Author: Chris Baldus

Newspaperman, professionally, since 1991 Husband since 1992 Father since 2001, triplets plus two States I've lived in: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Idaho and Iowa Graduate of Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Minn. An offensive lineman who dreamed big
Calendar, R-R-MR, Rockford

RRMR preschool open house is Aug. 23

Chris Baldus

News Release ROCKFORD — RRMR Preschool Open House August 23, 2018 3:00-7:00 pm in the preschool room. 2018-19 Preschoolers and their parents be sure to stop in, meet the teachers and see the classroom. You can also bring your school supplies. We would also like to remind everyone in the AM and PM classes to get your school picture taken on August 23, 2018 between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm down by the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade rooms. Order forms will be available that day. You will be contacted by the teacher to schedule a home visit August 24, … Continue reading RRMR preschool open house is Aug. 23

Charles City, Charles City Schools, Community

School to School 5k and Fun Run is Aug. 25

Chris Baldus

News Release CHARLES CITY — Washington Elementary School is sponsoring the third annual School to School 5k and Fun Run that will promote healthy habits while showcasing the Charles City Community School District schools, plus the 500 North Grand building and Immaculate Conception Catholic School. The 5k route will begin at the Charles City Middle School, run past all current school buildings and end at Washington Elementary School. The Fun Run is for children younger than 13-years-old and will take place on the Leon Mulford track at Washington Elementary School following the 5k. The fun run will feature a cloud of … Continue reading School to School 5k and Fun Run is Aug. 25

Nashua

Floyd Co furnace replacement program accepting applications

Chris Baldus

News Release The 2019 Floyd County furnace replacement program is now accepting applications Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 Floyd County Furnace Replacement program.  Applicants must be income qualified, own and occupy their home, be current on property taxes and homeowner insurance and the existing furnace must be at least 10 years old.  Applications may be obtained from, and returned to, the Charles City Area Development Corporation, 401 N. Main Street, Charles City, Iowa.  The application is also posted at http://www.charlescityia.com   If you have any questions, you can call 641-228-3020. Continue reading Floyd Co furnace replacement program accepting applications

Floyd County

Floyd County Board of Supervisors Meeting Agenda for Aug. 14

Chris Baldus

Floyd County Board of Supervisors meeting begins at 9 a.m., Floyd County Courthouse Board Room 1. Approve agenda 2. Public Comment 3. Updates on various boards/committees/activities since the last meeting 4. Review/Action regarding approval of July 23, 24 and August 6, 2018 meeting minutes 5. Review/Action regarding approval of claims 6. Review/Action regarding Request for Proposals for Hazardous Materials Survey/Mitigation Services for Law Enforcement Center/Courthouse project 7. Review/Action regarding appointment of Core Team for Law Enforcement Center/Courthouse project 8. Review/Action regarding the hiring of Garrett Vanderwerf to the position of Equipment Operator II for the Secondary Road Dept 9. Discussion … Continue reading Floyd County Board of Supervisors Meeting Agenda for Aug. 14

Charles City

Charles City Community Night at UNI-Iowa game

Chris Baldus

News Release IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Iowa Hawkeyes are inviting the entire Charles City Community to “Charles City Community Night” in Kinnick Stadium in conjunction with the Iowa/UNI Football game on Saturday, September 15 kickoff at 6:30 pm. Any member of the Charles City community can purchase an unlimited number of $35 group rate adult tickets and $25 youth tickets.  The single game ticket price is $50 per seat.  In addition, there is an optional Charles City tailgate party in the Hawkeye Village area, the pre-game hospitality program of the Iowa Hawkeyes. The record for ticket sales by one community … Continue reading Charles City Community Night at UNI-Iowa game

Outdoors

Join the search for Iowa’s endangered bumble bee

Chris Baldus

Iowa DNR News Release The rusty patched bumble bee was designated as endangered by the federal government in 2017, after determining that the population had declined 87 percent in the last 20 years and is only present on 0.1 percent of its historic range. Named after the rusty patch centrally located on the backs of workers and males, but not queens, it once occupied grasslands and tallgrass prairies in the Upper Midwest and Northeast. In Iowa they can be found mainly in the northeast corner, concentrated in Black Hawk, Clayton, Johnson, Allamakee, Jackson and Winneshiek counties. However, rusty patched bumble … Continue reading Join the search for Iowa’s endangered bumble bee

