United Group Insurance

Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect until Noon today (Wed., 12/4)

Weather

December 4th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

AREA COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD

334 AM CST WED DEC 4 2013

…DENSE FOG ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY…

* VISIBILITY…VISIBILITY LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE OVER MOST OF THE AREA.

* IMPACTS…TRAVEL MAY BECOME DIFFICULT DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY. VISIBILITY MAY DROP TO UNDER 100 FEET AT TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A DENSE FOG ADVISORY MEANS THE VISIBILITY WILL FREQUENTLY BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE. IF DRIVING…SLOW DOWN… USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS…AND LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU. APPROACH INTERSECTIONS AND RAILROAD CROSSINGS WITH CAUTION.

Winter Weather Advisory for western/southwest IA Wed. 12/4/13

Weather

December 4th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

PERIODS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE MORNING AS TEMPERATURES FALL INTO THE 20S AND NORTHWEST WINDS INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH.

AREA COUNTIES AFFECTED: MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST THIS MORNING…

AREA COUNTIES: MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-PAGEWINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FREEZING DRIZZLE. UNTREATED ROADS AND SIDEWALKS WILL DEVELOP A THIN LAYER OF ICE AND BECOME SLIPPERY.

* OTHER IMPACTS...NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE MORNING WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING INTO THE 20S.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW…SLEET…OR FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

Atlantic City Council to hold public meetings pertaining to properties

News

December 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic City Council will hold public hearings during their meeting Wednesday evening, with regard to the sale of two residential properties the City holds the titles to. The first pertains to 807 Elm Street. City Attorney Dave Wiederstein will recommend the Council approve sale of the property to Janet Jordan for the fair market price of $100, subject to her executing a demolition agreement that will require her to put up a bond, letter of credit or cash deposit to assure that the building is demolished in a timely manner.

The second property is at 203 Locust Street. Wiederstein advertised for sealed bids on the property at the Council’s direction during their last meeting because there was more than one person interested in it. The bid opening is scheduled to take place prior to the Council’s 5:30-p.m. session, Wednesday. The successful bidder will have to meet the same demolition and bond criteria as with the 807 Elm Street property. Following the public hearings on both properties, the Council will act on approving resolutions approving the disposal and/or sale of each respective property.

The Council is also expected to act on approving the 2014 Budget for Atlantic Municipal Utilities. City Administrator Doug Harris says the bottom line is that electric revenues and expenses are projected to increase 9.3-percent in 2014, with water revenues and expenses budgeted to increase 3.4-percent.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council is expected to act on: Authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Snyder and Associates Engineers for design engineering services associated with the Highway 6/7th Street reconstruction project; Authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with Fox Engineering to conduct a Nutrient Reduction Study (at a cost of $15,000) for the City’s Wastewater Treament Plant; Approval of the sale of surplus police cruisers; And, authorize the Mayor to execute a Retainer Agreement for legal services for 2014 with David Wiederstein in the amount of $15,000, which is an annual increase of 2.5-percent. The rate had not been changed since 2008.

Dense Fog Advisory until Noon Wed., Dec. 4 2013

Weather

December 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

AREA COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-

333 PM CST TUE DEC 3 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A DENSE FOG ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST WEDNESDAY.

* VISIBILITY…VISIBILITY WILL DROP TO LESS THAN A QUARTER MILE BY EARLY TONIGHT AND PERSIST INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* IMPACTS…TRAVEL MAY BECOME DIFFICULT DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY. VISIBILITY MAY DROP TO UNDER 100 FEET AT TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS

A DENSE FOG ADVISORY MEANS VISIBILITIES WILL FREQUENTLY BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE. IF DRIVING…SLOW DOWN… USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS…AND LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU. APPROACH INTERSECTIONS AND RAILROAD CROSSINGS WITH CAUTION.

December 2013

Birthday Club

December 3rd, 2013 by admin

December 1st:

  • no birthdays

December 2nd:

  • Leon Vogl of Anita (Winner)
  • Janet Nielsen of Atlantic
  • Tamie Madsen of Kimballton
  • Sandi Lauritsen of Audubon
  • Margaret Taylor of Cumberland

December 3rd:

  • Thatcher Hilyard of Cumberland (Winner)
  • Ashely Mosier of Atlantic
  • Logan & Collin Evans of Griswold
  • Ellie Butler of Atlantic
  • Cameron Theilen of Atlantic

December 4th:

  • Marie Ketchum of Casey (Winner)
  • Steve Lewis of Atlantic
  • Clayton Vn Aernam of Exira
  • Roger Hansen of Atlantic
  • Denzel Edwards of Cumberland
  • Diane Jensen of Kimballton

December 5th:

  • Robert Sampson of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Kristine Teig of Atlantic
  • Judy Anderson of Atlantic

December 6th:

  • Pam Auerbach of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Myles Hetrick of Atlantic
  • Rich Robertson of Atlantic
  • Bessie Huffman of Anita

December 7th:

