712 Digital Group - top

NWS weather forecast for Atlantic & the area: 12/22/2014

Weather

December 22nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Today: Rain. Temperature falling to around 39 by 8am. South southeast wind 6 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tonight: Rain before 1am, then rain and snow likely. Low around 31. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tuesday: Snow likely before noon, then a chance of rain and snow between noon and 3pm, then a chance of snow after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a northwest wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Tue. Night: A 20 percent chance of snow before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 25. Blustery, with a north northwest wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. Breezy.
Wed. Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Christmas Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 40.

Posted in Weather |

Home sales down, prices up in November

News

December 22nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Association of Realtors found the number of homes sold in November were down from one year ago. Association president, Jon Yocum, says that’s only part of the story. “We did have a decrease over a year ago in the number of homes sold, but our sale price is up, so that’s telling us that the market is still strong,” Yocum says. Home sales were down nearly 11 percent from the same month last year to 26-hundred homes. He says several factors held back sales in November, including the election.

“Everybody was bombarded with advertisements on a regular daily basis. Every time you watched a program it seemed like you had to watch what seemed like five hours of election coverage,” Yocum says. “I think that just weighed heavy on peoples’ decision to say ‘hey let’s see what happens, see what plays out’.” Yocum says the weather also had an impact. He says the temperatures were a little colder in October and early November than usual and that kept people from getting out.

The average sale price of a home sold in Iowa was up four-point-one percent over November of last year. Yocum says the November numbers are based on the sales that closed, so the transactions that started in late November aren’t reflected. He says it appear business picked up late in the month and into this month. “A lot of agents are busy, even though it is the holiday season. So, there’s still a lot of activity going on,” Yocum says. He says the little warm spell we had recently should translate into some more sales.

Gas prices have been steadily going down, and Yocum says that impacts one segment of the housing market. “When you get into your smaller rural communities where people want to live in that rural area, but the drive time and fuel cost weighs heavy on their decision, ” Yocum says. “With the fuel prices dropping as much as they have, that’s opening the doors for people to say now is maybe the time to make the purchase out in the smaller communities.” Yocum says interest rates remain very low, which also continues to be a factor in people making a decision on home ownership.

(Radio Iowa)

Posted in News |

Iowa early News Headlines: Mon., Dec. 22nd, 2014

News

December 22nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Texas Governor Rick Perry will attend a conservative summit in Iowa next month. Jeff Marschner, a spokesman for the conservative group Citizens United, said yesterday that Perry will attend the Iowa Freedom Summit on January 24th in Des Moines. The event is being sponsored by Citizens United and Republican Congressman Steve King of Iowa.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The future of the former Iowa Juvenile Home facility in Toledo remains murky, and questions about how the state will care for delinquent girls linger. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports supporters of the facility hope the state will decide soon what to do with it, but lawsuits related to the closure of the juvenile home complicate the situation. Bill Skow says it’s sad to see the facility set empty like a ghost town.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 22-year-old man is dead after police say he accidentally shot himself in the face inside a Des Moines apartment. KCCI reports the incident happened shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday. According to police reports, investigators believe Fabiano Aguiniga accidentally shot himself with a shotgun while five other people were in the apartment.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Samantha Logic’s contested drive through traffic with less than 3 seconds remaining gave Number 23 Iowa a wild 100-98 win over Drake on Sunday in a game that saw the teams combine for 24 points in the last 65 seconds. Melissa Dixon hit 10 3-pointers and scored 31 points for the Hawkeyes.

Posted in News |

Saturday Wrestling Results

Sports

December 21st, 2014 by Jim Field

Red Owens Classic @ SE Polk

Team Standings:

  1. SE Polk  323.5
  2. Cedar Rapids Jefferson  223
  3. Glenwood  173
  4. Atlantic  157.5
  5. Creighton Prep  133
  • 2nd place – Kole Hansen, Atlantic (106)
  • 2nd place – Colby Sorensen, Atlantic (120)
  • 3rd place – Carter Cox, Atlantic (113)
  • 3rd place – Marsahll McDermott, Atlantic (126)
  • 3rd place – Reid Nichols, Atlantic (145)
  • 4th place – Austin Williamson, Atlantic (138)
  • 4th place – Keagan Hosfelt, Atlantic (220)
  • 5th place – Drake Roller, Atlantic (160)
  • 5th place – Zac Stork, Atlantic (170)
  • 5th place – Travis Petersen, Atlantic (182)
  • 6th place – Tyler Thomas, Atlantic (195)
  • 6th Place – John McConkey, Atlantic (285)

