From the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Emerald ash borer (EAB), an ash tree-killing insect, has now been confirmed in all of Iowa’s 99 counties. Insect samples were collected from a declining ash tree in Armstrong earlier this month by staff from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The sample was then sent to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for confirmation. With positive confirmation now in Emmet County, there are no remaining counties in Iowa without a detection.

EAB is a non-native, wood-boring insect threatening all species of ash trees. The adult EAB beetle is approximately one-half inch long and metallic green. The larval stage of this insect tunnels through the wood just beneath the bark of ash trees, cutting off the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. The cumulative damage typically kills a tree within two to four years after becoming infested. Indicators of an infestation may include canopy thinning, leafy sprouts shooting from the trunk or main branches, serpentine (“S”-shaped) galleries under the bark, bark splitting, woodpecker damage and 1/8-inch D-shaped exit holes.

EAB was unknown to North America until its discovery in southeast Michigan in 2002. The invasive, ash tree-killing insect from Asia has now been found in 37 states. In 2010, EAB was first discovered in Iowa in Allamakee County.

Landowners with ash trees on their property should begin to consider a course of action for at-risk trees, which are generally those within a 15-mile radius of a known infestation. Landowners and managers can wait and see what happens, remove declining ash trees and replace them with other species, or use preventive insecticide treatments to preserve and protect valuable and healthy ash trees. The best time to treat for EAB is in the spring from mid-April to mid-May. Insecticides are most effective when the ash tree is actively growing, and uptake is at its peak. Tree service companies can apply insecticide trunk injections through the summer if soil moisture is available.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has produced a publication about EAB treatments. For more information, download Emerald Ash Borer Management Options.

Since EAB as well as other invasive pests can unknowingly hitchhike in firewood, people are still reminded to use firewood locally sourced from the area where it will be burned to keep EAB and other tree-killing pests from being transported to new areas.

More information about EAB can be found at iowatreepests.com.

From Iowa Workforce Development

Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 2.9% in September amid a labor force that remained largely static despite job reductions. The state’s labor force participation rate held steady at 66.3%. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased to 4.1% in September.

“The September report is evidence that many Iowa businesses remain reluctant to hire due to uncertainty about the direction of the national economy,” Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development, said. “This ‘wait and see’ attitude we are seeing in hiring is unlikely to subside until after the upcoming election. However, more than 52,000 open jobs remain posted on IowaWORKS.gov, and IWD is well-positioned to help anyone looking for their next job with employers who are hiring in their communities.”

The number of unemployed Iowans increased to 49,400 in September from 48,400 in August.

The total number of working Iowans fell to 1,634,500 in September. This figure is 1,000 lower than August and 18,800 lower than one year ago. 

Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Employment

Iowa firms shed 4,800 jobs in September, lowering total nonfarm employment to 1,603,600. The largest movements were in education and in health care (-2,200), fueled mostly by losses in health care services. Private education drove the remaining losses, although they were much smaller (-400). These losses were partially offset by hiring in leisure and hospitality, which countered with 600 jobs gained. The September loss marks the third consecutive decline in three months totaling 6,600 jobs shed since June. Private industries lost 3,900 total jobs while government (a sector that includes federal, state, and local political subdivisions, as well as schools, universities, and public hospitals) pared 900. The jobs lost in government were at the state level and related to public universities starting later than usual this year (hiring appeared to occur after the September jobs survey and is expected to be reflected as normal next month). Government now rests up 2,400 jobs annually. Total nonfarm employment has added 11,600 jobs over the year.

Health care and social assistance lost the most jobs of any industry in September (-2,200) and has now shed 4,100 jobs over the last two months. The losses have been spread throughout all industries within this sector. Elsewhere, professional and business services decreased this month (-900). Professional and technical services along with administrative support and waste management industries fueled this loss. On the other hand, job gains were smaller in magnitude and led by leisure and hospitality (+600). Accommodations and food services was responsible for all the jobs added as arts, entertainment, and recreation decreased slightly.

Compared to last year’s level, Iowa firms have added 11,600 jobs equating to a gain of 0.7 percent. Leisure and hospitality contributed the most to this gain (+6,500) followed by education and health care services (+6,000). Construction has countered these losses with 2,300 jobs added to payrolls.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Immediately prior to the regular meeting of the Panorama school board on Oct. 14, a public hearing was held regarding the Flexibility Fund Transfer. There were no written nor oral comments, so the public hearing was promptly closed.

During the regular school board meeting, the board opted to postpone the Makerspace presentation until the November meeting.

In the Good News portion of the meeting agenda, the board heard of Mr. Dorhout’s eighth-grade field trip to Mike Delaney’s field in Dallas County. Students picked about 25 gallons of prairie seed, which will be spread on Panorama’s prairie later this fall.

The board heard a report of student Zoey Kepple being selected for the Iowa OPUS Honor Festival for fifth- and sixth-grade choir. She will perform at ISU on Nov. 21 at Stephens Auditorium.

The Special Education deficit was approved for spending authority. Superintendent Kasey Huebner explained this means the district can apply to the state to regain spending authority for whatever the special education deficit is, without impacting the general fund spending authority. 

Business Officer Symantha Crawford discussed the certified annual report from last fiscal year, which indicated that spending did not exceed revenues by large margins.