  • Jan Sorensen of Exira (Winner)

December 8th:

  • Sally Rosales of Atlantic (Winner)

December 9th:

  • Ruth Andersen of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Raymond Butt of Lewis
  • Carolyn Hartmann of Cumberland
  • Wyatt Linfor of Atlantic

December 10th:

  • Linda Smith of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Dee Anderson of Atlantic

December 11th:

  • Jacob Soll o Kimballton (Winner)
  • Lorene Vorm of Atlantic
  • Pat Lauritsen of Kimballton
  • Byron Littleton
  • Mary Christensen of Audubon

December 12th:

  • Saraya Gipple of Atlantic (Winner)

December 13th:

  • Maxine Hagen of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Tetta Askeland of Atlantic
  • Adley Dredge of Cumberland

December 14th:

  • no birthday

December 15th:

  • Shirley Winston of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Brenda Hargins of Atlantic
  • Brooke Lamp of Atlantic

December 16th:

  • Michael Holzapfel of Atlantic (Winner)

December 17th:

  • Lyle Perkins of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Russ McNees of Atlantic
  • Camryn Paulsen of Exira
  • Zachery Smith of Atlantic
  • Tracie Christensen of Audubon

December 18th:

  • Jessie Hilyard of Cumberland (Winner)
  • Julie McVay of Audubon
  • Mike Linfor of Atlantic
  • Michael Gettler of Walnut
  • Adysson Gries of Elk Horn

December 19th:

  • Marilyn Paulsen of Exira (Winner)
  • Jon Humphrey of Atlantic

December 20th:

  • Ellie Rutherford of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Deb Schuler of Atlantic
  • Carol Hemmingsen of Marne
  • Ethan Steffens of Atlantic
  • Karen Klevous

December 21st:

  • Peggy Hensley of Massena (Winner)
  • Brenda Zellmer of Atlantic
  • Jeanette Crees of Casey

December 22nd:

  • Kimberly Jensen of Exira (Winner)
  • Nick Paulsen of Atlantic

December 23rd:

  • Caleb Maier of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Justice Doherty of Anita
  • Maggie Martens of Lewis
  • David Kirchhoff of Atlantic
  • Brian Jensen of Hamlin

December 24th:

  • Martha Kramer of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Ashley VanAernam of Exira
  • Sharon Clive of Guthrie Center

December 25th:

  • Tish Mendenhall of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Dick Casady of Atlantic
  • Jean Hinners of Exira
  • Collette Uluhr of Exira

December 26th:

  • Barb Gipple of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Lexy Welter of Atlantic
  • Gerry Kommes of Exira

December 27th:

  • Lori Jessen of Atlantic (Winner)

December 28th:

  • Frances Nelson of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Heidi Reimer of Atlantic

December 29th:

  • Judy Rathman of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Mary Zellmer of Atlantic
  • Joan Lauritsen of Hamlin
  • Toby Jensen of Kimballton

December 30th:

  • Marilyn Stein of Lewis (Winner)
  • Julia Schmelling of Casey
  • Nate Paulsen of Elk Horn
  • Colleen Riesgaard of Exira
  • Lynn Eckles of Atlantic
  • Helen Rossell of Atlantic
  • Becky Thompson of Exira

 December 31st:

  • Doris Jensen of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Crista Wiskus of Atlantic
  • Mary Stender of Massena

HOWARD HARRIS, 94, of Greenfield (Svcs. 12/8/13)

Obituaries

December 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

HOWARD HARRIS, 94, of Greenfield, died November 13th, at the Greenfield Manor. Memorial Services for HOWARD HARRIS will be held on Sunday, December 8, 2013, at 2:00 p.m., At the Greenfield United Methodist Church with refreshments immediately following. The Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the Arrangements.

Online condolences may be left to the family at www.steenfunerals.com.

Memorial donations be made to the Howard Harris Memorial which will in turn be donated to charity. Donations can be sent to Steen Funeral Home, P.O. Box 390, Greenfield, Iowa 50849.

 HOWARD HARRIS IS survived by:

his two children Beverly Patterson of Des Moines and Bob Harris of Longmont, CO as well as five grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.

Boil water order lifted in Villisca

News

December 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency reports the Boil Water Order which had been in place for the City of Villisca following a water main break, has been lifted, effective today.

