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Strawberry season underway in Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig reported today (Wednesday), that many strawberry growers across the state are now reaching the peak season for many varieties of this delicious crop. Naig encouraged Iowans to visit a local strawberry grower or shop for strawberries at one of Iowa’s many farmers markets. Strawberries go from bloom to fruit in about 30 days and are best eaten within a few days of being picked. Strawberry harvest season only lasts about 4 weeks in Iowa and harvest times vary across the state. Most strawberry growers in the state offer pre-picked and u-pick options at their farms.

“Locally grown, fresh strawberries are a delicious and versatile treat that can be eaten alone or enjoyed as an addition to many recipes. They’re a great crop to kick-off the growing season of purchasing and consuming fresh, Iowa grown fruits and vegetables,” Naig said. As a favorite fruit among many Iowans, strawberries are low in calories and fat-free. One cup of unsweetened strawberries only has 55 calories. Strawberries are also a good source of vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, and fiber.

A family trip to the strawberry patch is a great way to support a local farmer and make memories that will last a lifetime. If visiting a strawberry patch, be sure to call or check the website for their harvest information. Many growers also offer other fruits and vegetables for sale to consumers. You can find strawberry growers by visiting the Fruit and Vegetable Farms Directory at https://www.idalsdata.org/fmnp/index.cfm or on the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association “farm search” page at http://www.ifvga.org/en/about_us/farm_search/.

Body found near Bluffs Casino ID’d

News

June 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs have identified the body of a man who was found near the riverbank just north of the Ameristar Casino, Saturday afternoon. Authorities say he was 22-year old Abdilatif B. Abdi, of Omaha. At this time, cause of death is still under investigation.

Officers were called to the scene at around 3:30-p.m., Saturday. Upon arrival, the Council Bluffs Fire Department located Abdi deceased in the river and brought him to shore.

WW2 soldier’s remains coming home to Iowa for burial

News

June 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

MORNING SUN, Iowa (AP) — The remains of a World War II soldier have been identified and are being sent home to Iowa for burial. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said Wednesday that the remains of U.S. Army Pfc. John Walker will be buried June 20 in his hometown of Morning Sun. The agency says Walker was reported missing on Nov. 24, 1944, after his 1st Infantry Division unit battled Germans near Schönthal, Germany. He was declared deceased in November 1945.

The agency says a German resident found remains in the area in November 1948. They eventually were interred at the Ardennes American Cemetery in Neuville, France. Follow-up research that began in 2016 led to the remains being exhumed, and subsequent DNA and other testing confirmed the remains were those of Walker.

Upset drivers collide in Union County Co-Op parking lot

News

June 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Two woman upset with each other pulled into a Co-Op parking lot in Union County, Tuesday afternoon. The Union County Sheriff’s Office said both driver’s were possibly driving too fast at the time. 22-year old Cheyenne Lindsey White, of St. Joseph, MO., was driving a 2004 Chevy Impala. When she realized the lot was a dead-end, she tried to turn around, and in doing so collided with a 1991 Ford Ranger, driven by 19-year old Mackenzie McKinney, of Afton, as McKinney was still going straight ahead. The accident happened at around 1:30-p.m.  Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000. Authorities said McKinney was operating her vehicle in a “Reckless, erratic, careless, negligent manner, but no citations were issued. There were also no injuries reported.

School district rewrites rules after sex offender volunteers at schools

News

June 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

An eastern Iowa school district is re-examining its policies after letting a convicted sex offender volunteer there. Mid-Prairie School Board officials say they’re on track to have new rules for volunteers in place this August. Ryan Schlabaugh co-chairs the committee that’s drafting the new policy for the district. He says the 30-member group doesn’t want to rush the process.  “The goal is to get it right,” Schlabaugh says. “We can…rush this thing through and have a document and put it in front of the school board very quickly, but it’s not going to be a document that’s been vetted.”

