Iowans with questions about the state’s water quality – from drinking water to recreation – can have those questions answered live on Facebook Jan. 14th. DNR staff will answer questions live from noon to 2:30 p.m. To ask a question, post it as a comment on the “Live Q&A” post that the DNR will post at noon that day. You can also post questions ahead of time on the DNR’s Facebook Timeline at www.facebook.com/iowadnr. Questions received after 2:30 will be answered, but at a later time.

DNR staff available for questions during the live water quality Q&A include:

* Bill Ehm, head of the DNR’s Environmental Services Division

* Shelli Grapp, Water Quality bureau chief

* John Olson, senior environmental specialist

To make sure you see the Live Q&A when it is posted, make sure you “like” the DNR’s page on Facebook. Go to www.facebook.com/iowadnr and click on “like” and make sure “get notifications” and “show in news feed” are selected.

Commenters should also view the DNR’s Facebook posting policy ahead of time at https://www.facebook.com/iowadnr/info.

January is National Blood Donor Month and the Petersen family of Walnut is among those celebrating blood donors. Following a diagnosis of botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma (bot´re-oid rhab·do·myo·sar·co·ma) in September 2011, young Noah Petersen relied on blood transfusions to sustain him during chemotherapy treatments. The blood transfusions helped to keep Noah’s hemoglobin levels stable, and he now enjoys farming, trucks, tractors and riding four-wheel off road machines.

Noah Petersen

Noah’s parents are Kevin and Carrie Petersen, of Walnut. Carrie Petersen says “It was such a blessing not to have to worry about Noah when we found out his blood counts were low.” The family is thankful for everyone who gives blood, which can be used for a variety of purposes, including therapies necessary prior to chemotherapy. The family hopes Noah’s story will encourage people to make a commitment to donate blood.

On Jan. 14th, the Elk Horn community blood drive will be dedicated in Noah’s honor in hopes of inspiring others to step up and become heroes to patients like Noah. The blood drive will be held from 11:30-a.m. to 5:30-p.m. at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall (4313 Main St.), in Elk Horn, IA. To make an appointment, call Ann White at 712-764-5888.

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. On average, the Red Cross must collect about 15,000 pints of blood every day to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,700 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. Blood donations are used to treat cancer patients, trauma victims, premature babies, those living with chronic blood diseases and others every day — patients like Noah Petersen.

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information.

Officials with ISU Extension say the West Central Iowa Beef Cattle Forum will be held Wednesday, Jan. 22nd, at the American Legion in the Carroll County town of Arcadia. Chris Clark, beef program specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, said the conference agenda will include a several timely topics and will include information for feedlot, stocker, and cow/calf producers.

Aaron Saeugling, ISU Extension and Outreach Agronomist will provide information on the use of cover crops as alternative forage sources and will focus on practical tips and expectations for cover crop use in west central Iowa. Jan Shearer from the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine will speak about cow/calf and feedlot lameness issues and Grant Dewell from the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine will give a presentation about the veterinary feed directive and judicious use of antibiotics.

Ken Hessenius, Iowa DNR Supervisor Field Office #3 will present on the Iowa DNR/EPA work plan and how that may impact cattle producers over the next few years. Shane Ellis, ISU Extension and Outreach Farm Management Specialist do a beef market update/outlook presentation. Matt Deppe, ICA CEO and Justine Stevenson, ICA Director of Government Relations will also be present to provide updates on Iowa Cattlemen’s Association activities.

The program at the American Legion in Arcadia begins at 9:00 a.m. with registration at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided and will be served at approximately 12:15 p.m. There is no cost for this event, but registrations are necessary to properly plan for meals. Persons interested in attending should make their reservations no later than Jan. 17th, by calling either the ICA office at 515-296-2266, or the Iowa State University Armstrong Research Farm in Lewis, 712-769-2600. For more information about the event please contact Merle Witt at the ICA office or Chris Clark at the ISU Armstrong Research Farm.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Department reports the recent arrests of four individuals. On Wednesday, 35-year old Brian Douglas Lewis was arrested at around 1:25-a.m. on Highway 34 at the Interstate 29 interchange. Lewis was taken into custody on a warrant charging him with two counts of Criminal Mischief. His bond was set at $2,000.

This past Sunday, 25-year old Misty Scoby, of Tea, SD, was arrested at around 7:30-p.m. on I-29 at the 29 mile marker. Scoby was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, the bond for which was $1,000.

And on Saturday, Dec. 28th, Mills County deputies arrested 27-year old Derrick J. Henburg in Pacific Junction, on a charge of Simple Assault. And, 40-year old Michael Lashon Goodman, of Omaha, was arrested on a Warrant for Failure to Have Valid driver’s license. Goodman’s bond was set at $600, while the bond for Henburg was set at $300.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports 43-year old David Michael Boggs, and 35-year old Chad Allen Sharp, both of Atlantic, were arrested on alcohol and/or drug charges Monday, following a traffic stop.

