Author: Yorke Prough

Iowa experienced another week of dry and windy conditions which allowed farmers 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 6, 2024. Corn and soybean harvest continued to be the primary field activities for the week. Combine and other equipment fires were reported as weather conditions increased the risk of such fires.

Corn mature reached 90 percent, 6 days behind last year but 5 days ahead of the five-year average. Corn harvested for grain reached 22 percent, 2 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of normal. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 18 percent. Corn condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves reached 93 percent, 1 day ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans harvested reached 58 percent this week, 4 days ahead of last year and 1 week ahead of the average. Iowa farmers were able to harvest 31 percent of the State’s soybean crop during the week ending October 6, 2024. Soybean condition rated 76 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition continued to fall and rated just 38 percent good to excellent this week, a decrease of 6 percentage points.  Livestock water resources continue to be a concern.

The weekly report is available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov, as well as www.kilj.com.

According to the Henry County Engineer’s Office, starting Tuesday, October 8^th Oasis Avenue between 200^th Street to 220^th Street will be closed during the day for the rest of this week for a road stabilization project. The road will be open every night.

This week is fire prevention week, which has been a national observance since 1925, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country. During Fire Prevention Week, children, adults, and teachers learn how to stay safe in case of a fire. This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!” Firefighters provide lifesaving public education in an effort to drastically decrease casualties caused by fires.

Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage. This horrific conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

The Mount Pleasant Fire Department and Marshall from PAW Patrol, a popular kid’s show, visited Lincoln Elementary early this week. The firefighters encouraged the students to develop a fire safety plan with their families.

The Mt. Pleasant Fire and Rescue Department is hosting an open house at the fire station, 204 South Jackson Street from 6:00pm – 8:00pm.  Check out the fire station and the trucks, spray a fire hose, try on bunker gear, see Marshall, and have some cookies!

A Louisa County Sheriff deputy was injured during a manhunt on Thursday which started in Columbus Junction.

Just after 3:00pm, a traffic stop was conducted by the Columbus Junction Police Department. The driver, who was pulled over for multiple violations, exited his vehicle, but then got back in and flew westbound from downtown Columbus Junction at a high rate of speed, nearly colliding with multiple vehicles. Eventually, the driver crashed at a road construction barrier near X17, rolling the vehicle several times. The driver ran from the crash into a timber to the south.

The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office and the Columbus Junction Police Department set up a perimeter, ultimately locating the subject with K9 Drake and utilizing a drone. The suspect was later identified as Francisco Nunez, age 46, of Muscatine, IA. Nunez complained of injuries, but was cleared later at a local hospital. He remains at the Louisa County Jail on a $7,500.00 cash only bond.

As a result of this incident Nunez has been arrested on multiple charges…

Felony Eluding-C Felony
Driving while revoked-OWI
Interference with official acts
Driving while suspended
Reckless Driving

Multiple traffic citations
*further charges are pending by Louisa County Sheriff’s Office

Multiple agencies assisted the Columbus Junction Police Department to include the Louisa County Ambulance, Mincers Towing, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DOT and the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office.

The Annual Feed a Farmer event will be held this Friday, October 11^th. Farmers are invited to the Chem-Gro in Salem, and the AgriCenter and Becks, both in Mt. Pleasant, between noon and 3pm. A sack lunch will be provided with your choice of hamburger or cheeseburger, as well as a bag of chips, a cookie, and a water. If you need your food delivered because you are busy with harvest, call Kaylen if you are in the Salem/Houghton area at 319 931 6659, or Alexis at 319 850 9767. If you are in the Mt. Pleasant area, call Briar at 319 217 1407.

This annual event is hosted by the Mt. Pleasant FFA and sponsored by the Mabeus Family and Hy-Vee.