Farmland values in Iowa have dipped for the second year in a row according to the U.S.D.A. The U-S-D-A’s National Agricultural Statistics Services estimates the average price for Iowa “cropland” is now eight-thousand dollars ($8,000) an acre. That’s a nearly two-and-a-half percent decline from 2015. Experts say the drop is fueled by low commodity prices. The average price for Iowa land used as pasture for livestock is 34-hundred dollars, unchanged from a year ago.

A spring survey of realtors who sell Iowa farmland indicated a bigger drop in the price for Iowa cropland, of nearly nine percent. The U.S.D.A.’s report concluded the total value for farm real estate in Iowa is 244 TRILLION dollars. That’s the value of all the agland as well as the barns and farmhouses in Iowa.

The RENTAL price for cropland in Iowa averaged 235-dollars ($235) an acre for this growing season. That’s down 15 dollars an acre from a year ago.

(Radio Iowa)

An “anti-Trump” Republican plans to run for president as an independent — and he has until Friday, August 19th to collect enough qualifying petition signatures to get his name printed on Iowa’s General Election ballots. Forty-year-old Evan McMullin is a former C.I.A. counter-terrorism operative. He’s left his job as the chief policy director for Republicans in the U.S. House and is running as an independent candidate for president. He’s already missed the filing deadline in two dozen states.

To get his name on Iowa’s 2016 General Election ballot, McMullin and his supporters must do this: They have to circulate nominating petitions and get the signatures of at least 15-hundred Iowa registered voters — and Iowans from at least 10 counties must be represented on those petitions.

In 2004, Ralph Nader’s supporters had to collect petition signatures to get his name printed on the Iowa ballot. A John Kerry supporter challenged some of the signatures, but a three-member panel approved the petitions and Nader was listed as an independent candidate that year. In 1992, Ross Perot’s supporters completed a similar petition process and Perot was listed as the Reform Party candidate on Iowa ballots.

In 1980, former Republican Congressman John Anderson of Illinois ran for president as an independent in every state.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowans are being reminded to beware of phone calls from someone claiming to be with the Internal Revenue Service. One of the would-be scammers called a radio station in southwest Iowa recently and the entire call was recorded.  “Sir, the reason behind the call is to inform you there is a lawsuit filed against your name by the IRS regarding the tax evasion,” the caller said. “Are you aware about this lawsuit before?” When the radio station employee said no, the caller began with the scam.

“We came to know there were some miscalculations, some errors in your tax filing,” the caller said. “I’m not blaming on you that you’ve not paid your taxes. I know you pay your tax regularly, but the amount you’re filing as your tax was not correct. You were filing some of the wrong amounts which you actually have to pay to the government as your tax.” The caller didn’t like being questioned.

“I want to notify you that this line are being recorded and monitored by the IRS,” he said. “Please do not interrupt me and listen to me very carefully. Once I complete my part, after that, I will give you time to ask me the question, but until that time, you have to listen to me very carefully.” The scammer claimed the IRS was owed nearly 39-hundred dollars which needed to be paid immediately.

Upon being informed he’d called a radio station and that the conversation was being recorded, he hung up. Iowans are warned to not give this sort of caller any personal information and to just hang up. The I-R-S does not conduct business this sort of business on the phone. It’s done by mail.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa side of a pedestrian bridge that connects Omaha, Nebraska, to Council Bluffs has reopened. The Daily Nonpareil reports that the bridge reopened Tuesday morning after closing early Monday for construction work. The Iowa side of the bridge had been scheduled to remain closed until 6 p.m. Tuesday, but officials say work near the entrance at Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park in Council Bluffs was completed early.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say they’ve arrested a 30-year-old Des Moines mother after finding her toddler alone in his home’s backyard sucking on a frozen chicken breast. Television station KCCI reports that officers went to the home Monday and found the 2-year-old boy alone in a filthy diaper. A small dog was also in the backyard, trying to get the chicken from him. The mother was later arrested on suspicion of child endangerment and drug possession.

