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US says thousands were victims of organic grain fraud scheme

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Prosecutors say thousands of individuals and businesses were victims of a large-scale scheme in which ordinary corn and soybeans were fraudulently marketed nationwide as “certified organic.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, said in a filing Wednesday that potentially “tens of thousands” were defrauded by Randy Constant and his associates into paying a premium for products that they didn’t want.

Constant, of Chillicothe, Missouri, and three others have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Constant, who owned an Iowa grain brokerage, acknowledged that he sold $142 million worth of corn, soybeans and wheat over a 7 ½ year period that wasn’t organic despite his representations.

Constant was aware that most of his product was grown using non-organic methods. The buyers included companies who processed the grain into other products that were marketed as organic.

HEATHER MESSING, 30, of Atlantic (Memorial Svcs. Jan. 4th, 2019)

Obituaries

December 26th, 2018 by admin

HEATHER MESSING, 30, of Atlantic died December 17, 2018 in Hollywood, FL. Memorial Services for HEATHER MESSING will be held 2-p.m. Friday, Jan. 4th, at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Visitation with her family will take place during a luncheon to follow the service, in the Hockenberry Community Room.

Burial, at a later date, will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery at Ida Grove.

Memorials may be directed to the Family.

HEATHER MESSING is survived by:

Her Husband – Mike Messing, of Atlantic.

Her Father – Kevin Lee Culley.

Her Mother – Stephanie Ann Housherr.

Children: Surianna, Chailey, and Liam.

Her Sister – Jennifer Culley.

Her Brother – Shawn Culley.

IRENE ETHEL NELSON, 88, of Las Vegas, NV (Formerly of Adair) (Svcs. Pending)

Obituaries

December 26th, 2018 by admin

IRENE ETHEL NELSON, 88, of Las Vegas, NV (Formerly of Adair) died Monday, December 24, 2018 in Las Vegas, NV. Services for IRENE ETHEL NELSON are pending at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Adair.

JOHN D. JENNI, 91, of Harlan (12-29-2018)

Obituaries

December 26th, 2018 by Jim Field

JOHN D. JENNI, 91, of Harlan died Tuesday, December 25th in Harlan.  Funeral service for JOHN D. JENNI will be held on Saturday, December 29th at 10:00 am in the Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan.

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Friends may call Friday from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm with the family greeting friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the funeral home.

Burial in the Lincoln Township Cemetery of rural Harlan.

Online condolences may be left at www.burmeisterjohannsen.com.

JOHN D. JENNI is survived by:

Daughter:  Sheresa Hampton of Harlan.

Sister:  Rena Willert of Crookston, MN.

4 Grandchildren

10 Great-Grandchildren

1 Great-Great-Grandchild

and other relatives and friends.

Steel and aluminum tariffs remain a ‘headwind’ for agriculture

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Brownfield Ag News via Radio Iowa) — Many Iowa farmers and agri-businesses continue to suffer the effects of steel and aluminum tariffs. Steve Sukup (SOO-kup), CFO of Sheffield-based Sukup Manufacturing, says trade retaliation this year from China, Canada and Mexico has resulted in a 30-percent increase in steel prices. “Our farmers and end-customers that are having to pay the price, and obviously when prices rise everyone takes a little bit of hesitation (asking) if they really want to pay that higher price. But storage is so needed out there. So, it’s a headwind,” Sukup said.

Sukup told Brownfield Ag News he’s surprised U.S. tariffs on Canada and Mexico remain in place despite leaders from all three countries signing a new trade agreement.  “You know, lead times are the same and the only reason prices went up was because the U.S. steel mills could do it,” Sukup said. “And we’ve always bought all U.S. steel, so it feels like we’re getting a double-whammy there.” Sukup is a leading manufacturer of grain storage and grain handling equipment.

Marching band from Le Mars to perform at the Alamo Bowl

News, Sports

December 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa State University football team won’t be the only group from Iowa to take the field at the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, on Friday night. The marching band from Gehlen Catholic School in Le Mars will be performing during halftime. Lisa Niebuhr, the school’s development director, says the entire trip will have an educational focus.

“Educational in the sense of the competition as well as working with the clinicians for the mass band performance on music,” Niebuhr says. “We are doing some history education by going to the Alamo.” There’s also science education planned, too, she says, with a trip to SeaWorld and to some natural caverns. While in Texas, the band will compete in a marching band contest with around 20 other bands that will be there from various sizes of schools participating in the Alamo Bowl festivities.

Niebuhr says the trip also serves as community outreach as the bowls are non-profit organizations with proceeds from the event going to Fort Sam Houston Hospital, which serves members of the military. “Since patriotism and citizenship are an important component of what we do at Gehlen, from everything from our Veterans Day prayer service to saying the Pledge every day, one of the reasons why we choose the Alamo Bowl is because it’s a way for us to give back to our servicemen and women,” she says.

