Grundy Center Iowa News

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Thursday July 29 Delhi Dam Break - What You Can Do? Emergency Unemployment Compensation in Iowa Iowa Road Conditions Today's Obituaries Wednesday July 28 MyEntre.net Webinar - Leveraging the Media: How to get Free Publicity for Your Business Red Cross Grant Wood Area Chapter Joins Nationwide Fundraising Drive Tuesday July 27 DNR Recommends Checking Private Well Water Safety in Northeast Iowa Hay Storage Cost Analyzer Available from ISU Extension Monday July 26 IWD Announces a Deadline Extension for Emergency Unemployment Insurance Benefits Flooding Closes Three North Iowa State Parks, Trout Moved from Manchester Monday July 19 Iowa State Patrol Celebrates 75 Years of Service Remember Food Safety at Farmer's Markets Thursday July 15 MyEntre.net Weibinar Today: What Does the Future Really Hold? Iowa Health Department Receives $4 Million for Preparedness Wednesday July 14 Tall Corn Obstructs Views at Roadway Intersections and Railroad Crossings Floodwaters Receding from State Parks, Some Facilities Still Closed Tuesday July 13 Iowa’s Layoff Notification Law Now in Effect IDPH Issues Annual Disease Report Monday July 12 USDA Awards $36 Million to Support Water Quality in Iowa MyEntre.net Weibinar: What Does the Future Really Hold? Friday July 9 New Rules to Encourage More Small Wind Energy Development Growing Freight Demands Reaching Transportation Crisis Thursday July 8 4-H Gets Academic Home in ISU College of Human Sciences $35 Million in I-JOBS Funds to 71 Communities Wednesday July 7 What Parents Need to Know about Social Media Now is the Time - Consider the Conservation Reserve Tuesday July 6 Deadline Extended to July 15 for ‘Cook This!’ Youth Challenge at Iowa State Fair Wet Conditions Prompt West Nile Concerns Monday July 5 Iowan's Jobless and Injury Benefits Increase $90 Million in Federal Grants to Improve Broadband Access in Iowa Friday July 2 'Ed Thomas Bill' Form Now Available For Iowa Law Enforcement Recent Survey Demonstrates Difficulties Faced By Unemployed Iowans Thursday July 1 Iowa DOT Cautions Travelers About Work Zones over July 4 Holiday Texting While Driving Ban and New Seat Belt Law Take Effect Wednesday June 30 UIU Military Students Earn Degrees While Serving MyEntre.net Webinar: Identity Theft: Are you Protected? Tuesday June 29 Iowa's Early Retirement Program Saves More Money than Anticipated Avoid Areas of Heavy Smoke near Fireworks Displays Monday June 28 Girls Develop Health and Confidence Through ISU Extension Programs Take Steps to Reduce Your Energy Bills and Stay Safe this Summer Friday June 25 Heartland Acres Plans Second Annual Tractor Ride Law Prevents “Light” Terms on Cigarette Packs July 1 Marks New Changes in Mowing/Haying in Right-of-Ways Thursday June 24 22 Iowa Students Earn Honors at National History Contest 4-H Volunteer Program Is Ideal for Former Teachers Wednesday June 23 Camp- grounds Filling for July 4 Holiday 'Operation Dry Water' Coming this Weekend Tuesday June 22 Admissions Partnership Program Northey Encourages Farmers to Update Listings on Iowa Hay and Straw Directory Sending College Students off Safely Monday June 21 NICC, UW-Platte- ville Instructor Invited to Oxford Round Table Iowa Unemploy- ment Rate Dips Slightly to 6.8 Percent Iowa Launches of Broadband Availability Map Friday June 18 Iowa 4-H Foundation Hires New Development Director 2010 Guide to Locally Grown Meats, Fruits, Vegetables now Available Thursday June 17 Education, Training Providers Invited to Apply for Share of $5.8 Million for Green Job Training Opportunities “K2/Spice” Alert Issued by Iowa Drug Policy Coordinator Wednesday June 16 MyEntre.Net Webinar: For the Love of a Pickle Iowa Ranks 2nd in America for Volunteering Tuesday June 15 Iowa Asthma Plan Released Fish Iowa! Celebrating 20 Years of Leading Kids Outdoors Monday June 14 Got a Special Interest? Start a New 4-H Club! Special Summer MyEntre.Net Webinar: Iowa Inventors Group Live Broadcast! Friday June 11 Iowa’s Small Businesses Announce New Growth, Innovations Iowa Affected by Shortage of Pavement Marking Paint Thursday June 10 DCI's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force To Unveil New Web Site $2,358,000 in I-JOBS Vision Iowa Grants Wednesday June 9 Financial Support for Volunteer Work in State Parks Available 2011-2015 Trans-portation Program Approved by Iowa Transportation Commission Tuesday June 8 Primary