United Group Insurance

NWS Forecast for Atlantic & the KJAN listening area: Sat., 12/14/13

Weather

December 14th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 21. Wind chill values as low as 5. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 6. Wind chill values as low as zero. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light west northwest after midnight.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 26. Wind chill values as low as zero. Light and variable wind.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Calm wind.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 21.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37.

No. 17 Iowa State beats No. 23 Iowa 85-82

Sports

December 14th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa (AP) – Georges Niang scored 24 points, including the go-ahead basket with 18.8 seconds left, and 17th-ranked Iowa State rallied to beat Number 23 Iowa 85-82 on Friday night. Dustin Hogue had 12 points and 16 rebounds for the Cyclones (8-0), who prevailed in the first meeting between the Cyclones and Hawkeyes as ranked teams in 26 years.

Niang gave Iowa State an 83-82 lead on a reverse layup – and Iowa’s Mike Gesell followed by missing two free throws. Hogue then buried two foul shots, and Zach McCabe’s attempt for a tying 3 fell short for Iowa (10-2).

Aaron White had 25 points and a career-high 17 rebounds for the Hawkeyes, who led by as much as 10 late in the first half.

Monona County auditor resigns after effort to remove her

News

December 14th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

ONAWA, Iowa (AP) – The Monona County auditor is resigning after efforts by officials to remove her from office following her arrest on drug charges. The Sioux City Journal reported Friday that Auditor Brooke Kuhlmann submitted a letter of resignation.

At the request of county commissioners, Monona County Attorney Michael Jensen filed a motion last month to remove Kuhlmann from office. The motion noted Kuhlmann hasn’t been coming to work since she was charged last July with buying methamphetamine from an undercover state trooper.

Kuhlmann has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance. Her trial is scheduled for February 18th.  Kuhlmann was elected as a Democrat in 2008 and re-elected in 2012.

Le Mars official: Don’t do any laundry

News

December 14th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) – Residents of Le Mars are being cautioned to hold off on their laundry because a water main break has caused rusty water to flow from customers’ taps.  City Water Superintendent Gayle Sitzmann tells the Le Mars Daily Sentinel it took about 45 minutes to shut down the water main Friday, and during that time pressure in water lines varied greatly. That caused water to scour the lines, releasing rust into the water that reaches most of the city’s residents.

Sitzmann says it’s unclear how long the rust-colored water would remain. Until the water clears, she recommends against doing laundry, especially of white clothes.

No winner in $425M Mega Millions jackpot

News

December 14th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – No one has won the $425 million jackpot in the Mega Millions lottery game. Lottery officials say no one matched all of the numbers in the drawing Friday night.  The numbers drawn were: 19-24-26-27-70, Mega Ball: 12.  The jackpot now is expected to reach $550 million for the next drawing on Tuesday. The largest Mega Millions jackpot ever was a $656 million jackpot in March 2012.

The Mega Millions underwent a major game revamp in October in an effort to grow bigger jackpots in a shorter amount of time. But it also decreased the odds of a person winning the top prize to about 1 in 259 million. It was previously about 1 in 176 million, nearly the same odds as winning the Powerball jackpot.

Decades old holiday tradition continues at the Jack Baird Farm Saturday

News

December 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

A holiday tradition that began with a simple Christmas light display more than 40-years ago continues near Red Oak, and features newer technology, this year. Jack Baird and his family have been hard at work preparing for their light and display show for the past couple of months. Speaking on KJAN’s “Heartbeat Today” with Jim Field, Baird said they try to add another element to the show each year, and this year is no different. He said they’re adding a 19-foot tall saluting soldier this year, which has become a daunting task, but one they will have ready by the time the display opens Saturday evening.

The lights will be turned on at the Baird farm northwest of Red Oak, beginning at around 5:30-p.m. Saturday. Jack said there all many different signs on the hills, a church with animated characters and large Nativity Scene, and a more than 20-foot tall lighted ferris wheel. Baird switched the lights from the old incandescent-style to LED’s, which he says proved not only to be brighter and clearer, but a great cost-saver.

