United Group Insurance

Wednesday morning fire destroys vacant home in Oakland: suspicious origin

News

November 7th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Investigators examining the remains of a home in Oakland that was destroyed by fire early Wednesday morning, consider the cause to be suspicious. According to the Daily NonPareil, firefighters were called to the unoccupied rental home at 208 Oak Streetin Oakland, a little after 12-a.m., Wednesday. Oakland’s Fire Chief Brant Miller told the paper the house was fully engulfed in flames and the entire structure collapsed within 10-minutes of crews having arrived on the scene. Firefighters were able to prevent the flames from spreading to another, nearby home.

Firefighters from Oakland and Carson were on the scene for about 5-hours. No injuries were reported. The house, assessed at $57,000. was a total loss The fire is considered suspicious because of the manner in which it started, and because there had been unusual activity in the home in recent weeks. The cause remains under investigation.

Former SW IA physician to undergo competency exams

News

November 7th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Iowa Board of Medicine has come to terms with a former Shenandoah Medical Center physician charged for practicing without informing the board he had received discipline from the Pennsylvania Board of Medicine. Under the settlement agreement, 55-year old Subir Ray, who is no longer employed by the medical center, will  undergo several health and behavioral exams to determine his competency to practice medicine.The board issued Ray a citation and warning, and ordered him to pay a $2,500 civil penalty, according to a press release.

Ray must also complete a comprehensive clinical competency evaluation, a comprehensive physical, neuropsychological, mental health, and disruptive behavior evaluation and a professional ethics program. He was placed on indefinite probation subject to board monitoring and a board-approved practice monitoring program.

The Iowa board filed disciplinary action against Ray on Aug. 30th, and the Shenandoah Medical Center suspended him on Sept. 6th. Ray, who provided minimally invasive surgery at SMC, previously worked at PinnacleHealth in Harrisburg, Pa. He began working in Shenandoah in September 2010.

He was disciplined by the Pennsylvania Board of Medicine in November 2011 after the board concluded that Ray practiced medicine with a “mental disability” and engaged in unprofessional conduct, according to a report from the Iowa Board of Medicine. His medical license is valid until July 1st, 2014.

Iowa early News Headlines: Thu., Nov. 7th 2013

News

November 7th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

SLATER, Iowa (AP) — The family of a man shot by police after a car chase at Iowa State University is questioning why he was killed. James Comstock told The Des Moines Register he’s outraged police shot and killed his son, 19-year-old Tyler Comstock. Ames police say Tyler Comstock of Boone drove a stolen truck onto the ISU campus on Monday. Patrol officer Adam McPherson fired six shots into the truck, fatally wounding Comstock.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — Video of a former Iowa jail guard accused of killing his pregnant wife shows the man denying involvement in her death. The Ottumwa Courier reports (jurors watched more video yesterday in the murder trial of Seth Techel. It features an investigator questioning Techel about his actions on the morning of his wife’s death.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a man found dead outside a Des Moines duplex. Des Moines police say 28-year-old Shay Zeller was discovered Monday morning by a woman leaving for work.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Court of Appeals says a woman who trains service dogs may proceed with a lawsuit against Drake University, which she says did not allow her to attend classes in 2009 with a dog at her side. Nicole Shumate, a 2009 Drake Law School graduate, says in her lawsuit people training service animals are permitted by Iowa law to seek civil damages when denied the right to be accompanied by their animal.

Travelers likely won’t have to pay bridge toll

News

November 6th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DECATUR, Neb. (AP) — Traveling over the Missouri River at Decatur, Neb., should soon be cheaper and a little quicker. The Sioux City Journal reports motorists will no longer have to pay a toll to use the bridge, which links Nebraska and Iowa about half way between Omaha and Sioux City. The change comes as the Burt County Bridge Commission turns over ownership of the bridge to Iowa and Nebraska.

Bridge manager Clark Beck says it’s good news for Decatur residents who will no longer have to pay the $1 toll to drive a car or pickup truck over the span. But he notes it also means the loss of more than a dozen part-time toll-taking jobs.

Iowa and Nebraska still must give final approval to the ownership change, but that’s expected soon.

MidAmerican continues with wind energy expansion projects

News

November 6th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

MidAmerican Energy has released more details about a plan to add nearly 450 wind turbines across the state. Construction is underway on the projects around O’Brien, Webster, Grundy, Madison, and Marshall Counties. The company says it has reached an agreement with RPM Access, LLC for the acquisition of the approximate 117-megawatt Macksburg wind project site in Madison County. The Macksburg wind project will be constructed by Mortenson Construction, which is based in Minnesota.

The utility has announced the blades for the expansion will be manufactured by a Siemen’s plant located in Fort Madison. Once completed by the end 2015, MidAmerican officials say the new wind projects will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 317-thousand (317,000) Iowa households.

