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Iowa ag secretary candidates offer views on carbon pipeline projects

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says a “significant” percentage of landowners should agree to let carbon pipelines run through their property before any developer is granted eminent domain authority to acquire land from unwilling property owners.

“If eminent domain is going to be considered for use in these projects, it needs to be as a tool of last resort,” Naig says. “It needs to come when and if there have been significant voluntary agreements across the state.”

John Norwood, a small business owner and Polk County Soil and Water Commissioner, is the Democrat who’s running against Naig. Norwood says all pipeline land deals should be voluntary and the pipeline owners should make yearly payments to landowners and to counties.

“They’re bearing a new risk,” Norwood says. “The pipeline is carrying a dangerous product and they need to upgrade their EMS systems.”

Norwood says the pipelines aren’t the right answer for the long term success of the ethanol industry.

“Rather than trying to use the carbon pipelines to prop up a declining market which is our automobiles, as they shift to electric vehicles, we ought to be looking at the hard to electrify markets and there are four of them,” Norwood says. “It’s airplanes. It’s locomotives. It’s marine boats. It’s long-haul trucks.”

Naig, a Republican who is seeking a second full term as ag secretary, says an over reliance on electric vehicles is dangerous and ethanol use should expand.

“The ethanol industry needs to be looking at how do they lower the carbon intensity of that fuel and there are various ways to do that. Pipelines can accomplish that,” Naig says. “We should look at higher inclusion rates of ethanola nd biodiesel, like we’ve done in the state of Iowa, pushing to E15 and beyond.”

The candidates made their comments during taping of Iowa Press which aired Friday night on Iowa PBS.

Oskaloosa Main Street Young Ambassador Contest Accepting Entries

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — Oskaloosa Main Street is excited to share the plans underway for the Main Street Young Ambassador Contest. One young man and one young lady will once again be chosen as Oskaloosa’s Young Ambassadors. If you have a three-year-old to kindergarten-age child, enter them now!

The Young Ambassador contestants will all be introduced, and the winners will be announced on Monday, Nov. 28 at 6:00 pm at a gala event at Penn Central Mall held for the winners, their fam­ily, and local media. All participants will receive the same great prizes and will have the opportunity to participate in the “Christmas Canvas” Lighted Christmas Parade, Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7 pm.

To enter submit the following to Oskaloosa Main Street, 222 1st Ave. East, Oskaloosa. (2nd floor of the MidWestOne Drive-thru building):  A photograph of your child no larger than 3×5, $5 registration fee, Child’s name, birthdate, parent’s name, address, phone, school attending, favorite activity, and what they want for Christmas. If you have a preference on canister location, you must get permission from that business. Entries will be accepted until 3:00 pm, Friday, October 21.

Business sponsors are needed to display a secure bank that will be provided for collecting monetary votes for the candidates. Voting will take place November 1 through the morning of November 28. The Young Ambassadors will be determined based upon amount of money they receive in their canisters. Proceeds from event will enable a contribution to a local preschool and go towards Christmas parade expenses.  For more information call 641.672.2591.

North Mahaska Readies for Homecoming 2022

Posted on by Sam Parsons

NEW SHARON — Students at North Mahaska will spend the week of Oct. 3-9 in fantasy land as they ready for homecoming 2022. Several events are scheduled leading up to the football game against Wayne Community on Friday and Saturday’s formal dance. They will live out the slogan “Once Upon a Warhawk Homecoming.”

Teachers and classes at the junior-senior high have been assigned a fantasy. Seniors – Harry Potter; Juniors – Pirates of the Caribbean; Sophomores – Superheroes/Marvel; Freshmen – Shrek; 8th grade – Alice in Wonderland; 7th grade – Wizard of Oz; and Teachers: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

The school participate in dress up days throughout homecoming week. Monday – Country vs. Country Club; Tuesday – Iconic Duos (or trios, etc.); Wednesday – Class Theme Day; Thursday – Senior Citizen; and Friday – Red & White Spirit Day.

Recently retired teachers and staff members Eleanor Robinson, Cindy DeGoey, Terry Malone and Bruce Peiffer will serve as grand marshals for the events.

Iron Man volleyball and powderpuff football games will take place on Tuesday. The parade will take place through New Sharon on Thursday at 6 p.m. followed by the coronation in the auditorium. Class and team skits will be part of the pep rally. Friday will include pep rallies at both the elementary and high school. Homecoming game will be held on Friday at 7 p.m.

