Iowan wins hero award for her work on farm safety

DES MOINES -- An Iowa woman who became a safety advocate after her son died in a farming accident two decades ago has been recognized for her work.

Marilyn Adams, of Earlham, was named winner of a National Hometown Hero Award by Volvo Cars of North America and will receive a $100,000 donation. She will be presented with the award during a ceremony in New York City on March 19, according to a news release from the car company.

"Volvo has helped us spread our farm safety message to countless rural families and to save an untold number of children from farm tragedies," 57-year-old Adams said in a statement. She added that the $100,000 donation will help establish an endowment fund for her safety effort called Farm Safety 4 Just Kids.

Farm Safety 4 Just Kids currently has 137 chapters throughout North America, the news release said.

Iowa agencies to get aid after winter storm

DES MOINES -- State and local agencies and some nonprofit organizations will get more than $3.2 million in federal aid after a severe winter storm last December.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division announced the grants last week.

They come after President Bush declared a major disaster for 30 counties that experienced damage during a severe winter storm that began Dec. 10.

The counties that were part of the disaster declaration include: Adair, Adams, Appanoose, Cedar, Clarke, Clinton, Davis, Decatur, Fremont, Iowa, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Linn, Lucas, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, Washington and Wayne.

State pleased by drop in Iowa deer population

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Iowa's deer herd is shrinking and will reach levels sought by state wildlife officials if current trends continue.

The herd is now estimated at between 275,000 and 300,000 deer, said Tom Litchfield, a deer biologist with the Department of Natural Resources. State goals call for a herd of between 170,000 and 200,000 deer.

If the state can succeed in reducing the herd to that level, hunters would kill about 110,000 deer a year. That would be a 26 percent reduction from recent years.

One reason for the reduction is the killing of does, which typically bear twin fawns each year. In the last hunting season, does made up more than 75,000 of the 146,215 deer killed.

"We said we were going to shrink the herd, and, with our emphasis on targeting does, we are turning the corner," Dale Garner, chief of the DNR Wildlife Bureau, said.

ISU awards honors to several staff members

AMES, Iowa -- The Iowa State University College of Agriclture and Life Science has presented awards to faculty and staff at its spring semester convocation.

Phil Spike, a professor of animal science, received the Outstanding Adviser Award. Lyric Bartholomay, assistant professor in entomology, received the Early Achievement in Teaching Award. Janette Thompson, associate professor of natural resource ecology and management, received the Outstanding Achievement in Testing Award.

Matt Liebman, Henry A. Wallace Endowed Chair for Sustainable Agriculture and professor of agronomy, got the Outstanding Achievement in Research Award. Allison Robertson, assistant professor of plant pathology, received the Early Achievement in Extension Award. Michael Owen, professor of agronomy, received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Extension.

Freiburger among recipients of DHIA scholarships

DEHLI, Iowa --Kelly Jo Freiburger of New Dehli has received $500 scholarships from the National Dairy Herd Information Association Scholarship Committee. She and 24 other young people received scholarships during the recent 43rd annual DHIA annual meeting in San Antonio.

Money generated by the annual National DHIA Scholarship Auction primarily funds the scholarships.

Horse Meeting planned in Ida Grove March 13

IDA GROVE, Iowa -- Common health problems will be the featured topic during a Horse Meeting planned March 13 in the Ida Grove Public Library.

The meeting will be from 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Veterinarians Loretta Berkland and Alan Carlson will discuss equine problems they commonly treat in their practices. Most of the program will involve a question-and-answer session with the veterinarians.

"There are a variety of health issues that horse owners routinely deal with -- such as colic, emergency First Aid, vaccination schedules and de-worming programs,' said Beth Doran, Extension beef specialist.

Registration is $15 and is due by March 11 to the Ida County Extension office. For more information, call (712) 364-3003.