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February was 9th coldest and snowiest

News, Weather

March 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says February will goes into the record books in the top ten in both cold and snow. Hillaker says the persistent cold is probably the thing that stands out the most about the month. “Actually only had five days where the statewide average temperature was above normal,” Hillaker says. Those were five consecutive days above normal from February 6th through the 10th. Temperatures really dropped at the end of the month.

“Our lowest temperatures of the month — actually for the whole winter — came on the last two days of February. Stanley, in Buchanan County in northeast Iowa got down to an official minus thirty degrees the morning of February 27, that’s actual temperature, not windchill,” Hillaker says, “and the next morning, Elkader in Clayton County, also got down to minus 30 degrees.” February was just a little snowier than normal.

Hillaker says most of the snow came in one storm at the beginning of the month, but overall it was the ninth snowiest and ninth coldest February. The state has kept weather records for 143 years. Overall the winter hasn’t been anything too out of the ordinary. “We are running just a little bit above normal in the snowfall, again thanks in large part to February,” Hillaker says. “So far this winter, about two-point-seven inches above normal for snowfall, which would put us at the 45th snowiest winter.”

Hillaker says winter’s worst is probably past us now as the days get longer with more sunlight heading into March.

(Radio Iowa)

Winter Weather Advisory continues until 8am Tue.

Weather

March 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE- DALLAS-MADISON COUNTIES…

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM TUESDAY…

* STORM TOTAL SNOW/ICE ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL VARY FROM LITTLE TO NONE TOWARD THE MISSOURI BORDER…TO LESS THAN AN INCH FARTHER NORTH TOWARD HIGHWAY 30. ANY ICE ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE MINOR…ONLY A COUPLE HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH AT WORST.

* IMPACTS…ALTHOUGH ONLY MINOR ICE AND SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE ANTICIPATED…THE WINTERY MIX MAY PRODUCE HAZARDOUS TRAVEL EARLY TUESDAY…INCLUDING THE MORNING COMMUTE.

NWS forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: 3/3/15

Weather

March 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Today: A chance of rain, freezing rain, and sleet before noon, then a slight chance of rain and snow between noon and 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 36. Windy, with a south wind 11 to 16 mph becoming northwest 21 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow and sleet accumulation expected.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9. Wind chill values as low as -5. Windy, with a north northwest wind 18 to 23 mph decreasing to 11 to 16 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 22. Wind chill values as low as -5. Blustery, with a north northwest wind 10 to 16 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 0. Wind chill values as low as -10. North wind 5 to 13 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 29. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 20.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Breezy.

Chiefs place franchise tag on All-Pro Houston

Sports

March 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

UNDATED (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have placed the franchise tag on All-Pro pass rusher Justin Houston. The Chiefs announced the move on Monday, saying in a statement that “it was in the best interest of the club” and it pursues a long-term deal with Houston. Monday’s move was widely expected given the relatively little progress Kansas City has made with Houston and his representatives on a long-term deal.

The two sides still have until July 15 to negotiate a contract, and it is not certain whether Houston will immediately sign his tender. As an outside linebacker, the one-year deal would earn him about $13.1 million for the upcoming season. The Chiefs likely will need to make additional moves soon to free up salary cap space.

SHIRLEY LEED, of Winterset (Interment 3/5/15)

Obituaries

March 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

SHIRLEY LEED, died Mon., March 2nd, at the Winterset Care Center. Interment of cremated remains of SHIRLEY LEED, will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 11:30 AM at Oak Hill Cemetery, East of Hancock. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is in charge of arrangements.
There will be no visitation before the service at the cemetery.