Indians Downed on the Road By Cardinals

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By Sam Parsons

A beautiful Friday night on the eve of October turned out to be a not-so-beautiful night of football for the Oskaloosa Indians as they faced a difficult test on the road against the 7th ranked Newton Cardinals.

The Cardinals got the ball to start the game and immediately went to work offensively. In their first drive, it took them only 4 plays to reach the end zone, punctuated by a 43 yard touchdown run by star running back Cody Klein to make it 7-0 just over a minute into the game.

The Indian offense responded with a pair of chunk plays on marvelous catches by senior wideout Waylon Bolibaugh, who delivered a standout performance. His catches of 32 and 42 yards put Osky on the doorstep of Newton’s end zone, but penalties held them out, so they settled for a 33 yard field goal off the foot of freshman Linus Morrison to make the score 7-3.

The explosive plays kept coming for the Newton offense, however. 7 plays into their next drive, senior quarterback Brody Bauer took a read option keeper to the left side of the field and there was nobody there to meet him, and he went 35 yards to the house to extend the Cardinal lead to 14-3, which is where the score remained entering the 2nd quarter.

The two teams traded punts, and then Oskaloosa went 3-and-out, and Newton got back to their explosive ways on offense. Early in the 2nd quarter, Bauer heaved a deep ball over the middle to sophomore wideout Christian Ergenbright, who made a fantastic finger-tip catch in stride and took it the rest of the way for a 59 yard score to make it 21-3. Another Osky punt led to another long touchdown for the Cardinals; this time, a 39 yard catch-and-run by sophomore Nate Lampe delivered by Bauer to bring the score to 28-3. With just over 3 minutes remaining in the half, the game was in dire straits for the Indians.

It didn’t get better from there. On the first play of the next drive for the Osky offense, junior QB Trevor Willett was picked off on a play that appeared to have possibly been broken from the start. Carson Satterfield was the beneficiary of the fluttering throw to the flat and there was consequently nothing but daylight in front of him as he housed it to extend the Cardinal lead to 35-3.

Osky was able to generate some movement offensively on what looked to be their final drive of the half, bringing it all the way to the Cardinal 36 with under a minute to go, but it ended with another Willett interception, this time courtesy of Nate Lampe, who made a brilliant play 1-on-1 with Maddux Ashman at the Cardinal 5 yard line. The most brutal dagger of them all came on the next play as Newton took over with 35 seconds remaining in the half and presumably no ambitions to score, but Cody Klein took the next carry and found a lot of green space in the middle of the field; enough to blow by the Indian defense and take it all the way for a 95 yard rushing touchdown right before the end of the half. The score was 42-3 at halftime.

With a running clock in the second half, both teams got to play some of their younger reserve players, and Oskaloosa saw a standout performance from backup quarterback Parker Lewis late in the game, who found Waylon Bolibaugh for a 30 yard catch-and-run for the lone Indian touchdown. It, of course, was far too little too late, however. The final score was 56-10 in favor of the Cardinals.

Oskaloosa (1-5) will play their final home game of the season next week against their biggest rival, the Pella Dutch. Newton (6-0) will look to remain perfect as they host Cedar Rapids Washington next week.

Oskaloosa Passing

Trevor Willett: 12/21, 145 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT; 0 sacks, 0 fumbles

Parker Lewis: 5/9, 69 yards, TD, INT; 1 sack, 2 yards lost, 0 fumbles

Newton Passing

Brody Bauer: 7/10, 125 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT; 0 sacks, 0 fumbles

Oskaloosa Rushing

Dom Piersel: 9 carries, 51 yards

Tatum Westercamp: 11 carries, 35 yards, 1 fumble

Newton Rushing

Cody Klein: 10 carries, 174 yards, 2 TD

Reilly Trease: 3 carries, 74 yards, TD

Brody Bauer: 3 carries, 64 yards, TD

Clayton Wickliffe: 6 carries, 23 yards, TD

Oskaloosa Receiving

Waylon Bolibaugh: 9 rec, 159 yards, TD

Wyatt Grubb: 6 rec, 48 yards

Maddux Ashman: 2 rec, 13 yards

Newton Receiving

Christian Ergenbright: 2 rec, 72 yards, TD

Nate Lampe: 1 rec, 39 yards, TD

Curtis Payne: 1 rec, 9 yards

Jordan Killmer: 1 rec, 6 yards

Caleb Mattes: 1 rec, 3 yards

Cody Klein: 1 rec, -4 yards

Hurricane Ian heads for Carolinas after pounding Florida

Posted on by Sam Parsons

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A revived Hurricane Ian is bearing down on South Carolina’s coast and the historic city of Charleston, with forecasters predicting a storm surge and floods. Earlier, the megastorm caused catastrophic damage in Florida, leaving people trapped in flooded homes and was blamed in at least six deaths in the state. With South Carolina’s coast under a hurricane warning, shopkeepers sandbagged storefronts in flood-prone areas and a steady stream of vehicles left Charleston for higher ground. In Florida, meanwhile, rescue crews piloted boats through inundated streets to save thousands from flooded homes and shattered buildings. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says at least 700 rescues were conducted in his state already, mostly by air.

