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Northwest Iowa Has High Pheasant Population

pheasantNorthwest Iowa — With the start of the fall pheasant hunting season this weekend, Todd Bogenshutz of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says an August Roadside Survey shows that the state’s pheasant population has increased by 37% over last year, with northwest Iowa having among the highest pheasant densities in the state.

Bogenschutz says around 50,000 hunters participated in Iowa’s pheasant hunting season last year — up from 40,000 the previous year.

A good number of pheasants can be found statewide, according to Bogenschutz, but there are areas with thicker populations.

He says lower pheasant counts were recorded in southwest, south central and northeast Iowa. Iowa’s pheasant hunting season this year starts this Saturday, October 31st and continues through Sunday, January 10th.

UPDATE — Two Transported After Accident

AccidentGeneric 2

Sheldon, Iowa — Details are now available on the two-vehicle crash near NCC Wednesday morning that sent two to the hospital.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 1998 Chevy Blazer, driven by 15-year old Cole Christians of Sheldon was northbound on Marsh Avenue, and had stopped for the stop sign at Marsh Avenue and Highway 18, preparing for a left turn onto Highway 18.

Troopers say Christians failed to see an eastbound 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix, driven by 55-year old Caitlyn Fedders of Sioux Center, and pulled into the path of Fedders’ Pontiac.

Christians and Fedders were both transported to Sanford Sheldon Medical Center by the Sheldon Community Ambulance Team with undetermined injuries.

Troopers estimate damage to Christians’ Blazer at $3,500, and damage to Fedders’ Pontiac at $3,000.

Christians was reportedly cited for Failure To Yield From A Stop Sign.

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Sheldon, Iowa — Two people were transported to the Sanford Sheldon Medical Center this morning following a 2-vehicle crash near Northwest Iowa Community College.

The accident, which happened at the intersection of Highway 18 and Marsh Avenue, was reported at about 8 o’clock this morning.

Iowa State Troopers, Sheldon Police, Sheldon Fire, Sheldon Ambulance and Sheldon EMA all assisted at the scene.

O’Brien County Recognized At Iowa Tourism Conference

O'Brien County Economic Development CorporationO’Brien County, Iowa — O’Brien County was recognized at the 2015 Iowa Tourism Conference for completing their County Tourism Asset Inventory. The county inventory was conducted as part of the Iowa Tourism Industry Sector Plan, a statewide planning process designed to develop a shared vision and plan to maintain, and grow, Iowa’s competitive position as a destination.

Ninety of Iowa’s 99 counties completed the inventory designed to quantify tourism assets in Iowa. Information collected for the inventory focused on tourism services, lodging, meeting facilities, shopping, attractions, arts & entertainment, agri-tourism & culinary, nature, trails, recreation & sports; along with any plans for expansion or new projects over the next three years.  The asset inventory will be used to identify strengths and potential opportunities within various sectors of the tourism industry.

The Iowa Tourism Industry Sector Plan is built on the vision and input gathered from hundreds of Iowa’s tourism stakeholders. The plan sets the stage for these stakeholders to join together to strengthen Iowa’s tourism product by growing and fully utilizing tourism assets; working in collaboration and pooling resources to strengthen Iowa’s tourism marketing; and working to build broad appreciation and support for the tourism industry as a major economic driver for Iowa.

According to the Impact of Travel on Iowa Counties, tourism is an over $8 billion industry in Iowa and supports an estimated 66,500 jobs and generated a total of $347.7 million in tax revenues in 2014.

Sponsors of the Iowa Tourism Industry Sector Plan include the Iowa Destination Marketing Association, Iowa Economic Development Authority, Travel Federation of Iowa, Okoboji Tourism Committee, Central Iowa Tourism Region, Eastern Iowa Tourism Association, Iowa Gaming Association, Western Iowa Tourism Region, Cedar Falls Tourism & Visitors Bureau, Cedar Rapids Area CVB, Fort Dodge CVB, Greater Des Moines CVB, Marshalltown CVB, Pella CVB, Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, Council Bluffs CVB, Danish Mill, Greater Burlington CVB, Harrison County Historical Village & Welcome Center, Mike & Lisa Riggs, Ottumwa Area CVB and Visit Mason City. The Sector Plan was developed with assistance from The Institute for Decision Making at the University of Northern Iowa, and built on input from a diverse group of tourism stakeholders.

Sibley Woman Ejected During Crash

accident wordSibley, Iowa — A Sibley woman was transported to the hospital as the result of a two-vehicle accident that happened Monday afternoon.

Osceola County authorities say the accident happened when a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by 47-year old Maria Delpilar Croatt of Sibley, pulled from a private drive into the path of a 2000 Freightliner semi, driven by 29-year old Arnold George Vanpelt of Spirit Lake.

Deputies say Croatt was ejected from the Malibu on impact.  She was transported to the Osceola Community Hospital by the Sibley Ambulance, with what are described as “incapacitating injuries”.  Vanpelt was not injured.

Damage to each vehicle was estimated at approximately $5,000.

In addition to Osceola County Deputies, Sibley Ambulance and Sibley Fire assisted at the scene.

Fire Destroys Machine Shed, Contents

Rock Rapids , Iowa — A machine shed and shop and all its contents, including at least two vehicles, was destroyed in a fire on Thursday, October 29, 2015 near Rock Rapids.
klocko fire
According to Rock Rapids Fire Chief Ed Reck, about 11:40 AM, the Rock Rapids Fire Department was called to the report of structure fire at the home of George Klocko, two miles south of Rock Rapids .

The chief says the fire department saw lots of smoke coming out of a metal machine shed and workshop. The chief says the building was fully engulfed in fire as they approached the scene. He says they used an exterior attack, with two pumpers and two water dump sites to knock it down. He says the building was a total loss, as was the shop equipment, vehicles in the building, and a forklift.

Reck says that there were no injuries reported.

The Alvord fire department provided water and helped transport water from a hydrant on the south side of Rock Rapids. Reck says Sunshine Foods generously provided buns and meat for lunch since the fire happened over the noon hour. He says firefighters’ wives brought out the lunch and Sherri’s Kitchen provided cookies. The Lyon County Ambulance crew stood by as a precaution.

He says the cause of the fire appeared to related to the shop heater, but they don’t know for sure. No dollar figure has been attached to the damage at this time.

He says they used 8,000 to 10,000 gallons of water to fight the fire, and crews were on scene for two and a half to three hours.

New Online Options for Certified Manure Applicators

Des Moines, Iowa — New online options are making training and fee payment easier than ever for more than 4,500 certified Iowa manure applicators.
manure applicator
Gene Tinker, DNR animal feeding operations coordinator says it opens up several options.


Or people can use any combination of traditional and online services Tinker added, including going to a field office to take a test.

He says that if you take the training online, you don’t need to take a test.


Online training is available to anyone interested in manure application, but is specifically designed to help manure applicators meet state requirements to become certified.

Online training modules cover topics like biosecurity for human and animal safety, and managing nutrients to improve water quality.

He says while they think this is a great new system, they still think there’s value in the face-to-face traditional interaction as well.


Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, developed the online training. The legislature provided funding for the project.

Find a link to online training at www.iowadnr.gov/manureapplicator. This is also where applicators and business managers can check their own records for renewals, expiration dates and fees.