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Iowa House approved tax break for Knoxville Speedway

Sports

April 17th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa House has passed a bill that would grant a tax rebate of up to two-million dollars to the Knoxville Raceway. Representative Scott Ourth, a Democrat from Ackworth, lives 25 miles west of the dirt track. “Not only is the sprint car track and the Knoxville Raceway a huge economic development boon to Marion County and the Knoxville area, but it also fills up the hotels in Lucas County, Appanoose County, Warren County and many of the other south central Iowa counties when the races come to town,” Ourth says.

The Knoxville Raceway’s owners would get the same type of tax break that’s been extended to the Iowa Speedway in Newton. The five percent state sales tax that’s charged on goods and services sold at the Knoxville track would revert back to the track’s owners who plan to upgrade the track facilities on the Marion County Fairgrounds. Ourth was the only member of the House to speak about the track when the bill came up for a vote. “It’s a huge economic development boon for an otherwise somewhat depressed economy in southern Iowa,” Ourth said. “I’m very excited about this whole thing and they are doing great things to help grow southern Iowa and bring business into that neck of the woods.”

The bill passed the House on a 78-to-15 vote. It now must pass the Senate before it can go to the governor for his review. Governor Branstad went to Newton earlier this month to sign the bill that provided a similar tax break to the Iowa Speedway.

(Radio Iowa)

Diapers on cows? Sen. Grassley blasts plans to cut methane gas emissions

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 17th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Some climate change activists blame at least part of the planet’s weather problems on methane gas emissions from livestock. The Obama administration is ordering the U-S-D-A and the E-P-A to create a bio-gas roadmap to find ways to reduce those emissions. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the roadmap is a questionable notion and he’s writing a letter to Gina McCarthy, the head of the E-P-A.  “The roadmap is intended to reduce dairy sector greenhouse gas emissions through voluntary strategies by 25% by 2020,” Grassley says. “My questions for Administrator McCarthy center on the impact the plan has on the average U.S. dairy farms.”

Grassley, a Republican, says much of our country’s midsection was populated by some 600-million buffalo when pioneers first began settling in the region and there wasn’t a greenhouse gas problem back then. “You’ve gotta’ have a historical approach,” Grassley says. “Are you going to put diapers on cows? I don’t think so. I don’t think you’re going to shut down cows from producing methane gas. That’s the way God made ’em.” The plan calls on livestock producers to make changes that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions voluntarily, but Grassley remains skeptical of the motives.

“It’s hard to forget only a couple of years ago, this administration was trying to push Cap & Trade through Congress,” Grassley says. “It seems only right to be suspicious of the administration’s intentions. All you’ve got to do is look at fugitive dust as another example.” Dust can be stirred up during routine farming and that so-called “fugitive dust” was labeled by some as air pollution responsible for a host of negative impacts on human health, eroding the soil, strangling plants and causing reduced visibility that leads to traffic accidents.

(Radio Iowa)

Atlantic receives another Tree City USA Award

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 17th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The City of Atlantic has received yet another Tree City USA award. It’s the 19th consecutive year Atlantic has qualified for the award. A new flag, and a certificate designating the City as being tree friendly, was presented by Dolly Bergman and members of the local “Tree’s Forever” committee tasked with making sure the City qualifies for the award and does its part to keep Atlantic green.IMG_20140416_173410_468

She said one of the hardest requirements is keeping track of how much the City actually spends on its forestry, or tree-care budget, which must be at least $2 per capita. Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring helped with that. And, information provided by Trees Forever also helped the City meet the requirement. The City’s expenditures for trees and related services amounted to $14,822 in 2013.

The Tree City USA flag will be hung on the pole located in the Atlantic City Park, under a new American flag which replaces a storm-tattered American flag. Bergman says this year, the Tree’s Forever group will be working with Atlantic 4th graders on Friday, April 25th (The official Iowa “Arbor Day”), to plant a tree on the grounds of Schuler Elementary School. In addition, each of the 4th graders will receive a tiny Norway Spruce tree they can take home, plant and watch grow.

Heartbeat Today 04-17-2014

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

April 17th, 2014 by admin

Jim Field speaks with Cathie Page with the Family Resource Center in Carroll about a workshop coming up at the Exira Library called “Stewards of Children” that is focused on preventing child sexual abuse.

