From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Unseasonably warm temperatures across Iowa this February have triggered early bud development on red maples and red maple hybrids. Many trees are beginning to leaf out weeks ahead of typical leaf emergence, and colder weather is expected this weekend.

A return to freezing or near-freezing temperatures can injure newly emerging leaves that are not yet hardened. This type of cold damage is fairly common during early warm spells followed by late winter cold snaps.

“In many cases, the damage is not immediately obvious,” said Tivon Feeley, forest health program leader with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “Symptoms often appear later in spring or early summer when affected portions of the leaf tissue dry out and fall away, leaving holes or irregular edges in the leaves.”

This condition is sometimes mistaken for insect feeding or disease, but it is simply a delayed response to cold injury that occurred earlier in the season. Although the damage may affect the appearance of the tree for a short time, it is not fatal and does not pose a long-term threat to tree health.

“Early leaf damage caused by late winter cold snaps are cosmetic and temporary,” he said. “Trees affected this spring will recover on their own as weather conditions stabilize.”

Homeowners are encouraged to monitor their trees, but there should not be a need for extra pruning, fertilization or pesticides.

Special to the Times Vedette

On Feb. 18, a total of nine players participated. Dennis Betts got a 17; Wayne Nickel got a 17 and an 18; Dick Ellis got a 17 and a 20; and Allen Pierce got an 18 and a 21.

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.

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