Poison hemlock required to be destroyed; more

Poison hemlock required to be destroyed

Jefferson County weed commissioner Dan Miller reports poison hemlock, a noxious weed, is abundant this year.

?The county sent out letters to property owners about it with instructions to destroy it by May 15,? he said. ?It?s a very aggressive, invasive species. We don?t want it reproducing, which is why we set a May 15 deadline. If owners can keep it mowed short, it won?t have seeds. If it?s a small patch, it can be pulled out.?

Miller said poison hemlock is highly toxic if ingested, even in small amounts.

?Normally, people don?t ingest it unless they mistake it for wild carrots or parsnips, it?s an Asian transplant in that family,? he said. ?But if it gets cut down with hay or silage and mixed in with feed for domestic animals, it can kill them.

?It?s a biennial plant, it can grow 3- to 8-feet tall, and has an umbrella of white flower clusters.?

Chemical eradication includes using 2, 4-D, dicamba or glyphosate.

?If mowing is used to control the weed, property owners should check the treated area the next year and the next,? said Miller.

?If property owners do not take care of this, or other noxious weeds and I see it, they are notified by mail with a letter from the county attorney?s office. If that doesn?t get any action, I can hire someone to go on the property and eradicate the weeds and the bill goes on their tax assessment.?

?Diane Vance, Ledger staff writer

Grassley receives award for child advocacy work

WASHINGTON ? Iowa leaders and volunteers with the National CASA Association recently presented Senator Chuck Grassley the 2012 Children?s Champion in Congress Award.

Aprile Goodman, Deb Pumphrey, Jo Stumo and Alan Steckman of Mason City were in Washington, D.C., for an advocates? conference.  Local CASA ? or Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children ? programs train volunteers who are asked by the court to represent the best interests of children in certain child welfare-related cases.

?For all of the policy improvements Congress makes, it?s the people in the field who make the policies work,? Grassley said. ?Those who spend time waiting at courthouses and weeding through paperwork at child welfare agencies make a tremendous positive difference.  These advocates wade right in and take part, not for glory but out of regard for the quality of life for every child.?

Grassley was honored this year along with Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont. Grassley is ranking member and Leahy is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

For information about the organizaiton, visit the website www.casaforchildren.org.