MONTROSE, Iowa (AP) — Voters in southeast Iowa’s Lee County will decide whether to end their unique status as the state’s only county with two functioning courthouses. The Hawk Eye in Burlington reports the Lee County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 Tuesday morning to place a bond referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot seeking funding for a new courthouse estimated to cost $8.5 million. Officials haven’t determined where the courthouse would be located but Supervisor Don Hunold has suggested it be built in Montrose.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) — The chief Wapello County prosecutor says two Ottumwa officers were justified in shooting an armed man. The officers were checking a report June 25 about a man shooting a rifle. Police have said the man wouldn’t put down his rifle and pointed it toward one of the officers before they fired, striking him twice.

Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns this (Tuesday) afternoon, released an updated list of persons who have filed nomination papers to run for County Offices during the November 8th General Election. The candidates whose names will appear on the ballot include:

• Steve Green, of Atlantic -Republican candidate for the Cass County Board of Supervisors in District 1. (Elect 1)
• Dana Kunze, of Griswold – Democrat candidate for the Cass County Board of Supervisors in District 4. Kunze will face a challenge from Republican Steve Baier, who’s also from Griswold. (Elect 1)
• Two candidates have filed to run for the Cass County Board of Supervisors in District 5: Republican Incumbent Frank Waters, of Cumberland, and No Party candidate Randy J. Pollock, of Anita. (Elect 1)
• Cass County incumbent Republican Auditor Dale Sunderman is currently unopposed in his bid for re-election, as is Cass County Republican incumbent Sheriff, Darby McLaren. (elect 1 for each position)
• And, three Republicans have filed papers to fun for the County Agricultural Extension Council. They include incumbents: Julie Aupperle, of Wiota, and Darrin Petty, of Atlantic, and Marcy Jo Dorsey, of Anita. (4 seats are open on the Council)
• Union Township Trustee: Incumbent Republican Delmar South, of Cumberland.

The last day to file, nomination papers is Aug. 31^st. Nomination petitions and other election forms are available at the office of the Cass County Auditor, as well as from the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office at sos.iowa.gov.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa side of a pedestrian bridge that connects Omaha, Nebraska, to Council Bluffs has reopened. The Daily Nonpareil reports that the bridge reopened Tuesday morning after closing early Monday for construction work. The Iowa side of the bridge had been scheduled to remain closed until 6 p.m. Tuesday, but officials say work near the entrance at Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park in Council Bluffs was completed early.

Bridge users were still able to access the Nebraska side of the bridge throughout the construction work.

Audubon County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Jensen reports Audubon County Secondary Roads will be closing a one-mile section of 190^th Street later this week, due to road surface and culvert work. The work zone is located in the 1000 block of 190th Street, between Yellowwood Road and Bluebird Avenue. The construction project is expected begin Aug. 11th and last about two-weeks, weather permitting. During the project, crews will be repairing culverts, cleaning ditches and re-grading the road.

During most of the project, 1012 190th Street will only be accessible from the west. However, the intersection of Yellowwood Road and 190th will also be undergoing some work. Prepare to plan alternate routes for emergency response to nearby residents. If you have any questions, call the Audubon County Engineer’s Office at 712-563-4286.

The Harlan Police Department reports 71-year old  Michael Childs, of Harlan, was taken into custody August 2nd, when officers were called to investigate an accident in the 1900 block of 19^th Street. The investigation determined a 2014 Mercedes driven by Childs collided with a 2014 Chevrolet truck parked on 19^th Street. The truck was registered to Jerod Mathiasen, of Harlan. Damage from the crash amounted to $16,000. Childs was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.  Childs was also cited for failure to maintain control.

On August 3rd, an unidentified 17-year old male was cited for a curfew violation when he was observed riding a bicycle in the 700 block of Court Street at approximately 2:30-a.m. Officials say the city has an ordinance that states children under the age of 18 (minor children) must be off the public streets, out of the public parks and otherwise to be at a private residence, between the hours of 12:30-a.m. and 5:00-a.m.  The male subject was cited and released to his mother.

