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Morning Newscast July 26

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By reporter Betsy Penisten

Local news

Closing day at Johnson County Fair

Today is the last day of the Johnson County Fair. If you haven’t had a chance to make it out to the fair yet this week, tonight will be a great night to do so with evening temperatures dipping into the upper 60’s.

With the significant lack of rain during the past two weeks fair organizers have been tossing around the idea of whether or not cancel the annual fireworks show as they believe it poses some threats. No word this morning on any cancellation yet. The fireworks remain on schedule at 9:30 pm following the Chainsaw Carvings Auction in the Outdoor Arena at 9:00 pm.

Fair folks spit to win

The Johnson County 4-H Sunflower Seed Spitting Contest kick-off it’s second annual competition Wednesday. According to  9-year-old Solon resident Jackson Ryan, the champion seed spitter, the correct form to spit a sunflower seed is to place it smack dab in the middle of your tongue while making sure the pointy tip of the seed in the direction it’s supposed to go.

This fun fair contest was developed and organized by Iowa Realty real estate agent Jim Burr. Burr said, “we just needed something that was fun and family.”

There are three rounds in the seed spitting competition. Each participant has two shots in the first round. The top three competitors with the shortest distance between their seed and the blue line move on to the second round. The supreme contestants in each age category then face off in the final round of seed spittin’ where one is crowned champion.

Iowa woman guilty of extortion

An Iowa woman has pled guilty in a case involving the hit T.V show “19 Kids and Counting,” an affair and extortion.

Teresa Hunt sought to extort the parent company of cable network TLC with threats to disclose an alleged  affair that includes a cast member of the reality T.V show “19 Kids and Counting,” which follows the life of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 19 children.

Hunt pled guilty Wednesday to one count of extortion at a federal court hearing in Davenport. Sentencing has been scheduled for Nov. 9.

According to prosecutors, Hunt sent letters to Discovery Communications Inc, TLC’s parent company. Within these letters, Hunt claimed to have in possession incriminating photographs of a cast member of the T.V show that would confirm an inappropriate sexual relationship.

Prosecutors state that Hunt demanded either the cancellation of the hit reality show or $10,000 from Discovery in return for refraining from leaking the photos to a tabloid.

Sources: Iowa City Press Citizen