712 Digital Group - top

NWS forecast for Cass & area Counties: March 10, 2015

Weather

March 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Early this morning: Mostly clear. Low in the mid 20s. South wind near 5 mph.
Today: Sunny…warmer. High in the lower 70s. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Clear. Low in the mid 30s. Northwest wind around 5 mph shifting to the northeast up to 5 mph after midnight.

Wednesday: Sunny. High around 70. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear. Low around 40. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday: Sunny. High in the upper 60s.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Low in the upper 30s.
Friday: Mostly sunny. High in the lower 60s.

Posted in Weather |

Social worker says parents should set social media limits for kids

News

March 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Age eight is when the average child in Iowa begins consuming online media, and while you’re supposed to be 13 to open a Facebook account, it’s very tough to regulate. Alissa Wilkinson, a social worker in central Iowa, says parents know their children best, so it’s up to them to make the decision, but she says consistent rules about social media should be in place from the beginning. “Parents should be monitoring their kids’ usage at all times, especially under age 13,” Wilkinson says. “Electronics should be out in the common areas of the house. I don’t think kids should be left alone with their phone or their tablet in their room for an extended amount of time.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children and teens should have no more than two hours a day of total screen time and Wilkinson says parents should impose other rules, too Wilkinson says, “If they’re going to allow their kids to be online, they should know the passwords and be able to ‘follow’ their children or be ‘friends’ with their children on whatever sites they’re on so they can monitor what’s being put out there.” While Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and other social media sites grow in popularity, some children simply don’t understand the potential risks of putting the personal details of their lives online.

“Children just want to be doing what all of their friends are doing,” Wilkinson says. “They don’t realize that what they put out there is public and doesn’t go away. I encourage parents to talk with their kids and ask, before I post something online, ‘What would my grandma think of this? Would grandma not like to know this about me or know that I’m doing this?’ If the answer is ‘no,’ then don’t post it.” There may be warning signs a child is getting into trouble with too much time online.

Any time a child has a drastic change in mood or daily functioning habits, for example, if a child begins sleeping more or less than usual, becomes more irritable, stops socializing or participating in activities they usually love. School behavior is also a huge indicator. Wilkinson says moms and dads are the best examples their kids will have about proper behavior online. “Parents need to be modeling for their children what social media is about,” Wilkinson says. “If the parents spend all kinds of time online and put all of their information out there, then the kid thinks that’s okay and ‘I’m going to do it, too.'”

Studies find 73-percent of teens use social networking sites and 62-percent of children have had a negative online experience. Wilkinson is a licensed independent social worker at Compass Clinical Associates in Urbandale.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

Board of Pharmacy rejects petition for rescheduling marijuana

News

March 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy on Monday, denied another request for the board to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I designation. Carl Olsen of Des Moines, who founded Iowans for Medical Marijuana, submitted the request. He says keeping marijuana as a Schedule I substance indicates the plant has no medicinal value. “We have 34 states that have declared (marijuana as) medicine and we have it in this crazy classification that says it’s only for substances that have no accepted medical use and treatment in the United States,” Olsen says. “These schedules were meant to be flexible because circumstances change and for (pharmacy board members) to act like 34 state laws is not a significant change in circumstances is insane.”

Last year, lawmakers passed and the governor signed a bill into law that allows the use of cannabis oil for patients with chronic epilepsy. But, parents of children with the condition say it’s nearly impossible to safely, affordably, and legally get medical cannabis in other states and bring back to Iowa. One reason Olsen wants marijuana moved to Schedule II is so cannabis oil could more easily be manufactured in Iowa. He notes the American Academies of Neurology and Pediatrics have both recommended marijuana be reclassified so it’s no longer a Schedule I drug.

“Why doesn’t the (Iowa Board of Pharmacy) listen to these medical experts?,” Olsen says. According to Olsen, board members are calling the medical marijuana issue a “political decision” and are waiting for legislators to tackle the matter. At the statehouse, three bills to reclassify marijuana failed to make it out of committee by the funnel date and are considered dead for this year.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

Two area teachers to be honored today

News

March 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Two southwest Iowa teachers are among the top educators in the state being honored today (Tuesday) by the Iowa Department of Education. The Daily NonPareil reports Ryan Higgins and Stan Winquist were invited to Des Moines for the Outstanding Iowa Teachers Recognition Luncheon to be recognized by Iowa Department of Education Director Brad Buck, Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and other state officials.

Higgins is an engineering teacher at Abraham Lincoln High School, and Winquist is an industrial and agriculture teacher at Glenwood Community High School. Both were finalists for the Iowa Teacher of the Year award.

The luncheon recognizes the finalists and winners for the contest, as well as the Iowa Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and Gilder Lehrman Iowa History Teacher of the Year.

Posted in News |

IWCC proposes cutting its property tax rate

News

March 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Board of Directors at Iowa Western Community College has proposed cutting its property tax rate by 1.5 cents. According to the Daily NonPareil, a preliminary budget approved at the Board’s meeting Monday in Harlan, does include a tuition increase of $11 per credit hour to balance the budget. The budget is expected to grow by about 8 percent overall. Iowa Western’s proposed levy is $1.14061 per $1,000 in taxable valuation for next year, which represents a levy decrease of about 1.3 percent in property taxes to support the community college.

