United Group Insurance

Change costs stores more to accept SNAP benefits

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

It now costs Iowa grocery stores and other businesses more to accept payments through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Merchants now have to pay for their own equipment and processing services whenever SNAP cards are used. Kevin Concannon, the U-S-D-A’s Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services and a former Iowan, says the change was designed to prevent the illegal use of the program.

Concannon says, “We found that in some locations where a manual machine was used to record the expenditure on the SNAP benefit, there was a higher rate of fraud or trafficking.” About 421-thousand Iowans now receive SNAP benefits, or about 13-percent of the population. Concannon says the goal is to make the use of those benefits more secure.

“There are now 257,000 locations across the United States where one can use or spend your SNAP benefits,” Concannon says. “The requirement will be now that all of those outlets will be required to use electronic benefit capacity.” Iowans who make part of their living at the 230 farmers markets across the state will be glad to hear that there are a few exceptions to the rule.

“Those exceptions are basically farmers markets because it recognizes the nature of a farmers market is often on a vacant lot or in a rural area,” Concannon says. “It’s part of our effort to really reach out and support local agriculture and to encourage people to purchase healthier foods.” Other exceptions include military commissaries, direct marketing farmers and non-profit food cooperatives. Concannon is the former director of the Iowa Department of Human Services.

(Radio Iowa)

Central and Western Iowa vets prepare for honor flight

News

September 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A group of Iowa veterans are preparing to fly to the nation’s capital Tuesday from central Iowa on an Honor Flight. The chairman of the Central and Western Iowa Honor Flight organization, Jeff Ballenger, says they will leave early. “Wheels up around 6:30 a-m. And we’ll be taking 395 World War Two and Korean veterans for an opportunity to see their memorial,” Ballenger says. The veterans were checking-in Monday in Des Moines, and then will board buses for a trip through Des Moines to Prairie Meadows in Altoona for a dinner.

“The pre-flight dinner will start at 6 p-m and will last about an hour-and-a-half. And we anticipate having around 950 people at the pre-flight dinner as the veterans are each able to bring somebody with them, and of course, we have our guardians who take care of the veterans,” Ballenger says. Many World War Two veterans have already taken an Honor Flight from the area, and Ballenger says this flight catches up on those who couldn’t make past flights.

“The folks who are going on this trip from World War Two, what they’re telling us is they were scheduled to go on an earlier flight and for health reasons just weren’t able to make that particular date,” Ballenger explains. “One interesting tidbit, we do have a World War Two veteran who is 101-years-old who is going on the flight with us.” Ballenger asks everyone to show their support for the veterans and to pray for a safe trip.

“These flights, while they are a lot of fun and there’s a great interest in them, they are not easy to do,” Ballenger says. “You’ve got men and women in their 80’s, some cases 90’s, and we just want to pray for their safety. We’ve got doctors on board, we’ve got E-M-Ts, and we’ve got firemen.” He says their goal for each flight is simple.

“We really want to make sure each flight gets out there and back as safely as possible. And that the veterans have an enjoyable day in D-C,” Ballenger says. He says with this flight they will have taken nearly three-thousand World War Two and Korean veterans to Washington, and raised just under three million dollars. Ballenger says the sponsorships of Hy-Vee, Caseys, Polk County, Knapp Properties and the Rassmussen group made this trip possible.

(Radio Iowa)

EPA rep to talk about contamination at former dry cleaning site in Atlantic

News

September 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, will be hearing from a representative with the U-S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with regard to about a below ground contaminated site in Atlantic.  During their 5:30-p.m. meeting, the Council will hear from Susan Fisher, who also made a presentation to the Atlantic Municipal Utilities (AMU) Board of Trustees  during their meeting on September 22nd.

AMU General Manager Steve Tjepkes says the EPA is conducting a Removal Assessment of a site in Atlantic contaminated with Tetrachloroethylene (PCE). PCE is a manufactured chemical typically used in dry cleaning solvents. The source of the contamination is believed to be the former Norge Dry Cleaners Facility near the area of 1205 E. 7th Street. Based on historical data, the building that housed the former dry cleaners was demolished sometime after 1982.

PCE was originally detected in 1980. EPA is currently reassessing the area to ensure that contamination levels at the site are protective of human health and the environment. Atlantic Municipal Utilities has operated and maintained an interceptor well since 1980 to keep the resulting underground plume migrating from the contamination site from impacting the municipal water supply well field.

