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Atlantic Police warn of Publisher’s Clearinghouse scam

News

February 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department is warning area residents of a mail scam. Authorities say on Monday (Feb/ 3rd), officers were informed that an Atlantic resident received a letter in the mail in reference to them winning $650,000 through the “Publishers Clearing House.” The letter asks them resident to call a number and use a reference number to claim their prize. The letter was sent through standard mail and did not include a return address.

The scam letter (Atlantic P-D photo)

The scam letter (Atlantic P-D photo)

Officers looked on the PCH website, which stated that anyone winning a prize over $500 would be notified by personal contact from the company or notified through certified mail. Police also called the number listed on the letter multiple times and were unable to make contact with anyone. If you or anyone you know receive a letter similar to this through standard mail, please treat it as a scam.

Senate set to send farm bill to Obama

Ag/Outdoor

February 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is preparing to send President Barack Obama a massive, five-year farm bill that provides food for the needy and subsidies for the nation’s farmers.

The Senate is expected to pass the almost $100 billion-a-year compromise bill Tuesday after the House passed it last week. The bill provides a financial cushion for farmers who face unpredictable weather and market conditions and makes a limited cut to food stamps, which supplement meal costs for 1 in 7 Americans.

The final bill would get rid of controversial subsidies known as direct payments, which are paid to farmers whether they farm or not. Most of that program’s $4.5 billion annual cost would be redirected into new subsidies that would kick in when a farmer has losses.

Omaha firms give $42,500 more to Manning’s charity

Sports

February 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A group of 17 Omaha companies is donating another $42,500 to Peyton Manning’s foundation for at-risk youth even though it was hard to hear him shout about Nebraska’s largest city during the Super Bowl. Omaha’s love affair with Manning and his Denver Broncos got started after he yelled the city’s name 44 times during a playoff win over San Diego. Manning’s “Omaha! Omaha!” calls received widespread attention in social media and news stories.

The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce said Monday that each of the participating companies agreed to donate $2,500 to Manning’s “Peyback Foundation” even though his snap counts were difficult to hear Sunday. Earlier in the playoffs, a smaller group of companies agreed to donate $24,800 after Manning yelled “Omaha!” 31 times during the AFC Championship game.

Area basketball scores from Mon., Feb. 3rd 2014

Sports

February 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

BOYS BASKETBALL

  • Diagonal 66, Orient-Macksburg 37
  • Craig/Fairfax, MO 61, Essex 40
  • West Nodaway, MO 71, South Page 59

GIRLS BASKETBALL

  • Orient-Macksburg 39, Diagonal 29
  • Essex 46, Craig/Fairfax, MO 43
  • South Page 46, West Nodaway, MO 28
  • Madrid 48, Glidden-Ralston 47

 

No. 16 Iowa St. beats No. 19 Oklahoma St. in 3OT

Sports

February 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — DeAndre Kane had 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to help No. 16 Iowa State defeat No. 19 Oklahoma State 98-97 in triple overtime on Monday night. The win was Iowa State’s first in Stillwater since March 2, 1998 — a span of 18 games. Melvin Ejim had 22 points and 12 rebounds, Georges Niang scored 17 points and Dustin Hogue added 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Cyclones (17-4, 5-4 Big 12), who have beaten six ranked teams this season.

Le’Bryan Nash scored 26 points, Marcus Smart had 20 points and eight assists and Markel Brown added 19 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma State (16-6, 4-5), which lost its third in a row. Oklahoma State was without guard Stevie Clark, who was kicked off the team Monday after his second arrest of the new year.

Iowa Boys Basketball Prep Poll – 2/4/2014

Sports

February 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Top Ten teams in the Associated Press Iowa high school basketball poll with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last week at right:

Class 4A     
Record    Pts    Prv
1. Dubuque, Senior (13)    14-1    146    1
2. Iowa City, West (1)         13-2    116    3
3. North Scott, Eldridge     15-1    113    5
4. Bettendorf                         15-1    112    2
5. Waukee                              12-2    86    7
6. Des Moines, North (1)  13-2    69    6
7. Southeast Polk                14-2    67    4
8. Ankenny Centennial     12-3    33    8
9. Johnston                           12-4    27    10
10. Cedar Rapids, Kennedy 12-3    23    9

Others receiving votes: Sioux City, East 22. Sioux City, North 8. Valley, West Des Moines 3.

