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Sheffield water tests high for nitrates

August 3, 2009 By

Officials in the northern Iowa town of Sheffield are warning parents of infants under six months old not to give water to their children due to high levels of nitrates in the water. A news release from the city late last week showed that testing on water samples taken on July 30th showed that nitrate levels were at 13.58 milligrams per liter, above the maximum nitrate standard level of 10 milligrams.

The city says boiling, freezing or letting the water stand does not reduce the nitrate level and parents should not use it to make formula or juice. Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing excess nitrates could become seriously ill, and if left untreated, may die.

Symptoms include shortness of breath and "blue baby syndrome," which is indicated by blueness of the skin. The city says nitrate levels can be impacted from natural, industrial or agricultural sources including septic systems and run-off, and can vary throughout the year. When contacted today, Sheffield City Clerk Deb Hartman refused an interview to provide updated information on the situation.

 

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Politics & Government

Ag/Air show in Sioux City called a success

August 3, 2009 By

Organizers of a weekend show in Sioux City that featured airplanes and agriculture equipment say they’re pleased with the turnout for the event. The inaugural Sioux City Air and Ag Expo featured demonstrations of planes like the F-16 fighter and A-10 Warthog, along with displays of brand new and classic ag equipment.

The Iowa National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City put on the expo. Wing Commander Brian Miller says it was conceived as a way of saying "thanks" to the surrounding community for its support. Miller says the guard can’t do what it does without good people and he says those people come from all the surrounding communities.

It’s the first such show of its kind, and South Dakota farmer Lynn Mollet says the mix of military aircraft and ag equipment was a perfect fit. Mollet says it’s a rural population and a lot of people want to see the ag equipment, and they also like to see the airplanes.

Attendance at the two-day event approached 20,000 and Colonel Miller says he plans on holding an even bigger Air and Ag Expo next year. 

Filed Under: Agriculture, Military Tagged With:

Motorcyclist killed in accident near Crescent

August 3, 2009 By

One person was killed, another injured, when the motorcycle they were riding crashed Sunday morning north of Crescent in southwest Iowa’s Pottawattamie County. Sheriff Jeff Danker says 55-year-old Kenneth Tomford and 48-year-old Sandra Tomford, both of Council Bluffs, were riding a 2002 Honda motorcycle on northbound Old Lincoln Highway near the intersection of Coldwater Avenue, when the cycle went out of control at about 9:15 AM and entered the east ditch.

Kenneth Tomford was taken by Life Flight helicopter to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he died from his injuries. Sandra Tomford was taken by ambulance to an area hospital where she was treated for broken bones. Her injuries were not considered to be life threatening. Neither rider was wearing a helmet.

 

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters

Habitat for Humanity voluteers in Cedar Rapids drop off

August 3, 2009 By

In June, more than 500 people took part in the Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity Build-a-Thon. Since then, the number of volunteers have dwindled and the 20 homes sit unfinished. Karen DeMoor is one of the people waiting to move into her new Habitat for Humanity home. Currently, she and her kids are located in a small apartment.

"I have two small children, a boy and a girl, so the boy is in one room, the girl in the other room and I sleep in the living room on a futon," DeMoor said. Jeff Capps, with Habitat for Humanity, expected the volunteer numbers to drop off after the June build-a-thon.

"By design, we have smaller crews in the range of 15 to 25," Capps said. But, some days, volunteer crews aren’t even that big. Capps says he’d like to present home recipients with their keys by the end of the month, but he’s not sure if all of the work will be finished.

"We have all this support from across the country, now we absolutely need the local volunteers to help finish them out. And I hope people respond to that call," Capps said. Volunteers are working 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at two sites in Cedar Rapids. For more information or to volunteer call (319) 366-4485.

 

Filed Under: Human Interest

One killed six injured in Crawford County accident

August 3, 2009 By

One person was killed, six injured, in a two-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon in western Iowa’s Crawford County. The Iowa State Patrol says the crash between a Chevy Impala and a Jeep Cherokee happened six-miles south of Denison at the intersection of Highways 141 and 59.

According to authorities, the 2009 Impala, driven by 70-year-old Gerald Frederickson, of Turin, was traveling south on Highway 59 while another vehicle was traveling north.

Frederickson turned left onto Highway 141 and did not see the northbound 2001 Cherokee, driven by 27-year-old Noah Mayer, of Harlan. Frederickson’s car was hit on the passenger side by the SUV. The impact killed 71-year-old Judith Frederickson, of Turin. Mayer, along with four passengers in his vehicle, 46-year-old Ricky Dean, of Harlan, 29-year-old Mark Gunderson, 22-year-old Cory Leslie and 21-year-old Schuyler Keisel, were injured.