Calendar, Chickasaw County, Nashua

Crop Marketing Highlights the ISU Research Farm Field Day on September 5

Chris Baldus

News Release NASHUA – The Annual Fall Field Day at the ISU Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm will run from 1:00 to 4:15 PM. Steve Johnson, Extension farm management specialist, will kick-off the program in the Borlaug Learning Center by providing his insights on the crop market outlook. Following Steve is Antonio Mallarino, Extension soil fertility specialist, to discuss recent research on the use of high rates of gypsum, as well as a soil lime/pH update. We then convene outside for the farm wagon tour; Meaghan Anderson, Extension field agronomist, will share her thoughts on weed management, herbicide resistance and … Continue reading Crop Marketing Highlights the ISU Research Farm Field Day on September 5

Charles City

Charles City to host flood map meeting August 14

Chris Baldus

News Release CHARLES CITY — On Aug 14, the IDNR and FEMA will host an open house to present preliminary floodplain maps to Floyd County citizens.  The meeting will be held at the Charles City Council Chambers at city hall, 105 Milwaukee Mall, Charles City on Tuesday, August 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  This meeting is open to the public. The open house will provide property owners an opportunity to view the preliminary  maps and learn how their flood risk may have changed.  Representatives from FEMA and the IDNR will be on hand to answer questions and address … Continue reading Charles City to host flood map meeting August 14

Charles City

Rural Small Business Roadshow comes to CC Aug. 7

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — Small business owners and lenders in North Central Iowa are invited to the Rural Small Business Roadshow from 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, at the Charles City NIACC Center, 203 Brantingham Street. Learn more about the programs and services that are available from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that can help rural small businesses start, grow and expand. Free admission.  Continue reading Rural Small Business Roadshow comes to CC Aug. 7

Outdoors

FISHING REPORT: Try a crawler in slack water on the Cedar

Chris Baldus

By the Iowa DNR Cedar River (above Nashua) Water levels are stabilizing and low. Flows remain high. Visibility has improved. Walleye – Good: Use a jig tipped with a crawler or minnow in slack water pockets. Use a jig tipped with twister tail in deep water drop offs. Channel Catfish – Slow: Target snags for catfish using stink baits, chicken liver or crawdads fished on bottom. Use stink bait once the water warms. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use crawdad crankbaits or jigs with twister tails along rocky shorelines. Black Crappie – Slow Use minnows or red worms in shallow snags and slack water. Clear Lake Surface water temperature is 70 degrees. Walleye – Fair: Jig a … Continue reading FISHING REPORT: Try a crawler in slack water on the Cedar

Chickasaw County, Nashua

Nashua police warn of text message scams and more

Chris Baldus

NASHUA — Phone scams are not exclusively from voice calls anymore. Now, they’re coming through text messaging. The Nashua Police Department on Tuesday evening posted a warning about this on its Facebook page. “Please be aware there are many scams being sent on all sorts of media,” the post says. “Remember: If it seems to good to be true, it probably is. Never provide any personal information over social media. Always verify your talking to the correct person before engaging in any conversation.” Included in the post were these photos as examples: The federal government keeps track of scams going … Continue reading Nashua police warn of text message scams and more

Charles City

SBA, USDA presentation in Charles City Aug. 7

Chris Baldus

News Release There will be a “Powering Rural Iowa Roadshow” informational presentation on Tuesday, Aug. 7, at 2 p.m. at the Charles City NIACC Center featuring representatives from the Small Business Administration and USDA Rural Development. Small business owners and lenders in particular are being encouraged to attend this free, public meeting to learn how to help small rural businesses get started, grow and expand. This event is being co-hosted by the Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce, Charles City Area Development Corp. and the Business Improvement Committee of Community Revitalization. Continue reading SBA, USDA presentation in Charles City Aug. 7