Class 3A  
Record    Pts    Prv
1. Clear Lake (11)                    15-0    146    1
2. Wahlert, Dubuque (4)     13-2    139    2
3. Dallas Center-Grimes      14-2    108    4
4. Harlan                                   14-2    98    3
5. Waverly-Shell Rock          12-3    86    7
6. Central Clinton, De Witt  12-2    62    5
7. Fort Madison                       11-1    44    10
8. Carroll                                   12-3    37    NR
9. Pella                                       13-3    35    6
10. Epworth, Western Dubuque    13-3    27    8

Others receiving votes: Solon 10. Le Mars 7. MOC-Floyd Valley 6. Bishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux City 5. Chariton 5. Williamsburg 4. Bondurant Farrar 4. Crestwood, Cresco 2.

Class 2A        
Record    Pts    Prv
1. Western Christian, Hull  14)    16-0          149    1
2. New Hampton (1)                        15-0    127    2
3. West Fork, Sheffield                   16-1    118    3tie
4. Kuemper Catholic, Carroll        13-3    75    6
5. Cascade,Western Dubuque      14-2    60    7
tie Treynor                                           15-1    60    8
7. Des Moines Christian                 18-1    55    10
8. Regina, Iowa City                         16-1    53    3tie
9. Sioux Center                                  13-3    44    5
10. IKM-Manning                            15-2    29    9

Others receiving votes: Van Meter 14. Rock Valley 9. East Sac County 8. Dike-New Hartford 7. PCM, Monroe 4. West Marshall, State Center 2. Mount Vernon 1. MFL-Mar-Mac 1.

Class 1A      
Record    Pts    Prv
1. Gehlen Catholic, Le Mars (9)         17-0    143    1
2. Newell-Fonda (6)                              15-0    141    2
3. Lamoni                                                  16-0    116    3
4. West Lyon, Inwood                           13-3    72    4
5. Nodaway Valley                                  16-1    69    5
6. Dunkerton                                            16-1    58    8
7. Ar-We-Va, Westside                          17-0    53    7
8. Keota                                                      16-1    34    9
9. Pekin                                                       15-1    28    10
10. Gladbrook-Reinbeck                       15-2    27    NR

Others receiving votes: Springville 17. Van Buren, Keosauqua 16. Preston 14. Jesup 10. Danville 9. Belmond-Klemme 8. Meskwaki Settlement School 8. Ruthven-Ayrshire 1. GMG, Garwin 1.

Changing Weather picture prompts changes in Warning/Watch/Advisories

News, Weather

February 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

As forecasters get a better idea of the track of a winter storm heading for the Midwest, the types of weather statements being issued are in flux. Cass and area counties to the east, northeast and south, are now under a Winter Storm Warning. The warning is in effect from Noon on Tuesday and runs through 6-a.m. Wednesday for Cass, Adair, Dallas, Guthrie and Madison Counties. In the southern part of the KJAN listening area (Adams, Ringgold, Taylor and Union Counties), the Warning begins at 9-a.m. Tuesday and runs until 6-a.m. Wednesday. In Montgomery, Fremont and Page Counties, the Warning is in effect from 3-a.m. Tuesday until 6-a.m. Wednesday. The remaining counties are under a Winter Weather Advisory from 3-a.m. Tuesday until 6-a.m. Wednesday.

For those counties in the warned area, some 4-to 6-inches of snow are expected, with anywhere from 5-to 8-inches for those lower two-tiers of counties in the southern section of the state. Forecasters say snow will develop in the far southwest counties late Monday night and spread into the rest of the area during the day, Tuesday. Accumulating, heavy snow is expected Tuesday afternoon and evening before it tapers-off Wednesday morning. In addition to the heavy snow, northeasterly winds starting out at 10-to 15-miles per hour Tuesday morning, will increase to 25-miles per hour by Tuesday night, causing reduced visibilities of as little as one-half mile or less at times. Snow, blowing and drifting snow will cause roads to become treacherous.The Weather Service says you should only travel in the event of an emergency during the day, Tuesday. If you must travel when conditions worsen, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle, in case you become stuck. Bring a cell phone charger with you, and if your vehicle becomes stranded, run the engine for a few minutes at a time as necessary, to stay warm. Make sure your vehicles’ tailpipe is clear of obstructions when you do run the engine in a situation where you are stranded.

