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200 wanna-be “Iron Chefs” compete at ISU today

News

March 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

More than 200 students from a dozen Iowa high schools will compete in a culinary event today (Monday) at Iowa State University. I-S-U professor Robert Bosselman says the Pro-Start Invitational is a day-long competition that will test students’ culinary and management skills.  “The best way to describe it to your listeners is, if they’ve ever watched any of the food shows on the Food Network where the intensity of preparing a meal under the clock and the judges, it’s exactly that same situation,” Bosselman says. “Teams of four students have to prepare a three-course meal in one hour.”

The pressure of the contest simulates real deadlines the future chefs might have to face in a professional kitchen.  “They have to show their knife skills and they have to fabricate a chicken,” Bosselman says. “In other words, they’re given a whole chicken and they have to take it apart and they’re judged on that. Also, they’re given a basket of food items and they have to prepare a menu.”

I-S-U’s Hospitality Management Program is hosting the event at the Memorial Union. There’s also a culinary career fair involving recruiters from 20 companies across Iowa. Winners will advance to the national competition in April.

(Radio Iowa)

(Podcast) 8-a.m. KJAN News, 3/2/2015

News, Podcasts

March 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

With Ric Hanson.

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Heartbeat Today 03-02-2015

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

March 2nd, 2015 by admin

Jim Field speaks about some tips on starting indoor seedlings.

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Study shows impact of Iowa’s use of gov’t safety nets

News

March 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The private philanthropy group that puts out the “Kids Count” survey every year is releasing a new report detailing the state-by-state impact of so-called “safety net” government programs on children. Laura Speer, with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, says their findings indicate programs like food stamps and housing subsidies are significantly improving lives in Iowa and nationwide. “We looked at the child poverty rate which we know is one of the most critical indicators we check,” Speer says, “not only because it has a major impact on kids, it can affect their health and their educational achievement, but really has an impact on the country as a whole.”

In Iowa, she says the impact of government safety net programs is very evident.  “What we see is that without any government intervention, the poverty rate in the state would be about 22%,” Speer says. “With those interventions, it’s about 8%, so, that means more than 100,000 children in the state of Iowa are being lifted above the poverty line.”

The report indicates, without government intervention, another 103,000 Iowa children would be living in poverty. In addition to food stamps, government interventions being gauged by the report include the Earned Income Tax Credit and the child tax credit parents can claim annually on their tax returns. She admits the findings aren’t a big surprise, however… “It’s important to know that and to understand that those programs are making a difference and they need to be sustained,” Speer says. “Also, we know these programs are helping families keep their heads above water and filling the gap that low-wage jobs are leaving for families to make ends meet.”

Speer is the foundation’s associate director of advocacy and public policy. See the full report at the Annie E. Casey Foundation website: www.aecf.org

(Radio Iowa)

Prepare for a slippery slide to work & school Tuesday morning

News, Weather

March 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The National Weather Service in Des Moines says a large storm system will begin to affect central Iowa tonight, persisting into Tuesday.11018410_791151917629672_8460447606872203408_n The system will bring chances for a wintery mix across much of the area.

In the south, freezing rain and sleet will be possible tonight and into the early morning hours Tuesday, with icy conditions possibly affecting morning travel Tuesday. Precipitation will gradually turn to rain as temperatures warm Tuesday.

Across the north, snow will be possible with light to moderate accumulations. Winds will increase Tuesday afternoon which may combine with falling and fresh fallen snow to create hazardous travel conditions Tuesday.

Continue to monitor the forecast for updates into Tuesday as threat areas become more refined.

(Podcast) KJAN morning sports report, 3/2/2015

Podcasts, Sports

March 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

With Jim Field.

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Creston man arrested on drug charges, Friday

News

March 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A Creston man was arrested Friday night, on drug charges. Officials say 40-year old Chad Lee was charged with Possession of Marijuana with the intent to sell, Delivery of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp. Lee was later released on $5,000 bond.

And a woman from Lorimor was arrested Friday afternoon. Police in Creston say 48-year old Pamela Collette Oshel was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a warrant for Failure to Appear in court. She was later released on a $300 bond.

(Podcast) 7:06-a.m. KJAN News & funeral report, 3/2/2015

News, Podcasts

March 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Treynor’s Gail Hartigan To Receive IGHSAU First Lady Award

Sports

March 2nd, 2015 by Jim Field

gailTreynor coach Gail Hartigan is the latest recipient of the prestigious Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union’s First Lady Award. Gail is just the 11th indiviudal to receive the award, which was first given in 1978. Hartigan will be honored Friday, March 6 at halftime of the Class 2A championship game.
The award is given “to a daughter of Iowa, — recognizing the million girls of the commonwealth who have carried the tradition and training of a sport into varied and important careers — and for singularly illustrious and most memorable accomplishments.”
The former Gail Ahrenholtz was a star multi-sport athlete for Manilla, playing under Hall of Fame Coach Larry Bullock on the 1970 basketball team that finished second in the state. She went on to John F. Kennedy College in Wahoo, Nebraska and was a standout basketball player on JFK teams that won two AAU national championships.
Hartigan began an illustrious coaching career in 1975, coaching at Lake City, Woodbine and Treynor. During that time, she amassed over 600 victories, ranking fourth among active coaches and 11th all-time. She guided Treynor to the first-ever Class 1A five-player state championship in 1994 and was named co-State Coach of the Year by the Des Moines Register that year. She has coached the Cardinals to 13 state tournament appearances.
Hartigan also coached the Treynor volleyball team to 12 state tournament appearances in a 15 year span, reaching the state championship match twice and the state semifinals five times while compiling 451 career victories. She continues to coach the Treynor girls track team, finishing as the state runner-up in 1997.
Hartigan has been honored by her peers as a Hall of Fame coach in both basketball and volleyball. She has also been the recipient of the IGHSAU Golden Plaque of Distinction and been named regional and state coach of the year by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association numerous times. She was inducted into the NHSACA Hall of Fame in 2012 and the B’Nai Brith Hall of Fame in 2007. Gail has been named IGCA Regional Coach of the Year 21 times and was named the organization’s Coach of the Year twice.
Hartigan has served terms on various IGHSAU committees, including a stint on the IGHSAU Board of Directors. She currently is a member of the IGHSAU Basketball and Track & Field Hall of Fame juries. Gail and husband Tom are the parents of two sons: Blair and Kyle and one daughter, Lea.

 

Freese-Notis weather forecast for Atlantic & weather stats, 3/2/15

Weather

March 2nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Today: P/Cldy to Cldy. High near 35. NW winds becoming S/SE @ 5-10. Wind chill values as low as 10.
Tonight: Cldy w/a chance of rain, snow, freezing rain, and sleet. Low around 30. Se @ 10-20. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. Little or no snow and sleet accumulation expected.

Tuesday: Rain likely before noon, then a slight chance of snow between noon and 3pm. Temperature rising to near 34 by 9am, then falling to around 26 during the remainder of the day. S winds becoming N/NW @ 15-35. Less than 1” snow expected.
Tue. Night: Mostly cloudy & windy, with a low around 7. WN/NW @ 15-30.

Wednesday: P/Cldy & blustery. High around 15. NW @ 15-25.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 0.

Thursday: P/Cldy. High near 27.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 38. Our Low this morning, 12. Last year on this date we had a High of -2 and a Low of -12. The All-Time record High in Atlantic on March 2nd was 76 in 1992, the Record Low was -12, in 2014. Sunrise today is at 6:54, Sunset at 6:11.