Board members discussed their expectation that the Iowa Legislature will not set state aid for community colleges until next month, which is one of the reasons – along with expected changes to enrollment figures – the budget remains preliminary. It is designed to represent the spending limit for the college, not necessarily how much it will actually spend next fiscal year. Tom Johnson, the outgoing vice president of finance and operations, said the college’s spending for its general fund would be capped at about $50.35 million for next year, based on the published budget estimate.

The board, which met this month at the Shelby County Center in Harlan, gave its approval following a public hearing without any testimony. Iowa Western will file the budget with the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa Department of Management, which requires a budget to be filed by next Monday.

Posted in News |

Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky named Big Ten Player of the Year

Sports

March 10th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky is the Big Ten’s Player of the Year. As Kaminsky led the Badgers to the outright Big Ten championship, the senior averaged 19.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in conference play. Kaminsky has scored at least 20 points on 13 occasions this season and hauled in double-digit rebounds in 10 games.

Badger head coach Bo Ryan was named Coach of the Year by conference coaches, while Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon received the honor from the media. In Maryland’s first Big Ten season, Turgeon led the Terrapins to the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell was named Freshman of the Year by coaches and media. Purdue’s Rapheal Davis was named the Defensive Player of the Year, and Iowa’s Gabe Olaseni was voted Sixth Man of the Year by coaches.

Posted in Sports |

Monday Boys State Basketball Tourney Schedule

Sports

March 9th, 2015 by Jim Field

CLASS 1-A QUARTERFINALS

  • FINAL – Gladbrook-Reinbeck 80, Nodaway Valley 57 (G-R: Joe Smoldt 31 pts, Camden Kickbush 24 pts.  NV: Jackson Lamb 19 pts)
  • FINAL – Earlham 63, Belle Plaine 50
  • FINAL – Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 51, South O’Brien 45
  • FINAL – Danville 69, West Hancock 47

CLASS 2-A QUARTERFINALS

  • FINAL – Treynor 69, Forest City 66 (Treynor:  Nolan Chapman 26 pts, Jacob Flathers 18 pts-12 reb, Trey Robinson 11 pts-10 reb)
  • FINAL – Aplington-Parkersburg 82, Woodward Academy 69

Posted in Sports |

2014-15 Iowa Girls Coaches Association All-State Basketball Teams

Sports

March 9th, 2015 by Jim Field

Class 1-A
1st Team:
Taylor Hickey, Burlington Notre Dame, 12
Brianna Wells, Newell-Fonda, 12
Tori Hazard, Janesville, 10
Macy Williams, Fremont-Mills, 12
Rylee Voss, English Valleys, 12
Shayla Dean, Colo-Nesco, 12
Rachel Smith, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton, 12
Sarah Halse, Central Lyon, 12
2nd Team:
Johanna Vaske, Bishop Garrigan, 12
Riley Kilbride, Burlington Notre Dame, 11
Hattie Davidson, Northwood-Kensett, 12
Carleigh Paup, Paton-Churdan, 11
Rachel Mercer, Kingsley-Pierson, 11
Sarah Matus, Springville, 12
Lysandra James, Lynnville-Sully, 12
Kaitlyn Johnson, Van Buren-Keosauqua, 12
3rd Team:
Shelby Hembera, Cedar Valley Christian, 12
Alecia Kimball, Dunkerton, 11
Callie Calfee, Bedford, 12
Sarah Dreckman, M-M-C, 11
Madison McGregor, Rockford, 10
Madie Sorenson, Adair-Casey, 9
Olvia Barrett, GMG, 12
Shelby Reicks, Turkey Valley, 10
Coach of the Year – Dick Jungers, Newell-Fonda

Class 2-A
1st Team:
Nicole Miller, North Linn, 12
Jamie Gesink, Western Christian, 12
Kari Fitzpatrick, Edgewood-Colesburg, 12
Kassidy DeJong, Unity Christian, 12
Gracey Griglione, I-35, 10
Haley Birks, South Central Calhoun, 12
Elsa Anderson, Des Moines Christian, 12
Anna Kiel, Unity Christian, 11
2nd Team:
Morgan Muhlbauer, IKM-Manning, 12
Julia Groenenboom, North Mahaska, 12
Anna Yung, St Edmond, 12
Chelsey Lampe, Highland Riverside, 12
Hallie Linhart, Central Decatur, 12
Steffi Cunard, Logan-Magnolia, 12
Kailey Burke, Hinton, 11
Faith Troshynski, Manson-NW Webster, 11
3rd Team:
Beth Atwood, Pekin, 11
Lindsey Koch, Hudson, 12
Katie Lindeman, Grundy Center, 11
Gabby Reyerson, West Marshall, 11
Maddie Boer, North Linn, 12
Carolyn Trumm, Cascade, 12
Kelsey Pretz, Columbus, 12
Olivia Verhulst, Dike-New Hartford, 12
Coach of The Year – Brian Wheatley, North Linn