Winter Storm Warning issued for Cass & area Counties

Weather

February 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

345 PM CST MON FEB 3 2014 …WINTER STORM TO IMPACT THE AREA TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT… SNOW WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF IOWA ON TUESDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE TUESDAY NIGHT. THE SNOW WILL BE LIGHT IN THE MORNING AND MAY EVEN END FOR A TIME. IN THE AFTERNOON SNOW WILL FALL WITH MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY ACCUMULATIONS IN THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. IN ADDITION…AN INCREASING NORTH WIND BY LATER AFTERNOON AND ESPECIALLY TUESDAY NIGHT WILL RESULT IN SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW THAT WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON COUNTIES: WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* TIMING…SNOW WILL DEVELOP IN THE AFTERNOON THEN SPREAD AND ACCUMULATE MORE HEAVILY TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING…FINALLY TAPERING OFF BY EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* STORM TOTAL SNOW…4 TO 6 INCHES BY LATE TUESDAY NIGHT.

* WINDS/VISIBILITY…A NORTHEAST WIND AT 10 TO 15 MPH TUESDAY MORNING WILL BECOME NORTH AT 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS BY TUESDAY NIGHT. VISIBILITIES MAY BE REDUCED TO ONE HALF OF A MILE OR LESS AT TIMES DUE TO FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW.

* IMPACTS…BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IS EXPECTED BY TUESDAY NIGHT AS THE WIND INCREASES. ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW COVERED MAKING TRAVEL HAZARDOUS.

Winter Weather Advisory & Winter Storm Warning issued

Weather

February 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

COUNTIES: MONTGOMERY-FREMONT AND PAGE: WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TUESDAY TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TUESDAY TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 8 INCHES ARE LIKELY IN THE WARNED AREA.

COUNTIES: Mills-MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE: WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TUESDAY TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY…TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 7 INCHES ARE LIKELY IN THE ADVISORY AREA.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TUESDAY TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* TIMING…SNOW WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA LATER TONIGHT WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL EXPECTED FROM MID TO LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING. SNOW WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH FROM WEST TO EAST LATE TUESDAY NIGHT.

* OTHER IMPACTS…VISIBILITIES WILL BE REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY WITHIN ANY AREAS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW AND THEN ESPECIALLY BY LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW INCREASE. BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS OF AROUND 15 BELOW ARE EXPECTED TOWARD WEDNESDAY MORNING.

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6-A.M. TUESDAY THROUGH 6-AM WEDNESDAY FOR GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR AND RINGGOLD COUNTIES IN THE KJAN LISTENING AREA.

Atlantic VFD holds awards and banquet Saturday night

News

February 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Volunteer Fire Department held its 2013 recognition banquet, Saturday night. It was the fourth such year for the event. Fire Chief Mark McNees said Jake Vetter was named “Rookie of the Year,” for having met his Firefighter 1 training requirements and attending meetings.

Mark McNees receives the "Firefighter of the Year" award from 2nd Asst. Fire Chief Tim Cappel.

Mark McNees receives the “Firefighter of the Year” award from 2nd Asst. Fire Chief Tim Cappel.

Justin Masker receives the "Top Dog" award.

Justin Masker receives the “Top Dog” award.

Chief Mark McNees bestows the "Rookie of the Year" award to Jake Vetter. (Bobbi Jo McNees/Photos)

Chief Mark McNees bestows the “Rookie of the Year” award to Jake Vetter. (Bobbi Jo McNees/Photos)

Justin Masker won the “Top Dog” award, for responding to most of the calls the department was dispatched to over the past year. That includes EMS, fire and/or Fire and Rescue. And, the Chief himself was awarded “Firefighter of the Year.” McNees said he was “Surprised and grateful” for receiving the honor.

Seven Firefighters were also honored for their milestone years, including: Chris Towne (15 years); Tom Cappel (15 years); Shawn Page (15 years); Justin Masker (5 years); Justin Anderson (5 years); Andy Kloewer (5 years), and Nathan Oswald (5 years).

There are 39 members of the Atlantic Volunteer Fire Department who put their lives on the line to save people and property, every day of the year.