Watercraft explodes in eastern Iowa

Two eastern Iowans escaped serious injury Saturday when a personal water craft exploded on the Mississippi River near Muscatine. A news release from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says 42 year old Robert Baenziger of Blue Grass and his 9 year old daughter Emily were boarding the 2001 Polaris Wave Runner on the ramp at the Shady Creek Recreation area. The DNR says Robert Baenziger was starting the craft at the time of the explosion. The two received only minor injuries, the Wave Runner was destroyed. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, but Conservation Officer Tom Campbell says "it is believed that gas vapors collected under the cowling of the Wave Runner and were ignited by a spark as the vessel was being started."

Corn acreage estimates up

USDA corn supply estimates for the end of next crop year are up sharply compared to last month. The federal agency predicts there will be nearly half a billion more bushels than initially forecast. Iowa State University economist Chad Hart says the increase is due to more reported corn acreage. Hart says demand has been adjusted down, especially on the sweetener side. Hart says producers should take this into consideration as they decide whether or not to enter into the ACRE Farm Revenue Program.

BOS Preview

Washington County Supervisors will get an overview of Richmond's new sanitary sewer system project from Oskaloosa based engineering firm Garden and Associates at this week's meeting. They're also slated to approve a memorandum of understanding for substance abuse funding from the state department of public health. The meeting starts at 9:30 Tuesday (7/14) morning in the Washington County Courthouse.

Sextro has less than 1 year left

The Washington School District will soon be looking for a new Superintendent. Dave Sextro has been serving in the position on an interim basis. He has less than a year left. Sextro says now that the board's policies have been updated, and the district's business practices have been revised, he feels like he's just about done with the tasks he was hired to perform. Sextro's last school board meeting is in June of 2010.

M-P School Board

Maintenance and money will be the primary areas of discussion at todays meeting of the Mid Prairie School Board. The board will hear reports of general maintenance of district facilities as well as consider hiring a board treasurer and secretary. Other items on the agenda include a finance report, open enrollment requests, and administrator reports. The meeting will be held at 7:00 tonight (7/13) in the high school media center.

Remember livestock during hot weather

During summer months when the mercury can rise to almost unbearable levels, the Iowa Cattlemens Association urges farmers to think of the safety of their livestock. ICA Communications Manager Trent Wellman says some reports of cattle deaths due to heat this year have been as high as 40-80 head in some parts of the state. Wellman says with market-ready cattle selling for a relatively low price in the tough economy, unexpected loss of livestock can make matters even worse. He urges anyone who has experienced loss of cattle due to adverse weather to call the ICA at 515-296-2266.

Washington Co. Fair starts this weekend

The Washington County Fair starts this Sunday (7/19). The festivities start Sunday afternoon at 4:00 with the 4-H and FFA Dog Obedience Show, followed by the garden tractor pull at 6:00. At 7:00 the Washington County Fair Queen contest starts. The fair continues all next week with 4-H and FFA events throughout the day, and grandstand entertainment in the evening. Week-long passes are $15, a one day pass is $6.