Tjepkes says AMU continues to perform regular testing to monitor the public drinking water supply wells to ensure that drinking water does not become contaminated with PCE. He says also AMU is working closely with the EPA and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) as they continue their assessment, to encourage cleanup efforts for the site.

Creston woman reports vandalism

News

September 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say a Creston woman reported early Sunday morning that someone had damaged a garage door at her resident in the 1400 block of 170th Street. The damage was estimated at $2,500. There are no suspects at this time and an investigation into the incident continues.

AP- Iowa High School Football Poll, 9/29/14

Sports

September 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Top Ten teams in the Associated Press Iowa high school football polls of the 2010 season with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last week at right:
Class 4A
Record Pts Prv
1. Bettendorf (8) 5-0 110 1
2. Cedar Rapids Washington (1) 5-0 105 2
3. West Des Moines Dowling (3) 4-1 95 3
4. West Des Moines Valley 4-1 90 4
5. Waukee 4-1 73 5
6. Sioux City East 5-0 52 6
7. Ankeny Centennial 4-1 44 7
8. Johnston 4-1 36 9
9. Eldridge North Scott 4-1 20 10
10. Marion Linn-Mar 4-1 9 NR

Others receiving votes: 11, Cedar Falls 7. 12, Dubuque Hempstead 6. 12, Southeast Polk 6. 14, Ankeny 5. 15, Fort Dodge 1. 15, Ottumwa 1.

Class 3A
Record Pts Prv
1. Cedar Rapids Xavier (6) 4-1 114 2
2. Pella (5) 5-0 110 1
3. Manchester West Delaware (1) 5-0 93 3
4. Carroll 5-0 86 4
5. Sioux City Heelan 4-1 72 5
6. Solon 4-1 51 7
7. Waverly-Shell Rock 4-1 50 8
8. Gilbert 4-1 34 9
9. Carlisle 4-1 12 NR
10. Dallas Center-Grimes 4-1 11 NR

Others receiving votes: 11, Newton 6. 12, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 5. 12, Huxley Ballard 5. 14, Davenport Assumption 4. 14, Humboldt 4. 16, Charles City 2. 17, Clear Creek-Amana 1.

Class 2A
Record Pts Prv
1. Clear Lake (10) 5-0 116 1
2. Spirit Lake (1) 5-0 106 2
3. Sioux Center (1) 5-0 85 3
4. Williamsburg 5-0 75 4
5. Albia 5-0 71 5
6. Hampton-Dumont 5-0 64 6
7. New Hampton 4-1 44 8
8. West Union North Fayette 4-1 35 9
9. Cascade 4-1 13 NR
(tie) Center Point-Urbana 4-1 13 7

Others receiving votes: 11, Baxter CMB 11. 11, Mediapolis 11. 13, Union, La Porte City 6. 14, Clarion-Goldfield 4. 15, Tama South Tama 3. 16, Central Lyon-GLR 2. 17, Clarinda 1.

Class 1A
Record Pts Prv
1. Iowa City Regina (7) 4-1 114 1
2. Calmar South Winneshiek (2) 5-0 105 2
3. Fort Dodge St. Edmond (2) 5-0 97 3
4. West Branch (1) 5-0 83 4
5. St. Ansgar 5-0 70 5
6. IKM Manning 5-0 58 6
7. Ogden 5-0 50 7
8. Hinton 5-0 34 8
9. Inwood West Lyon 4-1 30 9
10. Dike-New Hartford 4-1 12 NR

Others receiving votes: 11, Stanwood North Cedar 3. 11, South Central Calhoun 3. 13, Madrid 1.

Class A
Record Pts Prv
1. Logan-Magnolia (7) 5-0 108 1
2. Delhi Maquoketa Valley (4) 5-0 104 2
3. Ackley AGWSR (1) 5-0 96 3
4. Packwood Pekin 5-0 80 5
5. Nashua-Plainfield 5-0 76 4
6. Gladbrook-Reinbeck 4-1 66 6
7. Montezuma 5-0 47 8
8. Bedford 5-0 28 10
9. Sloan Westwood 5-0 27 NR
10. Algona Garrigan 3-2 9 NR

Others receiving votes: 11, Mount Ayr 8. 12, Hawarden West Sioux 5. 13, Moville Woodbury Central 2. 13, Belle Plaine 2. 13, Brooklyn BGM 2.

