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Both parties gear up for midterm caucuses

News

January 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — While there has been little fanfare, the 2014 Iowa political calendar effectively begins Tuesday night at the precinct caucuses for both parties. These organizing meetings — which kick off a series of party events, culminating with the state conventions in June — tend to mostly attract loyalists in non-presidential election years. But party leaders are urging Iowa residents to participate, insisting that coming out on a chilly January night really does matter.

Democratic Party Executive Director Troy Price says the people who participate this year “help us carry out the presidential caucus in 2016.” The caucuses begin a process of building a volunteer base that sets the tone for the elections in 2014 and starts organizing in advance of the 2016 presidential election in the early-voting state of Iowa.

Markham wins Athena Award Saturday

News

January 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Dinner and Awards program Saturday night, at the Cass County Community Center. During the awards presentation part of the Program, The Athena Leadership Award –  made possible through a partnership with Deter Motor Company — and which is given to the person who has “Honored professional excellence, community service, an actively assisted women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills,” was presented by last year’s winner, Dolly Bergman, to former Cass County Memorial Hospital CEO Pat Markham. Markham recently retired from the Cass County Health System after more than 29-years of service.

The Business of the Year Award went to 1st Whitney Bank and Trust, for its innovation and leadership. The bank took a major role in helping the Chamber achieve its four priorities, one of which was to increase the Local Option Sales Tax receipts. 1st Whitney came up with a “Cash Mob” concept, where all of its more than 20 employees would enter an Atlantic business to spend $20 each, or more. They encouraged other businesses to follow suite, and as a result, more than business did the same thing. Six additional “Cash Mob” stops generated more than $15,000 in sales for those businesses that were “mobbed.”

The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Jim Tyler, Chairman of the Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company. The award was accepted by Controller/Human Resources Director Mike Pappas. The Community Betterment Award, which is presented to a business or organization which has invested in the community to increase the value of property, insuring the future of infrastructure in the area, went to the Friends of the Schildberg Quarry, for their numerous volunteer efforts. The Community Service Award was presented to Melanie Petty, with the Frederickson Foundation, for her loyal support of the community and fundraising efforts benefiting the community, following the loss of her son in 2009. The Foundation has raised more than $75,000 in donations for local organizations and causes since its inception.

Other awards were presented to Junior Hansen, with Atlantic Municipal Utilities: Volunteer of the Year; Tina Lord: Outstanding Committee Member; Donnie and Arlene Drennan: Ambassadors of the Year; and The Star Ambassadors Award went to Dr. Keith Leonard, Dolly Bergman, Tammy Waters, Carole Schuler and Sue Muri.

The event featured a dinner of prime rib served by management and staff with the Atlantic Hy-Vee. The stores’ Amy Jordahl succeeds 1st Whitney’s Chip Hansen as President of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, for 2014.

Area basketball scores from Sat., Jan. 18th 2014

Sports

January 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL

  • Abraham Lincoln 62, Atlantic 42
  • Harlan 61, Glenwood 39
  • Shenandoah 61, Audubon 21
  • Coon Rapids-Bayard 74, West Harrison 61
  • Panorama 78, Nodaway Valley 64
  • Essex 59, South Page 44

GIRLS BASKETBALL

  • Harlan 71, Glenwood 40
  • Shenandoah 68, Audubon 49
  • St. Albert 57, Missouri Valley 46
  • Panorama 54, Nodaway Valley 27
  • Sioux City West 66, Denison-Schleswig 34
  • Coon Rapids-Bayard 60, West Harrison 24
  • South Central Calhoun 69, Glidden-Ralston 16
  • South Page 56, Clarinda Academy 33

NWS Forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: Sunday, 1/19/14

Weather

January 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny, with a high near 51. Wind chill values as low as zero early. West southwest wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

M.L.King Day: A 20 percent chance of snow showers after 3pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 37. Northwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Monday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow showers before midnight. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 4. Wind chill values as low as -15. Blustery, with a north wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 17. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 22. Blustery.

