Plank Road will once again see a section closure as crews will be working. The Des Moines County Road Department has announced that Plank Road, between Sunnyside Ave and West Burlington Ave will be closed on Tuesday, September 19th and plans to reopen by 8am on Thursday, September 21st. This closure will be in between 10684 and 10696 for road replacement work.

As always, this is weather permitting and may end up taking longer.

Iowa landowners with marginal cropland are encouraged to seed now native warm-season grasses. Conservationists with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) believe this will benefit the northern bobwhite quail and other wildlife. Those who own land adjacent to trees, brush, and pasture are also encouraged.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) grants funding. NRCS has ~$1.2 million available to landowners in 35 southern Iowa counties to implement quail habit-improving practices. These include conservation cover, brush management, upland wildlife habitat management, early successional habitat management, and tree and shrub establishment.

NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Programs in Iowa, Sam Adams, says that landowners can apply at their local NRCS office for EQIP conservation practice funding. The first cutoff to apply for Iowa NRCS programs for fiscal year 2024 is Nov. 3.

Northern bobwhite quail habitat has decreased by 30 million acres nationwide due to a rise in cattle grazing non-native forage. Quail populations have decreased by 80 percent the past 60 years.

Darrell Geib, Area Resource Conservationist for NRCS in Atlantic, says it is important for landowners to sign up early this year. “We want to give our conservation planners time to work with landowners on habitat development this fall,” he said. “Areas adjacent to CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) ground and old pastures will be prime locations for these practices.”

To help reconnect cattle and quail, NRCS is working with producers to manage for native warm-season grasses that create productive and palatable grazing options for livestock while benefitting quail and other wildlife species. Common native warm-season grasses include switchgrass, big bluestem, eastern gamagrass, and Indiangrass.

In addition to improving soil and water quality, warm-season grasses can boost livestock productivity and provide habitat for pollinators.

Visit the NRCS website for more information about practices to help restore quail habitat. To apply for program funding, visit your local NRCS field office.

The Des Moines Register has named the Central Lee Community School District as one of its 2023 Iowa Top Workplaces.

Central Lee has earned the Top Workplace award four times in the past five years and is one of only a handful of school districts being recognized across the state.

“We are immensely proud and deeply grateful for the recognition of Central Lee as an Iowa Top Workplace for 2023,” said Mark Hulsebus, Board of Education President. “This honor reflects the unwavering dedication and commitment of our educators, staff, and community, who together create an environment where excellence thrives. We will continue to prioritize our students’ wellbeing and academic success as we move forward with even greater enthusiasm and determination.”

Central Lee School District is known for offering a diverse range of academic and co-curricular opportunities to its students. Nearly 400 students enroll in the district through open enrollment each year, cementing it’s status as a great district.

Additionally, over half of Central Lee staff members are alumni, highlighting the deep connection that former students maintain with the district and community long after they graduate. Central Lee is also celebrated for its exceptional career and technical education programming at the high school level.

“This distinction is a testament to our exceptional culture at Central Lee, which would not be possible without our dedicated staff and students,” said Dr. Andy Crozier, Superintendent. “Our success is rooted in the unity of purpose among our staff, their unwavering commitment to executing our mission, and the strong connections we foster within our school community. It reaffirms our dedication to providing a nurturing environment where students can flourish academically and personally.”

There was a single vehicle accident in Lee County on September 17^th at 1:46pm. The driver was a 29-year-old male from Keokuk with a history of seizures.

He was traveling east on 340^th street, near Mississippi River Road when he lost his ability to control the car. It is suspected he had a seizure. The car crossed over Mississippi River Road and struck a power pole, continuing through a steep ditch, eventually coming to rest in a bush. The driver and passenger were both taken to the hospital by ambulance. The vehicle was towed, and the owner of the bush did not want damage to be claimed. The driver and passenger were both taken to the Fort Madison hospital by Lee County EMS.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Region 7, which includes Iowa, is hosting its annual Child Passenger Safety Week, September 17-23, 2023. The week is dedicated to educating parents and caregivers about the importance of correctly choosing, installing, and using car seats, booster seats, and seatbelts when transporting children in vehicles.

NHTSA encourages everyone to double and triple-check their child’s car seat or booster seat this week. It is vital the seat is correct for your child’s age and size. Installing it properly will make a major difference in the event of a crash.

“We hope that Child Passenger Safety Week will provide an opportunity for parents and caregivers to take a little time to ensure their child is as safe as possible when in a car, truck, or SUV,” said Regional Administrator Susan DeCourcy. “Sadly, two children under 13 were killed every day in 2021 while riding in vehicles, and more than 100,000 were injured. Every parent wants to be sure that their child is as safe as possible in a vehicle, so we hope they take this opportunity to check their car seat to ensure it’s still the appropriate size for their child and that it’s properly installed.”

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading killer of children, and the latest research from NHTSA shows that nearly half (46%) of car seats are misused. “Thirty-six percent of children 12 and younger who died in crashes in 2021 were unbuckled. Many of those kids could have survived if they were properly secured,” said DeCourcy.

Car Seats Versus Booster Seats

Children are safest when correctly secured in the right car seat or booster seat for their age and size, regardless of the vehicle type. No matter how safe you think your vehicle may be, it is never safe, nor legal, to let your child ride unbuckled.

NHTSA recommends keeping children rear-facing as long as possible, up to the top height and weight allowed by the seat model. It’s the best way to keep them safe. Once a child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, he or she is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether. After outgrowing the forward-facing car seat, a child should be placed in a booster seat until tall enough to fit in a seat belt properly.

Booster seats are an essential step between car seats and seat belts. These transitional seats position the seat belt so that it fits properly over the stronger parts of your child’s body. If your child is ready to use a seat belt, ensure the seat belt fits correctly. The safest place for all kids under 13 is in the back seat.

Learn About Car Seat Safety Virtually

During Child Passenger Safety Week, you can find out if a technician is available in your community by virtual appointment or use many of the free, online resources available by visiting www.nhtsa.gov/carseat. Other resources include guidance on car seat types, recommendations, and comparisons.

For more information on child car seat safety, as well as how to find other virtual car seat check events, go to www.nhtsa.gov/therightseat.