Play

7AM Newscast 04-17-2014

News, Podcasts

April 17th, 2014 by admin

w/ Ric Hanson

Play

USDA Report 04-17-2014

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

April 17th, 2014 by admin

w/ Denny Heflin

Play

Atlantic Chamber Director resigns; County-wide animal shelter discussed

News

April 17th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce’ Executive Director has resigned. City Administrator Doug Harris made that announcement during Wednesday evening’s meeting of the Atlantic City Council. Megan Roberts, who has served in the position since August 2012, is leaving to take a job with a local insurance agency. Her resignation is effective May 1st. IMG_20140416_173253_077 

In other business, the City may once again be looking becoming a County-wide pet shelter. Doug Harris said Councilman Randy Fischer, from Marne, approached him with regard to the possibility of Atlantic’s shelter accepting a couple of Marne’s stray cats and dogs. Harris said about 4-to 6-years ago there was some discussion about creating a County-wide shelter, with Atlantic as the host.

Harris said it makes sense to have a shelter for stray animals since several communities are having problems with unwanted or stray animals being dumped-off in other communities or the rural areas. He said “The economies of scales of expanding our facility and handling the whole county would make sense…to be paid for as a County levy.” He said it would be up to the Atlantic City Council to establish a policy.

Harris said there are times when Atlantic’s facility can handle additional animals, but other times when it is at capacity. Mayor Dave Jones said the City could start sending the County a bill for that service, just as it does for the libraries, or, it could simply shut the shelter down. Doug Harris said he and others could sit down with other City leaders from around the County and see if there is an interest in a County-wide shelter and if or how they should proceed from there. The City may also once again approach the Board of Supervisors and hold discussions on the matter.

In his report to the Council, Mayor Dave Jones reminded citizens of the Ordinance prohibiting yard sale and other such signs on utility poles and public right-of-ways. He also reminded citizens to mow their lawns when the grass gets to be 3 or 4 inches tall. The City, as previously mentioned, plans on being more aggressive this year in getting after property owners whose grass grows unsightly.

And, Councilman Dana Halder asked if there is anyone who would like to donate a good, used, working wheel chair to the Atlantic Public Library, they would appreciate it, since the one they had was vandalized by a couple of youth.

Rollover accident southwest of Atlantic this morning

News

April 17th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

One person was injured during a single-vehicle accident near Atlantic, just before 5:30 this (Thursday) morning. Cass County Chief Deputy Sheriff John Westering told KJAN News the Cass County 9-1-1 Center received a call at 5:27-a.m. about three-miles south of Atlantic, just north of Lansing Road. Upon arrival, there was a 2001 Chevy Impala on its top in the east ditch. Westering said the driver of the car apparently swerved or took some sort of evasive action, causing him to lose control. The southbound vehicle crossed the road and entered the east ditch before rolling onto its top. The male driver suffered what were described as “non-life threatening” injuries. He was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment.

The driver of the vehicle was the only occupant of the car. His name is different from that of the vehicle’s registered owner, and as such, his name has not yet been released. The accident remains under investigation.

Minor injuries during accident in Red Oak Wed. afternoon

News

April 17th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Authorities say a Red Oak woman suffered  minor injuries during a collision  Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of North 8th Street and East Senate Avenue, in Red Oak. 73-year old Carroll Gary hit her head when her 2014 KIA Optima was hit by a 1997 Dodge pickup. Gary was checked out by Red Oak Rescue personnel, but refused transport to the hospital. The driver of the pickup, 82-year old Delaine Lundgren, of Red Oak, was cited for Failure to stop at a Stop sign.

Officials say Lundgren’s truck was traveling east on East Senate at around 2-p.m. Wednesday, and had stopped at the stop sign with North 8th Street, but then pulled away from the sign and hit Gary’s car on the driver’s side door. The accident happened as her car turned off of Highway 34 onto North 8th Street, headed northbound and approached the intersection with East Senate.

Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000.

NE woman arrested this morning in Pott. County on a Montgomery Co. warrant

News

April 17th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Authorities in Montgomery County say an Omaha woman was arrested early this (Thursday) morning in Pottawattamie County on a valid Montgomery County warrant. 41-year old Angela D. Franks was arrested at around 2:40-a.m. by Pottawattamie County authorities following a traffic stop. Franks, who was wanted on a warrant for Contempt of Court/Failure to Pay Child Support, was brought to the Pottawattamie-Montgomery County line and transported by deputies in Montgomery County to the Law Enforcement Center, where she was being held on $1,000 cash bond.