Niebuhr’s husband, Paul, is the band’s director and she notes, the 37-member marching band is getting plenty of attention from across Iowa. Niebuhr says, “It’s a real testimony to our community because Ames and Des Moines have picked up the coverage of Le Mars and even the athletic director from Iowa State sent Paul and I a personal note that we shared with the band and said they’re going to be cheering with Gehlen.” This will mark the sixth time Gehlen has performed at a college bowl game.

3 ex-managers on U. Iowa police force file age bias lawsuits

News

December 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Three former managers at the University of Iowa police department have filed lawsuits claiming that their jobs were eliminated as part of a “culture of discrimination” against older workers. The lawsuits were filed by former UI Department of Public Safety associate director William Searls, Capt. Ian Scott and Capt. Loren Noska.

The three were notified on April 20, 2017 that their jobs were being cut by Director Scott Beckner, who cited “an organizational realignment” as the reason. All three men are in their 50s. Their lawsuits claim that their duties were given to two employees who were less qualified, had less experience with the department and were about 20 years younger.

They also claim Beckner blocked them from consideration for a sergeant’s position that was later advertised even though they were qualified and that he gave the job to a less experienced 32-year-old.

Mills County Sheriff’s report (12/26)

News

December 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports nine people were arrested between last Friday and Christmas Day:

At around 9:40-p.m. on Dec. 25th, 57-year old Brian Lee Hanson, of Emerson, was arrested for Reckless use of Firearm. His bond was set at $300. Separately, 29-year old Bryce Franklin Simmons, of Bellevue, NE, was arrested for OWI/1st offense ( Bond: $1,000).

Three arrests took place in Mills County on Dec. 24th: 32-year old Frank B. Cates, of Clarinda, was arrested for Driving while Barred (Bond: $2,000); 23-year old Jeffery Steven Whitt, of Villisca, was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug, Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug, Possession of Controlled Substance, Possessing Contraband and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Bond $5,300); and, 24-year old Seancody Lee Anderson, of Monroe, WI., was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance (Bond: $1,000).

At around 12:50-a.m. Saturday, 42-year old Chad Allen Fulton, of Malvern, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense, and Open Container (Bond $2,000).  And, there were three arrests Friday in Mills County:  51-year Darren Keith Brooks, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Violation of Protection Order and Domestic Abuse Assault (No Bond); 54-year old Andrew Klusaw, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a Warrant for Violation of Probation (Bond $5,000); and, 51-year old Stephen Curtis Courtney, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Friday on a Warrant for Theft 1st and Ongoing Criminal Conduct (Bond $35,000).

Audubon Police report (12/26)

News

December 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer, Wednesday (today), released a report on arrests dating back to Nov. 30th. Most recently, on Sunday, 27-year old Cassandra Preston Burcham-Hoagland, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on warrants for Violation of Probation and Failure to Appear. On Dec. 21st, 25-year old Joseph Ray Perkins of Audubon, was arrested by Audubon Police, for Domestic Abuse -3rd offense, Criminal Mischief -4th degree and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On Dec. 20th, 30-year old Jay Robert Edwin Pedrin, of Audubon, was arrested for Domestic Abuse.

On Dec. 19th, 24-year old Kaz Ryan Cozad, of Audubon, was arrested on a warrant for Probation Violation. On Dec. 16th, 79-year old James Lionel Wheeler, of Audubon, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct. On Dec. 9th, 50-year old Paul Dana Kay, of Santee, California, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct. On Dec. 5th, 40-year old Joshua Robert Sanders, of Audubon, was arrested for Domestic Abuse. And, on Nov. 30th, 19-year old Dakota Rain Toepfer, of Audubon, was arrested by Audubon Police on a Theft charge.

River Valley OHV Park to remain closed for 2019

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 26th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports the River Valley OHV Park in Council Bluffs, will remain closed for 2019 due to necessary cleanup following floods and a major fire this past summer. The 360-acre park is located just east of the Missouri River and adjacent to a levy that often causes excessive amounts of standing water for extended periods of time following flooding events. After a period of closure, the park was open from 2017 until May 2018 when an illegal campfire destroyed the park and created unsafe conditions for users. Following the fire, several flooding events have occurred which delayed addressing the hazards.

Cleanup work can only take place between November and March due to the Indiana Bat being present in the area. The Indiana Bat is a native of North America and is commonly found in the Midwest and is on the endangered species list. This, coupled with the weather conditions, has created a challenge for the DNR to find a time for potential contractors to evaluate the area on-site in safe conditions and form a plan of removal of the debris.

The park will remained closed until further notice. The park has signage posted and all use of the park is restricted, including motorized and non-motorized recreation. Any violators will be charged with trespassing.