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Workshops for current and wanna-be cattle producers to be offered across western Iowa in March

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A series of workshops targeting Iowa beef producers will be held across western Iowa next month which will compare various types of cattle operations. Beth Doran is a beef program specialist at the Iowa State University Extension, based in Orange City. She says the workshops are targeted towards potential and current producers. “We’re going to try to give an overview of facility types,” Doran says. “We’ll be talking about different kinds of facilities, hoop barns, monoslope barns, open lots, deep-pitted slotted-floor barns. We’ll talk about the advantages and disadvantages of them and review some of the research on those types.”

Doran says producers will receive several production resources and tools as well as an updated manual on feedlot systems. “We’re also going to give the workshop participants several scenarios and they’ll have to work through making appropriate choices for an operation,” Doran says. “That might involve their financing decisions, cost-benefit measurements and taking a look at that production environmental risk that’s going on with that.” Doran says northwest Iowa contains a lot of the different operations that will be discussed in the workshops.

Producers interested in attending should call their local extension office to pre-register. The workshops will be held (locally) March 18th in Lewis, and on March 25th in Carroll.

(Radio Iowa)

Area high school basketball scores from Tue., 2/17/15

Sports

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL
Bishop Heelan Catholic 73, CB Thomas Jefferson 40
Harlan 52, Creston 50
Lewis Central 61, Glenwood 51

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Class 1-A Regional Quarterfinals
Kingsley-Pierson 61, Charter Oak-Ute 32
Westwood 69, Woodbine 29
Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 66, Coon Rapids-Bayard 37
Glidden-Ralston 54, CAM 35
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn 65, Ar-We-Va 58
Bedford 59, Lamoni 31
Mount Ayr 49, Murray 40
Adair-Casey 63, Stanton 28
Ankeny Christian Academy 53, Orient-Macksburg 48
Essex 49, Nishnabotna 30
Fremont Mills 61, Sidney 23

Class 2-A Regional Quarterfinals
Logan-Magnolia 66, Hinton 64
St. Albert 42, Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto 23
Panorama 74, Madrid 25
IKM-Manning 74, Underwood 43
Interstate 35 39, Nodaway Valley 34
Treynor 48, Tri-Center 37

Zahui B. record night as Minnesota upends No. 13 Iowa 93-80

Sports

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Amanda Zahui B. scored a career-high 39 points and grabbed a conference-record 29 rebounds as Minnesota upset No. 13 Iowa 93-80 on Tuesday night. Zahui B.’s rebounding record eclipsed the former Big Ten single-game mark of 26 set by Jerica Watson of Iowa in 2001.

Minnesota (21-6, 10-5 Big Ten) led 48-42 at halftime. Melissa Dixon opened the second half with three 3-pointers as the Hawkeyes (21-5, 12-3) battled to stay close, pulling to 57-54 with about four minutes gone.

Zahui B. added a jumper and a free throw but Samantha Logic nailed a 3-pointer to close to 60-57 before Minnesota’s Carlie Wagner added a trey followed by a pair of jump shots from Zahui B. and a 67-57 lead with 11:25 to go. Wagner finished with 17 points for Minnesota. Logic led Iowa with 26 points and 13 assists for her 28th career double-double. Logic also grabbed eight rebounds.

Chiefs begin clearing space by releasing WRs Avery, Jenkins

Sports

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs released wide receivers Donnie Avery and A.J. Jenkins on Tuesday as they began to clear roster and salary cap space ahead of what could be a busy offseason. Kansas City is facing the loss of All-Pro linebacker Justin Houston and center Rodney Hudson in free agency. The Chiefs are expected to meet with Houston’s representatives about a long-term deal on Wednesday in Indianapolis, and the possibility remains of using the franchise tag on him.

Either way, the Chiefs could be facing some difficult financial choices if they want to keep Houston or Hudson, or both. Releasing Avery and Jenkins saved the Chiefs nearly $5 million, though it makes targeting a wide receiver in free agency or the draft a priority.

Wind Chill Advisory in effect thru late this morning (2/18) for all of Iowa

Weather

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

AN ARCTIC AIR MASS AND STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WILL LEAD TO HARSH WIND CHILLS THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY TODAY…WITH THE COLDEST WIND CHILL VALUES DURING THE MORNING HOURS.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY FOR CASS, ADAIR, ADAMS, AUDUBON, GUTHRIE, DALLAS, CRAWFORD, CARROLL, SAC, UNION, TAYLOR AND RINGGOLD COUNTIES. AND UNTIL 10-A.M. TODAY FOR MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT- PAGE COUNTIES.

* WINDS…NORTHWEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH AT TIMES.

* WIND CHILL VALUES…WIND CHILL VALUES OF 20 TO 25 BELOW ZERO.