Tiger/Knight Invitational @ Carroll

Team Standings:

  1. Pocahontas  153
  2. Carroll  141
  3. Greene County 136.5
  4. Bondurant-Farrar 132
  5. Kuemper Catholic  114
  6. Denison-Schleswig 106
  7. Guthrie Center  103.5
  8. NW Webster  92.5
  9. Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 74.5

Local Individual Champions:

  • 145 – Lane Rumelhart, Guthrie Center
  • 152 – Parker Preul, Denison-Schleswig
  • 160 – Brady Bender, Carroll
  • 182 – Evan Hansen, Exira/EHK
  • 195 – Austin Laabs, Guthrie Center
  • 220 – Cale Crowder, Guthrie Center

Shenandoah Mustang Duals

Silver Results:
1st Place – East Mills
2nd Place – St. Albert
3rd Place – Southwest Iowa
4th Place – Clarinda Academy
1st Place Match – East Mills defeated St. Albert 45-30.
3rd Place Match – Southwest Iowa defeated Clarinda Academy 31-30.

Gold Results:
1st Place – Westwood
2nd Place – Shenandoah
3rd Place – Bishop Heelan Catholic
4th Place – Red Oak
1st Place Match – Westwood defeated Shenandoah 54-21.
3rd Place Match – Bishop Heelan Catholic defeated Red Oak 40-36.

Posted in Sports |

Western Iowa Conference Wrestling Tournament Results

Sports

December 21st, 2014 by Jim Field

Team Standings:

  1. Logan-Magnolia  8-0
  2. Riverside  6-2
  3. Missouri Valley  6-2
  4. A-H-S-T-W  5-3
  5. Tri-Center 4-4
  6. Audubon  3-5
  7. Underwood  3-5
  8. Treynor  1-7
  9. Griswold  0-8

Round 1:

  • A-H-S-T-W 39, Audubon 36
  • Missouri Valley 42, Underwood 39
  • Riverside 52, Tri-Center 30
  • Logan-Magnolia 78, Griswold 3

Round 2:

  • Riverside 42, A-H-S-T-W 33
  • Logan-Magnolia 57, Missouri Valley 18
  • Tri-Center 42, Underwood 39
  • Treynor 58, Griswold 12

Round 3:

  • Underwood 42, Treynor 34
  • Riverside 48, Griswold 26
  • Missouri Valley 57, Audubon 22
  • A-H-S-T-W 43, Tr-Center 42 (criteria)

Round 4:

  • Tri-Center 44, Audubon 33
  • Riverside 43, Missouri Valley 33
  • Underwood 53, Griswold 18
  • Logan-Magnolia 72, Treynor 9

Round 5:

  • Missouri Valley 56, Tri-Center 26
  • Audubon 44, Treynor 17
  • A-H-S-T-W 55, Griswold 10
  • Logan-Magnolia 63, Riverside 18

Round 6:

  • Logan-Magnolia 52, Underwood 30
  • Audubon 49, Griswold 12
  • Riverside 65, Treynor 15
  • Missouri Valley 45, A-H-S-T-W 30

Round 7:

  • Audubon 48, Underwood 36
  • Logan-Magnolia 70, A-H-S-T-W 6
  • Tri-Center 54, Treynor 21
  • Missouri Valley 66, Griswold 18

Round 8:

  • Tri-Center 52, Griswold 18
  • A-H-S-T-W 62, Treynor 18
  • Logan-Magnolia 67, Audubon 11
  • Underwood 48, Riverside 30

Round 9:

  • Riverside 54, Audubon 27
  • Logan-Magnolia 58, Tri-Center 24
  • A-H-S-T-W 37, Underwood 33
  • Missouri Valley 66, Treynor 17

Posted in Sports |

Logic gives No. 23 Iowa wild 100-98 win over Drake

Sports

December 21st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Samantha Logic’s contested drive through traffic with less than 3 seconds remaining gave No. 23 Iowa a wild 100-98 win over Drake on Sunday in a game that saw the teams combine for 24 points in the last 65 seconds. Melissa Dixon hit 10 3-pointers and scored 31 points for the Hawkeyes (9-2). Logic and Ally Disterhoft each had 18 points and Logic had 11 rebounds

Sophomore Lizzy Wendell hit a 3-pointer with 8.6 seconds left to tie the game and finished with a Knapp Center record 43 points for the Bulldogs (5-6). Becca Jones had 19 points and 13 rebounds, both career highs, and Caitlin Ingle, who missed a tough shot at the buzzer, had 17 points and 10 assists.