Kansas State women top No. 13 Iowa State, 80-74

Sports

January 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Hallie Christofferson went more than 33 minutes between field goals Saturday and a Cyclone rally fell short as Kansas State posted an 80-74 win over No. 13 Iowa State Saturday night. Averaging 21.5 points in her last four Big 12 games, Christofferson’s first-half jumper gave the Cyclones a 5-2 lead, but by the time she scored her second, they trailed by 14. She finished 2 of 11 from the field.

Kansas State (8-9, 2-4 Big 12) got 27 points from Leticia Romero and 23 from Katya Leick to post its first win over the Cyclones in eight regular-season games. The Cyclones were just 20 of 59 from the field (33.9 percent) in Manhattan. Brynn Willliamson scored 17 points and Nicole Blaskowsky added another 16.

Iowa State, which now has lost three straight after starting the season with 14 consecutive wins, falling to No. 15 Oklahoma State and West Virginia at home.

Illinois St takes big lead, downs Drake 77-63

Sports

January 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Daishon Knight scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench as Illinois State made a big first-half lead stand up for a 77-63 win over Drake Saturday night. The Redbirds raced to an 18-6 start in the first five minutes of the game and led 42-25 at intermission.

Reggie Lynch scored 14 points and grabbed seven boards for Illinois State (11-7, 4-2 Missouri Valley), with Bobby Hunter and Nick Zeisloft adding 13 and 12 points, respectively. The Redbirds shot 48 percent from the floor (26 of 54) and were 16 of 19 from the line.

Richard Carter tossed in 24 points, hitting 9 of 10 from the line, to lead Drake (10-8, 1-5). Aaron Hawley scored 14 points for the Bulldogs, who shot 16 of 46 (34.8) from the field and 24 of 30 from the line.

Iowa News Headlines: Sun., Jan. 19th 2014

News

January 19th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowans are dealing with another blast of winter weather that has caused snarled traffic and threatened to dump nearly a half-foot of snow on some areas. At Iowa City, a multi-vehicle pileup blamed on bad weather shut down the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 on Saturday morning. At least one lane had reopened by late morning.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials want people to know where snowplows are working during winter weather. The state Department of Transportation is offering an interactive online map that shows where the vehicles are currently located. It’s under the agency’s winter driving section. The map is available via desktop or mobile device.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says a Minnesota man was injured while racing a snowmobile on Clear Lake in northern Iowa. The DNR says 29-year-old Tyler Hall of Twin Lakes, Minnesota had finished a run as part of the Jack Helgren Memorial Race near Clear Lake State Park on Saturday morning when he lost control of his snowmobile and hit a snow drift at high speed. Hall, who was wearing a helmet was taken to a Mason City hospital.

LINEVILLE, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has lifted a boil advisory in the southern Iowa city of Lineville. The DNR announced yesterday it had determined the water in the Wayne County city of about 200 people was safe. Lineville is 28 miles west of Centerville.

This is Your Nishna Valley 01-18-2014

Podcasts, This is Your Nishna Valley

January 18th, 2014 by admin

w/ Jim Field and Stacie Linfor

Play

Holmes powers Texas over No. 8 Iowa State 86-76

Sports

January 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Jonathan Holmes scored 23 points and Cam Ridley had 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead Texas to an 86-76 win over No. 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12.   Javan Felix scored 17 for Texas, including a big 3-pointer in the momentum-changing run in the second half.

Georges Niang scored 18 to lead Iowa State, which started the season 14-0. The Cyclones (14-3, 2-3) hadn’t lost three in a row since the 2010-2011 season and haven’t won in Austin since 2005. Melvin Ejim scored 17 for the Cyclones who went 11 of 32 on 3-pointers.

After their first losing season in 15 years last season, the Longhorns look like a team growing in confidence with Kansas State, Baylor and Kansas up next.

DELPHINE JENSEN, 84, of Greenfield (Svcs. 1/25/14)

Obituaries

January 18th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DELPHINE JENSEN, 84, of Greenfield, died Fri., Jan. 17th, at the Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle. Celebration of Life Services for DELPHINE JENSEN will be held on Saturday, January 25th, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Greenfield. The Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 24th, at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

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

DELPHINE JENSEN is survived by:

Her son, Micheal Jensen of Greenfield; 3 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.