United Group Insurance

Controlled burn planned for this (Sunday) morning, in Stuart

News

November 16th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Stuart Fire Dept will be conducting a controlled house burn this morning at southwest 5th and Gains Streets, in Stuart. Officials say during the burn, they ask all spectators stay back a safe distance, and do not park where where you will hinder the fire trucks from reaching the scene.

There will be personal from a couple of surrounding departments assisting with the controlled burn.

Companies to be hiring at Omaha job fair

News

November 16th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – More than four dozen companies will be hiring at a job fair being held in Omaha. The fair will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Comfort Inn on Grover Street in south-central Omaha.  Organizers say a full range of fields will be represented at the fair, and some 50 employers are seeking full-time, part-time or seasonal workers.

Those looking to hire include AAA Nebraska, Century Link, Fed Ex, First Data, Omaha Steaks, Physicians Mutual and UMB Bank. Participants are encouraged to bring resumes, be prepared for onsite interviews and to dress the part.

Consortium of school districts hopes to launch Teacher Leadership/Compensation Pgm.

News

November 16th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Several southwest Iowa school districts hope to join Council Bluffs in launching a Teacher Leadership and Compensation System program next school year with the backing of the Iowa Department of Education. The Daily NonPareil reports, across Iowa, 39 schools are implementing TLC for the first year of its three-year phased launch, with Council Bluffs being the only area school district approved for the program for the 2014-15 school year.

Funding from the statewide initiative has paired new teachers with eight full-time mentors in the Council Bluffs Community School District, as well as adding model teachers, instructional coaches and curriculum specialists, all with the goal of classroom teachers stepping up into leadership positions. Funding for the first year is $50 million in state funds. Council Bluffs received about $2.8 million to launch its TLC program, which the district has said would cost an estimated $4.4 million in total, including 30 new positions.

To support those new roles, the Council Bluffs district brought in consultant Diane Sweeney to work with teacher leaders on how to effectively do their new jobs. To participate in the TLC program, districts must agree to pay a minimum of $33,500 for all full-time teachers, select teacher leaders using a committee, involve at least a quarter of its teachers in leadership roles, maintain teacher compensation levels the following year and apply the leadership program across all schools in the district.

Thirteen school districts in the Green Hills Area Education Agency applied for funding for the second year of the TLC grants. The Green Hills AEA spans districts in portions of 22 counties across southwest Iowa. Among the districts applying for funding by the Oct. 31 deadline were AHST, Atlantic, Glenwood, Griswold, Lewis Central, Red Oak and Underwood, according to Norgaard. Area school districts not seeking funding include Boyer Valley, East Mills, Fremont-Mills, Harlan, Logan-Magnolia, Missouri Valley, Riverside, Treynor, Tri-Center, West Harrison and Woodbine.

Iowa Department of Education Director Brad Buck, Deputy Director Ryan Wise, and Linda Fandel, special assistant for education to Gov. Terry Branstad will meet with teachers, administrators and others to find out what’s working and what needs improvement in the program. The state’s goal is to have all school districts voluntarily participating in the Teacher Leadership and Compensation System by the 2016-17 school year. The program’s goals are to attract and retain quality teachers, promote collaboration, reward professional growth and improve student achievement.

NWS weather forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: 11/16/2014

Weather

November 16th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Today – Partly sunny to sunny. High near 20. W/SW winds 10-20 mph. Wind chill values as low as -5.
Tonight –
Mostly cloudy & blustery. Low around 5. NW winds at 10-25 mph. Wind chill values as low as -10.
Monday –
Partly sunny w/patchy blowing snow & scattered flurries. A high near 14. NW winds at 15-35 mph. Wind chill values as low as -15.
Monday Night –
Partly cloudy & blustery. Low around -1. W/NW winds 10-15. Wind chill values as low as -15.
Tuesday –
Mostly sunny. A high near 23. West winds 10-15 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon.
Wednesday –
Mostly sunny & blustery, with a high near 26.

