Cooler temperatures and rain last week helped some of Iowa’s crops. The latest U-S-D-A crop report says the heaviest rain fell in the northeast and southwest portions of the state. The report says that helped soybean conditions improve for the first time in seven weeks. Thirty-seven percent of the soybeans are now rated in very-poor or poor condition, while 38-percent are rated fair and 25-percent are in good to excellent condition. The corn crop saw a slight decline in its condition, with 51-percent in very-poor or poor condition. Thirty-three percent is rated in fair condition and just 16-percent in good to excellent condition.

(Radio Iowa)

A Glenwood High School graduate and former audio-visual technician at the school, has agreed to plea guilty to a charge of 3rd degree sexual abuse, in connection with an incident involving a female student who was 15-years old at the time the incident took place. According to the Omaha World-Herald, 20-year-old Andrew Schoening, of Glenwood, agreed to plead guilty to having sex with the student inside a high school closet on December 20th, 2011, in return for the prosecution not seeking prison time. His attorney had argued the sex was consensual.

The Mills County Attorney says he’ll ask the judge during sentencing on November 5th, to place Schoening on supervised probation, with the stipulation that the conviction remain on Schoening’s record. If he had been convicted of statutory rape, Schoening could have faced up to 10-years in prison. Schoening, who was hired by the Glenwood School District in September 2011, resigned from his position last January, once the allegations became public.

At a grassroots campaign event held this morning at Bayliss Park in Council Bluffs,  President Obama discussed how Congressman Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney’s pick for his Vice Presidential running mate,  is blocking the farm bill that Congress needs to pass in order to provide relief and certainty to U.S. farmers and ranchers. The President also highlighted his Administration’s efforts to mitigate the impact of the current drought – including purchasing livestock to provide assistance to those who need it.

Here are some excerpts of the President’s prepared remarks….

“Right now folks here in Iowa and across the heartland are suffering from one of the worst droughts in 50 years. Farmers and ranchers depend on a good crop season to pay the bills and put a roof over their heads, and I know that things are tough right now.

“The best way to help these states is for leaders in Congress to pass a farm bill that not only helps farmers and ranchers respond to natural disasters, but also makes necessary reforms and gives them some long-term certainty.  But right now, too many members of Congress are blocking that bill from becoming law. Now, I’m told Governor Romney’s new running mate might be around Iowa these next few days. And he’s one of those leaders of Congress standing in the way. So if you happen to see Congressman Ryan, tell him how important this farm bill is to Iowa and our rural communities. It’s time to put politics aside and pass it right away.

“But the folks suffering from this drought can’t wait for Congress to do its job.  So in the meantime, I’ve made sure my Administration is doing everything we can to provide relief to those who need it. Last week, we announced $30 million to help farmers and ranchers, get more water to livestock, and rehabilitate land affected by the drought. Today, we’re announcing that the federal government will help livestock producers by purchasing over $150 million worth of meat and fish now, while prices are low, and freeze it for later.”

An investigation by Sheriff’s Officials in Fremont County into a burglary which occurred on August 4th, has resulted in the arrest of two Council Bluffs residents. 39-year old Nathan Jacob Morris, and 35-year old Tema Elaine Hill, were arrested after Council Bluffs Police stopped a vehicle the pair were in, and located several items that were believed to have been stolen.

Officials say they believe the pair were involved in the burglary of a home in the 2500 block of 278th Avenue in Fremont County, after they received a call about suspicious persons located at the residence. On August 11th, items from the burglary were found in a field in rural Fremont County. The items recovered from Morris and Hill’s vehicle, were not from the original theft reported on the 4th, however.

Both suspects are being held on $10,000 cash bond, facing charges of Burglary in the 3rd degree, Possession of Burglary Tools, Theft, and Child Endangerment. Morris was being held in the Fremont County Jail, while Hill was transported to the Montgomery County Jail. The couple face additional charges associated with other burglaries reported in Pottawattamie and Mills Counties.

Officials say if you have had items stolen recently, you should contact your local law enforcement agency. They add, that it would be a good idea to check any unattended houses or buildings, to make sure nothing has been taken.

A Cass County man faces a felony charge for Possessing Contraband in a Correctional Facility. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department reports 31-year old Travis Austin Moon, of Wiota, an inmate at the Audubon County Jail, faces the charge for “Knowingly introducing and possessing contraband,” while in the correctional facility.  Once he completes his current 30-day sentence for Revocation of Probation, Moon will be held on a $5,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Department reports also 27-year old Benjamin Daniel Jobe, of Audubon, turned himself-in to the Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), on an outstanding warrant out of Audubon County, charging him with Failure to Appear on a Possession of Controlled Substance, and for Revocation of his Probation. Jobe appeared before the magistrate, and was being held in the Audubon County Jail without bond.

Two people were arrested over the weekend in Cass County, on OWI charges. The Sheriff’s department says on Saturday,  Police in Anita arrested 42-year old Jon Steven Fox,  of Casey, on a charge of OWI 1^st Offense. Fox was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released on his own recognizance later that day. And, on Sunday, deputies arrested 46-year old Michael John Ballinger, of Atlantic, on a charge of OWI 1^st Offense. His arrest stems from a single-vehicle accident that took place on Highway 71 at Lansing Road. Ballinger was not injured in the accident, but the 2009 Ford Escape he was driving sustained $15,000 damage. Ballinger was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

Persons who are at least 12 years of age and interested in hunting, are encouraged to sign-up for an online Hunter Safety Education Field Day, set to take place on September 8th, from 8-a.m. until Noon. The Field Day will take place at the Nishna Bend Recreation Area, about 1.5-miles southeast of the Harlan Municipal Airport.

Anyone who was born after January 1st, 1972 must complete a hunter safety education course, in order to obtain an Iowa Hunting license. Go to www.iowadnr.gov to sign-up. You must complete the online class before coming to the Field Day, and you”ll need to bring your online completion voucher with you, in order to be admitted to the Field Day event.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports today (Monday), that a Hamburg man was arrested last week on a aggravated serious misdemeanor charge of Child Endangerment, felony charges of Kidnapping in the 3^rd degree, and domestic abuse assault. 41-year old Lenny Lee James was taken into custody August 7^th. James made his initial appearance in court on Thursday, and was ordered not to have any contact with the alleged victim.

w/ Ric Hanson

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