As many cities have learned, the use of LED lights could save 90-percent on the cost of electricity. Another advantage, is that they’re tough and will likely last longer.  The 82-year old Baird says the best way to get to the farm from Atlantic, is to take Highway 48 past Elliott, west on H-12 for three-miles, and then south for a little more than a mile. You won’t be able to miss the display, even if you’re still several miles away….just look for a large glow. A star on top of a grain bin is 50-feet in the air, and a Christmas tree on top of a radio tower is about 70-feet high.

The actual physical address is 1233 E Avenue. There is no charge to view the display, but the Baird family does accept donations through a collection box placed near the display. You can view the holiday display every night from this Saturday until New Year’s Day, from dark until 10:30-p.m. Sundays through Fridays, and until 11-p.m. on Saturdays.

Winter Weather Advisory Posted for western/sw Iowa

Weather

December 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

AREA COUNTIES: HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGE….

326 PM CST FRI DEC 13 2013

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FREEZING DRIZZLE…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT.

* TIMING…EXPECT LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL DEVELOP BY EARLY EVENING.

* MAIN IMPACT…THE FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CAUSE TRAVEL

DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

AMU receives $300k USDA grant for projects

News

December 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the USDA and Atlantic Municipal Utilities (AMU) have announced AMU was awarded a $300,000 grant from the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant (REDL&G) program. The grant is to establish a revolving loan fund to support area development projects. AMU has added a $60,000 match for the grant, bringing the loan fund balance $360,000. The grant is federally funded for economic development purposes in rural areas. Historically, the grants and loans were available to Rural Electric Coops and phone companies. The last few years they have expanded applicants to municipal utilities.

The application was made by AMU for the purpose of erecting a pre-engineered building to be leased to an expanding business in the AMU district. The business would need to employ at least 25 people, with the promise of expansion. Cass/Atlantic Development Corp. owns development property northwest of Atlantic. CADCO was working with Precision Concrete Services (PCS) who were interested in a building at that site. The AMU Board agreed to loan the grant monies to CADCO who in return would be the general contractor and lessee of that building.

The rent from the building will be used to pay back the loan to AMU, over a period of up to ten years. The plan is that PCS will be the eventual owner of that building. SteveTjepkes, General Manager of Atlantic Municipal Utilities, says “Receipt of the grant and establishment of the revolving loan fund would not have been possible without the work of CADCO and the relationship they built with Precision Concrete Services to put this project together.”  Tjepkes added, “the great thing about this project is the money from the grant and matching funds, as repaid, will be used as a revolving loan fund that can then be re-loaned to foster future economic development activities. It does not have to be repaid to USDA.”

Henningson’s Construction is currently erecting the building northwest of Atlantic, off Hwy 83, north of the railroad tracts.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13th

Trading Post

December 13th, 2013 by admin

WANTED: Looking for someone to scoop snow at two different locations. At 904 Walnut Street: Scoop in front of the garage off the alley, from the garage to back door, and sidewalk in front of house to front door.  At 909 Linn Street: From the street to the front door and the sidewalk in front of house.  Call 712-243-4609.

WANTED: Looking for an older style snowman Christmas decoration, ok if it has a light in it, also looking for other Christmas decorations. 243-4308

FOR SALE: 8-9 brand new coats. All sizes. $30 each. 712-773-2326.

FOR SALE: 4 Ryobi Ni-Cad rechargeable batteries with car and home charger. All work well. Valued at $25 a piece new, will sell all 4 for $25.  712-304-2587.

WANTED: Gun safe with digital lock. 712-249-9783.

ERNEST A. KULLA, 87, of Audubon (Svcs. 12/16/13)

Obituaries

December 13th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

ERNEST A. KULLA, 87, of Audubon, died Wed., Dec. 11th, at the Friendship Home in Audubon. Funeral services for ERNEST KULLA will be held 10:30-a.m. Mon., Dec. 16th, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

Friends may call at the funeral home, where the family visitation is from 2-to 4-pm Sunday.

Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery at Audubon.

ERNEST KULLA is survived by:

His son – Craig (Nancy) Kulla, of Audubon.

1 grandchild, other relatives & friends.