Outdoors

FISHING REPORT: Smallmouths biting in Cedar

Chris Baldus

The word from the DNR is that smallmouth bass are gobbling up crawdad crankbaits along rocky shorelines of the Cedar River north of Nashua. Here are fishing reports from the DNR for this week: Clear Lake Surface water temperature is 72 degrees. Walleye – Fair: Jig a minnow or leech above submerged vegetation in 6 to 10 feet of water. Channel Catfish – Good: Use stink bait or cut bait fished on the bottom after sunset. Black Crappie – Good: Try fishing the edge of the vegetation with a jig and minnow. Cedar River (above Nashua) Walleye – Good: Use a jig tipped with a crawler or minnow in slack … Continue reading FISHING REPORT: Smallmouths biting in Cedar

Charles City

Endless Summer, Hawaiian theme at next Party in the Park  

Chris Baldus

News Release CHARLES CITY – Summer may be starting to wind down, but it will be alive and well on Friday, August 3rd, as Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame band Endless Summer takes the stage the stage for Party in the Park in Charles City! Central Park will be hoppin’ from 5-9 p.m. with nostalgic tunes from the Beach Boys era, which will fit right in with the “Chuck Goes to Hawaii” theme for the night. In addition to the free live music, the public can enjoy a variety of food and beverage vendors, as well as park … Continue reading Endless Summer, Hawaiian theme at next Party in the Park  

COLUMNS

Column: How did humanity survive parenthood?

Chris Baldus

This column was originally posted on Chris Baldus: Journalist Dad in 2012 A speaker on parenting made this interesting point at church today. If parents knew, really knew what they were getting into, no one would be a parent. Humanity would have met its end quickly. It can be a tough gig, no question. There’s just nothing like dragging a 5- year-old out of church as she sob-scream-chants, “I want a doughnut. I want a doughnut.” Full disclosure: This was over denial of a second doughnut from the church’s stash and it lasted for the full 10-minute drive home during … Continue reading Column: How did humanity survive parenthood?

Calendar, Floyd County

Floyd County Extension August 2018 Calendar

Chris Baldus

Wednesday, August 1, 2018 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM   4-H Trip to Decorah   Decorah Wednesday, August 8, 2018 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM   Farmland Leasing Meeting   Charles City Thursday, August 9, 2018 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM   Focus On Nitrogen Field Day   Nashua Tuesday, August 21, 2018 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM   Floyd County Extension Council Meeting   Charles City Tuesday, August 21, 2018 – Thursday, August 23, 2018 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM   Iowa Drainage School   Nashua Continue reading Floyd County Extension August 2018 Calendar

Charles City

2018 Main Street Challenge Grant applications available.

Chris Baldus

News Release Charles City building owners in the downtown district have an opportunity to apply for a 2018 Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant to assist with bricks and mortar rehabilitation of buildings or new construction within the designated district. This would be a matching grant up to $75,000 toward an approved project. Through an appropriation from the Iowa legislature, Main Street Iowa will be awarding a total of $925,000 in grants this year.  Grants are available only to designated Main Street Iowa communities across the State of Iowa, of which Charles City is included through the Community Revitalization program. “Charles … Continue reading 2018 Main Street Challenge Grant applications available.

Outdoors

2017 Pheasant harvest tops 220,000, 2018 nesting forecast is mixed

Chris Baldus

IOWA DNR An estimated 55,000 hunters harvested more than 221,000 roosters in Iowa last fall; a slight decline from 245,000 harvested in 2016. Hunters reported good success across the entire northwest quarter of Iowa. An early look at the 2018 pheasant forecast begins with nesting success which is likely a mixed bag. Parts of southern Iowa are dry while northern Iowa has been inundated with rain. Combined with a late arriving winter is a recipe for a stable to declining pheasant population.  “Our best indicator for the pheasant population is the August roadside survey, but our weather model gives us … Continue reading 2017 Pheasant harvest tops 220,000, 2018 nesting forecast is mixed