The new survey by the Iowa State University Extension department shows a slight increase in the average farmland value after three straight years of declines. Iowa State University economist Wendong Zhang says a limited supply of available farmland is the main reason for the two percent increase in land values as the farm economy remains sluggish. “I would not rush into the conclusion that the market has fundamentally improved. Likely we are still in a trajectory of the stabilization in the next one or two years,” he says.

The average statewide value of an acre of farmland is estimated at seven-thousand-326 dollars ($7,326), or 143 dollars more for an acre compared to last year. Commodity prices remain low and Zhang says a full recovery of the ag economy will take some time. “The farm income likely will still stabilize, the interest rate likely will rise again. So I would interpret as the stabilization or temporary break for us to assess where we are,” Zhang says.

Scott and Decatur counties reported the highest and lowest farmland values for the fifth straight year. Decatur County reported land valued 34-hundred-80 dollars ($3,480) — while Scott County reported a value of 10-thousand-497 dollars ($10,497). Just four of Iowa’s 99 counties –Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, and Page –reported a drop in land values this year. Each of those counties reported a decline in value of three-tenths of a percent.

(Radio Iowa)

Pornographic photographs have shown up in the clothing of at least two retail outlets in Atlantic, and Police are trying to figure out who placed them in coat pockets and gloves being sold for women and children. According to Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson, a customer at the Orscheln Farm and Home Store was trying on a pair of gloves last Friday, when she found a picture of man’s genitals inside the gloves. Officers arrived on scene found other such pictures hidden only in women and children’s gloves and coat pockets.

Other images were found in clothing at the Walmart in Atlantic. Altogether, more than 20 images have been found so far. Authorities and Walmart officials are searching through images from nearly 60 surveillance cameras in hopes of finding the person responsible. There are no security camera’s at Orscheln’s with recording capability.

If identified and caught, the perpetrator faces dissemination of pornographic material charges.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CST

OAKLAND, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have identified the 16-year-old student and the bus driver who were killed when a school bus caught fire in western Iowa. Investigators say no one else was on the bus when the fire erupted around 7 a.m. Tuesday southeast of Oakland. Investigators say the bus caught fire after it backed out of a farm driveway and into a ditch. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday said she would keep U.S. Rep. Steve King involved in her gubernatorial campaign while condemning a comment he made on Twitter that criticized diversity. Reynolds made her comments after Iowa Democrats called on her to drop King as a state co-chair in her campaign after he tweeted Friday, “Diversity is not our strength.” Reynolds said Tuesday she can disagree with the Republican congressman from Iowa even while he remains involved in her campaign.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The former administrative clerk in the Poweshiek County sheriff’s office has been charged with theft after a state audit found nearly $7,000 in missing money. State criminal investigators announced the charges against Megan Lynne Strong on Tuesday, hours after State Auditor Mary Mosiman released a report showing missing deposits mostly from gun permits.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa City police say they have charged a 30-year-old man with first-degree murder in a fatal attack last month on his father. The Press-Citizen reports that Flannery Huston Kennedy-Meier was arrested Nov. 13 after police were called to a residence and found 63-year-old Mark Meier injured. Officers say Kennedy-Meier, of Iowa City, had hit his father in the head with a weapon, causing a skull fracture and brain bleed. Meier died of his injuries on Dec. 4.

One arrest has been made and the investigation continues by Storm Lake Police into racial slurs at Buena Vista University. Police on Monday morning were contacted by Buena Vista University Security staff and told there had been several incidents involving racial slurs being written on dorm room doors of students of different ethnic backgrounds including black, white and Hispanic.

The incidents occurred between Friday and Monday. After investigating, police Monday charged 19-year-old Ryan Bills of Las Vegas with two counts of fifth-degree criminal mischief in violation of individual rights, a serious misdemeanor. Bills was jailed on a two-thousand dollar bond. The investigation is continuing and the police department asks anyone that may have information into the incidents to contact the department.

(Radio Iowa)

Search warrants executed this (Tuesday) morning at four sites in Red Oak resulted in multiple arrests, and involved the use of more than two dozen law enforcement officers during a sting operation. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a sizeable amount of methamphetamine, marijuana, and cash, drug paraphernalia and distribution materials were seized. Officials say the search warrants were conducted at 205 E. Nuckols Street, 211 N. 2^nd Street #1, 100 W. Nuckols Street, and 411 E. Corning Street, in Red Oak.