* IMPACTS…FROST BITE CAN DEVELOP WITHIN 30 MINUTES IF SKIN IS EXPOSED AND HYPOTHERMIA MAY OCCUR IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDSWILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN  FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS…MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.

NWS weather forecast for Cass & area Counties, 2/18/15

Weather

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

340 AM CST WED FEB 18 2015

WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY

EARLY THIS MORNING…PARTLY CLOUDY. VERY COLD. BREEZY. NORTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.

TODAY…SUNNY. VERY COLD. BREEZY. HIGH 10 TO 15. NORTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH. WIND CHILL READINGS 15 TO 20 BELOW.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. VERY COLD. LOW ZERO TO 5 BELOW. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGH 15 TO 20. NORTHEAST WIND NEAR 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST IN THE AFTERNOON.

THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. NOT AS COLD. LOW 10 TO 15. SOUTHEAST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. WARMER. HIGH IN THE MID 30S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. LOW IN THE LOWER 20S.

SATURDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. HIGH IN THE UPPER 20S.

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., Feb. 18th 2015

News

February 18th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A plan to hike the state’s fuel tax by ten cents is quickly moving through the Iowa Legislature. The legislation would raise the state fuel tax by 10 cents. That would provide about $215 million annually for the state’s network of bridges and roads, many of which are in disrepair. Iowa’s fuel tax is now 22 cents per gallon for gasoline, including fees. The tax hasn’t been raised since 1989.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines city councilman says he was not trying to get a speeding ticket waived when he contacted the interim police chief. Joe Gatto was given a ticket for driving 10 miles over the speed limit during a traffic enforcement event on Dec 3. After the traffic stop, the councilman contacted the Interim Police Chief Doug Harvey. His speeding ticket was voided 27 minutes after being downloaded onto the police department’s server. Gatto says that he did not contact the police chief to have the ticket waived, but to express concern about how the traffic stop was handled.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a 24-year-old man has been gunned down on a street in southeast Iowa. The shooting occurred around 2:45 p.m. Monday near South Hill Park in Burlington. Police and medics found the man lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso. He was taken to Great River Medical Center in West Burlington, where he died around 3:30 p.m. The man has been identified as Deonte Raynell Carter, of Burlington. No arrests have been made.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The defense is getting its turn after prosecutors rested their case at Theresa Supino’s murder trial in Waterloo. The woman is accused of killing her husband and his girlfriend more than 30 years ago. Prosecutors called more than 40 witnesses over nine days.

CLIFFORD LeROY ALBRIGHT, 94, of Guthrie Center (Svcs. 2/20/15)

Obituaries

February 17th, 2015 by admin

CLIFFORD LeROY ALBRIGHT, 94, of Guthrie Center died Monday, Feb. 16th, at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center. Funeral Services for CLIFFORD ALBRIGHT will be held 10:30-a.m Friday, Feb. 20th, at the First United Methodist Church in Guthrie Center. Twigg Funeral Home of Guthrie Center has the arrangements.

Visitation at the 1st United Methodist church will be held from 9-until 10-a.m. Friday.

Burial will be at the Highland Township Cemetery in Bayard.

Clifford Albright is survived by his son, Larry Albright, of Guthrie Center, and daughter-in-laws Kathy and Donna Albright.

Task force member criticizes Iowa regents’ funding model

News

February 17th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A member of a task force that assisted the Iowa Board of Regents in creating a new performance-based funding model has reiterated his criticism of the model to lawmakers. Len Hadley, retired chief executive officer of Maytag Corp., told an education appropriations subcommittee Tuesday that the model would unfairly compare funding needs at the state’s three public universities.

Hadley, who has previously criticized the model, represented the University of Iowa on a five-person task force that issued a funding proposal to the regents. He voted against it. The new model rewards universities for recruiting more in-state students. The regents say the model, which they approved last year, is more transparent in its method for requesting state dollars.

Lawmakers at the meeting say they will discuss the issue in the future.

Iowa Senate panel OKs minimum wage increase

News

February 17th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill to boost Iowa’s minimum wage has won preliminary approval in the Iowa Senate. A three-member subcommittee backed the bill Tuesday, with two Democrats and one Republican voting in favor. The bill would gradually raise Iowa’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.75.

Sen. Tony Bisignano, a Des Moines Democrat, says the bill was an overdue effort to help low-wage workers. Sen. Rick Bertrand, a Republican from Sioux City, said this would keep Iowa wages in line with neighboring states.

The bill is expected to win approval in the Democratic-majority Senate, but prospects are less clear in the Republican-controlled House. Asked last week if House Republicans would support raising the minimum wage, Republican House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, of Hiawatha, said his caucus was more focused on training for high-paying jobs.