Final writing prompt for HPL summer program

The writing prompt for the sixth and final week of the Hartley Public Library’s summer library program is “Imagine your story in the next five years. Write about one goal you would like to achieve.”

Submit 1-2 pages to the library by Thursday, July 30 with your name and a phone number or email address, and whether you give permission for others to see your work with or without your name on Facebook, the library’s website or displayed in the library.

DNR investigates fish kill in Buena Vista County

On Sunday afternoon, DNR staff met with a hog producer near Albert City to investigate a manure release from his above ground storage tank.

Kris Ehlers reported Sunday that a valve on the tank had failed, releasing an unknown amount of manure. DNR staff found manure pooled near the tank and found that it had run into a grassed waterway.

During the investigation, DNR staff found a few dead fish, manure and elevated ammonia levels throughout four miles of a tributary of the North Raccoon River.

After checking for other potential sources of pollution Sunday and Monday, the DNR concluded the source was the manure release from the Ehlers farm, possibly through underground tile lines.

DNR took water samples for laboratory analysis. Staff is working with Ehlers and will monitor the cleanup, and consider appropriate enforcement action.

The DNR reminds producers and the public to report spills and fish kill by calling the 24-hour spill line at (515) 725-8694 as soon as possible.

Panfish bite hot in NWI

Iowa Great Lake water temperatures have warmed up substantially and are currently 77 degrees or warmer. The area walleye bite has slowed considerably due to very warm water conditions. The panfish bite is excellent.

East Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is open. The water temperature is 77 degrees. Bluegill, good. Find schools in deeper water. Black crappie, fair. Yellow perch, good. Yellow bass, good.

Lake Pahoja: Bluegill, good. Use small jigs tipped with waxworms. Black crappie, good. Try small jigs tipped with waxworms. Largemouth bass, good. Use rubber worms or other slow-moving jigs.

Lost Island Lake: Yellow perch, fair. Walleye, fair.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Walleye, good.

Spirit Lake: The walleye season is open. A great walleye bite has been reported the last few weeks, but has slowed down due to warm water conditions. A great yellow perch bite has been seen lately with many yellows over 10 inches caught. The water temperature is 77 degrees. Bluegill, good. Schools are starting to move deeper off shore post-spawn. Walleye, good. A fairly good bite lately can also be seen from shore. Try bottom bouncers or crankbaits to cover more water. Black bullhead, fair. Anglers have been successful at the north grade. Yellow perch, good. The bite has really picked up; fish are a little deeper than what can be easily fished from shore. Try small humps in the main basin or weed edges.

West Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is open. The water temperature is 77 degrees. The panfish bite has been great. Bluegill, good. Schools are starting to move deeper off shore. Try fishing in about 16 feet of water in the weeds or weed lines. Smallmouth bass, fair. Find smallmouth bass on rock piles or on the points. Largemouth bass, fair. Find largemouth bass on the weed lines. Yellow perch, fair. Schools have started to move deeper off shore.

Fireworks smoke triggers air quality exceedances over holiday weekend

Several Iowa monitoring sites recorded exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particulate matter over the Fourth of July weekend.

DNR recorded exceedance levels on real-time non-regulatory monitors and multiple news sources reported on the poor air quality over the holiday weekend. Most Iowa monitors used for regulatory purposes collect a sample over a 24-hour period and the data is only available after laboratory analysis. Lab results show fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exceeded the national standard, which is 35 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) averaged over a 24-hour period.

Exceedances of the standard were recorded in Des Moines, Davenport and Muscatine on July 4, and in Des Moines and Clive on July 5.

If 24-hour fine particulate averages are above the standard, air quality is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” Averages greater than 55 µg/m3 fall into the “unhealthy” category and the EPA says “some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.” The weekend exceedances are the first exceedances of the NAAQS measured in Iowa this year.

On the Fourth, Davenport monitors recorded 24-hour average values of 48 µg/m3 at Hayes Elementary and 62.8 µg/m3 at Jefferson Elementary. Muscatine recorded 44.8 µg/m3 at the former Garfield School. Des Moines recorded 108.7 µg/m3 at the Polk County Health Department site, more than three times the national standard.