MidAmerican says the wind energy expansion projects will provide more than $3 million in landowner payments each year and more than $360 million in additional property tax revenues over the next 30 years. Construction will take place at no net cost to the company’s customers, and officials say it will help stabilize electric rates over the long term.

Approximately 1,000 construction jobs will be added to Iowa’s economy during the two-year construction period, and approximately 40 new permanent jobs will be added when the expansion is complete.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6th

Trading Post

November 6th, 2013 by Jim Field

FREE:  I have a Solana 3 person hot tub to give away, haul away. It’s yours. Motor works good but the Tub has a leak. Not sure how serious the leak is but everything else about the hot tub is good.  Call Audubon 712 249-4267.

FOR SALE: 1995 Plymoth Voyager van. Runs good, looks good. $800.00. 712-254-9111.

FOR SALE: Brand new, in box GE Profile Performance dishwasher. $350. 712-243-5096.

FOR SALE: 3 fishing rods with 14lb  Trilene test. Assorted tackle including hooks, weights, batteries, bug repellant, and a lantern. $50 for all. 712-778-5131.

FOR SALE:  2 pair of Justin leather-lined western boots, size 11D.  Asking $40 for each pair.  Also, one pair of Durango side-zip western boots, size 11D.  Asking $20.  Call 712-268-2609. East of Hamlin.

 

JOYCE MAXINE JORGENSEN, 83, of Audubon (Svcs. at a later date)

Obituaries

November 6th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

JOYCE MAXINE JORGENSEN, 83, of Audubon (& formerly of Apache Junction, AZ), died Tue., Nov. 5th, at the Friendship Home in Audubon. Following cremation, the family will hold private Memorial Services for JOYCE JORGENSEN. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon is in charge of the arrangements.

JOYCE JORGENSEN is survived by:

Her sons – Robert Campbell, of Branson, MO; John Steven & wife Karen, of Council Bluffs; David Michael Baatz, of Pacific Junction, and James Edward & wife Michelle Baatz, of Neola.

Her brother – Garland & wife Starr Reser, of Phoenix, AZ.

10 grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, other relatives & friends.

Dyersville vote prompts speculation about project

Sports

November 6th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DYERSVILLE, Iowa (AP) – The election of a new mayor and three new City Council members in Dyersville is prompting speculation about what the vote means to plans for a 24-field youth baseball and softball complex near the “Field of Dreams” movie site.  The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports  Jim Heavens, who lost his bid to be re-elected mayor in the Tuesday vote, says his defeat and the ouster of council members means the project is, “dead.”

Alvin Haas was elected mayor. The new City Council members are Mark Wagner, Teresa Bockenstedt and Ray Sauser. Nearby property owners have filed lawsuits against the city, arguing that officials illegally rezoned and approved building permits for the project. Denise Stillman, who heads a group backing the development, says it’s too early to comment on the election.

Backyard and Beyond 11-06-2013

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

November 6th, 2013 by admin

Lavon Eblen talks about Compost Cookies and shares a recipe.  Note: A portion of the discussion is missing so there is a jump in the audio.

Play

King says Obama to pay a price for lying about ObamaCare

News

November 6th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

Republican Congressman Steve King says President Obama has lost the “moral authority to govern” because Obama repeatedly promised Americans if they liked their health care plan, they could keep it.  “Nixon lied and was severely punished for it,” King says. “That set a standard. We severely punish presidents for lying.” King says modern presidents have paid a price for lies or statements that were perceived as lies, like George Bush’s assertion that Iraq was trying to buy nuclear material in Iraq to his father’s decision to break his “no new taxes” promise.

“There’s been a very, very harsh criticism of presidents who were accused of lying whether they told the truth or not,” King says. “This one you can’t peel it off. The ObamaCare brand is branding on Barack Obama dn not only did he sell us ObamaCare with a series of big lies, but he retained…his place in office by repeating them over and over again.” King backed the recent partial government shutdown and has accused the president of being a “narcissist” by closing National Parks and public monuments in Washington, D.C. during the 16 day impasse with congress.

King says over the past 72 hours he’s come to the realization that Obama “had to know” he was lying when he said Americans would be able to keep their insurance.  “I think he is a smart guy. I don’t think he was duped. I think he was part of the duping. If he was willing to dupe the people on ObamaCare and dupe the American people to get reelected and take this vindictive, spiteful, narcissistic position when we call him on it in congress, I think that brand sticks hard and I think that the next three years of his presidency he can’t lead with moral authority any longer,” King says. “He can lead, perhaps, with presidential edict until the people refuse to follow, but he can’t lead with moral authority any longer.”

King says Obama’s lying would have more impact today if Obama hadn’t given employers another year to meet the health insurance mandate in the Affordable Care Act, as that affects far more people than are being impacted by the individual mandate.

(Radio Iowa)