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MYRNA CARLEY, 88, of Carson (Svcs. 1/17/15)

Obituaries

January 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

MYRNA CARLEY, 88, of Carson, has died. Funeral services for MYRNA CARLEY will be held 10-a.m. Sat., Jan. 17th, at the Carson United Methodist Church (in Carson). Loess Hills Funeral Home in Carson has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 5-to7-pm Friday (1/16).

Memorials may be directed to the Carson United Methodist Church or Botna Valley Genealogical Society.

MYRNA CARLEY is survived by:

Her husband – Ernest Carley, of Carson.

Her daughters – Marilyn (Jerry) Hart, of Osceola, MO, and Jeanie (Gary) Moore, of Pensacola, FL.

6 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

ISU researcher conducts study to test modified bananas

News

January 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa State researcher plans to test genetically modified bananas on a group of students at the university, though some people have expressed concerns about the nature of the study.
Wendy White, a food science professor leading the study, will put 12 women on a diet including regular bananas and bananas infused with a gene to aid Vitamin A production. They’ll follow the diet for four days during three study periods.

The Des Moines Register reports volunteers will also undergo blood tests to gage how their bodies react. Participants will be paid $900. White says the ultimate goal of the study is to help increase Vitamin A consumption in Africa. Dave Schubert, a California scientist, says he’s concerned about feeding the modified fruit to humans before an animal trial.

Terminal cancer patient dies amid medical marijuana fight

News

January 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa man battling terminal cancer has died amid his fight to grow medicinal marijuana for his personal use. Dottie Mackenzie confirmed Tuesday that her 49-year-old son Benton Mackenzie died early Monday at his Long Grove, Iowa, home.

Benton Mackenzie had been growing marijuana to create medicinal oil he could both consume and apply to his tumors. He and his wife, Loretta Mackenzie, were convicted in 2014 for conspiring to grow marijuana. The trial garnered national attention.

The Quad-City Times reports the entire family has faced prosecution, including his parents who received misdemeanor counts for hosting a drug house. Those charges were eventually dropped. Dottie MacKenzie says she has found peace with the situation and her son’s death.

Branstad delivers ‘Together we can’ message to legislators

News

January 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Governor Terry Branstad has presented what he calls a “plan of action” to lawmakers today. Branstad delivered the annual “Condition of the State” message to legislators, with a “Together We Can” theme. Working together “matters” — Branstad said — since any bill must win approval in the Republican-led Iowa House and the Democraztically-led Iowa Senate before it reaches Branstad’s desk. Many of the governor’s priorities are hold-overs from previous years, with a few some tweaks.

Branstad’s proposes a new five-million dollar competitive grant program for communities or private sector companies that extend broadband service in rural Iowa. Ae he outlined during the campaign season, Branstad proposes a new “IowaNEXT” program for “quality of life” projects and a new public-private partnership to manage state workforce development programs.

The governor says it’s “common sense” for legislators to finally pass an anti-bullying bill, after similar proposals faltered in each of the last two years, and he’s calling for longer sentences and electronic monitoring of “habitual” domestic abusers. Branstad also released his budget plan today, outlining seven-point-three-BILLION dollars in state spending. That’s between four and five percent bigger than the current year’s budget.

Branstad did not fully embrace the Regents plan to provide more state money to the public universities so in-state tuition can remain the same for a third straight year. He recommends Iowa’s public school districts get about 50 million dollars more in general state aid for the next academic year. That’s an increase of one-and-three-quarters of a percent.

(Radio Iowa)

DUSTIN HANSEN, 45, of Omaha & formerly of Kimballton (No services planned)

Obituaries

January 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DUSTIN HANSEN, 45, of Omaha (& formerly of Kimballton), died suddenly Tue., Jan. 13th, in Omaha. No services are planned for DUSTIN HANSEN. Ohde Funeral Home in Kimballton is assisting the family.

DUSTIN HANSEN is survived by:

His parents – Dallas & Jackie Hansen, of Kimballton.

Backyard and Beyond 01-13-2015

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

January 13th, 2015 by admin

Lavon Eblen speaks with Russell Friedman, Author and Grief Counselor, about grief recovery for pet loss.  Find out more and about his book here.