Drake led by as many as seven in the first half and was up 48-43 at the break. Iowa’s big lead was 88-80 with 2:56 to play. Both teams shot better than 50 percent and made 13 3-pointers. Iowa was just 17 of 27 from the line to help Drake down the stretch.

Posted in Sports |

Structure Fire in Harlan Sun. evening

News

December 21st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A fire late Sunday afternoon in Harlan resulted in the destruction of the former St. Michael’s Catholic Church, despite the efforts of firefighters from Harlan and at least four other communities, to limit the damage. The blaze at the vacant building on 8th Street took several hours to bring under control, but no injuries were reported. Crews from Harlan, Denison, Kirkman, and elsewhere responded to the scene. Crews were called-out again Monday morning to deal with a rekindle of the flames. The cause of the blaze remained under investigation.

From the Harlan Fire and Rescue Facebook page.

From the Harlan Fire and Rescue Facebook page.

From the Harlan Fire and Rescue Facebook page.

From the Harlan Fire and Rescue Facebook page.

From the Harlan Fire and Rescue Facebook page.

From the Harlan Fire and Rescue Facebook page.

Courtesy Jim Wolf

Courtesy Jim Wolf and Rita Knights

Photo courtesy Jim Wolf

Photo courtesy Jim Wolf and Rita Knights

Posted in News |

LAURENCE SHELDON, 85, of Earling (Svcs. 12/23/14)

Obituaries

December 21st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

LAURENCE SHELDON, 85, of Earling, died Sat., Dec. 20th, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. A Mass of Christian Burial service for LAURENCE SHELDON will be held 11-a.m. Tue., Dec. 23rd, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, in Harlan. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Harlan has the arrangements.

Visitation at the funeral home is from 6-to 9-pm Monday, Dec. 22nd, with a Wake service at 7-p.m.

Burial will be in the Harlan Cemetery.

LAURENCE SHELDON is survived by:

His wife – Elaine Sheldon, of Earling.

His daughter – Judy.

His step-daughter – Patty (Tom) Muenchrath, of Harlan.

His sisters – Poly, of WY, & Dorothy “Dot”, of AZ.

5 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Posted in Obituaries |

Updated (4-p.m.) Weather forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area, 12/21/14

Weather

December 21st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Tonight: Cloudy w/patchy fog & periods of rain. Low around 39. S @ 15-25. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Monday: Cloudy & breezy w/an 80% chance of rain thru 10- am. High near 45. S/SE @ 10-20 w/gusts to around 25. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Mon. Night: Cloudy w/a 20% chance of snow after 3-am. Low around 29.

Tuesday: Cloudy & breezy w/ a 20% chance of snow early & a rain-snow mix during the afternoon. High 36. NW @ 5-15mph w/gusts to near 25.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy & breezy. High near 34.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Christmas Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 40.

Posted in Weather |

Steelers wrap up playoff berth, top Chiefs 20-12

Sports

December 21st, 2014 by Ric Hanson

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Ben Roethlisberger passed for 220 yards and a touchdown, Le’Veon Bell added a score and the Pittsburgh Steelers locked up a postseason berth with a methodical 20-12 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Pittsburgh (10-5) faces Cincinnati next week for the AFC North title. Either way, the Steelers will be playing January football for the first time since Tim Tebow and Denver stunned the defending AFC champions in the wild-card round three years ago.

Antonio Brown caught seven passes and a touchdown for Pittsburgh, which has won seven of nine and can clinch a division title for the first time since 2010 by beating the Bengals next week.

Kansas City’s Alex Smith passed for a season-high 311 yards but was sacked six times. The Chiefs (8-7) have lost four of five and need to beat San Diego next Sunday and receive plenty of help to make it back to the playoffs for a second straight year under coach Andy Reid.

Posted in Sports |