Lingering smoke, calm winds and additional fireworks also led to exceedance levels of 60.9 and 46.9 µg/m3 respectively at the Polk County site and the Indian Hills School site in Clive on July 5.

FAFSA completion campaign will step up outreach

Iowa College Aid will redouble efforts this fall to encourage more high school seniors to apply for college financial aid after the number dropped in 2019-20 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Until mid-March, Iowa was on track to continue an upward trend in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). After that point the rate dipped below the previous two years, according to a new report.

“Iowa College Aid will step up outreach in 2020-21 to help more high school seniors file the FAFSA,” said Executive Director Dr. Mark Wiederspan in a news release. “The impact of COVID-19 makes it even more important to ensure students get this done.”

According to “FAFSA Filings in Iowa: 2020,” FAFSA filing rates are lower for students attending high-poverty schools compared to more affluent schools. However, GEAR UP Iowa, a college access program that targets low-income students, shows promise in closing that gap. FAFSA filing rates are growing much more quickly at GEAR UP schools than at non-GEAR UP schools.

As of May 31, 52 percent of Iowa’s public high school seniors had applied for financial aid for the 2020-21 school year, down from 54 percent a year earlier. Since then, however, the percentage of high school seniors filing the FAFSA has increased to 53.88 percent, nearly closing the gap.

Students must file the FAFSA to qualify for federal aid, state-funded grants and scholarships, as well as many forms of aid provided by individual public and private colleges and universities.

COVID-19 small business utility grants available

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) recently announced the launch of the new Small Business Utility Disruption Prevention Program.

The program will provide short-term relief to eligible small businesses and nonprofits that faced significant hardship in the payment of utility bills for service provided during the months of disruption to their business due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offers grants up to $7,500 to be applied to utility bill debt for eligible small businesses.

According to IEDA and Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham, a funding allocation of $14.5 million from the CARES Act is available to IEDA for this initiative. To be eligible to receive assistance, businesses must have a physical (non-residential) location in Iowa and 50 or fewer employees; have not received funding from IEDA’s Small Business Relief Grant Program; have experienced a COVID-19 loss of revenue on or after March 17 that resulted in unpaid bills for electric or natural gas service provided between March 17 and June 30; and remained in operation or re-opened at the time of application.

For a full list of eligibility requirements, additional information and to apply, visit iowabusinessrecovery.com. Applications will be accepted through Aug. 21 or until funding is depleted, whichever comes first. Applications will be reviewed in the order received. Assistance will be awarded based on application completeness and eligibility until all funds have been exhausted.

Questions regarding the Small Business Utility Disruption Prevention Program can be submitted via email to energyrecovery@iowaeda.com or by phone at (855) 300-2342

Funds available for conservation practices

Iowa farmers and landowners can sign-up now for cost share funds through the state’s Water Quality Improvement (WQI) program.

According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, state funding helps offset the cost of conservation practices including cover crops, no-till/strip-till acres or nitrification inhibitors. These practices are proven to support soil health, reduce erosion and improve water quality.

Cost share funding through IDALS is limited to 160 acres per farmer or landowner. Farmers can start submitting applications immediately through their local Soil and Water Conservation District offices. Due to COVID-19 social distancing protocols, applicants are encouraged to call ahead to schedule an appointment.

To learn more about the WQI, visit cleanwateriowa.org/water-quality-initiative.

Iowa Corn announces board election results

Four individuals were recently elected to the board of directors of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and three were elected to the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.

ICGA directors will continue to bring grassroots policy issues forward and be the collective voice for nearly 7,500 corn-farmer members lobbying on agricultural issues at the state and federal level.

Directors who were elected were: District 3, Mark Mueller (re-elected); District 4, Jolene Riessen (re-elected); District 6, Logan Lyon; and District 9, Dan Keitzer

ICPB directors will continue to promote a thriving Iowa corn industry through research into new and value-added corn uses, domestic and foreign market development, and providing education about corn and corn products.

Those elected to the board include: District 1, Chad Harms; District 3, Derek Taylor (re-elected); and District 6, Pete Brecht (re-elected).

Elected directors will begin to serve their districts on Sept. 1.