Taken into custody during the operation, were the following:

• 34-year old Johna Christine Dolph, of Red Oak, on two counts of Delivery of Methamphetamine.
• 27-year-old Robert Dean Wiechman, of Nodaway, who was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine 3^rd
• 21-year-old Amithist Chyane Clemons, of Red Oak, who was charged with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Paraphernalia.
• 23-year-old Brandon Michael Borgmyer, of Red Oak, was charged with two counts of Delivery of Methamphetamine.
• 38-year-old Becky Jo Hegarty, and 40-year old Michael Todd Brace, both of Red Oak, were charged with Possession of Paraphernalia.
• 23-year-oldAlexander Warren Wiechmann, of Red Oak, was charged with Delivery of Methamphetamine.
• 32-year-old Natosha Myree Cralley, of Red Oak, was charged with two felony counts of Delivery of Methamphetamine and Delivery of Methamphetamine, along with a charge of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver.
• 37-year-old Daniel Bruce Clemons Jr., of Red Oak, was faces a total six felony counts that include Delivery of Methamphetamine (Class C Felony), Delivery of Methamphetamine (Class B Felony), Possession of Methamphetamine with intent to Deliver (Class B Felony).
• 41-year-old Mandy Jo Perry, of Red Oak, was charged with two counts of Delivery of Methamphetamine.
• 36-year-old April Marie Watson, of Red Oak, was charged with five counts of Delivery of Methamphetamine.
• 60-year-old Robert Ernest McMartin, of Red Oak, was charged with Delivery of Methamphetamine.
• 55-year-old Casey Renee Bates, of Red Oak, was charged with Possession of Paraphernalia.
• 19-year-old Tyler Austin Sowers, of Red Oak, was charged with Delivery of Methamphetamine.

The Sheriff’s Office thanks the Red Oak Police Department and their reserve program, additional jail and communications personnel for their support in the operation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The former administrative clerk in the Poweshiek County sheriff’s office has been charged with theft after a state audit found nearly $7,000 in missing money. State criminal investigators announced the charges today (Tuesday) against Megan Lynne Strong, hours after State Auditor Mary Mosiman released a report showing missing deposits mostly from gun permits.

Sheriff Thomas Kriegel had requested the audit. During an investigation in February Strong admitted to taking money and she resigned. It’s not the first time a state audit revealed problems at the sheriff’s office.

Former Sheriff Tom Sheets was sentenced to probation in December 2016 for theft after an audit showed the county lost about $312,000 over three years. Kriegel defeated Sheets in the 2012 election and took office in January 2013 and was re-elected last year.

The Harlan Police Department reports one arrest and one accident. 22-year old Marcus Tyler Morgan, of Harlan, was arrested last Friday on an active Shelby County warrant.

The accident occurred Dec. 6th, at 19th and Lincoln Avenue, in Harlan. Vehicles driven by Rex Adams and Allan Ickes, both of Harlan, collided at the intersection. The crash happened after Adams stopped, but then continued into the intersection, not seeing the approaching 2009 GMC Canyon driven by Ickes.

Adams was driving a 2014 Dodge Ram. The GMC hit the Dodge on the side, causing the pickup to slide around and end up sitting on the right of way on the northwest corner of the intersection. No injuries were reported.

In an update to our earlier reports, Police in Council Bluffs have identified a body that was found Monday morning in a vacant lot. The deceased was 34-year old David Randall Simpson, a homeless man. An autopsy conducted at the Iowa State Medical Examiner Office has ruled his death as a homicide by blunt force trauma.

The body was found in a grassy area just north of a building at around 10:35-a.m. Monday, at 1004 1st Avenue, which is a vacant lot. A Council Bluffs man told officers that while walking his dog in the area he discovered the body and called police.

Anyone having possible information in solving the crime is encouraged to call the Criminal Investigation Division at (712) 328-4728 or Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-7867.

The CEO of Marne-Elk Horn Telephone reports Walnut Communications, which was acquired by Marne Elk Horn in September of 2016, is changing its name to Marne Elk Horn as part of a rebranding effort by the company. Janell Hansen says soon, customers will see the new logo publicly, on materials, trucks and staff clothing. Hansen says “As our staff has grown into one team over the past year, it became apparent we were ready for this next step, and since we were going to use one name – it seemed appropriate to update the logo at the same time.”

All offices and staff remain the same, but you will see the new Marne Elk Horn logo on trucks, staff clothing, company communications and materials. According to Hansen, a new website will be launched in early 2018. She says “In January, we will connect our first fiber-to-the-home customers in the city of Walnut, which will feature our new Fiber TV product. As we install these products in customers’ homes, staff from all our offices will be available for the installations. We thought it would be more clear if we are all under the same name and logo.”

Marne Elk Horn was started in 1903, when the first telephone lines were built between Marne and Rorbeck, then to Elk Horn, thus the name began as “Marne Elk Horn”. The company serves customers in and around the communities of Avoca, Brayton, Elk Horn, Exira, Kimballton, Marne, McClelland, Minden, Neola, Persia, Shelby, Underwood, and Walnut with Internet, TV and phone services. Marne Elk Horn’s main office is located in Elk Horn, with additional offices in Walnut and Avoca.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of the victims of today’s (Tuesday’s) fatal Riverside School Bus fire. Authorities say two fatalities due to the fire have been confirmed, including the driver of the bus, 74-year old Donald Hendricks, of Carson. The second victim has been identified as 16-year old Megan Klindt, who lived in rural Pottawattamie County. They were the only persons on the bus.

The investigation into the cause of the fire continues.