Class 8-Man
Record Pts Prv
1. Elk Horn-Kimballton Exira (6) 5-0 108 1
2. Gilbertville-Don Bosco (5) 5-0 107 2
3. Fremont Mills, Tabor (1) 5-0 100 3
4. Janesville 5-0 69 4
5. Coon Rapids-Bayard 5-0 58 5
6. HLV, Victor 5-0 51 6
7. Glidden-Ralston 5-0 44 7
8. Jackson Junction Turkey Valley 5-0 40 8
9. Elkader Central 5-0 33 9
10. Marcus MMC 4-1 25 10

Others receiving votes: 11, Lamoni 13. 12, Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire 8. 13, West Bend-Mallard 4.

Lab returns tests on capsules found at Iowa prison

News

September 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

ROCKWELL CITY, Iowa (AP) — Lab results show hundreds of capsules found at a northern Iowa prison tested negative for any controlled substances. The state Department of Public Safety made the announcement Monday about the 300 to 400 capsules found earlier this month at the North Central Correctional Facility in Rockwell City. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory completed an analysis of the capsules.

The pills contained an unknown substance, prompting a state drug investigation. Initial field testing indicated they contained cocaine and the pain killer Demerol, but later testing came back negative for controlled substances. State officials have not said how the capsules got inside the prison.

Tuttle set to emerge as star for Northern Iowa

Sports

September 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Wichita State has been so dominant in the Missouri Valley that it can be tough for players who don’t play for the Shockers to get noticed. Northern Iowa star Seth Tuttle might be good enough to buck that trend.

Tuttle enters his final season with the Panthers as one of the nation’s most overlooked big men — and the key to their hopes of a return to the NCAA tournament after a four-year absence. Tuttle, a 6-foot-8 senior forward, was a first-team All-Valley pick in 2013-14 after leading Northern Iowa in points (15.4), rebounds (8.0) and blocks (1.1) per game.

EPA: Pipe company had violations at Iowa facility

News

September 29th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Environmental officials say a pipe company must pay $950,000 for air and water violations at its former Council Bluffs facility. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 7 says Griffin Pipe Products must pay the civil penalty after multiple violations.

The company is accused of illegally discharging untreated process wastewater to the city’s wastewater collection system between 2007 and 2008. It is also accused of violating its storm water permit in 2011. The EPA says the company also discharged zinc, lead, copper and other pollutants in violation of its permit levels.

Griffin Pipe Products has ceased production at the Council Bluff facility. It says it is now in compliance with the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.

FLOYD WESLEY RHODES, 85, of Lees Summit Missouri & formerly of Avoca (Svcs. 10/1/14)

Obituaries

September 29th, 2014 by admin

FLOYD WESLEY RHODES, 85, of Lees Summit Missouri (& formerly of Avoca), died Sat., Sept. 27th, at the Village House Hospice Center. A Mass of Christian Burial service for FLOYD RHODES will be 10-am Wed.,  Oct. 1st, at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Avoca. Pauley Jones Funeral Home of Avoca has the arrangements.

Visitation at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Avoca is Tuesday (9/30) from *6- until 8-pm, with a Wake service at 7-pm. (*Update 9/30 -visitation time changed from earlier posting of 2-8pm)

Burial will be at the Graceland Cemetery in Avoca.

FLOYD RHODES IS SURVIVED BY:

His daughters – Jane (Joseph) Henley of Lees Summit, MO, & Mary Lynn Geisler of Overland Park, KS.

His son – Dennis Rhodes, Lake In The Hills, IL.

and 2 grandsons

JAMES LEON WAHLERT SENIOR, 65, of Dexter (Svcs. 10/2/14)

Obituaries

September 29th, 2014 by admin

JAMES LEON WAHLERT, SENIOR, 65, of Dexter, died Sat., Sept. 27th, at the V-A Hospital in Des Moines. Funeral Services for JAMES WAHLERT, SR., will be held 10:30-a.m. Thu., Oct. 2nd,  at the Calvary Assembly of God church, in Dexter. Johnson Family Funeral Home  in Stuart has the arrangements.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday (Oct. 1st),  from 6- until 8-pm.

Burial will be in the Dexter City Cemetery

Memorial Contributions may be directed to the Freedom For Youth Center and /or Fairview Church.
Online Condolences can be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com