Hazardous Weather Outlook for parts of western/s.w. IA

Weather

November 16th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-
ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD COUNTIES…359 AM CST SUN NOV 16 2014

DAY ONE…TODAY AND TONIGHT: PATCHY BLOWING SNOW WEST OF I35 LATE TONIGHT MAY RESULT IN SLICK SPOTS ON INTERSTATES AND HIGHWAYS.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVENMONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY: STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED MONDAY OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN IOWA. THIS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE SOME BLOWING SNOW AND REDUCED VISIBILITY. ROADS MAY BECOME SLICK WITH SNOW COVERED ROADS AT TIMES.

COLD WIND CHILLS OF 20 BELOW ZERO ARE EXPECTED TUESDAY MORNING ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHERN IOWA NORTH OF HIGHWAY 20.

KATHLEEN McCABE BRITTEN, 82, of rural Creston (Svcs. 11/21/14)

Obituaries

November 16th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

KATHLEEN McCABE BRITTEN, 82, of rural Creston, died Saturday, November 15th,  at the Community Care Center in Stuart. A Mass of the Resurrection service for KATHLEEN BRITTEN will be held 10:30-a.m. Friday. Nov. 21st, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Greenfield. Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held on Thu., from 2-until 8-pm at the funeral home., where the family will be present from 6-until 8-pm., and a Scripture service begins at 5:30-p.m.  Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial is in the Rose Hill Cemetery, at Nevinville, Iowa. A luncheon will follow the burial at the church.

Memorials may be directed tothe St. John’s Catholic Church or to the Stuart Community Care Center.

 KATHLEEN McCABE BRITTEN is survived by:

Her children – Linda Abbott and fiancé Larry Hunecke of Knoxville; Stephen Britten and wife Alda of Mission, Texas; Brian Britten and wife Laura of Creston; Kevin Britten and wife Angie of Red Oak, and Dan Britten and wife Tina of Orient.

Her sister -Anne Kane of Longford, of Ireland.

Her brothers – Brian McCabe of the Bronx, NY and John McCabe and wife Bernadette of Bergenfield, New Jersey.

11 grandchildren,  two great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

IL man injured in Mills County crash, Saturday

News

November 15th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A man from Chicago, IL, was injured Saturday evening, when the pickup he was driving spun out of control in Mills County, went off the road and hit a sign post and a culvert before coming to rest on the roadway. The Iowa State Patrol says 31-year old Dennis Smagur, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs.

The accident happened at around 5:35-p.m., as Smagur was east on Bunge Avenue, near the intersection with Alcorn Avenue. The man was found under the rear of his pickup. A report on his condition was not available late Saturday night.

Hit and run accident in Stanton Saturday evening

News

November 15th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Montgomery County are asking for the public’s help in locating a vehicle that slid-off the road and hit a light pole in Stanton, Saturday evening. Sheriff’s officials say at around 5:15-p.m., a mid-2000’s model Chevy pickup, dark grey or black in color, slid-off the road and hit a light pole near the intersection of Halland and Broad Avenue’s in Stanton. The vehicle then sped-off northbound, out of town.

The light pole owned by the City of Stanton sustained $2,000 damage. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-800-432-1001, or the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 712-623-5107.

BRUCE A. NEUMANN, 53, of Massena (Svcs. Pending)

Obituaries

November 15th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

BRUCE A. NEUMANN, 53, of Massena, died Fri., Nov. 14th, at home. Services for BRUCE NEUMANN are currently pending. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic is helping with local arrangements.

Villisca man arrested Saturday afternoon on a warrant

News

November 15th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s deputies in Montgomery County arrested a Villisca man, Saturday afternoon. 47-year old Shawn A. Graham was taken into custody on a valid Pottawattamie County warrant charging him with Suborning Perjury. Graham was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 cash bond, while awaiting transport to Pottawattamie County.