Dean was flown by air ambulance to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The others were taken by ground ambulance to the Crawford County Hospital in Denison. At least two of the passengers in Mayer’s Jeep were not wearing their seatbelts. The Patrol says both of the Frederickson’s were buckled-up in their Impala.

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters

Des Moines girl hit when shotgun goes off in Deputy’s car

August 3, 2009 By

A young Des Moines girl was wounded last night after a law officer’s shotgun went off at a family fun event in a capitol city park. Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy Keith Onley’s cruiser was on display during Clowns at the Carousel in Des Moines’ Union Park. The squad car was open for tours and an unidentified boy apparently pulled the trigger on the shotgun, which was secured in the gun rack.

Department spokesperson, deputy Jana Rooker says a by-stander, three-year-old Ashya Wade, was hit in the arm and chest. Rooker says, "We’re not sure what she was actually hit by, whether it was the pellets from the shotgun or if it was the glass coming through as it was punctured and flew out towards the crowd."

She says the back door on the driver’s side of the squad car was open and the shotgun blast blew out a small window on the back door. The girl’s injuries are said to be non-life-threatening, though she’s reportedly still in the hospital. Rooker could not say whether Deputy Onley, who’s been on the force about 12 years, will be facing a reprimand or suspension over what happened.

Rooker says, "There definitely could be and I don’t think that that has been decided yet by our administration here at the sheriff’s office, so I’m not sure what kind of repercussions there may be." She says there are differing reports from witnesses as to exactly what happened and it’s unclear if the deputy left the gun ready to fire.

"By our policy, there can be shells in the magazine however not in the chamber," Rooker says. "In order for the gun to fire, there had to be one in the chamber at the time the trigger was pulled. How that shell actually got in the chamber is yet to be determined." The case is under investigation by both the sheriff’s office and Des Moines police.

In early June, another incident involving a Polk County deputy’s shotgun resulted in the death of an Urbandale man who was threatening suicide. In an effort to subdue the man, the deputy shot him with what was supposed to be a "beanbag" or non-lethal round. The shell was actually a regular round and the man died. 

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Fires/Accidents/Disasters

Farmers markets increasing in popularity

August 3, 2009 By

From fresh-picked tomatoes and sweet corn to homemade pies and jams, Iowans love the wide selection of delicious, nutritious food at their nearest farmers market. Bill Northey, Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture, says a survey a few years ago aimed to measure the economic impact of the parking lot marketplaces.

"The survey said that we had $31.5 million worth of products moving through our farmer’s markets and that was direct sales," Northey says. "We think that number’s increased dramatically as we’ve seen markets are bigger and more markets in the state. Right now we have 220 farmers markets in the state." More than 135,000 Iowans shop regularly at their local farmers market during the typical 22-week season in 88 of Iowa’s 99 counties.

"We have a tradition in Iowa of liking to know where our food came from," Northey says. He recalls growing up and working in his family’s garden for his parents and says "the chance to be able to look across the table and see somebody who raised our food brings us back to that and makes us feel a little more secure in where it came from." He says fixing fresh food from farmers markets adds "personality" to our meals.

This is Iowa Farmers Market Week and Northey notes the already-popular markets will be offering events to provide added incentives to consumers. The Iowa Department of Agriculture is partnering with 19 markets throughout the state. Dollar-off coupons are being distributed to shoppers at their markets to redeem toward the purchase of locally-grown produce. Also, each market will be handing out reusable market totes, recipes packets and will host a cooking demonstration or a tasting booth.

The markets taking part are: Cherokee Area Farmers Market; Clarke County Farmers Market (Osceola); Davenport Farmers Market (Mississippi Valley Growers Association); Drake Neighborhood Farmers Market (Des Moines); Highland Park Farmers Market (Des Moines); Humboldt Farmers Market; Independence Farmers Market; Knoxville Farmers Market; Lakes Area Farmers Market (Spirit Lake); Lone Tree Farmers Market; Manchester Farmers Market; North Grand Farmers Market (Ames); Oelwein Farmers Market; Oskaloosa Farmers Market; Ottumwa Farmers Market; Rolfe Farmers Market; Spencer Farmers Market; West Burlington Open Air Market; Winneshiek County Farmers Market (Decorah).

For a directory of all farmers markets statewide, visit the Iowa ag website at: http://idalsdata.org/IowaData/farmersMarket.cfm .

Filed Under: Agriculture Tagged With:
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