Pre-Season Team & Individual Wrestling Rankings from The Predicament

Sports

December 3rd, 2013 by Jim Field

Top 10 Class 3-A State Tournament Teams (# of ranked wrestlers):

  1. Bettendorf (7)
  2. SE Polk (9)
  3. Waverly Shell-Rock (7)
  4. Linn Mar Marion (8)
  5. Cedar Rapids Prairie (6)
  6. Mason City (4)
  7. North Scott (4)
  8. Iowa City West (6)
  9. Dubuque Hempstead (4)
  10. Fort Dodge (5)

Class 3-A Individual Rankings

106

10 Chase Evans (Sr) Glenwood

126

6 Justin Kaltved (So) Carroll

7 Colton Clingenpeel (So) CB Thomas Jefferson

145

5 Jason Wallace (Jr) CB Thomas Jefferson

160

5 Ethan Ruby (Sr) Lewis Central

285

6 Jordan Bywater (Sr) CB Abe Lincoln

 

Top 10 Class 2-A State Tournament Teams (# of ranked wrestlers):

  1. Mediapolis (7)
  2. Davenport Assumption (8)
  3. Albia (6)
  4. Hampton Dumont (4)
  5. West Delaware (3)
  6. Humboldt (4)
  7. Clear Lake (4)
  8. Sgt Bluff Luton (4)
  9. Solon (4)
  10. Independence (3)

Predicaments Preseason Class 2A Individual Rankings

120

3 Darrian Schwenke (Sr.) Atlantic

4 Blake Luna (Sr.) Clarinda

126

7 Dillion Cox (Sr.) Atlantic

132

5 Alexander Schmitz (Sr.) Kuemper Catholic

145

7 Jared Eischeid (Sr.) Kuemper Catholic

8 Broghan Kelly (Sr.) Harlan

160

8 JJ Clark (So.) Clarinda

170

3 Trevor Frain (Sr.) Creston-OM

195

8 Cale Stork (Sr.) Harlan

10 Seth Maitlen (So.) Creston

220

7 Dallon Bendorf (Sr.) Harlan

9 Tyler Christensen (Sr.) Atlantic

285

9 Dakota Calfee (Sr.) Clarinda

 

Top 10 Class 1-A State Tournament Teams (# of ranked wrestlers):

  1. Alburnett (7)
  2. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (8)
  3. Wilton (5)
  4. Woodbury Central (6)
  5. Don Bosco (5)
  6. Fort Dodge St Edmond (3)
  7. North Butler (2)
  8. Wapello (2)
  9. West Marshall (3)
  10. Maquoketa Valley (3)

Class 1-A Individual Rankings

113

8 Craig Rice (Jr.) Southwest Iowa

9 Kyle Juelsgaard (Jr.) Audubon

120

4 Christian Polley (Jr.) Tri Center-Neola

8 Jacob Vogel (Jr.) Oakland Riverside

9 Riley Klein (Sr.) Underwood

126

7 Brad Kerkhoff (Jr.) Audubon

138

8 Ridge Meeker (Sr.) Logan Magnolia

152

3 Cody Kingery (Jr.) Underwood

6 Josh Hopkins (So.) East Mills

170

5 Wyatt Lewis (Sr.) Council Bluffs St Albert

6 Kallan Schmelzer (Sr.) Southwest Valley

7 Payton Huseman (Sr.) Oakland Riverside

9 Malachi Mentink (Sr.) Woodbine

182

1 Evan Hansen (Jr.) EHK-Exira

7 Austin Laabs (Jr.) Guthrie Center

10 Zach Barton (Sr.) Southwest Valley

195

2 Trey Sander (Sr.) EHK-Exira

7 Ben Wellman (Sr.) Tri-Center Neola

9 Colton Story (Jr.) East Mills

220

6 Matt Fett (Sr.) Audubon

285

8 Garrett Johnson (Sr.) Panorama

9 David Howell (Sr.) East Mills

Leader of Iowa schools for deaf, blind to retire

News

December 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The man who leads special schools for deaf and blind students in Iowa has announced plans to retire.  Patrick Clancy, superintendent of the Iowa School for the Deaf and the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, has notified the Board of Regents of his plans to retire effective June 30. Clancy has led the school for the blind in Vinton since August 2008. In 2012, the regents put him in charge of both schools after superintendent Jeanne Prickett of the Council Bluffs-based school for the deaf left for a job in Florida.

The regents are expected to accept Clancy’s retirement during a telephone meeting Wednesday, and authorize a search for his replacement.  Former Regent Rose Vasquez, who left the board in 2011, is expected to lead the search committee.

Ice Safety Reminder as Iowa lakes freeze over

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

December 3rd, 2013 by Ric Hanson

On the heels of news about two young boys who died after falling through the ice in a rural farm pond in Adams County over the weekend, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has issued some tips for those thinking about venturing out into area ponds and lakes…..

  • There is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice.
  • The Iowa Department of Natural Resources recommends a minimum of four inches of quality ice for fishing and at least five inches for snowmobiles and ATVs.
  • Ice thickness is not uniform on any body of water.  Things like current and springs slow ice growth. Rocks, trees or docks that poke through the ice like will conduct heat and make the ice around it less stable.
  • There could be pockets of thin ice or places where ice recently formed, so it would be wise to check ice thickness as you go out.
    • The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process.
    • Safety items in the bucket: Ice picks, about 50 feet of rope and a throwable floatation seat cushion for use in case of rescue.
    • Ice fishing is a social activity, don’t go out alone. If the worst should happen, someone would be there to call for help or to rescue.
    • Avoid off-colored snow or ice. It is usually a sign of weakness.
    • Trust your instincts. If it doesn’t look right, stay off.