The board noted several upcoming dates. Parent/Teacher Conferences are set for Oct. 22 and Oct. 24 from 3-7:30 p.m. (Early out at 1:45 p.m.) The Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) Convention and Delegate Assembly will be Nov. 20-23.

The next regularly scheduled school board meeting is set for Monday, Nov. 11. The public is welcome at all meetings other than special closed sessions as allowed by Iowa Code.

Special to the Times Vedette

The Panorama Elementary Scholastic Book Fair will be held Tuesday, Oct. 22 and Thursday, Oct. 24 during Parent-Teacher Conferences from 3-7:30 p.m. at the Panorama Elementary Library. 

The Panorama Elementary staff is getting a sneak peek at books this week. Students will preview the book fair, fill out wish lists and participate in a guessing jar over the next few days. This will be an in-person event, but those interested can also shop online from Oct. 21 to Nov. 3 at www.scholastic.com/bf/panoramaelementaryschool.

Funds raised during the fair help purchase books for the library, classroom libraries and student activities. Families, faculty and the community are invited to take advantage of this opportunity to inspire children to become lifelong readers.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Since the opening of Guthrie County’s new Law Enforcement Center, the county has been housing a significant number of inmates from other counties. This was expected and has been a subject of frequent discussion during weekly meetings of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors.

The county began housing out-of-county inmates on Aug. 3, 2023, and averages approximately 15 out-of-county inmates at any given time. Although the percentages vary, overall, approximately 42% of the inmates are from Guthrie County while the remaining 58% are from outside the county.

Following a request from the supervisors, Deputy Jesse Swensen sent a letter summarizing revenues and costs related to the housing of outside inmates. The data is summarized below, using revenue and expense numbers from August 2023 to present.

             

Billed revenue from out-of-county inmates:

August 2023:                          $15,600

September 2023:                     $26,040

October 2023:                         $24,420

November 2023:                     $25,920

December 2023:                     $30,120

January 2024:                         $22,250

February 2024:                       $31,500

March 2024:                           $26,140

April 2024:                             $29,770

May 2024:                               $22,420

June 2024:                               $29,220

July 2024:                               $32,270

August 2024:                          $35,750

September 2024:                     $33,180

Total Revenue 2023-2024:     $385,050

Regarding expenses related to out-of-county inmates, Swensen broke down the averages in his report as follows:

Expense estimates for out-of-county inmates

Food:                                       $2,500/month

Water/Electricity:                    $2,174/month

Janitorial Supplies:                 $413/month

Staffing:                                  $4,665/month

Swensen said the total expense estimates for out-of-county inmates for 14 months is $127,198. Raises were also implemented at a total of $9,120 for jailers and $5,760 for facilities. 

Swensen’s report showed the estimated net income for housing out-of-county inmates for 14 months at $242,972.

Swensen’s report stated that costs for out-of-county inmates paid for by Guthrie County but billed back to home counties include all medical expenses as well as all prescription drugs. He noted that other expenses such as clothing, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shoes, bedding, mattresses, etc. are paid for from the commissary fund, which he said is 100% funded out of the revenue generated from inmate phone calls, texting and commissary sales. Swensen said there is no additional cost to the taxpayer for these items.

 

Orchard Family Restaurant opens in Guthrie Center

By Rich Wicks | Guthrie Center Times

A new restaurant recently opened in Guthrie Center, and it is attracting attention for its extensive menu. The Orchard Family Restaurant, located at 104 Third St., is owned by Luis Huerta, who recently sat down to share information about the business. The location had previously been La Villa Mexican Restaurant and Teo’s Mexican Grill. 

Huerta explained that he has worked in the restaurant business since 2013, running restaurants in Greenfield, Stuart and Coon Rapids, along with several Los Altos locations, as well as operating food trucks. Huerta explained that he sold his interest in the Los Altos locations in Story City, Greenfield and Bondurant.

The Orchard Family Restaurant opened Sept. 2, and a ribbon cutting event was set for Oct. 12.

Orchard’s menu features Mexican and American cuisine. The Mexican offerings include tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas and nachos. American and other offerings include burgers, sandwiches, pasta, bone-in wings, steak, ribs, pizzas, seafood, salads and soups. The menu also includes a variety of sides, a kids menu, jalapeno poppers and other appetizers, sundaes and other desserts.

Most meals are priced in the $10 to $13 range. Nothing costs more than $20, with the most expensive meals being the 12-ounce ribeye and the full slab of ribs, each listed at $19.99.

Orchard’s serving hours are Sundays through Thursdays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (with a break from 2-4 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays), and Fridays/Saturdays 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Currently, seven staff members work at Orchard, including Huerta and his wife, Beatrice. He is still in the process of hiring additional staff to fill the schedule.

“We try to bring a little bit different kitchen from what we use in Los Altos, even the beans and rice. We don’t use red rice here; we use white rice,” Huerta said. “It’s still authentic, because there are many different regions of Mexican food.”

Looking ahead, Huerta said he plans to add bar seating and TVs for that area. He also hopes to eventually hold various events at the restaurant.

One core belief that Huerta has learned throughout his restaurant career is to listen to his customers, so he encourages the public to make recommendations for changes or additions to the offerings.

“We want to make it a nice place for the community and to provide good service,” Huerta said.