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PAUL DOUGLAS STEEN, 61, of Stuart & formerly of Greenfield (Visitation 11/12/14)

Obituaries

November 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

PAUL DOUGLAS STEEN, 61, of Stuart (& formerly of Greenfield), died Fri., Nov. 7th, at Select Specialty Hospital in Omaha. A Memorial Visitation for PAUL STEEN will be held from 5:30-until 7:30-p.m. Wed., Nov. 12th, at the Johnson Family Funeral Home, in Stuart.

Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Memorials may be directed to the Paul Steen Memorial Funds, in care of the funeral home.

DENNIS BUTLER, 74, of Atlantic (Svcs. Pending)

Obituaries

November 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DENNIS BUTLER, 74, of Atlantic, died Mon., Nov. 10th, at the Heritage House in Atlantic. Services for DENNIS BUTLER are pending at Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic.

Online condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

DENNIS BUTLER is survived by:

His wife – Marilyn.

Wind Advisory Mon. afternoon for western IA (11/10/14)

Weather

November 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-COUNTIES
425 AM CST MON NOV 10 2014

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT.

* TIMING…WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BY 3PM.

* WINDS…SOUTH WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH WILL BECOME NORTHWEST THIS AFTERNOON…TURNING WINDY BY 3PM WITH NORTHWEST WINDS 25 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 40 MPH DEVELOPING ACROSS THE AREA.

* IMPACTS…THE STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS AND MAY BLOW AROUND UNSECURED OBJECTS SUCH AS GARBAGE CANS AND LAWN FURNITURE. THE STRONG WINDS COMBINED WITH FALLING PRECIPITATION COULD LEAD TO REDUCED VISIBILITIES WHILE DRIVING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 TO 39 MPH OR GUSTS BETWEEN 45 TO 57 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT…ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

Task force recommends new assessment for schools

News

November 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A state task force assigned to review the assessments used to schools is recommending that the state adopt what are called the “Smarter Balanced” assessments. Iowa Department of Education spokesperson, Staci Hupp Ballard, says the assessments are used for public and accredited non-public schools, and the Smarter Balanced assessment was developed by a group of states. “That have the goal to ensure that all students — regardless of their background– leave high school prepared for success in college or career training,” Ballard says.

“And the consortium belief is that a high-quality assessment system can raise student achievement largely by providing teachers and schools the information and tools that they need to improve teaching and learning.” Ballard says the task force had several reasons for recommending the Smarter Balanced assessment. She says it is often referred to as “much more than a test,” and is considered more like a system, because it includes an annual test along with an optional classroom level tests that teachers can give to gauge student progress through the year.

Ballard says administrators, teachers and other gave their input to the task force. “When teachers talk about the advantages of Smarter Balance, it seems it’s much more than a test to them. It seems like it provides them helpful information to try to really pinpoint where a student is versus where a student is expected to be at a particular grade level,” Ballard says. The next step will be in the hands of lawmakers. “From now through January, the task force will work on a final report to the legislature. There’s a meeting scheduled for December 10th, and ultimately lawmakers will be charged with deciding whether or not to go with this recommendation,” Ballard says.

Iowa students currently take the Iowa Assessments in grades 3-8 and 11 in math and reading to meet state and federal accountability laws. The Iowa Assessments are developed and administered by Iowa Testing Programs at the University of Iowa. The Legislature opened the door for a new assessment process in 2013 by creating the Assessment Task Force.

(Radio Iowa)

Farmers can sign up for new farm bill programs starting next Monday

Ag/Outdoor

November 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Iowa farmers can sign up for two new programs that were included in the latest Farm Bill starting next week. Val Dolcini, administrator of the Farm Service Agency, says farmers actually have several months to determine what works best for them and to make a selection between the Agricultural Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage programs. Sign-up begins next Monday, November 17th.

Dolcini says, “We’re really building a fair amount of time into this process so that farmers have an ample opportunity not only to use the web-based tools to make that important program election, but to talk with their family members, partners, business advisers and others about what may be best for their particular individual operation.” Dolcini says farmers have until March 31st to make a selection. Also, farmers need to update their base acres and planting history information with their local F-S-A office. The deadline to complete that is February 27st.