Class 3-A
1st Team:
Elle Ruffridge, Pocahontas Area, 10
Arika Wooldridge, Center Point-Urbana, 11
Andrea Larson, Mediapolis, 12
Kati Cassabaum, Nevada, 11
Kate Walker, Red Oak, 12
Heidi Hillyard, Mediapolis, 12
Emma Dau, Spirit Lake, 12
Serena Parker, Shenandoah, 12
2nd Team:
Amber Schubert, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, 12
Kaely Hummel, Cherokee Washington, 11
Karlee Grabau, Crestwood, 12
Blair Klostermann, Beckman Catholic, 12
Maria Dentlinger, Kuemper Catholic, 12
Rachel Freland, PCM, 12
Abby Stephenson, Nevada, 10
Kaye Faber, Clear Lake, 12
3rd Team
Allison Platte, Mount Vernon, 12
Faith Meyer, Pocahontas Area, 10
Madison Sickles, Crestwood, 12
Ellie Friesen, Osage, 9
Jill Vander Plaats, Sioux Center, 12
Jessica Speake, Hampton-Dumont, 11
Mackenzie Rogers, Mediapolis, 9
Lexy Koudelka, Nevada, 9
Coach of the Year – Kristin Meyer, Nevada

Class 4-A
1st Team:
Claire Marburger, Perry, 12
Jess Schaben, Harlan, 12
Gabie Doud, Ballard, 11
Taylor Frederick, Harlan, 11
Megan Maahs, Western Dubuque, 11
Rose Simon-Ressler, Western Dubuque, 12
Mariah Criswell, Winterset, 12
Payton Keeney, Carlisle, 12
2nd Team:
Deja Jackson, Grinnell, 12
Jacionna Stowers, Davenport North, 10
Grace Berg, Indianola, 9
Jinaya Houston, Davenport North, 10
Emily Knittel, Ballard, 12
Agatha Beier, Carlisle, 10
Tristan Beaulieu, Sioux City Heelan, 12
Taylor Wagner, Harlan, 12
3rd Team:
Hali Hilligas, Charles City, 12
Kaleigh Haus, Carlisle, 12
Katie Vander Molen, Pella, 10
Maggie Lowe, Perry, 12
Kelsi Phipps, Mount Pleasant, 12
Karli Rucker, North Scott, 10
Samantha Fritz, Fairfield, 10
Jordyn Moser, Harlan, 11
Coach of the Year – Zach Klaassen, Harlan

Class 5-A
1st Team:
Audrey Faber, Dowling Catholic, 12
Makenzie Meyer, Mason City, 11
Reilley Jacobson, Waukee, 11
Meredith Burkhall, DM Roosevelt, 12
Grace Vander Weide, WDM Valley, 12
Mikaela Morgan, Iowa City West, 12
Rachel Hinders, Johnston, 11
Ashley Joens, Iowa City High, 9
2nd Team:
Becca Hittner, Dowling Catholic, 11
Stephanie Botkin, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 12
Molly Sanders, Ames, 12
Lela Sellers, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 11
Adrienne Boettinger, Cedar Falls, 12
Ashton Donels, Southeast Polk, 11
Dani Craig, Iowa City West, 12
Carlie Littlefield, Waukee, 10
3rd Team:
Chrislyn Carr, Davenport West, 9
Annabel Graettinger, Muscatine, 12
Hannah Fuller, WDM Valley, 10
Taryn Knuth, Johnston, 10
Kennedy Childers, Dowling Catholic, 12
Kennedy Kracht, Urbandale, 12
Lana Lindstrom, Pleasant Valley, 11
Courtney Joens, Iowa City High, 11
Coach of the Year – Chris Guess, Waukee

Posted in Sports |

Wacha goes 2 perfect innings, Cardinals lose to Red Sox 3-0

Sports

March 9th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Michael Wacha struck out four of the six batters he faced in his spring debut Monday in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 3-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Wacha threw 27 pitches in two perfect innings. A postseason sensation in 2013, Wacha missed most of last year because of an injured right shoulder. He pitched to big league hitters for the first time since allowing a three-run homer in the ninth inning to San Francisco’s Travis Ishikawa in the clinching Game 5 of the NL Championship Series last October.

Boston center fielder Mookie Betts saved at least one run when he took a hit away from Yadier Molina with a running catch with two outs and the bases loaded in the second. Betts also hit an RBI single with two outs in the seventh. Red Sox left-hander Wade Miley worked three scoreless innings in his second outing.

Posted in Sports |

Clarinda Police Arrest Two Juveniles for Breaking Into Vehicles

News

March 9th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports two teens were arrested Sunday after police investigated numerous early morning reports of personal property being stolen from vehicles. The boys, ages 17 and 16, were charged with several counts of aggravated burglary from a motor vehicle and several counts of misdemeanor theft.

Both juveniles were processed and released to the custody of their parents. All reports have been submitted to Juvenile Court Services and the Page County Attorney’s Office for review and decisions regarding the filing of formal complaints.

Posted in News |