Also on August 3rd, Harlan Police arrested 55-year old Lee Hansen, of Elk Horn, following a traffic stop.  Hansen was taken to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving while barred. And, on August 4th, Harlan Police Officers were called to investigate vandalism to a truck in the 1300 block of Grand Avenue.  There are no suspects and the investigation continues.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet in a regular session Wednesday (Aug. 10th) in the High School Media Center, beginning at 5:30-p.m., among the items on their agenda, is discussion (following the action items), with regard to the District’s cell phone policy.

During their meeting July 13th, the Board discussed the possibility of adopting a blanket cell phone policy, which would cover all the district’s schools, not just the High School, Schuler and Washington Schools. Those facilities ban cell phone usage during the school day, anywhere in the buildings. The Atlantic Middle School currently has a separate policy in place, according to School Board member Jenny Williams. She says the Middle School allows cell phones on a student’s person but  must be turned off.

Williams said she preferred to have a policy that is consistent across the board. She said once students walk into the district’s buildings, their cell phones should be kept in their backpacks and not be used until the end of the day. She cited studies tying high cell phone use during the school day as a factor in lowering students’ GPA’s. School Board member Dr. Keith Swanson pointed to an article in the Wall Street Journal, that said a Rutgers’s University Professor is banning cell phones and all electronic devices in his classrooms this fall. Swanson said the studies he’s read prove that “People who take notes physically have a much better memory than those who just type them into an electronic device.” He added “And we are no longer teaching kids to write.”

Other discussion during the meeting will focus on the District’s facilities, and IASB legislative priorities. Action items on the agenda include a Resolution directing the sale of $5.89-million in School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2016. Action on the bond matter will be preceded by consideration of financing proposals opened and reviewed by Superintendent Mike Amstein, Board Secretary Mary Beth Fast and the Placement Agent.

Later, the Board will act on approving the resignations of Trace Petersen as Head Baseball Coach and Jared Merkel as Assistant Freshman Football Coach. Also, contracts or Letters of Assignment for: Terry Hinzman as Head 7th grade Boys Basketball Coach; Trace Petersen as Head 7th grade Girls Basketball Coach & 8th grade boys Track Coach; Gaylord Schelling as Asst. Junior Varsity Football Coach; Brandon Krause as Asst. Freshman Football Coach; Julia Gross as Asst. Cross-Country, Boys/Girls; Michelle McLaren as 8th grade Volleyball Coach, and Macie Silliman, as Head Middle School Cross Country Coach.

The Iowa DNR says Iowa hunters this fall will have access to hunt on more than 25,000 acres of private land on 132 sites around the state as part of a program that helps landowners improve habitat on portions of their land in exchange for allowing hunter access.

The Iowa Habitat and Access Program (IHAP) provide expertise and funding to landowners who are interested in improving wildlife habitat on their property. Landowner participation varies from three to 10 years depending upon the contracts.

“Hunters told us they felt access to private land was an important step to improving their hunting experience and to attracting new hunters to the outdoors. We were fortunate to have this opportunity to provide them with access to these areas through the IHAP,” said Kelly Smith, private lands program coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources who manages the IHAP.

Areas are posted with signs, are regularly patrolled by Iowa DNR conservation officers and will be treated like public hunting ground, with the noted exception that it is private property.

“Hunters should respect private property, stay on the land enrolled in the program and pick up after themselves,” Smith said. “This program is only available because landowners were willing to participate in it.”

Site maps are available at www.iowadnr.gov/ihap showing boundaries, which species would be most likely attracted to the habitat and the location of a checkout box where hunters are asked to leave their comments on the program. The checkout cards are used to evaluate the program to see if hunters are getting what they expected from the program.

Walk-in public hunting through IHAP is available between September 1 and May 31. The IHAP is supported with money from Federal Farm Bill and Habitat Stamp.