Miller joins lawsuit against pesticide makers for anticompetitive practices

Posted on by Sam Parsons

DES MOINES — Attorney General Tom Miller has joined a bipartisan group of 10 states and the Federal Trade Commission in filing a lawsuit against pesticide makers Syngenta and Corteva, alleging anti-competitive practices that have harmed farmers.

The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in the Middle District of North Carolina, accuses the defendants of using “loyalty programs” with pesticide distributors to exclude generic competitors from the market. The programs reward distributors for selling Syngenta and Corteva products long after their patent and other protections have expired, thus inflating prices. “These unlawful business practices have cost farmers many millions of dollars a year,” the complaint alleges.

“Farmers are paying unnecessarily high prices for pesticides, on top of soaring costs for other inputs,” Miller said. “The defendants’ practices are unfair to smaller competitors and ultimately harm consumers.”

Miller’s office worked with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to lead the states’ investigation.

The lawsuit accuses Syngenta and Corteva of violating state and federal laws, including the FTC Act and the Clayton Act. The FTC and state attorneys general ask the court to end the loyalty programs, and grant equitable monetary relief and attorney fees, among other remedies. The relief would include restitution for farmers in Iowa.

Syngenta — based in Basel, Switzerland, and a subsidiary of Sinochem Holdings Corp. of China — and Corteva, based in Indianapolis, are among the largest makers of crop-protection products in the United States. The companies’ products are used on a wide range of grains, vegetables, fruits, and other crops, helping improve yields and food security.

To encourage innovation, companies such as Syngenta and Corteva can initially develop, patent, and register active ingredients in their products and exploit their commercial potential for several years. After those protections expire, generic manufacturers may enter the market with products with the same active ingredients and relying on the same toxicology and environmental impact studies. This competition ordinarily leads to dramatic price reductions, benefiting farmers and consumers.

The complaint accuses Syngenta and Corteva of undermining this system by paying incentive payments, or “rebates,” to distributors on one condition: The distributor must keep its purchases of comparable generic products below a low threshold. Corteva and Syngenta have entered into loyalty-program agreements with substantially all leading distributors in the United States. In turn, the distributors sell the products containing the branded ingredients to retail outlets.

These loyalty programs enable the defendants to maintain high prices and dominant market positions years after exclusivity for an active ingredient has expired. They also have forced generic manufacturers out of the market, the lawsuit alleges.

The FTC commissioners voted today to pursue the lawsuit. In addition to Miller, the lawsuit was joined by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Educational Series, “A Journey Through Parkinson’s Disease,” Coming to Oskaloosa

Posted on by Sam Parsons

OSKALOOSA — Growing older is the greatest risk factor for acquiring Parkinson’s disease and many people live with symptoms for several years before being diagnosed. Often people in early stages of Parkinson’s disease assume their symptoms are part of normal aging or are due to other health problems they may have, such as arthritis. However, early Parkinson’s disease symptoms may not be that apparent and may even come and go. Frequently it is the spouse or other relatives who first notice slight problems with a loved one’s movements.

To learn about Parkinson’s disease, its effects, and possible treatments, register now to participate in “A Journey Through Parkinson’s Disease” an educational series from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.  Mahaska County Extension, along with Iowa State’s Department of Kinesiology, and Human Sciences Extension and Outreach are sponsoring the series in Oskaloosa beginning November 14.

The educational series consists of three, 1-hour sessions held on Mondays in November. Cathy Drost, a Human Sciences Specialist in Oskaloosa, will teach the classes, which include interactive lessons, discussions, and activities. Sessions are scheduled for November 14 through November 28 from 11:00-12:00 pm at the Oskaloosa Public Library at 301 South Market Street in the third floor meeting room.  There is a no fee for the program.  For more information or to register on-line go to https://go.iastate.edu/UAUFFP or contact Cathy Drost at 673-5841or by email at cdrost@iastate.edu.

