Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey says the latest U-S-D-A crop report shows good progress in the harvest. According to Northey, “Last week we had five percent of the corn, seven percent of the beans out. Now we’re up to 13 percent of the corn — 32 percent of the soybeans.”  Northey says he’s hearing good things about yields.

“It’s gonna vary every place, but certainly in some areas of north-west and north-central Iowa we’re seeing 60-bushel soybeans where sometimes those are normally 50-bushel soybeans. Certainly corn in a lot of places over 200 bushels (an acre) in place that don’t always get that,” according to Northey. “We are going to have other parts of Iowa that are not going to have their best crop, but in some of these areas, that’s the best crop they’ve harvested.”

The corn harvest is 10 days ahead of last year, but eight days behind average. The soybean harvest is one week ahead of last year, but one day behind average. He expects thing to move forward quite a bit this week. “If we get a good week this week and dodge some moisture in the middle of the week, we’ll be moving along real good,” Northey says.

He says the crop appears to be pretty dry. There have been some concerns about the beans not being dry enough. “Stems are a little damp in some places, so it makes it a little hard to harvest. It takes a lot of power to get those damp stems through the combine, but with good yields, you’ll certainly take that,” Northey says.

Northey farms corn and beans near Spirit Lake.

(Radio Iowa)

The former city clerk in Pacific Junction faces a charge of first-degree Theft following a state investigation that revealed she gave herself unauthorized Christmas bonuses, vacation and sick pay. The Omaha World-Herald says 43-year old Kari Williams was also charged with felonious misconduct in office, tampering with records and failing to publish city expenditures. The latter two charges are misdemeanors, while the Theft and misconduct charges are classified as felonies. The four charges result from an investigation conducted by the Iowa Auditor’s Office.

A Red Oak man repeatedly in trouble with the law was arrested again early this (Tuesday) morning on a Trespass charge. 53-year old David Lawrence Howe was taken into custody around 3:20-a.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on $300 bond.

Howe was previously arrested Sept. 27th for Public Intoxication, and on July 19th for OWI.

Authorities in Montgomery County report a Stanton man was arrested Monday night on an assault charge. 47-year old Michael William Arterburn was taken into custody at around 8:05-p.m. following an incident in the 2500 block of 190th Street, north of Stanton. Arterburn was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond (pending an appearance before a magistrate), on a charge of Serious Domestic Assault.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Two male teenagers who escaped the Clarinda Academy last Friday morning were found later that same evening about three-quarters of a mile north of facility for troubled youth. According to Clarinda Police Chief Kieth Brothers, the teens, one black, the other white, left the residential foster care facility at around 11-a.m. Friday. Brothers said they believe the boys laid low in a cornfield until sunset while authorities searched for them.

The teens, one from Exira, the other from Kansas City, MO., were later found near 16th and Nishna Streets. The unidentified students were set to appear in juvenile court following their escapade, but will not face any additional charges.

The Clarinda Academy provides residential treatment programs and shelter care to as many as 250 at-risk and delinquent male and female youth, from several states.

A collision between a pickup and a car Monday afternoon near Shambaugh, in Page County, has claimed the life of a Clarinda woman. The Iowa State Patrol reports 52-year old Joanne Lynne Goudie, who was not wearing her seat belt, died, when her 1999 Buick Lesabre was hit broadside in the intersection of 265th Street and  Highway 71, by a 2014 Dodge 3500 pickup truck.

The driver of the truck, 50-year old Toby D. Holloman, of Soloman, Kansas, who was wearing his seat belt, was transported by Clarinda EMS to the Clarinda Regional Hospital. The Patrol says Goudie’s car was traveling west on 265th Street just before 5-p.m.,when it was hit by the pickup as it was headed south on the Highway.

Clarinda Fire and EMS along with Page County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted at the scene.

The Iowa State Patrol has updated information about a crash that occurred west of Atlantic Monday morning. Authorities say two people, a man from Oregon and a woman from Griswold were injured in the crash that happened at the intersection of Highway 6 (Whitepole Road) the Lewis Road (M-56) at around 10:45-a.m.

The accident happened when according to witnesses, a 2007 Audi driven by 28-year old Joseph Allen Williams, of Lake Oswego, OR., blew through a stop sign as he was heading north on the Lewis Road. His car collided with a westbound 2008 VW Jetta driven by 65-year old Deborah Jane Weaver, of Griswold. Both vehicles ended up in the north ditch.

Both drivers were transported by Griswold Fire to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. Williams, who was not wearing a seat belt, was later flown to Iowa Methodist in Des Moines, while Weaver, who was wearing her seat belt, was flown to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. She reportedly was being treated for a broken pelvis, several broken ribs, and other injuries. Family members said Williams was doing ok, but they didn’t indicate the extent of his injuries.

October is National “Talk About Your Medicines” Month, as promoted by the National Council on Patient Information and Education. As part of this national effort to “talk about your medicines,” Cass County Memorial Hospital pharmacists, Crystal Starlin and Sara Arnold will be presenting at the October 22nd session of Healthy U.

Starlin says “Medications are a powerful healthcare tool. It is important that patients talk about medications with their healthcare team to ensure they are using them safely and effectively.”

The session will be held at Noon on Thursday, October 22nd, in CCMH Conference Room 2. Healthy U is a free educational series offered by Cass County Health System that focuses on a different health topic each month. Attendees receive a healthy sack lunch in addition to an educational program presented by medical professionals. Future topics will include nutrition and diabetes, mental illness, and joint health.

For more information, or to make a reservation for the October 22nd Healthy U, call 712-243-7479.

CCMH Pharmacists Crystal
Starlin, Pharm-D (left), and Sara Arnold, Pharm-D, will present the October 22nd Healthy U session, “Talk About Your Medicines.”

The Cass County Conservation Board invites you to enjoy the 23rd biannual Halloween Hike, on Saturday, October 24th, as you follow a trail where your “Hunt in the Wild” will start. The event begins at 7:00 p.m., with small groups departing from the Camblin Addition of Sunnyside Park every ten minutes.

Kids twelve and under are encouraged to arrive early to get their faces painted. The last group will depart at 8:10 p.m. and all hikers are welcome to enjoy free tasty treats and warm drinks after their hike. It is NOT the intent of the staff to scare or frighten anyone, but rather to educate and entertain people of all ages.

Pre-registration is required for this FREE event, so call 712-769-2372 or email lkanning@casscoia.us to make your reservations. If you leave a message please leave name, phone number, how many is in your group and what time you wish to depart on the hike.

The Conservation Dept. is also looking for volunteers to help make the event a success. The hike is sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board.