P.E.O. celebrates Page 4
New teachers Page 3 Friday
August 19, 2016 OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF HARDIN COUNTY
E L D O R A, I O W A
641-939-5051
www.eldoranewspapers.com
V O L U M E 84
• N O. 3 • $1.00
Price clouds outlook for record level crop By Rick Patrie News Editor HARDIN COUNTY – The corn crop, by all accounts, is progressing so well it’s a cause for concern. The state newspapers have run a spate of stories about the huge projected harvest weighing down prices and casting a cloud over other economic sectors tightly tied to agriculture. First, the good news: Hardin County Extension’s Darwin Miller says it has been an all but ideal growing season here in Hardin County. Planting in Hardin County was for the most part uninterrupted and right on time. Then the summer came off without any big weather events, spare some very isolated hail and wind damage. As a result, Hardin County’s corn crop is on track to make its own healthy contribution to the much talked about multi-billion bushel national harvest. Miller said there really wasn’t much negative at work during the growing season. The corn and bean crops are probably a few days ahead of their norms. Conditions were good from the start. If a crop wasn’t in the ground by the early May targets, it wasn’t for lack of opportunity, he says. After that the county was spared some of the huge rain events that hit areas around us. Extension’s crop and farm management specialist, Kelvin Liebold, says that’s about where the positive talk ends. Leibold says projections about a
The Harvest? There is a too much of a good thing element in the assessment of this year’s corn crop. Locally, it has been a good year, weather cooperative, no unanticipated problems, and an outlook for fine yields across the board in Hardin County. But the concern hanging over the upcoming harvest has more to do with markets and prices.
Newsbriefs
Play Bridge for Imagination Library Aug. 22
Attention all bridge players. A casual bridge game will be taking place on the fourth Monday every month. The next event will be Monday afternoon August 22, at 1 p.m. at the Eldora Public Library. The game is open to anyone who enjoys playing bridge (men and women). Invite your bridge playing friends and come join the fun! Registration by Friday evening, August 19 is suggested. Signup can be done by phone, 939-2173, or by stopping at the library. The cost is $5 per player and all monies will benefit the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in the Eldora area. Further information can be obtained by contacting Sharon Roberts 641-799-4211 (cell only) or Susie Reece 939-2644. (continued on page 3)
Celebrating Dog Days ELDORA – They made the most of the Dog Days of Summer. Participating Eldora merchants on Friday, August 12 and then on the 13th invited the community down town in the evenings for some bargains with that “dog” theme in mind, and a lot more that didn’t necessarily even have to do with dogs. On Friday the 12th there were free hot dogs and drinks on the courthouse square from 5 to 7 p.m. for anyone who came visiting. Then there was more from the City of Eldora, Eldora Health Mart Pharmacy, the Eldora Newspapers, the Hardin County Savings Bank drive up, Backwoods Gallery, Clemons Hardware and Rental, Ahoy Fountain, Eldora Flowers and Gifts and Hy-Vee. Sam Estes did the cooking Friday night as Rotary Park became a temporary picnic grounds.
Are you already a winner
Greenbelt Tractorcade, Pancake Breakfast at Hardin County Farm Museum Aug. 20
Come see the tractors gather for the 13th Annual Greenbelt Tractorcade at the Hardin County Farm Museum in Eldora. The tractors leave at 9 a.m. The Farm Museum will also be holding a pancake breakfast on Saturday, Aug. 20 from 7 to 9:30 a.m. They will be serving pancakes, sausage, fruit and drinks. Cost is by donation. Everyone is welcome!
15 billion bushel crop are only more cause for worry over corn prices which have slipped back again after temporary highs in recent weeks. He says the jury is not completely in on the 2016 crop. Around here it could be affected by a spate of hot nights during mid summer, and he says there was a shot of frost in April that could have impacted the very earliest crop in the ground. Liebold says the still relatively new federal crop insurance program – designed to insure against precipitous drops in commodity prices as well as acts of nature – probably won’t be a big factor here. Prices will have to fall much more for provisions of the legislation to kick in widespread. It was a week for the media to cast an eye on the corn crop. The Des Moines Register just Monday carried a comprehensive look at the markets and where projections have them headed. It saw a bumper crop driving corn and soybean prices ever lower, costing farmers $2 billion in revenue and leading to a third consecutive year of income losses. It reported that the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday speculated that average corn prices nationally could fall as low as $2.85 a bushel and soybeans could drop to $8.35. The article addressed the impact on major industries, manufacturers in particular, dependent on agriculture. It spoke to adjustments being made by lenders to farmers and signs of adjustments between landlords and renters. The Chicago Federal (continued on page 2
by Rick Patrie News Editor HARDIN COUNTY – The Iowa State Fair has been under way in recent days and there are always a number of hopeful exhibitors from this area. Some travel to Des Moines after appearances at the Hardin County Fair, and others make appearances at the State Fair directly. If you were among them, and particularly if you were among those to show with distinction, contact the newspapers and we will share the news with everyone else here at home. The state fair organization always has a travelling photographer on site who tries to capture the top finishers in the host of competitions, but no one can do it all. And the fair organization tires to file reports with the hometown newspapers about how local folks have done in the competitions, but once again, no one can catch everything. So if you did well at the fair, contact us with the information. We like to hear from everyone, winners of the novelty contests, and of course anyone who scored well in talents or the livestock competitions. We can be reached at editor@eldoranewspaper.com or calling 641939-5051.
Rachel Miller and the Eldora Aquatic Center where she and the life guard team are closing out another summer this Sunday.
Pool closes out another summer by Rick Patrie News Editor ELDORA – Mother Nature always has the first and last word on the summer season at the Eldora swimming pool. This year she was generous, and just hot enough, often enough, to boost attendance at the center. It was a summer of few rainouts or other events that would hold down attendance, so the report on use was
a great one for 2016. And one thing people might forget is that the pool conducts some serious business too, every summer. This year they taught 210 swim lessons. While not everyone progressed beyond their level, they all did good job, according to pool manager Joan Grothoff. “Practicing skills during free swim helps reinforces what children learn. I strongly encourage all children to
take our Red Cross lessons. “ Family night on Monday from 5:007:00 p.m. proved the aquatic centers big night of the week. “We had 27 pool parties this summer. Private parties are available from 7-8: 30 p.m., or before pool opens from 10-12 or 11-1.” So keep that in mind next season. “We averaged 3 laps swimmers from 12-1 per day, per week. Night laps was rarely used.
“ZUMBA and deep end aerobics were a lot of fun! Classes were offered mornings from 8:00-9:00 am. Give it a whirl next year,” We were only closed one day due to temperatures below 70, and 3 1/2 days due to rain. “Season ends with the close Sunday August 21st. Our guards have been excellent, but college and sports practices awaits then.”