712 Digital Group - top

NASCAR driver Christopher Bell previews the Iowa Corn 350

Sports

June 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

After winning back-to-back years at the Iowa Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Christopher Bell hopes to win the first Cup Series race at the track in Sunday night’s Iowa Corn 350. Bell won at the Iowa Speedway in 2018 and 2019.

Bell was happy when the Iowa Speedway was added to the Cup schedule.

Bell says a quick sell out of Saturday and Sunday is proof Iowa Speedway was ready for a Cup race.

Bell has two wins this season and is currently ninth in Cup Series points.

Former Iowa star Micah Hyde contemplates his future

Sports

June 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Former Iowa star Micah Hyde is taking his time to decide if he will return to the Buffalo Bills for his 12th NFL season or call it a career. The 33-year-old safety has spent the past seven seasons with the Bills and struggled last season with neck stingers.

Hyde says he will re-sign with Buffalo or retire. He will return to the field only if he is all in.

Hyde says he does not want to start training camp and find out he does not want to be there.

Hyde spent his first four seasons in the NFL in Green Bay.

Cass County Engineer’s report to the Board of Supervisors

News

June 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken, Tuesday (June 11th), reported to the County Board of Supervisors, the Secondary Roads Department has been busy the past couple of weeks.

A contractor was working on the bridge seven-miles north of Cumberland on N-28.

On Wednesday, work will begin on lining two 42-inch culverts under the pavement on G-43, with a fiberglass liner. The work may continue into the day on Thursday.

Iowan stabbed in China speaks from hospital room

News

June 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Chinese officials say they’ve arrested a 55-year-old man suspected of stabbing four Cornell College instructors. Cornell College, based in Mount Vernon, has had a longstanding relationship with a university in northeast China and the four educators were attacked in a public park. One of the survivors, David Zabner, spoke with Iowa Public Radio from his hospital room in China. He said the group was leaving the park when he heard a sound. “I turned around to find a man brandishing a knife at me. I didn’t immediately realize that was what was happening. I thought my coworkers had been pushed and he, for some reason, was trying to push me,” Zabner said. “And then I looked down at my shoulder and realized: ‘No, I’m bleeding. I’ve been stabbed.'”

Pictures and video of the aftermath quickly began circulating on Chinese social media sites, but most have been taken down by the Chinese government. In one picture, Zabner can be seen wincing in pain as paramedics attend to another instructor bleeding from his back.  “I can see why kind of the visceral proof of what happened is important,” Zabner said, “but it’s also really upsetting.”

Zabner was stabbed in the arm, six inches below his shoulder. He and his three colleagues are still receiving treatment. Zabner says he appreciates the thoughts and prayers from people back home and the help from the U.S. Consulate and Iowa’s congressional delegation. He says he’s looking forward to returning to Iowa as soon as he can.

Homebuilder scouts Iowa communities for places to build ‘workforce housing’

News

June 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A central Iowa real estate developer and property manager is launching what’s being called Hometown Tours of a half-dozen Iowa communities where businesses are hungry for help and housing is scarce. Karie Kading Ramsey, C-E-O of Kading Properties of Urbandale, says they’ll start by visiting the Wayne County town of Corydon on Thursday. “In Corydon, for example, we have lots and lots of Missouri license plates coming over the border to work,” Ramsey says, “and our goal is to get some of those Missouri license plates to convert to Iowa license plates, so we can keep them right there working in the community, sending their kids to school in the community.”

Kading has already built houses in more than two-dozen Iowa towns over the past five decades. By eliminating the need for long commutes, Ramsey says Kading helps employers retain skilled labor and boosts local economies, while saving families time and money on travel and fuel. “We’re also providing a lot of housing, slab on grade, zero entry, so we get a lot of elderly people moving in,” Ramsey says. “They’re not quite ready for the nursing home or assisted living, and want a little ease with the snow and mowing, so they’ll move in and that will also recycle the housing.”

The so-called workforce housing may be individual houses, town homes, bi-attached houses or whatever works best in the community, she says. Who lives in them? “It’s your average person in your community that’s working around 50 hours a week, generally,” Ramsey says. “A lot of service folks do it, plumbing, electrical, teachers, people that are earning a really good solid wage and contributing a lot to the community, but we’re also trying to keep their rent affordable, knowing that they’ve got a lot of other expenses.”

While the south-central Iowa town of Corydon is the first town on the tour, the other five communities will be announced next week. Each stop will include tours and meetings with economic development teams, city council members, school district representatives, and local employers.

14th Annual KJAN Merlyn Christensen Memorial Golf Tournament (Pictures)

Sports

June 11th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Montgomery County Supervisors approve canvass & abstract of election results

News

June 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday) approved a canvass of the June 4, 2024 Primary Election results, and certification of those results. County Auditor Jill Ozuna read a summary of the results.

Montgomery County BOS mtg, 6/11/24

Board Member Donna Robinson read the following portion of the resolution certifying the results as presented.

Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna said a standard, Post-Election audit of a precinct in the County will take place Wednesday, June 12th.

CAM School Board acts on resignations & contracts; Discusses District Facilities process/survey

News

June 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Anita, Iowa) – The CAM School Board, Monday evening, acted on approving personnel matters, including resignations and contracts. Superintendent Paul Croghan…

The School Board also discussed district facilities and a survey that’s available for district patrons to fill-out.

The survey is available for you to respond to until June 18th.

Paul Croghan says as of Monday, June 10th, the District had received 400 responses to the survey.

A link to the survey can be found on social media, asking what patrons think about of a one or two campus district viability, if there is any other information they need, and how they would like to receive that information. You can always call the district office for more information, as well. In other business, Mr. Croghan said it’s a busy time of year, Summer-wise.

Cass County Supervisors approve the use of ARPA funds for Lewis Ambulance

News

June 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – After considerable discussion, the Cass County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday), voted unanimously to pass a resolution appropriating $45,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA/Covid Relief) funds to the City of Lewis, for the purchase of a pre-owned ambulance. The ambulance is one the Griswold Fire & Rescue Department recently retired. Board Chair Steve Baier….

The Board approved also, the hiring of a person for the Treasurer’s Office Driver Examiner/Office Assistant, at a rate of $20 per hour. Afterward, Steve Baier put County Department heads on notice that due to recently passed legislation, things will look a lot different for FY 2025, with regard to hiring and salaries.

Cass County Board of Supervisors mtg.,6/11/24

The Supervisors approved the issuance of a County credit card to new Sheriff’s Department Deputy Cameron Ward. And, they approved a canvass of the June 4, 2024 Primary Election, certifying the results as published, and sending those onto the State Election Commissioner.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors heard a regular report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken, and they appointed Supervisor Mark O’Brien as a liaison to the County Conservation Board.

Heartbeat Today 6-11-2024

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

June 11th, 2024 by Jim Field

Jim Field visits with Elvis Hass about the “Special Friends Fishing” event held on Sunday, June 9, 2024 at Lake Anita.  Many volunteers and supporters gathered to help those with special needs enjoy a day on the lake.

Play