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Iowa home prices up, sales down, in November

News

December 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Home prices in Iowa were up, but overall sales were down in November, compared to a year ago. That’s according to a new report from the Iowa Association of Realtors. The incoming I-A-R president for 2014, Kathy Miller of Sioux City, says the average sale price of an Iowa home increased four-percent to $153,683 last month. The median sale price was also up four-percent, growing from $125,000 in November 2012 to $130,000 this November. The total home sales dipped only slightly, with 2,749 homes sold this November compared to 2,795 in 2012.

In addition to the rising prices, sellers are also benefiting from a drop in the “days on the market” figure — or DOM.  In November 2012, the DOM was 101, while this year the report shows just 81 DOM, a decrease of nearly 20-percent. Miller says it’s still an excellent time for buying a home, as interest rates are averaging around 4.25-percent.

“What I’m seeing…is lower days on the market, low interest rates, and positive growth in prices. It’s a strong housing market for both buyers and sellers,” Miller says. In terms of year-to-date, home sales in Iowa have increased 7.7 percent this year over last.

(Radio Iowa)

ROBERT STERNER, 84, of Willey (Svcs. 12/21/13)

Obituaries

December 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

ROBERT STERNER, 84, of Willey, died Tue., Dec. 17th, at home. A Mass of Christian Burial service for ROBERT STERNER will be held 1-p.m. Sat., Dec. 21st, at St. Mary’s Church in Willey.  Ohde-Twitt Funeral Home in Carroll has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 3-p.m. Friday (12/20), where a Rosary will be held at 4-p.m. and a Prayer service at 6-p.m.  Visitation will resume at Noon on Saturday, at the funeral home.

Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery.

ROBERT STERNER is survived by:

His wife – Bessie Sterner, of Willey.

His daughter – Susan Chism, of St. Cloud, FL.

7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

(Podcast) Skyscan Forecast: Wed., 12/18/13

Podcasts, Weather

December 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Freese-Notis weather forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area, and weather data for Atlantic from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Play

Cattle industry expert: profitability returning

Ag/Outdoor, News

December 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) — A livestock specialist at Iowa State University says falling corn prices are generating some optimism that cattle farmers can again make money. Historically high corn prices during the last several years drove up the cost of feed and many producers cut herd numbers as drought intensified.

Lee Schulz, a livestock specialist and assistant professor of economics, says producers have been in survival mode but are beginning to talk about expansion. There’s interest in building new facilities and growing herds. Feedlots made money on cattle sold in October, breaking a long streak of monthly losses.

He says it will take several years to build the herd with increased calf crops and increasing cattle supplies because of the time it takes for calves to mature.

U. of Iowa to launch newly designed web site

News

December 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa says it will launch a new design for its home web page for the first time since 2008. The university says the changes aim to improve a site that has been visited 11 times by 2.4 million people this year. University official Lin Larson offered a preview of the changes in a university article posted online Tuesday. He says the redesign “isn’t just a facelift, but a fresh start.”

He says the new site should make menus simpler to navigate and work better on mobile devices. Larson says the designers chose to make information for new users one central focus of the page, www.uiowa.edu.

Idle Neb. nuclear plant cleared to restart

News

December 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska nuclear plant that has been idle for nearly three years because of flooding and a series of safety concerns has been cleared to restart. The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Tuesday that the Omaha Public Power District’s Fort Calhoun nuclear plant is safe to restart. Fort Calhoun, which sits across from Iowa on the Missouri River about 20 miles north of Omaha, has been offline since April 2011.

Fort Calhoun initially shut down for routine maintenance, but significant flooding in 2011, a small fire and a number of violations forced it to remain closed.

NWS Forecast for Cass & area Counties

Weather

December 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

335 AM CST WED DEC 18 2013

TODAY…SUNNY…BREEZY…WARMER. HIGH AROUND 50. SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY THROUGH MIDNIGHT THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. NOT AS COLD. PATCHY FOG AFTER MIDNIGHT. AREAS OF FOG EARLY IN THE MORNING. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 10 MPH SHIFTING TO THE WEST AFTER MIDNIGHT.

THURSDAY…CLOUDY. PATCHY FOG IN THE MORNING. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN AND LIGHT FREEZING RAIN EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. BREEZY…COLDER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S. NORTHEAST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 20 PERCENT.

THURSDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN AND LIGHT SNOW THROUGH MIDNIGHT…THEN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT. BREEZY…COLDER. LOW 10 TO 15. NORTH WIND 15 TO 20 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 20 PERCENT.

FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. COLDER. HIGH AROUND 20. NORTH WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW 10 TO 15.

SATURDAY…CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. HIGH IN THE UPPER 20S.

Iowa News Headlines: Wed., 12/18/13

News

December 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lottery officials say winning ticket tickets have been sold in California and Georgia for the $636 million Mega Millions jackpot, the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history. The winning numbers were: 8, 14, 17, 20, 39; Mega Ball: 7. California Lottery spokesman Alex Traverso said Tuesday night that one ticket was sold at Jennifer’s Gift Shop in San Jose, Calif. Otto didn’t know yet where in Georgia the ticket had been sold. The jackpot resets to $15 million for the next drawing, which is on Friday night.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Rep. Tom Latham has confirmed he won’t seek re-election in 2014. The 10-term Iowa Republican will have spent 20 years in Congress and is Iowa’s senior U.S. House member. Latham is a member of the Appropriations Committee and chairman of the transportation subcommittee. He’s known for his friendship with House Speaker John Boehner and his love of golf.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A long-idled Nebraska nuclear plant has been given clearance to restart. The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the Omaha Public Power District’s Fort Calhoun nuclear plant is safe. Fort Calhoun has been offline since April 2011. Fort Calhoun initially shut down for routine maintenance, but significant flooding in 2011, a small fire and a number of violations forced it to remain closed.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — A livestock specialist at Iowa State University says falling corn prices are generating some optimism that cattle farmers can again make money. Historically high corn prices during the last several years drove up the cost of feed and many producers cut herd numbers as drought intensified. But Lee Schulz, a livestock specialist and assistant professor of economics, says producers who have been in survival mode are beginning to talk about expansion.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa is launching a new design for its home Web page for the first time since 2008. University official Lin Larson offered a preview of the changes in a university article posted online Tuesday. He says the redesign “isn’t just a facelift, but a fresh start.” He says the new site should make menus simpler to navigate and work better on mobile devices.

Tuesday Boys Basketball Results

Sports

December 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Hawkeye 10:

  • Glenwood 65, Atlantic 34
  • Denison-Schleswig 56, Red Oak 45
  • Harlan 58, Creston 49
  • Lewis Central 69, Shenandoah 59
  • St. Albert 62, Clarinda 49

Western Iowa:

  • Griswold 63, Logan-Magnolia 31
  • IKM-Manning 87, Riverside 33
  • Treynor 55, Tri-Center 36
  • Underwood 79, Audubon 19

Rolling Valley:

  • Ar-We-Va 59, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton 29
  • Coon Rapids-Bayard 63, Paton-Churdan 43
  • Glidden-Ralston 68, Boyer Valley 40
  • West Harrison 63, Woodbine 58
  • CAM 54, Charter Oak-Ute 51

Others:

  • Bedford 45, East Union 44
  • Clarinda Academy 64, Stanton 28
  • Lenox 47, Southwest Valley 27
  • Madrid 53, Panorama 50
  • Nishnabotna 78, South Page 41
  • Nodaway Valley 66, Mount Ayr 45
  • Sidney 52, Heartland Christian 41
  • Sioux City North 81, CB Abraham Lincoln 71 (OT)
  • Sioux City West 56, CB Thomas Jefferson 55
  • Van Meter 79, West Central Valley 43

2 winners in $636M Mega Millions drawing

News

December 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa(AP) — Lottery officials say winning ticket tickets have been sold in California and Georgia for the $636 million Mega Millions jackpot, the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history. The winning numbers were: 8, 14, 17, 20, 39; Mega Ball: 7.

Paula Otto, the Virginia Lottery’s executive director and the lead director of Mega Millions, said that $336 million in tickets were sold for Tuesday drawing — they had projected $319 million. California Lottery spokesman Alex Traverso said Tuesday night that one ticket was sold at Jennifer’s Gift Shop in San Jose, Calif. Otto didn’t know yet where in Georgia the ticket had been sold.

The jackpot resets to $15 million for the next drawing, which is on Friday night.