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Ethanol producers complain about rail service

Ag/Outdoor

April 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Ethanol producers say clogged rail lines and other shipping problems have forced them to reduce production of the fuel and contributed to higher prices.  The Renewable Fuels Association criticized railroads Thursday and triggered a strong response from the Association of American Railroads.  RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen says railroads should take the blame for ethanol prices jumping more than $1 a gallon between early February and late March.

AAR CEO Ed Hamberger acknowledges rail traffic slowed in certain areas, but he says it’s preposterous to suggest the rail network is in disarray. Hamberger says railroads have done their best to deal with an exceptional winter, sizeable grain harvest and increased coal demand.

Railroads have hauled 6.8 million carloads this year – about 2 percent more than last year.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor |

Omaha man arrested in Red Oak, Thursday

News

April 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Police in Red Oak report the arrest Thursday afternoon of a Nebraska man on a Montgomery County warrant.  31-year old Keith Andre Smith, of Omaha, was arrested at around 1:15-p.m. on a warrant for Breach of Peace. Smith was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 cash bond.

Posted in News |

Highway 141 Bridge work near Bayard begins Monday

News

April 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Jefferson Construction Office reports work to replace the bridge carrying Iowa 141 over Willow Creek 2.1 miles west of Iowa 25 near Bayard, will require closing the bridge and detouring traffic beginning at 7-a.m. Monday, April 7, weather permitting.

During ths project, Iowa 141 will be closed and traffic will be detoured using Iowa 25, Greene County Road E-63, and Carroll/Greene/Guthrie County Road N-58. However, local traffic access to Iowa 141 will be maintained.

This project is expected to be completed by mid-October.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts. For traveler information anytime, visit www.511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at www.iowadot.com/511/socialmedia.html); or download the free app to your mobile device.

Posted in News |

DORA ANDERSON, 73, a long-time Atlantic resident (Svcs. 4/9/14)

Obituaries

April 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DORA ANDERSON, 73, a long-time Atlantic resident, died Thu., April 3rd, at the Atlantic Nursing & Rehab Center. Services for DORA ANDERSON will be held on Wed., Apr 9th at 10:00am at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Visitation is open at the funeral home from 8-a.m. Tuesday (4/8) until the time of family visitation, which is from 5-to 7-pm Tuesday.

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

DORA ANDERSON is survived by:

Her husband – Duane Anderson, and her son Ronald Anderson of Atlantic.

Posted in Obituaries |

NWS forecast for Cass and area Counties in IA (Fri., 4/4/2014)

Weather

April 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

(Update 3:57-am 4/4/14)

Today A 20 percent chance of snow before 7am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Windy, with a northwest wind 21 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.

Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Blustery, with a northwest wind 12 to 17 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. South wind 8 to 13 mph.

Sunday A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. South southwest wind around 8 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Sunday Night A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Monday A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58

Posted in Weather |

Beware traffic blockages on I-80 in Cass County this morning

News

April 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Fire Department was called to help with the clean-up of a fuel spill from an overturned semi early this morning on Interstate 80 in Cass County. The call was dispatched just before 4-a.m. to I-80 at the 60-mile marker, or Highway 71 interchange. Traffic control is in-place on I80 eastbound at about the 57-mile marker (Olive Street exit).

Numerous non-injury accidents have been reported in the area. Slow down, and drive with caution as roads are very slick, and winds are strong out of the northwest at 30-to 40 miles per hour (as of 4-a.m.)

Posted in News |

Iowa early News Headlines: Fri., April 4th 2014

News

April 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Leaders in Johnson County say they won’t pursue a ban on plastic bags, but will instead focus on voluntary measures to decrease their use. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports county officials have been considering a ban for months. It was pushed by the environmental group 100 Grannies for a Livable Future.

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) — Officials say the northwest Iowa city of Cherokee accidentally released several hundred gallons of wastewater into a storm drain feeding the Little Sioux River. The state Department of Natural Resources says repairs were completed about 2 p.m. yesterday.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A discrimination complaint by a former Mason City Human Rights Commission director filed with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission has been administratively closed. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that Perry Buffington, the city’s human resources director, said Wednesday that the closure means the state commission will take no further action on Lionel Foster’s complaint. The 76-year-old Foster had claimed race and age discrimination in his complaint after he was let go last year.

WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (AP) — A community group is working toward raising money to reopen a historic theater in central Iowa. The Help Entertain and Restore Organization, also known as HERO, says it’s nearing a major fundraising goal to reopen the Webster Theater in Webster City. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports the theater, which was built in 1906 and opened as the Orpheum Theater in 1909, closed last year.

Posted in News |

Snowfall reports (4/4/14)

Weather

April 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

(Will be updated throughout the morning as available from the NWS)

Atlantic – .2″ (at the KJAN Studios)

Audubon – .5″ snow

Carroll – 1.0″

Denison – 3 to 4 inches of snow (Spotter & law enforcement reports as of 3:17am)

Sac City – 3 inches.

Posted in Weather |

Watch out for slick spots this morning (Friday)

Weather

April 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

COUNTIES: MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE-

SNOW…HEAVY AT TIMES WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN A MILE AT TIMES THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. MUCH OF THE SNOW WILL MELT AS IT FALLS AND MOST AREAS WILL SEE AN INCH OR LESS OF SNOW ACCUMULATION. DESPITE THE SLIGHT AMOUNTS…BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES MAY BECOME SLIPPERLY. SLOW DOWN…ESPECIALLY ON ELEVATED SURFACES AND…DUE TO RESTRICTED VISIBILITIES.

Posted in Weather |

Update: Wind Advisory in effect at 7-a.m.

Weather

April 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

AREA COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD

WIND ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT TODAY FROM 7 AM TO 1 PM

* TIMING…NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE THIS MORNING.

* WINDS…SUSTAINED 30 MPH WINDS ARE EXPECTED WITH WIND GUSTS ABOVE 45 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH GUSTS ABOVE 45 MPH POSSIBLE. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT…ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION. IN ADDITION…LOOSE OR UNSECURED OBJECTS WILL BLOW AROUND EASILY AND MAY CAUSE DAMAGE OR INJURY.

Posted in Weather |