Election Today Rumbling Down the Center of the Road Monday June 7 Iowa Tourism Office Announces 11 Grants for Out-of-State Marketing Iowa Blazes Trail from Cornfields to Wind Fields Friday June 4 IWD Receives $4.8 Million Grant to Implement Youth Summer Employment Program Iowa Learning Farm Hosts Field Day in Delaware County Thursday June 3 Quitline Iowa to Discontinue Free Patches, Gum 34 Arts Grants Totaling $288,600 Announced Wednesday June 2 MyEntre.Net Webinar: Building Business Through Farmers Markets Iowa State Patrol Gears Up for 2nd Year of Safe Saturdays	Aftermath: Manchester prepares for RAGBRAI Breach! Posted 24 July 2010 Lake Delhi Photos Courtesy of the Iowa State Patrol Lake Delhi Dam Hopkinton ISU Extension Entomologists Offer Recommendations on Protecting Ash Trees Emerald Ash Borer Management Options from Iowa State University Extension on Vimeo. Posted 26 May 2010 The recent discovery of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in northeastern Iowa (Allamakee County) has increased interest in this exotic, invasive insect and what Iowans can do to protect ash trees (Fraxinus species) on their property. Iowa State University Extension is collaborating with Iowa state regulatory agencies and local officials to limit the spread of EAB into other areas of Iowa. For a full list of EAB detection and education activities, please visit here. Treatment options to protect ash trees from this destructive pest are available, but careful and thoughtful analysis is needed to circumvent spread of false information and excessive and needless use of insecticides. Forest, horticulture and insect specialists with ISU Extension have developed a guide that outlines your management options against EAB. The first step for many is confirming that you do have an ash tree. Only ash trees are susceptible to EAB attack; all species and varieties of ash trees are at risk. Second is determining if the ash tree is in vigorous health. Trees must be healthy and growing for treatments to be effective. Compromised trees that have mechanical injuries, loose bark or thin canopy or are struggling to grow in poor sites with limited rooting area, compacted soil or other stresses are not worth treating. If the tree is apparently healthy and is valuable in your landscape, then preventive treatment options may be considered. Insecticide control measures against EAB should not be used unless you live within 15 miles of the confirmed EAB infestation. Based on today’s announcement, the upper portion of Allamakee County is within this risk zone. However, due to the isolated incidence and associated remote terrain of the infested site, treatment in Iowa is still not recommended at this time. Protecting ash trees with insecticides is a long-term commitment. Most treatments will need to be reapplied annually or twice per year for an interminable number of years to protect the tree. With that in mind, many would be ahead to remove and replace susceptible trees. ISU Extension has a publication on the topic, PM 2084, "Emerald Ash Borer Management Options," released June 2009. The publication can be downloaded from the ISU Extension Online Store here. The North Central Region IPM Center’s “Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees from EAB” was issued May 2009 and is available on the ISU emerald ash borer website here. It's The Nadas! The Nadas welcome home Shawn Johnson The Nadas | MySpace Music Videos Posted 14 May 2010 One of the state's most popular bands will be the concert headliner for Manchester's Ragbrai event. The Nadas will perform Friday night, July 30th. The Nadas are a group of rockers from Des Moines. Over the past sixteen years, The Nadas have built a strong community of fans and together they have sold more than 125,000 albums through their own Authentic Records, including 2003’s Transceiver and 2005’s Listen Through The Static, both produced by Todd and Toby Pipes of Deep Blue Something, as well as 2007’s The Ghosts Inside These Halls. Now, with Almanac, their seventh LP, they are confident they will continue to grow their community, bringing in new fans and new beginnings. The Nadas will perform at Manchester's Ragbrai event late Friday night in the main entertainment area near the Delaware County Courthouse, though the exact time have not been set. Along with The Nadas, the Entertainment Committee also plans to hold at least two other concerts in the afternoon and