 “You will learn about the signs of Parkinson’s disease and how to seek medical care, as well as the cause of the disease and how specific treatments work. You will also learn about alternative therapies and in-home activities that can delay the progression of Parkinson’s disease, which is very important for continuing to live a full and happy life,” said Drost.

Central College to Host Service Day

Posted on by Sam Parsons

PELLA — Central College will hold its annual Service Day on Tuesday, Oct. 4. Service Day demonstrates Central’s commitment to empowering its students, staff and faculty to be engaged in their communities. It integrates learning through service and provides opportunities for the entire campus to connect, support and invest in their local, national and international communities.

On Service Day students, staff and faculty go to area communities and serve with local organizations for half-day service projects. Service Day is organized by Tori Fyfe, assistant director of Central’s community-based learning and a Class of 2020 graduate. She has been securing volunteer projects with partners since the beginning of August.

“Each year Central has the privilege of partnering with 40-plus local community organizations and nonprofits for our annual Service Day,” Fyfe says. “Our partners are doing remarkable and impactful work. Central is honored to support them in their efforts.”

Service Day is an alternative education day when some faculty turn the class experience into a service project. A few of the many projects this year include:

  • Blank Park Zoo, Night Eyes event set up, Des Moines.
  • City of Des Moines Rose Garden Restoration, Des Moines
  • Community Youth Concepts – Stowe Heights Challenge Course Clean up, Des Moines
  • Iowa Homeless Youth Center, organizing donation area, Des Moines.
  • Lutheran Services of Iowa, Global Greens Farm clean up, Des Moines.
  • Howell Station Recreation Area, pruning tree suckers and weeding playscape, Lake Red Rock.
  • Centre for Arts & Artists, outdoor maintenance and clean up, Newton.
  • Comfort House, Hospice of Pella, garden clean up, Pella.
  • The Work of Our Hands, basement clean up, Pella.
  • Hickory Glenn Park, tree planting and tree fencing, Pleasant Hills.
  • Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, seed collection, Prairie City.

Central has held an annual Service Day since 2006. In the past seven years, Central Service Day has offered volunteer services to an average of 55 projects and donated an average of 1,817 hours each year.

In 2022, the national value placed on volunteer time is $29.95. On average, Central’s Service Day generates $54,419 of value in one day for area nonprofits and service organizations.

People trapped, 2.5M without power as Ian drenches Florida

Posted on by Sam Parsons

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Ian has left a path of destruction in southwest Florida, trapping people in flooded homes, damaging the roof of a hospital intensive care unit and knocking out power to 2.5 million people. It’s now aiming for the Atlantic Coast as a tropical storm. One of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the U.S. is drenching the Florida peninsula overnight, threatening catastrophic flooding. In Port Charlotte, the storm surge flooded a lower-level emergency room even as winds tore off part of the roof of its intensive care unit. Staff and patients, some on ventilators, crowded into the middle floors of the four-story hospital.

Officials in 44 Iowa counties weigh in on carbon pipelines

Posted on by Sam Parsons

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

Officials in 44 Iowa counties have now taken action to express concerns about the three proposed carbon pipelines.

In the past week, the Adair and Floyd County Boards of Supervisors have sent letters to state regulators. Floyd County Supervisor Linda Tjaden says the proposed Summit and Navigator pipeline routes pass through Floyd County.

“It wasn’t strong language of doing an ordinance by any means or a resolution,” she says, “but what we did was two different letters and they basically said the same thing.”

The Floyd County letters express concern about training for emergency crews who’d have to respond to pipeline ruptures, as well as potential construction damage to land and drainage tiles. The letter about the Summit route also mentions it would pass through the Avenue of the Saints Development Park in Charles City and the pipeline could damage electrical, water and sewage utilities in the area.

“We’re trying to get a business, you know a factory or a business that’s going to come in and purchase that property and build on that,” Tjaden says.

The letter from the Floyd County supervisors also expresses concern about the use of eminent domain for “a private purpose.” State law allows pipeline developers to apply for eminent domain authority to gain access to properties where landowners have refused to grant voluntary easements.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors has sent the Iowa Utilities Board a letter, saying the board is not opposed to the purpose or construction of the pipeline, but is opposed to eminent domain being used “as a way of achieving it.” None of the three proposed pipeline routes run through Adair County, but there are nearby ethanol plants in Menlo and Corning. If those facilities are connected to a carbon capture pipeline in the future, the route would likely pass through Adair County.

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