The district has schools in Wellman, Kalona and West Chester. The team working on the new rules is comprised of teachers, law enforcement, elected officials and lawyers. Schlabaugh says other school systems are watching this process. “As we move forward and implement a policy here in August and September, that’s going to be looked at by attorneys and other administrators as to how can that be implemented into our school district to better protect our students, in any district in Iowa.”

Trent Yoder was removed from the state’s sex offender list in 2008 and began volunteering in the Mid-Prairie district in 2015. Though school officials knew his background, it wasn’t made public until April in reports by the Des Moines Register. School board officials say the rules are on track for a final vote on August 27th, two days after the fall semester starts.

(Radio Iowa)

MYRON VARLEY, 87, of Clarinda (Mass of Christian Burial 06/15/2018)

Obituaries

June 13th, 2018 by admin

MYRON VARLEY, 87, of Clarinda died Tuesday, June 12th. Mass of Christian Burial for MYRON VARLEY will be held on Friday, June 15th at 10:30am at St. Clare Catholic Church in Clarinda. Ritchie Funeral Home in Clarinda has the arrangements.

Visitation and lunch will follow the Mass at Ritchie Funeral Home in Clarinda.

Internment with military honors will be held at the Clarinda Cemetery on Friday at 2:30pm.

Memorials may be directed to the St. Clare Catholic Church or the SW Iowa Humane Society.

Memories may be shared at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13th

Trading Post

June 13th, 2018 by admin

WANTED: In search of a gently used rabbit hutch. Text 712-249-9007.

FOR SALE:  Graco Nautilus 65 car seat, never been out of the box.  Asking $90 OBO.  Call 712-249-3999. SOLD!

FOR SALE: Set of 4 Goodyear car tires, like new. T205/75/R15. $175. Call 712-420-3016.

Woman tells officers she purposely rammed ex-boyfriend’s car

News

June 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Nebraska woman is accused of ramming her ex-boyfriend’s car on Interstate 80 in western Iowa. Pottawattamie County Court records say 20-year-old Truniyah McDonald, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with two counts of going armed with intent and one of criminal mischief. Her next hearing is scheduled for June 21.

The Daily Nonpareil reports that Traevon Thompson told officers that she’d called him early Monday morning while they were both in their vehicles headed west on I-80 in Council Bluffs, telling him that she would ram his car. Court records say she told officers she believes Thompson is seeing someone else and so decided to hit his car while pursuing him on the interstate. She says she hit his car twice. Both cars struck the lane divider on the second hit. Neither Thompson nor McDonald was injured.

Recount requested in Cass County Board of Supervisors race – District 3

News

June 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Updated) The Cass County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday morning at the courthouse, to canvass the results of the June 5th Primary Election. Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports after opening and canvassing the returns of each voting precinct in the County, the following Republican candidates were declared as the nominees to their respective office, and will appear on the General Election ballot November 6th (There were No Democrat nominees).

District 2 Supervisor: Mark T. Obrien;

District 3 Supervisor: John Hartkopf – However, a recount of the votes cast for District 3 Supervisors has been requested by Dana Halder, and will be held 3-p.m. Monday, June 18th, at the Cass County Auditor’s Office. (Unofficial results following the Primary, Hartkopf had 161 votes. Dana Halder had 157 and Linda Templeman had 103 votes.)

Other’s nominated include:

Tracey J. Marshall – County Treasurer; Mary Ward – County Recorder; and Michael Donn Hooper – County Attorney.

Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s report, 6/13/18 – 2 men arrested during a traffic stop

News

June 13th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office today (Wednesday) reports two arrests. A traffic stop on a Ford F-250 pickup Tuesday afternoon resulted in the arrest of 68-year old Franklin Jensen, of Neola. Jensen was arrested for Driving While Barred. Also arrested in the pickup, was 25-year old Alexander Xavier Schroder, of Council Bluffs, for Violating an No Contact or Protective Order pertaining to a 26-year old woman from Atlantic.