From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings where local staff will provide updates on recently completed hunting and trapping seasons, discuss possible changes to hunting and trapping rules and regulations, and address other topics as requested.

“We want people to come out to these meetings, listen to the seasons reviews, ask questions and hear directly from our staff,” said Todd Bishop, chief of the Iowa DNR’s Wildlife Bureau. “Part of the meeting will be devoted to discussing potential rule changes and collecting feedback as we work through the rules process.”

The meetings are open to the public. Comments collected from these public meetings will be considered along with other related comments received by the Iowa DNR prior to proposing changes to hunting rules and regulations. Proposed rules will be presented to the Natural Resource Commission during a regular public meeting for consideration and additional public comment.

Comments received during previous listening sessions have resulted in regulation changes, including modifying and removing areas closed to Canada goose hunting, establishing later goose season dates and increased bag limit, expanding the raccoon hunting and trapping season on private land, modifying Iowa’s antlerless deer quotas in north central and western Iowa, and extending the regular trapping season through the end of February.

Meeting date, time and location

• Waverly, March 2, 6 p.m., Waverly Public Library, 1500 W. Bremer Ave.
• Bloomfield, March 3, 6 p.m., Pioneer Ridge Nature Center, 1339 Highway 63
• Boone, March 3, 6 p.m., Wildlife Research Station, 1436 255th St.
• Burlington, March 3, 6 p.m., Burlington Public Library, 210 Court St.
• Chariton, March 3, 6 p.m., Pin Oak Lodge, 45996 State Highway 14
• Creston, March 3, 6 p.m., Performing Arts Building multi-purpose room (124), 1201 West Townline St.
• Decorah, March 3, 7 p.m., Franklin W. Olin Building, Room 102, Luther College, 700 College Drive, next to the Prues Library
• Des Moines, March 3, 6:45 p.m., Des Moines Izaak Walton, 4343 George Flagg Parkway
• Maquoketa, March 3, 7 p.m., Hurstville Interpretive Center, 18670 63rd St.
• Spencer, March 3, 6:30 p.m., Iowa Lakes Community College, 1900 Grand Ave., Suite B1, Entrance #1-West side of the North Mall
• Iowa City, March 4, 5:30 p.m., Johnson County Extension Office, 3109 Old Highway 218 South
• Charles City, March 4, 6:30 p.m., Public Library Zastrow Room, 910 Clark St.
• Okoboji, March 4, 6 p.m., Maser Monarch Lodge, 22785 Nature Center Road
• Perry, March 4, 6 p.m., Dallas County Conservation Board, Forest Park Museum administration building, 14581 K Avenue
• Algona, March 5, 7 p.m., Tietz Entrepreneurial Center at the Algona campus of Iowa Lakes Community College, 2111 Highway 169 North
• Council Bluffs, March 5, 5:30 p.m., Bass Pro Shops, 2901 Bass Pro Drive
• Hinton, March 5, 5 p.m., Dennis L. Sohl Center for Outdoor Learning, Hillview Recreation Area, 25601 C60
• Lake View, March 5, 6:30 p.m., Speaker Park Shelter House, 418 North Blossom St.
• Toledo, March 5, 5:30 p.m., Tama County Nature Center at Otter Creek Lake Park, 2283 Park Road
• Ventura, March 5, 6 p.m., Clear Lake Wildlife Unit Office, 15326 Balsam Ave.

Any person attending the public meeting that has special requirements, such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments, should contact the Iowa DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.

Special to the Times Vedette

On Feb. 13, a total of 10 players participated. Sandy Rumelhart got a 17, two 16s and a 20, Robert Klever had a 17; Lela Schwartz got a 16; Wayne Nickel had an 18; Dave Richter had a 20; and Dennis Betts came up with a 24. The group also welcomed new player Darwin Hughes. 

On Feb. 16, a total of eight players participated. Roy Carl got two 16s; Clint Malbon got two 16s and a 17; Sandy Rumelhart got a 17 and a 20; Bill Sheeder, Wayne Nickel, and Joanne Zieser each got a 16; and Robert Klever had a 20 and a 24. 

The Guthrie Center cribbage players generally meet at Guthrie Center Library, 400 Grand St., on Mondays at 8 a.m. and at the New Homestead independent living dining hall, 2306 State St., at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays and at 1 p.m. on Fridays. Organizers say there is always room for more, and they will be glad to teach you how to play. They play for quarters on Wednesday and Friday.

Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Jason Gray reported a single-vehicle accident occurring on Feb. 9 at 6:45 p.m. on Frontier Road. Taylor Jay Edelman, 33, of Adair, was driving a 2012 Chevrolet Impala LS northbound on Frontier Road near the intersection with 280^th Street and swerved off the roadway to miss a deer, losing control of the vehicle and driving into a field northwest of the intersection. Estimated damage to the Impala is $5,000. Estimated damage to the fence is $300. 

Special to the Times Vedette

The Panorama large group speech team competed on Feb. 7 at Valley High School in West Des Moines. The results are as follows:

Receiving overall division 1 ratings (1 being the highest):

• Musical Theater – (straight 1s) “Little Women” – Taylin Woolheater, Piper Godwin, Sabrina Huitt, Evynn Stagg, Kaylee Michaelson and Anabel Pudenz
• Readers’ Theater – (two 1s and a 2) “How to Survive Being in a Shakespeare Play” – Taylin Woolheater, Dylan Burchfield, Jemma Meacham, Lilly Bachmeyer, Sara Gibson, Piper Godwin, Riley Wasson, Huber Galicia, Navira Martin, Connor Deardorff and Evynn Stagg

Receiving division 2 ratings:

• Group Improvisation – (two 2s and a 1) Navira Martin, Huber Galicia, Connor Deardorff, Miley Nolan and Olivia Beaudet
• Radio Broadcasting – (straight 2s) Holliday Mertens, Ella Carico, Olivia Beaudet and Heaven Copeland

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

The New Homestead in Guthrie Center will award one $500 scholarship to a member of the ACGC class of 2026 who will pursue a healthcare degree. Applications may be completed online at www.thenewhomestead.org and are due by April 3, 2026.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

This weekend’s forecast looks like it is going to be unseasonably warm with temperatures in the 60s. Iowa DNR Interpretive Naturalist/Educator Anne Riordan says that is likely going to bring out some of nature’s “nappers” like raccoons and squirrels that will be enjoying the warm weather along with the rest of us.

“It will be a great time to get outside and do a little birding, too,” she says.

This weekend brings the Great Backyard Bird Count, a community science project sponsored by the National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada.  Anybody can participate, in any place they would like to, for as little as 15 minutes. All you need to do is identify, count and report your data. Here is a link for more information: https://www.birdcount.org/participate/   

If you would like an in-person introduction to the Great Backyard Count, join Riordan at Springbrook State Park this Saturday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. 

“We will also be making pinecone bird feeders for participants to take home to hang in their yards,” Riordan says. “Meet at the Beach Shelter at Springbrook State Park. Follow the park road up to the intersection at the top of the hill, follow the sign that directs you toward the beach, and park in the lot above the lake.”