Play

Creston businesses hit by vandals

News

January 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic isn’t the only community to have had recent incidents of vandalism perpetrated on local businesses. The Creston Police Dept. reports at around 8:50-p.m. Friday, someone threw a brick through the front door of Coen’s Furniture on north Maple Street.There was no immediate word on the dollar loss.

And, sometime between 3-pm Dec. 28th and 2:20-a.m. Dec. 29th, someone threw a brick through the glass door of the Family Shoe Store on west Adams Street, in Creston. The loss was estimated at $765.

Late last week, Designer Portraits by Ann studio in downtown Atlantic sustained damage when someone threw three field rocks through the business’ windows and doors. The damage was estimated at $2,200. And during the late night hours of Dec. 29th, another downtown Atlantic business, Aunt B’s, sustained $1,500 damage, when someone threw a piece of black asphalt through the front, plate glass window. They also smashed the front glass door. Damage from that incident amounted to about $1,500.

Atlantic School Board approves reduced dropout prevention/At-Risk funding

News

January 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education Monday night, approved the 2015-16 Modified Supplemental Amount application from the State for At-Risk & Dropout Prevention, which amounted to about $450,000. Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein told KJAN News that was less than the $470,000 they’d hoped for.

He said “I think people don’t realize that’s been implemented by legislature not setting the State Supplemental Aid last last year, because it’s being calculated on this year’s cost per student, which, if it would have been set, that would have been factored in,”  such as two-percent. He said now, because it’s been calculated already, it’s going to be less than what we would have gotten,” (Under the old Allowable Growth formula).

Amstein said Maintenance Director Russell Peck also provided the Board with an update on projects that will likely need to be tackled this summer. That includes tuck-pointing, and a portion of the Middle School roof over the locker rooms that needs to be replaced. He also is working on a schedule for roof replacement that will take place over the next few years.

Amstein said the Board also approved an Early Retirement application and Early Resignation incentive for Barb Olsen, Middle School Cross Country Coach and P-E teacher at the Washington Elementary School.

GLADYS LARSEN, 103, of Coon Rapids (Svcs. 1/15/15)

Obituaries

January 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

GLADYS LARSEN, 103, of Coon Rapids, died Mon., Jan. 12th, at Thomas Rest Haven, in Coon Rapids. Graveside Services for GLADYS LARSEN will be 11am Thursday at the Orange Township Cemetery south of Coon Rapids. The Ohde Funeral Home of Coon Rapids has the arrangements.

Gladys Larsen is survived by:

Her son-in-law; Conrad Hoisington of Coon Rapids

4 Grandchildren; Tim Pedersen of Coon Rapids; Terri Bock of Carroll; Larry Hoisington of Quincy, MA; and Lori Schepf of Lake Havasu, AZ.

Ten Great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren

Hush Puppies (1-13-15)

Mom's Tips

January 13th, 2015 by Jim Field

Hush puppies are a southern deep-fried quick bread made of cornmeal.  Traditionally served at fish fries, these tasty fritter-like breads are also a great accompaniment to fried chicken or spicy Cajun foods.  For those with a sweet tooth, try rolling the hush puppies in confectioners sugar.

  • 2 cups cornmeal
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 3/4 cup cream-style corn
  • cooking oil for deep-fat frying
  • confectioners sugar, optional

In a bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda.  Add egg, milk and corn; stir just until moistened.  In a deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375 degrees.  Drop batter by teaspoonfuls into oil.  Fry until golden brown.  Allow to cool slightly and roll in confectioners sugar if desired.  Serve immediately with fried chicken, ham or sausage.  YIELD:  12-15 servings.

(Karyl Goodhart, Geraldine, Montana)

DEEP-FAT FRYING TIPS:

  • If you don’t have a deep-fat fryer with a thermostat, you can use a kettle or Dutch oven together with a thermometer so you can accurately regulate the temperature of the oil.
  • It is important to follow the temperatures recommended in the recipes for heating oil.  If oil is too hot, the foods will brown too fast and not be done in the center.  If the oil is below temperature, the foods will absorb the oil and taste greasy.
  • Carefully place foods into the hot oil to avoid splattering.
  • Do not overload your fryer.  You will have better results if you fry in small batches.  Keep cooked foods warm in a low oven until all the food has been fried.
  • Never add water or any liquids to hot oil.
  • Do not dispose of oil after deep-fat frying until it has completely cooled.