Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“May 2024 will go into the history books as one of the top 10 wettest Mays on record, which helped to break our long-running drought. Unfortunately, it will also be remembered for producing destructive severe weather and frustrating planting delays,” said Secretary Naig. “As we head into the three warmest months of the year and the heart of the growing season, some farmers are still finishing up planting within parts of the state. Farmers are also turning cattle out to pasture and working to complete other field work, including baling hay and applying crop protection products.”

Scattered showers throughout the State allowed Iowa farmers 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 2, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Reports of standing water in fields were received from throughout the State. Planting and replanting of corn and soybeans were reported.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 22 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 77 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus.

Ninety-three percent of the expected corn crop has been planted, almost 2 weeks behind last year and 5 days behind the 5-year average. Corn emerged reached 81 percent, 6 days behind last year. Corn condition rated 73 percent good to excellent. Eighty-four percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted, 12 days behind last year but equal to the average. Sixty percent of the soybean crop has emerged, 1 week behind last year and 2 days behind the 5-year average. The first soybean condition rating of the season was 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 14 percent excellent. Ninety-seven percent of the oat crop has emerged with 40 percent headed, 6 days ahead of last year and almost 2 weeks ahead of the average. Oat condition rated 82 percent good to excellent.

Forty percent of the State’s first cutting of alfalfa hay has been completed, 6 days behind last year. Hay condition rated 79 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition improved to 75 percent good to excellent. Wet conditions affecting livestock are now a concern.

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

A man from Illinois found himself in a ditch in Lee County on Saturday early morning, reports the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

At 3:14am, deputies were dispatched to the 2400 block Carbide Lane for a single vehicle accident. According to the reporting party, a male, who appeared very intoxicated, hitched a ride and was dropped off at a Casey’s in Keokuk after driving into a ditch and striking a tree.

The scene of the accident revealed a truck in a ditch with significant passenger damage.

Due to the vehicle being unoccupied, a tow company was called in and the vehicle was placed on hold pending the investigation.

At 7:00pm that evening, the owner and driver, Logan Henke of Morrison, Illinois, arrived at the Sheriff’s office to speak to a deputy about the accident and revealed that he was going west on Carbide Lane when a deer came out from the shoulder. He swerved to miss the deer and lost control of the vehicle. According to the driver, his right arm was sore, and his head hurt from the accident. He advised the deputy that he was going the posted speed limit and denied being intoxicated.

As a result, he received a citation for failure to maintain control.

*Update as of June 7th, 2024*

On Thursday, June 6th, 2024 at approximately 12:45 p.m. Wapello County Sheriff’s Office and Ottumwa Fire Department recovered (Deceased) the body of Skiller Amo Age 36 of Ottumwa on the Des Moines River. Mr. Amo was located just south of the Ottumwa Water Pollution Facility southeast of Ottumwa.

*Original post*

On Sunday, June 2nd, 2024, at approximately 4:21 p.m.; The Ottumwa Police Department received a report of an adult male subject who was last seen swimming in the Des Moines River. It was reported that the subject went swimming earlier in the day with a group of individuals in the Des Moines River near the Hwy 34 overpass bridge next to the JBS plant in Ottumwa, Iowa.

A search was conducted last night by the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office.

The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, Ottumwa Fire Department, Eldon Fire Department, and the Iowa DNR are currently still searching the river and embankments.

The identity of the missing individual is currently being withheld.

On June 1, 2024 at approximately 7:42 P.M., Burlington Police Officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 1500 Blk of Spray St. Upon officer’s arrival, they located property damage and evidence of shots being fired at 1519 Spray St. There were no reported injuries. The facts and circumstances surrounding this incident remains under investigation by the Burlington Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division.

Anyone with information about this, or other recent shooting incidents, is encouraged to call the Burlington Police Department at (319) 671-7001, or Crime Stoppers at (319) 753-6835. If you leave a Crime Stoppers tip and your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.

It’s summer and different people unwind in different ways. For some, they set their alarms early and head for a morning run. Others head to the nearest firework stand and purchase as many explosives as their car can carry. If you are a partaker in fireworks throughout the summer, that’s fine, but there are rules you must adhere to.

According to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, June 1^st-July 8^th, you can set off fireworks on your property between 9:00am and 10:00pm. If you have permission to set fireworks off on a different property, that is fine too. July 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th, and 8^th, the end time will be 11:00pm.

Mount Pleasant has a more restrictive schedule, with fireworks allowed to be set off only between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. June 21 through July 6th. Keep in mind that local cities/municipalities may adopt more restrictive firework ordinances.

If you have a complaint of fireworks being used outside of legal dates/hours, we ask that you please use the non-emergency number 319-385-2712 to ensure that the 911 lines stay available for emergencies.

Please keep your neighbors in mind, especially on weeknights and if they have pets. June is PTSD awareness month, so please keep in mind too that fireworks can be triggers for some.