evening. More details will be announced when those performances are finalized. Opportunities Are Evolving in Region 9, Ricks Says R9 from Iowa State University Extension on Vimeo. Posted 10 May 2010 The counties in Iowa State University Extension’s Region 9 are reaping benefits from working regionally, according to director Allen Ricks. The region includes Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Grundy and Tama counties. Each elected county extension council in the region hired a county-funded educator to provide leadership within the county. He meets with this leadership group monthly, Ricks said. In addition, he meets regularly with the extension council chairs. “As the county educators have met together, we’ve talked about disaster planning, recognizing that in 2008 and 2009 our region had its share of pretty significant disasters — flooding and then the tornado in Butler County, and then last year hail storms. So we have made a pledge amongst the educators that we will be a mutual aid society. If a disaster strikes in any one of our counties, the others will come to assistance. I see that as another sign of strength and success as we’re working together in Region 9.” The region also is pursing a grant dealing with food security issues and has hired an agriculture education student from Iowa State to serve as a regional 4-H intern and assist with all six county fairs this summer. “I think the opportunities will continue to evolve over time,” Ricks said. “My approach has not been one of trying to present my own agenda, but to let the agenda grow from the conversations that occur with the leadership of the counties. I believe that’s the effective way.” Ricks is one of 20 regional extension education directors. The positions were created a year ago as part of ISU Extension’s restructuring plan to facilitate an issue-based approach to delivering ISU Extension programming and resources. Ricks works directly with county extension council members to meet their legal obligations as an elected body. Together they are identifying new ways to work across county borders, provide educational programming that addresses significant issues and evaluate the results of multi-county and regional efforts. To learn more about ISU Extension programs, contact Ricks at 319-234-6811 or alricks@iastate.edu, or visit the ISU Extension website, www.extension.iastate.edu. More Farmers Using ISU Extension Farm Financial Planning Analysis Posted 19 April 2010 An increasing number of Iowa farm families are turning to Iowa State University Extension for a farm financial and production evaluation before making changes. Mike Duffy, ISU Extension farm financial planning program director, said demand for the program has picked up in recent months. Forty families requested the analysis during the first three months of 2010, compared to 57 families served by the program the previous 18 months. “Evaluating your farm business and determining whether or not a change is desirable is an essential part of any farm management plan,” said Duffy. “The farm financial planning program helps farmers and farm families evaluate their situation. Some want to analyze their current operation as to its profitability, liquidity and risk bearing ability; others are looking at areas where improvements can be beneficial to their operation.”  ISU Extension farm management associates conduct the farm financial planning program in a one-on-one counseling setting using a computerized model to evaluate the changes.  In addition to the analysis, they often provide referrals to other sources of information that might be available to the family. The program is currently funded by a grant from CF Industries which covers the time and travel of the associates running the analysis. Ralph Mayer is one of the 12 Iowa farm management associates. “I begin by talking to the farmer, or farm family, to get a general idea what they are looking for from the analysis, as that will impact the information we need to run it.” Mayer says that most frequently farmers want to evaluate a change to the operation – that might be renting an additional farm, buying a farm or changing a crop or livestock enterprise. At the conclusion of the conversation, Mayer asks the farmer to supply the basic information needed to run the analysis – financial and production information for the operation and information about any potential changes. “Having this information is