Tuesday’s Girls State Basketball Schedule (3/3/15)

Sports

March 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Class 2A
10:00-a.m. Western Christian vs. Iowa City Regina
Class 3A
11:45-a.m. Mediapolis (24-0) vs. Mt. Vernon (16-8)
1:00-p.m. Nevada (21-3) vs. Red Oak (20-4)
3:15-p.m. Crestwood (21-2) vs. Spirit Lake (18-6)
5:00-p.m. Pocahontas Area (23-1) vs. Clear Lake (18-6)
Class 4A
6:45-p.m. Carlisle (21-2) vs. Waverly-Shell Rock
8:30 p.m. – Harlan (23-0) vs. Cedar Rapids Xavier (17-6)

 

Monday’s High School Basketball Scores (from 3/2/15)

Sports

March 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL
3A Substate Championships
LeMars 76, Spirit Lake 65
Waverly-Shell Rock 60, Webster City 46
Wahlert, Dubuque 71, Crestwood, Cresco 43
Cedar Rapids Xavier 80, Mount Vernon 64
Williamsburg 65, Fort Madison 64, OT
Pella 62, Norwalk 51
Dallas Center-Grimes 73, Perry 70, OT
Glenwood 54, Denison-Schleswig 49

GIRLS STATE BASKETBALL – QUARTERFINALS
Class 1A
Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 63, Bedford 48
Newell-Fonda 70, Colo-NESCO 42
Notre Dame, Burlington 76, Central Lyon, Rock Rapids 60
Springville 53, Fremont Mills, Tabor 50
Class 2A
North Linn, Troy Mills 57, Des Moines Christian 46
South Central Calhoun 65, IKM-Manning 50
Unity Christian, Orange City 53, Cascade,Western Dubuque 34

No. 17 Iowa State rallies to stun No. 15 Oklahoma 77-70

Sports

March 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Georges Niang had 20 of his 23 points in the second half and No. 17 Iowa State rallied from a 21-point deficit to stun No. 15 Oklahoma 77-70 on Monday night and snap a two-game losing streak. Monte Morris had 19 points for the Cyclones (21-8, 11-6 Big 12), who maintained their shot at a share of the conference title following one of the wilder league games in years.

Oklahoma raced to a 19-point halftime lead. But Iowa State score 22 straight points in just over 5 minutes and outscored the Sooners 59-33 in the second half. Buddy Hield had 26 points for the Sooners (20-9, 11-6), who shot just 32 percent in the second half in losing for just the second time in 10 games.

Iowa Senate panel OKs bill on state mental health facilities

News

March 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Senate panel has approved a bill that could halt the upcoming closings of state mental health centers in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant. A three-member human resources subcommittee approved the bill unanimously Monday. It now heads to a full committee for consideration. The bill would require the state Department of Human Services to keep the facilities open until it develops a “suitable and appropriate” long-term care and treatment plan for its patients. The Legislature would approve the plan.

Gov. Terry Branstad’s budget proposal removes funding for the facilities. State officials say patients will be able to receive treatment elsewhere. Critics say the closings, scheduled later this year, have not been well organized. Democratic Sen. Rich Taylor, the bill’s sponsor, says he has bipartisan support in both chambers.

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., March 3rd 2015

News

March 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Legislation aimed at expanding guidelines for Iowa educators who respond to school bullying has advanced in the House. The measure would clarify the ability of educators to monitor bullying off school grounds. It would also expand parental notification language and the definition of cyberbullying.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a woman whose body was found in a Des Moines alley wasn’t killed. The Des Moines Police Department says an autopsy conducted Monday on 35-year-old Shannon Prothero revealed no major trauma to her body, and the Iowa medical examiner determined her death is not a homicide.

UNDERWOOD, Iowa (AP) — A teacher at an Iowa middle school has been arrested on charges related to a claim that he sexually abused a former female student. Pottawattamie County officials say 45-year-old Barret B. Glasnapp turned himself in on an arrest warrant of four counts of sexual abuse, one count of felony sexual exploitation by a school employee and five misdemeanor counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee. Authorities say Glasnapp’s interaction began in 2011 when the student was 14, after her eighth-grade year, and continued until October. She was a student of Glasnapp from 2009 until 2012.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Senate panel has approved a bill that could halt the upcoming closings of state mental health centers in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant. The bill would require the state Department of Human Services to keep the facilities open until it develops a “suitable and appropriate” long-term care and treatment plan for its patients. The Legislature would approve the plan.