“These programs are different from previous FSA programs in that it really requires the farmer to dig in a little bit deeper to what program election makes the most sense for their operation,” Dolcini says, “which is why we’re building in a good bit of time here.” Farmers were notified back in September about the need for the updates on acreage and planting history. For more information, visit: www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA

(Radio Iowa)

ESTHER LEMKE, 92, (formerly of Casey) – Svcs. 11/13/14

Obituaries

November 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

ESTHER LEMKE, 92, of Des Moines (& formerly of Casey), died Sat., Nov. 8th,  at Trinity Center at Luther Park in Des Moines. Funeral services for ESTHER LEMKE will be held 11-a.m. Thursday, November 13th, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Casey. The Steen Funeral Home of Greenfield is in charge of arrangements.

The family will greet friends at the church one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Burial will be in the Oakwood Cemetery, at Casey.

Memorials may be directed to the Esther Lemke memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date.

ESTHER LEMKE is survived by:

Her son – Lou Lemke of Adel, and her son-in-law, Paul Johnson of Des Moines.

4 four grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

NWS/KJAN listening area forecast: 11/10/14

Weather

November 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

345 AM CST MON NOV 10 2014

EARLY THIS MORNING…MOSTLY CLOUDY. SOUTHEAST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

TODAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 50S. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH SHIFTING TO THE WEST WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT...CLOUDY…BREEZY…COLDER. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN THROUGH MIDNIGHT. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN AND LIGHT SLEET BEFORE MIDNIGHT…THEN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOW IN THE MID 20S. NORTHWEST WIND 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 35 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 20 PERCENT.

VETERANS DAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY IN THE MORNING THEN BECOMING MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. MUCH COLDER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S. NORTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. COLDER. LOW 15 TO 20. HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW AROUND 15. HIGH IN THE UPPER 20S.

Trio of escapees from Clarinda Academy caught Monday morning

News

November 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Three males who escaped from the Clarinda Academy Sunday night were captured and returned to the facility early this (Monday) morning. The teens, two of them black, one Hispanic, were reported missing at around 8:15-p.m.  They were captured shortly before 2-a.m.

No other details were provided. The escapes happened nearly one week after a black male student at the academy jumped out a window and ran from authorities. He also was captured and returned to the facility that provides treatment and shelter to at-risk and delinquent male and female youth from several states.

Iowa early News Headlines: Mon., 11/10/14

News

November 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

ANAMOSA, Iowa (AP) — A group of volunteers have restored a veterans memorial in front of the Jones County Courthouse in Anamosa that was heavily vandalized early last week. Des Moines television station KCCI reportsthat the group gathered Saturday morning to repair the damage — just in time for Veterans Day on Tuesday.

SHENANDOAH, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa school superintendent fired last week has hired a lawyer to fight fraud and other allegations made against him. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that former Shenandoah Community School District Superintendent Jeff Hiser has hired Council Bluffs attorney Eric Hansen. The lawyer is a former Mills County prosecutor.

WINTERSET, Iowa (AP) — A frantic hunt for a runaway, pregnant dog ended happily when searchers found the black lab mix in an Winterset garage — after it had given birth. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that the hubbub began when the dog, which was being flown from Texas to a Wisconsin rescue shelter, slipped out of her harness and fled during a stop at the local airport on Friday. The dog named Ava was found before noon Saturday nursing nine puppies.

KENSETT, Iowa (AP) — A small country church in northern Iowa has launched its own radio station. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that Elk Creek Lutheran Church in rural Kensett will soon celebrate its 150th anniversary. But it only this month began broadcasting nightly at 91.7 FM under the call letters KWGH.

Atlantic Board of Education to discuss budget priorities Monday evening

News

November 9th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet in a regular session Monday evening in the Media Center at the High School. During their 7:30-p.m. gathering, the Board will hear special presentations from Jarrod O’Donnell, with regard to All-State Band, and Stephanie Graham, pertaining to Honors English 9 videos.

The Board will also act on approving Open Enrollment Request, various contracts and/or resignations, volunteer coaching positions, and a five-year School Board Review Committee (SBRC) application for Increasing Enrollment, Open Enrollment, and LEP (Limited English Proficiency) Instruction for immigrant/bi-lingual students.

They’re also expected to approve participation with the Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing Program (IDATP) and an Early Retirement Proposal for the District. Near the end of the meeting, the Atlantic School Board will discuss their Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Priorities, and hold closed sessions with regard to student discipline and an informal evaluation of Superintendent Mike Amstein.