extremely critical because the more detailed and accurate that information is, the more meaningful and useful the analysis will be.” FINPAK, the computer analysis used by the program, provides in-depth information about the farm, evaluates it as it currently exists and gives information as to the financial impact that a change may have going forward. This “third party” point of view was exactly what Mary Clare and Anne Sweeney needed when they contacted ISU Extension for an analysis last winter. The Sweeney sisters, fourth generation Dubuque County farmers, manage and work on the family farm with some help from their three brothers. “This computer assessment has helped us make better financial decisions, especially regarding our dilemma and uncertainty about whether to continue raising livestock or rent our entire farm,” said Mary Clare Sweeney in an email to Duffy. “The clear and concise printouts presented the financial ramifications of each of our options; we can now make much more realistic decisions.” Sweeney was also impressed with the dedication of her farm associate, Charles Morine, when he traveled through bad weather and at a distance to conduct the program’s services. “Chuck explained the program very clearly and left no doubt in our minds as to the benefit of the analysis,” she continued. “He was able to answer related financial questions and direct us to other resources available in our area. We are very grateful for the help we received.” Farmers interested in the farm financial planning analysis should contact their local extension office or Duffy at mduffy@iastate.edu. To learn more about the program, visit the farm financial planning Web site www.extension.iastate.edu/farmanalysis. World's Largest Tractor Coming to Iowa Posted 8 March 2010 “Big Bud 16V - 747”, the world’s largest tractor, will be making its way to Iowa for the first time ever this spring.  Arriving in April, Big Bud has representatives of Heartland Acres in Independence expecting big things for visitors who come to the agriculture museum.  “All of us who have worked to get “Big Bud” to come to Independence are very excited”, stated Heartland Acres Board member Craig Johnson.  “This is a great opportunity to bring more visitors to Independence and Northeast Iowa.”  Built in Havre, Montana in 1977, “Big Bud” was 1 of over 500 “Big Bud” brand tractors that were built by Ron Harmon and the crew of the Northern Manufacturing Company.  “Big Bud” is the only 16V-747 model that was produced and was specifically designed to produce higher horsepower to deep-plow cotton fields for the Rossi Brothers near Bakersfield, California.  The tractor was built to produce 760 horsepower using a 16-cylinder Detroit Diesel engine but has operated at 980 horsepower. “Big Bud” measures 27 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 14 feet tall and weighs over 130,000 pounds. “Big Bud” will be making its way to Iowa for the first time in history and with tractor enthusiasts located throughout the Midwest, an increase of tourists to Independence is almost certain.  “Big Bud is known globally so this is not only an exciting opportunity for our area, but for the entire Midwest”, commented Heartland Acres Events Manager Mike McGill.  “We have reached out to the state tourism office as well as over twenty other organizations that we partner with in ag tourism to help us as we plan for Big Bud’s arrival.”     As a member benefit, Chamber members across the state will receive a discount on adult admission to Heartland Acres while Big Bud is being displayed.  “Participating organizations and their members will receive $2 off the adult admission by showing our staff this article, a membership card or by simply stating that they’re visiting as a member of the Chamber of Commerce”, added McGill.  Visitor’s to Heartland Acres will be able to see “Big Bud 16V-747” from April 12th until July 31st; making it the longest stop at any site in its tour history.    For more information about “Big Bud” and Heartland Acres visit www.heartlandacresusa.com or call 319-332-0123. From Sap to Syrup: Interest in Making Maple Syrup Grows in Iowa Sap to Syrup...In Iowa? from Iowa State University Extension on Vimeo. Posted 1 March 2010 More and more Iowans are seeking what literally has been an untapped resource — the sap in the state’s maple trees, says Jesse Randall, a forester with Iowa State University Extension. They want to make maple syrup, and Randall and Iowa State’s Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management are showing them how, just in time for the 2010 syrup season. Iowa DOT Asks Iowans to Put Safety First Posted 4 February 2010 A series of winter storms this year has caused many Iowans to become stranded or their vehicles to run off the road. No one can predict when he or she might become the next victim of bad weather, but we can all be prepared just in case. It can happen to you. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has developed a short video that identifies the basic necessities that you should carry in your vehicle, and describes what you should do if you become stranded. To survive, stay inside your vehicle and use the resources in your survival kit. Do not attempt to walk for help or try to remove your vehicle from the snow. Don’t put if off any longer. Now is the time to assemble your survival kit. Learn what to carry and tips to survive by watching this new video at http://www.iowadot.gov/ or http://www.youtube.com/iowadot RAGBRAI Overnight Towns Announced Posted 31 January 2010 The overnight stops for RAGBRAI XXXVII have been announced.  This year's RAGBRAI participants will encounter one of the flatest and shortest routes in the event's history.  RAGBRAI 2010, which will cover 442 miles from Sioux City to Dubuque July 25th through the 31st, is ranked the 3rd easiest as far as hills and mileage is concerned.  Overnight towns include Storm Lake, Algona, Clear Lake, Charles City, Waterloo and Manchester. Cool Video: Bionic Contact Lenses Bionic contact lenses Posted 25 January 2010 The wave of the future! Two New 'Wild' License Plates Revealed  Posted 12 January 2010 Two new Iowa license plates to help fund natural resources will be available for purchase at county treasurers' offices this spring. The plates were unveiled by Lt. Gov. Patty Judge Saturday at the State Capitol during the Resource Enhancement And Protection (REAP) Congress. The two new designs, featuring a brook trout and a deer, will attract two of the largest groups of Iowan outdoor enthusiasts, anglers and deer hunters, said Ross Harrison, DNR REAP coordinator. The license plates were designed by Cedar Rapids artist Greg Bordignon. At a purchase price of $45, and annual renewal of $25 for the numbered plates, the REAP program receives $35 from each purchase and $10 from renewals. The DNR's Wildlife Diversity program gets $10 from the purchase and $15 from renewals. The two new plates join three others dedicated to those natural resource programs: the goldfinch/rose, pheasant and eagle plates which together generate about $1 million a year and outsell all of the state's other specialty plates. Bordignon also designed the current pheasant and eagle plates. Harrison predicted the two new plates may double the current income within two years because of the popularity of the designs. "The brook trout is Iowa's only native trout, and is the best indicator of water quality of any fish species." REAP provides funding to cities, counties and state conservation efforts, as well as to landowners and conservation organizations and individuals. Currently funded at $18 million in appropriations from state gaming revenues, the license plate income is added on top of that amount. REAP's public participation component includes a congress every two year for citizen input into running the program. The DNR's nongame wildlife program uses its license plate revenue to match federal money for projects dealing with wildlife that are not hunted or fished, and therefore not managed by use of hunting and fishing license revenue.     Resource Enhancement And Protection, plate information Cool Internet Video Posted 11 January 2010 The 24/7 Network is proud to present a new feature for 2010.  It will not come as a surprise that the crew at JJC Media spends a lot of time on the internet.  We come across a lot of really cool stuff and will share it with you using a couple of new features: Cool Internet Video and Cool Internet Tools.  If you come across cool things to share please let us know at jjcmedia@jjcmedia.com. Today's Cool Internet Video:  Kseniya Simonova is a Ukrainian artist who just won Ukraine's version of "America's Got Talent." She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting" skills to interpret Germany's invasion and occupation of Ukraine during WWII.

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