Boggs was charged with OWI 1st Offense and Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd Offense. Sharp faces a Possession of a Controlled Substance charge. Both men were taken to the Cass County Jail. Sharp was released the following day on $1000 bond. Boggs remains at the Cass County Jail on $6000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office reports also, the arrest on January 1st, of 18-year old Melissa Rose Doll. Doll, who’s from Atlantic, turned herself in to the Cass County Jail on a District Court warrant for Violation of Probation. She remains at the Cass County Jail on $10,000 bond.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors took care of several administrative matters during their first meeting of the new year, today (Thursday ). The Board elected Frank Waters, of Cumberland, as Chair, and Gaylord Schelling, of Atlantic, as Vice-Chair. Waters succeeds Mark Wedemeyer for the top post on the Board. Waters announced as Chair, he wanted to make some changes in the time the Board normally meets, on Wednesdays.

Frank Waters (Center) heads up the Thursday meeting of the Cass County Board of Supervisors.

He said by moving the meeting start time from 9-a.m. to 8:30-a.m., it would allow the County Attorney, Mental Health/General Relief Coordinator and Engineer to make their reports first, allow Board member Chuck Rieken to attend his Juvenile Detention Board meetings, and get most business out of the way, allowing the media to leave earlier.

Waters had earlier spoken with members of the local media, who all agreed the 8:30 start time would be more beneficial to them than the 9-a.m start. In other business, the Board of Supervisors approved the 2014 Master Matrix (or, Livestock Facility Construction Evaluation) Resolution, which is unchanged from last year.

They also agreed to leave the County Assessor, Engineer and G.I.S offices where they are in the courthouse, and to move the 9-1-1/Communications Center to the newly purchased building at 707 Poplar Street. Their decision came after 9-1-1 Director Rob Koppert reported on the cost of renovating the lower level of the courthouse to make room for an upgraded and expanded 9-1-1 Center. The cost estimate came following a recent assessment of the lower level from Al Povandra, with Carlson, West and Povandra Architects, in Omaha. Koppert said the fee for remodeling the lower level would amount to $191,855.

Combined with the $214,000 cost of remodeling the Cambridge Law Firm building, the County could have been looking at spending in excess of $400,000 for both projects. Instead, the Board decided it would be more cost effective to leave the Assessor, Engineer and G-I-S offices in the courthouse, where they could also serve the public more effectively. Auditor Dale Sunderman said keeping those offices in the courthouse would also eliminate any potential technical glitches associated with a move into the other building.

The next step is to have an engineering firm look into boring under the street for the installation of data and back-up power supply lines. It will still be quite some time before the 9-1-1/Communications Center is relocated to the newly acquired building.

Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reports the arrest early New Year’s Day morning of a woman on an OWI charge. 36-year old Keisha Ann Ensley, of Hamlin, was taken into custody at around 12:30-a.m., Wednesday, following an incident on Washington Street, in Exira. Ensley was charged with OWI/1st offense and Careless Driving. She was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later released.

The Clarinda Police Department today (Thursday) released information about an accident in Clarinda last Saturday afternoon, that caused a total of $18,000 damage. Police Chief Keith Brothers says a car driven by 87-year old Cleva Jobe, of New Market, was pulling into a parking stall in front of the Weil’s Clothing Store, when she mistakenly stepped on the accelerator pedal instead of the brake.

Her 2009 Pontiac Vibe drove over the curb and hit a concrete decorative flower pot before hitting the front of the store, and breaking the glass window. The vehicle then became high-centered on the window ledge. Employees of the store had to tell Jobe to take her foot off the gas pedal. The accident happened at around 12:06-p.m., Saturday.

No injuries were reported. The car sustained $3,000 damage, while damage to the store was estimated at $15,000. No citations were issued.

An Atlantic woman has announced her candidacy for the Cass County Recorder’s job. Mary Ward said in a press release Thursday morning, that she will be actively campaigning for the position being left vacant at the end of the year by long-time Recorder Joyce Jensen, who announced her retirement from the position on Dec. 23rd. Jensen has served as the Cass County Recorder since 1991.

Ward, who grew up in the Adair area and is a graduate of the Adair-Casey High School, has served as the deputy Recorder in Cass County for the past couple of years. In addition to the experience that position has brought her, Ward has a background of more than 18-years in the insurance industry and 5-years bookkeeping experience.

She and her husband Nathan have lived in the Atlantic area for the past 20-years.

In an update to a story we first reported early Wednesday morning on KJAN, authorities say an Atlantic man was charged with OWI/1st offense and Minor In Possession of alcohol, following a rollover accident on the northwest side of town. 18-year old Austin Leroy Petty, of Atlantic, was also cited for Failure to Maintain Control, after the 1998 Dodge Dakota pickup he was driving went out of control and rolled into a ditch off of Buck Creek Road, about a quarter of a mile north of the compost pile, or one-half mile south of Echo Road. The accident happened at around 1:38-a.m., Wednesday.

Petty was trapped in the pickup, which rolled onto its top. He was extricated from the vehicle and refused medical treatment.  After being booked into the Cass County Jail, Petty was later released on his own recognizance.  Atlantic Police, deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Medivac Ambulance all responded to the scene.