27) and strikeouts (115).

Posted in Sports |